Bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides from contaminated soil by cattle

The study aimed to quantitate the uptake by beef cattle of organochlorine pesticides in from soil. Although such uptake is known to occur, uptake rates have not been accurately measured for these animals and cannot be inferred from data obtained with dairy cattle. In this study, cattle received a diet, of a standard feedlot ration supplemented with organochlorine-pesticide (aldrin?+?dieldrin) contaminated soil. The levels of pesticides in the feed would approximate uptake through normal grazing. Samples of the subcutaneous fat were removed periodically and analysed for pesticide content. Uptake of dieldrin (but not other pesticides present in the soil) was rapid and substantial. Uptake from sandy soils was more efficient than that from clay soils. The experiment was terminated after 8 weeks, because of the high levels of dieldrin in the tissues. Depuration of the accumulated pesticides was a slow and complex process, requiring a longer period than accumulation.     

Environmental contamination using accumulation of metals in marine sponge,Sigmadocia fibulata inhabiting the coastal waters of Gulf of Mannar,India

Coastal marine ecosystems in many parts of the world are under unrelenting stress caused by urban development, pollutants and other ecological impacts such as building of infrastructure, land reclamation for port and industrial development, habitat modification, tourism and recreational activities. The present work is a first extensive field study using the marine sponge, Sigmadocia fibulata as a bioindicator to detect metal pollution between inshore and offshore environment of the ‘Gulf of Mannar’, India. Samples of S. fibulata were collected from different places of inshore (0.1–0.5?km) and offshore (3–5?kms) locations. Metal concentrations in water and bioaccumulation in sponges were determined by ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). Enrichment of metal contamination was more in the inshore, when compared to offshore environment. Higher concentrations of metals Fe, Al, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ba, Zn, V, Pb and Cd in inshore waters (3–6.4 times than offshore) may be due to the discharge of monsoonal rains, carrying a discharge of industrial and agricultural wastes and sewage directly into the coast. This is substantiated by a highly significant positive correlation between concentrations of metals in the water and accumulation in sponges. The bioaccumulation of metals in sponge tissue were in order of Fe?>?Al?>?Ni?>?Mn?>?Cu?> Cr?>?Co?>?Ba?>?Zn?>?V?>?Cd?>?Pb in both the inshore and offshore regions. Apparently, the macromolecule composition (sugars, proteins and lipids) was significantly reduced by the accumulation of metals in inshore sponges. The current findings indicated that the frequent monitoring is necessary to assess the eco-health of the marine environment by choosing bio-indicator species like S. fibulata, which provide accurate, reliable measurements of environmental quality.     

Exposure of mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) to the hepatotoxic cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena

Nodularin (NODLN) is a cyclic pentapeptide hepatotoxin produced by the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena, which forms extensive blooms during the summer in the Baltic Sea. Nodularin was detected in liver, muscle and/or feather samples of several common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Gulf of Finland (northern Baltic Sea) in 2002–2005. Published information on the adverse effects of NODLN in marine birds is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of NODLN, and determine the concentrations of NODLN in liver and muscle tissue in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) exposed to N. spumigena. Mallards received a single or multiple exposure via oral gavage with an aqueous slurry containing toxic N. spumigena. Dosages ranged from 200 to 600 µg NODLN per kg body weight (bw). There were minimal histopathological changes in liver tissue, and brain cholinesterase activity did not differ among treatment groups. Concentrations of NODLN measured by LC-MS in liver varied between approximately 3–120 µg kg^?1 dry weight (dw) and ducks receiving multiple exposures had significantly greater liver toxin levels than ducks receiving the two lowest single exposures. In muscle, NODLN concentrations were approximately 2–6 µg kg^?1 dw, but did not differ significantly among exposure groups. This is the first in vivo lab study examining the effects and bioaccumulation of NODLN from N. spumigena in birds. The mallards in this study were resistant to adverse effects and did not bioaccumulate substantial levels of NODLN at the doses given.     

Chorioallantoic membrane as a non-lethal sampling method for polychlorinated biphenyls analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are documented endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study examined the bioaccumulation of PCBs and the utility of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a non-lethal sampling technique for PCB analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), a species endemic to US East Coast salt marshes. To determine the viability of the CAM as a surrogate for PCB burdens within this species, maternal transfer of PCBs to CAM and egg samples was studied. Egg and CAM samples were collected from populations in Cape May County, NJ and Jamaica Bay, NY; liver samples were collected only from NJ terrapins. PCB congeners were detected in all sample types, but less-chlorinated congeners preferentially partitioned in the CAM. Liver and egg sample PCB concentrations were strongly correlated (p=0.002, r _s=0.883), but PCB concentrations of CAM were not strongly correlated to liver (p=0.035, r _s=0.733) and egg samples (p=0.036, r _s=0.484). Examination of homologue groups indicated a strong correlation between penta- and hexachlorinated biphenyls for all sample types. This study shows that maternal transfer of PCB contaminants occurs with selective partitioning of congeners into the CAM, and that analysis of the CAM alone may not reflect total PCB body burdens in this species.     

Accumulation trends of metals and a metalloid in the freshwater crayfish Astacus leptodactylus from Lake Yeniçağa (Turkey)

This study aims to determine the extent of metal pollution in Lake Yeniça?a (Bolu, Turkey) by investigating the accumulation trends of five metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in gills, exoskeleton, hepatopancreas and abdominal muscles of the freshwater crayfish Astacus leptodactylus. Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), correlation analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were utilised to determine the accumulation profiles of each element over four seasons. The greatest element accumulation was found to occur in the gills. All elements in exoskeletal tissue displayed positive correlations with each other, a similar trend was also observed in the hepatopancreas samples. Strong (r=0.868) and very strong (r=0.960) positive correlations were found between the accumulations of Al and Fe in gills and the exoskeleton, respectively. Correlations in tissue accumulation rates are discussed in the context of metabolic roles and impacts associated with the elements tested. Elemental compositions of Yeniça?a water and sediment samples were also investigated to determine whether the composition of the surrounding environment matches the metal accumulation trends of tissue samples. We demonstrate that, by the criteria set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Yeniça?a is heavily polluted in terms of As and Ni.     

络合态金属铜在大型水蚤(Daphnia magna)体内的生物积累及生物毒性

以人工稀释水作为背景水样,通过实验室暴露和化学平衡软件的辅助分析,研究了4种有机络合剂(草酸、酒石酸、EDTA和腐殖酸)对大型水蚤(Daphniamagna)体内铜的生物积累(BBD)以及生物毒性的影响.结果表明,有机络合剂的存在降低了大型水蚤体内生物积累量和金属硫蛋白(MT)含量,明显降低了水体中金属Cu的毒性,4种不同有机络合剂所产生的效果大体相同;有机络合态的铜也能为大型水蚤所吸收和利用,在相同浓度条件下大型水蚤对腐殖酸络合态铜的利用大于EDTA络合态铜.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by Phragmites australis cultivated in synthesized substrates

Accumulation of heavy metals from various oxides with adsorbed cadmium by wetland plant Phragmites australis was studied to evaluate the fate of heavy metals in the sediment of constructed wetlands. Hoagland solution was used as nutrition supply, and single metal oxide with adsorbed cadmium was applied as contaminant to study the accumulation characteristics of cadmium and the substrate metals by P. australis. After 45-d treatment, the bioaccumulation degree in root followed the order: Al(OH)3 > Al2O3 > Fe3O4 > MnO2 > FeOOH. Heavy metals absorbed by P. australis were largely immobilized by the roots with little translocation to aboveground parts.     

Cadmium bioaccumulation in three benthic fish species, Salaria basilisca,Zosterisessor ophiocephalus and Solea vulgaris collected from the Guff of Gabes in Tunisia

To select a marine teleost fish which can be used as a bioindicator of cadmium (Cd) pollution in the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia, Cd concentrations in liver and gill were compared in three benthic fish species including Salaria basilisca, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus and Solea vulgaris. Fish samples were collected from three selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with different degrees of Cd contamination: the industrialized coast of Sfax (S1), the coast of Douar Chart (S2) and the coast of Luza ($3). The results shows that Cd concentrations in both sediment and water collected from S1 were significantly higher (p<0.0001) than those from S2 and $3. For each species, Cd concentrations, in both liver and gill, showed the decreasing order: S1>S2>S3. The highest concentration of Cd was detected in the liver of S. basilisca, and only S. basilisca showed bioaccumulation factors (BAF) greater than 1 in all studied sites. In S1 and S2, BAF values respect the following order: S. basilisca>Z. ophiocephalus>S. vulgaris. These results of significant bioaccumulation of Cd, in terms of hepatic concentrations and bioaccamulation factors, indicated that S. basilisca can be used as bioindicator to evaluate the evolution of Cd pollution in the Gulf of Gahes.     

Laboratory culture of the freshwater benthic gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa （Reeve） and its utility as a test species for sediment toxicity

This study aimed to develop original laboratory culture and sediment toxicity testing protocols for the freshwater gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa(Reeve),a new potential species for sediment toxicity testing.B.aeruginosa was successfully cultured with an effective culture system under proposed laboratory conditions.Optimal ad libitum feeding levels for larvae,juveniles,and adults were 2.0,6.0,and 16.0 mg fish food/(snail·day),respectively.Mean survival rates of juveniles were higher than 90%.The snails could be sexed at 9 weeks of age,and their generation time is approximately 4 months.Reproduction continued all year around;the mean fecundity was 0.55 newborn/(female·day).The utility of this species for bioassays was evaluated in both 10-day and 28-day case studies with artificial sediments.The 10-day LC50 of Cu for larvae was 480 μg/g dry weight(dw),and the lowest observed effects concentration of Cu for survival and growth of larvae was 195 μg/g dw.Survival and growth are reliable indicators of acute toxicity.Larvae accumulated more Cu than adults.B.aeruginosa exhibited a higher sensitivity to Cu exposure than standard test species(Hyalella azteca and Chironomus tentans).The 28-day test of sediment toxicity with adults showed that fecundity was a robust endpoint indicator of reproductive toxicity,and the biochemical endpoints of superoxide dismutase,catalase,and glutathione could be used as sensitive biomarkers for Cu-induced oxidative damage.B.aeruginosa can be therefore recommended as a candidate for the standardization of the freshwater sediment toxicity test protocol.     

Total mercury in wild fish in Guizhou reservoirs, China

The health hazard of mercury (Hg) compounds is internationally recognized, and the main pathways for methylmercury (MeHg) intake in humans are through consumption of food, especially fish. Given the large releases of Hg to the environment in China, combined with the fast development of hydropower, this issue deserves attention. Provided similar mobilization pathways of Hg in China as seen in reservoirs in North America and Europe one should expect increased Hg contamination in relation to future hydropower reservoir construction in this country. This study presents total Hg (THg) concentrations in wild fish from six Guizhou reservoirs, China. The THg concentrations in fish were generally low despite high background levels in the bedrock and depositions from local point sources. The over all mean ± SD concentration of THg was (0.066 ± 0.078) μg/g (n = 235). After adjusting for among-reservoir variation in THg, there were significant differences in THg among functional groups of the fish, assumed to re?ect trophic levels. Predicted THg- concentration ratios, retrieved from a mixed linear model, between the functional groups were 9:4:4:1 for carnivorous, omnivorous, planktivorous and herbivorous fish. This result indicated that MeHg accumulation may prevail even under circumstances with short food chains as in this Chinese water system. No fish exceeded recommended maximum THg limit for human consumption set by World Health Organization and the Standardization Administration of China (0.5 μg/g fish wet weight (ww)). Only six fish (2.5%) exceeded the maximum THg limit set by US Environmental Protection Agency (0.3 μg/g fish ww).