Evaluation of methods for determining adverse impacts of air pollution on terrestrial ecosystems

Methods used to determine adverse impacts of air pollution on four levels of biological organization of terrestrial ecosystems were evaluated for their use in decision making by federal land managers of class I areas and as guidelines for scientists employed to design field studies in these areas. At the level of the individual, visible injury, biomass, and sulfur uptake were the most often used components; at the population level, natality and mortality; at the community level, diversity; and at the ecosystem level, biogeochemical cycling. Most studies focused on structural responses of individual organisms. These components are relatively sensitive and are easy and inexpensive to measure; however, linkages of these parameters to adverse impacts on populations, communities, or ecosystems are lacking. Measurements of effects of air pollution at the higher levels of organization are confounded by natural variability, long response times, climatic variation, pathogens, and other factors. In addition, the lack of replication and of true control areas creates severe problems for design of monitoring programs and testing of hypotheses concerning effects.     

The ecological effects of trichloroacetic acid in the environment

Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) is a member of the family of compounds known as chloroacetic acids, which includes mono-, di- and trichloroacetic acid. The significant property these compounds share is that they are all phytotoxic. TCAA once was widely used as a potent herbicide. However, long after TCAA's use as a herbicide was discontinued, its presence is still detected in the environment in various compartments. Methods for quantifying TCAA in aqueous and solid samples are summarized. Concentrations in various environmental compartments are presented, with a discussion of the possible formation of TCAA through natural processes. Concentrations of TCAA found to be toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms in laboratory and field studies were compiled and used to estimate risk quotients for soil and surface waters. TCAA levels in most water bodies not directly affected by point sources appear to be well below toxicity levels for the most sensitive aquatic organisms. Given the phytotoxicity of TCAA, aquatic plants and phytoplankton would be the aquatic species to monitor for potential effects. Given the concentrations of TCAA measured in various soils, there appears to be a risk to terrestrial organisms. Soil uptake of TCAA by plants has been shown to be rapid. Also, combined uptake of TCAA from soil and directly from the atmosphere has been shown. Therefore, risk quotients derived from soil exposure may underestimate the risk TCAA poses to plants. Moreover, TCE and TCA have been shown to be taken up by plants and converted to TCAA, thus leading to an additional exposure route. Mono- and di-chloroacetic acids can co-occur with TCAA in the atmosphere and soil and are more phytotoxic than TCAA. The cumulative effects of TCAA and compounds with similar toxic effects found in air and soil must be considered in subsequent terrestrial ecosystem risk assessments.     

PCDDs, PCDFs, and coplanar PCBs in wild terrestrial mammals from Japan: congener specific accumulation and hepatic sequestration

The present study determined the contamination levels and congener-specific accumulation features of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs) in wild terrestrial mammals such as large Japanese field mice (LJFM), lesser Japanese moles (LJMs), and raccoon dogs (RDs) collected from Kanto region in Japan during 2001. The toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) levels in the carcasses or adipose tissues were in the order of RDs > or = LJMs > LJFM. Comparison of DRC congener profiles in the three species and principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated a higher contribution of OCDD, T4CB77, and P5CB118 in LJMs. Analysis of liver-adipose distribution of DRC congeners in RDs showed that livers contained significantly higher TEQs than adipose tissues, indicating that liver is a depository organ and critical for determining the toxicokinetics of DRCs. As for most T4, P5, H6CDD/DFs and for P5CB126, H6CB169 and mono-ortho PCB congeners, their liver/adipose concentration ratios in RDs revealed a tendency to increase with hepatic TEQ levels, suggesting TEQ-dependent hepatic sequestration.     

Ecotoxic Effect of Photocatalytic Active Nanoparticles (TiO2) on Algae and Daphnids (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Due to their large potential for manifold applications, the use of nanoparticles is of increasing importance. As large amounts of nanoparticles may reach the environment voluntarily or by accident, attention should be paid on the potential impacts on the environment. First studies on potential environmental effects of photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles have been performed on the basis of widely accepted, standardized test systems which originally had been developed for the characterization of chemicals. The methods were adapted to the special requirements of testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: Suspensions of two different nanoparticles were illuminated to induce their photocatalytic activity. For testing, the growth inhibition test with the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus and the immobilization test with the daphnid Daphnia magna were selected and performed following the relevant guidelines (algae: ISO 8692, OECD 201, DIN 38412-33; daphnids: ISO 6341, OECD 202, DIN 38412-30). The guidelines were adapted to meet the special requirements for testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Results: The results indicate that it is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles. It was shown that nanoparticles may have ecotoxicological effects which depend on the nature of the particles. Both products tested differ in their toxicity. Product 1 shows a clear concentration-effect curve in the test with algae (EC50: 44 mg/L). It could be proven that the observed toxicity was not caused by accompanying contaminants, since the toxic effect was comparable for the cleaned and the commercially available product. For product 2, no toxic effects were determined (maximum concentration: 50 mg/L). In the tests with daphnids, toxicity was observed for both products, although the concentration effect-curves were less pronounced. The two products differed in their toxicity; moreover, there was a difference in the toxicity of illuminated and non-illuminated products. Discussion: Both products differ in size and crystalline form, so that these parameters are assumed to contribute to the different toxicities. The concentration-effect curves for daphnids, which are less-pronounced than the curves obtained for algae, may be due to the different test organisms and/or the differing test designs. The increased toxicity of pre-illuminated particles in the tests with daphnids demonstrates that the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a period of time. Conclusions: The following conclusions can be drawn from the test results: (I) It is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of (photocatalytic) nanoparticles. Therefore, they can be assessed using methods comparable to the procedures applied for assessing soluble chemicals. - (II) Nanoparticles may exert ecotoxicological effects, which depend on the specific nanoparticle. - (III) Comparable to traditional chemicals, the ecotoxicity depends on the test organisms and their physiology. - (IV) The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a relevant period of time. Therefore, pre-illumination may be sufficient to detect a photocatalytic activity even by using test organisms which are not suitable for application in the pre-illumination-phase. Recommendations and Perspectives: First results are presented which indicate that the topic 'ecotoxicity and environmental effects of nanoparticles' should not be neglected. In testing photocatalytic nanoparticles, there are still many topics that need clarification or improvement, such as the cause for an observed toxicity, the improvement of the test design, the elaboration of a test battery and an assessment strategy. On the basis of optimized test systems, it will be possible to test nanoparticles systematically. If a potential risk by specific photocatalytic particles is known, a risk-benefit analysis can be performed and, if required, risk reducing measures can be taken.     

Organoiodine formation during humification in peatlands

Although two billion people in the world are suffering from iodine deficiency there is little information on the chemical fate of iodine in the terrestrial environment. Here we show that peatlands play a major role in terrestrial iodine cycling. Chemical data from two peat profiles from Patagonia, Chile imply that transformation of iodine from its inorganic form to organoiodine compounds during early humification in peatlands is a key process in storage of iodine in the terrestrial environment. Once bound in peat, iodine remains stable for thousands of years. In the earths peatlands, net accumulation of iodine since the last glacial period is estimated to be 12–36 teragrams (1 Tg=10¹² g). These data suggest that peatlands are a major reservoir of iodine in terrestrial ecosystems. Our novel model of iodine distribution in the terrestrial environment demonstrates the key role of peatlands in burial and reemission of organically bound iodine.     

人工合成麝香对小麦种子发芽的生态毒性

采用土培实验,研究了佳乐麝香(HHCB)和吐纳麝香(AHTN)对小麦种子发芽的生态毒性,测定了这2种人工合成麝香对小麦种子发芽率、根伸长抑制率和芽伸长抑制率的影响.结果表明,小麦种子的发芽率与这2种人工合成麝香浓度之间剂量-效应关系不明显,低剂量条件下(佳乐麝香≤150 mg·kg-1,吐纳麝香≤200 mg·kg-1...     

多氯联苯对我国土壤微生物的生态毒理效应

作为持久性有机污染物(POPs),多氯联苯(PCBs)一旦进入土壤将长期存留并对土栖生物产生潜在危害。土壤微生物是土壤生态系统重要组成部分,研究外源PCBs对土壤微生物的生态毒理效应,筛选出指示PCBs污染的敏感指标并获取可靠的生态毒理数据十分重要。研究以江西红壤和天津潮土为供试土壤,在室内25℃连续培养28 d的条件下进行了生态毒理实验,选择了微生物量碳、呼吸强度、代谢熵、硝化作用、脱氢酶活性、脲酶活性和微生物群落功能多样性为微生物指标。结果显示:1)在28 d培养时间内,多氯联苯(PCBs)的毒性作用随培养时间的延长而增强,且在红壤中的毒性作用强于在潮土中,表明PCBs对土壤微生物的毒性作用存在时间效应并受土壤性质的影响。2)各微生物指标的敏感性不同,微生物量碳、脲酶活性和微生物功能多样性对PCBs污染反应不够敏感,而土壤呼吸强度、代谢熵、硝化作用和脱氢酶活性对PCBs污染反应敏感。3)14 d时,红壤中PCBs对脱氢酶活性、呼吸强度和代谢熵的EC10值分别为1.20、3.18和1.09 mg·kg-1,而在潮土中分别为6.31、4.73和50 mg·kg-1;28 d时,红壤中PCBs对硝化作用、脱氢酶活性、呼吸强度和代谢熵的EC10值分别为2.32、0.77、0.51和0.71mg·kg-1,而在潮土中分别为5.91、1.65、3.00和50 mg·kg-1。综合考虑经济和实际需要等因素,建议将呼吸强度、硝化作用和脱氢酶活性作为PCBs污染土壤生态毒理评价中的首选敏感指标,并建议培养时间设置为28 d。     

高水生植物毒性污染物的初步筛选

针对目前普遍认为水生植物对污染物的敏感性比动物低的观点开展研究. 查阅和筛选了ECOTOX毒性数据库里的污染物水生生物毒性数据,对美国国家水质基准（2009）里的120项优先控制污染物的毒性数据进行了分析. 参考美国的水生生物基准技术指南的数据筛选原则,初步筛选出6种具有高植物毒性的污染物,分别为1,1,1-三氯乙烷、2,4-二氯苯酚、4-硝基苯酚、邻苯二甲酸丁苄酯、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯和N-亚硝基二甲胺. 结果表明,确实存在高植物毒性的污染物,对于这类污染物,水生植物比水生动物更为敏感. 然而,由于水生植物毒性试验远远少于动物毒性试验,并且资料的积累极为欠缺,因此,需要对水生植物毒性效应的研究和应用给予足够的重视.      

佳乐麝香对萝卜种子发芽及DNA损伤的生态毒理影响

由于佳乐麝香(HHCB)被广泛应用于日用化工产品中,被持续不断地释放到环境中,所产生的生态风险已引起越来越多的重视。为探究HHCB的生态毒性效应,在水培条件下考察了不同浓度HHCB对萝卜的表观生长指标(发芽率、根伸长抑制率、芽伸长抑制率)和基于随机引物扩增多态性(RAPD)图谱的根尖DNA损伤状况。研究结果显示:低剂量(≤25 mg·L~(-1))胁迫对萝卜发芽无显著影响(P0.05);高剂量(≥50 mg·L~(-1))胁迫可以显著抑制萝卜发芽率(P0.05)。萝卜的根长和芽长抑制率随HHCB浓度增加而呈上升趋势,且根伸长对HHCB胁迫较芽伸长更敏感,更适宜指示HHCB对植物的生态毒性效应。萝卜根尖基因组DNA的RAPD分析结果表明:大于或等于5 mg·L~(-1)的HHCB即可明显导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随着HHCB浓度的升高,根尖基因组DNA含量呈线性降低,DNA多态率增加,基因组模板稳定性(GTS)减小,遗传相似性变远。这表明较低剂量的HHCB胁迫就能够导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随浓度升高而损伤严重。因此,利用RAPD技术获得的萝卜DNA多态性变化可作为检测HHCB遗传毒性效应的敏感生物标记物,为化学品污染生态毒理早期诊断提供科学依据。