Population dynamics in Daphnia Magna as modified by chronic tetradifon stress

Abstract

Two Daphnia magna offsprings (animals from the first and third brood) whose parentals (F₀‐generation) were exposed during 21 days to different tetradifon (4‐chlorophenyl 2,4,5‐trichlophenyl sulfone) concentrations, were transferred to a pesticide free medium during 21 days (recovery period). The algae Nannochloris oculata (5x10⁵ cells/mL) was used as food. In this recovery study, survival, growth and reproduction (mean total young per female, mean brood size, onset of reproduction and mean number broods per female) were assessed as individual parameters and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) as population parameter, for F₁ generation (1st and 3rd broods). Reproduction was still reduced in F₁ (1st and 3rd broods) generation daphnids from parentals (F₀) exposed to 0.18 mg/L tetradifon and higher concentrations even after 21 days in clean water. However, survival was not significantly different (p>0.05) in those F1 offsprings from parentals pre‐exposed to the acaricide. Growth was still reduced in F1 daphnids from parentals pre‐exposed to 0.10–0.44 mg/L tetradifon. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) was still affected in Fl generation daphnids, specially in those from the third brood. Therefore, Fl generation D. magna offsprings from a parental generation (F0) previously exposed to the acaricide tetradifon were not able to recuperate completely when a recovery period of 21 days was allowed.     

全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)替代品对4种本土水生生物的生态毒性

本文选择了紫背浮萍、四尾栅藻、蚤状溞和稀有鮈鲫4种本土水生生物,开展了阳离子表面活性剂、织物三防整理剂、C4三防整理剂和C6三防整理剂4种全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)替代品的安全性评估,为筛选理想PFOS化学替代品提供科学依据。急性毒性结果发现阳离子表面活性剂对4种水生生物均未显示出急性毒性;织物三防整理剂、C4三防整理剂和C6三防整理剂对蚤状溞的LC50值分别为17.97、64.61和85.58 mg·L-1,显示出低的急性毒性。另外,织物三防整理剂对四尾栅藻的半数抑制浓度(EC50)值为88.32 mg·L-1,而对稀有鮈鲫半致死浓度(LC50)值为14.79 mg·L-1,均存在急性毒性。短期生长抑制试验结果发现阳离子表面活性剂、织物三防整理剂、C4三防整理剂和C6三防整理剂对稀有鮈鲫生长抑制最低可见效应浓度(LOEC)值分别为20、1.5、100和50 mg·L-1,表明4种PFOS替代品均显示低慢性毒性。急慢性综合分析可知C4和C6三防整理剂相对较安全,可能成为理想的PFOS替代品。     

Influence of Environmental Factors on the Evolution of Industrial Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

The aim of the study is to investigate how environmental factors, associated with exposure to industrial noise, affect the development of chronic noise-induced hearing loss.The studywas conducted on 186 male subjectsworking in two bottling plants, situated respectively in a small farming community, and in a medium-sized city with significant levels of noise pollution. Levels of occupational exposure were the same for the two groups.The subjects were selected by means of a preliminary medical examination, and exposed to tonal hearing tests and acoustic impedance tests. Statistical analysis was performed on hearing threshold values obtained at the frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz.The comparison between the thresholds obtained in the two groups showed a statistically significant difference, especially at the frequency of 4000 Hz and for occupational exposure exceeding 17 yr. The results led us to conclude that environmental factors, and urban noise in particular, influence the onset and development of occupational acoustic trauma, and that those working in the country are significantly less affected than those in the city. Since occupational exposure was the same for both groups, their different responses must therefore be interpreted as due to differences in nonoccupational exposure, in turn dependent on different opportunities for rest from noise and different levels of exposure to noise pollution.     

Bhopal gas tragedy: scientific challenges and lessons for future

Some of the challenges of BGT were answered by two multi-disciplinary projects of the ICMR on Pathology and Toxicology and Pathophysiology. Unlike other chemical disasters, the aerosol inhaled by the Bhopal victims contained a mixture of MIC and its trimers and dimers, as well as aqueous and thermal decomposition products, including HCN. A coordinated GC–MS study of the blood and autopsy tissues and chemicals in the Tank residue confirmed their role.

Autopsy studies revealed the pathological changes in the acute, sub-acute and chronic phases progressive changes of pulmonary edema and bronchiolitis, followed by chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Cerebral edema resulted in ‘acute histotoxic anoxia’. Intensive experimental studies with the help of newer tools of molecular biology might throw more light on the underlying mechanisms and newer therapeutic approaches.

The initial finding of cherry-red discoloration of lungs led to a suspicion of cyanide toxicity. Eventually, elevated blood and tissue cyanide levels confirmed the prompt therapeutic response to NaTS and accompanying increase of urinary NaSCN excretion. However, periodic clinical recurrences and relapses pointing towards ‘chronic cyanide toxicity’ remained enigmatic.

Specific changes the 2–3 DPG levels and Blood Gases were explained on the basis of N-carbamoylation of end-terminal valine residues of Hb. Soon, several other end-terminal -amino groups of tissue proteins were also found to be N-carbamoylated. Had the attempts at demonstrate S-carbamoylation of glutathione and other SH radicals of tissue enzymes like rhodanese succeeded, perhaps the underlying mechanism of chronic cyanide toxicity due to MIC might have been resolved.

Based on the practical lessons learnt in Bhopal, an attempt will be made to present the salient pathological and toxicological findings, followed by a brief outline of the principles of planned laboratory management for alleviation of human suffering from future chemical disasters.     

Derivation of predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol based on Chinese resident species

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) is a common chemical intermediate and a by-product of water chlorination and combustion processes, and is a priority pollutant of the aquatic environment in many countries. Although information on the toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP is available, there is a lack of information on the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 2,4,6-TCP, mainly due to the shortage of chronic and site-specific toxicity data. In the present study, acute and sub-chronic toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP on six different resident Chinese aquatic species were determined. PNEC values were calculated and compared by use of two approaches: assessment factor (AF) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Values for acute toxicity ranged from 1.1 mg L⁻¹ (Plagiognathops microlepis) to 42 mg L⁻¹ (Corbicula fluminea) and the sub-chronic no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) ranged from 0.05 mg L⁻¹ (Mylopharyngodon piceus) to 2.0 mg L⁻¹ (C. fluminea). PNECs obtained by the assessment factor approach with acute (AF = 1000, 0.001 mg L⁻¹) or chronic (AF = 10, 0.005 mg L⁻¹) toxicity data were one order of magnitude less than those from SSD methods (0.057 mg L⁻¹). PNEC values calculated using SSD methods with a 50% certainty for 2,4,6-TCP was less than those obtained by use of the USEPA recommend final chronic value (FCV) method (0.097 mg L⁻¹) and the one obtained by use of the USEPA recommend acute-to-chronic (ACR) methods (0.073 mg L⁻¹). PNECs derived using AF methods were more protective and conservative than that derived using SSD methods.     

高原地区672例尘肺患者死因分析

为了探讨高原地区尘肺患者死因特点及其规律,对青海省1955—2005年间诊断的2 942例尘肺患者有关资料进行了回顾性收集,并采用SPSS10.0软件进行统计分析。结果显示,青海省共有7种尘肺,其中矽肺和煤工尘肺占尘肺总数的93.88%。至2005年底,共有672例已死亡,尘肺病死率为22.84%。尘肺患者死亡年龄集中在40~49岁、50~59岁、60~岁组,占整个死亡总数的92.26%。平均死亡年龄为60.24岁,并且随着年代的推移而延长。尘肺患者平均寿命损失为15年。对死因分析后发现,前3位死因依次为:肺心病、尘肺和肺结核。探讨、分析及研究的结果表明,高原地区尘肺患者的首位死因为肺心病,提示在今后高原地区尘肺病防治工作中应加以重视。     

室内空气污染对慢性阻塞性肺部疾病的影响

为了探讨室内空气污染与慢性阻塞性肺部疾病(COPD)的关系,对云南省宣威县使用不同生活燃料、年龄≥40岁的农民10892人进行了COPD及其症状的现患率调查,同时测定了调查对象的最大呼气流速(PEF).结果表明,不同燃料造成的室内空气污染对COPD及其症状和最大呼气流速的作用顺序依次为有烟煤>无烟煤>柴.在调整了年龄、性别、吸烟和改灶年限等因素后发现,使用有烟煤和使用无烟煤的人群患COPD的危险性分别是使用柴的4.63倍和1.55倍.改灶年限越长,COPD及其症状的现患率越低,最大呼气流速越高.室内燃煤空气污染是影响宣威慢性阻塞性肺部疾病(COPD)的主要危险因素,改炉改灶对控制COPD及其症状的现患水平,改善肺功能具有积极的作用.     

广东清远电子垃圾处理地沉积物对伸展摇蚊的慢性毒性效应

电子垃圾拆解引起的环境污染和生态风险已成为全球关注的热点问题,不适当的电子垃圾拆解过程造成处理区水体沉积物受到多类有机化合物和重金属污染,直接威胁生活在沉积物中的底栖动物。在典型电子垃圾处理地广东清远采集沉积物,测定样品中以烃类为主的色谱难分离混合物(unresolved complex mixture,UCM)的含量,开展伸展摇蚊全生命周期慢性毒性测试。结果表明,清远沉积物中的UCM浓度(0.08±0.01)%接近于这类污染物对伸展摇蚊的慢性半致死性效应浓度(0.073±0.022)%。同时发现清远沉积物对以摇蚊为代表的底栖无脊椎动物具有显著慢性毒性效应,且可通过测定UCM含量初步估算。这为开展以电子垃圾处理地沉积物为代表的,受到以麻醉作用为主要致毒机制的混合物污染的沉积物的毒性评价提供了一种有效方法。     

毒死蜱和吡虫啉对意大利工蜂(Apis mellifera L.)的慢性经口毒性

文章以毒死蜱和吡虫啉为受试农药,以4日龄内的意大利工蜂(Apis melifera L.)为受试生物,研究2种农药对意大利工蜂的10 d经口慢性毒性。结果显示:参比物质乐果对意大利工蜂的10 d半致死浓度(10 d-LC50)为0.550μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,平均每天半致死剂量(LDD50)为0.019μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1);在有效试验条件下,毒死蜱对意大利工蜂的10 d LC50为0.582μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,LDD50为0.021μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1);吡虫啉对意大利工蜂的10 d LC50为0.055μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,LDD50为1.542 ng a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1)。试验结果可为毒死蜱和吡虫啉的安全使用提供科学参考,同时可促进我国农药对蜜蜂的安全性评价体系的完善。