Evaluation of aquatic environmental fate of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol with a mathematical model

A mathematical model, Simplified Approach for Fate Evaluation of Chemicals in Aquatic Systems (SAFECAS), was applied to evaluate fate of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol(TCP) in three types of aquatic environments; a river, an oligotrophic lake, and an eutrophic lake.Since phenols are dissociative substances, equilibrium constants and rate constants for transfer and transformation processes were measured or estimated as a function of pH.Results suggest that most of TCP is distributed to the water phase in aquatic environments, and is almost removed by the advective outflow in the river and by the photodegradation in lakes.     

Embryonic development assay with Daphnia magna: application to toxicity of aniline derivatives.

An assay system using Daphnia magna embryos was applied to investigate the adverse effects of aniline derivatives. The data were compared with our previous data for chlorophenols. This new assay provides useful information to evaluate the toxicity of chemicals and the differences in sensitivity between the life stages. The effects of 15 aniline derivatives on embryonic development of D. magna embryos were determined. At the start of exposure, 2-6-h old eggs (between stages 1 and 2, round in shape, diameter approx. 400 microm), were used. In control and solvent control groups, embryonic development from an egg to a free-swimming animal proceeded completely within 3 days with more than 90% hatchability. Median effective concentrations (EC50s) to reduce the numbers hatched were determined and gross morphological abnormalities of hatched animals recorded. Anilines induced no obvious morphological abnormalities and no developmental delay although premature deaths occurred. However, they affected the number of embryos hatching in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, this embryo assay was more sensitive to aniline derivatives (except for aniline) than acute juveniles immobilization assay. Ratios of 48-h EC50 (juvenile)/3-day EC50 (embryo) for eight anilines were greater than 5.0. Particularly, the ratios of 4-methyl-, 4-ethyl- and 3-methylaniline were 77, 23 and 11, respectively. EC50s for embryos and juveniles were poorly correlated (r = 0.41). This indicated that the sensitivities of the two life stages were different to the effects of anilines. EC50s were poorly correlated (r = -0.097) with the log Kow (1-octanol/water partition coefficient). These results were compared with previous results for phenols.     

Multi‐phase non‐steady state equilibrium model for evaluation of environmental fate of organic chemicals

A simple mathematical fate model, Multi‐Phase Non‐Steady State Equilibrium Model (MNSEM) is proposed to evaluate distribution, persistence, and concentrations of chemicals in a model environment consisting of air, water, soil and sediment phases. The model is applied to evaluation of environmental fate and concentration of trichloroethylene and 1,4‐dichlorobenzene under generic conditions representative of Japan.

Evaluated chemical concentrations in air are within a factor of 3 of average values in Japanese atmosphere, and evaluated concentrations in water, sediment, or fish are greater than an order of magnitude below detection limits in real environments, so that evaluated concentrations are in reasonable agreement with environmental measurement data in Japan.

Although MNSEM is not a model for site‐specific evaluation of environmental fate, results suggested that this model is an adequate method to aid in evaluation of fate of chemicals under generic environment conditions. Evaluated concentration‐profiles may be used to estimate average chemical exposure concentrations for humans and the environment.     

Scenario analysis for reduction of pollutant load discharged from a watershed by recycling of treated water for irrigation

A model in which a river model was layered on a distributed model (double-layered model) was developed to analyse the transport of water and pollutants (nitrogen,phosphorus,and BOD as organic matter) in watersheds and rivers.The model was applied to the watershed of Abragafuchi Lake,Japan,where serious water pollution has occurred over three decades,and the applicability of the model was demonstrated.Scenarios of recycling of sewage treated-water into agriculture to reduce pollutant load discharged into the lake were analysed.The results showed that irrigating paddy fields with the sewage-treated water could contribute to conserving water and reducing pollutant load,with reduction rate in BOD,nitrogen,and phosphorus ranging from 6%–36%,16%–46%,and 18%–51%,respectively.Particularly,the results indicated that,irrigating paddy fields with the treated water during non-cropping periods and the accompanying reduction in withdrawn water from the river were more effective in reducing pollutant loads discharged into the lake.Further study is required on the effect of recycled water on crop cultivation and soil conditions for safe implementation.     

Immunologic effects of perinatal exposure to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Japanese infants

Effects of perinatal exposure to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides on lymphocyte subsets were investigated in the peripheral blood from 101 Japanese infants with approximately 10 months of age. Perinatal exposure to these organochlorine compounds were estimated by their contamination levels in the breast milk of the mothers. Lymphocyte subsets such as CD16+, HLA-DR+, CD4+, CD4+8+, CD8+, CD3+ and CD20+ cells in peripheral venous blood were assessed in a subgroup of 92 infants. Greater exposures to HCE, chlordane and dioxins were significantly associated with the increase in the percentages of CD8+ and CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios, respectively. In addition, higher HCH exposure was also associated with a decrease in the percentage of HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore effects of dioxins, DDT and PCBs on the percentage of CD16+ T lymphocyte were more pronounced by the combined exposure of dioxins and PCBs or by the combined exposure of DDT and PCBs. Effects of HCE on the percentages of CD8+ T lymphocyte were also more pronounced by the combined exposure of HCE and chlordane. In conclusion, our study suggests that greater exposures to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides determined in this study (except dieldrin) influence the immune system of Japanese infant, although the clinical significance of these changes is uncertain.     

Darkened Xenopus tadpoles appeared with neurochemical agents

Skin darkened tadpoles sometimes appear spontaneously. Darkened was artificially induced in Xenopus larvae by yohimbine or chlorpromazine. These phenomena look like that are seen at pinealectomized or hypothalamus separated Xenopus larva. In this experiment, such a morphological color changed Xenopus larva is suggested by cause of inhibition of alpha2-adrenargic receptor or dopamine receptor from gastrula stages.     

Water-saving irrigation of paddy field to reduce nutrient runoff

The purpose of this work is to study the effect of a type of water-saving irrigation (WSI) on nutrient runo of paddy field. The volume of surface drainage was maintained low by WSI. In particular, WSI e ectively reduced surface drainage in rain events. Model simulation indicated that net runo load of total nitrogen (TN) from the paddy field was increased by WSI. Meanwhile, net runo loads of total phosphorus (TP) and total organic carbon (TOC) from the paddy field was decreased by WSI. Because ponding waters of the study fields were enriched with TP and TOC, WSI reduced runo of these nutrients by controlling the volume of surface drainage. WSI could be considered an e cient method for reducing runo loads and could conserve water quality in an agricultural watershed.