Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Livers of American Mink (Mustela vison) and River Otter (Lutra canadensis) from the Columbia and Fraser River Basins, 1990–1992

We investigated chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants in aquatic mustelid species on the Fraser and Columbia Rivers of northwestern North America. Carcasses of river otter (Lutra canadensis) (N=24) and mink (Mustela vison) (N=34) were obtained from commercial trappers during the winters of 1990–91 and 1991–92. Pooled liver samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including non-ortho congeners, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Most samples contained detectable concentrations of DDE, PCBs, although there was substantial variability in patterns and trends among neighboring samples. Concentrations of DDE were in some mink and several otter samples from the lower Columbia River elevated (to 4700 g/kg wet weight); excluding one mink sample from the Wenatchee area, mean DDE levels generally decreased between 1978–79 and 1990–92. PCBs were present in all samples. PCB concentrations in otter livers collected from the lower Columbia were ten-fold lower than measured a decade previously; nevertheless, a sample taken near Portland had a mean concentration of 1500 g/kg, within a range of concentrations associated with reproductive effects in captive mink. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and TCDF were generally below detection limits, except for one otter collected near a pulp mill at Castlegar, on the upper Columbia, with 11 ng TCDD/kg in liver. Elevated concentrations of higher chlorinated PCDD/Fs, probably resulting from use of chlorophenolic wood preservatives, were found in both species; one otter sample from the lower Columbia had 2200 ng OCDD/kg. International TCDD toxic equivalent levels in mink (31 ng/kg) and otter (93 ng/kg) from the lower Columbia River approached toxicity thresholds for effects on reproduction in ranch mink.     

毛细管色谱-多离子检测质谱法测定土壤中2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并二噁(2,3,7,8-TCDD)

环境中的多氯二苯并二(口恶)(口英)(PCDD_s)和多氯二苯并呋喃(PCDF_s)是当今最受重视的污染物之一,其中PCDD_s有75个异构体而PCDF_s有135个异构体,它们的毒性大小显著地依赖于氯原子的取代数和取代位置,由于这类污染物的低溶解度和高的辛醇/水分配系数,主要分布在土壤(85％)和沉积物(14％)中,只有1％进入空气、水和生物体.在自然环境中这类污染物代谢降解速度缓慢,从而增加了环境污染的复杂性.而鉴别这类污染物就成为一个主要研究课题.     

Hydroxytyrosol, the phenolic compound of olive oil protects human PBMC against oxidative stress and DNA damage mediated by 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a strong antioxidant compound from extra virgin olive oil, against TCDD induced toxicity was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC (1 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹) were divided into four groups and were incubated in a CO₂ incubator (5% CO₂) for 12 h with vehicle, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD + HT (10 nM + 100 μM) and HT alone (100 μM) respectively. To clarify the role of HT against TCDD induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Incubation of PBMC with TCDD significantly decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation products (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, HT had an effective antioxidant property as observed by the increased cell viability, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and decreased levels of LPO, PCC and ROS in PBMC co-treated with HT and TCDD. Apoptosis detection and comet assay results shows that HT, by acting as an antioxidant, prevents the damage to DNA induced by TCDD. In addition light microscopic and histopathological observations revealed that the cells are apoptotic and degenerated during TCDD treatment, whereas cells showed intact morphology during co-treatment with HT. On the whole, the results reveal that HT exerts a promising antioxidant potential in protecting the PBMC against TCDD induced oxidative stress, which might be due to the presence of catechol moiety in its structure.     

Intra- and inter- laboratory variability in paper industry PCDD/PCDF analysis

Studies were conducted to quantify variability for pulp industry wastewater effluent, pulp and sludge analyses. Intralaboratory variability studies indicated that there is a potential for greater between batch variability in results than for within a batch. Intralaboratory relative standard deviations for replicate analyses ranged from 6% to 60%. Interlaboratory studies, using standard reference materials showed relative standard deviations from 4% to 135%. There appeared to be little dependance of variability on concentration, suggesting matrix effects were very important. In general, effluent variability was greater than observed for pulps or sludges. Analysis of reference standards indicated that 13% to 17% variability can be attributed to differences in calibration standards. A limited study of full congener PCDD/PCDF analysis variability showed it to be greater than observed for TCDD/TCDF.     

Statistical interpolation model for the description of ground pollution due to the TCDD produced in the 1976 chemical accident at seveso in the heavily contaminated zone “A”;

The influence of NTA on chromium genetic activity was studied in the D7 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At low dose (subgenotoxic) of sodium chromate (CrVI) (5mM), NTA increased the point mutation while at higher dose (25 mM) of chromate in the presence of NTA a decrease of point reverse mutation was observed. Probably NTA affected either the uptake of Cr(VI) favouring the intracellular reduction to Cr(III), or the recombinational repair of DNA breaks induced by chromate oxiding activity.

An increase of point (reverse) mutation was obtained in the experiments with NTA and chromium chloride, suggesting the hypothesis that NTA might interact with Cr(III) forming NTA‐Cr(III) complexes able to permeate cellular membranes and bind to DNA. In addition NTA genetic inactivity was confirmed.     

妊娠小鼠子宫对2,3,7,8-四氯苯二噁英毒性的敏感性研究

对妊娠早期小鼠用不同剂量的TCDD进行处理，妊娠第9天采集血清、肝、肾、脑、脂肪、子宫和胎儿等样品，利用酵母报道基因系统进行组织中TCDD含量检测，结果发现脂肪中TCDD含量最高，其次是肝脏、子宫和胎儿．由于TCDD的毒性需通过体内包括细胞色素P4501A2在内的代谢酶的活化，采用免疫组化的方法对TCDD诱导的该酶的表达水平进行了检测，发现肝脏和子宫的阳性反应最强，并且所需剂量很低，肾脏和脂肪组织在较高剂量出现阳性反应，而脑组织则仅在更大剂量时出现微弱的阳性信号．此现象说明子宫和肝脏一样，可以通过芳香烃类受体诱导细胞色素P4501A2酶的产生，活化TCDD，引起对细胞的毒性并产生对胚胎的毒性．在低剂量时观察到的强烈的生殖毒性应该和TCDD在子宫的蓄积和子宫内敏感的细胞色素P4501A诱导能力有关．     

Human exposure to dioxins through diet in Italy

We have measured the content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (together defined as “dioxins”) in 269 samples of food of animal origin collected through the regional veterinary services, covering the national territory. Quantification of the dioxins was accomplished by isotope dilution method, and toxic equivalents (TEQ) were calculated. The average daily food intake was obtained from two main sources: national data collected by the National Institute of Nutrition, and data from an ongoing cohort study on diet and cancer including 40, 000 Italian subjects.

The mean value of dioxins measured in food of animal origin was 0.144 ± 0.266 pg-TEQ/g (range: 0.003–1.655 pg-TEQ/g). Fish was the item with the highest content. The estimated intake of dioxins with main food items of animal origin is presented. The major contribution to dioxins intake with food comes from cow milk and fish consumption. These results are in agreement with what observed in studies conducted in other countries, such as Germany, Finland, Japan, Spain, and are below the limits set by the European legislation.     

二恶英类毒理学研究新进展

二恶英类的毒理学研究已有30多年的历史,在一系列二恶英类污染事件和国际公约的推动下,近年来二恶英类毒理学研究成为备受关注的热点.综述了近年来二恶英类毒理学研究的一些新的观点和发现,涵盖了分子毒性机理、致癌毒性、非致癌毒性和非致癌剂量-效应风险度评价方法等诸多领域,其中TCDD毒性效应的负反馈调节机制研究和对人体健康非致癌效应的影响引起了国内外广大毒理学研究工作者的关注.在总结前人研究的基础上对二恶英类毒理学研究今后的发展进行了展望.     

Colloid facilitated transport of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) to the groundwater at Ma Da Area, Vietnam

PCDD/Fs are hydrophobic organic substances and strongly sorbing to soil particles. Once adsorbed to soil particles they are believed to be virtually immobile. However, research in the last decades confirmed that strong sorbing contaminants may reach the groundwater via colloid-facilitated transport. This pathway has not been investigated before in Vietnam. Ma Da area, 100 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, was repeatedly sprayed during the Vietnam War (1962–1971) with herbicides like Agent Orange containing, beside others, the teratogenic contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). 11 surface soil samples and 12 water samples were collected in Ma Da area for analysis of PCDD/Fs in solids. Soil TCDD concentrations ranged from 1–41 ppt with a mean of 8.8 ppt and a mean I-TEQ of 9.7 ppt. Two surface water samples showed colloid bound TCDD (7 and 19 ppt). Groundwater samples showed elevated colloid bound PCDD concentrations (mean 770 ng/kg), mainly octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Groundwater colloids separated by filtration did not show any TCDD. The results support that TCDD/Fs can be relocated from the top soil to the groundwater by colloidal pathway. They did not provide evidence that the dioxins bound to groundwater colloids are leftovers from the Second Indochinese War. However, this study reinforces that the colloidal transport pathway has to be included investigating the relocation of strong sorbing organic contaminants.     

二噁英对非洲爪蛙细胞色素P450表达的影响

二噁英(代DD)是一类毒性较强的环境污染物质.试验使用印记法定量检测了非洲爪蛙芳烃基受体(从R)及其核内的转录因子(Amt),细胞色素P450(CYP)中的CYP1A6 mRNA及CYP1A7 mRNA;用免疫反应检测了CYP1A蛋白质的表达.结果表明:TCDD的染毒没有引起AhR和Arnt表达量的增加,但引起CYP1A6 mRNA及CYP1A7 mRNA表达的极显著增加,以及CYP1A蛋白质的强烈表达;TCDD强烈诱发非洲爪蛙CYP1A,且存在质量浓度依存性,使用CYP1A作为环境危险性评价具有一定的可探讨性.