Showing papers in "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 1993"

Estrogen as an environmental pollutant.

Abstract: The paper ‘‘Estrogen as an Environmental Pollutant’’ appeared in the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 1993 (Shore et al. 1993). At the time it was one of the first papers to suggest that hormones excreted into the environment by humans and animals were present in sufficient quantities to disrupt the environment. Although originally an estrogen was defined as a compound that increase the uterine weight in the rats, in recent times, the ability to bind to the estrogen receptor has become the standard (Dorfman 1962; USEPA 1998). However, the receptor is also the site for chemicals to exert their anti-estrogenic actions. In nature there are some 300 natural compounds, and even more anthropogenic compounds, which have estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. These environmental estrogens can be categorized into four groups: (1) naturally occurring non-steroidal plant estrogens or phytoestrogens; (2) the steroid estrogens – 17b estradiol and estrone from animal and human sources; (3) the mycotoxins, zearalenone and zearalenol; (4) synthetic compounds with phenolic groups (Shemesh and Shore 1987; Lintelmann et al. 2003). In cows and sheep, the most important function of estrogen is to induce estrus behavior. However, too much estrogen, hyperestrogenism, can interfere with the function of the reproductive tract. Symptoms of hyperestrogenism in cattle include nymphomania (constant behavioral estrus), ovarian cysts and premature udder development (Shore and Bar-El Cohen 2010). Estrogens are also used in animal husbandry to increase growth in steers. In pigs, uterine prolapse caused by zearalenone is a common phenomenon. Phytoestrogens, in particular, are well documented to cause problems of infertility in cattle (Shemesh and Shore 1987). The function of the phytoestrogen in a legume is to signal the rhizobium to colonize the nodules. There is some evidence that the compounds may have evolved to be a mechanism to reduce fertility in foragers as well. A number of decades ago we noticed a rise in the level of coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, in alfalfa plants to levels associated with reproductive disorders. This was unrelated to any known trauma which we had previously described (Shemesh et al. 1969). It was found that the rise in coumestrol was correlated with irrigation by treated sewage water (Shore et al. 1995). When the treated sewage water was tested, estrone and 17b estradiol were readily detected. Furthermore, using experimental hothouse and hydroponic experiments, it was shown estrone and 17b estradiol in concentrations found in the irrigation water promoted vegetative growth (Shore et al. 1992). In separate line of investigation, it was observed that cattle, which were fed chicken manure silaged with wheat, developed premature udders. Examination of the chicken manure showed that the amount of steroidal estrogen ingested (1 mg/9 kg of feed/day) was high enough to explain the phenomenon (Shore et al. 1988; Shemesh and Shore 1994). Other reproductive disruptions could be attributed to the testosterone present in the manure (Shemesh and Shore 1994). These steroids were persistent in the environment as there was no decrease in either the content of testosterone or estrogen following 6 months of silaging (Shore and Shemesh 1993). In our 1993 paper in this journal, we focused on steroidal hormones since steroidal estrogens and testosterone from human and animal sources are constantly excreted & L. S. Shore laurenceshores@gmail.com

Differences in toxicity of the insecticide chlorpyrifos to six species of earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in standardized soil tests

Abstract: The choice of the earthworm species for use in the laboratory screening of chemicals remains a matter of controversy. The earthworm Eisenia fetida has been specified as a test species in current international standards for testing the acute lethality of chemicals to earthworms (OECD 1984; EEC 1985). E.fetida is a compost-dwelling species convenient for captive breeding. However, its ecological representativeness for soildwelling species may be questioned. From an ecotoxicological point of view it is important to know how the susceptibility of Eisenia fetida to chemicals compares to that of other species of earthworms. The aim of the present study was to compare the laboratory toxicity of the pesticide chemical chlorpyrifos to six species of earthworms. Acute lethality tests were conducted as well as tests assessing the effect of chlorpyrifos on earthworm reproduction. Additional control tests were carried out with chloracetamide as a toxic reference standard. The combined results suggest that chlorpyrifos shows a considerable and specific species-related variation in toxicity to earthworms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chlorpyrifos [O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl)phosphorothioate] is a broad spectrum insecticide. Its toxicity was assessed as a 99 % pure form obtained from Riedel-de-Harn. The reference standard chemical chloracetamide (C1CH2CONH2) was obtained from Aldrich Chemical Company in a 98.5% pure form.

Regional Alterations in the Levels of Brain Biogenic Amines, Glutamate, GABA, and GAD Activity Due to Chronic Consumption of Inorganic Arsenic in Developing and Adult Rats

Abstract: Arsenic contamination is widely prevalent in soils and waters of various parts of the world (World Health Organization, 1981). Arsenic consumption in humans has been reported to lead to cancer of skin and respiratory tract, liver damage, dermatosis, sensory motor polyneuropathy, hearing loss, EEG abnormalities and in extreme cases to hallucinations, disorientation and agitation (Beckett et al. 1986; Binder et al. 1987; Mazumder et ai.1988; Pershagen, 1986). In spite of awareness of its hazardous effects on the central nervous system (CNS) there have been no studies so far reported about the effects of chronic consumption of arsenic,particularly in the developing age, on biogenic amine neurotransmitters viz. noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT).Hence this study was conducted to elicit information on the effects of chronic consumption of arsenic throughout developing age on the levels of these amines in different regions of the brain and the extent of restitution to normal levels after a long period of stopping consumption. In addition, it was also aimed to assess changes in glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity and in levels of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) as these amino acids are not only involved in carbohydrate metabolism but also in neurotransmitter pools. For comparative understanding, effects of arsenic intake in adult groups were also studied.

Influence of some growth regulators and cations on inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis by lead in maize.

Abstract: Phytotoxic effects of Pb pollution are well established. In order to analyse the physiological basis of toxic symptoms and of reduced plant productivity, its effect on chlorophyll content has been examined in some plants. Thus, a decrease in total chlorophyll content during Pb supply has been observed in oats, mung beam, pea, etc. The activity of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, an important enzyme in the biosynthesis of heme pigments, is inhibited by Pb in mung bean and several other species. This observation may perhaps indicate that a reduction in chlorophyll content in the presence of lead is due to an inhibition of pigment synthesis. The effect of Pb on greening maize leaf segments in the presence of various precursors of chlorophyll has been studied in the present investigation to evaluate this hypothesis. The effect of some growth regulators and cations, which could otherwise modify chlorophyll biosynthesis, has been examined to see whether the toxic effects of Pb on photosynthetic pigments could also be modified by these effectors. 16 refs., 4 tabs.

Estimation of hemosiderosis in seabirds and fish exposed to petroleum.

Abstract: Many seabirds die each year after exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons (Piatt and Lensink 1990; Khan and Ryan 1991). Crude oil, following ingestion, induces hemolytic anemia which occurs 4 to 5 d later (Leighton et al. 1983). A recent study reported the presence of hemosiderin in the liver of common murres (Uria aalge) at intervals up to 42 d after oil-contamination (Khan and Ryan 1991). Hemosiderosis has also been reported in plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, following the Amoco Cadiz oil spill off the coast of France (Haensly et al. 1982) and after experimental exposure of Atlantic cod, _Gadus morhua, and longhorn sculpin, _Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, to petroleum (Khan and Kiceniuk 1984; Khan 1991).

Salinity tolerance and growth analysis of the cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum.

Abstract: Salinity is one of the most deleterious environmental factors for global agriculture. Secondary salinization from irrigation is an increasingly serious and costly problem. Approximately 30 to 50% of the worldwide irrigated land has been affected by salinity (Maas and Hoffman 1977). Cyanobacteria have been applied with success for the reclamation of saline soils. Because of the potential economic implications, much interest is currently being devoted to the mechanism of salt-adaptation/tolerance of cyanobacteria (Borowitzka 1986). Salinity inhibits general protein synthesis (Hsiao 1973), induces specific stress proteins (Hagemann et al. 1990) and increases chlorophyll (Ferreira and Shaw 1989) and protein degradation by stimulating protease activity (Davies 1982). Very few studies have dealt with the functional approach to phmt growth analysis in determining the salinity effect and whatever reports are available, concern higher plants (Cramer et al. 1990). Our earlier study (Rai 1990) showed that photosynthetic activity of the freshwater cyanobacterium

Lead, Cadmium, Nickel, and Zinc Contamination of Ground Water around Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad, India

Abstract: Metals and metallic compounds are important components of the human environment and many of these compounds are essential for human health. The mobilization of various toxic metals in our environment, however, can cause excessive exposures which may be hazardous to human health (Underwood, 1979). Metal pollution comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources (Moore and Ramamoorthy, 1984). Of the various sources of water pollution, one of the most important is however, industrial waste water directly entering aquatic systems. This has resulted in the transformation of lakes into sewage lagoons. Lake Hussain Sagar is a typical example of an industrially polluted lake, situated in the heart of Hyderabad city. The lake is heavily contaminated by various metats~ (Mazharuddin et at 1985). The lake has an area of 4.83 Km Z with mean depth of 2.5 m. Apart from minor inflows from the city, the source of water to the lake is the Kukatpatty channel, which passes through the industrial zone of the city (Fig. 1). More than 400 industrial units which manufacture chemicals, drugs, paints and machine toots are located on its banks (Simhachatam, 1975). The source of the heavy metal pollution is leakage from overloaded sewers draining the industrial belt which run in to this channel. Some of the industries dump their untreated and partially treated effluent directly into the lake. In the past 2 decades the quality of the water in the lake has deteriorated due to the impact of rapid urbanisation and industriatisatio n. A study of heavy metal contamination by Zafar et al. (1976) has revealed that heavy metals in different parts of the lake basin exceeded normal limits. In the recent past attempts were made to study water chemistry and heavy metal impact in the water and sediment of Hussain Sagar take (Khan 1983, Khan and Seenayya 1985, Prahtad and Seenayya 1987). However, the impact of metal contaminated lake on the quality of ground water by seepage has been overlooked. Because the ground water is used in addition to municipal surface water, to augment water supply during summer by more than half a million city's

Structure-toxicity relationships for unsaturated alcohols to Tetrahymena pyriformis: C5 and C6 analogs and primary propargylic alcohols.

Abstract: In summary, the relative toxicity of selected unsaturated alcohols were evaluated in the static Tetrahymena pyriformis population growth assay. The alkyn-1-ols were found to be more toxic than alken-1-ols. Moreover, 2-position unsaturated derivatives were more toxic than other isomers. A linear log Kow dependent relationship was generated (slope = 0.64; intercept = −0.61; r2 = 0.974) for selected 2-alkyn-1-ols. However, the diols were observed to be more toxic than predicted.

Microbial Abundance and Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of highly lipophilic chemicals that are generally formed during combustion, pyrolysis and pyrosynthesis of organic matter and are present ubiquitously in the urban environment as pollutants in very small quantities. The objective of the present study was to determine the activity of indigenous microbial populations of hazardous waste sites, their degree of adaptation, their ability to degrade toxic PAHs, and to study the potentials of different indigenous microbes to degrade the following selected PAHs from the polluted soil environment. PAHs selected for the study were anthracene, phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene and fluoranthene. In this study, the indigenous contaminated soil populations were effective in removing the hydrocarbons and returning the soil to productivity. The biodegradation of PAHs in the selected soil was due to PAH degrader present in the bacterial as well as fungal communities. 13 refs., 2 tabs.

Effects of chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc on longevity and reproduction of the cladoceran Moina macrocopa

Abstract: Most rivers and ponds in Hong Kong are polluted to various extents by domestic sewage, livestock wastes and industrial effluents. Spillage of wastewater from electroplating factories and unauthorized connections of industrial discharges to stormwater drains in multi-story industrial buildings are the most important sources of heavy metal pollution. The worst situation, in terms of heavy metal pollution, is the Shing Mun River which flows through the industrial areas of Fo Tan. A recent survey of water quality in the Fo Tan nullah (Environmental Protection Department, 1989) showed that the concentration of chromium averaged 0.02 mg/L, copper 0.85 mg/L and zinc 0.16 mg/L.