Showing papers in "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 1995"

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in the central nervous system of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, by mercury, cadmium, and lead.

Abstract: The toxicological, physiological and biochemical responses of aquatic crustaceans to heavy metals have been reported by several investigators. Levels of glucose, lactic acid, sodium, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the blood of the crab Scylla serrata increased, while glycogen levels in hepatopancreas and muscle decreased after a four-week exposure to mercuric chloride. In fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, enzyme activity was observed to decrease in the hepatopancreas but increased in abdominal muscle after 48 hr cadmium exposure. In the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, exposed for 96 hr to cadmium, glutahione (GSH) level and GSH S-transferase activity deceased in the midgut. In crayfish Astacus astacus exposed to sublethal concentrations of lead and cadmium, oxidative enzyme (succine dehydrogenase and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase) activities in gills and hepatopancrease decreased. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by organophosphates and organocarbamates in various crustaceans has bee reported. In vivo cadmium exposure caused increases in esterase activities, but mercury exposure decreases these activities in the hepatopancreas of the shrimp Callianassa tyrrhena. The freshwater crab, Barytelphusa guerini, exposed to 0.6 ppm cadmium showed reduced oxygen consumption throughout the experiment whereas AChE activity increased after 4 days but decreased after 15 days. The authors wanted to determine the effectsmore » of cadmium, lead and mercury on AChE activity in central nervous tissue of Procambarus clarkii. This enzyme has the potential for serving both as a biochemical indicator of toxic stress and a sensitive parameter for testing water for the presence of toxicants. These three biologically silent metals have, according to Schweinsberg and Karsa great toxicological significance to humans because their use is widespread. 14 refs., 4 figs.« less

Accumulation of arsenic and zinc in the rhizosphere of wetland plants

Abstract: Oxidation of the rhizosphere by wetland plants leads to precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides (ironplaque) in the rhizosphere and on the root surface of the plants. Arsenic and zinc have a high binding affinity for iron oxyhydroxides and were found to accumulate in ironplaque on roots of Aster tripolium L. It was argued that rhizosphere oxidation and formation of an ironplaque would favor the accumulation of iron, arsenic and zinc in the rhizosphere. Oxidation of ferrous iron to its ferric form would lead to precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides in the rhizosphere, which in turn would lead to a decreasing concentration gradient of dissolved iron towards the plant roots. The iron oxyhydroxides in turn would bind arsenic and zinc, again creating a decreasing concentration gradient of both elements towards the roots. These gradients would lead to the diffusion of iron, arsenic and zinc in the direction of the roots. Assuming that uptake of the elements by the roots is slower than supply through diffusion, an increase in concentrations of all three elements would be expected to occur in the solid phase of the rhizosphere. The plant-induced processes in wetland soils may not only affect the availability of zine and arsenic to plantsmore » but also may play an important role in the sink function of wetlands for metals and metalloids. This paper reports the results of a pilot field study which compared concentrations of the metals in ironplaque, rhizosphere soil and bulk soil under Spartina anglica and Halimione portulacoides. 20 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Residue levels of phthalate esters in water and sediment samples from the Klang River basin.

Abstract: The Klang River, which is located on the West coast of central Peninsular Malaysia, is regarded as an important waterway. It flows through the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and the suburban area of the densely populated and highly industrialized Klang Valley. The upper reaches of the Klang River serve as an important source of water supply to an estimated population of two million people in this region, together with its growing industrial activities.

Gammarus pulex (L.) feeding bioassay : effects of parasitism

Abstract: Taylor et al. (1993) described a pollutant bioassay based upon a change in the rate at which Gammarus pulex (L.) consumes a novel food source (eggs of the brine shrimp Anemia salina) when the animals are stressed by exposure to a pollutant. The bioassay is rapid and non-destructive, and produces results with less variation than reported using conventional leaf-feeding bioassays. However, it is important to determine the extent to which results may be influenced by the physiological status (e.g., due to parasitism) of the animals used in the bioassay. The acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis Muller, 1776 uses the freshwater amphipod G. pulex as its sole intermediate host with the cystacanth, the final developmental stage in G. pulex being infective to fish, particularly the barbel Barbus barbus (L.) and chub Leuciscus cephalus (L.). Cystacanths are known to affect the respiration (Rumpus and Kennedy 1974), behavior (Brown and Thompson 1986), mating decisions (Poulton and Thompson 1987), reproduction (Poulton and Pascoe 1990), behavioral drift (McCahon et al. 1991) and hemolymph concentrations (Bentley and Hurd 1993) of their amphipod host. The aim of this work was to determine whether the feeding activity of the shrimp G. pulex is also modified by the presence of the parasite, and, if so, the consequences for pollution evaluation using the feeding bioassay. MATERIALS AND METHODS Shrimps were collected by kick-sampling from the River Teme, Herefordshire (Brown and Pascoe 1989) where, at the time of collection, water quality conditions were: pH, 7.98; temperature, 12.5oC; dissolved oxygen, 9.5 mg/L; conductivity, 298/~S/cm. Twenty large animals (approx. 7 mm in length) and 20 small (approx. 5 mm in length) were selected from the collection and transferred to individual perspex dishes (base area 18 cm 2) containing 18 ml of river water, together with 10 shell-less eggs of Anemia salina. The feeding bioassay was carried out immediately, as described by Taylor et al. (1993), by recording, at regular time intervals, the number of eggs consumed by each animal. On returning to the laboratory the length and weight of each shrimp were measured and the animals were then dissected to reveal the presence of any infestation with the parasite P. laevis. This allowed a classification of both large Correspondence to: D. Pascoe

Organochlorine pesticide residues in middle stream of the Ganga River, India.

Abstract: The chlorinated organic pesticides BHC, DDT, Aldrin etc. which are extensively used in agriculture and public health programme are very persistent in nature. As is well known, they are lipid soluble toxic chemicals and cumulative accumulation of low concentrations of these pesticides in the body fat of mammals might pose potential hazards in the long run (Metcalf 1977). These pesticides not only exist in target organism and soil system for a considerable period of time but also enter into natural waters by percolation and runoff from agricultural land and channels, and city sewage from urban site, affecting the quality of various water sources. The persistence of these organochlorines in water has a special significance as they are taken up by unicellular aquatic organisms like plankton and thus enter into the food chain. Although some reports concerning the pollution of Ganga water by pesticides are available (Sinha 1988; Halder 1990; Agnihotri 1992) but there appears to be no systematic investigations, particularly in middle stream of Ganga and specifically in Varanasi area. Moreover, Varanasi is densely populated city and heavily pressurised by the tourists. It is also famous as one of the most important as well as popular vegetable belt in India. There are about eightyfour ghats situated at the western bank over a span of 10km and the main city ends in these ghats; the eastern bank is totally agricultural belt. Organochlorine pesticides are extensively used in both the banks for public health and agricultural purpose throughout the year. Thus it was thought worth while to monitore the levels of runoff organochlorine pesticides viz. BHC, DDT and endosulfan along with their isomers and metabolites in the Ganga water in Varanasi area.

Comparative analyses of contaminant levels in bottom feeding and predatory fish using the national contaminant biomonitoring program data

Abstract: Both bottom feeding and predatory fish accumulate chemical contaminants found in water. Bottom feeders are readily exposed to the greater quantities of chlorinated hydrocarbons and metals that accumulate in sediments. Predators, on the other hand, may bioaccumulate organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and metals from the surrounding water or from feeding on other fish, including bottom feeders, which may result in the biomagnification of these compounds in their tissues. This study used National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program data produced by the Fish and Wildlife Service to test the hypothesis that differences exist between bottom feeders and predators in tissue levels of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and metals. 7 refs., 2 tabs.

PCB metabolism by ectomycorrhizal fungi.

Abstract: Since 1976 the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been banned in the U.S. Prior to this, commercial mixtures (Aroclors) had been used extensively as an industrial lubricant because of their nonflammable, nonreactive properties. These same properties are responsible for their persistent in the environment where they bind to soil particles and resist biodegradation. Decontamination of PCB-laden soil is expensive with excavation followed by either storage or incineration as the primary means of remediation. The use of microorganisms for PCB bioremediation has been gaining popularity in the past few years. Bacteria and/or fungi isolated from environmental samples have been used to degrade PCBs under laboratory conditions, but in field trials they have not been as effective. The most common explanation for the poor performance of PCB-degrading organisms introduced at contaminated sites is that they do not compete well with the existing populations. Plant-ectomycorrhizal systems may overcome this problem. Introduction and cultivation of a known host plant at a contaminated site has the potential of providing a survival advantage for ectomycorrhizal fungi that normally colonize the roots of the introduced plant. Ectomycorrhizal fungi exist naturally in the soil and normally grow in association with the roots of a host plant inmore » a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. Preliminary in vitro examination of this group of fungi for their ability to enzymatically degrade xenobiotics is very promising. In vivo studies have shown that some of these fungi have the ability to degrade chlorinated, aromatic compounds, such as 2,4-D and atrazine. The aspect of ectomycorrhizal metabolism was investigated further in the current study by determining the ability of 21 different fungi to metabolize 19 different PCB congeners with varying chlorine content and substitution patterns. 13 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.« less

Gender-related decrease in Raven's progressive matrices scores in children prenatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and related contaminants.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and industrial mixtures that have been widely used throughout the world. PCBs have long environmental half lives and bioconcentrate, therefore contaminating soil, water, wild life, and human tissues. Typical human exposures come from environmental contamination of food supply, especially fresh water fish and meat, and occupational exposures. In certain uses, PCBs can partially oxidize and themselves become contaminated by extremely toxic compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Two episodes of intoxication with heat-degraded PCBs have occurred, in Japan and Taiwan respectively. In 1979, over 2000 persons in Taiwan were intoxicated by heat-degraded PCBs that had contaminated their cooking oil. Kaneclor 500 (a Japanese PCB mixture) contained in the heating pipe was used as the heat transmitter. Leakage of the pipe introduced PCBs and heat-degraded products such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated quaterphenyls (PCQs) into the rice oil. Exposed victims developed chloracne, hyperpigmentation, peripheral neuropathy, and other signs and symptoms which were later called Yu-Cheng ({open_quotes}oil disease{close_quotes}) in Taiwan. These symptoms were caused not only by PCBs but by their heat degraded products, PCDFs. PCBs, PCDFs and PCDDs also can cross the placenta to affect the fetus and cause significant neurodevelopmental toxicity. Raven`s Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM)more » and Standarized Progressive Matrices (SPM) test spatial rather than verbal capabilities in children. These test are useful for determining whether prenatal exposure to PCBs/PCDFs cause differential effects on boys and girls. This paper reports results of CPM and SPM from age six to nine year in Yu-Cheng children and their matched controls. Cognative deficits up to 9 years of age were detected n children with prenatal exposure to PCBs and PCDFs, and boys were more affected than girls. 26 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.« less

In vivo toxicity of dimethoate on proteins and transaminases in the liver tissue of fresh water fish Clarias batrachus (Linn).

Abstract: Environmental pollution due to extensive usage of the pesticides to enhance farm productivity and inexpensive control of vector-borne diseases without proper management has far reaclfing effect on the survival potential of aquatic animals. Some of these toxic chemicals may persist in the environment for long periods, often unchanged. These chemicals, apart from affecting the target pests also affects the nontarget organisms present in that media. Fish form one of the important nontarget organisms in any aquatic systems, and are one of the major sources of cheap protein for human beings in India. Results of controlled laboratory exposures of fishes to pesticides and related chemicals have revealed that liver is often the organ with lfighest pesticides concentration (Duke and Wilson 1971). Although more than 900 commercial pesticides are in general use, fewer than 30 have been examined for their adverse effects on fish liver ( Pimentel 1971; Gupta 1986 ). Therefore in the present investigation, the effect of commercial Dimethoate EC 30 % (O, O-dimethyl S (N - methylcarbamoylmethyl) Phosphorodithioate), and organophosphorus (OP) insecticide on the liver ofClarias batrachus (Linn) was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS C. batrachus in the weight range of 35 - 40 g and length 20 - 22 cm were collected locally and acclimatized to laboratory conditions for 2 wk, fed with commercial balanced fish feed and starved for 1 d prior to the day of experimentation. The physicochemical characteristics of the laboratory water were in the tbllowing range: pH 7.3 - 7.5; dissolved oxygen 7.5 - 8 mg/L; temperature 27~ - 29~ hardness 98 - 100 mg/L as CaCO3; and alkalinity 85 - 90 mg/L as CaCO 3. The dimethoate EC 30% was obtained from the l,~cal market ( Rallis India Ltd., Bombay, India). The other 70% were the solvents and emulsifiers. The control fish were maintained with 0.1 mL/L alcohol as it was used for dissolving dimethoate. To determine the LCso value, ten fish per 10 L of water were exposed to six serial concentrations of dimethoate. The bioassay experiment of each concentration was repeated six times

Effects of Cobalt and pH on the Growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Abstract: Chlamvdomonas reinhardtii is a typical unicellular, spherlcal, green algae containing a large chloroplast, two anterior flagella, and chlorophylls a and b. It is an important organism in several diverse environments, mainly fresh water and soil (Bold & Wynne, 1985). As producers, they have great importance in food chains and the accumulation of heavy metals at various trophic levels of algae, higher plants and animals might affect man ( Kelly, 1988). The study of organisms, such as Chlamvdomonas, can provide an indication of the toxic effects of a pollutant on general metabolic processes, as well as acting as an indicator of the level of pollution in the environment. Algae, more than other groups of organisms, may yield information from experimental simulations that have predictive value for field situations. Organisms at higher trophic levels are more complex and not as easily studied (Stokes, 1984). Previous studies have indicated that dependent upon the organism and the test system employed ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, different sensitivities to metal toxicity will be demonstrated (Codina et al., 1993).

Distribution of heavy metals in tissues of the shrimp Penaeus californiensis from the northwest coast of Mexico

Abstract: The brown shrimp, Penaeus californiensis Holmes, is an Eastern Pacific species which is geographically distributed from San Francisco, California, USA, including the Gulf of California, to Callao, Peru. In Mexico and particularly in the Pacific Coast, this crustacean supports 75% of the commercial catch of shrimp. Knowledge of the distribution of metals in isolated tissues of marine organisms is useful in order to identify specific organs that may be particularly selective and sensitive to accumulation of heavy metals. This paper presents data on the levels of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Zn in five different tissues of the P. californiensis populations from the northwest coast of Mexico. Additionally, the accumulation of metals by males and females is examined. 16 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

Petroleum and chlorinated hydrocarbons in water from Lake Manzala and associated canals

Abstract: Lake Manzala is located at the north eastern edge of Nile Delta in Egypt. It is separated from the Mediterranean sea by a sandy beach ridge. However, the lake is in connection with the sea through three opening nearby Port Said. The area of the lake is about 769 Km{sup 2} and relatively shallow with an average depth of 1.3 m. The lake is of high economic value as a natural resource, for fishery, reacreation and for migratory birds. The lake is highly polluted as it receives wastewaters discharged by several canal. The present investigation aimed to assess the residue levels of petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the lake water as well as in Hadous canal, Fariskur canal and Bahr-El-Baqar canal. 9 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.

Bioconcentration factors (BCF) of silver in wild Agaricus campestris.

Abstract: Silver is an element naturally occurring in small concentrations in different environmental sites. However, many anthropogenic sources of silver led to contamination of this element in soil surfaces, pastures, and coastal marine areas in different parts of the world. Estimates are that 40% of the 1.15x10{sup 4}t of silver produced annually worldwide, will escape into the environment. Due to municipal waste discharge and/or industrial effluents with high silver concentrations, 100 x above the background level have been reported in invertebrate species from polluted marine areas. The meta-stabile radioisotope, {sup 110m}Ag, is a main component of the liquid effluents from nuclear facilities under normal operating conditions. The presence of {sup 111}Ag and {sup 110m}Ag also has been widely found throughout Europe in the 1986 Chernobyl fallout. Silver ions are environmentally harmful. High toxic effects have been observed at low concentrations, especially in aquatic species. Species of lower fungi as well as the mushroom Agaricus bisporus are know to bioaccumulate high concentrations of silver when grown on an artificially enriched substrate. This study looks at the relationship between the silver content of soil and bioconcentration potential of wild Agaricus campestris from sites under different use and with different concentrations of heavy metals.more » 28 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Cadmium and lead uptake by edible crops grown in a silt loam soil.

Abstract: There is increasing public concern about health effects resulting from ingestion of food containing toxic metals such as Cd and Pb. For example, a wide range of metabolic disorders and neuropsychological deficits in children have been noted, and chronic exposure to Cd has been linked to kidney failure and bone disease. The potential harm posed by the uptake of heavy metals such as Cd and Pb by plants is dependent on their abundance, mobility and bioaccumulation. Plant uptake of heavy metals was also influenced by soil pH. There is a linear relationship between soil concentrations of heavy metal and concentrations in vegetation around a zinc-lead tailing pond. The ability of the soil to retain metals depends on several factors; pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter content, and their specific geochemical properties. Overall, the metal burden of a crop depends on: (a) uptake via the root system; (b) direct foliar uptake and translocation within the plant; and (c) surface deposition of particulate matter. Numerous studies have been conducted with agronomic crops regarding heavy metals in soils and plant uptake from sewage sludge, but only a few studies have dealt with the uptake of heavy metal mixtures in vegetables. This papermore » reports on germination/emergence, biomass and uptake of Cd and Pb in lettuce and radish grown in a loam soil spiked with known mixtures of CdCl{sub 2} and Pb(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}. Lettuce and radish have been used in this study because they are among the two groups of vegetable crops (leafy and root) consumed by humans. Also, earlier studies have reported that lettuce and radish bioaccumulate Cd and Pb from heavy metal polluted soils. 38 refs., 7 tabs.« less

Total and organic mercury in Barents Sea pelagic fish.

Abstract: One of the main questions, when studying mercury levels in natural samples, is to define how far the measured concentrations correspond to natural- or background-levels or to actual contamination due to human activities. To establish background pristine levels of Hg in the marine environment, areas of very low human activities are often proposed. Arctic and Antarctic waters, together with deep oceans waters, are best suited and provide themselves for such studies. Barents Sea areas were used in this study, even if the existence of an important atmospheric transport of Hg probably caused an increase of Hg levels at a global scale. Instead of analyzing mercury from the very low concentrations in sea water, it is much easier to identify it from the higher concentrations which organisms, used as bioindicators, have built up in their tissues. By using these bioindicators to study the bioavailable fraction of the stable residues, one also integrates small scale temporal and spatial variations. Pelagic fish were used in this work to study the ecotoxicology of Hg in the Barents Sea. This study has been made possible due to recent access of the Barents Sea to western scientists and it is to serve as a complement tomore » existing studies by the same team in the Greenland and Norwegian seas, and the southwestern part of the Barents Sea. 19 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Response of the marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyceae) to copper toxicity in short time experiments.

Abstract: Heavy metals are introduced into aquatic ecosystems from industrial wastes, agricultural runoff and mining activities. The toxicity of heavy metal ions in solution to microalgae is well known. The essentiality and toxicity of heavy metals has been a subject of extensive research (Stokes 1983). From a biological point of view, heavy metals can be divided into two categories: essential and non-essential. However, essential heavy metals also have been reported to be toxic at high concentrations. Many of these metals have a direct influence on various physiological and biochemical processes including reduction in growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content or inhibition of enzyme activities (Reddy and Prasad 1990).