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Construction and comparison of fluorescence and bioluminescence bacterial biosensors for the detection of bioavailable toluene and related compounds Full text
2008
Li, Y.F. | Li, F.Y. | Ho, C.L. | Liao, V.H.C.
Environmental pollution with petroleum products such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) has garnered increasing awareness because of its serious consequences for human health and the environment. We have constructed toluene bacterial biosensors comprised of two reporter genes, gfp and luxCDABE, characterized by green fluorescence and luminescence, respectively, and compared their abilities to detect bioavailable toluene and related compounds. The bacterial luminescence biosensor allowed faster and more-sensitive detection of toluene; the fluorescence biosensor strain was much more stable and thus more applicable for long-term exposure. Both luminescence and fluorescence biosensors were field-tested to measure the relative bioavailability of BTEX in contaminated groundwater and soil samples. The estimated BTEX concentrations determined by the luminescence and fluorescence bacterial biosensors were closely comparable to each other. Our results demonstrate that both bacterial luminescence and fluorescence biosensors are useful in determining the presence and the bioavailable fractions of BTEX in the environment. The choice of reporter genes for toluene bacterial biosensors to determine BTEX bioavailability is case-specific.
Show more [+] Less [-]Determination of Hg and diet identification in otter (Lontra longicaudis) feces Full text
2008
Josef, C.F. | Adriano, L.R. | França, E.J de | Carvalho, G.G.A de | Ferreira, J.R.
An analytical procedure for the determination of Hg in otter (Lontra longicaudis) feces was developed, to separate fish scales for the identification of the animal diet. Samples were washed with ultra-pure water and the suspension was sampled and transferred for digestion. The solubilization was performed with nitric-perchloric acid mixture, and detection carried out by the atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The quality of the analytical procedure was assessed by analyzing in-house standard solutions and certified reference materials. Total Hg concentrations were in the range of 7.6-156 ng g-1 (July 2004), 25.6-277 ng g-1 (January 2005) and 14.6-744 ng g-1 (May 2005) that is approximately the same order of magnitude for all samples collected in two reservoirs at the Tiete River, Brazil. Although Hg concentrations varied with sampling periods and diet, high levels were correlated to the percentage of carnivorous fish scales present in the otter feces. The importance of otter feces preparation for Hg analysis, focusing the food web.
Show more [+] Less [-]Accumulation of selenium in aquatic systems downstream of a uranium mining operation in northern Saskatchewan, Canada Full text
2008
Muscatello, J.R. | Belknap, A.M. | Janz, D.M.
The objective of this study was to investigate the accumulation of selenium in lakes downstream of a uranium mine operation in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Selenium concentrations in sediment and biota were elevated in exposure areas even though water concentrations were low (<5 μg/L). The pattern (from smallest to largest) of selenium accumulation was: periphyton < plankton and filterer invertebrates < detritivore and predator invertebrates < small bodied (forage) fish and predatory fish. Biomagnification of selenium resulted in an approximately 1.5–6 fold increase in the selenium content between plankton, invertebrates and forage fish. However, no biomagnification was observed between forage fish and predatory fish. Selenium content in organisms from exposure areas exceeded the proposed 3–11 μg/g (dry weight) dietary toxicity threshold for fish, suggesting that the selenium released into these aquatic systems has the potential to bioaccumulate and reach levels that could impair fish reproduction. Selenium bioaccumulation patterns in a north temperate, cold water aquatic ecosystem were similar to those reported from warm water systems.
Show more [+] Less [-]Levels and bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fishes from the Pearl River estuary and Daya Bay, South China Full text
2008
Guo, L. | Qiu, Y. | Zhang, G. | Zheng, G.J. | Lam, P.K.S. | Li, Xunjing
Fifty fish samples were collected from the Pearl River estuary (PRE) and Daya Bay, South China and were analyzed for DDTs, HCHs, chlordanes and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Except the high concentrations of DDT observed in fishes, the concentrations of HCHs, chlordanes and PBDEs were low when compared to other regions. BDE-47 was the predominant PBDE congener and the BDE-209 concentrations were relatively low, despite its high concentration in surface sediments. The absence of significant increase of DDT, HCH, chlordane and PBDE concentrations towards higher δ15N values, as well as the lack of a significant correlation (p < 0.1) between log concentrations (lipid normalized) and δ15N, may indicate a weak biomagnification of these chemicals in the food webs. Good agreement was observed between their concentrations and lipid contents of the organisms. Bioconcentration was suggested to be responsible for the accumulation of OCPs and PBDEs in the lower trophic organisms in the studied subtropical waters. Bioconcentration was suggested to be responsible for the accumulation of OCPs and PBDEs in the lower trophic organisms of subtropical waters.
Show more [+] Less [-]Mercury biomethylation assessment in the estuary of Bilbao (North of Spain) Full text
2008
Raposo, J.C. | Ozamiz, G. | Etxebarria, N. | Tueros, I. | Munoz, C. | Muela, A. | Arana, I. | Barcina, I.
The relationship between the microbial methylation of mercury and the microbial activities in sediments and water collected from the estuary of Bilbao (North of Spain) was studied in three different sampling points and in two different seasons. Three different cultures were prepared with a sediment slurry to distinguish between biotic and abiotic methylation pathways and the variations of the methylmercury concentration and the variations of the population of total number of bacteria (TDC), anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB), sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and Desulfovibrio were measured. From this work, it can be concluded that the variation of MeHg concentrations is a result of the methylation/demethylation processes in the sediments, and that the abiotic processes have a negligible contribution to those processes. According to the statistical analysis of the results (partial least squares analysis) a significant statistical correlation was established between methylmercury and the SRB counts.The methylation of mercury follows a stationary pattern linked to the variation of sulphate-reducing bacteria.
Show more [+] Less [-]Cadmium accumulation and its effect on the in vitro growth of woody fleabane and mycorrhized white birch Full text
2008
Fernández, R. | Bertrand, A. | Casares, A. | García, R. | González, A. | Tamés, R.S.
The effect of Cd on woody fleabane (Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter) and white birch (Betula celtiberica Rothm. & Vasc.) was examined. Woody fleabane and white birch were grown in vitro in Murashige, T., Skoog, F., [1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15, 473-479] (MS) plus Cd (10 mg Cd kg-1) and except for root length in white birch, plant development was inhibited when Cd was added. Cd accumulation in above-ground tissues showed differences among clones, reaching 1300 and 463 mg Cd kg-1 dry wt. in selected clones of woody fleabane and white birch, respectively. Tolerance of Paxillus filamentosus (Scop) Fr. to Cd was also examined before mycorrhization. Plants of mycorrhized white birch grown in the presence of Cd had a better development and accumulated more Cd in their shoots than the non-mycorrhized ones. The use of selected clones of woody fleabane and the mycorrhization of white birch enhance extraction efficiency from contaminated soils in phytoremediation programs. The high accumulation of Cd observed in selected clones of Dittrichia viscosa and mycorrhized Betula celtiberica grown in vitro implies a potential application for phytoextraction.
Show more [+] Less [-]Accumulation of nine metals and one metalloid in the tropical scallop Comptopallium radula from coral reefs in New Caledonia Full text
2008
Metian, M. | Bustamante, P. | Hédouin, L. | Warnau, M.
Accumulation of nine metals and one metalloid in the tropical scallop Comptopallium radula from coral reefs in New Caledonia Full text
2008
Metian, M. | Bustamante, P. | Hédouin, L. | Warnau, M.
Uptake of waterborne Cd, Co, Mn and Zn was determined in laboratory experiments using radiotracer techniques (109Cd, 57Co, 54Mn and 65Zn). Labelled Zn was mainly accumulated in the digestive gland (65%) and Co in kidneys (81%); Cd and Mn were similarly distributed in digestive gland and gills. In a complementary field study, Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were analysed in scallops collected at two stations showing different contamination levels. Digestive gland and kidneys displayed the highest concentrations. Ag, As, Cd, and Fe differed in soft tissues from the two stations, suggesting that Comptopallium radula could be a valuable local biomonitor species for these elements. Low Mn and Zn concentrations found in kidneys suggest that their content in calcium-phosphate concretions differs from the other pectinids. Preliminary risk considerations suggest that As would be the only element potentially leading to exposure of concern for seafood consumers. This study investigates metal accumulation behaviour in the tropical scallop Comptopallium radula and preliminary risk assessment for consumers.
Show more [+] Less [-]Accumulation of nine metals and one metalloid in the tropical scallop Comptopallium radula from coral reefs in New Caledonia Full text
2008
Metian, M. | Bustamante, Paco | Hedouin, L. | Warnau, M.
Uptake of waterborne Cd, Co, Mn and Zn was determined in laboratory experiments using radiotracer techniques (Cd-109, Co-57, Mn-54 and Zn-65). Labelled Zn was mainly accumulated in the digestive gland (65%) and Co in kidneys (81%); Cd and Mn were similarly distributed in digestive gland and gills. In a complementary field study, Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were analysed in scallops collected at two stations showing different contamination levels. Digestive gland and kidneys displayed the highest concentrations. Ag, As, Cd, and Fe differed in soft tissues from the two stations, suggesting that Comptopallium radula could be a valuable local biomonitor species for these elements. Low Mn and Zn concentrations found in kidneys suggest that their content in calcium-phosphate concretions differs from the other pectinids. Preliminary risk considerations suggest that As would be the only element potentially leading to exposure of concern for seafood consumers. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Show more [+] Less [-]Arsenate tolerance in Silene paradoxa does not rely on phytochelatin-dependent sequestration Full text
2008
Arnetoli, M. | Vooijs, R. | Bookum, W ten | Galardi, F. | Gonnelli, C. | Gabrielli, R. | Schat, H. | Verkleij, J.A.C.
Arsenate tolerance, As accumulation and As-induced phytochelatin accumulation were compared in populations of Silene paradoxa, one from a mine site enriched in As, Cu and Zn, the other from an uncontaminated site. The mine population was significantly more arsenate-tolerant. Arsenate uptake and root-to-shoot transport were slightly but significantly higher in the non-mine plants. The difference in uptake was quantitatively insufficient to explain the difference in tolerance between the populations. As accumulation in the roots was similar in both populations, but the mine plants accumulated much less phytochelatins than the non-mine plants. The mean phytochelatin chain length, however, was higher in the mine population, possibly due to a constitutively lower cellular glutathione level. It is argued that the mine plants must possess an arsenic detoxification mechanism other than arsenate reduction and subsequent phytochelatin-based sequestration. This alternative mechanism might explain at least some part of the superior tolerance in the mine plants. Neither decreased uptake nor phytochelatins seem to play a role in the As tolerance in Silene paradoxa.
Show more [+] Less [-]Environmentally friendly assessment of organic compound bioaccessibility using sub-critical water Full text
2008
Latawiec, Agnieszka E. | Swindell, Annika L. | Reid, Brian J.
The evaluation of microbial availability of contaminants is of high importance for better reflecting the processes governing contaminant fate in soil and for establishing the risk associated with contaminated sites. A sub-critical water extraction technique was assessed for its potential to determine the microbially degradable fraction of [14C]phenanthrene-associated activity in two dissimilar soils at three different ageing times (14, 28 and 49 days). For the majority of determinations, no significant (p > 0.05) difference between sub-critical water-extracted 14C-activity at 160 °C and the fraction mineralized by catabolically active Pseudomonas sp. was observed. Collectively, the results suggested that the sub-critical water extraction technique was an appropriate technique for predicting the biodegradable fraction of phenanthrene-associated 14C-activity in dissimilar soils following increasing soil-contaminant contact time. Sub-critical water extraction reflects phenanthrene bioaccessibility in the soil.
Show more [+] Less [-]Kinetic and dynamic aspects of soil-plant-snail transfer of cadmium in the field Full text
2008
Gimbert, F. | Mench, M. | Coeurdassier, M. | Badot, P.M. | Vaufleury, A de
Kinetic and dynamic aspects of soil-plant-snail transfer of cadmium in the field Full text
2008
Gimbert, F. | Mench, M. | Coeurdassier, M. | Badot, P.M. | Vaufleury, A de
The proper use of bioaccumulation in the assessment of environmental quality involves accounting for chemical fluxes in organisms. Cadmium (Cd) accumulation kinetics in a soil-plant-snail food chain were therefore investigated in the field under different soil contamination (from 0 to 40 mg kg-1), soil pH (6 and 7) and season. Allowing for an accurate and sensitive assessment of Cd transfer to snails, toxicokinetics appears an interesting tool in the improvement of risk assessment procedures and a way to quantify metal bioavailability for a defined target. On the basis of uptake fluxes, snails proved to be sensitive enough to distinguish moderate soil contaminations. The soil pH did not appear, in the range studied, as a modulating parameter of the Cd transfer from soil to snail whereas the season, by influencing the snail mass, may modify the internal concentrations. The present data specifying a time integrated assessment of environmental factors on metal bioavailability and transfer to terrestrial snails should ensure their rational use in environmental biomonitoring. Toxicokinetics and uptake fluxes can be used to describe the environment contamination by Cd, its bioavailability and transfer to Helix aspersa snails in the field.
Show more [+] Less [-]Kinetic and dynamic aspects of soil–plant–snail transfer of cadmium in the field Full text
2008
Gimbert, Frédéric | Mench, Michel | Coeurdassier, Michaël | Badot, Pierre-Marie | de Vaufleury, Annette | Laboratoire Chrono-environnement (UMR 6249) (LCE) ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC) ; Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC) | Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB) | Unité sous contrat biologie environnementale ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC) ; Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)
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