Bioaccumulation of cobalt in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) in relation to mulberry, soil and wastewater metal concentrations

The present study was planned to evaluate Co(II) toxicity in silkworm population. The soil was irrigated using synthetic wastewater to determine the effects of pH and initial cobalt concentration in its bioaccumulation in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) food chain. The amount of cobalt in wastewater, soil, mulberry and silkworm was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) analysis. The obtained results clearly indicate that silkworm can be used as template to indicate local cobalt pollution as its body length, body weight and mortality rate was found to be strongly related to cobalt concentration. Higher the cobalt amount in mulberry leaves more the toxicity to silkworm population. At 400 mg/L Co concentration and pH 4 there was maximum deposition of Co in the soil from the synthetic effluent. However, in plants and silk worm the accumulation of Co was maximum at pH 4.5 at an initial Co concentration of 400 mg/L in the synthetic effluent. The maximum cobalt found in wastewater, soil, mulberry and silkworm was 400 ± 0.01, 273.5 ± 0.04, 42.85 ± 0.01, 36.62 ± 0.22 mg/kg, respectively.     

Chromium accumulation by living yeast at various environmental conditions

Yeast tolerance to Cr (III) and Cr (VI) as well as chromium accumulation potential were shown to depend on treatment time, metal concentration, biomass density and the phase of growth. Kinetic studies as exemplified by Pichia guilliermondii ATCC 201911 revealed a biphasic mode of Cr (III) uptake: a rapid sorption phase was followed by a slow process of accumulation, in which the contribution of the cell-bound Cr fraction increased, while the total cellular Cr level remained constant. Cr (VI) uptake was characterized by a time-dependent increase of total Cr and by a constant fractional contribution of the cell-adsorbed chromium, which suggests that the amount of cell-accumulated Cr also tended to increase over time. The resistance to Cr and metal accumulation levels were substantially elevated for a given strain when cultures were treated at high initial biomass densities (1 mg dry weight/ml) of exponentially proliferating cells. Maximum accumulation capabilities ranged between 4.0 and 13 mg Cr (III)/g dry weight and 2-6.7 mg Cr (VI)/g dry weight. The total cell-accumulated Cr contained 29.3% and 52.3% of organically bound chromium for the treatment of P. guilliermondii with Cr (III) and Cr (VI), respectively. Selected yeast strains, under specified physiological conditions, can be applied for bioremediation of environmental Cr contamination, and might be useful too for attempts to obtain chromium-enriched biomass containing biostabilized and nontoxic Cr forms for nutritional applications.     

Pollen abortion rates, nitrogen dioxide by passive diffusive tubes and bioaccumulation in tree barks are effective in the characterization of air pollution

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using simple techniques - pollen abortion rates, passive diffusive tubes (NO₂) and trace element accumulation in tree barks - when determining the area of influence of pollution emissions produced in a traffic corridor. Measurements were performed at 0, 60 and 120 meters from a major road with high vehicular traffic, taking advantage of a sharp gradient that exists between the road and a cemetery. NO₂ values and trace elements measured at 0 meters were significantly higher than those measured at more distant points. Al, S, Cl, V, Fe, Cu, and Zn exhibited a higher concentration in tree barks at the vicinity of the traffic corridor. The same pattern was observed for the pollen abortion rates measured at the three different sites. Our data suggests that simple techniques may be applied either to validate dispersion land-based models in an urban settings or, alternatively, to provide better spatial resolution to air pollution exposure when high-resolution pollution monitoring data are not available.     

金毛狗对重金属的富集特性的研究

为探讨金毛狗[Cibotium barometz(L.) J. Sm.]对重金属的富集能力,在广东省选取6个样点(南岭、南昆山、白云山、大岭山、梧桐山、西樵山)采集金毛狗的叶片、根状茎和根际土壤,采用ICP-MS测定9种重金属元素(Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb)的含量。结果表明,样地土壤已受到不同程度的重金属污染,土壤中Cd和Hg含量均高于广东省土壤背景值,分别为背景值的1.61~4.82倍和4.74~11.79倍。西樵山土壤中Cd含量最大,南岭土壤中Hg含量最大。在9种元素中,金毛狗对Hg的转运系数最高,达4.8,对Cd的富集系数最高,达2.2,Cu和Cd元素的转运系数和富集系数均大于1。这说明金毛狗对重金属元素的富集能力较弱而转运能力较强。     

Short-term bioaccumulation, circulation and metabolism of estradiol-17β in the oyster Crassostrea gigas

Steroids are active signal transmitters in Vertebrates. These roles have also been hypothesized in other Phyla and endocrine disrupting effects have been reported for different estrogen-like compounds in fishes and some marine invertebrates. As estradiol-17β has shown some physiological activities in the oyster and as estrogens or estrogen-like molecules can be present in water, we have investigated the bioaccumulation and metabolism of this estrogen in vivo in the oyster Crassostrea gigas. When dissolved in seawater, in less than 48 h estradiol-17β concentrated up to 31 times in the soft tissues of the suspension-feeder mollusc. Injected in the adductor muscle, estradiol-17β circulated from muscle to the gonad, the gills, the mantle, the labial palps, and to a lesser extent to the digestive gland. After 2 h, estradiol flow increased specifically towards this gland. Different hypotheses were raised concerning the circulation paths. However, in all cases estradiol metabolism primarily evidenced an in vivo transformation into estrone in the whole oyster and in its digestive gland. This strong 17β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase activity confirms our previous in vitro results. In conclusion, it is proposed that oyster is able to take in charge estradiol as a potential contaminant in seawater. Therefore, its bioaccumulation and transformation into estrone could be studied as potential biomarkers of endocrine disruption. Furthermore, the experimental approach with dissolved steroids in the seawater combined to an anatomical screening appears as an interesting tool to investigate the bivalve endocrinology.     

饲养条件下白豚微量元素的积累

白鱀豚(Lipotesvexillifer)是仅分布于我国长江中下游水域的一种珍稀濒危动物。长江水体污染(如有毒元素等)被认为可能是白鱀豚种群致危的主要因素之一(Yang,1997)。迄今,有关白鱀豚体内微量元素的研究尚很少,只有陆佩洪等(1983)、杨利寿等(1988)曾报道过白鱀豚组织中铁(Fe)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、锰(Mn)、镍(Ni)、铅(Pb)、汞(Hg)和镉(Cd)在某些组织器官中的积累水平。本文对1头饲养条件下白鱀豚“淇淇”体内的必需元素Cu、Zn、锰(Mn)、钼(Mo)、硒(Se)和有毒或非必需元素砷(As)、Cd、铝(Al)的积累特征进行了报道,以期为白豚的保护提供…     

Ecotoxicological impacts of exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles on the gill of the Swan mussel,Anodonta cygnea (Linnaeus, 1758)

This study was conducted to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on the gill of the swan mussel Anodonta cygnea using several approaches including qualitative and quantitative histopathology, ultra-morphology (scanning electron microscopy [SEM]) and measures of clearance rate (CR) and bioaccumulation of CuO NPs. Histological alterations in mussels exposed to 0.25 (T1), 2.5 (T2) and 25.0?µg L^?1 (T3) CuO NPs for 12 days include changes in the length and form of gill lamellae, changes in inter-lamellar spaces, epithelial hyperplasia, atrophy and tissue rupture. Ultra-morphological changes following CuO NP exposure included epithelial hyperplasia and hypertrophy, epithelial lifting, tissue rupture (water channel fusion) and extensive necrosis of the gill surfaces. I_Gill (gill damage severity) index values for both histopathological and ultra-morphological data were significantly (P?0.05) higher in T3. The CR of mussels was significantly (P??1 g^?1 dry weight]) in comparison to controls (CR?=?108?±?47.14 [L min^?1 g^?1 dry weight]). CuO NPs accumulated in exposed mussels at all exposure concentrations until day 4, but there was no further change in accumulation levels by the end of the exposure period. The accumulated content of CuO NPs was significantly (P??1 exposure concentration. Based on these results, significant accumulation of CuO NPs in the gills of swan mussel could affect histological and ultra-structural characteristics of this organ and consequently have deleterious impacts on its filtration activity.     

Assessment of plant growth attributes,bioaccumulation, enrichment,and translocation of heavy metals in water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) grown in sugar mill effluent

This study was conducted to assess the pollutant uptake capability of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) in terms of bioaccumulation, enrichment, and translocation of heavy metals grown in sugar mill effluent. Results showed that the maximum fresh weight (328.48 ± 2.04 gm kg^?1), total chlorophyll content (2.13 ± 2.03 mg g^?1 fwt), and relative growth rate, RGR (11.89 gg^?1 d^?1) of P. stratiotes were observed at 75% concentration of the sugar mill effluent after 60 days of phytoremediation experiment. The bioaccumulation factor (B_F) of different heavy metals was greater than 1 with 50% and 75% concentrations of sugar mill effluent and this indicated that P. stratiotes was hyperaccumulator or phytoremediator of these metals. The enrichment factor (E_F < 2 for Cu, Fe, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Mn) and (E_F > 2 for Cd) indicated that P. stratiotes mineral enrichment deficient and it moderately enriched the different heavy metals. Moreover, translocation factor (T_F) was less than 1 which indicated the low mobility of metals in different parts (root and leaves) of P. stratiotes after phytoremediation. Therefore, P. stratiotes can be used for phytotreatment of sugar mill effluent up to 50% to 75% concentrations and considered as hyperaccumulator aquatic plant for different heavy metals and other pollutants from the contaminated effluents.     

Comparative study of metal uptake by Eichhornia crassipes growing in ponds from mining and nonmining areas—a field study

The study deals with metal (Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd) concentrations in sediment, water, and corresponding leaf samples of Eichhornia crassipes obtained from ponds in nonmining (P1) and mining (P2, P3, P4) regions. In spite of significant high metal concentrations in sediments from mining regions rather than from nonmining regions, the unelevated SQG-I (sediment quality guideline index) values proved low levels of toxicity. Irrespective of the wide range of metal concentration in sediments, the levels in water had been nearly consistent in all the ponds. Concentration of metals in leaves decreased with an increase in concentration in the substrate. Mn, Cu, and Cd accumulated within the range of MAC (maximum allowable concentration) for plants, whereas Pb accumulated above the limit. BAF_sl (bioaccumulation factor with respect to sediment) values for Mn (0.20–0.27) were highest, followed by Cu (0.13–0.20) and Pb (0.03–0.20), whereas BAF_wl (bioaccumulation factor with respect to water) was highest for Cu (428–3205), followed by Mn (285–1100), Pb (242–506), and Cd (7–130). This study concludes that E. crassipes plays a very important role in removing the metals from the pond ecosystem, whereas leaves of this plant can be used effectively for biomonitoring surveys. E. crassipes can be used for phytoremediation of polluted wetlands through proper management strategies.     

Monitoring of trace metals in tissues of Wallago attu (lanchi) from the Indus River as an indicator of environmental pollution

We aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of selected four trace metals (Cd, Ni, Zn and Co) in four tissues (muscles, skin, gills and liver) of a freshwater fish Wallago attu (lanchi) from three different sites (upstream, middle stream and downstream) of the Indus River in Mianwali district of Pakistan. Heavy metal contents in water samples and from different selected tissues of fish were examined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The data were statistically compared to study the effects of the site and fish organs and their interaction on the bioaccumulation pattern of these metals at P < 0.05. In W. attu the level of cadmium ranged from 0.004 to 0.24; nickel 0.003–0.708; cobalt 0.002–0.768 and zinc 47.4–1147.5 μg/g wet weight. The magnitude of metal bioaccumulation in different organs of fish species had the following order gills > liver > skin > muscle. The order of bioaccumulation of these metals was Ni < Zn < Co < Cd. Heavy metal concentrations were increased during the dry season as compared to the wet season. The results of this study indicate that freshwater fish produced and marketed in Mianwali have concentrations below the standards of FEPA/WHO for these toxic metals.