ALBERT

Description: This study describes the effects of 17-alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE 2 ) on the structure of the excretory system of the kidney in tench. Adult male tench were exposed to sub-lethal doses of EE 2 (50, 100 and 500 μg/kg b.w.) under semistatic conditions for a period of 30 days. The nephrosomatic index and histology (including a morphometric analysis) of the kidney were examined. Histopathological lesions in the kidney of exposed tench were: dilation of glomerular capillaries and increase in the area of the renal corpuscle, hyaline degeneration in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules leading to necrotic changes, hemorrhages in the interstitial tissue and deposits of eosinophilic material. These lesions were observed with a greater degree of severity as the exposure doses were increased. These results indicate that long-term exposure to EE 2 could produce clear negative effects on the excretory system of the kidney in tench and consequently on their physiological functions.

Description: Poecilia reticulata were exposed to herbicide Roundup Transorb ® for micronucleus test, nuclear abnormalities and comet assay. The exposure-concentrations were based on CL 50–96 h following 0, 1.41, 2.83, 4.24 and 5.65 μL L −1 for 24 h. Micronucleus and comets were significantly increased in the gill erythrocyte cells after herbicide exposure compared with the non-exposed group. Results showed a gradual increase in the number of damaged cells, indicating a concentration-dependent effect and that this herbicide was mutagenic and genotoxic to P. reticulata and this effect could be attributed to a combination of compounds contained in the formulation with the active ingredient glyphosate.

Description: Effects of cadmium (Cd 2+ ) on biomass, pigmentation (chlorophyll a , b , and total carotene), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline productions by Scenedesmus quadricauda var. longispina were investigated. Cadmium had inhibitory effect on the productions of biomass and pigmentation. Significant differences were found in pigment content among groups. On the other hand, Cd 2+ had a simulative effect on the production of MDA and proline by the alga. FTIR–ATR spectroscopy was used to examine active groups of algal biomass before and after Cd 2+ exposure. Results confirmed that amino, amide, and anionic groups had significant role on the biosorption of Cd 2+ by the alga. Increased accumulation of MDA and proline seemed to be an important strategy for alleviating metal-induced oxidative stress in S. quadricauda var. longispina .

Description: The present study reports the capacity of the aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor to remediate combinations of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cr(III) from a simulated natural environment. The effect of these metal mixtures on the growth of L. minor was also investigated using growth rate and biomass inhibition calculations. L. minor was successful in removing Cr and Pb from the water, and it remained an effective remediation agent when both metals were present in the environment. However, a relatively low absorption capacity was observed for Cu, increasing concentrations of which were associated with significant decreases in growth rate. No statistically significant difference was found between the 24 h and 7 days absorption rates of Cu, Pb and Cr, suggesting that, at the concentrations tested, equilibrium occurs within 24 h of metal exposure.

Description: Assessments were conducted to determine the effect of sample storage method and associated holding time on surface water nutrient concentrations from field sites. Six surface water sites and two nutrient spiked, laboratory water samples were evaluated for nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, filtered orthophosphorus, and total orthophosphorus concentrations on four separate days throughout the period of 1 year. Samples stored at ambient temperature (23°C) for 24 h prior to nutrient analyses resulted in 18 % ± 2 % of results being significantly different from controls (which were analyzed immediately upon collection). Samples placed in the cooler (4°C) for 7 days prior to nutrient analyses resulted in 30 % ± 1 % of values being significantly different from controls. Samples placed in the freezer (−20°C) for 7 days prior to analyses resulted in 34 % ± 12 %, 44 % ± 10 %, and 28 % ± 5.7 % of ammonium, filtered orthophosphate, and total orthophosphate, respectively, values being significantly different from controls. This study highlights the challenges facing researchers in efficient collection, storage and nutrient analysis of samples, especially when sites are remote and difficult to access .

Description: This study proposes a new treatment method to decompose persistent chemicals such as pentachlorophenol (PCP) in water, utilizing hydrogen peroxide present in aquatic plants to proceed the biological Fenton reaction. PCP was not effectively removed by aquatic plants. However, by adding 2.8 mM of Fe 2+ , there was a rapid removal of PCP while at the same time consumption of endogenous hydrogen peroxide occurred. It was observed the increase of chloride ions formation in water—confirming the complete degradation of PCP. These results demonstrated that PCP was oxidized through a biological Fenton reaction, and hydrogen peroxide in aquatic plants was a key endogenous substance in treatment of refractory toxic pollutants.

Description: Five higher chlorinated benzenes (including hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and three isomers of tetrachlorobenzens) were measured in the livers of grass carp and common carp collected from five markets in Xinxiang city, China. HCB and PeCB were detected in all samples. The major component of the higher CBs residue was HCB and significant correlations existed between HCB and PeCB in both grass carp and common carp livers. The ratio range of HCB/PeCB in grass carp and common carp were 3.4–6.2 and 4.9–7.7, respectively, which implied the sources of higher CBs originate mainly from the revolatilization of industrial HCB with a minor impact from PeCB.

Description: In the present study, zebrafish embryos were used to assess the neurotoxicity of di- n -butyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and their mixture. Four-hour post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of DBP, DEP and their mixture (DBP–DEP) until 96 hpf. The transcriptions levels of selected neuron-related genes reported as neurotoxicity biomarkers were analyzed. The results showed that transcripts of growth associated protein 43 ( gap43 ), embryonic lethal abnormal vision - like 3 ( elavl3 ), glial fibrillary acidic protein ( gfap ), myelin basic protein ( mbp ), α1 - tubulin and n eurogenin1 ( ngn1 ) were significantly up-regulated after DBP, DEP and DBP–DEP mixture exposure. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly inhibited in the embryos. These results indicate that DBP and DEP have the potential neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryos.

Description: Research findings concerning benzene, toluene, ethylobenzene, meta-, para- and ortho-xylene as well as styrene (BTEXS) emission at public cemeteries during All Saints’ Day are presented here. Tests were carried out at town-located cemeteries in Opole and Grodków (southern Poland) and, as a benchmark, at the centres of those same towns. The purpose of the study was to estimate BTEXS emissions caused by the candle burning and, equally important to examine, whether emissions generated by the tested sources were similar to the BTEXS emissions generated by road transport. During the festive period, significant increases in benzene concentrations, by 200 % and 144 %, were noted at the cemeteries in Opole and Grodków, as well as in toluene, by 366 % and 342 %, respectively. Styrene concentrations also increased. It was demonstrated that the ratio of toluene to benzene concentrations from emissions caused by the burning candles are comparable to the ratio established for transportation emissions.

Description: Ring doves were provided contaminated food spiked with [ 13 C]-2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) over a period of 63 days. Animals were sacrificed after 0.33, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 18, 36 and 63 days following access to contaminated food. At each time point, chemical concentrations in blood, liver, brain, gonad, adipose and remaining whole carcass was determined. Whole body concentrations of PCB 153 increased linearly with time over the experiment indicating that the birds did not reach steady state with their food after 63 days. Tissue/plasma concentration ratios were plotted as a function of time to determine time to inter-tissue steady state for fast and slowly perfused tissues. Liver, brain and gonad achieved steady state concentrations with plasma in less than 3 days, whereas fat and carcass tissues required 9.7 and 11.5 days, respectively. The results indicate that inter-tissue distribution kinetics for PCBs in birds is relatively rapid and completed within a little over a week following exposure to a contaminated diet.

Description: Eight Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners (BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209) were determined to examine the hair burden at low concentrations, and the relationship between PBDE concentrations in human hair and indoor dust from a college environment (Shanghai University campus). Chemical analyses showed that the total concentrations of PBDEs in hair ranged from 4.04 to 99 ng/g dw, and were found to be fourfold higher in females than in males ( p  〈 0.05). The total PBDEs concentrations in indoor dust samples ranged from 170 to 1,360 ng/g dw. Significantly positive correlations were observed between human hair and indoor dust for BDE 47 (r = 0.44, p  = 0.048) and BDE 99 (r = 0.68, p  = 0.025). However, no significant association was noted between other PBDE congeners in human hair and indoor dust in the present study.

Description: Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4- tert -octylphenol (4- tert -OP) are the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that has been shown to exert both toxic and biological effects on living organisms. The present study investigated effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA, 4-NP and 4- tert -OP (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L) on the fecundity of fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster . In the all exposure groups of BPA, 4-NP and 4- tert -OP, it was found a statistically significant decrease in mean fecundity as compared to the control groups ( p  〈 0.05).

Description: Legacy metals, a result of previous environmentally unsound practices, pose a challenge to the rehabilitation of urban aquatic ecosystems. The current study focuses on a harbor in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where use of antifouling paints for hull cleaning occurred for ca. 30 years. Sediment metal concentrations were mapped by depth and distance from where hulls were cleaned. By relating metal concentrations to the benthic invertebrate community and bivalve metal content, results indicate that cleaning activities severely impacted sediment quality. However, sewer outfalls, which integrate non-point sources of metals to the harbor, also contributed to poor sediment quality and high metal concentrations in bivalves. For the aquatic system to recover, non-point diffuse metal sources must be addressed, regardless of the challenge.

Description: Eleven house dust samples were collected in Beijing to quantify 42 different polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Total PBDEs concentrations ranged from 140 to 1,300 ng g −1 . The dominant PBDEs congener identified was BDE 209, which made up more than 70 % of all PBDEs congeners. Concentrations of PBDEs in Chinese house dust were lower than in other countries. The most polluted areas were electronics shops and households. It is likely that PBDEs exposure is a potential threat for Beijing residents, particularly toddlers.

Description: In this study, surface soil samples from 14 representative college school yards in Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province, China, were collected and analyzed for 21 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The total concentrations were in the ranges of 0.2–67.0 ng/g. HCHs and DDTs were the most dominant compounds among the 21 OCPs, and their concentrations ranged from 0.1–8.5 to 0.1–56.3 ng/g, respectively. Source identification analysis indicated that the residues of HCHs and DDTs were mostly due to historical use of these chemicals or from other source regions. The quality of all the Xi’an college school yard soils except sample XAUAT was classified as low pollution by OCPs according to the National Environmental Quality Standards for Soils of China (GB15618-1995).

Description: The widely used antibiotic metronidazole (MTZ) was investigated for its toxic effects on the liver of the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.). The fish were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 mg/L MTZ in water for 30 days, and parameters that are indicative of liver damage and oxidative stress were measured. MTZ increased liver ethoxyresorufin- O -deethylase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione levels, and elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. These parameters usually showed significant differences in the 0.5 and 2.5 mg/L MTZ groups compared to the control group ( p  〈 0.05). These findings indicated that MTZ induced oxidative stress and caused liver damage in common carp, suggesting that measures should be taken to avoid contamination of surface waters with MTZ.

Description: Concentrations of mercury in four freshwater fish species from Gandoman and Sooleghan Lagoons and Beheshtabad River were determined by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Concentrations of mercury in muscle of 90 fish ranged from 21 to 31 μg kg −1 (mean = 26 μg kg −1 ). Statistical analysis showed no statistical relationship between mean mercury concentration and fish species, although concentration of mercury in different seasons and habitats was statistically different ( p  〈 0.05). The results indicated that fish from Gandoman and Sooleghan Lagoons and Beheshtabad River have concentrations well below the maximum permissible levels of mercury according to international standards with no health risk for consumers.

Description: The mechanisms by which Pteris vittata (L.) hyperaccumulates arsenic (As) have not been fully elucidated. To investigate how P. vittata tolerates high concentrations of arsenite, we compared the toxicities of various As compounds to P . vittata and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.). The phytotoxicities of As species were found to be in the order of arsenite 〉 arsenate 〉 dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) in A. thaliana , and in the order of DMAA 〉 arsenate 〉 arsenite in P. vittata . P. vittata calli displayed a weaker ability to absorb arsenite than arsenate. These results demonstrate that P. vittata possesses mechanisms of As accumulation and detoxification.

Description: Due to frequent contamination of streams in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA, with the insecticide chlorpyrifos, researchers are working to identify crop-specific management practices that will reduce the offsite movement of this compound into surface waters. To guide this effort, crops treated with chlorpyrifos in the vicinity of contaminated streams were identified; walnut, alfalfa, and almond were the primary crops identified. Use was higher on walnut and almond, but due to irrigation practices offsite movement in surface runoff may be more likely from alfalfa. Based on these findings, development of management practices to reduce off-site movement of chlorpyrifos in irrigation runoff from treated alfalfa fields is recommended.

Description: Straw mushrooms were grown on lead contaminated rice straw and stubble. Study materials were dried, acid digested, and analyzed for lead using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed the highest lead concentration in substrate was 445.350 mg kg −1 in Treatment 3 (T3) and the lowest was BD (below detection) in Treatment 1 (T1). The maximum lead content in straw mushrooms was 5.072 mg kg −1  dw in pileus of T3 and the minimum lead content in straw mushrooms was BD in egg and mature (stalk and pileus) stage of T1. The lead concentration in straw mushrooms was affected by the age of the mycelium and the morphology of mushrooms. Mushrooms’ lead uptake produced the highest accumulation in the cell wall. Some lead concentrations in straw mushrooms exceeded the EU standard (〉3 mg kg −1  dw).

Description: Multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) represents an important cellular detoxification mechanism in aquatic organisms as it provides them robustness toward natural and man-made contaminants. Several ABC transporters have major roles in the MXR phenotype – P-gp/ABCB1, MRP1–3/ABCC1–3 and BCRP/ABCG2. In this study, we identified the presence of ABC transporters involved in the MXR mechanism of Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus . Al ABCB1/P-gp, Al ABCC3/MRP3, Al ABCC9/SUR-like and Al ABCG-like transcripts were identified in A. lixula ; and Pl ABCC1/P-gp, Pl ABCC3/MRP3, Pl ABCC5/MRP5, and Pl ABCC9/SUR-like transcripts in P. lividus . For each of the new partial sequences, we performed detailed phylogenetic and identity analysis as a first step toward full characterization and understanding of the ecotoxicological role of these ABC transporters.

Description: The present investigation aimed to analyze PBDE and PCB contamination in mussels ( Perna perna ) and two commercially important fish species, croaker ( Micropogonias furnieri ) and mullet ( Mugil liza ), in the Guanabara Bay, the most important Brazilian estuary, by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, in order to further knowledge regarding these compounds in the southern hemisphere. This is also the first report of PBDE in this mussel species in the Guanabara Bay. Fish were captured in September (dry season, winter) and March (wet season, summer) 2007 and September 2008. Mussels were collected in August (dry season, winter) 2006, in February (wet season, summer) 2007, and in August 2007 (winter). The results show that all samples showed higher PCB contamination when compared to other ecosystems around the world. On the other hand, PBDEs presented lower concentrations in 41 % of the samples. Croakers presented the highest PCB and PBDE levels, with mullet showing intermediary values and mussels, the lowest.

Description: Contamination of water sources by pesticides is one of the most critical environmental problems. The present work is designed to address the occurrence of 67 pesticides in the Lebanese waters. Chemical analysis was performed by a solid-phase extraction followed by a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using programmed temperature vaporization injection. In drinking water and groundwater samples, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides were frequently detected with a maximal sum concentration of up to 31.8 ng L −1 . High pesticide ecotoxicological risk was noticed in many surface waters, while this risk was driven mainly by diazinon, chlorpyrifos, fenpropathrin and bifenthrin insecticides.

Description: Fourteen indoor dust samples were collected in 2010 winter from four cities in Heilongjiang Province, China. Fourteen polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were identified and quantified. Concentration of the total 14 PBDEs ranged from 240 to 9,270 ng/g, with the median of 2,520 ng/g. BDE209 was the dominant congener with concentrations ranged from 234 to 9,190 ng/g, accounting for 97.2 % of the total concentration. Positive correlations (r 〉 0.8, p  〈 0.005) were found between the group of BDE17, 28, 66, 47 and the group of BDE85, 99, 100, between BDE153 and BDE154, between BDE209 and BDE183, indicating the similar sources and/or pathways in indoor environment. Principal component analysis showed that the major sources of PBDEs were commercial Penta-BDEs and Deca-BDEs. Human exposure analysis showed that children of 1–5 years old had the highest exposure to PBDEs.

Description: Black Carbon (BC) is a pollutant species primarily emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels. BC levels, associated with fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), were monitored from January 2009 to December 2010 at an urban industrial area in Mumbai to study the seasonal and temporal variations and its contribution to fine particulate matter. Air particulate samples were collected in two size fractions, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and coarse particulate matter (PM 2.5−10 ), using a Gent air sampler. During the study period, arithmetic means of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5−10 were found to be 30.4 and 68.2 μg/m 3 , respectively. The average value of BC in fine particulate matter was 4.0 μg/m 3 , with a range of 1.0–9.4 μg/m 3 . Studies carried out using Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model indicated the contribution of BC from the northern and central part of India during days of high BC levels.

Description: In the present study, the effect of methidathion, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin pesticides on Lake Van fish ( Chalcalburnus tarichii Pallas, 1811) liver 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme activity was investigated due to the fact that these pesticides are extensively used to improve agricultural productivity in the Van region. 2′,5′-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography was used to purify 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme from fish liver and SDS-PAGE technique was used to control the purity of this enzyme. The in vitro effect of methidathion, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin pesticides on the enzyme activity was investigated. The enzyme was purified 1,050-fold with specific activity of 27.04 EU/mg protein. Moreover, K i constants of methidathion, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin were to be 3.294 ± 0.215, 0.718 ± 0.095, and 0.084 ± 0.009 mM respectively. The IC 50 value were estimated as 9.95 × 10 −5  ± 0.1844 × 10 −5  mM for methidathion, 1.01 × 10 −4  ± 0.01413 × 10 −4  mM for cypermethrin, and 4.43 × 10 −6  ± 0.05653 × 10 −6  mM for deltamethrin. In conclusion, deltamethrin inhibits the enzyme activity more than methidathion and cypermethrin.

Description: Moss samples were collected from 121 sampling sites all over Croatia during the summer and autumn of 2010. They were totally digested by using microwave digestion system and analysed by using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). Descriptive statistics and maps of distribution were made. The data obtained in this study were compared with those from the study in 2006 and additionally with the data obtained in the similar studies in neighbouring countries and Norway as pristine area. The median value of nickel is 3.16 mg kg −1 and the content varies from 1.04 to 14.66 mg kg −1 . The content of vanadium ranges between 0.23 and 37.26 mg kg −1 with the median value of 2.55 mg kg −1 . High contents of these elements are found in the vicinity of Rijeka, Zagreb and Sisak as a result of their emission from oil refinery, thermal power plant and industrial processes.

Description: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of land use on nutrient concentrations in a Pampasic stream. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in the stream were higher at a site surrounded by fertilized double-cropped wheat/soybeans than at unfertilized soybeans plots. Nitrate and SRP concentrations in the stream were lower at sites surrounded by soybeans than livestock. It is suggested that crop fertilization and cattle manure increased nutrients loads released to the stream. It is suggested that preservation and restoration of riparian habitats may benefit water quality by decreasing nutrient loads.

Description: Heavy metals concentrations were measured in the former mining area located in Hornad river valley (Slovakia). Soil samples were taken in 2012 from 20 sites at two field types (grasslands, heaps of waste material) and two different areas. Total content of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg), urease (URE), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), soil reaction (pH) were changing depending on the field/area type. The tailing pond and processing plants have been found as the biggest sources of pollution. URE, ACP and ALP activities significantly decreased while the heavy metal contents increased. Significant differences were found among area types in the heavy metal contents and activity of URE. No statistical differences in the content of heavy metals but significant statistical differences for soil pH were found for field types (grassland and heaps). Significant negative correlation was found for URE–Pb, URE–Zn and also between soil reaction and ACP and ALP.

Description: Pesticides residues were quantified in 109 frogs comprising two species ( Fejervarya limnocharis and Hoplobatrachus crassus ) from organic and conventional paddy farms in Kerala, India. Seven frogs from conventional but none from the organic farms revealed deformities. Levels of total Organochlorines (OCs) (33.22 ng/g) and Synthetic Pyrethroid, Fenvalerate-II (26.91/42.15 ng/g) in deformed F. limnocharis and H. crassus were significantly greater than in healthy frogs. Among OCs in healthy frogs, traces of γ (gamma)-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) (2.12 ng/g) were found only in F. limnocharis from organic farm. Among Organophosphates, Phorate (1.02 ng/g) and Quinalphos (2.62 ng/g) were present in traces in deformed F. limnocharis, while Parathion ethyl (1.02 ng/g) was detected in deformed H. crassus. The data indicate that the high level of pesticides may have contributed to the deformity of frogs. Therefore, an elaborative study will be essential to conserve amphibians in India.

Description: The Deepwater Horizon well released 4.4 million barrels of light crude oil offshore of Louisiana into one of the world’s largest and most productive blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ) fisheries. The objectives of this paper were to determine the toxicity of the dispersant Corexit ® 9500A used in the 2010 oil spill on juvenile and larval blue crabs, and the long-term effects of sublethal acute exposure. Only the highest treatment levels of dispersant significantly increased mortality in larval and juvenile blue crabs (100 mg/L and 1,000 mg/L, respectively). This correlated to concentrations well above levels found in the Gulf of Mexico following the spill. Smaller and younger crabs showed higher mortality than older and larger crabs. This research indicates direct application of dispersants on crab larvae could cause acute mortality, but dilution through diffusion and natural weathering processes would minimize long-term effects.

Description: The application of treated animal wastewater generated in concentrated animal feeding operations on surface soil (within farm borders) leads to degradation of groundwater. Effects of an intensive hog farming operation, located at a Mediterranean limestone soil coastal area, on groundwater were investigated. Treated animal wastewater was discharged on a small plot (~10.8 ha) with a geologic fault. Samples were taken from seven groundwater monitoring wells close to the farm. A significant increase of K + , Na + , Cl − , PO 4 3− -P, Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations was found in monitoring wells which are affected by the subsurface flow of groundwater. Concentrations of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Ni 2+ in all groundwater monitoring wells were extremely low. During the winter, significant increases in concentrations of K + and PO 4 3− -P were noted and attributed to high precipitation, which assisted in the leaching of K and P to groundwater.

Description: Concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were evaluated in the sediments, roots and leaves of a mangrove species ( Avicennia marina ) in Las Piñas—Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA), Manila Bay. The concentrations showed a general pattern of Zn 〉 Pb 〉 Cu 〉 Cd in sediments, Cu 〉 Pb 〉 Zn 〉 Cd in roots and Cu 〉 Zn 〉 Pb 〉 Cd in leaves. The trace metal concentrations in both sediments and plant tissues were below contamination threshold levels. Based on computed bioaccumulation indices, A. marina could be used for the phytostabilization and phytoextraction of Cu and Cd. The LPPCHEA mangrove ecosystem is an ecologically important ecosystem that will limit the spread of trace metals to the surrounding environment.

Description:    Residue dynamics of thiacloprid in cabbage and soil was studied in this paper utilizing liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The field trial was conducted in two sites: Beijing, China and Hubei, China. Thiacloprid dissipated rapidly with the half-life 1.3–1.6 days in cabbage and 2.1–3.1 days in soil. In the terminal residue experiment, no higher residue than 0.06 mg/kg in cabbage and 0.16 mg/kg in soil was detected, which was far below either EU MRL (0.2 mg/kg) or Japan MRL (1 mg/kg). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0326-8 Authors Chen Wang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Wen-bi Guan, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Hong-yan Zhang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A survey of various pesticide contaminations was performed for water in Yanamune River flowing into Lake Biwa from 1988 to 2009. Ten pesticides (diazinon and fenitrothion as insecticides, iprobenfos and isoprothiolane as fungicides and chlornitrofen, thiobencarb, molinate, bromobutide, simetryne and pretilachlor as herbicides) were selected and concentration changes of the pesticides were evaluated based on their shipment amounts. Yearly maximum concentrations of eight of the pesticides in Yanamune River water were compared with their no observed effect concentration and their predicted no effect concentration values and initial ecological risk assessment was conducted for five pesticides (diazinon, fenitrothion, iprobenfos, isoprothiolane and thiobencarb) by their predicted no effect concentration values. All of the diazinon (0.01–0.28 μg/L) and fenitrothion (0.005–0.31 μg/L) concentrations from 1988 to 2007, the iprobenfos (2.7 and 2.4 μg/L) concentrations in 1988 and 1990 and the thiobencarb (0.24–2.7 μg/L) concentrations in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1995 exceeded their predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) (0.00026, 0.00021, 1.0 and 0.17 μg/L) values. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0335-7 Authors T. Tsuda, Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute, 5-34 Yanagasaki, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-0022 Japan T. Igawa, Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute, 5-34 Yanagasaki, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-0022 Japan K. Tanaka, Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute, 5-34 Yanagasaki, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-0022 Japan D. Hirota, Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute, 5-34 Yanagasaki, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-0022 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Concentration, source, and risk of PAHs were investigated in 31 sites from surface soils of Liaohe estuarine wetland. Total PAHs concentrations ranged from 293.4 to 1735.9 ng/g with a mean of 675.4 ng/g. The 3- and 4-ring PAHs were the dominant species. The ratios of high-molecular weight PAHs to low-molecular weight PAHs and anthracene/(anthracene+phenanthrene) were calculated to apportion sources of PAHs. It was found that both pyrogenic and petrogenic PAHs sources were important. Effect range low and effect range median showed that the PAHs would occasionally cause adverse effects. The nemerow composite index revealed that about 41.9% soil sampling sites were safety; about 58.1% sites had different grades of PAHs pollution. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0343-7 Authors Nannan Wang, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100 China Yinhai Lang, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100 China Fangfang Cheng, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100 China Minjie Wang, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The acute, lethal potency of the 1,2,3,4-, 1,2,4,5- and 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene isomers was compared in the terrestrial and aquatic oligochaetes Eisenia andrei and Tubifex tubifex . 1,2,4,5-TeCB was neither lethal, nor produced any perceptible adverse effects, at lipid normalized concentrations predicted to be lethal according to the well-established critical body residue concept. If a narcotic is defined as a substance capable of inducing narcosis, rather than a substance displaying certain physical or chemical properties (e.g., log K ow ), then we do not believe these findings challenge the critical body residue because by the former definition, 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene is not a narcotic. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0329-5 Authors Christopher M. Hurdzan, Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, 469 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Roman P. Lanno, Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, 469 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA David M. Sovic, Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, 469 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study, some metals (zinc, copper, lead and cadmium) were analyzed in liver, muscle and gills of Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758) caught from the Hirfanlı Dam Lake in December 2007. The highest concentrations were found in liver (zinc:32.5 μg/g, lead:10.73 μg/g, copper:5.85 μg/g, cadmium:0.76 μg/g) of Sander lucioperca . It was seen that the accumulation of zinc, lead and cadmium primarily took place in liver followed by muscles and gills. It was observed that copper is mainly accumulated in liver followed by gill and mucsles. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0350-8 Authors Ali Gül, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, 06500 Ankara, Turkey Mehmet Yılmaz, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, 06500 Ankara, Turkey Semra Benzer, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, 06500 Ankara, Turkey Lütfiye Taşdemir, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, 06500 Ankara, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Before and after switching to the advanced treatment, a total of 48 trihalomethanes measurements was made at household taps in the specific distribution area in Osaka City, Japan. An average of total trihalomethanes concentrations in advanced treated water was three-fifths of that in conventionally treated water. The average lifetime cancer risks for total trihalomethanes were 48.5 × 10 −6 in conventionally treated water and 44.8 × 10 −6 in advanced treated water, which were higher than 10 −6 , the negligible risk level. Surprisingly, the average lifetime cancer risk of conventionally treated water was not significantly different from that of advanced treated water. The highest value of hazard index found was an order of magnitude lower than unity. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0321-0 Authors Kohji Yamamoto, Osaka City Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, 8-34 Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0026 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the autumn of 2010 an industrial red sludge spill occurred in Hungary. The toxic chemical waste with high alkalinity (pH 13.5) reached the Danube 2 days later, where no change was expected because of the high level of dilution. The planktonic rotifer assemblages of the Danube were investigated at Budapest during the contamination. The median of community density decreased from 500 ind. 100 L −1 to zero, the species richness from 3.00 to 0.00, Shannon–Weaver diversity from 1.10 to 0.00 after the arrival of the contamination. The rotifer assemblages seemed to have recovered after 3 weeks, but the initial levels of diversity and density were not reached again. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0331-y Authors Károly Schöll, Danube Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmány str. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary Gergely Szövényi, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University of Science, Pázmány P. sétány 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of this study was to estimate the total etoxazole residues balance (residue in pods, leaves and soil under the treated plant) in green bean and for identification of the degradative metabolites of etoxazole in soil under the treated plant. The results showed half life (t 1/2 ) values of 3.13, 2.73 and 2.11 days for etoxazole in green bean pods, leaves and soil, respectively. According to the maximum residue limits (MRL) the pre harvest intervals (PHI) of etoxazole on green bean pods was 4-days after the treatment. The results of GC–Ms analysis of soil extracts under the treated plant showed that, at zero time unchanged etoxazole was found. The proportion of etoxazole in soil extracts detected decreased with the time. GC–Ms analysis of soil extracts show the presence of compound having the formula of C 14 H 23 NO 2 which was suggested to be 2-amino-2(4-tert-butyl-2-ethoxyphenyl) ethanol. The other founded compound has the formula C 13 H 18 O 3 and suggested to be 4-tert-butyl-2-ethoxybenzoic acid. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0336-6 Authors Farag Malhat, Department of Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt Amal Hassan, Department of Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Variation in metal contamination in six species of birds, namely the Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo ), Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ), Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta ), Pond Heron ( Ardeola grayii ), Common Myna ( Acridotheres tristis ) and Jungle Babbler ( Turdoides striatus ) in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India. The accumulation of heavy metals differed among the species studied. On an average, Little Egret accumulated high concentrations of copper (53.31 ± 23.19 ppm) followed by Cattle Egret (16.27 ± 9.83 ppm) in liver. Of all the species, Jungle Babbler recorded the maximum concentrations (20.59 ± 9.07 ppm) in muscle. The Pond Heron recorded the maximum concentration (35.38 ± 11.14 ppm) in brain. On an average the maximum level was in the kidney of Common Myna (7.76 ± 1.80 ppm). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0323-y Authors R. Jayakumar, GITAM University, Hyderabad Campus, Rudraram, Medak, Andhra Pradesh 502 329, India S. Muralidharan, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 108, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    We studied chronic fluoride intoxication in 10 villages of Udaipur receiving F emissions from phosphate fertilizer factories. Although fluoride remained below permissible limit in most of the drinking water samples, the incidence of fluorosis in adults as well as in children was surprisingly high. Khemli appeared to be the most affected village (with 〉48% cases) where, about 93% of 2 h air samples contained fluoride above 2.0 μg m −3 and crops and vegetable F ranged from 27.5 to 143.4 μg g −1 . Concentrations of fluoride and inorganic P in urine showed asynchrony and were well linked with prevalence of fluorosis. The study indicated that air-borne fluoride was the major factor for higher prevalence of fluorosis in these rural areas. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0344-6 Authors J. Pandey, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India U. Pandey, Faculty of Science and Technology, MG Kashividyapith University, Varanasi, 221001 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    As a consequence of offshore drilling, used Water Based Drilling Muds (WBMs) are typically disposed off, by discharging into the sea; such a disposal does not fully eliminate the environmental hazards. Hence, in this study, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs i.e. naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo (a) pyrene) were determined from the WBMs and associated drill cuttings obtained from varying depths(viz. 150, 300 and 600 m) from three offshore wells present in East coast of India. In both WBMs and drill cuttings, concentration of naphthalene was maximum i.e. 81.59 ± 2.73 and 39.87 ± 2.40 mg/kg respectively, while benzo (a) pyrene was minimum i.e. 0.19 ± 0.07 and 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/kg respectively. The WBMs contained significantly ( p  〈 0.05) higher PAH concentration than drill cuttings. The individual PAH concentration significantly ( p  〈 0.01) increased with increasing depth in each well. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0340-x Authors Devaanshi Jagwani, EIRA Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020 India Atul Kulkarni, DataSol Consultancy, 44-A, Hill Road, Nagpur, India Parth Shukla, Laboratory at Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd., Indore, India Dilip S. Ramteke, EIRA Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020 India Harjeet D. Juneja, Department of Chemistry, RTMNU, Nagpur, 440033 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The undesirable effects of green revolution include residues of extensively used pesticides in various food commodities. Several studies showed that pesticides could cause health problems. Keeping in view the problem of pesticide residues in various food commodities, the present study was conducted on domestic stored wheat as well as on imported wheat for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organochlorine, organophosphorus and pyrethroids. Among the imported wheat, 22.5% samples were found contaminated by organophosphorus (chlorpyrifos 0.073–0.230 μg/g, malathion 0.0419–0.1003 μg/g) and pyrethroids (cypermethrin 0.1404–0.2005 μg/g, permethrin 0.0140–0.0480 μg/g) while in domestic wheat 6.7% samples were found contaminated by pyrethroids (deltamethrin 0.0650–1.2903 μg/g) only. Method used for extraction and analysis of insecticides was validated both by recovery studies and inter laboratory comparison proficiency test. The method recovery results show that the average recovery of the fortified wheat samples was in the range of 73.77%–100.17% with the RSD in the range of 2.21–9.27 whereas, the Z-scores of the inter laboratory comparison proficiency test’s result was less than 2. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0325-9 Authors Riazuddin, Grain Quality Testing Laboratory, Southern zone Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi University Campus, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan Muhammad Farhanullah Khan, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan Sajid Iqbal, Grain Quality Testing Laboratory, Southern zone Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi University Campus, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan Muhammad Abbas, Grain Quality Testing Laboratory, Southern zone Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi University Campus, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Acute toxicity tests with Cd, Pb, Hg, and methyl parathion were developed to compare the sensitivity of the rotifer Euchlanis dilatata with other model organisms used in aquatic ecotoxicology. Cd was the most toxic chemical (LC50 = 14.8 μg L −1 ), while methyl parathion was the least toxic (LC50 = 864.2 μg L −1 ). E. dilatata was more sensitive that other rotifer species, particularly of the genera Brachionus and Lecane. However, E. dilatata was less sensitive to mercury and methyl parathion than the crustacean, Daphnia magna . The high sensitivity of E. dilatata suggests that it may be an adequate benthic model to use in toxicity assessments of metal-contaminated sediments. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0308-x Authors Juan Carlos Arias-Almeida, Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, 04510 México City, D.F., México Roberto Rico-Martínez, Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad 940. Col. Ciudad Universitaria, 20131 Aguascalientes, México Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The toxicity of Poterioochromonas to Daphnia magna was investigated at different food ( Scenedesmus acutus ) levels. Poterioochromonas alone of 0.4–20 mg C L −1 was not acutely toxic to D . magna , but did not support D . magna growth, either. When fed mixed diets (2 mg C L −1 in total), D . magna ’s survival and reproduction were significantly depressed when Poterioochromonas comprised above 50%, likely due to the inhibition of food ingestion. Large juveniles were less sensitive to poor quality food than neonates. Therefore, Poterioochromonas may affect D . magna living to various extents depending on its concentration, age structure of D . magna populations and availability of other food . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0328-6 Authors Xue Zhang, Laboratory of Environmental Technology, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Hong-Ying Hu, Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Trine Perlt Warming, Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Helsingørsgade 51, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark Kirsten Seestern Christoffersen, Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Helsingørsgade 51, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Degradation of fenazaquin in sandy loam soil was investigated under field and laboratory conditions. Fenazaquin (Magister 10EC) was applied @ 125 and 250 g a.i./ha in field and in pot under field capacity moisture in laboratory. Samples drawn periodically were analyzed on GC-NPD. The residues of fenazaquin in both the doses and conditions dissipated almost 90% in 90 days. Half-life period were 32.04 and 31.35 days at two doses, respectively at field conditions and 30.10 and 28.94 days at laboratory conditions. Dissipation was approximated to first order kinetics in both conditions having correlation coefficient ranging from −0.9848 to −0.9914. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0318-8 Authors Anil Duhan, Department of Chemistry and Physics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004 Haryana, India Beena Kumari, Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004 Haryana, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Carbaryl application to soil collected from a rice fallow field was relatively less toxic to viable estimates of cyanobacteria and microalgae under nonflooded conditions than under flooded conditions. Application of 1-naphthol, the hydrolysis product of carbaryl, to soil under both the regimes increased the population of both cyanobacteria and microalgae. Soil application of carbaryl and 1-naphthol in combination, up to 1.0 kg ha −1 , was nontoxic to the viable population. The toxicity exerted by carbaryl and 1-naphthol towards growth, measured in terms of chlorophyll a , and nitrogenase activity was more pronounced in Anabaena spp. than in Nostoc spp. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0347-3 Authors Mallavarapu Megharaj, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia Kadiyala Venkateswarlu, Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515055 India Ravi Naidu, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Lead exposure in New Jersey raptors was assessed by analyzing liver samples from carcasses obtained from wildlife rehabilitators. Samples were collected from 221 individuals representing 13 species. Concentrations were within the range of normal background exposure in 12 species. One red-tailed hawk had a liver lead concentration consistent with clinical poisoning (7.4 μg/g wet weight), which represents an incidence of 1% (1/104) in that species and 0.5% (1/221) in the overall sample. A second red-tailed hawk had a liver lead concentration consistent with subclinical exposure (2.1 μg/g wet weight). The combined incidence of elevated exposure (subclinical exposure + clinical poisoning) was 2% (2/104) in red-tailed hawks and 1% (2/221) in the overall sample. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0327-7 Authors William Stansley, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics, PO Box 394, Lebanon, NJ 08833, USA Lisa A. Murphy, PADLS New Bolton Center Toxicology Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A study was conducted to determine the response of the rooted submersed macrophyte, Vallisneria spiralis to phenanthrene in freshwater sediments with initial phenanthrene concentrations from 0 to 80 mg kg −1 dry sediment. The sensitivity of various morphological endpoints was evaluated after 90 days of exposure. The most sensitive toxicity test endpoints were those that reflected root growth. Toxicological sensitivity of the endpoints changed with the effect level selected. The toxicity threshold from a plot of the EC 10 values was 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than those calculated for the threshold from plots of the EC 25 or EC 50 values. In addition, stimulatory responses (hormesis) on root growth were observed at subtoxic concentrations of phenanthrene, and a hormetic model should thus be incorporated for ecological risk assessment. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0324-x Authors Zai S. Yan, State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008 People’s Republic of China Ying Hu, State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008 People’s Republic of China He L. Jiang, State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study, an aerobic bacterial strains OCS-A and OCS- B were isolated from an oil contaminated soil. The strains were identified to be Citrobacter freundi and Proteus mirabilis according to morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The strains were able to degrade about 90% of 100 mg/L phenol within 80 h as sole carbon and energy source. The lag phase increased with increase in phenol concentration. Determination of metabolic intermediate 2-HMS, was done which indicate meta -cleavage pathway of phenol meta bolism. Hence these isolates can be effectively used for bioremediation of phenol contaminated sites. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0322-z Authors Bhavna Vishwas Mohite, Department of Biotechnology, Moolaji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, 425001 MS, India Shraddha Pandurang Pawar, Department of Biotechnology, Moolaji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, 425001 MS, India Ankush Morankar, Department of Biotechnology, Moolaji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, 425001 MS, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of this study was to examine the influence of different stressors, including cadmium (heavy metal), anthracene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon—PAH) and chloridazon (herbicide), on population growth and biosynthesis of cytoplasmic HSP70 in Lemna minor (duckweed) in short (4 h)- and long (7 days)-term tests. A heat shock response was confirmed in Lemna exposed to high temperature: 35, 37.5, 40, or 42.5°C in short-term (4 h) treatments. The chemicals tested stimulated the biosynthesis of the cytoplasmic HSP70 protein in a concentration-dependent way (0.5–5 μM), higher in fronds exposed to lower doses of stressors. Additionally, production of HSP70 was greater after 4 h of incubation than after 7 days. The results suggest that HSP70 could be applied as a non-specific and sensitive detector of stress induced by different chemicals at concentrations below those that produce the type of response observed in classical cytotoxicity tests, such as growth inhibition. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0339-3 Authors Stefan Tukaj, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Gdańsk, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland Joanna Bisewska, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Gdańsk, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland Katarzyna Roeske, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Gdańsk, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland Zbigniew Tukaj, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Gdańsk, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study we aimed to investigate whether UV-B radiation can exacerbate effects of pesticides fenoxycarb, pirimicarb, and tebufenpyrad on the survival, reproduction, and population growth rate of the standard test species Daphnia magna . We applied sublethal pesticides’ concentrations and UV doses and observed no effects on survival. However, we observed synergistic effects of UV and pesticides on both cumulative reproduction and population growth rate (21 days) for fenoxycarb (100 μg/L) and pirimicarb (10 μg/L), but a less-than-additive effect for tebufenpyrad (5–10 μg/L). In the series exposed to UV and fenoxycarb or pirimicarb, the population growth rate dropped down to 0.1, while in the control series it was around 0.3. The results indicate that concentrations of some toxicants that are nontoxic in standard tests can cause harmful population-level effects when combined with UV. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0342-8 Authors Mikhail A. Beketov, Department of System Ecotoxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany Antonio Speranza, Department of System Ecotoxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany Matthias Liess, Department of System Ecotoxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Analyses of water samples from Mikei, Osiri, Masara and Macalder (Makalda) gold mines of the Migori gold mining belt of Southwestern Kenya were done to determine the level of heavy metals using the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique. The concentrations of the heavy metals were; copper (29.34 ± 5.01–14,975.59 ± 616.14 μg/L); zinc (33.69 ± 4.29–683.15 ± 32.93 μg/L); arsenic (958.16 ± 60.14–18,047.52 ± 175.00 μg/L) and lead (19.51 ± 5.5–214.53 ± 6.29 μg/L). High levels of arsenic and lead were noted. These heavy metals are not only dangerous to the lives of miners and the local inhabitants; they are also a threat to aquatic life since these waters finally find their way into Lake Victoria. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0332-x Authors O. B. Odumo, Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya A. O. Mustapha, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, 2240 Abeokuta, Nigeria J. P. Patel, Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya H. K. Angeyo, Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Persistence of flubendiamide in soil as affected by UV and sunlight exposure and in water as affected by pH was studied. At field capacity moisture regime, soil was treated with flubendiamide and exposed to UV and sunlight. Dissipation for the pesticide followed mono-phasic first order kinetics. Residues of flubendiamide, as thin film on petri-plates and soil thin film, dissipated with half-lives of 7.0 and 9.1 days under UV light and 12.0 and 19.1 days under sunlight, respectively. Residues of flubendiamide dissipated faster under UV light as compared to sunlight. Persistence study in aqueous medium under different pH condition indicated that flubendiamide residues persisted in water beyond 250 days with half-lives ranging from 250.8 to 301.0 days. Dissipation in water was faster at pH 4.0 (T 1/2 250.8 days), followed by pH 9.2 (T 1/2 273.6 days) and 7.0 (T 1/2 301.0 days). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0333-9 Authors Shaon Kumar Das, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Irani Mukherjee, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The black carbon is a pollutant species primarily emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels (diesel). Their concentrations associated to PM2.5 were monitoring at two sites in the city of Guadalajara. From January to May (except April), downtown site shown 2.7, 2.6, 4.0 and 2.3 times higher monthly concentrations. The dry season two showed higher concentrations respect to at least one of the others seasons ( p  〈 0.0001) at each site, probably due to atmospheric conditions less favorable for the dispersal of pollutants. During the 24 h period were observed at the year two peaks of concentrations: the highest morning peak and lower night peak, both probably related to anthropogenic activity. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0330-z Authors Leonel Hernández-Mena, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A. C., Av. Normalistas 800, Colinas de la Normal, 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Hugo Saldarriaga-Noreña, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A. C., Av. Normalistas 800, Colinas de la Normal, 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Mario A. Murillo-Tovar, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A. C., Av. Normalistas 800, Colinas de la Normal, 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Omar Amador-Muñoz, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, D.F., Mexico Alberto López-López, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A. C., Av. Normalistas 800, Colinas de la Normal, 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Stefan M. Waliszewski, Instituto de Medicina Forense, Universidad de Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II s/n, 91890 Boca del Rio, Mexico Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Infiltration galleries are among the oldest known means used for small public water fountains. Owing to its ancestral origin they are usually associated with high quality water. Thirty-one compounds, including pesticides and estrogens from different chemical families, were analysed in waters from infiltration galleries collected in Alto Douro Demarcated Wine region (North of Portugal). A total of twelve compounds were detected in the water samples. Nine of these compounds are described as presenting evidence or potential evidence of interfering with the hormone system of humans and wildlife. Although concentrations of the target analytes were relatively low, many of them below their limit of quantification, four compounds were above quantification limit and two of them even above the legal limit of 0.1 μg/L: dimethoate (30.38 ng/L), folpet (64.35 ng/L), terbuthylazine-desethyl (22.28 to 292.36 ng/L) and terbuthylazine (22.49 to 369.33 ng/L). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0337-5 Authors C. Mansilha, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal A. Melo, Requimte, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal I. M. P. L. V. O. Ferreira, Requimte, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal O. Pinho, Requimte, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal V. Domingues, Requimte, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Porto, Portugal C. Pinho, Requimte, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal P. Gameiro, Requimte, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of the present study was to monitor the levels of organochlorine pesticides HCB, α- β -γ-HCH, pp′ DDE, op ′DDT and pp′ DDT in 150 adipose tissue samples of Veracruz, Mexico inhabitants. In analyzed samples, the following pesticides were detected: p,p’ -DDE in 100% of the samples at mean 1.643 mg/kg; p,p’ -DDT in 99.3.% of the samples at mean 0.227 mg/kg; β -HCH in 97.3% of the samples at mean 0.063 mg/kg; and op ′DDT in 93.3% of the samples at mean 0.022 mg/kg. Comparing mean, median and geometric mean concentrations of organochlorine pesticides shows a decrease in values from mean to median and to geometric mean which points out a prevalence of lower concentrations among the total samples and the existence of occasional cases of extreme exposure expressed in range values. The pooled samples divided according to sex, showed only significant differences of pp′ DDE median concentrations between sexes. The other organochlorine pesticides indicated no statistical differences between sexes, including the pp′ DDE/ pp′ DDT ratio. The samples grouped according to age, showed that the third tertile was more contaminated for both sexes, indicating age as a positively associated factor with organochlorine pesticide levels in adipose tissue of Veracruz inhabitants. Comparing organochlorine pesticide levels between 2008 and 2010 years, a decreased tendency for β -HCH, pp′ DDE, Σ -DDT and pp′ DDE/ pp′ DDT ratio levels was observed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0341-9 Authors Stefan M. Waliszewski, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II s/n, 91980 Boca del Río, Ver, Mexico M. Caba, Biomedical Research Center, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Mexico M. Herrero-Mercado, Biomedical Sciences Doctor Study, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico H. Saldariaga-Noreña, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University Autonomous of Coahuila, Saltillo, Mexico E. Meza, Biomedical Research Center, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Mexico R. Zepeda, Biomedical Research Center, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Mexico C. Martínez-Valenzuela, Department of Biological Sciences, West University, Los Mochis, Sin, Mexico R. Infanzon, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II s/n, 91980 Boca del Río, Ver, Mexico F. Hernández-Chalate, IMSS Hospital Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    To assess the toxicity of nonylphenol towards aquatic crustaceans, Neocaridina denticulata were exposed short-term to sublethal concentration (0.001–0.5 mg/L). Following treatment, differentially expressed genes were identified using suppression subtractive hybridization on samples prepared from whole specimens. There were 20 differentially expressed sequence tags that corresponded to known genes and could be divided into six functional classes: defence, translation, metabolism, ribosomal gene expression, respiration, and genes involved in the stress response. Using semi-quantitative RT–PCR, we found that 14 of the differentially expressed sequence tags significantly responded to nonylphenol, including six at a nominal concentration of 0.01 mg/L; among them, 12 genes were down-regulated. These results suggest that under non-lethal concentrations of nonylphenol, the polluted aquatic environment may still present a potential risk to N. denticulata . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0338-4 Authors Chang-Lun Liu, Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, 111 Taiwan Hung-Hung Sung, Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, 111 Taiwan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Residue levels of chlorpyriphos were determined in unprocessed and processed okra fruits to evaluate the effect of different processes (washing and washing followed by boiling/cooking) on reduction of residues of this pesticide in okra. The study was carried out on okra crop (Variety, Varsha Uphar) in research farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar with application of chlorpyriphos (Radar 20 EC) at 200 g a.i./ha and 400g a.i./ha (Single Dose, T 1 ) and 400 g a.i./ha (Double Dose, T 2 ). Samples of okra fruits were collected on 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 days and at harvest after treatment. Residues were estimated by GC-ECD system and reached BDL of 0.010 mg kg −1 on 7th and 15th day in case of single and double dose, respectively. The residues dissipated with half-life period of 3.15 days at lower dose and 3.46 days at higher dose following biphasic first order kinetics. Processing was found very effective in reducing the levels of chlorpyriphos residues in okra fruits. Maximum reduction (64–77%) was observed by washing + boiling followed by washing (13–35%). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0306-z Authors Samriti, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004 Haryana Reena Chauhan, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004 Haryana Beena Kumari, Department of Entomology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004 Haryana Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description: The use of chemical pesticides has increased environmental pollution and affected ichthyofauna as non target organisms. In the present study, the histopathological alterations in the larvae and fingerlings of the Caspian kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum , were used as a model to investigate the toxic effects of triazine herbicide, atrazine. To investigate toxic effects of atrazine, fish were exposed to sublethal concentration of ½ LC50 for 96 h. Histologically, the most significant alterations in kidney tissues were hyperplasia, necrosis, vacuolation, swelling, hypertrophy, aggregation of hyaline droplets, and disruption of the haematopitic tissue of the head kidney. The damage was more severe in larvae than the fingerlings. Results showed that alterations in kidney tissue caused by atrazine were not specific but it could be concluded that atrazine is excessively toxic for Caspian kutum even at sublethal concentration and acute exposure.

Description:    The aim of this work was to assess the relationship between mercury concentrations in the blood with that in muscle for non-invasive mercury contamination assessment in fish. At Ribeira Bay were collected 198 fishes of 4 species ( Genidens genidens , Arius luniscutis , Haemulon steindachneri, Micropogonias furnieri ). At Guanabara Bay were collected 84 fishes of 2 species ( Genidens genidens , Micropogonias furnieri ). Means of mercury concentrations in fish muscles in both areas were below 500 ng/g. The mean ratio, including all specimens of all species, for mercury in muscle-to-whole blood was 13.4:1, for muscle-to-erythrocytes, 6.5:1 and for erythrocytes-to-plasma, 6.5:1. Further studies are necessary to insure that blood could be used as an exposure biomarker, in order to assess mercury availability in aquatic ecosystems. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0228-9 Authors Ana Paula de Castro Rodrigues, Department of Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, 24020-150 Niterói, RJ Brazil Patrícia Oliveira Maciel, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil Luiz César Cavalcanti Pereira da Silva, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny, School of Veterinary, Fluminense Federal University, R. Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brazil José Vanderli Andreata, Laboratory of Fish Ecology, Santa Úrsula University, R. Fernando Ferrari, 75, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Edison Dausacker Bidone, Department of Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n, 24020-150 Niterói, RJ Brazil Zuleica Carmen Castilhos, Centre for Mineral Technology, Av. Pedro Calmon, 900, 21941-908 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Ochratoxin A is one of the most abundant food- contaminating mycotoxins in the world that is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. Malondialdehyde is a naturally occurring product of lipid peroxidation that is mutagenic and carcinogenic. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine is produced during the interaction of reactive oxygen species and DNA. In this study, Ochratoxin A, malondialdehyde and 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels of individuals in the study group were measured and results were correlated with each other. Additionally, the correlation of biomarker levels to smoking habit, alcohol and coffee consumption, age and gender of individuals was investigated. As a result of these assessments, a significant correlation was observed between Ochratoxin A exposures and malondialdehyde and 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0225-z Authors Ilker Ates, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, Ankara University, 06100 Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey Ozge Cemiloglu Ulker, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, Ankara University, 06100 Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey Cigdem Akdemir, Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey Asuman Karakaya, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, Ankara University, 06100 Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The concentrations of cadmium, mercury and lead were determined in liver, kidney and feathers of Accipiter gentilis , Buteo buteo and Strix aluco . No significant differences in the concentrations of metals were observed in relation to either age or gender. Cadmium levels in feathers and in kidney were significantly correlated ( p  〈 0.01 or p  〈 0.05) in all species. In B. buteo , cadmium concentrations in feathers and in liver were also correlated ( p  〈 0.01), as were the concentrations of lead in feathers and in liver ( p  〈 0.05). The low correlation coefficients let to reject the possibility of predicting metals concentrations in viscera from the concentrations in feathers. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0220-4 Authors I. Castro, Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain J. R. Aboal, Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain J. A. Fernández, Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain A. Carballeira, Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In this study, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) levels were determined in 100 human milk samples from the city of Antalya. The levels of seven major PCB congeners; 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180 and nine OCPs, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, HCB, heptachlor epoxide, p.p ′ -DDT, p,p ′ -DDE, endosulfan-α and endosulfan-β were determined by gas chromatography with ECD detection. The levels of analyzed compounds were as follows: ΣPCBs 27.46 ± 11.58, ΣDDT 1,407 ± 123, and ΣBHC 160 ± 490 ng/g lipid wt.basis. PCB 153 and p,p ′ -DDE were the dominant contaminants. The results have been discussed and compared with similar studies from other regions of Turkey. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0221-3 Authors İsmet Çok, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom, 06330 Ankara, Turkey Çiğdem Yelken, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom, 06330 Ankara, Turkey Emre Durmaz, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom, 06330 Ankara, Turkey Mine Üner, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey Barış Sever, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey Funda Satır, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The in vivo and in vitro effects of the pesticide endosulfan on the cholinesterase (ChE) activity were investigated in rats. ChE activity decreased in dams and in male pups within 65 days corresponding to 35% and 32% of inhibition respectively in the higher endosulfan dose (1.5 mg/kg). In vitro, the enzyme activity was found to be inhibited in a concentration dependent manner. The results suggest that endosulfan is able to inhibit the ChE activity and to cross the placental barrier and/or to be eliminated through milk affecting the enzyme activity in male rat pups. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0227-x Authors Helena Cristina Silva de Assis, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Lilian Nicaretta, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Maria Consuelo Andrade Marques, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Sandra Crestani, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Kelly Cristina Soares, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Delia Olmedo, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Paulo Roberto Dalsenter, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR Brazil Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The spatial distribution of cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations in water, sediment and oysters from San Andres Lagoon was evaluated. Significantly higher cadmium (0.33 mg L −1 ) and lead (0.70 mg L −1 ) concentrations in water were observed in front of the mouth of Tigre river, whereas, zinc concentration (5.0 mg L −1 ) was significantly higher in the south part of the lagoon. Similarly, lead and zinc values in sediment (1.01 and 9.29 μg g −1 , respectively) and oyster tissue (0.86 and 3.19 μg g −1 , respectively) were significantly higher in the south part of the lagoon. Levels of cadmium and lead in oyster tissue were positively related to those found in sediment. However, concerning zinc no evident relationship was found. Such differences in regression analyses may be explained by differential bioaccumulation of xenobiotic (cadmium, lead) and essential (zinc) metals. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0223-1 Authors María de la Luz Vázquez-Sauceda, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria–Mante km 5, Cd., Victoria, 87000 Tamaulipas México G. Aguirre-Guzmán, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria–Mante km 5, Cd., Victoria, 87000 Tamaulipas México J. G. Sánchez-Martínez, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria–Mante km 5, Cd., Victoria, 87000 Tamaulipas México R. Pérez-Castañeda, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carretera Victoria–Mante km 5, Cd., Victoria, 87000 Tamaulipas México Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Plantlets of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) were exposed in vitro for 30 days to five lead levels (0–400 μM) to analyze the effects on growth and oxidative stress and responses of various antioxidants vis-à-vis lead accumulation. The plantlets showed significant lead accumulation in roots (1,532 μg g −1 DW) with a low root to shoot lead translocation (ca. 3.6%). The growth of plantlets was negatively affected by various lead treatments, although the level of photosynthetic pigments did not alter significantly in response to any lead treatment. However, plantlets suffered from oxidative stress as suggested by the significant increase in malondialdehyde levels in root (8.48 μmol g −1 FW) and shoot (3.20 μmol g −1 FW) tissues with increasing lead treatments. In response to the imposed toxicity, increases in the activities of catalase in root (4.14 ∆E min −1  mg −1 protein) and shoot (3.46 ∆E min −1  mg −1 protein) and superoxide dismutase in root (345.32 units mg −1 protein) and shoot (75.26 units mg −1 protein), respectively, were observed, while the levels of non-protein thiols and ascorbic acid were not affected significantly in either roots or shoots. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0226-y Authors D. K. Gupta, Department of Biology, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil F. T. Nicoloso, Department of Biology, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil M. R. Schetinger, Department of Chemistry, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil L. V. Rossato, Department of Biology, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil H. G. Huang, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Zhejiang University, Hua-jian-chi Campus, 310029 Hangzhou, China S. Srivastava, Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085 India X. E. Yang, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Zhejiang University, Hua-jian-chi Campus, 310029 Hangzhou, China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A simple and reliable analytical method for analysis of fluroxypyr-meptyl residue in rice, soil and water was investigated. The residue levels and dissipation rates of fluroxypyr-meptyl (34% AS) were determined by GC–MSD in selected ion monitoring mode. In the supervised field trials, the half-life of fluroxypyr- meptyl in rice plant was in the range 1.25–4.13 days. The half-lives of fluroxypyr-meptyl in soil and water were 2.29 and 1.73 days, respectively. In order to assess the dissipation of fluroxypyr-meptyl in the environment, a laboratory simulated experiment was carried out in soil and water. The terminal residues of fluroxypyr-meptyl in rice plant, husked rice, rice hull and soil samples were undetectable at harvest. It showed that fluroxypyr-meptyl may be safe to use according to the recommended dosage suggested by the corporation. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0218-y Authors Lei Wang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China Jun Xu, Plant Protection Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China Pengyue Zhao, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China Canping Pan, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The purpose of this study was to understand the differences in tolerance to ammonium nitrate in four Iberian amphibians. Results showed a negative effect on amphibian survival and larvae total length. Three different tolerance groups on amphibian survival were established. The two first groups showed a higher reduction, around 90% and between 70 and 80% after 96 h exposition at the maximum concentration tested (180 mg NH 4 NO 3 /L), while the third group showed no mortality in any concentration tested. In addition, a reduction in larvae total length was also detected for all four species, with Bufo bufo as the most sensitive species. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0289-9 Authors Enrique García-Muñoz, Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Francisco Guerrero, Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Rita Carina Bicho, CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Gema Parra, Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Concentrations of the elements mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead were measured in the muscle tissue of Orange roughy ( Hoplostethus atlanticus ) obtained from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the M ar -E co expedition in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2004. The age of the fish varied from 1 to 139 years. To the best of our knowledge, the concentration of the heavy metals presented here is for one of the oldest fish in the literature, in addition to the fact that very little information on arsenic in Orange roughy has been previously published. The concentration of mercury in the fillet of the fish varied between 0.06 and 1.1 μg g −1  w.w. Mercury was the only element that was positively correlated to the age. The concentrations of mercury were found to be below the maximum limits for Orange roughy set by EU at 1.0 μg g −1  w.w, except for a 134 year fish sample with a concentration of 1.1 μg g −1  w.w. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0296-x Authors K. Julshamn, National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), P.O. Box 2029, Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway A. Måge, National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), P.O. Box 2029, Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway I. M. B. Tyssebotn, Department of Chemistry, Collage of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, USA L. J. Sæthre, Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, 5007 Bergen, Norway Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The widespread use of the pharmaceutical chlortetracycline to treat human and animal infectious diseases is raising concern in Korea regarding the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the fate of chlortetracycline in Korean arable soils, to assess its environmental impact. The estimated half-life of chlortetracycline was 26.70–27.17 days indoors and 18.63–30.16 days outdoors. The chlortetracycline epimers and metabolites, 4-epichlortetracycline and 4-epi-anydrochlotetracycline were determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. The respective concentrations of 4-epi-anydrochlotetracycline and 4-epichlortetracycline were 1.91%–9.71% and 11.12%–23.92% of the total chlortetracycline residual concentration indoors and 2.96%–11.44% and 17.61%–40.73% outdoors. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0298-8 Authors Jin-Wook Kwon, National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service (NVRQS), 620-2 Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Sulfonamides and tetracyclines are pharmaceuticals widely used to treat human and animal diseases. They are of considerable concern in Korea because of the potential risk of residues in aquatic and terrestrial environments. This study investigated the mobility of veterinary drugs in the soil column with the application of manure compost to assess the risk of groundwater contamination by leaching in the Korean agricultural environment. The degree of sulfonamides and tetracyclines mobility, measured by the concentration of leachates from silty loam soil for 9 days, was observed being on the first day of this study, in the order sulfathiazole, sulfamethazine 〉 sulfamethoxazole 〉 chlortetracycline 〉 oxytetracycline, and the sulfonamides concentrations were about ten times higher than the tetracyclines concentrations with continuous leaching. The results indicate that sulfonamides pose a high risk of ground and surface water contamination and tetracyclines have the potential to persist in soils with bioactive epimers. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0297-9 Authors Jin-Wook Kwon, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) 620-2 Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Funnel-and-gate structures with three gates, two funnels (collinear with gates), and two perpendicular flow-directing vanes (baffles) were assessed for capturing contaminated groundwater in a hypothetical unconfined aquifer. Simulated structures, anchored into an underlying aquiclude, were 35 m wide. One 5-m wide gate occupied the center, and two 3-m wide gates occupied the ends, of each structure. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous (with respect to hydraulic conductivity) aquifers were modeled, with baffles at various positions along funnels in alternative configurations. A contaminant transport model, accounting for advection and hydrodynamic dispersion, tested the capability of various structures for capturing contaminant plumes. Based upon modeling results: (1) structures with baffles performed up to 17% better (homogeneous case), but also up to 48% worse (heterogeneous case), than structures without them; (2) the most effective baffles generally occupied interior portions of funnels; and (3) small (1-m) shifts in the locations of baffles resulted in up to a 33% increase (homogeneous case) in remediation timeframe. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0295-y Authors Paul F. Hudak, Department of Geography and Environmental Science Program, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305279, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This was a screening study that aimed to determine the presence of nephrotoxic mycotoxins in urine samples from patients with chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The percentage detection of aflatoxins, ochratoxins and fumonisins in 31 patients were 61.29%, 93.5% and 19.4%, respectively. Geometric means of urinary aflatoxins and ochratoxins were 30.93 creatinine and 34.62 ng/g creatinine in chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology stage 1–2 patients and 84.12 ng/g creatinine and 63.52 ng/g creatinine in unaffected relatives of patients. In chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology stage 3–5 patients, geometric means of urinary aflatoxins and ochratoxins were 10.40 and 17.08 ng/g creatinine, respectively. Non-affected relatives of patients (n = 6) had comparable levels of these mycotoxins, but healthy Japanese individuals (n = 4) had lower levels than in Sri Lanka. The higher detection rate of urinary ochratoxins in Sri Lankans indicates that exposure is common in the region. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0301-4 Authors Biruck Desalegn, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan Shanika Nanayakkara, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan Kouji H. Harada, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan Toshiaki Hitomi, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan Rohana Chandrajith, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Upul Karunaratne, Nephrology Unit, Teaching Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka Tilak Abeysekera, Nephrology Unit, Teaching Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka Akio Koizumi, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Concentrations of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe in the top-soils (0–10 cm) from urbanized and un-urbanized areas of Havana city were measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The mean Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb contents in the urban topsoil samples (13.9 ± 4.1, 66 ± 26, 101 ± 51, 240 ± 132 and 101 ± 161 mg kg −1 , respectively) were compared with mean concentrations for other cities around the world. The results revealed the highest concentrations of metals in topsoil samples from industrial sites. Lowest metal contents were determined in the un-urbanized areas. The comparison with Dutch soil quality guidelines showed a slight contamination with Co, Ni Cu and Zn in all studied sites and with Pb in industrial soils. On the other hand, the metal-to-iron normalisation using Earth crust contents as background showed that soils from urbanized areas in Havana city (industrial sites, parks and school grounds) are moderately enriched with zinc, moderately to severe enriched (city parks and school grounds) and severe enriched (industrial sites) with lead. The values of integrated pollution index (IPI) indicated that industrial soils are middle and high contaminated by heavy metals (1.19 ≤ IPI ≤ 7.54), but enrichment index values (EI) shows that metal concentrations on the studied locations are not above the permissible levels for urban agriculture, except soils from power and metallurgical plants surroundings. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0378-9 Authors O. Díaz Rizo, Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, POB 6163, 10600 La Habana, Cuba F. Echeverría Castillo, Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, POB 6163, 10600 La Habana, Cuba J. O. Arado López, Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, POB 6163, 10600 La Habana, Cuba M. Hernández Merlo, Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, POB 6163, 10600 La Habana, Cuba Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study provides information on the current status of contamination by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in eggs and tissues of House Sparrow, Passer domesticus , in Tamil Nadu, India. The mean concentration of total hexachlorocyclohexane (∑HCH) and total dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (∑DDT) in eggs ranged from 0.01 to 1.81 μg/g and 0.02 to 1.29 μg/g, respectively. Concentration of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene ( p,p′ -DDE) ranged from below detectable limit (BDL) to 0.64 μg/g, representing more than 60% of the ∑DDTs. About 28% of samples had p,p′ -DDE levels above the critical concentration associated with reproductive impairment. However, the mean concentrations of cyclodiene insecticides were less than 0.5 μg/g . Although OCPs levels detected in tissues are not indicative of toxicity, continuous monitoring is recommended. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0414-9 Authors V. Dhananjayan, Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Division, Regional Occupational Health Centre, ICMR, Kannamangala PO, Bangalore, 562110 India S. Muralidharan, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, 641108 India S. Ranapratap, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, 641108 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Two kraft pulp mill effluents were compared in terms of their chronic toxicity to Daphnia magna . One resulted from pulping Pinus radiata and the other came from a parallel processing of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus (mixed kraft pulp mill effluent) . The concentration of phytosterols found in the mixed kraft pulp mill effluent was higher than in the effluent from Pinus radiata , with values of 0.1082 and 0.02 μg/L, respectively. The phytosterols per se are responsible for 12.9% and 8.1% of the deviation from the natural shape, while the kraft pulp mill effluents account for 25.6%–27.8% of shape deviation. The role of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol is discussed in relation to endocrine disruption. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0409-6 Authors D. López, Environmental Science Center – EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile S. Chamorro, Environmental Science Center – EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile J. Silva, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Natural Science and Oceanography, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile E. Bay-Schmith, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Natural Science and Oceanography, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile G. Vidal, Environmental Science Center – EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    To determine the water environment and pollutants in West Java, the contents of metals and general water quality of the Ciliwung River in the Jakarta area were measured. High Escherichia coli number (116–149/mL) was detected downstream in the Ciliwung River. In addition to evaluate mercury pollution caused by gold mining, mercury contents of water and sediment samples from the Cikaniki River, and from paddy samples were determined. The water was not badly polluted. However, toxic metals such as mercury were detected at levels close to the baseline environmental standard of Indonesia (0.83–1.07 μg/g of sediments in the Cikaniki River). From analyses of the paddy samples (0.08 μg/g), it is considered that there is a health risk caused by mercury. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0411-z Authors Masaomi Yasuda, Environmental Adaptation Science, Division of Environmental Science Development, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan Yustiawati, Environmental Adaptation Science, Division of Environmental Science Development, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan M. Suhaemi Syawal, RC for Limnology, Indonesian Institute for Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia Md. Tajuddin Sikder, Environmental Adaptation Science, Division of Environmental Science Development, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan Toshiyuki Hosokawa, Higher Education Research and Development Division, Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0817 Japan Takeshi Saito, Laboratory of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812 Japan Shunitz Tanaka, Environmental Adaptation Science, Division of Environmental Science Development, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan Masaaki Kurasaki, Environmental Adaptation Science, Division of Environmental Science Development, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Dissipation of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole were studied following two applications of a combination formulation of Nativo 75 WG (trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50%) @ 250 and 500 g ha −1 at 10 days interval. Samples of chili were collected at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days after the last application. Red chili and soil samples were collected after 20 days of last application. Half-life period for trifloxystrobin were found to be 1.81 and 1.58 days and for tebuconazole these values were observed to be 1.37 and 1.41 days, respectively, at single and double the application rates. Trifloxystrobin residues dissipated below its limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg kg −1 after 5 and 7 days, respectively, at single and double the application dosages whereas tebuconazole residues took 7 and 10 days, respectively. Red chili & soil samples collected after 20 days did not reveal the presence of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole at their determination limit of 0.01 mg kg −1 . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0464-z Authors S. K. Sahoo, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India Gagan Jyot, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India R. S. Battu, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India Balwinder Singh, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Blood hemoglobin level, hematocrit value and erythrocyte count were reduced by 17.5, 17.4 and 15.9%, respectively, as compared to the controls, in Swiss mice treated intraperitoneally with hexavalent chromium (4 mg of potassium dichromate per Kg for 5 day per week) for 2 weeks. Echinocytic transformation of 33.8% erythrocytes, as revealed by both light and scanning electron microscopy, indicated the anemia to be hemolytic in nature. Leucopenia was apparent after 2 weeks (mean leucocyte count: 4.91 thousand c mm −1 ), but not 1 week of treatment (mean count: 6.43 thousand c mm −1 ), However, cytochemical studies indicated that chromium did not interfere with iron utilization for hemoglobin synthesis and also, did not cause denaturation of already synthesized hemoglobin. The study hints to the necessity of periodic monitoring of blood in workers of chromium-dependent tanneries of Kolkata, India. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0469-7 Authors Rina Rani Ray, Molecular Biology and Genetics Division, Department of Zoology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073 West Bengal, India Nirmal Kumar Sarkar, Molecular Biology and Genetics Division, Department of Zoology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Flubendiamide insecticide is widely used in Indian subtropical condition to control lepidopteron pests mainly in rice and cotton. The present study reports leaching behaviour of flubendiamide, N 2 -[1,1-dimethyl-2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]-3-iodo- N 1 -[2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1 (trifluoromethyl)ethyl] phenyl]-1,2-benzene dicarboxamide, in packed soil columns under different rainfall conditions. Flubendiamide did not leach out of the 25 cm long soil columns even after percolating water equivalent to 462.18 mm rainfall. After leaching with water equivalent to 462.18 mm rainfall, in analytical grade treatment, 68.06% of the recovered flubendiamide was the major amount present in 5–10 cm depth whereas in the formulation 67.22% of the recovered flubendiamide was confined to 0–5 cm depth. Results revealed that with percolating 160 mL of water residues of desiodo flubendiamide detected up to 20–25 cm layer along with 9.47% residues in this layer, indicating that metabolite is more mobile as compared to analytical grade flubendiamide and 39.35% SC formulation. Formulation slowed the downward mobility of flubendiamide in soil column. Flubendiamide is slightly mobile in sandy loam soil, but desiodo flubendiamide is relatively more mobile and may leach into ground water. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0429-2 Authors Shaon Kumar Das, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Irani Mukherjee, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Laboratory tests were conducted on 1-year-old rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in a counter-current flow, steep-gradient chamber to evaluate their ability to detect and avoid copper and zinc at concentrations of 0.1 mg Cu/L and 1 mg Zn/L, respectively, after 10-day pre-exposure to five copper sublethal concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mg Cu/L and after 10-day re-acclimation period in clean water. Avoidance response intensity in affected fish significantly decreased with increase in pre-exposure Cu concentration. The strength of avoidance response to Cu and Zn test solutions in pre-exposed fish after re-acclimation gradually increased in a concentration-dependent order. Content Type Journal Article Category Letter to Editor Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0426-5 Authors Gintaras Svecevičius, Laboratory of Hydrobiont Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Ecology of Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius-21, Lithuania Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Four paddy herbicides and their transformation products (TPs) were monitored in the Sakura River, Japan, during the rice growing seasons of 2009 and 2010. Toxicity tests to an attached diatom, Mayamaea atomus , and a green alga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata , were also conducted. Clomeprop propionic acid, which forms from the degrading herbicide, was detected in the river water at much higher concentrations than the parent compound (the maximum concentration of the TP and the parent compound; 0.829–0.925 μg/L and 0.039–0.073 μg/L, respectively). The toxicity of the TPs to the diatom and green alga was relatively low; the 72-h median effective concentration (EC 50 ) value 〉 1,470 μg/L; for each compound, the maximum concentration in the river did not exceed the EC 50 value. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0416-7 Authors Takashi Iwafune, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604 Japan Takahiro Ara, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604 Japan Satoru Ishihara, Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center, 2-772 Suzuki-chou, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-0011 Japan Atsushi Yokoyama, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604 Japan Takashi Nagai, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604 Japan Takeshi Horio, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The illegal disposal of tannery wastes at Rania, Kanpur has resulted in accumulation of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], a toxic heavy metal in soil posing risk to human health and environment. 27 soil samples were collected at various depths from Rania for the assessment of Cr(VI) level in soil. Out of 27 samples, five samples had shown significant level of Cr(VI) with an average concentration of 15.84 mg Kg −1 . Varied doses of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) were applied on Cr(VI) containing soil samples for remediation of Cr(VI). Results showed that 0.10 g L −1 nZVI completely reduces Cr(VI) within 120 min following pseudo first order kinetics. Further, to test the efficacy of nZVI in field, soil windrow experiments were performed at the contaminated site. nZVI showed significant Cr(VI) reduction at field also, indicating it an effective tool for managing sites contaminated with Cr(VI). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0425-6 Authors Ritu Singh, Ecotoxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), Post Box 80, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226 001 India Virendra Misra, Ecotoxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), Post Box 80, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226 001 India Rana Pratap Singh, Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226 025 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    We investigated the effects of Cistanches herba (CH) on the male reproductive system in mice, assessing CREM gene expression and spermatogenesis. Our results demonstrate that CH treatment lead to a significant decrease in sperm count dose-dependently, 298.3 ± 48.9 vs. 296.6 ± 102.4 (250 mg/kg), 236.7 ± 75.1 (500 mg/kg), 223.0 ± 48.7 × 10 6 (1000 mg/kg), respectively. Additionally, serum testosterone levels decreased following CH treatment to as low as ~57% compared with the vehicle-treated group. CREM gene expression was also down-regulated following CH treatment and histological examination of the testicular seminiferous tubules showed severe damage on CH treatment. These results suggest that CH induces cytotoxicity in the male reproductive system, through the inhibition of spermatogenesis, testicular damage, and limited hormonal function. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0428-3 Authors San Woong Kim, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Seung Hyeong Yoo, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Hee Jae Lee, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Kyudam Kim, Baylor School, 171 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405, USA Do Rim Kim, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Seong Kyu Park, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Mun Seog Chang, Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701 Republic of Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Approval of a new animal drug application for AQUAMYCIN 100 ® (erythromycin thiocyanate; ET) to treat freshwater salmonid species with bacterial kidney disease is being pursued in the US. As part of the approval process, ET’s impact on an aquatic environment had to be described in an environmental assessment. The environmental assessment was lacking data to characterize the effect ET would have on a chronically exposed aquatic invertebrate organism. A major step to fulfilling the environmental assessment was completed after conducting a comprehensive study continuously exposing Daphnia magna to ET for 21 days. Results indicated that the no observable effect concentration for ET was 179 μg/L. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0415-8 Authors Jeffery R. Meinertz, Biological Resources Division, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA Theresa M. Schreier, Biological Resources Division, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA Jeffry A. Bernardy, Biological Resources Division, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Polycyclic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons were analyzed in red mullet and annular sea bream from the Izmir Bay. These fishes were selected because of their multitude, wide distribution and common use in the Turkish diet; they were sampled and analyzed in 2000–2001 and 2004–2005 periods at five locations by trawling. Red mullet showed higher PAHs and aliphatics than annular sea bream. PAH levels for red mullet and annular sea bream ranged from 202 to 556 and 78.7 to 415; aliphatics ranged from 834 to 2,420 and 436 to 1,724 ng/g dw, respectively. Molecular ratios showed pyrolitic inputs for PAHs, biogenic and anthropogenic inputs for aliphatics. The carcinogenic PAH, benzo(a)pyrene, was detected in most fish samples in levels ranged between 22.2 and 64.1 ng/g dw. The average PAH contamination level was within the “moderate” category in fish from Izmir Bay. Results indicate the needing of a systematic monitoring program in order to provide accurately assessment and management of risks for the regional population. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0467-9 Authors Enis Darilmaz, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340 Izmir, Turkey Filiz Kucuksezgin, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340 Izmir, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The toxic effect of sublethal concentrations (1, 17.5 and 35 mg L −1 ) of pure glyphosate was evaluated on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the fish species, Cnesterodon decemmaculatus . Acute bioassays (96 h) under laboratory conditions were conducted and homogenates for each specimen corresponding to the anterior, middle and posterior body sections were performed. Fish survival was 100%, even at the highest concentration tested (35 mg L −1 ), in accordance with the low lethal toxicity reported for glyphosate. However, a significant inhibitory effect on AChE activity was recorded even for the lowest herbicide concentration tested (1 mg L −1 ), in the homogenates corresponding to the anterior body section. The inhibition ranged from 23 to 36%. The analytical determination of glyphosate in assay media by ion chromatography, was used to verify its stability. These results indicate that AChE—a neurotoxicity biomarker—in C . decemmaculatus may be affected by exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate. Content Type Journal Article Category Letter to Editor Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0423-8 Authors Renata J. Menéndez-Helman, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria-Pabellón 2, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina Gisele V. Ferreyroa, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria-Pabellón 2, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina Maria dos Santos Afonso, INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria-Pabellón 2, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina Alfredo Salibián, PRODEA-INEDES, Universidad Nacional de Luján, B6700ZBA Luján, Argentina Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of this study was to determine whether fish collected from the La Miel or Nechí Rivers (Colombia) differed in muscle methyl mercury (meHg) concentration. Two fish from six different species were collected from markets adjacent to each river. Overall, fish collected from the market adjacent to the Nechí River contained higher levels of meHg. This result however is being driven by very high meHg concentrations in four individual fish, three of which are Pimelodid, long-whiskered catfish. These catfish may represent ideal sentinel organism for the detection of meHg contamination in Colombian rivers. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0458-x Authors Santiago Alvarez, Grupo de Investigación en Gestión y Modelación Ambiental-GAIA, Universidad de Antioquia, SIU Cl. 62 No. 52-59, Medellín, Colombia Ashley M. Jessick, Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, USA Jaime A. Palacio, Grupo de Investigación en Gestión y Modelación Ambiental-GAIA, Universidad de Antioquia, SIU Cl. 62 No. 52-59, Medellín, Colombia Alan S. Kolok, Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A microwave assisted extraction (MAE) method for determination of thiamethoxam residues in vegetable and soil samples was standardized. Insecticide spiked vegetable and soil samples were extracted by MAE using water as an extraction solvent, cleaned up by solid phase extraction and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography on photodiode array detector. The recoveries of the insecticide from various vegetable (tomato, radish, brinjal, okra, French been, sugarbeet) and soil (sandy loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay loam, loamy sand) samples at 0.1 and 0.5 μg g −1 spiking levels ranged from 79.8% to 86.2% and from 82.1% to 87.0%, respectively. The recoveries by MAE were comparable to those obtained by the conventional blender and shake-flask extraction techniques. The precision of the MAE method was demonstrated by relative standard deviations of 〈3% for the insecticide. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0444-3 Authors Rajib Karmakar, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Shashi Bala Singh, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Gita Kulshrestha, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A method for residue analysis of flubendiamide and its metabolite desiodo flubendiamide was developed using high performance liquid chromatography. This method was then used to evaluate the residual level and dissipation rate of flubendiamide and desiodo flubendiamide in the tomato fruit. The half-life of flubendiamide in tomato fruit was 1.64 and 1.98 days in recommended and double of the recommended dose, respectively. Tomato fruit and soil samples analyzed on the 10th day after the last spray revealed that flubendiamide and its metabolite desiodo flubendiamide residues at below determination level (0.01 μg g −1 ) at either dose of application. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0461-2 Authors M. Paramasivam, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, AINP on Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India Hemanta Banerjee, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, AINP on Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The fluorescence excitation–emission matrix of Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) samples from rainwater collected at Rameswaram, Tamilnadu, India are analysed. Total five peaks were observed for humic/marine and protein likes substances respectively. The peak A and C intensities varies form 1.98 ± 0.28 and 0.97 ± 0.11 QSU respectively represents humic like substances. The peak B and T intensities varies from 3.94 ± 0.75 and 7.42 ± 1.43 QSU showed association of protein like substances whereas peak M intensities varies from 1.92 ± 0.37 QSU indicates marine contribution. Among the fluorophores, the following sequence were observed as T 〉 B 〉 A 〉 M 〉 C which indicates dominance of Tryptophan like substances in rainwater. The average peak T/C ratios was observed as 7.88 ± 2.2 indicates microbial contamination by Tryptophan-like substances with the high biological activity and low volatility. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0424-7 Authors P. R. Salve, Environmental Impact & Risk Assessment Division (EIRA Division), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India H. Lohkare, Environmental Impact & Risk Assessment Division (EIRA Division), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India T. Gobre, Environmental Impact & Risk Assessment Division (EIRA Division), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India G. Bodhe, Analytical Instrument Division (AID), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India R. J. Krupadam, Environmental Impact & Risk Assessment Division (EIRA Division), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India D. S. Ramteke, Environmental Impact & Risk Assessment Division (EIRA Division), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India S. R. Wate, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 Maharashtra, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Straighthead is a physiological disorder of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) that results in sterile florets with distorted lemma and palea, and the panicles or heads may not form at all in extreme cases. Heads remain upright at maturity, hence the name ‘straighthead’. The diseased panicles may not emerge from the flag leaf sheath when the disease is severe. Straighthead disease in rice results in poorly developed panicles and significant yield loss. Although other soil physicochemical factors involved, arsenic contamination in soil has also been reported to be closely associated with straighthead of rice. Monosodium methanearsonate has been a popular herbicide in cotton production in the USA, which has shown to cause injuries in rice that are similar to straighthead. Since toxicity of inorganic arsenic (iAs) is higher than other forms of arsenic, it may produce a more severe straighthead disorder in rice. The use of iAs-rich groundwater for irrigation, and the increase of iAs concentrations in agricultural soil in arsenic epidemic South and South-East Asia may cause a high incidence of straighthead in rice, resulting in a threat to sustainable rice production in this region. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0490-x Authors M. Azizur Rahman, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan M. Mamunur Rahman, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan Hiroshi Hasegawa, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    DR-Congo is a main world producer of copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co). Several hydrometallurgical plants and smelters also produced zinc, arsenic, and cadmium as by-products. In Sudbury (Canada), the production of nickel, copper and other metals has been maintained at high levels while industrial SO 2 emissions have been reduced by approximately 90% through combination of industrial technological developments and legislated controls. Metal analysis in the present study revealed that the levels of copper and cobalt in soils from mining sites in the Lubumbashi (DR-Congo) were up to 200 fold higher compared to contaminated Sudbury sites and tailings. Zinc content in soil samples from some mining areas in Lubumbashi was at least 70 times higher compared to samples from the Sudbury area. Nickel content in soil samples from Lubumbashi were much lower compared to the Sudbury Region samples. Overall, this study confirms that the African Copper belt region is among the ten most polluted areas in the world. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0485-7 Authors R. Narendrula, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E-2C6, Canada K. K. Nkongolo, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E-2C6, Canada P. Beckett, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E-2C6, Canada Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    For five agricultural regions in California, USA, detection frequency of diazinon in surface water and several aspects of its use were determined from recent data (2005–2010): application method, product formulation and primary crops. Diazinon detection frequencies ranged from 10% to 91%. Application method and product formulations used were similar in all regions. The primary crops treated varied from lettuce (77%) in the regions with highest detections frequencies to tree crops (53%) in those with the lowest. The results suggest that the variation in diazinon detection frequencies likely was not due to the application method or formulation type. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0488-4 Authors Xuyang Zhang, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Keith Starner, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Kean S. Goh, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Sheryl Gill, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Curcumin is well known for its potent antioxidant activity. The result of numerous studies showed that antioxidants can protect against fluoride-induced toxicity. In the present study, protective effects of curcumin against sodium fluoride-induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes were evaluated. Curcumin (10 and 20 mg/kg) and vitamin C (10 mg/kg) were administrated intraperitoneally for 1 week followed by sodium fluoride (600 ppm) treatment for next week. Erythrocytes were isolated and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as well as the levels of reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation were measured. The level of malondialdehyde in sodium fluoride treated rats (595.13 ± 20.23 nmol/g Hb) increased compared to the normal rats (315.44 ± 9.76 nmol/g Hb). Animals which were pretreated with curcumin at 20 mg/kg for 1 week prior to sodium fluoride intoxication showed significant reduction in the malondialdehyde level (320.22 ± 9.28 nmol/g Hb). Also, pretreated with curcumin (20 mg/kg) and vitamin C restored the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and modified the level of reduced glutathione compared with control group ( p  〉 0.01). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0495-5 Authors Seyed Fazel Nabavi, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O.Box: 19945-546, Tehran, Iran Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O.Box: 19945-546, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Abolhasani, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O.Box: 19945-546, Tehran, Iran Akbar Hajizadeh Moghaddam, Department of Biology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran Shahram Eslami, Medical Sciences University of Mazandaran, Sari, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Naïve grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio were pulse-fed cadmium-contaminated meals containing carbon-14, fluorescent or near-infrared markers and analyzed for carbon assimilation efficiency, gut residence time, feces elimination rate, extracellular digestive protease activity or gut pH. Carbon assimilation efficiency (~83%), minimum gut residence time (~435 min) and proventriculus pH (~5.29 to ~6.01) were not impacted significantly by cadmium ingestion. A dose-dependent decrease in feces elimination rate (from ~14.4 to ~6.4 mm h −1 ) was observed for shrimp for 2 h following minimum gut residence time. Protease activities increased ~2.4-fold over the range of dietary cadmium exposures, however, this variation was not dose-dependent. Differential impacts of cadmium exposure on carbon and cadmium assimilation reported previously are consistent with work involving shrimp subjected to chronic field exposure. The influence of ingested cadmium on feces elimination rate may be related to pre-assimilatory impacts on packaging, intestinal transport or release of feces. Protease activities may have been influenced by pre-assimilatory interactions between available cadmium ions in gut fluid and enzyme-secreting cells of the hepatopancreatic epithelium or direct impacts on active enzymes. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0493-7 Authors David R. Seebaugh, Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA William G. Wallace, Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA William J. L’Amoreaux, Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA Gillian M. Stewart, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Trace metals Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) were analyzed in edible portions of three main finfish species namely Lates niloticus , Oreochromis niloticus and Rastrineobola argentea sampled from various beaches of Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya, in order to determine any seasonal and site variations and the results showed significantly ( p  〈 0.05) higher mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe during the wet season compared to the dry season for all the three species indicating the impact of wash-off into the lake during the rainy periods. The overall mean concentrations of the heavy metals (in μg/g dry weight) in all combined samples ranged from 0.17–0.40 (Cd), 0.47–2.53 (Pb), 2.13–8.74 (Cu), 28.9–409.3 (Zn) and 31.4–208.1 (Fe), respectively. It was found that consumption of Rastrineobola argentea can be a significant source of heavy metals especially Zn, to humans, compared with Lates niloticus and Oreochromis niloticus , if only the muscle parts of the latter two are consumed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0472-z Authors David M. K. Ongeri, Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya Joseph O. Lalah, Department of Chemical Science and Technology, Kenya Polytechnic University College, P.O. Box 52428, 00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya Shem O. Wandiga, Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Karl-Werner Schramm, Institute of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German National Research Centre for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany Bernard Michalke, Institute of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German National Research Centre for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861