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Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (v.58, #4)
Organotin Compounds, Including Butyltins and Octyltins, in House Dust from Albany, New York, USA by Kurunthachalam Kannan; Shin Takahashi; Naohiro Fujiwara; Hazuki Mizukawa; Shinsuke Tanabe (pp. 901-907).
Organotin compounds (OTs) have been used in a wide variety of consumer products. Despite this, very few studies have reported the occurrence of OTs in house dust or exposure of humans to OTs through the ingestion of house dust. In the present study, concentrations of monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), monooctyltin (MOT), dioctyltin (DOT), trioctyltin (TOT), diphenyltin (DPT), and triphenyltin (TPT) were measured in dust collected from 24 houses in Albany, New York, USA. In addition, a few household products, such as wallpaper, floor tile, vinyl window blinds, and handbags were analyzed for the presence of OTs. Organotins were found in all of the house dust samples analyzed, and total OT concentrations varied from 390 to 28,000 ng/g (mean ± SD: 6700 ± 6200; median: 5000). Relative abundances of OTs in house dust were in the order MBT >MOT >DBT >DOT >TBT. TOT, DPT, and TPT were not found in any of the samples at concentrations above their corresponding detection limits. MBT accounted for, on average, 51% of the total OT concentrations. Mean concentrations of total OTs found in house dust samples from our study were two to five times higher than concentrations that have been reported for dust samples from several European countries. Calculations indicate that dust ingestion by children account for, on average, 15–18% of the tolerable daily intake proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The estimated rates of OT intake by children via dust ingestion were, on average, eightfold higher than the intake rates calculated for adults. Household products, such as wallpaper, contained total OT concentrations as high as 780,000 ng/g.
Current and Historically Used Pesticides in Residential Soil from 11 Homes in Atlanta, Georgia, USA by Anne M. Riederer; Kimberly D. Smith; Dana B. Barr; Steven W. Hayden; Ronald E. Hunter Jr.; P. Barry Ryan (pp. 908-917).
We used a multiresidue, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based method to measure seven pyrethroid, five organophosphorus (OP), and six organochlorine pesticides in soil collected from 11 Atlanta homes in 2006. Our objective was to collect preliminary data for a larger study of pesticide exposures among Atlanta children. The pyrethroid insecticides (cis- and trans-permethrin, bioallethrin) were the most commonly detected analytes, giving evidence of widespread outdoor use among our study homes. Our pyrethroid insecticide detection frequencies were higher than those reported in a recent study of Ohio and North Carolina homes; however, our maximum values were approximately half of those reported. We detected the target OP pesticides in only a few samples, but we found two restricted-use OP pesticides—methyl parathion and terbufos—and thus possible evidence of illegal residential use or environmental persistence in soil. We also detected dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE) in samples from six homes. Although our small sample size limits comparison to other studies, our results provide evidence that residential soil is a potential source of human exposure to both current and historically used pesticides.
Assessment of Dioxin-Like Soil Contamination in Mexico by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay by E. García-Nieto; M. Nichkova; L. Yáñez; R. Costilla-Salazar; A. Torres-Dosal; S. J. Gee; B. D. Hammock; L. Juárez-Santacruz; F. Díaz-Barriga (pp. 918-926).
In this work, we describe the results of a preliminary soil assessment program for the detection of dioxins at different sites in Mexico performed by immunoassay. We studied five different sectors considered relevant sources of dioxins: Anaversa and Tekchem industrial areas where organochlorine pesticides were manufactured and released by accidental explosions, secondary smelters, brick kilns, and rural dwellings. In the context of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) guidelines, only the brick kilns sites can be considered as low-risk areas. The dioxin concentrations detected in the vicinity of the Anaversa and Tekchem chemical plants and secondary smelters exceed the screening level of 0.05 ppb set by the ATSDR, and therefore further site-specific studies are needed. The dioxin levels found in all soot samples from indigenous dwellings where wood is used for indoor cooking were above the evaluation level. Considering that the studied areas are representative examples of dioxin sources in less developed countries, our work demonstrates the useful application of dioxin immunoassays as a tool for dioxin screening for environmental assessment programs in developing countries.
Adsorption of Phorate, an Organophosphorus Pesticide, on Vertisol by Radha Rani; Asha Juwarkar (pp. 927-934).
Adsorption of phorate, an organophosphorus pesticide, on a vertisol soil was studied. The resulting data were well described by Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. Adsorption was fast and the equilibrium was established within 8 h, which is comparatively less than reported previously. The mechanism of interaction between phorate and clay and humic acid extracted from the same soil was studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR results suggested the formation of hydrogen bonds between carboxylic acid groups present in humic acid and appropriate electrophilic hydrogen atoms present in phorate. Also there is an indication of involvement of –P–O– group of phorate in the interaction with humic acid. However, the binding of phorate with clay minerals involves van der Waal forces of attraction.
Effect of High Aluminum Concentration in Water Resources on Human Health, Case Study: Biga Peninsula, Northwest Part of Turkey by Coşkun Bakar; Handan Işın Özışık Karaman; Alper Baba; Fatma Şengünalp (pp. 935-944).
Widespread and intense zones of silicified, propylitic, and argillic alteration exist as outcrop around the Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey. Most of the springs in the study area surface out from these altered volcanic rocks. The concentrations of aluminum (Al) in these springs ranged from 13.17 to 15.70 ppm in this region. These high levels of Al were found to exceed the maximum allowable limits (0.2 ppm) depicted in national and international standards of drinking water quality. Therefore, the effect of high Al in water resources on human health was evaluated in this research. A total of 273 people aged above 18 years and living in the Kirazli region (whose water supply is from springs emerging from these alteration zones) and in the Ciplak–Halileli region (whose water supply is provided from an alluvium aquifer) were selected as the research group. For this group, a questionnaire was completed that contained questions on descriptive characteristics of humans and a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered by the authors using the face-to-face interview technique. A neurological examination was then performed by the neurology specialist as a second-stage investigation. Finally, 10 ml of venous blood samples were obtained from these people as a third-stage analysis to determine the serum Al levels together with vitamin B12, folic acid, and thyroid-stimulating hormone parameters. The result typically revealed that the MMSE score was less in 31.9% and there was no statistically significant difference between the two regions. However, the result also showed that neuropathy in the history (including a careful past medical history) was significantly higher in the Kirazli region.
Cd, Pb and Zn Oral Bioaccessibility of Urban Soils Contaminated in the Past by Atmospheric Emissions from Two Lead and Zinc Smelters by H. Roussel; C. Waterlot; A. Pelfrêne; C. Pruvot; M. Mazzuca; F. Douay (pp. 945-954).
Ingestion of dust or soil particles could pose a potential health risk due to long-term metal trace element (MTE) exposure. Twenty-seven urban topsoil samples (kitchen garden and lawn) were collected and analyzed for Cd, Pb and Zn using the unified Bioaccessibility Research Group of Europe (BARGE) method (UBM) test to estimate the human bioaccessibility of these elements. The quantities of Cd, Pb and Zn extracted from soils indicated, on average, 68, 62 and 47% bioaccessibility, respectively, in the gastric phase and 31, 32 and 23% bioaccessibility, respectively, in the gastro-intestinal phase. Significant positive correlations were observed between concentrations extracted with UBM and total MTE contents. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that human bioaccessibility was also affected by some physico-chemical soil parameters (i.e. total nitrogen, carbonates, clay contents and pH). The unified test presents some valuable data for risk assessment. Indeed, the incorporation of oral bioaccessible concentrations into risk estimations could give more realistic information for health risk assessment.
Does Grazing Pressure Modify Diuron Toxicity in a Biofilm Community? by J. C. López-Doval; M. Ricart; H. Guasch; A. M. Romaní; S. Sabater; I. Muñoz (pp. 955-962).
Herbicides affect the structure and functional parameters of fluvial biofilm. Diuron is toxic to primary producers and disrupts endocrine activity. Here, we studied the interaction between this toxicant and several biological compartments in a simple food chain composed of herbivores (the snail Physella [Costatella] acuta) and biofilm. We used indoor experimental channels to which Diuron was added at a realistic concentration (2 μg/L). Bacterial survival and chlorophyll-a and photosynthetic activity were analyzed in the biofilm. We monitored biomass, mortality, reproduction, and motility as end points in the freshwater snail P. acuta. Our results showed that bacterial survival and photosynthetic activity were sensitive to Diuron. Snails were not affected by the herbicide at the concentration tested. No significant interactions between the toxicant and grazers were observed on the biofilm. Reproductive traits, however, were slightly affected, indicating a possible endocrine disruption.
Assessing Toxicity of the Insecticide Thiacloprid on Chironomus riparius (Insecta: Diptera) Using Multiple End Points by Miriam Langer-Jaesrich; Heinz-R. Köhler; Almut Gerhardt (pp. 963-972).
Since data documentation on neonicotinic toxicity to nontarget organisms should be enhanced, we investigate the effects of thiacloprid, a novel neonicotinoid insecticide, on the sediment-dwelling nontarget insect Chironomus riparius. Further, we wanted to validate the sensitivity of end points on different biological levels and obtain the greatest amount of information regarding the effects of this compound by using a battery of several end points such as larval mortality, behavior, body weight gain, emergence rate, time of development, gender ratio, Hsp70 stress protein level, and larval mouthpart deformities after exposure at a concentration range of 0.1 to 1000 μg/L thiacloprid. C. riparius was impacted starting at concentrations of 0.5 μg/L, a concentration that can be considered environmentally relevant. Larval mortality, behavior, emergence, and Hsp70 protein level were sensitive indicators for the toxic effect of thiacloprid, whereas gender ratio and mouthpart morphology were not affected. In our case life-cycle end points like survival rate (LC50: 1.57 μg/L) and emergence rate (EC50: 0.54 μg/L) proved to be more sensitive than tested physiological end points for the neurotoxic insecticide.
Flow-Cytometric Analyses of Viability Biomarkers in Pesticide-Exposed Sperm of Three Aquatic Invertebrates by Karen P. Favret; John W. Lynn (pp. 973-984).
Toxicity studies on sperm often use fertilization success as the end point. This type of assay can be affected by sperm density, egg quality, and sperm–egg compatibility. Testing sperm viability biomarkers with flow cytometry is a fast, high-throughput technique for seminal analysis. In this study, we detected sperm viability biomarkers with several fluorescent reporter dyes using flow cytometry in three aquatic invertebrates (Crassostrea virginica, Dreissena polymorpha, and Lytechinus variegatus) after exposure to a pesticide and herbicide. The pesticide, Bayluscide, appeared to affect mitochondrial membrane potential in the sperm of all three species, as measured with MitoTracker Red CMXRos®. A decrease in the percentage of sperm stained with SYBR®-14 (indicating uncompromised plasma membrane) was observed in C. virginica and D. polymorpha sperm exposed to Bayluscide, but propidium iodide staining (indicating compromised plasma membranes) appeared to be inhibited by Bayluscide. Acrosome-reacted sperm, as measured by FITC-PNA, decreased after Bayluscide exposure in C. virginica and D. polymorpha sperm. The herbicide, Roundup Ready To-Use-Plus®, did not affect the overall percentages of sperm stained with MitoTracker but did cause an increase in MitoTracker fluorescence intensity at 16 mg/L in D. polymorpha. Roundup also caused significant decreases in SYBR-14 staining, significant increases in propidium iodide staining, and significant increases in FITC-PNA staining in D. polymorpha sperm. By not having to rely on egg availability and optimal sperm density, sperm toxicity can be more accurately assessed with flow cytometry as being directly correlated to sperm viability rather than the possibility of altered toxicity results due to sperm-to-egg compatibility.
Toxicity of the Insecticide Etofenprox to Three Life Stages of the Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio by Marie E. DeLorenzo; Ryan G. De Leon (pp. 985-990).
Opportunities for environmental contamination by the insecticide etofenprox are increasing as its uses expand from primarily indoor residential to rice cultivation and mosquito control. To provide toxicity data for sensitive saltwater species, effects of etofenprox were assessed using three life stages of the estuarine grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio. Adults, larvae, and embryos were tested in aqueous exposures, while adults and larval shrimp were also tested in the presence of sediment. In addition, sublethal cellular stress biomarkers, glutathione and lipid peroxidation, were examined. Larval shrimp was the most sensitive life stage, with 96-h median lethal concentration (LC50) of 0.89 μg/l, compared with 1.26 μg/l for adults and 100 μg/l for embryos. Presence of sediment significantly decreased toxicity of etofenprox to both adult and larval shrimp. Etofenprox exposure (100 μg/l) increased time to hatch in embryos. Lipid peroxidation levels were reduced in adult and larval shrimp after 96 h exposure to etofenprox, while no effect on glutathione was detected. The results of this study provide new information on the toxicity of etofenprox to estuarine invertebrates. These data may prove beneficial to the regulation of this pesticide and management of its uses in coastal areas.
Toxicity of Metal Pyrithione Photodegradation Products to Marine Organisms with Indirect Evidence for Their Presence in Seawater by Toshimitsu Onduka; Kazuhiko Mochida; Hiroya Harino; Katsutoshi Ito; Akira Kakuno; Kazunori Fujii (pp. 991-997).
We evaluated the acute toxicities of the metal pyrithiones (MePTs)—copper pyrithione (CuPT) and zinc pyrithione (ZnPT)—to four species of marine algae and a marine crustacean (Tigriopus japonicus). We also performed acute toxicity tests using six of the main MePT photodegradation products: pyridine-N-oxide (PO); 2-mercaptopyridine (HPS); pyridine-2-sulfonic-acid (PSA); 2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (HPT); 2,2′-dithio-bis-pyridine ([PS]2); and 2,2′-dithio-bis-pyridine-N-oxide ([PT]2)—and three marine organisms representing three trophic levels: an alga (Skeletonema costatum), a crustacean (T. japonicus), and a fish (Pagrus major). The acute toxicity values (72-h EC50) of CuPT, ZnPT, HPT, (PT)2, (PS)2, HPS, PO, and PSA for S. costatum, which was the most sensitive of the test organisms to the chemicals tested, were 1.5, 1.6, 1.1, 3.4, 65, 730, >100,000, and >100,000 μg l−1, respectively. CuPT was detected in the growth media used for S. costatum tests and in seawater containing HPT or (PT)2; the concentration of CuPT in seawater containing HPT was highly dependent on the Cu2+ concentration. These results indicate that in the presence of sufficient Cu2+, the toxicities of HPT and (PT)2 should be assessed as CuPT because in Japan MePTs are most frequently used as antifouling booster biocides in conjunction with cuprous oxide.
Heavy Metal Concentrations in Food Chain of Lake Velenjsko jezero, Slovenia: An Artificial Lake from Mining by Zdenka Mazej; Samar Al Sayegh-Petkovšek; Boštjan Pokorny (pp. 998-1007).
The concentration of metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg) in different ecosystem components (lake water, sediment, plankton, macrophytes, and fish tissues) has been determined in Velenjsko jezero, an artificial lake resulting from mining activity. The risk to humans from consuming fish has been evaluated from the heavy metal load of fish muscle tissue. Heavy metals are transferred through the food chain at different levels, and Hg is found to be the element of the highest ecotoxicological concern. Although both sediment and plankton contain relatively low concentrations of Hg, this element accumulates in high levels in fish, especially in the benthivorous species Abramis brama danubii and predator species Perca fluviatilis. Moreover, Hg appears to be very mobile in the fish organism. Whereas the other metals remained mostly in liver (Cd) or gills (Zn, Pb), levels of Hg in fish muscle and liver were the same and markedly higher than in gills. However, in muscle, the average concentrations of each metal were below their maximum limits, determined either by Slovenian legislation or by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Acetylcholinesterase Activity, Lipid Peroxidation, and Bioaccumulation in Silver Catfish (Rhamdia quelen) Exposed to Cadmium by Alexandra Pretto; Vania Lucia Loro; Vera Maria Morsch; Bibiana Silveira Moraes; Charlene Menezes; Bárbara Clasen; Lucélia Hoehne; Valderi Dressler (pp. 1008-1014).
Cadmium is a metal with no biological function in superior organisms and it is very toxic even at very low concentrations. Thus the objective of this study was to verify some toxicological parameters in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) exposed to cadmium. In this study, silver catfish was exposed to 0 (control), 0.236, and 0.414 mg L−1 cadmium for 7 and 14 days, followed by the same periods of recovery. The effects of cadmium on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and metal accumulation in brain and muscle were verified. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) formation was evaluated in brain. An increase in TBARS levels was verified after exposure and recovery periods and AChE activity in brain was reduced after 14 days of exposure. These parameters did not return to control values after the recovery period. In muscle AChE was altered during both exposure periods. Alterations in AChE activity may be a good indicator of cadmium contamination in R. quelen.
Survival Time Analysis of Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa) and Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Acute Exposures to Endosulfan Sulfate by John F. Carriger; Tham C. Hoang; Gary M. Rand (pp. 1015-1022).
Single-species flow-through toxicity tests were conducted to determine the times-to-death of two indigenous fish to South Florida—least killifish (Heterandria formosa) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)—from acute exposure to endosulfan sulfate. Mortalities were recorded within 8-h periods from test initiation to termination at 96 h. The 96-h LC50s for least killifish and mosquitofish estimated using the trimmed-Spearman–Karber method were 2.0 and 2.3 μg/l, respectively. An accelerated failure time model was used to estimate times to death at selected concentrations. Data were fit to log-normal, log-logistic, and Weibull distributions. Acute toxicity data fit to the Weibull distribution produced a better relative fit than log-normal or log-logistic distributions for both toxicity tests. The survival-time profiles and associated statistics illustrate the benefit of considering exposure duration as well as concentration when predicting acute risk to species’ populations. Both toxicity tests had similar outcomes from exposure to endosulfan sulfate, with least killifish being slightly more likely to die at lower concentrations and shorter time periods than mosquitofish. From the models generated by the toxicity tests, times-to-death for least killifish and mosquitofish were estimated for environmentally relevant concentrations of total endosulfan at a site of concern in South Florida. When the results from the current toxicity tests were compared to environmental concentrations from previous screening-level ecological risk assessments, the durations necessary to potentially kill 10% or more of the populations of the two native south Florida fish species were estimated to be 77 and 96 h for least killifish and mosquitofish, respectively. However, the exposure values included the α and β isomers as well as endosulfan sulfate; therefore, an understanding of their toxicity might be important in understanding the survival dynamics of fish species in endosulfan sulfate-contaminated sites.
Genetic, Biochemical, and Individual Responses of the Teleost Fish Carassius auratus to Uranium by Joana Lourenço; B. B. Castro; R. Machado; B. Nunes; S. Mendo; F. Gonçalves; R. Pereira (pp. 1023-1031).
Carassius auratus were exposed for 96 h to different concentrations of uranyl nitrate (corresponding to 0, 100, 450, and 2,025 μg U L−1) and killed after different postexposure periods (0, 48, and 96 h) to assess uranium bioaccumulation, peroxisome proliferation (catalase [CAT]), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]), and DNA integrity in erythrocytes (comet assay). In addition, feeding behaviour was recorded as a general response to toxicant exposure. Results provided evidence of uranium bioaccumulation in muscle of C. auratus after exposure to the highest concentrations (450 and 2,025 μg U L−1). This tissue was able to depurate uranium to control levels 96 h after exposure ceased. However, no perturbations in feeding behaviour or cell damage were observed in the tested organisms, except for the apparent irreversible inhibition of CAT activity immediately after exposure in the highest concentration tested. Data on DNA integrity (comets) showed that waterborne uranium exposure was able to induce genotoxicity in C. auratus erythrocytes because fish exposed to all concentrations exhibited higher DNA damage than controls 96 h after exposure. No DNA damage repair was apparent throughout the postexposure period, which was contrary to a recovery scenario. This experiment provides evidence of uranium’s ability to induce physiologic impairment and genotoxicity in freshwater fish at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Quantitative Behavioral Parameters as Toxicity Biomarkers: Fish Responses to Waterborne Cadmium by B. L. Eissa; N. A. Ossana; L. Ferrari; A. Salibián (pp. 1032-1039).
The disruptive sublethal effects of heavy metals on behavioral parameters of fish as biomarkers of aquatic toxicity have been scarcely studied. We investigated the impact of exposure to sublethal waterborne cadmium on locomotory parameters of three freshwater teleosts: Cyprinus carpio as reference species, and Australoheros facetum (sin. Cichlasoma facetum) and Astyanax fasciatus, native to Pampean ecosystems in Argentina, using a noninvasive bioassay under laboratory conditions. Fish were successively transferred to media containing freshwater (control period), Cd2+ solutions (exposure period), and freshwater (recovery period). The behavioral biomarkers evaluated were swimming activity and swimming speed of fish. The metal provoked different responses of both parameters after 4–7 days of exposure; the reversibility of changes was also assessed. It was concluded that: (a) locomotion parameters are sensitive endpoints and useful biomarkers in behavioral studies of freshwater toxicity, (b) the applied bioassay could be a valuable tool in water quality monitoring, and (c) the studied species differed in their susceptibility to the toxicant as well as in their capacity to return to basal values.
Toxicological Responses of Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) Exposed to Aged and Amended Soils Containing Lead by Matthew A. Bazar; Michael J. Quinn Jr.; Kristie Mozzachio; John A. Bleiler; Christine R. Archer; Carlton T. Phillips; Mark S. Johnson (pp. 1040-1047).
The use of lead in military and civilian small arms projectiles is widely acknowledged to have resulted in high soil lead concentrations at many small arms ranges. These ranges are often adjacent to wildlife habitat or have become habitat when no longer used. To assess the potential toxicity of lead to terrestrial amphibians in contaminated areas, we exposed 100 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to either a control soil or one of four soil treatments amended with lead acetate for 28 days. Analytical mean soil concentrations were 14 (control), 553, 1700, 4700, and 9167 mg Pb/kg soil dry weight. An additional 60 salamanders were also exposed for 28 days to one of six field-collected soil samples from a small arms range and a skeet range. The field soil concentrations ranged from 11 (background) to 16,967 mg Pb/kg soil dry weight. Food consisted of uncontaminated flightless Drosophila melanogaster. Salamander survival was reduced in amended soil treatments of 4700 and 9167 mg/kg by 15% and 80%, respectively. Inappetence was observed at 4700 and 9167 mg/kg and growth decreased in the 9167 mg/kg treatment. Total white blood cells decreased 32% at 4700 mg/kg compared to controls and were 22% lower in the 9167 mg/kg treatment. In contrast, survival was 100% for all field-collected soils with no hematological effects. At 16,967 mg/kg there was evidence of soil avoidance and decreased growth. These data suggest marked differences in toxicity and bioavailability of the lead-amended soil in contrast to the field-collected soil containing lead.
Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA by Timothy B. Fredricks; Matthew J. Zwiernik; Rita M. Seston; Sarah J. Coefield; Stephanie C. Plautz; Dustin L. Tazelaar; Melissa S. Shotwell; Patrick W. Bradley; Denise P. Kay; John P. Giesy (pp. 1048-1064).
House wren (Troglodytes aedon), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) tissues collected in study areas (SAs) downstream of Midland, Michigan (USA) contained concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) greater than in upstream reference areas (RAs) in the region. The sum of concentrations of PCDD/DFs (ΣPCDD/DFs) in eggs of house wrens and eastern bluebirds from SAs were 4- to 22-fold greater compared to those from RAs, whereas concentrations in tree swallow eggs were similar among areas. Mean concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and sum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (ΣTEQsWHO-Avian), based on 1998 WHO avian toxic equivalency factors, in house wren and eastern bluebird eggs ranged from 860 (430) to 1500 (910) ng/kg wet weight (ww) and 470 (150) to 1100 (510) ng/kg ww, respectively, at the most contaminated study areas along the Tittabawassee River, whereas mean concentrations in tree swallow eggs ranged from 280 (100) to 760 (280) ng/kg ww among all locations. Concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs in nestlings of all studied species at SAs were 3- to 50-fold greater compared to RAs. Mean house wren, tree swallow, and eastern bluebird nestling concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and ΣTEQsWHO-Avian ranged from 350 (140) to 610 (300) ng/kg ww, 360 (240) to 1100 (860) ng/kg ww, and 330 (100) to 1200 (690) ng/kg ww, respectively, at SAs along the Tittabawassee River. Concentrations of ΣTEQsWHO-Avian were positively correlated with ΣPCDD/DF concentrations in both eggs and nestlings of all species studied. Profiles of relative concentrations of individual congeners were dominated by furan congeners (69–84%), primarily 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, for all species at SAs on the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers but were dominated by dioxin congeners at upstream RAs.
Enhanced Inhibitory Effects of TBT Chloride on the Development of F1 Rats by H. Asakawa; M. Tsunoda; T. Kaido; M. Hosokawa; C. Sugaya; Y. Inoue; Y. Kudo; T. Satoh; H. Katagiri; H. Akita; M. Saji; M. Wakasa; T. Negishi; T. Tashiro; Y. Aizawa (pp. 1065-1073).
Neurotoxicity is one of the major effects of tributyltin (TBT). The effects on the next generation of F1 rats exposed to TBT via the placenta and their dams’ milk may be stronger than those on adults. Pregnant Wister rats were exposed to TBT at 0 and 125 ppm in their food. Half of the female F1 rats in both groups were exposed to TBT at 125 ppm in their food from 9 to 15 weeks of age. Female F1 rats were divided into the following groups: the control-control (CC) group, with no exposure; the TBT-control (TC) group, exposed to TBT via the placenta and their dams’ milk; the control-TBT (CT) group, exposed to TBT via their food from 9 to 15 weeks of age; and the TBT-TBT (TT) group, exposed to TBT via the placenta, their dams’ milk, and their food (n = 10/group). After administration, an open-field test and prepulse inhibition (PPI) test were performed at 15 weeks of age. The mean body weights of the TC and TT groups were significantly lower than that of the CC group from 9 to 15 weeks of age. The mean relative thymus weight of the TC and TT groups was significantly lower than that of the CC group. In the open-field test, a marked decrease in the total locomotion distance was observed in the TT group. The mean values in the TT and TC groups were significantly lower than that in the CC group. For the locomotion distance between 15 and 20 min, the mean values in the CT, TC, and TT groups were significantly lower than that in the CC group. The mean locomotor distance between 25 and 30 min in the TT group was significantly lower than that in the CC and TC groups. The mean values of instances of wall rearing in the TC, CT, and TT groups were significantly lower than that in the CC group. The mean value of face washing or body washing in the TT group was significantly lower than that in the CT group. There were no significant differences in indexes of the PPI test. Exposure to TBT via the placenta and their dams’ milk inhibited the development of F1 rats, which continued after weaning. Inhibition of the rats’ activity induced by exposure to TBT via the placenta and their dams’ milk and/or via their food was suggested. The effects were most evident in the TT group.
Evaluation and Validation of Two Chromatographic Methods (HPLC-Fluorescence and LC–MS/MS) for the Determination and Confirmation of Ochratoxin A in Pig Tissues by Dragan Milićević; Verica Jurić; Srđan Stefanović; Tatjana Baltić; Saša Janković (pp. 1074-1081).
Two different analytical methods for the determination and confirmation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in blood serum, kidney, and liver of pigs have been compared. Sample cleanup was based on liquid–liquid phase extraction. The detection of OTA was accomplished with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined either with fluorescence detection (FLD) or electrospray ionization (ESI+) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The comparative method of evaluation was based on the investigation of 90 samples of blood serum, kidney, and liver per animal originating from different regions of Serbia. The analytical results are discussed in view of the respective method validation data and the corresponding experimental protocols. In general, analytical data obtained with liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS detection offered comparable good results in the sub-ppb concentration level indicating that the electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) method was more selective and sensitive for the analysis and confirmation of OTA in pig tissues than the HPLC method after the methylation of OTA.