| 1. |
- Axmon, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Polychlorinated biphenyls in blood plasma among Swedish female fish consumers in relation to time to pregnancy
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A: Current Issues. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1087-2620 .- 1528-7394. ; 64:6, s. 485-498
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to assess the association between 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) in plasma, a biomarker of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and time to pregnancy (TTP) in a group of women with a varying dietary exposure to PCB. For 121 Swedish east coast fishermen's wives (median year of birth 1956, range 1945-1968), information on selt-reported TTP for the first planned pregnancy (median 2 mo, range 0-48) and CB-153 concentrations from blood samples drawn in 1995 (median 144 ng/g lipid, range 16-566) were available. Each woman's CB-153 concentration in plasma at the time immediately preceding her pregnancy was estimated, taking into account reduction of body burden of CB-153 due to lactation, the yearly reduction of PCB in Baltic Sea fish, as well as the biological half-life of CB-153. Based on the estimated CB-153 concentrations, subjects were categorized into tertiles as low (37-206 ng/g lipid), medium (207-330 ng/g lipid), and high (331-,1036 ng/g lipid) exposure groups. TTP in the medium- and high-exposure groups were then compared to TTP in the low-exposure group by estimating the corresponding success rate (i.e., the number of pregnancies per person month) ratios (SuRR) using discrete Cox regression, taking into account essential confounders. No obvious association between estimated CB-153 concentration and TTP was observed (medium vs. low: SuRR 0.77 [95% CI 0.47-1.28] and high vs. low: SuRR 0.95 10.74-1.23]). The present data give no support for a negative association between the plasma CB-153 concentrations observed in the present study and TTP. It should, however, be borne in mind that the study group was rather small and mainly included relatively young women, likely to have been only moderately exposed.
|
|
| 2. |
- Berg, Cecilia, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
-
Xenopus tropicalis as a Test System for Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 72:3-4, s. 219-225
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The usefulness of Xenopus tropicalis as a model species to investigate endocrine disruption and developmental reproductive toxicity was assessed. In our test system tadpoles were exposed to test substances from shortly after hatching until metamorphosis, including the period of gonadal differentiation. Effects on the sex hormone and thyroid hormone axes were evidenced as skewed sex ratios, malformations of reproductive organs, altered cytochrome (CYP19) (aromatase) activity, and gene expression in gonads and brain, as well as changed thyroid histology and time to metamorphosis. Reproductive toxicity was evaluated at sexual maturity. Male-to-female sex reversal was implied at concentrations as low as 6 pM (1.8 ng/L) ethynylestradiol (EE2), which is comparable to EE2 levels observed in the environment. EE2-exposed males that were not sex reversed had significantly reduced fertility and a reduced amount of spermatozoa in testes compared with control males. This indicates that reproduction in wild frogs might be impaired by estrogenic environmental pollutants. Aromatase activity in brain and testes of adult frogs was not affected by larval EE2 exposure. Preliminary results indicate that exposure to the environmentally relevant pharmaceutical clotrimazole modulated aromatase activity in brain and gonads during sex differentiation, which warrants further investigation. The susceptibility to estrogen-induced sex reversal of X. tropicalis was comparable to that of other frog species and fish. Similarities between the reproductive effects in X. tropicalis and those reported in fish, birds, and mammals after developmental exposure to estrogens make X. tropicalis promising model for research on endocrine disruption and developmental reproductive toxicity.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bergdahl, Ingvar A, et al.
(författare)
-
Biomonitoring of lead exposure-alternatives to blood
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A: Current Issues. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1087-2620 .- 1528-7394. ; 71:18, s. 1235-1243
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lead (Pb) is one of the most important models for biomonitoring of exposure, with the blood Pb concentration as a predominant choice in practice and in epidemiology. In this article the alternatives for biomarkers to blood are reviewed. This overview focuses on a number of different qualities that are of importance in the evaluation of a biomarker's usefulness and performance. The qualities scrutinized included: (1) analytical accuracy and precision; (2) cost; (3) practical issues; (4) what is reflected by the biomarker; (5) relationship to exposure; and (6) relationship to effects. Data indicate that the best biomarker in some circumstances may be blood, but bone or teeth (for past exposures), feces (for current gastrointestinal exposure), or urine (for organic Pb) are sometimes more useful. A striking feature is that no generally accepted biomarker of bioavailable Pb exists, though plasma, bone, teeth, urine, and hair have all been discussed. For one of the most used applications of blood Pb, monitoring of lead workers' exposure, blood has important shortcomings in that it shows a poor response to changes in exposure at high levels. The alternative of plasma has not been sufficiently evaluated to be considered an alternative in occupational health services, although previous analytical problems are basically overcome. Possibly, urine deserves also more attention. Almost all biomarkers lack systematic data on variation within and between individuals.
|
|
| 4. |
- Berglind, Rune, et al.
(författare)
-
Interactions between pH, potassium, calcium, bromide, and phenol and their effects on the bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 73:16, s. 1102-1112
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little attention has been paid to how the light produced by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri in the Microtox assay is dependent on the concentration of essential ions such as sodium and potassium, and whether the concentrations of these ions affect the sensitivity of the test system to toxic chemicals. Five selected factors, pH, potassium (K(+)), calcium (Ca(2+)), bromide (Br(-)), and phenol (Phe), were simultaneously varied over a set of systematically planned experiments according to a D-optimal design that supported the estimation of a model with linear, quadratic, and two-factor interatcions of the studied factors. The bacterial light production represented by the gamma values in the Microtox assay for the 24 selected combinations of factors was measured at 5 and 15 min. The gamma values varied from negative to positive values greater than 1, indicating stimulation and inhibition of bacterial light production, respectively. The relationship between the gamma values and the factor settings was investigated with multiple linear regression. After 5 min of exposure, the light production was significantly affected by linear and quadratic terms for K(+), pH, and Phe and an interaction between pH and Phe. The situation was more complex after 15 min of exposure, since in addition significant interactions were found for K x Phe and Ca x pH. The tolerance of V. fischeri to Phe was enhanced by increasing the K and Ca concentrations. Data indicate that the ion composition and pH of the sample, as well as the diluents, need to be considered when the toxicity of salts, water samples, and extracts of sediments and soils are tested using commercially certified toxicity test kits.
|
|
| 5. |
- Brodin, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
-
Environmental relevant levels of a benzodiazepine (oxazepam) alters important behavioral traits in a common planktivorous fish, (Rutilus rutilus)
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 80:16–18, s. 963-970
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals is increasingly recognized as a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. A complex mix of pharmaceuticals enters waterways via treated wastewater effluent and many remain biochemically active after the drugs reach aquatic systems. However, to date little is known regarding the ecological effects that might arise following pharmaceutical contamination of aquatic environments. One group of particular concern is behaviorally modifying pharmaceuticals as seemingly minor changes in behavior may initiate marked ecological consequences. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of a benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug (oxazepam) on key behavioral traits in wild roach (Rutilus rutilus) at concentrations similar to those encountered in effluent surface waters. Roach exposed to water with high concentrations of oxazepam (280 mu g/L) exhibited increased boldness, while roach at low treatment (0.84 mu g/L) became bolder and more active compared to control fish. Our results reinforce the notion that anxiolytic drugs may be affecting fish behavior in natural systems, emphasizing the need for further research on ecological impacts of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems and development of new tools to incorporate ecologically relevant behavioral endpoints into ecotoxicological risk assessment.
|
|
| 6. |
- Brooks, Steven J., et al.
(författare)
-
Water Column Monitoring of the Biological Effects of Produced Water from the Ekofisk Offshore Oil Installation from 2006 to 2009
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 74:7-9, s. 582-604
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Norwegian water column monitoring program investigates the biological effects of offshore oil and gas activities in Norwegian waters. In three separate surveys in 2006, 2008, and 2009, bioaccumulation and biomarker responses were measured in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) held in cages at known distances from the produced water (PW) discharge at the Ekofisk oil field. Identical monitoring studies performed in all three years have allowed the biological effects and bioaccumulation data to be compared, and in addition, enabled the potential environmental benefits of a PW treatment system (CTour), implemented in 2008, to be evaluated. The results of the 2009 survey showed that caged animals were exposed to low levels of PW components, with highest tissue concentrations in mussels located closest to the PW discharge. Mussels located approximately 1-2 km away demonstrated only background concentrations of target compounds. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and alkyl phenol (AP) metabolites in the bile of caged cod were elevated at stations 200-250 m from the discharge. There was also a signal of exposure relative to discharge for the biomarkers CYP1A in fish and micronuclei in mussels. All other fish and mussel biomarkers showed no significant exposure effects in 2009. The mussel bioaccumulation data in 2009 indicated a lower exposure to the PW effluent than seen previously in 2008 and 2006, resulting in an associated general improvement in the health of the caged mussels. This was due to the reduction in overall discharge of PW components (measured as oil in water) into the area in 2009 compared to previous years as a result of the improved PW treatment system.
|
|
| 7. |
- Carlsson, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
-
Toxicity screening of produced water extracts in a zebrafish embryo assay
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 77, s. 600-615
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Produced water is the largest effluent discharge from oil and gas/condensate production facilities in the North Sea. There is concern that contaminants originating from the reservoir and chemicals used in the production process may affect marine organisms. Developmental toxicity of extractable organic compounds in produced water effluents from oil and gas/condensate production platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea was assessed in a temporal and spatial manner using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Large-scale solid-phase extraction (SPE) and on-column fractionation of water-soluble fraction (WSF) and an oil/particulate fraction was used in a rapid screening bioassay for embryotoxicity. Exposure to produced water extracts increased rate of mortality and reduced pigmentation and heart rate, as well as delaying time to hatch. The oil/particulate fraction was 10-fold less toxic than WSF, indicating that toxicity was predominantly produced by moderately polar and bioavailable compounds. Large spatial and temporal variation in produced water toxicity was observed, displaying considerable variability in the reservoir, oil well, and effluent composition over time. The noted toxicity did not correlate well with either reported produced water composition or parameters such as total hydrocarbons, thus challenging chemical measurements as a reliable source of information for predicting complex effects. Although embryotoxicity was observed following exposure to the extracts, dilution and transformation of produced water in the recipient are expected to rapidly reduce the concentrations of compounds in the effluents to levels below the thresholds of observed effects.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
