| 1. |
- Björkblom, Carina, et al.
(författare)
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Estrogenic and androgenic effects of municipal wastewater effluent on reproductive endpoint biomarkers in three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:5, s. 1063-1071
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Municipal wastewater treatment plants have been associated with the release of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which consequently lead to alterations of reproductive function in aquatic organisms. The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has quantifiable biomarkers for assessment of both estrogen (vitellogenin) and androgen (spiggin) activity, which makes this species very valuable in the research of endocrine disruption. The estrogenic and androgenic biomarkers were used for evaluating exposure effects of municipal wastewater effluent. We evaluated the effects of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT), and wastewater effluents on induction of vitellogenin and spiggin production, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, nephrosomatic index, plasma steroid levels, and histopathology. Adult female and male sticklebacks were exposed to 20 ng/L of EE2, 10 microg/L of MT, and wastewater effluent (10, 50, and 80% of original concentration) in a flow-through system for an exposure of one week and an extended exposure of four weeks. Chemical analyses of the steroids were done for verification of exposure concentrations and presence in the used wastewater. Our results show that municipal wastewater effluent exerts estrogenic action on three-spined stickleback as observed by elevated vitellogenin levels in exposed fish, corresponding to the effect seen in fish exposed to EE2. Furthermore, wastewater and EE2 exerted similar histopathological effects on testis of exposed fish. Although domestic effluent is suspected to have a high content of natural androgens, no obvious androgenic effect of wastewater was observed in the present study.
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| 2. |
- Brandli, Rahel C., et al.
(författare)
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Tributyltin Sorption to Marine Sedimentary Black Carbon and to Amended Activated Carbon
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:3, s. 503-508
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Under marine conditions, tributyltin (TBT) is speciated mainly as an uncharged hydroxyl complex (TBTOH) that is expected to have a similar fate to hydrophobic organic contaminants. Earlier studies indicated that for the later compounds, sorption to black carbon (BC) can be more than two orders of magnitude stronger than sorption to organic carbon, notably at low and environmentally relevant concentrations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sorption strength of spiked TBT to a sediment and its BC isolate. It was observed that carbon-normalized sorption coefficients were in the same range for the sediment total organic carbon (TOC) and for its BC (log K-TOC 5.05 L/kg(TOC) and log K BC 5.09 L/kg(BC), respectively). This indicates that TBT does not sorb as strongly to BC as other hydrophobic organic contaminants. Activated carbon (AC), a strong man-made sorbent, has the potential to be used for in situ remediation of contaminated sediments and soils, in particular for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. In the present study, both granular and powdered AC were found to strongly sorb TBT under marine conditions, with a log sorption coefficient of 6.8 L/kg(carbon). Tributyl- and dibutyltin concentrations in the pore water of a natively contaminated sediment were reduced by more than 70% on addition of 2% of powdered AC, whereas granular AC did not show a similar reduction. The results indicate that powdered AC might be a feasible remediation agent for sediments contaminated by organotins.
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| 3. |
- Carlsson, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Effluent from Bulk Drug Production is Toxic to Aquatic Vertebrates.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental toxicology and chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:12, s. 2656-2662
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Very high levels of a range of pharmaceuticals have recently been reported in the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant near Hyderabad, India. The plant serves approximately 90 manufacturers of bulk drugs that primarily are exported to the world market. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics were found at levels that are highly toxic to various microorganisms. Despite that mg/L levels of drugs targeting human proteins have also been found, it is difficult to conclude whether these levels are sufficiently high to adversely affect fish or amphibians due to the lack of relevant chronic toxicity data for most human pharmaceuticals. To assess potential effects on aquatic vertebrates, tadpoles of Xenopus tropicalis were exposed to three dilutions of effluent (0.2, 0.6 and 2%) over 14 days, starting at developmental stage 51. Additionally, newly fertilized zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to diluted effluent in 96-well plates for up to 144 hours post-fertilization (hpf). The tadpoles' body lengths, weights and developmental stages were recorded, whereas a larger number of sub-lethal and lethal endpoints were studied in the zebrafish. A 40% reduced growth of the exposed tadpoles was demonstrated at the lowest tested effluent concentration (0.2%), indicating that there are potent constituents in the effluent that can adversely affect aquatic vertebrates. The LC50 for zebrafish at 144 hpf was between 3.1 and 7.9% in different experiments. Reduced spontaneous movements, pigmentation and heart rate were recorded within 48 hpf at 8 and 16% effluent concentrations. Treated effluent from a plant, which serves as an important link in the global supply chain for bulk drugs, is thus shown to cause adverse effects to aquatic vertebrates even at very high dilutions.
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| 4. |
- Fick, Jerker, et al.
(författare)
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Contamination of surface, ground, and drinking water from pharmaceutical production
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : SETAC Journals. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:12, s. 2522-2527
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low levels of pharmaceuticals are detected in surface, ground, and drinking water worldwide. Usage and incorrect disposal have been considered the major environmental sources of these micro-contaminants. Recent publications, however, suggest that wastewater from drug production can potentially be a source of much higher concentrations in certain locations. We investigated the environmental fate of active pharmaceutical ingredients in a major production area for the global bulk-drug market. Water samples were taken from a common effluent treatment plant near Hyderabad, India, which receives process water from about 90 bulk drug manufacturers. Surface water was analyzed from the recipient stream and from two lakes that are not contaminated by the treatment plant. Water samples were also taken from wells in six nearby villages. The samples were analyzed for the presence of twelve pharmaceuticals with LC-MS/MS. All wells were determined to be contaminated with drugs. Ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, cetirizine, terbinafine and citalopram were detected at >1microg l-1 in several wells. Very high concentrations of ciprofloxacin (up to 14 mg L-1) and other pharmaceuticals (up to 2 mg L-1) were found in the effluent of the treatment plant and in the two lakes (up to 6.5 mg L-1). Thus, insufficient wastewater treatment in one of the world's largest centers for bulk drug production leads to unprecedented drug contamination of surface, ground, and drinking water. This raises serious concerns regarding the development of antibiotic resistance, and it creates a major challenge for producers and regulatory agencies to improve the situation.
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| 5. |
- Gunnarsson, Lina-Maria, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Pharmaceutical industry effluent diluted 1:500 affects global gene expression, cytochrome P4501A activity and plasma phosphate in fish
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:12, s. 2639-2647
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Patancheru, near Hyderabad, India, is a major production site for the global bulk drug market. Approximately 90 manufacturers send their wastewater to a common treatment plant in Patancheru. Extraordinary high levels of a wide range of pharmaceuticals have recently been demonstrated in the treated effluent. As little as 0.2% of this effluent can strongly reduce the growth rate of tadpoles, but the underlying mechanisms of toxicity are not known. To begin addressing how the effluent affects aquatic vertebrates, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to 0.2% effluent for five days. Several physiological endpoints, together with effects on global hepatic gene expression patterns, were analyzed. The exposed fish showed both an induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) gene expression, as well as enzyme activity. Clinical blood chemistry analyses revealed an increase in plasma phosphate levels, which in humans indicates impaired kidney function. Several oxidative stress-related genes were induced in the livers; however, no significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activities or in the hepatic glutathione levels were found. Furthermore, estrogen-regulated genes were slightly up-regulated following exposure, and moderate levels of estriol were detected in the effluent. The present study identifies changes in gene expression triggered by exposure to a high dilution of the effluent, supporting the hypothesis that these fish are responding to chemical exposure. The pattern of regulated genes may contribute to the identification of mechanisms of sub-lethal toxicity, as well as illuminate possible causative agents.
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| 6. |
- Hanson, Niklas, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of long-term biomarker data from Perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the Baltic Sea suggests increasing exposure to environmental pollutants
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 1552-8618 .- 0730-7268. ; 28:2, s. 364-373
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since 1988, biomarkers in female perch (Perca fluviatilis) have been analyzed at a reference site on the Swedish Baltic coast. Strong time trends toward increasing hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and reduced gonadosomatic index (GSI) have been observed. This could be caused by pollutants as well as other factors, such as increasing water temperature or reduced mean age of sampled fish. Correlation analyses were used to find the most probable explanation for the time trends. The time trends were still significant for EROD (p < 0.001) and GSI (p < 0.001) when the correlations were controlled for age. Furthermore, increasing water temperature could not explain the time trends. Exposure to pollutants through runoff from land was found to be probable, because mean flow rate in a nearby river during the last 20 d before sampling correlated to EROD activity (p < 0.01). In addition, the sum of EROD activities during the life time of the perch (ERODlife) correlated significantly with GSI (p < 0.001). This suggests that perch exposed to more EROD-inducing chemicals during their lifetime have reduced or delayed gonad development. The time trend in GSI and the correlation between ERODlife and GSI were supported by data from a site in the Bothnian Bay (northern Baltic Sea; p < 0.05). The results indicate that increased rain fall (climate change) can affect the distribution and bioavailability of chemicals in coastal areas. The link between EROD and gonad size supports the common assumption that biochemical biomarkers can act as early warning signals for effects on higher levels, which commonly is difficult to show. The significant results can probably be attributed to the unique 20-year data set.
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| 7. |
- Hedman, Jenny E., et al.
(författare)
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Remobilization of Polychlorinated Biphenyl from Baltic Sea Sediment: Comparing the Roles of Bioturbation and Physical Resuspension
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:11, s. 2241-2249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The release of a C-14-labeled trichlorobiphenyl compound ([C-14]PCB 32) from sediment to water was quantified weekly in a 30-d microcosm experiment with recirculating water. Two modes of bioturbation-driven polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) release-bioturbation by the amphipod Monoporeia affinis (a particle biodiffuser) and bioturbation by the polychaete Marenzelleria sp. (a bioirrigator)-were compared to the PCB release caused by physical resuspension of the sediment generated by a motor-driven paddle used twice a week. Bioturbation by the amphipod M. affinis caused a significantly higher remobilization of both particle-associated PCB (PCBpart) and dissolved PCB (PCBdiss) than the other treatments. Bioturbation by Marenzelleria sp. and physical resuspension caused a similar release of PCBdiss despite a significantly higher amount of total suspended solids in the water column after physical resuspension. In all treatments, the release of PCBdiss was more than one order of magnitude higher than that of PCBpart, indicating a significant potential route of exposure for pelagic organisms, such as fish, to the most bioavailable PCB form. Calculated mass-transfer coefficients (0.3-1.3 cm/d) correspond to previously reported values for trichlorinated PCBs. The present results indicate that biological reworking of sediments can be just as, or even more, important than physical resuspension for the remobilization of sediment-bound contaminants.
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| 8. |
- Houde, Magali, et al.
(författare)
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POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS AND THEIR HYDROXYLATED ANALOGS IN PLASMA OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) FROM THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:10, s. 2061-2068
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hydroxylated-PBDEs (OH-PBDE) were determined in plasma of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Charleston (CHS), South Carolina, and the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, US. Significantly lower sum (Sigma) of PBDE concentrations (sum of 12 congeners) were found in animals from the IRL [arithmetic mean: 5.454.63 ng/g wet weight (ww)] compared to CHS (3040 ng/g ww). BDE-47 was the predominant PBDE in dolphins from the IRL (50% of the SigmaPBDEs) and CHS (58%). SigmaPBDE concentrations in plasma of dolphins were negatively correlated with age at both locations. Fifteen and sixteen individual OH-PBDE congeners could be quantified in plasma of dolphins from IRL and CHS, respectively. Similar to SigmaPBDE, mean SigmaOH-PBDE concentrations were significantly higher in plasma of dolphins at CHS (1150708 pg/g ww) compared to IRL (624393 pg/g ww). The predominant congener at both locations was 6-OH-PBDE 47 (IRL: 384319 pg/g ww; CHS: 541344 pg/g ww) representing 61.5% of total SigmaOH-PBDE at IRL and 47.0% at CHS. Concentrations of SigmaOH-PBDEs were weakly negatively correlated with age in dolphins from both locations (P<0.05; IRL, R2=0.048; CHS, R2=0.021). In addition to the OH-PBDE congeners identified with technical standards, eight and four unidentified OH-PBDEs were detected and quantified respectively in animals from CHS (sum of unidentified OH-PBDEs=1.350.90 pg/g ww) and IRL (0.730.40 pg/g ww). Our results suggest that, unlike OH-PCBs, OH-PBDEs in bottlenose dolphins are minor products in plasma relative to SigmaPBDEs and a significant proportion may be a consequence of the dietary uptake of naturally produced methoxylated- and OH-PBDEs.
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| 9. |
- Hu, Xialin, et al.
(författare)
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DEVELOPMENT OF NEGLIGIBLE DEPLETION HOLLOW FIBER-PROTECTED LIQUID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION FOR SENSING FREELY DISSOLVED TRIAZINES
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:2, s. 231-238
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new sampling method, termed negligible depletion hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction, was developed for sensing the freely dissolved concentration (C free) and evaluating the availability of atrazine (ATR), desethyl atrazine (DEA), and simazine (SIM) in water. The sampling device was prepared by impregnating 1-octanol to both the pores and the lumen of a piece of polypropylene microporous hollow fiber membrane. After equilibrium and negligible depletion extraction, the 1-octanol in the lumen of the hollow fiber (10 mu l) was collected for determination of triazines. Determination of C free and the distribution coefficient to 1-octanol (D-OW) can be performed with this technique. A wide linear working range (1-200 mu g/L) and low detection limits (0.1-1 mu g/L) were obtained for triazines. Measured log D-OW values of DEA (1.44 +/- 0.04), SIM (2.06 +/- 0.06), and ATR (2.33 +/- 0.05) agreed well with those reported in the literature. The measured D-OW values were independent of the chemical concentration and sample pH (pH 3-10) and negligibly affected by the sample salinity (0-500 mM), suggesting that environmentally relevant pH and salinity have no significant effects on the availability of triazines. Although a slight (<= 31%) increase of C free was observed, one-way analysis of variance indicated the C free of triazines were not significantly affected by the presence of Aldrich humic acid, Acros humic acid, and bovine albumin V (dissolved organic carbon [DOC], 0-100 mg/L). From 3 to 36% of the spiked triazines, however, were found to associate with the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface-water samples (DOC, 32.0-61.9 mg/L), suggesting the origin of the DOM is a key parameter in determining its association with and, thus, the availability of triazines.
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| 10. |
- Johansson, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Polybrominated diphenyl ether congener patterns, hexabromocyclododecane, and brominated biphenyl 153 in eggs of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) breeding in Sweden.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : SETAC. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 28:1, s. 9-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous analyses of 52 peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs collected from two wild and one captive population in Sweden 1987 through 1999 were complemented by including additional polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners (BDE-35, -183, -184, -185, -196, -197, -203, and -207). In addition, 31 eggs not previously analyzed for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and BDE-209 were analyzed for these. Geometric mean concentrations of BPBDEs, HBCD, and the hexabrominated biphenyl (BB-153) were 3,100, 140, and 81 ng/g of lipid weight for the southern population; 2,500, 110, and 84 ng/g of lipid weight for the northern population; and 47, not detected, and 8 ng/g of lipid weight for the captive population. The BDE congener pattern was dominated by BDE-153, -99, and -100. The results were used to investigate whether a difference in PBDE congener pattern could be distinguished between the two wild populations of peregrine falcons due to different diets, as the southern population preys mainly on birds belonging to the terrestrial food chain while the northern population preys more on aquatic birds. A multivariate t-test showed a subtle but significant (p < 0.001) difference in PBDE congener pattern between the two populations. However, our hypothesis that higher-brominated congeners of PBDEs would be present to a greater extent in the terrestrial food chain was not supported by principal component analysis. The average brood size for individual females from the southern population decreased with increasing concentrations of IPBDE in the eggs (log-linear regression p < 0.01).
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