Toxicity and mutagenicity of the molluscicidal plant Ambrosia maritima L.

The acute and subchronic toxicity of the molluscicidal plant, Ambrosia maritima L., has been tested on rats. No toxic signs could be detected neither after oral administration of 5 g/kg of dried leaves of the plant as a powder or as a methanolic extract, nor after the incorporation of 50,000 ppm powdered leaves in the feed during 4 weeks. Using an aqueous extract of the plant material of A. maritima or using ambrosin, one of the active molluscicidal components of the plant, no mutagenic activity could be detected in the S. typhimurium strains TA97, TA 98, TA1538, TA100 and TA1535.     

Ambrosia maritima L.: study of molluscicidal properties of several generations originating in Egypt and cultivated in Senegal

The authors experiment molluscicidal properties of Ambrosia maritima L. from Egypt and cultivated in Senegal. Four generations are tested. Six plants, on eight tested, had same molluscicidal activity as the strain in Egypt.     

Toxicity evaluation of three pesticides on non-target aquatic and soil organisms: commercial formulation versus active ingredient

The Ecological Risk Assessment of pesticides requires data regarding their toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial non-target species. Such requirements concern active ingredient(s), generally not considering the noxious potential of commercial formulations. This work intends to contribute with novel information on the effects of short-term exposures to two herbicides, with different modes of action (Spasor^®, Stam Novel Flo 480^®), and an insecticide (Lannate^®), as well as to corresponding active ingredients (Glyphosate, Propanil and Methomyl, respectively). The microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (growth inhibition), the cladoceran Daphnia magna (immobilisation), and the earthworm Eisenia andrei (avoidance behaviour) were used as test species. Both herbicides were innocuous to all test organisms at environmentally realistic concentrations, except for Stam and Propanil (highly toxic for Pseudokirchneriella; moderately toxic to Daphnia). Lannate and Methomyl were highly toxic to Daphnia and caused Eisenia to significantly avoid the spiked soil at realistic application rates. The toxicity of formulations either overestimated (e.g. Stam/Propanil for P. subcapitata) or underestimated (e.g. Stam/Propanil for D. magna) that of the active ingredient.     

Toxicity of the veterinary sulfonamide antibiotic sulfamonomethoxine to five aquatic organisms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic toxicity of sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) to aquatic organisms to evaluate its impact at different trophic levels in the ecosystem. Regarding the growth inhibition of microalgae, SMM exhibited 72-h median effective concentration (EC₅₀) values of 5.9 mg L⁻¹ for freshwater Chlorella vulgaris and 9.7 mg L⁻¹ for marine Isochrysis galbana. In a study on the cladocerans, SMM exhibited acute toxicity and 48-h median lethal concentrations of 48 mg L⁻¹ for Daphnia magna and 283 mg L⁻¹ for D. similis. An examination of chronic toxicity revealed that SMM inhibited the brook production of the cladocerans and exhibited 21-day EC₅₀ values of 14.9 mg L⁻¹ for D. magna and 41.9 mg L⁻¹ for D. similis. This study investigated the potentially adverse effects of SMM on aquatic organisms and revealed that microalgae exhibited higher sensitivity to SMM than cladocerans did. The residue of SMM in water is recommended to be carefully evaluated to reduce ecological impacts after applied to cultured animals.     

Toxicity assessment of pesticide triclosan by aquatic organisms and degradation studies

Triclosan is considered as an important contaminant and is widely used in personal care products as an antimicrobial agent. This study demonstrates the biodegradation of triclosan by two freshwater microalgae and the acute toxicity of triclosan and 2,4-dichlorophenol. The effects of culture media and light on biodegradation of triclosan and the changing morphology of microalgae were systematically studied. Geitlerinema sp. and Chlorella sp. degraded 82.10% and 92.83% of 3.99 mg/L of triclosan at 10 days, respectively. The microalgal growth inhibition assay confirmed absence of toxic effects of triclosan on Chlorella sp., even at higher concentration (50 mg/L) after 72 h exposure. HPLC analysis showed that 2,4-dichlorophenol was produced as degradation product of triclosan by Geitlerinema sp. and Chlorella sp. This study proved to be beneficial to understand biodegradation and acute toxicity of triclosan by microalgae in order to provide aquatic environmental protection.     

Toxicity on aquatic organisms exposed to secondary effluent disinfected with chlorine,peracetic acid,ozone and UV radiation

The toxic potential of four disinfectant agents (chlorine, ozone, peracetic acid and UV radiation), used in the disinfection of urban wastewater, was evaluated with respect to four aquatic organisms. Disinfection assays were carried out with wastewater from the city of Araraquara (São Paulo State, Brazil), and subsequently, toxicity bioassays were applied in order to verify possible adverse effects to the cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia silvestrii and Daphnia similis), midge larvae Chironomus xanthus and fish (Danio rerio). Under the experimental conditions tested, all the disinfectants were capable of producing harmful effects on the test organisms, except for C. xanthus. The toxicity of the effluent to C. silvestrii was observed to increase significantly as a result of disinfection using 2.5 mg L^?1 chlorine and 29.9 mg L^?1 ozone. Ozonation and chlorination significantly affected the survival of D. similis and D. rerio, causing mortality of 60 to 100 % in comparison to the non-disinfected effluent. In experiments with effluent treated with peracetic acid (PAA) and UV radiation, a statistically significant decrease in survival was only detected for D. rerio. This investigation suggested that the study of the ideal concentrations of disinfectants is a research need for ecologically safe options for the treatment of wastewater.     

Ecotoxicity of selected nano-materials to aquatic organisms

Present knowledge concerning the ecotoxic effects of nano-materials is very limited and merits to be documented more fully. For this purpose, we appraised the toxicity of nine metallic nano-powders (copper zinc iron oxide, nickel zinc iron oxide, yttrium iron oxide, titanium dioxide, strontium ferrite, indium tin oxide, samarium oxide, erbium oxide, and holmium oxide) and of two organic nano- powders (fullerene-C60 and single-walled carbon nanotube or SWCNT). After a simple process where nano-powders (NPs) were prepared in aqueous solution and filtered, they were then bioassayed across several taxonomic groups including decomposers (bacteria), primary producers (micro-algae), as well as primary and secondary consumers (micro-invertebrates and fish). Toxicity data generated on the 11 NPs reflected a wide spectrum of sensitivity that was biological level-, test-, and endpoint-specific. With all acute and chronic tests confounded for these 11 NPs, toxicity responses spanned over three orders of magnitude: >463 mg/L (24 h LC50 of the invertebrate Thamnoplatyurus platyurus for fullerene-C60) / 0.3 mg/L (96 h EC50 of the invertebrate Hydra attenuata for indium tin oxide), that is a ratio of 1543. On the basis of the MARA (Microbial Array for Risk Assessment) assay toxic fingerprint concept, it is intimated that NPs may have different modes of toxic action. When mixed in a 1:1 ratio with a certified reference material (CRM) sediment, two solid phase assays and an elutriate assay, respectively, showed that five NPs (copper zinc iron oxide, samarium oxide, erbium oxide, holmium oxide, and SWCNT) were able to increase both CRM sediment toxicity and its elutriate toxicity. This initial investigation suggests that chemicals emerging from nanotechnology may pose a risk to aquatic life in water column and sediment compartments and that further studies on their adverse effects are to be encouraged.     

Status of pharmaceuticals in the Korle Lagoon and their toxicity to non-target organisms

Ecotoxicology - The availability of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in surface waters and suspended solids/sediments presents an ecological hazard of chronic exposure to non-target...     

Urginea maritima L (Squill): a poisonous plant of North Africa

Poisoning of livestock by ingestion of Urginea maritima L (squill), a common plant of coastal Mediterranean regions of North Africa is reviewed.     

Insecticidal activity of indole derivatives against Plutella xylostella and selectivity to four non-target organisms

Ecotoxicology - The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is a destructive pest of brassica crops of economic importance that have resistance to a range...     

Toxicity of methanol to fish, crustacean, oligochaete worm, and aquatic ecosystem

Static renewal bioassays were conducted in the laboratory and in outdoor artificial enclosures to evaluate toxic effects of methanol to one teleost fish and two aquatic invertebrates and to limnological variables of aquatic ecosystem. Ninety-six-hour acute toxicity tests revealed cladoceran crustacea Moina micrura as the most sensitive to methanol (LC50, 4.82 g/L), followed by freshwater teleost Oreochromis mossambicus (LC50, 15.32 g/L) and oligochaete worm Branchiura sowerbyi (LC50, 54.89 g/L). The fish, when exposed to lethal concentrations of methanol, showed difficulties in respiration and swimming. The oligochaete body wrinkled and fragmented under lethal exposure of methanol. Effects of five sublethal concentrations of methanol (0, 23.75, 47.49, 736.10, and 1527.60 mg/L) on the feeding rate of the fish and on its growth and reproduction were evaluated by separate bioassays. Ninety-six-hour bioassays in the laboratory showed significant reduction in the appetite of fish when exposed to 736.10 mg/L or higher concentrations of methanol. Chronic toxicity bioassays (90 days) in outdoor enclosures showed a reduction in growth, maturity index and fecundity of fish at 47.49 mg/L or higher concentrations of methanol. Primary productivity, phytoplankton population, and alkalinity of water were also reduced at these concentrations. Chronic exposure to 1527.60 mg/L methanol resulted in damages of the epithelium of primary and secondary gill lamellae of the fish. The results revealed 23.75 mg/L as the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) of methanol to freshwater aquatic ecosystem.     

Effects of microcin SF608 and microcystin-LR,two cyanotobacterial compounds produced by Microcystis sp., on aquatic organisms

Effects of two cyanobacterial compounds, microcin SF608 and microcystin-LR, were investigated on different physiological parameters of two organisms, the water moss, Vesicularia dubyana, and the waterflea, Daphnia magna. Both compounds are produced by Microcystis species. Microcystin-LR is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, and microcin SF608 inhibits serine proteases. Other effects of microcystin-LR are well documented in the literature, but adverse effects of microcin SF608 have not been investigated as yet. This study compared the effects of both compounds on detoxication enzymes, microsomal and soluble glutathione-S-transferase (m-, sGST); oxygen stress enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GP-X), and peroxidase (POD); photosynthetic oxygen production and chlorophyll a:chlorophyll b ratio. mGST was inhibited by both compounds in both organisms, significantly by microcin SF608, possibly indirectly by inhibition of that serine protease transforming the mGST to its active form. The sGST of D. magna was inhibited by microcin SF608, but elevated by microcystin-LR, and elevated by both compounds in V. dubyana. The GP-X in D. magna was not altered by microcin SF608, but elevated parallel to the sGST, whereas the POD in V. dubyana was decreased by both. Photosynthetic oxygen production as well as the chlorophyll a/b ratio showed typical stress reactions, a decrease of oxygen production, and an increase of chlorophyll b, caused both by microcin SF608 and by microcystin-LR. Microcin SF608 was not likely to be detoxified via conjugation to glutathione. The effects of microcin SF608 and microcystin-LR demonstrate that the impact of cyanobacteria on other organisms may not only be directly related to the presently known toxins.     

Toxicity of mixtures of zinc oxide and graphene oxide nanoparticles to aquatic organisms of different trophic level: particles outperform dissolved ions

Concomitant releases of various engineered nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment have resulted in concerns regarding their combined toxicity to aquatic organisms. It is however, still elusive to distinguish the contribution to toxicity of components in NP mixtures. In the present study, we quantitatively evaluated the relative contribution of NPs in their particulate form (NP_(particle)) and of dissolved ions released from NPs (NP_(ion)) to the combined toxicity of binary mixtures of ZnO NPs and graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GO NPs) to three aquatic organisms of different trophic levels, including an alga species (Scenedesmus obliquus), a cladoceran species (Daphnia magna), and a freshwater fish larva (Danio rerio). Our results revealed that the effects of ZnO NPs and GO NPs were additive to S. obliquus and D. magna but antagonistic to D. rerio. The relative contribution to toxicity (RCT) of the mixture components to S. obliquus decreased in the order of RCT_{GO NP(particle)} >?RCT_{ZnO NP(particle)}?>?RCT_{ZnO NP(ion)}, while the RCT of the mixture components to D. magna and D. rerio decreased in the order of RCT_{ZnO NP(particle)}?>?RCT_{GO NP(particle)}?>?RCT_{ZnO NP(ion)}. This finding also implies that the suspended particles rather than the dissolved Zn-ions dictated the combined toxicity of binary mixtures of ZnO NPs and GO NPs to the aquatic organisms of different trophic level. The alleviation of the contribution to toxicity of the ionic form of ZnO NPs was caused by the adsorption of the dissolved ions on GO NPs. Furthermore, the ZnO NP_(particle) and GO NP_(particle) displayed a different contribution to the observed mixture toxicity, dependent on the trophic level of the aquatic organisms tested. The difference of the contributions between the two particulate forms was mainly associated with differences in the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Our findings highlight the important role of particles in the ecological impact of multi-nanomaterial systems.     

Toxicity and risk of permethrin and naled to non-target insects after adult mosquito management

We derived laboratory LC50 values, assessed non-target insect risks, and conducted a field bioassay for ultra-low-volume (ULV) aerosol applications of insecticides used to manage adult mosquitoes. The house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), was used as an indicator species for medium- to large-bodied ground dwelling insects. The 24-h LC₅₀ values for Permanone^® (formulated product of permethrin), Permanone + piperonyl butoxide (PBO), technical grade permethrin, and technical grade permethrin + PBO ranged from 0.052 to 0.9 μg/cm². The 24 h LC₅₀ for technical grade naled and Trumpet^® (formulated product of naled) were 0.038 and 0.44 μg/cm², respectively. The synergist ratio was 2.65 for Permanone + PBO and 1.57 for technical grade permethrin + PBO. The toxicity of technical grade permethrin was about 10-fold greater than Permanone. A risk assessment using modeled estimated environmental concentrations resulted in risk quotients (RQ) that exceeded regulatory levels of concern, but when compared to field-derived actual environmental concentrations RQs did not exceed a regulatory level of concern, except in the case of technical grade naled. These results were expected because higher tiered risk assessments using field-verified data generally lead to lower risk estimates. Field bioassays using caged crickets showed no significant mortality for permethrin or naled after a single truck-mounted ULV application. The results of the risk assessment using actual environmental concentrations are supported by the field bioassays and suggest that a single ULV application of synergized or unsynergized permethrin and naled most likely will not result in population impacts on medium- to large-bodied insects.     

Toxicity of single and combined herbicides on PSII maximum efficiency of an aquatic higher plant, Lemna sp.

The present study examined the effect of single and binary mixtures of four herbicides, namely, atrazine, diuron, simazine and hexazinone on the maximum quantum efficiency of photosynthesis (F_v/F_m) of Lemna sp. after 96 h of exposure. When applied singly, the toxicity ranking of the four herbicides was as follows: diuron>hexazinone>atrazine>simazine. Binary combinations of these toxicants revealed varying inhibition values; for example, the combination of low diuron concentration with both high and low concentrations of hexazinone resulted in a synergistic effect, with mean ratio of inhibition (RI) values ranging from 1.13±0.10 to 1.16±0.08. The combination of diuron with atrazine revealed an additive effect at low diuron levels (0.025 mg L^?1) and high atrazine levels (0.1 mg L^?1) with an RI value of 1.06±0.07. Our study emphasizes on the utility of combined toxicity models in predicting the toxicological impact of herbicide mixtures on aquatic ecosystems. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the chlorophyll fluorescence of Lemna sp. as a bioanalytical tool for the rapid and inexpensive assessment of photosystem II (PSII) inhibiting herbicide mixtures.     

Derivation of acceptable concentrations for the protection of aquatic organisms

Derivation of quality standards to protect aquatic ecosystems demands a minimum set of toxicity data to allow the risk assessor to take some account of: (1) variable responses to toxicants; (2) variable environmental characteristics; (3) interactions between duration of exposure and effects; and (4) ecological significance of impacts. Extrapolation from limited experimental data to predict a concentration protective in diverse ecosystems can employ either statistical models (consistent but rather rigid and may not protect all species) or empirical factors (more flexible and possibly more protective, but require expert judgment in their application). However derived, quality standards must be tailored to the specific conditions of release and environmental fate which influence a chemical's impact in aquatic ecosystems. It must also be recognised that protection of all individuals and even of all aquatic species may not be achievable or necessary to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Some possible future advances in the determination of water quality standards are suggested.     

Toxicity of the norflurazon to the aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria americana (Michx.)

Vallisneria americana (Michx.) (common name tapegrass) is a submersed, vascular aquatic plant that reproduces vegetatively and by seed. The objective of this study was to determine the no-observable-effects concentrations (NOECs) and lowest-observable-effects concentrations (LOECs) for tapegrass exposed to the herbicide norflurazon (0-0.1 mg/L) following a 14-d exposure and a postexposure period. The primary symptom of norflurazon toxicity was bleaching of newly emerged leaf blades at concentrations of 0.04 mg/L and higher after 14 d of exposure. Leaf greenness effect levels were 0.04 mg/L (NOEC) and 0.06 mg/L (LOEC). All other endpoints measured resulted in a NOEC greater than 0.1 mg/L following the exposure period. Latent effects were observed 14 d postexposure for new leaf production and fresh weight gains, with a NOEC and LOEC of 0.08 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Total leaf growth was the least sensitive endpoint measured. Following the exposure/postexposure periods, significant effects on vegetative reproduction were apparent, with no effects occurring at concentrations up to 0.08 mg/L, but with significant reduction at the 0.1 mg/L treatment level. Root and stolon dry weights were significantly reduced at the 0.1 and 0.08 mg/L treatments, respectively. Total soluble sugars (TSS) and hexose content in shoots was reduced at concentrations of 0.04 mg/L and higher. TSS, hexose, and sucrose contents were higher in roots of plants exposed to 0.1 mg/L. Some recovery was apparent for all treatment concentrations following the postexposure period, indicating that the effects were at least partially reversible.     

Quantitation of chemically induced damage to DNA of aquatic organisms by alkaline unwinding assay

The effect of chronic exposure to the genotoxic chemical benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on the integrity of DNA, as measured by the level of double-strandedness of this macromolecule, for two aquatic organisms was investigated. In order to facilitate these studies, a method for the rapid and facile isolation of DNA from either the liver of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) or the entire fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) was developed. DNA was examined for chemically- induced strand breaks using an alkaline unwinding assay where strand separation is achieved under defined conditions of pH and temperature, and the amounts of double-stranded and single-stranded DNA present upon termination of alkaline unwinding were quantified by fluorescence measurements using Hoechst dye 33258. The kinetics of DNA strand separation under the alkaline denaturation conditions employed demonstrated the suitability of the technique for estimating strand breaks. It was observed that BP-induced damage to liver DNA of the bluegill sunfish during chronic exposure via their water proceeds through two distinct phases. There is an initial phase of decline in the level of double-strandedness of the DNA, which is immediate and rapid. By day 16 the level is 10% of that observed in nonexposed fish. During the next phase, which occurs subsequent to day 16, the level of double-strandedness increases and by day 30 is approximately that of the control population. Exposure of fathead minnows to BaP, under conditions identical to that for the bluegill sunfish, results in similar DNA damage during the initial phase of exposure.