Toxicity of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin to photoautotrophic aquatic organisms

The present study investigated the growth inhibition effect of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin on four photoautotrophic aquatic species: the freshwater microalga Desmodesmus subspicatus, the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae, the monocotyledonous macrophyte Lemna minor, and the dicotyledonous macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum. Both antibiotics, which act by inhibiting the bacterial DNA gyrase, demonstrated high toxicity to A. flos-aquae and L. minor and moderate to slight toxicity to D. subspicatus and M. spicatum. The cyanobacterium was the most sensitive species with median effective concentration (EC50) values of 173 and 10.2 μg/L for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Lemna minor proved to be similarly sensitive, with EC50 values of 107 and 62.5 μg/L for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. While enrofloxacin was more toxic to green algae, ciprofloxacin was more toxic to cyanobacteria. Calculated EC50s for D. subspicatus were 5,568 μg/L and >8,042 μg/L for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. These data, as well as effect data from the literature, were compared with predicted and reported environmental concentrations. For two of the four species, a risk was identified at ciprofloxacin concentrations found in surface waters, sewage treatment plant influents and effluents, as well as in hospital effluents. For ciprofloxacin the results of the present study indicate a risk even at the predicted environmental concentration. In contrast, for enrofloxacin no risk was identified at predicted and measured concentrations.     

Toxicity of aqueous C70-gallic acid suspension in Daphnia magna

The present study assessed the toxic effects of stable aqueous colloidal suspensions of gallic-acid-stabilized C(70) fullerene on Daphnia magna. The suspensions were stabilized through noncovalent surface modification with gallic acid. In addition to whole-organism responses, changes in antioxidative processes in D. magna were quantified. Acute toxicity was observed with 96LC50 for C(70) -gallic acid of 0.4?±?0.1?mg/L?C(70) . Daphnia magna fecundity was significantly reduced in 21-d bioassays at C(70) -gallic aqcid concentrations below quantifiable limits. Antioxidant enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase as well as lipid peroxidation suggested that exposed organisms experienced oxidative stress. Microscopic techniques used to determine cellular toxicity via apoptosis proved unsuccessful.     

Environmental risk assessment for the widely used iodinated X-ray contrast agent iopromide (Ultravist)

Iodinated X-ray contrast media are diagnostic pharmaceuticals that are applied to enhance the contrast between organs or vessels examined and surrounding tissues during radiography. These substances are applied in doses up to ca. 200 g per person (corresponding to approx 100 g iodine) and are rapidly excreted. In the sewage system they contribute to the burden of adsorbable organic halogens (AOX). To assess the potential environmental impact of this release, studies on environmental fate and effects were conducted for a risk assessment of the frequently used X-ray contrast medium iopromide (brand name: Ultravist). A screening test for biological degradation (OECD Screening Test 301 E) led to iopromide being classified as not readily biodegradable. Therefore, the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) in surface water was calculated in a first step. The resulting concentration of 2 microgram/liter was then compared in a second step with the predicted no-effect concentration as derived from a battery of ecotoxicity tests. In short-term toxicity tests with bacteria (Vibrio fisheri, Pseudomonas putida), algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), crustaceans (Daphnia magna), and fish (Danio rerio, Leuciscus idus) no toxic effects were detected at the highest tested concentration of 10 g/liter. In a chronic toxicity test with D. magna no effect was observed at the highest tested concentration of 1 g/liter. Using an assessment factor of 100 the ratio between the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) and the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) was calculated to be 相似文献   

Aquatic toxicity evaluation of para-methylstyrene

The aquatic toxicity of para-methylstyrene was evaluated in acute toxicity studies using fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and freshwater green algae (Selenastrum capricornutum). Static tests were performed in sealed containers with no headspace to minimize loss of this volatile compound to the atmosphere. Concentrations of para-methylstyrene in test solutions were analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a purge and trap module and flame ionization detection. Test results are based on mean, measured concentrations. para-Methylstyrene was moderately toxic to fathead minnows, daphnids, and green algae. The 96-h LC(50) and NOEC for fathead minnows were 5.2 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. The 48-h EC(50) and NOEC for daphnids were 1.3 and 0.81 mg/L, respectively. The 72-h EC(50) and NOEC for green algae were 2.3 and 0.53 mg/L, respectively; these effects were algistatic rather than algicidal. para-Methylstyrene's potential impact on aquatic ecosystems is significantly mitigated by its volatility, an important fate process.     

Toxicity-based criteria for the evaluation of textile wastewater treatment efficiency

Brazilian textile mills import wastewater treatment technologies, performances of which are generally evaluated only on a physicochemical basis. Thus, a battery of bioassays was used to evaluate the performance of an ozonation system to treat textile effluents. Comparative toxicological profiles for bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), daphnia (Daphnia magna), fish (Poecilia reticulata), and plants (soybean--Glycine max, rice--Oryza sativa, and wheat--Triticum aestivum), as well as genotoxic effects (Vicia faba micronucleus assay), are presented for both raw and ozonated textile effluents. The relative sensitivity of bioassays (or end points) to textile effluents found in this study in decreasing order was plant enzymes > bacteria > algae daphnids approximately = plant biomass approximately = germination rate > fish. No significant genotoxic effect was found. We have concluded that ozonation was relatively effective in reducing toxicity of textile effluents. Bioassays used in this study proved to be sensitive and reliable tools for determining the toxicity of industrial effluents, and thus they can be used to evaluate emerging technology efficiency.     

Chronic toxicity of 2,4,2',4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether on the marine alga Skeletonema costatum and the crustacean Daphnia magna

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers form a group of highly hydrophobic and persistent chemicals that are detected in various environmental matrices, such as soil, water, sediments, and biota. Although a variety of biological effects have been documented in vertebrates, the effects in invertebrates seem to be largely unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine the toxic effects of 2,4,2',4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 47) on the growth of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum and on the parthogenetic reproduction and filtering activity of the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna. The results showed that BDE 47 caused growth inhibition in S. costatum (no-observed-effect concentration [NOEC], 6.6 microg/L; median effect concentration, 70 microg/L; 95% confidence interval, 64-77 microg/L) and depressed the reproductive output of D. magna (NOEC, 14 microg/L). No effects were seen on the filtering rate of D. magna at any of the concentrations tested. Although sublethal toxicity was observed at low-microg/L levels, documented environmental water concentrations are many orders of magnitude lower, thus suggesting that BDE 47 is of minor risk to these organisms through direct water exposure.     

Laboratory evaluation of the toxicity of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) on Selenastrum capricornutum,Chlorella vulgaris,Lemna gibba,Daphnia magna,and Daphnia pulicaria

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an anthropogenic compound found in trace amounts in many environmental compartments far from areas of production. This, along with the highly persistent nature of PFOS, presents a concern for possible effects in aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine the toxicity of PFOS in representative freshwater organisms. Toxicity testing using standard laboratory protocols was performed on the green algae Selenastrum capricornutum and Chlorella vulgaris, the floating macrophyte Lemna gibba, and the invertebrates Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulicaria. No observable effect concentration (NOEC) values were generated from the most sensitive endpoints for all organisms. Autotroph inhibition of growth NOEC values were 5.3, 8.2, and 6.6 mg/L for S. capricornutum, C. vulgaris, and L. gibba, respectively. The 48-h immobility NOEC values for D. magna and D. pulicaria were 0.8 and 13.6 mg/L, respectively. In comparison to immobility, the 21-day lethality NOEC for D. magna was 5.3 mg/L. Based on effect (immobility) values, the most sensitive of all test organisms was D. magna. The most sensitive organism based on 50% inhibition of growth (IC(50)) was L. gibba, with an IC(50) value of 31.1 mg/L determined from wet weight. This is 4.3 times less than the LC(50) for D. pulicaria, which was 134 mg/L. Significant adverse effects (p < or = 0.05) were observed for all organisms in concentrations >134 mg/L. The results indicate that under laboratory conditions PFOS is acutely toxic to freshwater organisms at concentrations at or near 100 mg/L. Based on known environmental concentrations of PFOS, which occur in the low ng/L to low microg/L range, there is no apparent risk to freshwater systems. However, further work is required to investigate long-term effects in these and other freshwater organisms.     

Heterocyclic compounds: toxic effects using algae, daphnids, and the Salmonella/microsome test taking methodical quantitative aspects into account

Heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen (NSO-HET), have been detected in air, soil, sewage sludge, marine environments, and freshwater sediments. Since toxicity data on this class of substances are scarce, the present study focuses on possible implications NSO-HET have for ecotoxicity (algae and daphnids) and mutagenicity (Salmonella/microsome test). A combination of bioassays and chemical-analytical quantification of the test compounds during toxicity assays should aid in determination of the hazard potential. Samples of the test concentrations of 14 NSO-HET were taken at the beginning and end of the bioassays; these samples were then quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The toxicity potential of the substances was evaluated and compared with the toxicity calculated with the nominal concentrations. Significantly different results were obtained primarily for volatile or highly hydrophobic NSO-HET. The concentration of heterocyclic hydrocarbons can change significantly during the algae and Daphnia test. The EC50 values (effective concentration value: the concentration of a chemical that is required to produce a 50% effect) calculated with the nominal concentrations underestimate the toxicity by a factor of up to 50. Prioritizing the tested compounds according to toxicity, the mutagenic and toxic compounds quinoline, 6-methylquinoline, and xanthene have to be listed first. The greatest ecotoxic potential on algae and daphnids was determined for dibenzothiophene followed by acridine. In the Daphnia magna immobilization test, benzofuran, dibenzofuran, 2-methylbenzofuran, and 2,3-dimethylbenzofuran and also carbazole are ecotoxicologically relevant with EC50 values below 10 mg/L. These substances are followed by indole with a high ecotoxic effect to daphnids and less effect to algae. Only minor toxic effects were observed for 2-methylpyridine and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine.     

Toxicological evaluation of nitrofurazone and furaltadone on Selenastrum capricornutum, Daphnia magna, and Musca domestica

Short-term toxicity of nitrofurans, nitrofurazone, furaltadone tartrate, and furaltadone chlorohydrate, was tested in the laboratory on two freshwater organisms, Selenastrum capricornutum (algae) and Daphnia magna (crustaceans). Toxicity studies with nitrofurazone were also carried out on larval development of the house fly Musca domestica L. Nitrofurazone was invariably the most toxic compound (the 96-hr EC50 of algal species was 1.45 mg/liters; the EC50 values for D. magna were 40.04 and 28.67 mg/liter after 24 and 48 hr, respectively) followed by furaltadone tartrate and furaltadone chlorohydrate. This study provides some evidence of the potential ecotoxicity of nitrofurans, indicating the need for further investigations.     

Toxicity of mono- and diesters of o-phthalic esters to a crustacean, a green alga, and a bacterium

The degradation of phthalic acid diesters may lead to formation of o-phthalic acid and phthalic acid monoesters. The ecotoxic properties of the monoesters have never been systematically investigated, and concern has been raised that these degradation products may be more toxic than the diesters. Therefore, the aquatic toxicity of phthalic acid, six monoesters, and five diesters of o-phthalic acid was tested in three standardized toxicity tests using the bacteria Vibrio fischeri, the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and the crustacean Daphnia magna. The monoesters tested were monomethyl, monoethyl, monobutyl, monobenzyl, mono(2-ethylhexyl), and monodecyl phthalate, while the diesters tested were dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl, butylbentyl, and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, which were assumed to be below their water solubility. The median effective concentration (EC50) values for the three organisms ranged from 103 mg/L to >4.710 mg/L for phthalic acid, and corresponding values for the monoesters ranged from 2.3 mg/L (monodecyl phthalate in bacteria test) to 4,130 mg/L (monomethyl phthalate in bacteria test). Dimethyl and diethyl phthalate were found to be the least toxic of the diesters (EC50 26.2-377 mg/L), and the toxicity of the other diesters (butylbenzyl and dibutyl phthalate) ranged from 0.96 to 7.74 mg/L. In general, the phthalate monoesters (degradation products) were less toxic than the corresponding diesters (mother compounds).     

Modeling the concentration-response function of the herbicide dinoseb on Daphnia magna (survival time, reproduction) and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (growth rate)

Models describing dose-response relationships are becoming increasingly popular in ecotoxicology. They allow simple and thorough evaluations of toxicity test results, including inter- and extrapolations to concentrations or exposure times other than those tested. Simple parametric regression models are of particular interest because their parameters may be attributed mechanistic meanings and they can be applied without sophisticated mathematical and computational support. We recently proposed a four-parameter logistic regression model to fit the survival data of Daphnia magna under dinoseb stress. The model parameters are the maximum survival time, the minimum time required for an individual to die, effect concentration, EC(50), and a curve shape parameter. This model has now been applied to compare the lethality and reproduction toxicity of D. magna and the growth inhibition of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata under dinoseb stress. It can be fitted adequately to all the measured data and the parameters can be attributed biological meanings in any of the three endpoints. A comparison of the modeled concentration-response functions of all three endpoints for dinoseb toxicity shows that the range of ECs with respect to both D. magna and algae is steep (a decrease of between 0.1 and 0.6 mg/L). The survival and reproduction of D. magna exhibit similar characteristic concentration-response functions and toxicities. The statistical no-effect concentration (SNEC) is 0.14 (survival) and 0.11 (reproduction)mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, algae seem to be less sensitive to dinoseb than D. magna (SNEC: 0.48 mg/L). However, further investigations of individual algae may lead to a more suitable comparison. We speculate that the four parameters of the model function can be related to specific properties of chemicals and organisms. Characterization of these properties would allow simple and appropriate estimation of the toxic effects of these chemicals.     

Aquatic toxicity of triclosan

The aquatic toxicity of triclosan (TCS), a chlorinated biphenyl ether used as an antimicrobial in consumer products, was studied with activated-sludge microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, and fish. Triclosan, a compound used for inhibiting microbial growth, was not toxic to wastewater microorganisms at concentrations less than aqueous solubility. The 48-h Daphnia magna median effective concentration (EC50) was 390 microg/L and the 96-h median lethal concentration values for Pimephales promelas and Lepomis macrochirus were 260 and 370 microg/L, respectively. A no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) and lowest-observed-effect concentration of 34.1 microg/L and 71.3 microg/L, respectively, were determined with an early life-stage toxicity test with Oncorhynchus mykiss. During a 96-h Scenedesmus study, the 96-h biomass EC50 was 1.4 microg/L and the 96-h NOEC was 0.69 microg/L. Other algae and Lemna also were investigated. Bioconcentration was assessed with Danio rerio. The average TCS accumulation factor over the five-week test period was 4,157 at 3 microg/L and 2,532 at 30 microg/L. Algae were determined to be the most susceptible organisms. Toxicity of a TCS-containing wastewater secondary effluent to P. promelas and Ceriodaphnia was evaluated and no observed differences in toxicity between control and TCS-treated laboratory units were detected. The neutral form of TCS was determined to be associated with toxic effects. Ionization and sorption will mitigate those effects in the aquatic compartment.     

Use of anodic stripping voltammetry in predicting toxicity of copper in river water

The labile concentration and toxicity of Cu as influenced by alkalinity and different concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and naturally derived fulvic acid (FA) were determined by bioassays carried out in the culture media for Daphnia magna (D. magna). The labile concentration of Cu was obtained by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with a double-acidification method (DAM-DPASV). Changes in water alkalinity did not affect the labile concentration of Cu, but increase in alkalinity did reduce the mortality of D. magna. In the presence of EDTA and FA, both labile concentration of Cu and mortality were reduced. By excluding Cu-carbonate complexes from the labile concentration, a bioavailable concentration of Cu ([Cu*]) was obtained and was used to predict the acute toxicity of Cu on D. magna. For natural waters, the labile concentration of Cu was measured by DAM-DPASV, and [Cu*] was calculated using MINTEQ A2 software (developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) based on the anion composition of waters. This procedure was tested for waters and sediment elutriates sampled from the Le An River (Jiangxi Province, China) that were severely polluted by the discharges from a copper mine. The results showed that [Cu*] was a good indicator for Cu toxicity and could be used under field conditions.     

The effect of fullerenes and functionalized fullerenes on Daphnia magna phototaxis and swimming behavior

The effects of carbon fullerenes (C(60) ) on the environment is a growing concern as the use of nanotechnology continues to increase. Previous studies have reported alteration in Daphnia magna behavior, including increased hopping frequency, heart rate, and appendage movement in response to tetrahydrofuran-solubilized C(60) and increased hopping rate and appendage movement in response to tetrahydrofuran-solubilized C(60) HxC(70) Hx exposure. The objective of the current study was to evaluate effects of water-stirred C(60) and sonicated carboxylic acid functionalized fullerenes (fC(60) ) on D. magna behavior. Behavioral endpoints are important because changes in behavior can influence predator avoidance behaviors, alter predation risk, and potentially lead to population-level effects in D. magna. To evaluate the potential effect of fullerenes on phototactic behavior, D. magna were exposed to 545.4?μg/L C(60) and 545.6?μg/L fC(60) , and vertical position was monitored. Daphnia magna were also exposed to 545.4?μg/L C(60) , 545.6?μg/L fC(60) , and 829.3?μg/L fC(60) , and swimming movements were recorded. Fullerenes altered the vertical migration response of D. magna to the addition of food, but D. magna vertical position response to predator cues was similar for fullerenes and controls. In addition, D. magna reduced swimming speed when exposed to C(60) , but other components of D. magna swimming behavior were not affected. This research supports previous findings and suggests that C(60) may influence D. magna behavior and highlights the need for further research on sublethal behavioral modifications in aquatic organisms in response to nanomaterials.     

Acute and Chronic Effects of Sodium Tungstate on an Aquatic Invertebrate (Daphnia magna), Green Alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), and Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Although aquatic toxicity data exists for tungstate substances, insufficient data of high quality and relevancy are available for conducting an adequate risk assessment. Therefore, a series of acute and chronic toxicity tests with sodium tungstate (Na(2)WO(4)) were conducted on an aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia magna), green alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Collectively, the data from these studies suggest that sodium tungstate exhibits a relatively low toxicity to these taxa under these test conditions. All studies were conducted in the same laboratory under good laboratory practice standards using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines with the same stock of test material and the same analytical methods. All results are reported as mg W/L. The following toxicity values were based on mean measured concentrations. For D. magna, the 21 day test no-observable effect concentration (NOEC) was 25.9?mg?W/L, and the 48-h median effective concentration (EC(50)) from the acute test was >95.5?mg?W/L (the highest concentration tested). The P. subcapitata test yielded an ErC(50) of 31?mg?W/L. A 38-day test with zebrafish resulted in an NOEC ≥5.74?mg?W/L with no effects at any concentration. The 96-h LC(50) from the acute test with zebrafish was >106?mg?W/L. The results of the current acute study for daphnids and fish are consistent with published literature, whereas the algae results are different from previously reported values. Transformation/dissolution (T/D) studies, which were conducted according to United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals protocol, confirmed that the WO (4) (-2) anion accounted for most of the tungsten in solution. For classification purposes, the algae ecotoxity reference value was then compared with T/D data and would not classify Na(2)WO(4) as an aquatic toxicant under the European Union Classification, Labelling and Packaging scheme.     

Effects of dehydroabietic acid and abietic acid on survival, reproduction, and growth of the crustacean Daphnia magna

Resin acids, a class of wood extractives, are potential toxic constituents in many pulp and paper mill effluents. In the present investigation, the effects of two predominant resin acids, dehydroabietic acid (DHA) and abietic acid (ABA), on survival, reproduction, and growth of the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna were assessed over its life cycle. Based on the experimentally determined acute toxicity data (48-h EC(50)'s) for DHA (7.48 mg/L) and ABA (7.98 mg/L), D. magna was treated chronically with each resin acid at nominal concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0mg/L for 21 days. Both DHA and ABA at concentrations as high as 4.0mg/L did not affect physiological and reproductive parameters such as time to maturation, number of molting, number of broods, and number of offspring produced from surviving daphnids, while significant mortality was observed only at 8.0mg/L in both cases. However, a small but statistically significant decrease in Daphnia growth (body length) at the end of exposure was detected at concentrations as low as 0.5mg/L for DHA and 1.0mg/L for ABA, respectively. These results indicated that both DHA and ABA had the potential to exhibit weak growth inhibition without apparent negative effects on reproduction to D. magna at nonlethal concentration levels. This slight effect is not expected to be ecologically significant because the concentrations of DHA and ABA in biologically treated pulp and paper mill effluents are well below the effective levels observed in the present study.     

Assessment of the toxicity of triasulfuron and its photoproducts using aquatic organisms

The toxicological effects of the sulfonylurea herbicide triasulfuron and its photoproducts were assessed on four aquatic organisms. Toxicity varied with tested organism and with triasulfuron irradiation time. Triasulfuron and its photoproducts had no significant effects on the crustacean (Cladocera) Daphnia magna (causing 50% effective concentration [EC50] [48 h] = 49 +/- 1 mg/L) and the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri (EC50 [30 min] > 100 mg/L). In contrast, primary producers (the duckweed Lemna minor, the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Chlorella vulgaris) were very sensitive to triasulfuron (EC50s < 11 microg/L). For these organisms, triasulfuron photoproducts were less toxic than the parent compound but the residual toxicity observed still represented a potential environmental hazard.     

Effects of chronic dietary and waterborne cadmium exposures on the contamination level and reproduction of Daphnia magna

Regulatory assessments of metal toxicity on freshwater organisms assume that toxic effects are caused by dissolved metals. In aquatic systems, organisms are exposed to both dissolved and particulate-bound metals. In this study, the chronic toxicity of dietary cadmium (Cd) on the reproduction and Cd body burden of Daphnia magna was investigated. Daphnids (<24 h) were successively exposed to dissolved Cd (8 h) and then to uncontaminated or contaminated algae (16 h) for 21 d. The results show a higher Cd burden in daphnids because of the addition of contaminated food and reveal that Cd uptake by D. magna from water and food was additive for the lowest Cd concentrations tested. Similar Cd distributions (cytosolic and insoluble fractions) were observed in the two groups of organisms, showing similar potential toxicity of Cd accumulated from the two exposure routes. Dietary Cd induces deleterious effects on D. magna reproduction. On the basis of Cd body burden of daphnids, the results support the claim that waterborne and dietary Cd exposures were additive in causing toxicity for Cd concentrations lower than 25 microg/L. At the highest Cd concentrations, the importance of dietary Cd on the daphnid contamination level decreases and confounding factors such as feeding rate reduction seem to appear, which induce an effect on neonate reproduction. In this study, we illustrate the need to take the dietary pathway into account in regulatory assessments and to establish effective concentrations with particulate-bound metals.     

Individual and combined effect of anthracene, cadmium, and chloridazone on growth and activity of SOD izoformes in three Scenedesmus species

Short-term (12-48 h) experiments were carried out to examine the effect of anthracene (three-ring aromatic hydrocarbon), cadmium (CdCl(2)), and chloridazone (triazine herbicide), individually and in combination, on growth and SOD activity of three green algae Scenedesmus: S. subspicatus, S. obliquus, and S. microspina, grown in a batch-culture system. The relative toxicity of chemicals to algae was anthracene > chloridazone > cadmium. The species revealed similar growth sensitivity to individual chemicals after 24 h of exposure but there were differences between them when exposed to their combinations. Two methods were used to determine the modes of interaction effects of the chemical combinations; both led to the same results, with two exceptions of all 36 variants examined. In general, mixtures of two and three chemicals behaved toward algal growth mainly in an antagonistic manner (20 cases), whereas additive and synergistic interaction occurred 13 and 3 times, respectively. Antagonism was the most frequently observed to growth of S. obliquus; antagonistic interaction and additive effect was noted in relation to S. subspicatus, while response of S. microspina depended markedly on applied combination. There is a relationship between SOD activity and growth response to stress. The markedly higher level of SOD isoforms activities was noticed in cells (especially S. microspina and S. obliquus) exposed to 12 h to combined chemicals, as compared to individually treated and control cells. SOD activities in cells of three Scenedesmus grown 24 h were similar in all experimental variants and after 48 h of exposure significantly decreased in almost all cases (especially in S. subspicatus). There were no differences observed between SOD profiles obtained for all variants examined. Chloroplasts seems to be the main target site of interaction effects of dissimilarly acting chemicals.     

Performance of diffusion gradient in thin films to evaluate the toxic fraction of copper to Daphnia magna

This study investigates the relevance of the diffusion gradient in thin films technique (DGT) to measure copper's induced lethality on Daphnia magna in natural water spiked with various organic ligands. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and glycine were used as artificial organic ligands in controlled solutions of mineral water. With EDTA, DGT measurement makes it possible to predict the toxicity of the mixture because Cu-EDTA complexes are inert, whereas DGT is of no help in the case of NTA, because Cu-NTA complexes are fully labile. The Cu-glycine complexes appear as partly labile and toxic. Humic acids as well as fresh and aged algae extracts also were used as models for natural dissolved organic matters. All three of them form copper complexes that are not toxic to Daphnia magna and appear as partly labile with open-pored DGT. However, the use of restricted gels in DGT greatly reduces the contribution of labile complexes, at least for humic acids and aged algae copper complexes. The DGT with restrictive gels, therefore, appears to be a powerful tool for measuring bioavailable copper in natural water bodies, especially when the dissolved organic matter mostly is of humic origin. The DGTs potential ability to mimic the lability induced by the biological uptake also is discussed.