Toxicity of tributyltin in the marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

Our previous studies have demonstrated that tributyltin (TBT) is genotoxic to the early life stages of marine mussels and worms. Here, the toxicity of TBT to adult organisms was determined using a suite of biomarkers designed to detect cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects. Exposure of adult mussels, Mytilus edulis, to environmentally realistic concentrations of TBTO for 7 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cell viability at concentrations of 0.5 μg/l and above. TBT had no effect on phagocytic activity or antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage detected using the comet and micronucleus assays between the controls and 0.5, 1 and 5 μg/l of TBTO (P > 0.0005). Furthermore there was a strong correlation between DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and formation of micronuclei (P = 0.0005; R² = 61.5%). Possible mechanisms by which TBT could damage DNA either directly or indirectly are discussed including the possibility that TBT is genotoxic due to its ability to disrupt calcium homeostasis.     

Toxicity of tributyltin in the marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

Our previous studies have demonstrated that tributyltin (TBT) is genotoxic to the early life stages of marine mussels and worms. Here, the toxicity of TBT to adult organisms was determined using a suite of biomarkers designed to detect cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects. Exposure of adult mussels, Mytilus edulis, to environmentally realistic concentrations of TBTO for 7 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cell viability at concentrations of 0.5 μg/l and above. TBT had no effect on phagocytic activity or antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage detected using the comet and micronucleus assays between the controls and 0.5, 1 and 5 μg/l of TBTO (P > 0.0005). Furthermore there was a strong correlation between DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and formation of micronuclei (P = 0.0005; R² = 61.5%). Possible mechanisms by which TBT could damage DNA either directly or indirectly are discussed including the possibility that TBT is genotoxic due to its ability to disrupt calcium homeostasis.     

Temporal and geographical trends in the genotoxic effects of marine sediments after accidental oil spill on the blood cells of striped beakperch (Oplegnathus fasciatus)

To determine the impact of genetic toxicity caused by the Hebei Spirit oil spill on December 7, 2007, we measured DNA damage in the blood cells of striped beakperch in vitro after exposure to extracts from sediments in the Taean area. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal changes of toxic effects caused by residual PAHs in the sediments up to 18 months after an oil spill. In conclusion, DNA damage had reduced over this 18-month period; that is, the sediments recovered quickly from the oil pollution. In addition, statistically significant correlations between PAHs and DNA damage were observed. Because the comet assay is sensitive to DNA damage induced by genotoxic substances from the polluted sediments, the comet assay can be considered a useful tool as a biomarker in investigating genetic toxicity in environmental monitoring and elucidating the recovery of oil pollution after oil spill as well.     

福州市大气汞含量及变化特征分析

在福州市采集了10个点位共356件大气样品,测试结果表明,福州市大气汞含量35.82~586.11 ng/m3,各点平均值89.86~168.24 ng/m3,总平均111.9 ng/m3,大气汞含量空间变化特征表明高含量点与地热活动带在空间上相吻合。     

Comparability of bioaccumulation within the sanddab guild in coastal Southern California

Most assessments of fish contamination in Southern California use ecologically different species from different sites. Use of ecologically similar species (a guild) might provide better assessments of fish contamination across different sites and depths. In July-August 1997, we collected samples of four sanddab guild species at 22 sites where species pairs co-occurred and determined total DDT concentrations in homogenized whole fish composites. Log-transformed DDT concentrations were highly correlated among all species pairs within this guild. All relationships were linear over the range observed, with slopes not statistically different from unity. The variability in response among species was about four times the variability encountered among replicates within species, but 15 times smaller than the variability among sites. Together, these results suggest that the sanddab guild, widespread on soft bottoms of the Southern California coastal shelf, can be used as a "superspecies" in bathymetrically diverse regional assessments of fish tissue contamination.     

Adriatic coast as a microcosm for global genotoxic marine contamination--a long-term field study

Global changes in the marine environment and the continuing disposal of genotoxic xenobiotics are increasing the importance of environmental pollution monitoring and of biomonitoring programs. Current approaches focus on investigations at regional and local levels in an attempt to precisely define the nature and extent of any potential environmental crisis. We have initiated, for the first time, a long-term biomonitoring program focusing on the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea to contribute to a more detailed understanding of marine genotoxic effects using the mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam., collected along the eastern Adriatic coast over a period of five years (1998-2002), as a key test organism. The integrity of DNA in its gill homogenate was examined by the Fast Micromethod. The strand scission factor (SSF) values, as a measure of DNA integrity, DNA damage or incomplete repair have been used for the ranking of sampling sites with respect to significant genotoxic stress due to the influence or effects of genotoxic xenobiotics. The region of Split (Kastela Bay) proved to be the area with the heaviest load of genotoxic agents. The investigation of harmful effects in the ecosystem based on biomonitoring of genetic and other agents, not only on local levels but also on a wider scale, is considered as an important step in marine environmental management.     

鄱阳湖“五河”入湖口沉积物中微塑料污染物的特征及其时空分布

微塑料作为新型环境污染物正日益受到人们密切关注,为探索微塑料在鄱阳湖流域的污染状况,以鄱阳湖流域"五河"入湖口的沉积物为研究对象,分别在3个水文周期（平水期、丰水期和枯水期）选择6个典型区域采集沉积物进行分析.采用浮选分离方法及金相显微鉴定技术,分析鄱阳湖"五河"入湖口沉积物中微塑料的类型、丰度和表面形貌等特征,旨在揭示鄱阳湖沉积物中微塑料的空间分布规律及不同水位期的动态变化.研究结果显示微塑料的类型有碎片类、发泡类、薄膜类和纤维类,其中主要以碎片类微塑料为主,所占百分比为51.95%;70%的微塑料粒径<1 mm,微塑料（<5 mm）的平均丰度为811.11 n/kg,6个样点的微塑料丰度值表现为朱港 > 吴城 > 渡头乡 > 龙口 > 瑞洪镇 > 南矶山.6个样点的微塑料丰度值与鄱阳湖水位动态均具一致性,在枯水期所占比例最高,达到44.41%;平水期次之,达到31.52%;丰水期所占比例最低,仅占24.07%.不同水期、不同样地存在不同程度的微塑料污染问题警示人们要重视塑料垃圾的排放及其污染问题,以减少对湖泊、河流等湿地生态环境的影响.     

Temporal sampling strategies and uncertainty in calibrating a conceptual hydrological model for a small boreal catchment

How much data is needed for calibration of a hydrological catchment model? In this paper we address this question by evaluating the information contained in different subsets of discharge and groundwater time series for multi‐objective calibration of a conceptual hydrological model within the framework of an uncertainty analysis. The study site was a 5·6‐km² catchment within the Forsmark research site in central Sweden along the Baltic coast. Daily time series data were available for discharge and several groundwater wells within the catchment for a continuous 1065‐day period. The hydrological model was a site‐specific modification of the conceptual HBV model. The uncertainty analyses were based on a selective Monte Carlo procedure. Thirteen subsets of the complete time series data were investigated with the idea that these represent realistic intermittent sampling strategies. Data subsets included split‐samples and various combinations of weekly, monthly, and quarterly fixed interval subsets, as well as a 53‐day ‘informed observer’ subset that utilized once per month samples except during March and April—the months containing large and often dominant snow melt events—when sampling was once per week. Several of these subsets, including that of the informed observer, provided very similar constraints on model calibration and parameter identification as the full data record, in terms of credibility bands on simulated time series, posterior parameter distributions, and performance indices calculated to the full dataset. This result suggests that hydrological sampling designs can, at least in some cases, be optimized. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of the new multimetric MMI_PL index for biological water quality assessment in reference and human-impacted streams (Poland,the Slovak Republic)

A new multimetric MMI_PL index, which is based on the macroinvertebrate composition and combines six single key metrics, has already been implemented in Poland according to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. The objectives of our survey were to assess the biological water quality using the new multimetric MMI_PL index in both reference and human-impacted streams, to analyze whether the values of the new multimetric index properly reflect the ecological status of the water in upland and mountain streams as well as to determine which environmental factors influence the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates and the values of the metrics. The study was carried out from 2007 to 2010 in three Ecoregions that were established by the EU WFD. A total of 60 sampling sites: 36 reference sites that were situated in the headwaters of mountain streams at mid- and high-altitudes and 24, human-impacted sampling sites were selected. The benthic macroinvertebrate surveys were supported by both a hydromorphological and macrophyte assessment according to the River Habitat Survey (RHS) and to the Macrophyte Methods for Rivers. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the values of the Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) index, conductivity, pH and altitude were the parameters most associated (statistically significant) with the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and the values of the metrics in both the reference and human-impacted (impaired) sections of the streams in Ecoregions 9, 10 and 14. The new MMI_PL index was useful for biological water quality assessment and was also important for separating both the reference and impaired sections of streams. The MMI_PL index and some key metrics performed contrary to what was expected in relation to the reference high-altitude siliceous streams (the High Tatra Mts., Ecoregion 10). Low values of multimetric index and key metrics did not properly reflect their high ecological status and pristine character as reflected by the hydromorphological (RHS) and macrophyte surveys or the physical and chemical parameters of the water.     

Distribution of synthetic organotins and total tin levels in Mytilus galloprovincialis along the Portuguese coast

Despite the huge amount of literature available on butyltins (BuTs), few studies addressed the environmental levels of phenyltins (PhTs), octyltins (OcTs) and total tin (Sn_T) in environmental samples. In 2006 a mussel watch survey was developed for the Portuguese coast (total of 29 sampling sites) in order to describe the concentrations of BuTs , PhTs, OcTs and Sn_T in the whole tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819). BuTs were detected in all analyzed samples accounting, in average, for 98.6% of total organotins (∑OTs = BuTs + PhTs + OcTs), and presented highest values in the vicinity of harbors. Tributyltin (TBT) was the dominant butyltin, representing, in average, 62% of ∑BuTs (∑BuTs = TBT + DBT + MBT) suggesting that fresh inputs of TBT are still occurring in the Portuguese coast, particularly near harbors. The contribution of organotin compounds derived from antifouling paints to the total tin levels in M. galloprovincialis is discussed.     

Effect of extraction-method,period of incubation and tidal emersion on the viability of haemocytes from oysters

The impacts of pollution on marine organisms are often investigated using the viability of their haemocytes. Although this assay is routinely used in monitoring, field and laboratory experimentation, there has been less effort in further optimizing procedures to reduce artefacts and facilitate sampling over large geographic areas.     

Comet assay for the detection of genotoxicity in blood cells of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to sediments and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the genotoxic effect of marine sediments on aquatic organism, sediment samples were collected from 13 sites along the coast of Gwangyang Bay (Korea). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were determined and the relationship between exposure of flounder blood cells to sediment extracts and DNA single-strand breakage in the blood cells was examined using the comet assay. Levels of DNA damage were proportionally increased by exposure concentration and the highest sediment-associated DNA damage was observed at the station showing the highest PAHs contamination. DNA damage in blood cells exposed to five types of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for 0, 2 and 4 days were assessed by measuring comet tail length. The tail lengths of five PAHs-exposed groups at 50 and 100 ppb were significantly different from the non-exposed group, and the genotoxic effect of BaP correlated with both concentration and duration of exposure. Throughout the study, significant differences in DNA breakage were recorded between cells exposed to sediment extracts or PAHs and non-exposed control. This study demonstrated the comet assay as a successful tool in monitoring contamination of marine sediments and assessing genotoxicity of PAHs in marine organisms, either in vitro or in vivo.     

Long term monitoring for oil in the Exxon Valdez spill region

In the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, a Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program (LTEMP) has been regularly sampling mussels (and some sediments) for polycyclic aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons (PAH and SHC) at sites in Port Valdez, Prince William Sound, and the nearby Gulf of Alaska region. After 1999, a decreasing trend appears in total PAH (TPAH) in tissues at all sites with current values below 100 ng/g dry weight (many below 50 ng/g). Currently, most samples reflect a predominantly dissolved-phase signal. This new low in TPAH likely represents ambient background levels. Synchrony in TPAH time-series and similarities in the hydrocarbon signatures portray regional-scale dynamics. The five inner Prince William Sound sites show similar composition and fluctuations that are different from the three Gulf of Alaska sites. The two Port Valdez sites represent a unique third region primarily influenced by the treated ballast water discharge from the Alyeska Marine Terminal. Prince William Sound has reverted to a stable environment of extremely low level contamination in which local perturbations are easily detected.     

Effects of sampling microhabitats with low coverage within the STAR/AQEM macroinvertebrate sampling protocol on stream assessment

In the STAR/AQEM protocol microhabitats covering less than 5% of the sampling area were neglected. Driven by an ongoing discussion on the importance of these underrepresented microhabitats we tested the influence of sampling them. We investigated 48 streams representing 14 different stream types from all over Germany. Macroinvertebrates of underrepresented microhabitats were sampled in addition to the STAR/AQEM protocol. To ensure the method remains feasible in routine monitoring programmes the total sampling and sorting effort of additional sampling was limited to 20 min. Particularly those taxa were picked, which were not recognised during the routine STAR/AQEM sorting.To identify the effect of additional sampling on stream assessment results, we calculated the stream type-specific Multimetric Index (MMI) with the “main” and the “main+additional” data for each sample. The mean and median difference in MMI values between “main” and “main+additional” samples was 0.02 and 0.01, respectively. In seven of 48 samples (14.6%) a different ecological quality class was calculated with the “main+additional” dataset. Regarding common metrics within the MMI as well as intercalibration metrics differences between “main” and “main+additional” samples were analysed. The values differed most in richness metrics (e.g., number of EPTCBO Taxa, number of Trichoptera Taxa). The results of the present study show that additional sampling of underrepresented microhabitats could alter multimetric assessment results.     

Application of biomarkers for assessing the biological impact of dredged materials in the Mediterranean: the relationship between antioxidant responses and susceptibility to oxidative stress in the red mullet (Mullus barbatus)

In the period 1997-2000, approximately 1,800,000 m3 of material dredged from the Port of Leghorn was discharged into a sea dumping site located 14 miles from the coast. The red mullet (Mullus barbatus) was used as a bioindicator species for monitoring the biological impact of these discharges on a geographical and temporal scale. Organisms were sampled over three years (1998-2000) at different stations and several biomarkers, both of exposure and effect, were analyzed. Bioavailability of specific classes of pollutants was evaluated by analyzing levels of metallothioneins, the activity of cytochrome P450 1A (CYPIA) and of glutathione S-transferases. Among biomarkers of effect, special attention was paid to the balance between prooxidant challenge and antioxidant defenses, and to the appearance of damage caused by oxidative stress. The analyses of the main components of the antioxidant system included superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione reductase, glyoxalase I and II, and total glutathione. These data were integrated with the measurement of total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) as an indication of the overall biological resistance to toxicity of different forms of oxyradicals (peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite). Results indicated a biological impact in organisms sampled near the disposal site; the impact was particularly evident during 1999 and mainly related to organic chemicals such as PAH. Exposure to these pollutants also caused variations in the levels and activity of several antioxidants. The analysis of TOSC, however, revealed that the overall capacity of specific tissues of organisms to absorb various oxidants was not seriously compromised when challenged with increased prooxidant pressures. Variations of single antioxidants were useful in revealing early warning "biological responses", while integration with TOSC analyses indicated if such changes also reflect a more integrated and functional "biological effect" with possible consequences at the organisms level. The red mullet appears to be a useful sentinel species for a biomarker approach to monitoring impact caused by dredged materials.     

龙感湖水体光学特性的观测

基于2002—2003年秋、夏季原位水下光场巡测及连续定点观测资料分析了龙感湖不同湖区及不同风浪条件下水体的光学特性,探讨了光衰减系数、辐照度比的光谱分布、空间差异及不同风浪条件对水下光场的影响.结果表明,水下光谱在紫光波段衰减最强烈,其次是蓝光,红、绿光衰减最弱,并且向下辐照度衰减系数一般要大于向上辐照度衰减系数.秋季L1-L3点向下辐照度400—700nm波段衰减系数的变化范围分别为0.71—3.60、1.06—3.72、0.78—2.89m-1;光衰减系数的空间分布是位于湖中心的12点要略大于两边的L1、L3点;辐照度比的变化趋势极为一致,最低值出现在短波蓝光波段,最高值出现在550—600nm之间;从小风浪到中风浪、大风浪其PAR衰减系数分别是1.74、2.02、2.45m-1;透明度、衰减系数与悬浮物浓度相关性最好,决定系数在0.7以上,但其变化除受悬浮物影响外还要受制于溶解性有机物和浮游植物;440nm波长衰减系数(Kd(440))与悬浮物(SS)、溶解性有机碳(DOC)、叶绿素a(Chl.a)的多元线性回归方程为:Kd(440)=0.514—0.075SS 0.125DOC 0.100Chl.a(R2=0.87,N=8,P≤0.05)     

Seasonal changes in zooplanktonic alkaline phosphatase activity in Toulon Bay (France): the role of Cypris larvae

We studied zooplankton contribution to the total particulate phosphatase activity, the kinetics of this activity, the relation to the different taxonomic groups and the role of particle-bound bacteria. The activity of total particulate material collected from a liter of seawater was more elevated in May, June and August than during the rest of the year. These high activities resulted from a high contribution of the >90 microm fraction which account then for more than 60% of the total particulate activity. Two Michaelian processes with high and low V(max) were disclosed on this fraction. The high V(max) component was responsible for the high summer activities. During these periods, high densities of cirriped Cypris were found which were statistically correlated with this high V(max) component as with its specific activity. Moreover, the contribution of attached bacteria to these high activities was low. In return, this contribution was predominant during the periods of low activity. A simple method was developed to characterise this bacterial activity.     

Dependence of correlations between spectral accelerations at multiple periods on magnitude and distance

In this paper, the dependence of correlations between spectral accelerations at multiple periods on magnitude (M) and distance (R) has been investigated. For this purpose, a relatively large dataset of ground motion records (GMRs), containing 1551 records with a wide range of seismic characteristics, was selected. It is shown that the difference in the correlation coefficient is statistically meaningful when the general GMR dataset is divided into two subsets based on an arbitrary M or R. The observed difference is more meaningful in the case of magnitude when compared with distance. The general dataset of GMRs was then divided into four separate subsets based on optimum values of M and R, so that the four obtained subsets were given the greatest dissimilarity in terms of the correlation coefficients. The correlation coefficients between spectral accelerations at multiple periods were calculated in the case of the four subsets and compared with the available correlations in the literature. The conditional mean spectrum was also calculated by means of the conventional correlation coefficients, as well as by using the proposed M and R dependent correlation coefficients. The results show that, despite the commonly available findings in the literature, this dependence is significant and should not be neglected in the conditional spectra calculation process. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The glutathione antioxidant system as a biomarker suite for the assessment of heavy metal exposure and effect in the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh

Alterations in the glutathione antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation in Avicennia marina were studied under laboratory and field conditions. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was found to respond to Zn exposure, and a significant positive relationship between leaf Zn concentration and GPx activity was observed after 96 h and 8 weeks. Lipid hydroperoxides increased proportionally with increasing leaf Zn concentration after 2 and 8 weeks, while no changes in total glutathione were observed. Induction of GPx at 96 h predicted effects at the individual level at a later time interval (reduced biomass at 8 weeks). Results from the field revealed that increasing leaf metal concentration (Zn, Cu or Pb) produced a proportional increase in GPx activity whereas lipid hydroperoxides and total glutathione were not affected. The utility of GPx as an early warning biomarker is suggested, since GPx activity increases in a dose-dependant fashion in response to accumulated leaf metals, and is predictive of later effects on growth.     

Mercury in soils of the Long Valley, California, geothermal system

An evaluation of the Hg distribution in soils of the Long Valley, California, geothermal area, was made. A₁-horizon soil samples were collected utilizing a grid system from the resurgent dome area and the Long Valley area. In addition, samples were collected in five traverses across three fault systems and four traverses across east-west-oriented gullies to measure the importance of aspect. Additional samples were collected in an analysis of variance design to evaluate natural variability in soil composition with sampling interval distance.The primary objectives of this study were to further evaluate the applicability of anomalously high Hg concentration in soils to exploration for geothermal systems and the importance of secondary controls on Hg concentration in soils above geothermal systems.Statistical analysis indicates that there are two populations of Hg concentrations in soils; one affected by geothermal activity and the other unaffected. Samples from the resurgent dome are shown to be statistically different from the samples collected in Long Valley proper with respect to Hg, organic carbon, and pH. This suggests that secondary influences may be important in controlling Hg distribution in soils.Organic carbon in soils is shown by stepwise multiple regression to be the most important secondary parameter controlling Hg concentration. For the most part, the secondary controls of Hg are overwhelmed in an area of prominent geothermal activity. Some faults exhibit prominent anomalies in total Hg concentration and others do not, indicating the possibility of low levels of hydrothermal activity or effective sealing of faults to gas leakage.The analysis of variance results indicate that there is a regional trend in Hg concentration across the resurgent dome. Soils can be sampled for Hg by utilizing a grid of about 0.4 km spacing. However, some local irregularities appear in this pattern and anomalous areas should be prospected at intervals of 100 m or less.