Natural antifouling compounds produced by a novel fungus Aureobasidium pullulans HN isolated from marine biofilm

A fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans, was isolated from marine biofilm and identified. A bioassay-guided fractionation procedure was developed to isolate and purify antifouling compounds from A. pullulans HN. The procedure was: fermentation broth—aeration and addition of sodium thiosulfate–graduated pH and liquid–liquid extraction—SPE purification—GC–MS analysis. Firstly, the fermentation broth was tested for its toxicity. Then it was treated with aeration and addition of sodium thiosulfate, and its toxicity was almost not changed. Lastly, antifouling compounds were extracted at different pH, the extract had high toxicity at pH 2 but almost no toxicity at pH 10, which suggested the toxicants should be fatty acids. The EC₅₀ of the extract against Skeletonema costatum was 90.9 μg ml⁻¹, and its LC₅₀ against Balanus amphitrete larvae was 22.2 μg ml⁻¹. After purified by HLB SPE column, the EC₅₀ of the extract against S. costatum was 49.4 μg ml⁻¹. The myristic and palmitic acids were found as the main toxicants by GC–MS.     

Mercury levels in selected bycatch fish species from industrial shrimp-trawl fishery in the SE Gulf of California

Baseline Hg concentration in bycatch fish from the SE Gulf of California were determined in muscle and liver of 19 species. Levels of Hg in muscle were compared with legal limits of this element in national and international legislation. Considering all fish species, mean concentrations in liver (2.458 ± 1.997 μg g⁻¹) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in muscle (0.993 ± 0.670 μg g⁻¹). The sequence of averaged Hg concentrations in most ichthyofauna was liver > muscle. Highest level of Hg in muscle (2.556 μg g⁻¹) and liver (7.515 μg g⁻¹) corresponded to Diapterus peruvianus and Ophioscion strabo, respectively. Considering muscle samples, none of the species had levels of Hg above the limit (1.0 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) in the Mexican legislation; with respect to the Japanese (0.4 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) and British (0.3 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) legislations, 26.3% and 31.6% of the species respectively, were above the corresponding limits.     

Protective effects of chitosan against the hazardous effects of zinc oxide nanoparticle in freshwater crustaceans Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura

Nanoparticle contamination in freshwater habitat leads to the drastic reduction in the population of freshwater micro crustaceans. Both Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura were considered as the potential biological bio-tracers of freshwater ecosystem. This study describes the chemical synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using zinc nitrate as the starting material. The physico-chemical characterization of ZnO NPs was made by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). ZnO NPs elicited 100% and 76% mortality of freshwater crustaceans, Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura at 160 μg L⁻¹ respectively. The accumulation of ZnO NPs in the intestine and loss of antennae and carapace were clearly visualized through light microscopy. The exposure of C. cornuta and M. micrura neonates at 160 μg L⁻¹ of ZnO NPs showed abnormal swimming behaviour after 12 h. However, chitosan significantly reduced the mortality and enhanced the survival of C. cornuta and M. micrura at 100 μg ml⁻¹. This study concludes the protective effect of chitosan against the hazardous effect of ZnO NPs in C. cornuta and M. micrura.     

Influence of nitrate and dissolved organic carbon loading on the interaction of Microcystis aeruginosa and heterotrophic bacteria from hyper-eutrophic lake (Taihu Lake,China)

To investigate the interaction between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria under gradients of glucose and nitrate, a cyanobacterial strain of Microcystis aeruginosa was grown in microcosms with and without a freshwater bacterial mixture, which was collected from Lake Taihu. Concentrations of glucose (1350, 975, 600, 300, 150, and 37.5 μmol C L⁻¹) and nitrate (150, 300, and 9000 μmol N L⁻¹) were used in a range of combinations giving 9 different treatments of glucose:nitrate. In the microcosm without the bacterial mixture, M. aeruginosa abundance gradually increased with days in all treatments. However, M. aeruginosa had much lower density in some treatments with the bacterial mixture. The difference in M. aeruginosa growth could be explained by competition with bacteria in the cultures in which these were added. The abundance of M. aeruginosa and bacteria when grown together was nearly equal and the number of the bacterial species was highest in the treatment with 300 μmol C L⁻¹ and 150 μmol N L⁻¹. Our results suggest that at this glucose:nitrate ratio M. aeruginosa and the bacterial mixture maintain a balance, and bacteria maintain diversity. In conclusion, we propose that dissolved organic carbon and nitrate availability fundamentally affects the structure as well as stoichiometry of pelagic associations.     

Embryotoxic and genotoxic effects of heavy metals and pesticides on early life stages of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

This study evaluated embryotoxicity and genotoxicity of two dissolved metals copper and cadmium (Cu and Cd) and two pesticides (metolachlor and irgarol) occurring in Arcachon Bay (SW France) in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) larvae and investigated the relationship between those two endpoints. Embryotoxicity was measured by calculating the percentage of abnormal D-shaped larvae and genotoxicity was evaluated with DNA strand breaks using the comet assay. After 24 h exposure, significant increases of the percentage of abnormal D-larvae and the DNA strand breaks were observed from 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for Cu, 10 μg L⁻¹ for Cd and 0.01 μg L⁻¹ for both irgarol and metolachlor in comparison with the controls. A strong positive relationship between embryotoxicity and genotoxicity was recorded for Cu, Cd and metolachlor. The current study suggests that copper, irgarol and metolachlor can induce larval abnormalities and DNA damage in a population of exposed oysters at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

An evaluation of the toxicity and bioaccumulation of thallium in the coastal marine environment using the macroalga,Ulva lactuca

Thallium(I) has been added to cultures of the marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca, for a period of 48 h and the accumulation of the metal and its effects on the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PS II) measured. Thallium elicited a measurable toxic response above concentrations of 10 μg L⁻¹ in both coastal seawater (salinity 33) and estuarine water (salinity 20). The accumulation of Tl was defined by a linear relationship with aqueous Tl and accumulation factors of about 900 mL g⁻¹ in both media. Thallium accumulated by U. lactuca that was resistant to an EDTA extraction and, by operational definition, internalised, exceeded 90% in both cases. Accumulation and toxicity of Tl in the presence of a ∼10⁵-fold excess of its biogeochemical analogue, potassium, suggests that Tl has a high intrinsic phytotoxicity and that its mode of action involves permeation of the cell membrane as Tl⁺ through NaCl–KCl co-transporter sites rather than (or in addition to) transport through K⁺ ion channels.     

Sewage organic markers in surface sediments around the Brazilian Antarctic station: Results from the 2009/10 austral summer and historical tendencies

The discharge of sewage into the Antarctic marine environments by scientific stations has resulted in local changes in these pristine sites. To assess the distribution and concentration of sewage indicators from the Brazilian Antarctic station, sediments were sampled during the 2009/10 austral summer at four points (water depth of 20 and 60 m). Concentrations of faecal sterols and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) ranged from <0.01 to 0.17 μg g⁻¹ and <1.0 to 46.5 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Maximum concentration of faecal sterols was similar to the value previously calculated as the background level for this area (0.19 μg g⁻¹), and it is lower than the concentration observed in previous studies (1997–2008), whereas the LABs concentrations remained practically constant (35 ng g⁻¹). Despite the low concentrations of sewage markers, the permanent human activities in the region require monitoring programs to determine continuing trends and prevent the increase of anthropogenic impacts.     

Linking human-biophysical interactions with the trophic status of Dal Lake,Kashmir Himalaya,India

The study analyses the long-term biophysical and demographic changes in Dal lake, located in the heart of Srinagar city, Kashmir India, using a repository of historical, remote sensing, socio-economic and water quality data supported by the extensive field observations. The lake faces multiple pressures from the unplanned urbanization, high population growth, nutrient load from intensive agriculture and tourism. The data showed that the lake has shrunk from 31 km² in 1859–24 km² in 2013. Significant changes were observed in the land use and land cover (LULC) within the lake (1859–2013) and in the vicinity of the lake (1962–2013). Analysis of the demographic data indicates that the human population within the lake has shown more than double the national growth rate. Additionally, 7 important water quality parameters from 82 well distributed sites across the lake were analyzed and compared with the past data to determine the historical changes in the water quality from 1971 to 2014. The changes in the LULC and demography have adversely affected the pollution status of this pristine lake. Ortho-phosphate phosphorous concentration has increased from 16.75 μg L⁻¹ in 1977–45.78 μg L⁻¹ in 2014 and that of the nitrate-nitrogen from 365 μg L⁻¹ to 557 μg L⁻¹, indicating nutrient enrichment of the lake over the years. Built-up area within the lake has increased 40 times since 1859, which, together with the changes in the population and settlements, have led to the high discharge of untreated nutrient-rich sewage into the lake. Similarly the expansion of floating gardens within the lake and agriculture lands in the catchment has contributed to the increased nutrient load into the lake due to the increasing use of fertilizers. The information about the existing land cover, demography and water quality was integrated and analyzed in GIS environment to identify the trophic status of the lake. The analysis indicated that 32% of the lake falls under sever degradation, 48% under medium degradation while as 20% of the lake waters are relatively clean. It is believed that the results provide improved knowledge and insights about the lake health and causal factors of its degradation necessary for effectively restoring its ecological and hydrological functionality.     

Ecotoxicity of Musa paradisiaca leaf extract-coated ZnO nanoparticles to the freshwater microcrustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta

Currently, nanotechnology has gained much interest due to the unique properties of nanomaterials in science and technology. Different types of metallic nanoparticles are routinely synthesized. However, their release into the aquatic environments is a major ecotoxicological concern. In this scenario, it is important to study the potential impact of engineered nanoparticle in aquatic organisms especially freshwater microcrustaceans, such as Ceriodaphnia cornuta. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized using the aqueous leaf extracts of Musa paradisiaca and physico-chemically characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra red (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). UV–Vis spectroscopy recorded the absorbance peak of ZnO NPs at 338 nm. XRD analysis showed the various Bragg’s reflection peaks at 100, 002, 101, 102, 110, 103, 200, 112, 201, 004 and 202 lattice planes. FTIR spectroscopy outlined sharp intense peaks at 3416 cm⁻¹, 1388 and 1416 cm⁻¹. SEM showed the spherical shape of ZnO NPs with mean particle size of 23.3 nm. AFM confirmed the spherical shape, nanosize and 3D topography of NPs. The ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs was tested on the freshwater crustacean C. cornuta. ZnO NPs were comparatively less toxic than zinc acetate. ZnO NPs caused 42% mortality of C. cornuta at 50 μg mL⁻¹. However, 80% mortality was observed at 50 μg mL⁻¹ of zinc acetate after 24 h. Light and confocal laser scanning microscopic images evidenced the uptake and accumulation of ZnO NPs in the gut of C. cornuta at 50 μg mL⁻¹ after 24 h. Structural deformities were observed on C. cornuta after treatment with 50 μg mL⁻¹ of ZnO NPs. Overall, this study describes the potential impact of the biologically synthesized ZnO NPs in comparison with zinc acetate in the freshwater crustacean C. cornuta.     

Preconcentration of trace multi-elements in water samples using Dowex 50W-x8 and Chelex-100 resins prior to their determination using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

This work presents a solid phase extraction (SPE) method for simultaneous preconcentration of trace elements in water samples prior to their ICP-OES determination. Dowex 50W-x8 and Chelex-100 resins were used as SPE sorbent materials for preconcentration of trace Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn. The optimum sample pH, eluent concentration and sample flow rates were found to 6, 3.0 mol L⁻¹ and 3.0 mL min⁻¹, respectively. In terms of multi-element preconcentration capabilities, Dowex 50W-x8 appeared to be a better sorbent. The recoveries for all the tested analytes were >95%. However, Chelex-100 showed a better performance in terms of recovery (>95%) towards Cu, Fe and Zn. Under optimized conditions using Dowex 50W-x8, the relative standard deviations for different metals were <3%. The limits of detection and limits of quantification ranged from 0.01–0.39 μg L⁻¹ and 0.05–0.1.3 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The accuracy of the preconcentration method was confirmed by spike recovery test and the analysis of certified reference materials. The SPE method was applied for preconcentration of the analyte ions in tap water, bottled water and wastewater samples.     

Determination of selected persistent organic pollutants in wastewater from landfill leachates,using an amperometric biosensor

Landfill leachates that contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a big threat to groundwater systems and are projected to have hazardous effects in the long term if proper management strategies of the landfills are not put in place by those responsible. Monitoring the levels of POPs in landfill leachates is very crucial. This work presents an amperometric biosensor for determination of selected POPs in landfill leachates. The biosensor is based on kinetic inhibition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The enzyme was immobilised by electrostatic attachment on a polyaniline-modified Pt electrode surface. Selected POPs inhibited HRP enzyme activity and the decrease in the enzyme activity was used to determine these environmental pollutants. Selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the analytes of choice because they are commonly found in South Africa water systems. Limits of detection for the amperometric biosensor were established as 0.014, 0.018, 0.022, 0.016 and 0.019 μg l⁻¹ for BDE-100, PBB-1, PCB-1, PCB-28 and PCB-101, respectively. The HRP biosensor system gave different linear ranges for; BDE-100 (0.424–25.8 μg l⁻¹), PBB-1 (0.862–13.4 μg l⁻¹), PCB-1 (0.930–18.1 μg l⁻¹), PCB-28 (0.730–15.7 μg l⁻¹) and PCB-101 (0.930–27.1 μg l⁻¹). Inhibition studies on HRP biosensor response toward the reduction of H₂O₂ in the absence and presence of the selected POPs were carried out to investigate the inhibition kinetics and its mechanism. The results obtained indicated that the inhibition mechanism was competitive for PBDEs and non-competitive for biphenyls (PCBs and PBBs). The application of the biosensor was tested on wastewater samples obtained from landfill leachate for determination of selected POPs. The leachate samples were found to contain PCB-28 (0.28 ± 0.03 μg l⁻¹) and PCB-101 (0.31 ± 0.02 μg l⁻¹). The samples were also analysed by GC–MS as a cross-check method and the two sets of results were in close agreement.     

Distributions of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay,Bohai Sea (China)

The distributions of 41 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the aqueous phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment of the Daliao River estuary in Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea (China). The total PCB concentrations ranged from 5.51 to 40.28 ng L⁻¹ in the surface water, from 6.78 to 66.55 ng L⁻¹ dry weight in the SPM, and from 0.83 to 7.29 ng g⁻¹ dry weight in the sediment. The PCB concentrations in water, SPM, and sediment were moderate relative to those reported for other estuary and marine systems around the world. Sedimentary PCB concentrations decreased offshore due to the active deposition of laterally transported river-borne particles. The predominance of the highly chlorinated congeners for the water, SPM, and sediment samples are an indication of either a lack of degradation or the presence of nearby or recent releases into the environment.     

Multiple extreme environmental conditions of intermittent soda pans in the Carpathian Basin (Central Europe)

Soda lakes and pans represent saline ecosystems with unique chemical composition, occurring on all continents. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterise the main environmental gradients and trophic state that prevail in the soda pans (n = 84) of the Carpathian Basin in Central Europe. Underwater light conditions, dissolved organic matter, phosphorus and chlorophyll a were investigated in 84 pans during 2009–2010. Besides, water temperature was measured hourly with an automatic sensor throughout one year in a selected pan. The pans were very shallow (median depth: 15 cm), and their extremely high turbidity (Secchi depth median: 3 cm, min: 0.5 cm) was caused by high concentrations of inorganic suspended solids (median: 0.4 g L⁻¹, max: 16 g L⁻¹), which was the dominant (>50%) contributing factor to the vertical attenuation coefficient in 67 pans (80%). All pans were polyhumic (median DOC: 47 mg L⁻¹), and total phosphorus concentration was also extremely high (median: 2 mg L⁻¹, max: 32 mg L⁻¹). The daily water temperature maximum (44 °C) and fluctuation maximum (28 °C) were extremely high during summertime. The combination of environmental boundaries: shallowness, daily water temperature fluctuation, intermittent hydroperiod, high turbidity, polyhumic organic carbon concentration, high alkalinity and hypertrophy represent a unique extreme aquatic ecosystem.     

Assessing the use of U–Th methods to determine the age of cold-water calcareous algae

Calcitic crusts of calcareous red algae could be suitable material for age determination of raised marine deposits and palaeothermometry at annual to sub-annual resolution. We examined the potential of U–Th dating of cold-water calcareous algae by analysing fossil specimens (n=10) from Kapp Ekholm (Svalbard) and recent specimens from Norway (n=3) and Scotland (n=1). After initial measurements using α-spectrometry, thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) was used to study the material in more detail. Recent specimens contain 0.19–1.55 μg g⁻¹ U, and the measured (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios vary between 1.12 and 1.30. Fossil specimens contain 1–168 μg g⁻¹ U, and display variable and highly elevated initial (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios. In general, the TIMS results show increasing (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios and concentrations of U and Th with increasing stratigraphic age. From this it is evident that marine calcareous red algae contain U in-vivo and they experience substantial post-mortem uptake of U. We conclude that direct U–Th dating of fossil calcareous algae from raised marine deposits is not viable without further geochemical understanding of the in-vivo uptake and post-depositional pathways of U and Th in such deposits. Despite the convincing open-system behaviour of the material, comparison with previously published chronostratigraphy from the site shows that the calcareous algae generally yield ages that are too old. This is in contrast to the expected result based on simple continuous post-mortem U accumulation and calls for a complex model comprising migration of U and multi-component addition of Th (detrital/colloidal) to explain the observed trends.     

Adsorption behaviour of dibutyl phthalate on marine sediments

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption behaviour of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on marine sediments collected from five different sites in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. DBP adsorption can be well described by the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum DBP adsorption capacity (Q_max) of the marine sediments ranges from 53 to 79 mg g⁻¹, which has a positive correlation with their organic content. Around 90% of the organic can be removed from the sediments with treatment by H₂O₂ oxidation, and the Q_max then decreases to a range between 13 and 22 mg g⁻¹. The black carbon content of the sediments has a much greater DBP adsorption capacity than does the natural organic matter of the sediments. The amount of DBP adsorbed on the sediments increases as the salinity of the marine water increases.     

Effects of 4-nonylphenol exposure in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) with particular emphasis on vitellogenin induction

Since it is often difficult to estimate possible adverse effects due to contamination in selected ecosystems, multi-species biomonitoring may provide more information, taking into account different routes of exposure, ecological roles and metabolic capabilities of animals. In this context, we exposed for 7 days the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the crab Carcinus aestuarii to 4-nonylphenol (NP), a well-known xenoestrogen. In mussels (0–0.2 mg NP l⁻¹), we measured NP bioaccumulation in soft tissues and vitellogenin (Vg)-like protein levels in digestive glands from both males and females by the alkali-labile phosphate assay (ALP). As no reference data were available for crab exposure, the NP 96-h LC₅₀ value was previously determined. Then, in sublethally exposed (0–1.0 mg NP l⁻¹) male crabs, NP bioaccumulation and Vg levels were measured in hemolymph, gonads and digestive gland. Bioaccumulation of NP increased from 43 to 371 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in mussels, and from 3.6 to 37 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in crabs, depending on the NP concentration in water. Dose-dependent Vg-like protein induction was observed in both species, appearing to be related to NP bioaccumulation, although a partial decrease was recorded at the highest concentration tested. A similar trend was observed in both digestive gland and gonad of exposed crabs; Vg increased to a lesser extent, although significantly, in hemolymph. Results demonstrated that NP induces Vg synthesis both in male and female mussels, as well as in male crabs. On the basis of the responsiveness of both species investigated, a multi-species approach is indicated in biomonitoring programmes.     

Formation of iron plaque on mangrove roots receiving wastewater and its role in immobilization of wastewater-borne pollutants

Iron (Fe) plaque formed on mangrove root increased with wastewater discharge, but the extent was species-specific. For Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Fe plaque concentration was 0.80 mg g⁻¹ root d.wt at Day 0 and increased to 4.59, 6.84 and 7.52 mg g⁻¹ at Day 75 in the fresh water control (FW), synthetic wastewater with pollutant concentrations five times of municipal sewage (5SW) and double of 5SW (10SW) treatments, respectively; the respective increases in Excoecaria agallocha were from 0.70 to 2.37, 10.73 and 13.21 mg g⁻¹. For Acanthus ilicifolius, similar increase was found in 5SW, but all of the plants were dead in 10SW at Day 75. The concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus immobilized were positively correlated with the amounts of Fe plaque formed, but the regression coefficients varied among species. The performance of mangrove plants in wastewater treatments was related to the Fe plaque formed and its immobilized wastewater-borne pollutants.     

Long-term temporal trends (1992–2008) of imposex status associated with organotin contamination in the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus along the Icelandic coast

Using the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as a biomonitor, we evaluated the organotin contamination along the Icelandic coast over nearly two decades. In 2008, adult dogwhelks collected from 30 locations were examined for imposex status. In 2009, tissue concentrations of six organotin species in dogwhelks from 16 of the 30 locations were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Tributyltin was the most predominant residue ranging from 2.07 to 70.38 μg kg⁻¹ dw, while triphenyltin was also detected at concentrations up to 22.79 μg kg⁻¹ dw. Higher total organotin concentrations and imposex indices were observed at locations near large harbours (Reykjavík and Hafnarfjörður). By comparing the current imposex results with those of previous surveys (1992–2003), we found that recovery was slow near the large harbours, but more apparent near the smaller harbours. We also observed a notable increase in imposex at several northwest sites implying incessant input of organotins.     

Remediation studies of trace metals in natural and treated water using surface modified biopolymer nanofibers

In this study, remediation results of trace metals in natural water and treated water using three functionalized nanofiber mats of cellulose and chitosan are reported. The nanofiber materials, packed in mini-columns, were employed for the remediation of five toxic trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni) from natural water samples. Trace metals in real water samples were undetectable as the concentrations were lower than the instrument’s detection limits of 0.27 × 10⁻³ (Cd) and 4.2 × 10⁻² (Pb) μg mL⁻¹, respectively. However, after percolation through the functionalised biosorbents in cartridges, detectability of the metal ions was enhanced. The starting volume of the natural water sample was 100 mL, which was passed through a column containing the nanofibers sorbent and the retained metals eluted with 5 mL of 2.0 M nitric acid. The eluate was analyzed for metals concentrations. An enrichment factor of 20 for the metals was realized as a result of the pre-concentration procedure applied to handle the determination of the metals at trace levels. The order of remediation of the studied metals using the nanofibers was as follows: chitosan/PAM-g-furan-2,5-dione < cellulose-g-furan-2,5-dione < cellulose-g-oxolane-2,5-dione. The modified biopolymer nanofibers were able to adsorb trace metals from the river water and treated water, thereby confirming their capability of water purification. These materials are proposed as useful tools and innovative approach for improving the quality of drinking for those consumers in small scale households.     

Effects of tributyltin at concentrations below ambient levels in seawater on Caprella danilevskii (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae)

Hatched juveniles of Caprella danilevskii (Crustacea: Amphipoda) were exposed to one of two concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) (1.1 and 10.7 ng TBT L⁻¹) for 49 d at 20 °C. These concentrations are near or below ambient levels in seawater. In both treatments and control, the survival rate was 100% at maturation, and >85% at the end of the experiments. Females reached maturation at 20 (median) to 21.5 d at instar VII, and repeated spawning 4–5 times during the experiment. The total number of juveniles per female decreased significantly from 39.5 in the control to 24.5 and 17.5 in 1.1 ng L⁻¹ and 10.7 ng L⁻¹ treatments, respectively. An earlier study reported that as the TBT concentration in seawater increased from a 0–10 ng L⁻¹ regime to a 10–20 ng L⁻¹ regime, the number of stations where Caprella spp. could be collected decreased along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, of Japan. Thus, the present study indicates the possibility that the extremely low concentration of TBT measured in Japanese waters after 2000 lead to a reduction in reproductive success of Caprella spp.