Organochlorine pesticides and PCB residues in sediments of Alexandria Harbour,Egypt

Persistent organochlorine compound concentrations were determined for 23 surface sediment samples collected from Alexandria Harbor, Egypt. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 0.9 to 1210 ng/g with four to seven Cl-substituted biphenyls being the most prevalent PCBs congeners. Different PCB congener distribution patterns were observed, probably reflecting different inputs and attenuation at various locations. Total DDT concentrations varied from <0.25 ng/g to 885 ng/g. The ratios of DDTs (2,4^′- and 4,4^′-DDT)/total DDTs (DDTs plus metabolites) in sediment samples from certain sites were 0.86 or higher, indicating little attenuation or recent input of DDT. Total chlordane (the sum of heptachlor and its epoxide, oxy-, γ- and -chlordane and cis+trans-nonachlor) ranged from <0.25 to 44 ng/g with the highest concentration found in the Arsenal Basin. The geographic distributions of PCBs, total DDTs and total chlordane were similar. Chlorinated benzenes (CBs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chloropyrifos, endosulfan, mirex and pentachloroanisole were below detection limits or detected at low concentrations in most of the samples. Sites that were contaminated with high concentrations of organochlorine compounds were associated with dense population and low energy environment. The contamination levels of PCBs, total DDTs and total chlordane were in high range compared to other locations worldwide.     

Biocides in Relation to Water Pollution. Part 2: Bioassay Studies of Few Biocides to a Fresh Water Fish,Channa gachua.

The present paper deals with the determination of LT_m values of zolone, rogor, sumithion and abate for Channa gachua by conducting static bioassay experiments. The TL_m values for zolone came out to be 0.08275 mg/l, 0.08225 mg/l, 0.0815 mg/l and 0.0810 mg/l; for rogor 5.155 mg/l; 4.955 mg/l, 4.65 mg/l and 4.475 mg/l; for sumithion 12.60 mg/l, 12.50 mg/l, 12.30 mg/l and 12.20 mg/l and for abate 217.25 mg/l, 225.575 mg/l, 221.575 mg/l and 217.25 mg/l for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. Relative susceptibility indicates that this fish is not susceptible to zolone and less to rogor, sumithion and abate, respectively. Present studies also show that increased temperature and pH increase the toxicity of all the biocides, but increased hardness of water decreases the toxicity of biocide solutions. The safe concentrations for zolone, rogor, sumithion and abate came out to be 0.02437 mg/l, 1.3733 mg/l, 3.6907 mg/l and 66.678 mg/l, respectively.     

Aldrin Induced Changes in the Activities of Three Phosphatases of Macrobrachium lamarrei (H. Milne EDWARDS)

Macrobrachium lamarrei is exposed to 0.008, 0.017 and 0.021 mg/1 aldrin (0.4, 0.8 and 1.0 of the LC_50,96h) for 24… 96 h and after exposure the activities of the acid, alkaline and glucose-6-phosphatases are determined. With concentration and time of exposure the acid phosphatase shows an increasing activity up to 170 % compared with the control, which is interpreted as a part of prenecrotic changes in the cells. With concentration and time of exposure the alkaline phosphatase shows a decreasing activity down to 20 % of the control, which is indicative of considerable disturbances of the total metabolism. The glucose-6-phosphatase shows an increasing activity with the aldrin concentration up to 150 % during 72 h; then the activity drops to 60… 80 %. The initial rise in the glucose concentration of blood caused by that is the clear consequence of a stress reaction and the change of metabolism resulting from it.     

Studies on the Toxicity of a few Pesticides on Colisa fasciatus and Notopterus notopterus with Reference to Histopathology and Histochemistry. Part 1: Bioassay Studies

An attempt has been made to study the toxicity of two commonly used pesticides aldrin (organochlorine) and ethyl-parathion (organophosphorus) to the fish Colisa fasciatus (Anabantidae) and Notopterus notopterus (Notopteridae). During bioassay studies, the behaviour of the fishes was recorded. The aldrin concentration used lies between 0.021 mg/1 and 0.042 mg/1 for C. fasciatus and 0.00056 mg/1 and 0.00135 mg/1 for N. notopterus. The ethyl-parathion concentration used lies between 1.8 mg/1 and 3.7 mg/1 for C. fasciatus and 0.49 mg/1 and 1.00 mg/1 for N. notopterus.

• – The effect of lethal aqueous concentrations of pesticides on the Fishes prior to death are usually manifested by excitation, erratic swimming ability, difficulty in respiration, increasing in ventilation rate, jerky movements of body and fin fast, up- and downward movements, convulsions, loss of equilibrium, loss of the original colour of the body skin and the excess secretion of mucus by the gills and the body wall.
• – the TL_m values for 24, 48 and 96 hours of exposition are determined for both species of fish and both pesticides at the following variables:

• ? three levels of temperature,
• ? three levels of dissolved oxygen,
• ? three levels of pH,
• ? three fish sizes.

• – statistical analysis of variance shows, that all variables have a significant effect on the TL_m values of both pesticides for both fish species;
• – Aldrin (chlorinated hydrocarbon) is more toxic than ethylparathion (organophosphate) at all variables;
• – Colisa fasciatus is the more resistant species than Notopterus notopterus.
• – the relationship between the total number of the fishes N₀, survival numbers N and time t can be expressed by a mathematical formula as:
• – the harmless concentration to C. fasciatus ranged from 0.0049 mg/1 to 0.0161 for aldrin, 0.54 mg/1 to 0.99 mg/1 for ethyl-parathion and to N. notopterus from 0.00012 mg/1 to 0.00045 mg/1 for aldrin, 0.10 mg/1 to 0.21 mg/1 for ethyl-parathion;
• – the aldrin should be diluted at least 4000 times and ethyl-parathion 320 times of its actual concentration.

     

Physiological and biochemical changes in shrimp larvae (Penaeus vannamei) intoxicated with organochlorine pesticides

Shrimp larvae (Penaeus vannamei) collected from an uncontaminated area were challenged with sublethal concentrations of organochlorine pesticides. The effects of treatment with lindane, lorsban, chlordane and DDT, were a 5, −12, 13 and 21% increase in the larval respiratory rate, respectively. Glycogen synthesis decreased from the 0.471 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ of the control, to 0.455, 0.415, 0.400 and 0.365 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹, for larvae submitted to DDT, chlordane, lindane and lorsban. In addition, we measured decreases in nucleic acid content, from 20.4 and 34.9% in larvae challenged by chlordane and lorsban, respectively, and values close to 25% for two other pesticides tested. These results indicate drastic metabolic changes, which may impinge on the commercial fishery and culture of this organisms.     

Assessment of the distribution and risks of organochlorine pesticides in core sediments from areas of different human activity on Lake Baiyangdian,China

Burial characteristics and risks associated with 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDT, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan) in core sediments of Lake Baiyangdian were investigated. The core sediments were taken from areas of different anthropogenic activity along the lake. Concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), heptachlor, aldrin, and endosulfan ranged from 0.64 to 2.72, nd (undetectable levels) to 2.79, 0.29 to 1.37, nd to 2.62, and nd to 1.76 ng g^?1, respectively. Concentrations of OCPs in the core sediments exhibited the following spatial trend: Dongtianzhuang > Shaochedian > Zaolinzhuang. Concentrations in the surficial layer were also found to be greater than those in the bottom layer. OCPs were dominated by HCH. β-HCH was found in the greatest concentrations, indicating that the majority of HCH came from older inputs to the area. The ratio of DDT and its metabolites (DDD and DDE) also suggested a lack of recent inputs to the lake environment. The residues of heptachlor, aldrin, and endosulfan in core sediments indicated that cyclodienes were historically applied in the area. The OCP risk assessment, which was based on effect range low and threshold effect level values, suggested that the top layer of sediment in Dongtianzhuang cores had a relatively high toxicity to human health and the environment.     

“Man and the Biosphere”-Studies on Sikkim Himalayas. Part 1: Acute Toxicity of Copper and Zinc to Common Carp Cyprinus carpio (Linn.) in Soft Water

In the daily exchange of the medium with only 7.1 mg/l Ca²⁺ and 0.7 mg/l Mg²⁺ during the batch experiment the LC_50,96h for Cyprinus carpio is 0.063 mg/l Cu²⁺ and 3.12 mg/l Zn²⁺ at water temperatures of 11 to 14°C. Significant differences in mortality as referred to the LC_50,12h occur for copper only after 72 h of exposure and for zinc after 48 h of exposure. The values of LC_50,96h are clearly lower for both metals in the investigations described than most data given in literature for different fish species.     

Survivality and Impaired Growth in Arsenic Treated Fingerlings of Channa punctatus,a Fresh Water Murrel

The LC₅₀-values of As³⁺-compounds for Channa punctatus are determined for a 48-h exposure to 19.4 (18.02… 21.3) mg/1 and for a 96-h exposure to 14.3 (13.06… 16.80) mg/1. At a long-time exposure to 7.0 mg/1 As³⁺, during the first seven days there does not occur any change of growth, then the growth in length and the increase in weight decreased by 6.6 and 11.7%, respectively, till the 31st day. At the same time, the RNA content of the muscle decreased by 11.5% to 966.7 μg/g fresh weight and the protein content decreased by 12.5 % to 95.39 mg/g fresh weight.     

Zytotoxikologische Untersuchung von Schadstoffen und Wasserblüten mit gefrierkonserviertem Bullensperma (Spermatest)

The method is based on the determination of the number of the nonmotile sperms and/or the lethally damaged sperms with the aid of the fluorescent dye primuline. Incubation takes place at a suspension density of 10.000/mm³… 38.000/mm³, at 40°C or 46 °C for 15… 60 min. During the test with sublimate the loss of motility amounts to 55% at 4 mg/l Hg²⁺, the LC₅₀ is 7.3 mg/l Hg²⁺. Phenyl-mercuric acetate causes the total loss of motility with 20 mg/l, the LC₅₀ is above 168 mg/l (equivalent to 100 mg/l Hg²⁺). The LC₅₀ of sodiumpentadecylmonosulphonate and dodecylpyridinchloride are 11.6 and 15.8 mg/l, resp. Filtrates of blooming of cyanophyceae on Baltic, having been digested by repeated freezing and thawing, with 1.5… 6.4 g/l dry matter showed motility losses of 30… 100 % for Nodularia spumigena, whereas no significant effect was produced by a filtrate of Microcystis aeruginosa with 28.2 g/l dry matter as well as water-blooming of Nodularia spumigena from the Small Jasmund Bodden.     

Chlorohydrocarbon pesticides in the Australian marine environment after banning in the period from the 1970s to 1980s

The chlorohydrocarbon pesticides (CHPs) (principally DDT, dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) including lindane, chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlorepoxide, aldrin and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)) were used extensively in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. These were progressively banned from the 1970s with DDT being totally banned in 1987. The levels in marine waters are believed to have progressively declined as indicated by water in the Brisbane River, which consistently fell from maximum concentrations of about 1.7 μg/l in 1972–1973 to not detectable in 1986–1987. In some urban areas sediment concentrations, up to 1700 μg/kg dry weight, were recorded in the early 1990s which may reflect the reworking and exposure of older more contaminated material. Fish exhibited consistent occurrence of DDT, HCH, dieldrin and HCB through the 1970s to the 1990s. Maximum concentrations of DDT and dieldrin occurred generally in the 1970s at 40.3 and 8.8 μg/g wet weight, and minimums in the 1990s at 2.4 and 0.041 μg/g wet weight respectively. Inputs of dialdrin from sewage and DDT from the broad environment, reflected by the calculated daily human uptake in the diet, were shown to decline with half-lives of 1.1–1.5 and about 3 years respectively. This evidence suggests that banning of the CHPs has greatly reduced the inputs into the marine environment with consequent reductions in concentrations in biota but there is the occasional occurrence of relatively high concentrations.     

“Man and Biosphere” — Studies on Sikkim Himalayas. Part 2: Acute Toxity of Mixed Copper-Zinc Solutions on Common Carp,Cyprinus carpio (LINN.)

In batch experiments for 6 to 48 h, individuals of Cyprinus carpio (2 g individual weight) were exposed to mixed solutions of copper and zinc sulphate: pH = 6.3, temperature 15 °C, 6.8 mg/l O₂, 7.1 mg/l Ca²⁺, 0.7 mg/l Mg²⁺. The LC₅₀ for the individual substances on exposures of 24 and 48 h amount to 9.04 and 7.28 mg/l, resp., of Zn and 0.11 and 0.095 mg/l, resp., of Cu. The sum of the biological activity of the two kinds of metal ions is assessed according to MARKING'S index: at low concentrations of the mixed solutions the two metals show an additive effect, at higher concentrations a synergistic effect occurs.     

Toxicity of Interactions of Zinc —Nickel,Copper —Nickel and Zinc —Nickel —Copper to a Freshwater Teleost,Lebistes reticulatus (PETERS)1

The lethal toxicity of mixtures of Zn²⁺ —Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ —Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ —Cu²⁺ —Ni²⁺ to common guppy at 21£C in hard water (total hardness = 260 mg/l as CaCO₃) was studied under static bioassays test conditions with renewal of the test solutions every 24 h. The heavy metals were tested separately and in mixtures. The 48 h median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) for individual salts were 75 mg/l Zn²⁺, 37 mg/l for Ni²⁺ and 2.5 mg/l for Cu²⁺. Concentrations were expressed in “toxic units” by taking them as proportions of LC₅₀ values. Experiments showed that in the Zn²⁺-Ni²⁺ mixture, when Ni²⁺ was more in proportion, the toxicity was more than additive. The 48 h LC₅₀ value and 95% confidence limits in the Ni²⁺-Cu²⁺ mixture were 0.684 (0.484 … 0.807) toxic units and the mixture produced more than the additive toxicity (synergism.). The LC₅₀ value and its 95% confidence limits in a Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺?Ni²⁺ mixture also suggested that the mixture was again strictly additive. The results indicate that heavy metallic mixtures would pose a greater toxicological danger to fish than the respective individual metals.     

Acute toxicity of copper to sea catfish

Sea catfish (Arius felis) were exposed to aqueous solutions of reagent grade cupric chloride in artificial seawater ($\text{30.0±2.0‰}$, 21–23°C) in four static bioassays. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ were calculated and found to be 5.43, 4.17, 3.57 and 2.40 mg l.^?1 copper, respectively. Experimental concentrations of copper producing subtle behavioral changes in this species correspond to less than 0.3% of the 72 h LC₅₀. Based on this comparison with literature values, a new, maximum ‘safe’ concentration for copper in marine waters of 0.01 mg l.^?1 is proposed.     

Toxicological effects of biocide Slimicide C-30 on some marine invertebrates

Sublethal and lethal effects of biocide Slimicide C-30 on the developmental stages of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis and juvenile and adult mysid Leptomysis mediterranea were studied.Biocide at a concentration as low as 0.02 mg l^?1 caused an incipient effect in the embryonic development of mussels where a decreased number of normally developed larvae from eggs was evident. Slimicide C-30 effective concentration (EC 50/96) was 0.07 mg l^?1.In the mysids, the median lethal concentration (96 h LC₅₀) was 0.11 mg l^?1.Previous incubation of Slimicide C-30 at 38°C affected a small delay in mortality time (LT₅₀) but did not cause marked change in the acute toxicity to mysids.     

Acute Toxicity of Phenol,Pentachlorophenol and Sodium Pentachlorophenate to a Freshwater Ostracod Cypris subglobosa (Sowerby)

The toxicity of phenol, pentachlorophenol and Na-pentachlorophenate to Cypris subglobosa is determined in the batch experiment for 96. h. In the sequence mentioned, the LC_50,96h of the three substances are 71.8, 6.56 and 4.41 mg/l, respectively. In the range of 6 … 95 h the mean survival time shows a negative regression to the toxicant concentration, which, however, is not significant statistically for Na-pentachlorophenate. In agreement with this, the LC₅₀ for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure shows a significant decrease. Due to the comparatively high LC_50,96h for pentachlorophenol and Na-pentachlorophenate for C. subglobosa about in comparison with fish, the species is little suited to the toxicological investigation of wastewater.     

Acute Toxicity of Distillery Effluent on a Freshwater Fish and Three Pond Snails

The LC₅₀ for 12… 96 h of a distillery waste water were determined for Lebistes reticulatus, Lymnaea luteola, Lymnaea acuminata and Viviparus bengalensis in the batch experiment with daily exchange of the medium. The sensitivity of the species increases in the given sequence with values of the LC_{50,96 h} of 10.77 to 3.72 % proportion of wastewater in the medium. Compared with this, with values of the LC_{50,48 h} of 14.06… 15.71 % after 48 h of exposure there is no significant difference in sensitivity, whereas after exposure for 12 and 24 h the sensitivity grows in the following order: V. bengalensis, L. acuminata, L. luteola, Lebistes reticulatus. Toxicity is obviously primarily determined by the sulphides; with increasing time of exposure also the suspended matter and other factors act toxically.     

A Study on the Effect of Temperature upon the Toxicity of Sodium Pentachlorophenate to the Freshwater Snail Viviparus bengalensis L.

The toxicity of Na-pentachlorophenate to Viviparus bengalensis is investigated by batch tests with daily exchange of medium in the temperature range between 19 °C (February), 27 °C (April), 32 °C (June) and 30 °C (August) at times of exposure between 12 and 96 h. In the range of higher concentrations, pronounced abnormalities in behaviour by secreting mucus and discharging eggs and embryos occur. The LC₅₀ are lowest for all times of exposure at 27 °C, whereas the times of survival with a given concentration are highest at 30 °C. From the LC_{50, 96h, 27°C} = 66 μg/l results a safe concentration of only 47 μg/l Na-pentachlorophenate for Viviparus bengalensis.     

Effect of Zinc,Copper and Mercury on Channa marulius (HAMILTON)

Static bioassay acute toxicity tests of Zinc, Copper and Mercury were conducted to determine the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) of a freshwater teleost Channa marulius (HAM .) The 96 h LC₅₀ and 95% confidence limits for Zn²⁺ were 25.61 (24.13 … 27.12) mg/l; 0.90 (0.80 … 1.038) mg/l; for Cu²⁺ and 0.314 (0.257 … 0.371) mg/l for Hg²⁺. However, these values decreased at 240 h of exposure and were: 21.09 (18.29 … 24.60) mg Zn²⁺/l; 0.66 (0.568 … 0.841) mg Cu²⁺/l; and 0.131 (0.103 … 0.158) mg Hg²⁺/l. The relative potency ratio of Zn/Hg, Zn/Cu and Cu/Hg suggests that fish were most sensitive to Hg, followed by Cu and Zn ions. The acute toxicities of mixtures of Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺; Zn²⁺?Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺?Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺?Hg²⁺ up to 48 h of exposure were also investigated. The additive index and ranges for Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺ were ?0.241 (-0.577 … 0.054); 0.056 (-0.269 … 0.475) for Zn-Hg; 0.285 (-0.043 … 0.718) for Cu-Hg; and -0.542 (-1.215 … 0.005) for Zn-Cu-Hg. All the mixtures tested showed a greater than additive toxicity because index ranges overlapped zero.     

Diazinon Toxicity: Activities of Acetylcholinesterase and Phosphatases in the Nervous Tissue of Zebra Fish,Brachydanio rerio (Cyprinidae)

The LC₅₀-value of diazinon for Brachydanio rerio decreases from 2.3 to 2.12 mg/1 during the time from 24 to 96 h. In the course of exposure for 24 to 288 h against 0.26 to 2.08 mg/1 diazinon the activity of acetylcholinesterase as well as acid and alkaline phosphatases decreases to 20.… 30% as a minimum. The decrease of the enzymatic activities in the brain tissue is more time-dependent than concentration-dependent, which may de due to the respective metabolites of diazinon.     

Hexavalent chromium: Toxicity and impact on carbohydrate metabolism and haematological parameters of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) from Saudi Arabia

The effect of hexavalent chromium on the carp,Cyprinus carpio was assessed using static bioassay. The 96h LC₅₀ was found to be 93.6mg · l^–1. In carp exposed to sublethal concentrations of chromium (15 and 25 mg · l^–1), significant depletion of liver and muscle glycogen and decreasing leucocyte counts were recorded during prolonged exposure and with increasing concentration of chromium. The other blood parameters examined (haemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, serum protein, serum glucose) increased similarly during exposure to two chromium concentrations.