Acute toxicity of heavy metals to two species of marine nematodes

The acute toxicity of seawater solutions of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium and mercury to two species of free-living marine nematodes was studied. Enoplus brevis (Bastian) is a euryhaline species inhabitating intertidal estuarinemud. The closely related Enoplus communis (Bastian) is stenohaline and may be found as a commensal in the byssus threads of seed mussels. Specimens of both species were collected from two sites on the Northeast coast of England showing different levels of pollution by heavy metals. Both species were more susceptible to copper, lead and mercury than to zinc and cadmium, but the order of toxicity of the metals changed with exposure concentration. The euryhaline species survived better than the strictly marine species and there is a suggestion that animals from a polluted site were more tolerant of elevated of heavy metals.     

重金属Pb和Cu对Cd在泥鳅（Misgurnus anguillicaudatus）组织器官蓄积的影响

采用静水生物测试方法,研究了Pb（0.5mg/L）和Cu（0.1mg/L）的相互作用对Cd（0.05mg/L）在泥鳅组织器官中蓄积的影响。结果表明,重金属离子相互作用对Cd在泥鳅组织器官中蓄积的影响与重金属的种类、数量、染毒时间及组织器官性质有关,Cd在泥鳅组织器官中的蓄积顺序为肝〉肾〉肌肉。研究发现,Cd在组织器官中...     

Metallothionein and heavy metal levels in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) during exposure to cadmium in the water

Rainbow trout were exposed to 200 ppb cadmium in the water during four months at 5°C. The liver, kidney and gills were analyzed for cadmium, copper, zinc and metallothionein. Cadmium accumulated in all three organs and reached the highest concentration in the kidney. The zinc and copper concentrations were not altered during the experiment. The metallothionein concentration was significantly higher in liver of exposed fish than in control fish after three months. The kidneys reached significantly elevated levels of metallothionein in the exposed group after four months. These results demonstrate that metallothionein is induced by cadmium after exposure to the metal via water.     

Trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in feathers of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys attending the Patagonian Shelf

We investigated the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc among feather tissues in sexes of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys killed in longliners off Argentina in 2005. We found no different metal concentration with sex for cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in feathers of adult birds, though there were significant body-size differences between sexes. However, the concentrations of trace metals differed significantly among the type of feather within individual bird. The mean concentrations of copper, iron, and zinc in breast feathers of T.?melanophrys were lower than those reported for the species from Georgias del Sur/South Georgia, the southern Indian Ocean and for other seabirds' worldwide. While cadmium fall within the known range of concentrations for bird feathers lead were not. Our results may be indicating that level of pollution in Patagonia may not be as negligible as previously thought at least for some trace metals.     

Cadmium-binding proteins in the blue crab, callinectes sapidus: laboratory-field comparison

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is distributed along the east coast of the United States from Cape Cod, Mass., through the Gulf of Mexico, including both relatively unpolluted coastal areas and estuaries contaminated with trace metals. Cadmium is of particular concern because it is concentrated in the digestive glands of blue crabs and can be passed on to consumer organisms. Tissue concentrations and partitioning of trace metals from crabs exposed in the laboratory to 10 ppb dissolved cadmium for 40 days were compared with blue crabs collected from two locations on the Hudson River, NY, Foundry Cove and Haverstraw Bay, Foundry Cove and Haverstraw Bay, both of which have elevated trace metal levels relative to estuarine areas near Beaufort, NC. Crab digestive glands, gills and muscle were removed and analyzed for total cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel concentrations using acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and metal-binding (metallothionein-like) proteins were determined by gel-filtration chromatography. In crabs exposed to cadmium in the laboratory, the cytosolic partitioning was similar to previous investigations at our laboratory where higher levels of cadmium (100 ppb) and shorter exposure times (14 days) were used. The similarity in cadmium partitioning from these two separate experiments indicates dose independence. In crabs from polluted environments the digestive glands contained the highest concentrations of trace metals. Chromatograms of the cytosol from the digestive glands and gills from both field and laboratory exposed crabs showed similar distributions of cadmium, copper and zinc. The gills of both field and laboratory-exposed crabs had metal-binding proteins that contained mostly cadmium, and the digestive glands had metallothionein-like proteins that contained cadmium, copper and zinc. Estimated molecular weights for these proteins were similar to the metallothioneins found in other crustaceans and mammals.     

Influence of halophytes and metal contamination on salt marsh macro-benthic communities

Since an important fraction of the organic matter produced by salt marshes is decomposed in situ, macro-benthic communities are particularly exposed to the trace metals retained by these systems. Yet, few studies have investigated the macro-benthic communities using the between-root sediment habitat of the salt marsh halophytes (salt-tolerant plants), or the effect of trace metal pollution on its population dynamics. In the present study, samples were collected in vegetated and unvegetated sediment, in three salt marshes in the Tagus estuary, for trace metal concentration determination in the sediment and in the halophytes roots, grain size determination and macro-benthic organism identification. Data analysis revealed that the distribution of macro-benthic organisms is mainly determined by metal contamination, metal type and by the presence/absence of halophytes, not by the halophyte species. Five different associations were identified: resistant organisms were associated with the highest concentrations of lead (sediment); tolerant organisms with zinc, copper (sediment and roots) and lead (roots); cadmium in the sediment with a lack of macro-benthic life; sensitive organisms with low levels of metals except for cadmium in the roots; and macro-benthos typical of intertidal mudflats with unvegetated areas with low metal contamination.     

Toxic effects of certain heavy metals (Hg,Cd, Pb,As and Se) on the intertidal crab scylla serrata

The toxic effects of certain heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Se, As and Pb) on Scylla serrata, the common edible Indian marine crab, are evaluated. Mercuric chloride, phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA), cadmium chloride, selenium dioxide, arsenic trioxide and lead nitrate were tested individually in laboratory static bioassays using artificial seawater to determine the 24 to 96 h LC₅₀ values. As indicated by 96 h LC₅₀ values PMA was found to be the most toxic and lead nitrate the least toxic. CdCl₂ showed a 6·6 fold increase in toxicity with increase in the time of exposure from 24 to 96 h. Marked histopathological changes were noticed in the hepatopancreas and gill of Scylla serrata exposed to acute 96 h LC₅₀ values of these metal compounds. 30 days' long-term exposure to sublethal concentrations of mercury and cadmium brought about degenerative changes in the hepatopancreas and gill of exposed animals. Extensive cellular proliferation (hyperplasia) of secondary lamellae accompanied by cyst formation and necrotic regions were often seen in the gills of cadmium treated crabs. Interestingly enough, the free amino acid pool from muscle and hepatopancreas of treated animals, either after acute or long-term exposure, did not show any reduction in number or quantity     

Temporal and spatial distribution of dissolved copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters. Results from a systematic survey in April 2002 to March 2003 indicate that the ranges of the concentrations of dissolved copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in the study waters are 1.01 - 6.86, 0. 10 - 0.39,3.17 - 9.12 and 0.011 - 0. 049 μg/dm^3 , respectively. Similar to zinc, the behavior of dissolved copper was essentially conservative, but high scatter has been observed for high salinity samples, which can be attributed to the decomposition or mineralization of organic matter by bacteria. Dissolved lead may have active behavior with an addition at high salinity. Overall concentrations of dissolved cadmium increase with salinity. The mean values of these dissolved metals calculated for the surface waters were higher than those for the middle and bottom ones. External inputs of dissolved heavy metals to the surface waters were the likely explanation for these higher values. The maximum seasonal average values of dissolved copper and zinc were found in summer, reflecting higher amounts of riverine input in this season. In contrast, the maximum seasonal average values of dissolved lead and copper were found in winter and the lowest ones in summer, respectively, which might be asso- ciated with a combination of low concentration with heterogeneous scavenging. Concentrations of these dissolved metals found for the Changjiang Estuary fall in the range observed for the other estuaries but are noticeably higher than those from uncontaminated rivers, except for cadmium. Compared with observations for the Changjiang Estuary in the last two decades, it is clear that the Changjiang estuarine waters has been contaminated with copper, lead, zinc and cadmium during China＇ s industrialization, but concentrations of them have decreased in the last few years.     

渤海中部表层沉积物中重金属赋存相态及来源

近年来由于环渤海经济圈的快速发展,渤海接受了来自周边河流、沿岸排污及海上油气开采所产生的大量的重金属等污染物质,使得渤海的生态环境系统面临前所未有的压力。本文采用电感耦合等离子质谱仪（ICP-MS）对采自渤海中部的25个表层沉积物样品中的Cu、Co、Ni、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd等重金属元素的含量和赋存相态进行了分析,探讨了重金属分布规律、污染状况及来源。研究结果表明,Cu、Co、Ni、Zn、Cr在渤海湾的近岸区域和渤海中部泥质区有较高的含量,而Pb和Cd则在整个研究区的含量都较高;表层沉积物中Cu、Co、Ni、Zn、Cr主要以残渣态形式存在,而Pb和Cd则具有较高的非残渣态含量;生态风险评价结果表明该区表层沉积物未受到Co、Ni、Cr的污染,Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd则为未污染-中等程度污染。重金属元素Co、Ni、Cr以自然来源为主,在沉积物中的分布主要受沉积物物质组成的影响,而Cu、Zn、Pb,尤其是Cd,则受到了人类活动的显著影响。黄河沉积物是研究区表层沉积物中重金属的主要来源,影响范围涵盖了本区大部分区域,但在研究区的北端受到滦河来源物质的影响,渤海湾和研究区中部则受到海河物质和大气沉降来源重金属的一定影响。     

Tissue distribution of metals in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Apulian coasts, southern Italy.

Tissue distributions of metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese) were determined in six specimens of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba, Meyen) stranded on the Apulian coasts (Southern Italy) between February and June 1987. Methyl mercury and selenium were also determined in the liver samples. The liver accumulated the highest concentrations of metals, except for cadmium and chromium. Metal levels were higher than those found in dolphins living in the Atlantic, but lower than those recorded in the same species from the French Mediterranean coasts. Necroscopic surveys found that all specimens were affected by haemorrhagic gastritis, but the cause was not clear. While it was not possible to related the death of dolphins to a specific cause, or to contaminants, the accumulation of metals is likely to contribute to the health of the organism and represents a risk factor for dolphins.     

Trace metal-binding proteins in marine molluscs and crustaceans

Some marine invertebrates, such as the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the blue crab, callinectes sapidus and the American lobster, Homarusamericanus, concentrate trace metals in their tissues. The occurrence of metallothionein, a low molecular weight, sulfur-containing metal-binding protein, has been correlated with elevated levels of trace metals in these organisms. It is our hypothesis that, whilst metallothioneins are involved in the sequestration of elevated levels of trace metals, they primarily function in regulating normal metal metabolism. In this paper we describe recent field and laboratory experiments designed to examine how oysters, blue crabs and lobsters manage accumulated cadmium, copper and zinc. The possible rôles of metallothionein, as well as the tissue distribution of metals, are emphasized. Metallothioneins were found in all animals we examined; concentrations of metallothioneins and the the amount of bound trace metals are related to time of exposure. We have also demonstrated that the laboratory developed metallothionein models for blue crabs and lobsters may be useful in predicting the partitioning of trace metals in animals living in environments polluted with trace metals.     

Heavy metal toxicity of kidney and bone tissues in South Australian adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)

Metallothioneins (MT) concentration, renal damage, and bone malformations were investigated in 38 adult Tursiops aduncus carcasses to determine any associations with cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury, lead and selenium. Significantly higher concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc in the liver were observed in dolphins showing evidence of more advanced renal damage. No significant differences in metal or selenium concentrations in the liver were observed between groups differing in level of bone malformations. Some dolphins displayed evidence of toxicity and knowledge of metal toxicity pathways were used to elucidate the cause of these abnormalities. Two dolphins had high metal burdens, high MT concentrations, renal damage, and evidence of bone malformations, indicating possible severe and prolonged metal toxicity. One dolphin showed evidence of renal damage, but the lack of any other symptoms suggests that this was unlikely to be caused by metal toxicity. We recommend examining a range of metal toxicity symptoms simultaneously to aid in distinguishing metal toxicity from unrelated aetiologies.     

红树植物无瓣海桑中重金属元素的分布与富集特征

通过测定江门市新会区银湖湾红树林沉积物及红树植物无瓣海桑中不同部位重金属元素的质量浓度,分析其在沉积物及植株内部的富集和转移能力。结果表明：研究区域的红树林沉积物易于富集铅、铜、镉、铬、锌、砷等重金属元素,已 受到重金属元素污染。无瓣海桑对重金属元素有一定的耐性,细根作为植株吸收水分和养分的主要器官,能大量富集重金属元素,凯氏带限制了非必需重金属元素在植株内部的运输;枝、叶生长初期和生殖器官形成时能加大对必需元素的选择性吸收。无瓣海桑主根迁移不同重金属元素至主茎的能力存在差异,材部的综合转移能力高于皮部。无瓣海桑不符合超富集植物的概念,但其生长优势明显且对各种重金属元素都有一定程度的耐性,可用于构建红树林人工湿地重金属污水处理系统。     

Barnacles as biomonitors of trace metal availabilities in Hong Kong coastal waters: changes in space and time

The use of selected organisms as biomonitors of trace metal bioavailabilities allows comparisons to be made over space and time. The concentrations of 11 trace metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, silver, zinc) were measured in the bodies of two barnacle species, Balanus amphitrite and Tetraclita squamosa, from up to 18 littoral sites from Hong Kong coastal waters in April 1998. These data provide evidence on the geographical variation in metal bioavailabilities at this time, and are compared selectively against historical data sets for 1986 and 1989. Geographical variation in bioavailabilities is clear for several metals, with hotspots for arsenic, copper, nickel and silver at Chai Wan Kok, and for lead in Junk Bay. Victoria Harbour sites head the rankings for silver and arsenic, and Tolo Harbour sites exhibit relatively elevated cobalt, manganese and zinc. Many bioavailabilities of trace metals to barnacles are lower in Hong Kong coastal waters in 1998 than in 1986. The two barnacle species are widespread and the extensive data set presented is a benchmark which can be compared to the results of similar biomonitoring programmes elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.     

In vitro and in vivo inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase by metals in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Metals are natural components in ecosystems; however, if these elements are in excess, they can have adverse effects on living organisms. This study analyzes the interference of copper, lead, iron and cadmium in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities in zebrafish. AChE was significantly inhibited in vitro by copper, iron, lead and cadmium at higher concentrations (10 and 20 mmol/L), whereas CbE was inhibited only at a concentration of 20 mmol/L. In vivo, only lead and cadmium were able to cause AChE inhibition at higher concentrations, while iron didn't cause any changes, and copper promoted an increase in AChE activity at a concentration of 0.06 mg/L. CbE activity did not change at any of the times (two and seven days) and concentrations tested, except in the case of copper exposure, which resulted in a decrease in CbE activity. Indeed, iodoacetamide treatment didn't changed AChE neither CbE activities, results which indicate that the metal inhibiting effect is probably not due to its biding to thiol groups close the active site of the enzyme. This outcome reveals that metals are important esterase inhibitors in zebrafish, and should be considered in environmental monitoring studies that use esterase inhibition as exposure biomarkers of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.     

亚心形扁藻超氧化物歧化酶活性对镉和铜的应答

以亚心形扁藻为实验材料,对不同浓度重金属镉(Cd2 )和铜(Cu2 )作用下亚心形扁藻的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的变化和膜脂过氧化作用进行了探讨,以期了解藻类抗重金属的机制。结果表明:随着Cd2 和Cu2 浓度的增加亚心形扁藻的SOD的活性逐渐升高,但高浓度Cd2 可导致SOD活性活性下降。膜脂过氧化实验结果显示,半抑制浓度的重金属处理72hr后,膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)显著提高。用72h半抑制浓度的重金属处理亚心形扁藻随时间的变化关系表明,在最初的12hr内SOD活性被两种重金属离子诱导迅速升高,然后逐渐趋于平稳。总之,SOD活性的变化与重金属的种类、浓度和处理时间有关。     

Biotransference and biomagnification of selenium copper,cadmium, zinc,arsenic and lead in a temperate seagrass ecosystem from Lake Macquarie Estuary,NSW, Australia

In this study the biotransference of selenium copper, cadmium, zinc, arsenic and lead was measured in a contaminated seagrass ecosystem in Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia, to determine if biomagnification of these trace metals is occurring and if they reach concentrations that pose a threat to the resident organisms or human consumers. Selenium was found to biomagnify, exceeding maximum permitted concentrations for human consumption within carnivorous fish tissue, the highest trophic level examined. Selenium concentrations measured within carnivorous fish were also above those shown to elicit sub-lethal effects in freshwater fish. As comparisons are made to selenium concentrations known to effect freshwater fish, inferences must be made with caution. There was no evidence of copper, cadmium, zinc or lead biomagnification within the food web examined. Copper, cadmium, zinc and lead concentrations were below concentrations shown to elicit adverse responses in biota. Copper concentrations within crustaceans M. bennettae and P. palagicus were found to exceed maximum permitted concentrations for human consumption. It is likely that copper concentrations within these species were accumulated due to the essential nature of this trace metal for many species of molluscs and crustaceans. Arsenic showed some evidence of biomagnification. Total arsenic concentrations are similar to those found in other uncontaminated marine ecosystems, thus arsenic concentrations are unlikely to cause adverse effects to aquatic organisms. Inorganic arsenic concentrations are below maximum permitted concentrations for human consumption.     

Concentrations of zinc,manganese, copper,cadmium, magnesium and iron in ten species of algae and sea water from Aqaba,Jordan

Concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper, cadmium, magnesium and iron in three species of red, four species of brown and three species of green macroalgae, and also in sea water have been determined at two localities along the coast of Aqaba. Significant differences in metal concentrations were found between the various species (P<0·01). Similar significant differences were found with regard to different metals (P<0·001). Concentration factors ranged between 10² for Cd and 9·2 × 10⁴ for Fe. The difference in levels of metals between the two localities, however, was not significant (P > 0·05). Of the three groups of algae examined, rhodopytes exhibited the highest concentration power of metals.     

The adsorption and interaction of long-chain fatty acids and heavy metals at the mercury electrode/sodium chloride solution interface

The reduction of heavy metals (cadmium, lead and zinc) in the presence of long-chain fatty acids (lauric, oleic and linoleic) in 0.55 mol dm^?3 NaCl and 0.03 mol dm^?3 NaHCO₃ at pH 8.7 has been studied by differential pulse polarography. The increase of the peak height of investigated metals by up to tenfold the value obtained in electrolyte without fatty acid is due to adsorption of metal ions at the electrode surface. The accumulation of metal increases with the increase of adsorption time (at potentials more positive than the reduction potential of the particular metal) and with increase of salinity. The heavy-metal adsorption depends on the concentrations of both metal ions and fatty acids. The interaction of heavy metals with the unsaturated fatty acids in the bulk and/or in the adsorbed layer at different natural interfaces could be of considerable importance in an understanding of the fate and distribution of heavy metals in the natural aquatic environment.