1
|
Fettweis A, Hansul S, Smolders E, De Schamphelaere K. Metal Mixture Effects of Ni, Cu, and Zn in a Multispecies, Two-Trophic-Level Algal-Daphnid Microcosm Can Be Predicted From Single-Trophic-Level Effects: The Role of Indirect Toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 39189720 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Effect assessments of metals are mostly based on single-metal, single-species tests, thereby ignoring metal-mixture effects and indirect effects through species interactions. We tested the combined effects of metal and species interactions in two-trophic algal-daphnid microcosms. Metal-mixture effects on daphnid communities may propagate from effects on the generally more sensitive algal communities. Four different algal communities (three species each), with and without addition of the same daphnid community (three species) were exposed to single metals and one metal mixture (17:17:51 µg/L Ni:Cu:Zn). Daphnid densities were negatively affected by metals in the two-trophic test, the magnitude of which depended on the algal community composition. Algal densities were overall positively affected by the metals in the two-trophic test but negatively in the single-trophic test, illustrating an indirect positive effect in the two-trophic system due to a reduced grazing pressure. Metal effects on daphnid communities in the two-trophic test (day 21) were correlated with metal effects on the single-trophic-level algal communities during exponential growth (R2 = 0.55, p = 0.0011). This finding suggests that metal effects propagate across trophic levels due to a reduced food quantity. However, the indirect positive effects on algal densities, resulting in abundant food quantity, suggests that metal effects can also propagate to daphnids due to a reduced food quality (not measured directly). Metal-mixture interactions on daphnid densities varied during exposure, but were additive or antagonistic relative to independent action when final daphnid densities were considered (day 56). This suggests stronger indirect effects of the mixture compared with the single metals. Overall, our study highlights the dynamic aspect of community-level effects, which empirical reference models such as independent action or concentration addition cannot predict. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-15. © 2024 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Fettweis
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Simon Hansul
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Erik Smolders
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Karel De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu F, Liu Z, Wang J, Wang X, Zhang C, Ai S, Li J, Wang X. Research on aquatic microcosm: Bibliometric analysis, toxicity comparison and model prediction. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134078. [PMID: 38518699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Recently, aquatic microcosms have attracted considerable attention because they can be used to simulate natural aquatic ecosystems. First, to evaluate the development of trends, hotspots, and national cooperation networks in the field, bibliometric analysis was performed based on 1841 articles on aquatic microcosm (1962-2022). The results of the bibliometric analysis can be categorized as follows: (1) Aquatic microcosm research can be summarized in two sections, with the first part focusing on the ecological processes and services of aquatic ecosystems, and the second focusing on the toxicity and degradation of pollutants. (2) The United States (number of publications: 541, proportion: 29.5%) and China (248, 13.5%) are the two most active countries. Second, to determine whether there is a difference between single-species and microcosm tests, that is, to perform different-tier assessments, the recommended aquatic safety thresholds in risk assessment [i.e., the community-level no effect concentration (NOECcommunity), hazardous concentrations for 5% of species (HC5) and predicted no effect concentration (PNEC)] were compared based on these tests. There was a significant difference between the NOECcommunity and HC5 (P < 0.05). Moreover, regression models predicting microcosm toxicity values were constructed to provide a reference for ecological systemic risk assessments based on aquatic microcosms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Zhengtao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Xusheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Offshore Environmental Technology & Services Limited, Beijing 100027, PR China
| | - Shunhao Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; The College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China
| | - Ji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fettweis A, Hansul S, Schamphelaere KD, Smolders E. Metal Mixture Toxicity of Ni, Cu, and Zn in Freshwater Algal Communities and the Correlation of Single-Species Sensitivities Among Single Metals: A Comparative Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2666-2683. [PMID: 37606176 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The effects assessment of metals is mainly based on data of single metals on single species, thereby not accounting for effects of metal mixtures or effects of species interactions. Both of these effects were tested in combination, thereby hypothesizing that the sensitivity of a community to synergistic mixture toxicity depends on the correlation of single-species sensitivities among the single metals. Single-metal and metal-mixture effects were tested in full concentration-response experiments (fixed ray of 1:1:3 and 5:1:13 mass ratio Ni:Cu:Zn) on eight single freshwater algal species and 14 algal communities of four species each. The mean correlation of single-species median effect concentrations among the single metals (Ni-Cu, Cu-Zn, and Zn-Ni) for all species in a community (r ̅ ) ranged from -0.4 to 0.9 among the communities; most of these (12/14) were positive. Functional endpoints (total biomass) were overall less sensitive than structural endpoints (Bray-Curtis similarity index) for communities with positively correlated single-species sensitivities among the single metals (r ̅ > 0.33 ), suggesting that such correlations indicate functional redundancy under metal-mixture stress. Antagonistic metal-mixture interactions were predominantly found in single species, whereas metal-mixture interactions were antagonistic and surprisingly synergistic for the communities, irrespective of the reference mixture model used (concentration addition or independent action). The mixture interactions close to the carrying capacity (day 7) of communities gradually shifted from antagonism to more noninteractions with increasing correlation of single-species sensitivities among the single metals. Overall, this suggests that functional redundancy under mixed-metal stress comes at the cost of reduced biodiversity and that synergisms can emerge at the community level without any synergisms on the single-species level. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2666-2683. © 2023 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Fettweis
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Simon Hansul
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karel De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Erik Smolders
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nys C, De Schamphelaere KAC. Ecotoxicity of Lead to a Phytoplankton Community: Effects of pH and Phosphorus Addition and Implications for Risk Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2684-2700. [PMID: 37638666 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Ecological risk assessment and water quality criteria for lead (Pb) are increasingly making use of bioavailability-based approaches to account for the impact of toxicity-modifying factors, such as pH and dissolved organic carbon. For phytoplankton, which are among the most Pb-sensitive freshwater species, a Pb bioavailability model has previously been developed based on standard single-species exposures at a high phosphorus (P) concentration and pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. It is well known that P can affect metal toxicity to phytoplankton and that the pH of many surface waters can be above 8.0. We aimed to test whether the single-species bioavailability model for Pb could predict the influence of pH on Pb toxicity to a phytoplankton community at both low and high P supply. A 10-species phytoplankton community was exposed to Pb for 28 days at two different pH levels (7.2 and 8.4) and two different P supply levels (low and high, i.e., total P input 10 and 100 µg/L, respectively) in a full factorial 2 × 2 test design. We found that the effects of total Pb on three community-level endpoints (biodiversity, community functioning, and community structure) were highly dependent on both pH and P supply. Consistent lowest-observed-effect concentrations (LOECs) ranged between 21 and >196 µg total Pb/L and between 10 and >69 µg filtered Pb/L. Long-term LOECs were generally higher, that is, 69 µg total Pb/L (42 µg filtered Pb/L) or greater, across all endpoints and conditions, indicating recovery near the end of the exposure period, and suggesting the occurrence of acclimation to Pb and/or functional redundancy. The highest toxicity of Pb for all endpoints was observed in the pH 7.2 × low P treatment, whereas the pH 8.4 × low P and pH 8.4 × high P treatment were the least sensitive treatments. At the pH 7.2 × high P treatment, the algal community showed an intermediate Pb sensitivity. The effect of pH on the toxicity of filtered Pb could not be precisely quantified because for many endpoints no effect was observed at the highest Pb concentration tested. However, the long-term LOECs (filtered Pb) at low P supply suggest a decrease in Pb toxicity of at least 1.6-fold from pH 7.2 to 8.4, whereas the single-species algal bioavailability model predicted a 2.5-fold increase. This finding suggests that bioavailability effects of pH on Pb toxicity cannot be extrapolated as such from the single species to the community level. Overall, our data indicate that, although the single-species algal Pb bioavailability model may not capture pH effects on Pb ecotoxicity in multispecies systems, the bioavailability-based hazardous concentration for 5% of the species was protective of long-term Pb effects on the structure, function, and diversity of a phytoplankton community in a relevant range of pH and P conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2684-2700. © 2023 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Nys
- GhEnToxLab, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
- Arche Consulting, Gent, Belgium
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- GhEnToxLab, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
- SYRALUTION, Deinze, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Martins I, Guerra A, Azevedo A, Harasse O, Colaço A, Xavier J, Caetano M, Carreiro-Silva M, Martins I, Neuparth T, Raimundo J, Soares J, Santos MM. A modelling framework to assess multiple metals impacts on marine food webs: Relevance for assessing the ecological implications of deep-sea mining based on a systematic review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114902. [PMID: 37058834 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Industrial deep-sea mining will release plumes containing metals that may disperse over long distances; however, there is no general understanding of metal effects on marine ecosystems. Thus, we conducted a systematic review in search of models of metal effects on aquatic biota with the future perspective to support Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of deep-sea mining. According to results, the use of models to study metal effects is strongly biased towards freshwater species (83% freshwater versus 14% marine); Cu, Hg, Al, Ni, Pb, Cd and Zn are the best-studied metals, and most studies target few species rather than entire food webs. We argue that these limitations restrain ERA on marine ecosystems. To overcome this gap of knowledge, we suggest future research directions and propose a modelling framework to predict the effects of metals on marine food webs, which in our view is relevant for ERA of deep-sea mining.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martins
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Alexandra Guerra
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Azevedo
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ombéline Harasse
- SeaTech Engineering School, University of Toulon, Avenue de l'Université, 83130 La Garde, France
| | - Ana Colaço
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Okeanos, University of the Azores, Rua Prof Frederico Machado, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Joana Xavier
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlens gate 53 A/B, 5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Miguel Caetano
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal; IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Rua Alfredo Magalhães, 6, 1495-165 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marina Carreiro-Silva
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Okeanos, University of the Azores, Rua Prof Frederico Machado, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Inês Martins
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Okeanos, University of the Azores, Rua Prof Frederico Machado, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Teresa Neuparth
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Raimundo
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal; IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Rua Alfredo Magalhães, 6, 1495-165 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Soares
- AIR Centre, TERINOV-Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Ilha Terceira, Canada de Belém S/N, Terra Chã, 9700-702 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Santos
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal; FCUP, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Peters A, Nys C, Leverett D, Wilson I, Van Sprang P, Merrington G, Middleton E, Garman E, Schlekat C. Updating the Chronic Freshwater Ecotoxicity Database and Biotic Ligand Model for Nickel for Regulatory Applications in Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:566-580. [PMID: 36650904 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bioavailability has been taken into account in the regulation of nickel in freshwater ecosystems in Europe for over a decade; during that time a significant amount of new information has become available covering both the sensitivity of aquatic organisms to nickel toxicity and bioavailability normalization. The ecotoxicity database for chronic nickel toxicity to freshwater organisms has been updated and now includes 358 individual data points covering a total of 53 different species, all of which are suitable for bioavailability normalization to different water chemistry conditions. The bioavailability normalization procedure has also been updated to include updates to the bioavailability models that enable more sensitive water chemistry conditions to be covered by the model predictions. The updated database and bioavailability normalization procedure are applicable to more than 95% of regulated European surface water conditions and have been used to calculate site-specific criteria for a variety of different water chemistry scenarios, to provide an indication of how the sensitivity to nickel varies between different water types. The hazardous concentration for 5% of a species (HC5) values for this diverse selection of water types range from 1.6 to 36 µg L-1 , clearly demonstrating the importance of accounting for nickel bioavailability in freshwaters. This updated database and bioavailability normalization procedure provide a robust basis for the derivation of regulatory thresholds for chronic nickel toxicity in freshwaters such as predicted no-effect concentrations and Environmental Quality Standards and are protective of the results of several mesocosm studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:566-580. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
|
7
|
Laderriere V, Richard M, Morin S, Le Faucheur S, Fortin C. Temperature and Photoperiod Affect the Sensitivity of Biofilms to Nickel and its Accumulation. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:1649-1662. [PMID: 35343607 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Whereas metal impacts on fluvial communities have been extensively investigated, effects of abiotic parameters on community responses to contaminants are poorly documented. Variations in photoperiod and temperature commonly occur over the course of a season and could affect aquatic biofilm communities and their responses to contaminants. Our objective was to characterize the influence of environmental conditions (photoperiod and temperature) on nickel (Ni) bioaccumulation and toxicity using a laboratory-grown biofilm. Environmental parameters were chosen to represent variations that can occur over the summer season. Biofilms were exposed for 7 days to six dissolved Ni treatments (ranging from 6 to 115 µM) at two temperatures (14 and 20 °C) using two photoperiods (16:8 and 12:12-h light:dark cycle). Under these different scenarios, structural (dry weight biomass and chlorophyll-a) and functional biomarkers (photosynthetic yield and Ni content) were analyzed at four sampling dates, allowing us to evaluate Ni sensitivity of biofilms over time. The results highlight the effects of temperature on Ni accumulation and tolerance of biofilms. Indeed, biofilms exposed at 20 °C accumulated 1.6-4.2-fold higher concentrations of Ni and were characterized by a lower median effect concentration value using photosynthetic yield compared with those exposed at 14 °C. In terms of photoperiod, significantly greater rates of Ni accumulation were observed at the highest tested Ni concentration for biofilms exposed to a 12:12-h compared with a 16:8-h light:dark cycle. Our study demonstrates the influence of temperature on biofilm metabolism and illustrates that environmental factors may influence Ni accumulation response and thus Ni responses of phototrophic biofilms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1649-1662. © 2022 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Laderriere
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Canada
| | - Maxime Richard
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Canada
| | - Soizic Morin
- Ecosystèmes Aquatiques et Changements Globaux, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Cestas, France
| | | | - Claude Fortin
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bai X, Jiang Y, Jiang Z, Zhu L, Feng J. Nutrient potentiate the responses of plankton community structure and metabolites to cadmium: A microcosm study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 430:128506. [PMID: 35739684 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Metal pollution is a worldwide concern and may pose risks to aquatic organisms, communities, and ecosystems. The toxic effects of metals at the organism level are relatively clear. However, their impacts at the community level are still poorly understood, especially with concurred eutrophication in surface water. In the present study, the effects of Cd on the plankton community structure and function under varying nutrient conditions were evaluated using a microcosm study. The employed concentrations of Cd and nutrient were based on the values currently measured in the freshwater ecosystem. For the plankton structure, our results showed that the Chl a concentration, the abundances of total phytoplankton, Cyanophyta, and Chlorophyta, and the abundance of Copepoda decreased by Cd consistently. The Cyanophyta Oscillatoria tenuis and Copepoda nauplius were the most sensitive species to Cd in the phytoplankton and zooplankton community, respectively. For the community effects, we found the inhibitory effects of Cd on the photosystem II (PSII) activity of phytoplankton community because of the consistent decrease in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, Y(Ⅱ), and ETR). Furthermore, the reductions of DOC and pH by Cd were only found in the high nutrient condition, which indicated that the toxic effects of Cd on the community structure and community metabolites were aggravated by the increased nutrient. This study emphasizes the importance of considering nutrient conditions when assessing the metal ecotoxicological effects at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Bai
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yueming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Zhendong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Garman ER, Schlekat CE, Middleton E, Merrington G, Peters A, Smith R, Stauber JL, Leung KMY, Gissi F, Binet MT, Adams MS, Gillmore ML, Golding LA, Jolley D, Wang Z, Reichelt‐Brushett A. Development of a bioavailability-based risk assessment framework for nickel in Southeast Asia and Melanesia. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:802-813. [PMID: 33404201 PMCID: PMC8359217 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nickel laterite ore deposits are becoming increasingly important sources of Ni for the global marketplace and are found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Cuba, and New Caledonia. There are few legislatively derived standards or guidelines for the protection of aquatic life for Ni in many of these tropical regions, and bioavailability-based environmental risk assessment (ERA) approaches for metals have mainly been developed and tested in temperate regions, such as the United States and Europe. This paper reports on a multi-institutional, 5-y testing program to evaluate Ni exposure, effects, and risk characterization in the Southeast Asia and Melanesia (SEAM) region, which includes New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Further, we have developed an approach to determine if the individual components of classical ERA, including effects assessments, exposure assessments, and risk characterization methodologies (which include bioavailability normalization), are applicable in this region. A main conclusion of this research program is that although ecosystems and exposures may be different in tropical systems, ERA paradigms are constant. A large chronic ecotoxicity data set for Ni is now available for tropical species, and the data developed suggest that tropical ecosystems are not uniquely sensitive to Ni exposure; hence, scientific support exists for combining tropical and temperate data sets to develop tropical environmental quality standards (EQSs). The generic tropical database and tropical exposure scenarios generated can be used as a starting point to examine the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of specific tropical ecosystems in the SEAM region. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:802-813. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kenneth MY Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong KongKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Francesca Gissi
- CSIRO, Oceans and AtmosphereLucas HeightsNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of WollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Merrin S Adams
- CSIRO Land and WaterLucas HeightsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Megan L Gillmore
- CSIRO Land and WaterLucas HeightsNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of WollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Lisa A Golding
- CSIRO Land and WaterLucas HeightsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Dianne Jolley
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of WollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Zhen Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou UniversityShantouChina
| | - Amanda Reichelt‐Brushett
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross UniversityLismoreNew South WalesAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hoang TC, Brausch JM, Cichra MF, Phlips EJ, Van Genderen E, Rand GM. Effects of Zinc in an Outdoor Freshwater Microcosm System. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:2053-2072. [PMID: 33749927 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A long-term exposure outdoor microcosm study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc (Zn) on zooplankton, phytoplankton, and periphyton in a freshwater system. Five Zn treatment concentrations (nominal: 8, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/L Zn) and an untreated control with 3 replicates each were used. Various physical and chemical characteristics of the microcosms and biological assessment endpoints (e.g., total abundance, group abundance, species richness, chlorophyll a, etc.) were measured to determine the effects of Zn over time. In general, physical and chemical characteristics (e.g., total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, pH, dissolved organic carbon) of water fluctuated over time, but they were not significantly different within treatments and controls during the study. Zinc significantly affected the population dynamics and community structure of plankton. The effects occurred 7 d after initial treatment exposures began and continued to the end of the treatment phase, especially at the high treatment concentrations. Total and group abundance, species richness, the Shannon index, and chlorophyll a concentrations for high Zn treatment concentrations were significantly lower than the controls during the treatment phase. The no-observed-effect, lowest-observed-effect, and median effect concentrations were generally lower than the literature-reported results from single-species toxicity tests for fish and invertebrates, suggesting that plankton are more sensitive to Zn than planktivores. Although primary producers play an important role in the ecosystem, they have not been consistently incorporated into numerical environmental quality criteria for freshwater organisms, at least in the United States. The results of the present study are useful for development of environmental quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems and ecological risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2053-2072. © 2021 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tham C Hoang
- Ecotoxicology & Risk Assessment Laboratory, Department of Earth & Environment, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, N. Miami, Florida, USA
- School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - John M Brausch
- Ecotoxicology & Risk Assessment Laboratory, Department of Earth & Environment, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, N. Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mary F Cichra
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Edward J Phlips
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Gary M Rand
- Ecotoxicology & Risk Assessment Laboratory, Department of Earth & Environment, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, N. Miami, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
de Sousa ML, Dos Santos DYAC, Chow F, Pompêo MLM. Caffeine as a contaminant of periphyton: ecological changes and impacts on primary producers. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:599-609. [PMID: 33730295 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02381-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Every day, tons of caffeine is consumed by humans in beverages, medications or supplements, and a significant amount of this stimulant is released in domestic sewage. Once in aquatic environments caffeine interacts directly with the periphytic community, which is responsible for a significant part of primary production in aquatic ecosystems. However, the effects of exposure to caffeine are mostly unknown for both the periphyton and their predators. Aiming to comprehend the interaction between caffeine and the periphytic community, ecotoxicological experiments were performed by exposing a periphytic biofilm cultivated in the laboratory to different concentrations of caffeine, following concentrations found in domestic sewers. The impact of exposure to this contaminant was observed on the structure of the community through taxonomic evaluation, as well a set of physiological variables linked to primary production. After exposure to the highest caffeine concentration (300 µg L-1), the density of the genus Scenedesmus was severely affected, leading to an increase in cyanobacteria and diatoms. Both richness and diversity decreased after exposure, and there was lower photosynthetic activity, with light saturation point changing from 186 µmol m-2 s-1 in the control treatment to 108 µmol m-2 s-1 after exposure. Caffeine accumulation within the biofilm was also observed during the first 24 h, in the concentration of 0.14 µg /cm².
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lopes de Sousa
- Laboratory of Limnology, Department of Ecology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 321, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Déborah Yara Alves Cursino Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Department of Botany, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 321, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fungyi Chow
- Laboratory of Marine Algae "Édison José de Paula", Department of Botany, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 321, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Luiz Martins Pompêo
- Laboratory of Limnology, Department of Ecology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 321, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Stauber J, Golding L, Peters A, Merrington G, Adams M, Binet M, Batley G, Gissi F, McKnight K, Garman E, Middleton E, Gadd J, Schlekat C. Application of Bioavailability Models to Derive Chronic Guideline Values for Nickel in Freshwaters of Australia and New Zealand. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:100-112. [PMID: 32997805 PMCID: PMC7839744 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
There has been an increased emphasis on incorporating bioavailability-based approaches into freshwater guideline value derivations for metals in the Australian and New Zealand water quality guidelines. Four bioavailability models were compared: the existing European biotic ligand model (European Union BLM) and a softwater BLM, together with 2 newly developed multiple linear regressions (MLRs)-a trophic level-specific MLR and a pooled MLR. Each of the 4 models was used to normalize a nickel ecotoxicity dataset (combined tropical and temperate data) to an index condition of pH 7.5, 6 mg Ca/L, 4 mg Mg/L, (i.e., approximately 30 mg CaCO3 /L hardness), and 0.5 mg DOC/L. The trophic level-specific MLR outperformed the other 3 models, with 79% of the predicted 10% effect concentration (EC10) values within a factor of 2 of the observed EC10 values. All 4 models gave similar normalized species sensitivity distributions and similar estimates of protective concentrations (PCs). Based on the index condition water chemistry proposed as the basis of the national guideline value, a protective concentration for 95% of species (PC95) of 3 µg Ni/L was derived. This guideline value can be adjusted up and down to account for site-specific water chemistries. Predictions of PC95 values for 20 different typical water chemistries for Australia and New Zealand varied by >40-fold, which confirmed that correction for nickel bioavailability is critical for the derivation of site-specific guideline values. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:100-112. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Stauber
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Lisa Golding
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Adam Peters
- WCA Environment, Faringdon, OxfordshireUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Merrin Adams
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Monique Binet
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Graeme Batley
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Francesca Gissi
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans and Atmosphere, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Kitty McKnight
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South WalesAustralia
| | | | | | - Jennifer Gadd
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchAucklandNew Zealand
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Crémazy A, Brix KV, Smith DS, Chen W, Grosell M, Schlekat CE, Garman ER, Middleton ET, Wood CM. A Mystery Tale: Nickel Is Fickle When Snails Fail-Investigating the Variability in Ni Toxicity to the Great Pond Snail. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2020; 16:983-997. [PMID: 32543042 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved Ni concentrations inhibiting the growth of juvenile great pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) have been documented to vary from about 1 to 200 µg L-1 Ni. This variability makes L. stagnalis either a moderately sensitive or the most sensitive freshwater species to chronic Ni exposure tested to date. Given the role of sensitive species in environmental risk assessment frameworks, it is particularly important to understand this variability, i.e., to characterize the factors that modulate Ni toxicity and that may confound toxicity test outcomes when uncontrolled. In the present study, we tested if this variability was due to analytical (growth calculation: biomass versus growth rate), environmental (water quality), lab-specific practices, and/or snail population differences among earlier studies. Specifically, we reanalyzed previously published Ni toxicity data and conducted additional measurements of Ni aqueous speciation, short-term Ni uptake, and chronic Ni toxicity with test waters and snail cultures used in previous studies. Corrections for Ni bioavailability and growth calculations explained a large degree of variability in the published literature. However, a residual 16-fold difference remained puzzling between 2 studies: Niyogi et al. (2014) (low ECxs) and Crémazy et al. (2018) (high ECxs). Indeed, differences in metal bioavailability due to water chemistry, lab-specific practices, and snail population sensitivity could not explain the large variation in Ni toxicity in these 2 very similar studies. Other potentially important toxicity-modifying factors were not directly evaluated in the present work: test duration, diet, snail holding conditions, and snail age at onset of testing. The present analysis highlights the need for further studies to elucidate 1) the mechanisms of growth inhibition in Ni-exposed L. stagnalis and 2) the important abiotic and biotic factors affecting this biological response. Until these processes are understood, substantial uncertainties will remain about inclusion of this species in Ni environmental risk assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:983-997. © 2020 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Crémazy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Kevin V Brix
- EcoTox, Miami, Florida, USA
- University of Miami, RSMAS, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - D Scott Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Weibin Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Chris M Wood
- University of Miami, RSMAS, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nys C, Van Regenmortel T, De Schamphelaere K. The Effects of Nickel on the Structure and Functioning of a Freshwater Plankton Community Under High Dissolved Organic Carbon Conditions: A Microcosm Experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:1923-1939. [PMID: 31120596 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to test the protectiveness of the bioavailability-normalization procedure, with its associated hazardous concentrations for x% of the species (HCx), that is currently implemented to derive environmental threshold concentrations for nickel (Ni) in European environmental legislative frameworks. We exposed a natural plankton-dominated community to 3 constant Ni concentrations, that is, a control with no Ni added (background Ni of 1.2-4 µg/L) and the bioavailability-normalized HC5 and HC50 of 24 and 97 µg dissolved Ni/L, respectively, during a 56-d microcosm experiment under high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) conditions (DOC of 14 mg/L at test initiation). The effects of the bioavailability-normalized HC5 and HC50 values were evaluated at the levels of community structure (community composition and plankton group abundances), community functioning (measured as indirect physicochemical proxies for overnight respiration and carbon fluxes), and individual species abundances. The bioavailability-normalized HC50 treatment had clear effects (defined as effects occurring on at least 2 consecutive sampling days) on both the structure and functioning of the investigated aquatic community. Through its effect on community functioning (i.e., reduced pH and DOC), Ni also influenced its own bioavailability. Clear direct effects of Ni were observed for only 3 species (the Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. 1 and the rotifers Asplanchna/Testidunela sp. and Trichocerca group similis). Most other effects occurring in the plankton community in the HC50 treatment were indirect and likely driven by the direct effect of Ni on the Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. 1, which was the dominant phytoplankton species in the control microcosms. In contrast, the bioavailability-normalized HC5 did not induce clear effects on community structure and functioning endpoints: these were only affected on individual sampling days. Clear (direct) effects were observed for only 2 plankton species (the rotifer Trichocerca group similis and the Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. 1), but their abundances recovered to control levels at the end of the study. In addition, a few species (1 phytoplankton and 3 zooplankton species) were affected in the HC5 treatment only on the last sampling day. It is uncertain whether these species would have shown clear effects over a longer exposure duration. Thus, our study shows that the bioavailability-normalized HC5 of Ni at high DOC induced clear effects on a few individual species. However, the overall conclusion is that the bioavailability-normalized HC5 of Ni as derived through the procedure that is currently implemented in European legislative frameworks protects against clear effects on community structure and function. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1923-1939. © 2019 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Nys
- GhenToxLab, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- ARCHE Consulting, Ghent (Wondelgem), Belgium
| | - Tina Van Regenmortel
- GhenToxLab, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karel De Schamphelaere
- GhenToxLab, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Burton GA, Hudson ML, Huntsman P, Carbonaro RF, Rader KJ, Waeterschoot H, Baken S, Garman E. Weight-of-Evidence Approach for Assessing Removal of Metals from the Water Column for Chronic Environmental Hazard Classification. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:1839-1849. [PMID: 31099932 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations and the European Union have developed guidelines for the assessment of long-term (chronic) chemical environmental hazards. This approach recognizes that these hazards are often related to spillage of chemicals into freshwater environments. The goal of the present study was to examine the concept of metal ion removal from the water column in the context of hazard assessment and classification. We propose a weight-of-evidence approach that assesses several aspects of metals including the intrinsic properties of metals, the rate at which metals bind to particles in the water column and settle, the transformation of metals to nonavailable and nontoxic forms, and the potential for remobilization of metals from sediment. We developed a test method to quantify metal removal in aqueous systems: the extended transformation/dissolution protocol (T/DP-E). The method is based on that of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The key element of the protocol extension is the addition of substrate particles (as found in nature), allowing the removal processes to occur. The present study focused on extending this test to support the assessment of metal removal from aqueous systems, equivalent to the concept of "degradability" for organic chemicals. Although the technical aspects of our proposed method are different from the OECD method for organics, its use for hazard classification is equivalent. Models were developed providing mechanistic insight into processes occurring during the T/DP-E method. Some metals, such as copper, rapidly decreased (within 96 h) under the 70% threshold criterion, whereas others, such as strontium, did not. A variety of method variables were evaluated and optimized to allow for a reproducible, realistic hazard classification method that mimics reasonable worst-case scenarios. We propose that this method be standardized for OECD hazard classification via round robin (ring) testing to ascertain its intra- and interlaboratory variability. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1839-1849. © 2019 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Allen Burton
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michelle L Hudson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Richard F Carbonaro
- Chemical Engineering Department, Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, USA
- Mutch Associates, Ramsey, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Stijn Baken
- European Copper Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) metal and Ni compounds are widely used in applications like stainless steel, alloys, and batteries. Nickel is a naturally occurring element in water, soil, air, and living organisms, and is essential to microorganisms and plants. Thus, human and environmental nickel exposures are ubiquitous. Production and use of nickel and its compounds can, however, result in additional exposures to humans and the environment. Notable human health toxicity effects identified from human and/or animal studies include respiratory cancer, non-cancer toxicity effects following inhalation, dermatitis, and reproductive effects. These effects have thresholds, with indirect genotoxic and epigenetic events underlying the threshold mode of action for nickel carcinogenicity. Differences in human toxicity potencies/potentials of different nickel chemical forms are correlated with the bioavailability of the Ni2+ ion at target sites. Likewise, Ni2+ has been demonstrated to be the toxic chemical species in the environment, and models have been developed that account for the influence of abiotic factors on the bioavailability and toxicity of Ni2+ in different habitats. Emerging issues regarding the toxicity of nickel nanoforms and metal mixtures are briefly discussed. This review is unique in its covering of both human and environmental nickel toxicity data.
Collapse
|
17
|
Van Regenmortel T, Van de Perre D, Janssen CR, De Schamphelaere KAC. The effects of a mixture of copper, nickel, and zinc on the structure and function of a freshwater planktonic community. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:2380-2400. [PMID: 29870110 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
It is generally assumed that as long as the majority of species experiences no direct adverse effects attributable to a single substance (i.e., potentially affected fraction [PAF] <5%), no significant structural or functional effects at the community level are expected to occur. Whether this assumption holds for mixed metal contamination is not known. In the present study, we tested this by performing a microcosm experiment in which a naturally occurring freshwater planktonic community was exposed to a copper-nickel-zinc (Cu-Ni-Zn) mixture for 8 wk and various structural and functional community-level traits were assessed. In the low mixture concentration treatments (i.e., Ni-Zn mixtures, because there was no difference in Cu concentrations in these treatments with the control), community-level effects were relatively simple, only involving phytoplankton species groups. In the high mixture concentration treatments (Cu-Ni-Zn mixtures), community-level effects were more complex, involving several phytoplankton and zooplankton species groups. Multisubstance PAF (msPAF) values for all mixture treatments were calculated by applying the concentration addition model to bioavailability-normalized single-metal species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). Consistent effects on the structural traits community composition, abundance of zooplankton species groups, species diversity, and species richness and on the functional trait dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (as a proxy for the microbial loop and pelagic food web interactions) were only observed at msPAF values >0.05 (i.e., in the Cu-Ni-Zn mixture). However, consistent effects on the abundance of various phytoplankton species groups (structural traits) and on 2 measures of community respiration, overnight Δ dissolved oxygen (ΔDO) and ΔpH (functional traits), were already observed at msPAF values of ≤0.05 (i.e., in the Ni-Zn mixture). This indicates that the threshold msPAF value of 0.05 was not protective against metal mixture exposure for all community-level structural and functional endpoints in the present study. A possible explanation for this result is the mismatch between the species in the SSD and those in our microcosm community. Indeed, our data suggest that the presence of one single dominant and very Zn- and/or Ni-sensitive species in the investigated community (i.e., a cyanobacteria of the genus Oscillatoria), which is not represented in the SSD of these metals, was probably the driver of all observed effects at or below an msPAF of 0.05. Overall, the present results show that SSDs are not necessarily a good predictor of community-level effects for all types of communities and that the presence of dominant sensitive species may result in significant, consistent effects on certain structural and functional community-level endpoints at msPAF values ≤0.05, which is generally considered protective in many regulatory frameworks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2380-2400. © 2018 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Van Regenmortel
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dimitri Van de Perre
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Colin R Janssen
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rudén C, Adams J, Ågerstrand M, Brock TC, Poulsen V, Schlekat CE, Wheeler JR, Henry TR. Assessing the relevance of ecotoxicological studies for regulatory decision making. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2017; 13:652-663. [PMID: 27599457 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory policies in many parts of the world recognize either the utility of or the mandate that all available studies be considered in environmental or ecological hazard and risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals, including studies from the peer-reviewed literature. Consequently, a vast array of different studies and data types need to be considered. The first steps in the evaluation process involve determining whether the study is relevant to the ERA and sufficiently reliable. Relevance evaluation is typically performed using existing guidance but involves application of "expert judgment" by risk assessors. In the present paper, we review published guidance for relevance evaluation and, on the basis of the practical experience within the group of authors, we identify additional aspects and further develop already proposed aspects that should be considered when conducting a relevance assessment for ecotoxicological studies. From a regulatory point of view, the overarching key aspect of relevance concerns the ability to directly or indirectly use the study in ERA with the purpose of addressing specific protection goals and ultimately regulatory decision making. Because ERA schemes are based on the appropriate linking of exposure and effect estimates, important features of ecotoxicological studies relate to exposure relevance and biological relevance. Exposure relevance addresses the representativeness of the test substance, environmental exposure media, and exposure regime. Biological relevance deals with the environmental significance of the test organism and the endpoints selected, the ecological realism of the test conditions simulated in the study, as well as a mechanistic link of treatment-related effects for endpoints to the protection goal identified in the ERA. In addition, uncertainties associated with relevance should be considered in the assessment. A systematic and transparent assessment of relevance is needed for regulatory decision making. The relevance aspects also need to be considered by scientists when designing, performing, and reporting ecotoxicological studies to facilitate their use in ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:652-663. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Rudén
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Adams
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marlene Ågerstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Tala R Henry
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Baert JM, De Laender F, Janssen CR. The Consequences of Nonrandomness in Species-Sensitivity in Relation to Functional Traits for Ecosystem-Level Effects of Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:7228-7235. [PMID: 28489350 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Estimating ecosystem-level effects from single-species bioassays is a major challenge in environmental risk assessment. Most extrapolation procedures are based on the implicit assumption that species sensitivities are random with regard to their functional traits. Here, we explore how nonrandomness in species sensitivities affects how species-level and ecosystem level effects of chemical exposure correspond. The effect of a correlation between the trait value under control conditions and the sensitivity of the trait to chemical stress is studied for two traits (per capita growth rate and monoculture yield) under constant and temporary exposure. Theoretical model predictions are thereby validated against a 3-week microcosm experiment, in which eight marine diatoms systems with different correlations between trait values and sensitivities were temporary (1 week) or constantly (3 weeks) exposed to two concentrations of the herbicide atrazine (100 and 250 μg L-1). Negative correlations increased the reduction in ecosystem functioning (productivity) by atrazine for both traits. However, correlations in the per capita growth rate affected productivity only shortly following changes in environmental conditions, whereas correlations in the monoculture yield affected productivity throughout exposure. Correlations between species sensitivities and functional trait values can thus help to identify when ecosystem-level effects are likely to exceed species-level effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Baert
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Applied Ecology, Ghent University , Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Namur , Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Namur , Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Colin R Janssen
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Applied Ecology, Ghent University , Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Van de Perre D, Roessink I, Janssen CR, Smolders E, Van Regenmortel T, Van Wichelen J, Vyverman W, Van den Brink PJ, De Schamphelaere KAC. The effects of zinc on the structure and functioning of a freshwater community: A microcosm experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:2698-2712. [PMID: 27018170 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A major problem with risk assessment of chemicals is the extrapolation of laboratory single-species toxicity tests, which oversimplify the actual field situation by ignoring species interactions, to natural communities. The authors tested if the bioavailability-normalized 5% hazardous concentration (HC5) estimated from chronic planktonic single-species toxicity data (HC5plankton ) for zinc (Zn) is protective for a plankton community and investigated the direct and indirect effects of Zn (at HC5 and HC50) on a freshwater community's structure and function. Microcosms were exposed to 3 different Zn concentrations (background, HC5plankton = 75 μg Zn/L and HC50plankton = 300 μg Zn/L) for 5 wk. The planktonic groups revealed a consistent no-observed-effect concentration for the community of 75 μg Zn/L, similar to or higher than the HC5plankton , thus suggesting its protectiveness in the present study. At 300 μg Zn/L a significant reduction in cladocerans resulted in increases of rotifer, ciliate, and phytoplankton abundance. In addition, the phytoplankton community shifted in dominance from grazing-resistant to edible species. Contrary to the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) prediction, which identified phytoplankton as the most sensitive group, only the total chlorophyll and the abundance of 2 phytoplankton species were adversely affected at 300 μg Zn/L. Thus, although the HC5 estimated from the bioavailability-normalized SSD was overall protective for the plankton community, the SSD was not able to correctly predict the species sensitivity ranking within their community context at the HC50. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2698-2712. © 2016 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Van de Perre
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
| | - Ivo Roessink
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Colin R Janssen
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Erik Smolders
- Division of Soil and Water Management, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Tina Van Regenmortel
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Van Wichelen
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Peters A, Schlekat CE, Merrington G. Does the scientific underpinning of regulatory tools to estimate bioavailability of nickel in freshwaters matter? The European-wide environmental quality standard for nickel. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:2397-2404. [PMID: 27253879 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A bioavailability-based environmental quality standard (EQS) was established for nickel in freshwaters under the European Union's Water Framework Directive. Bioavailability correction based on pH, water hardness, and dissolved organic carbon is a demonstrable improvement on existing hardness-based quality standards, which may be underprotective in high-hardness waters. The present study compares several simplified bioavailability tools developed to implement the Ni EQS (biomet, M-BAT, and PNECPro) against the full bioavailability normalization procedure on which the EQS was based. Generally, all tools correctly distinguished sensitive waters from insensitive waters, although with varying degrees of accuracy compared with full normalization. Biomet and M-BAT predictions were consistent with, but less accurate than, full bioavailability normalization results, whereas PNECpro results were generally more conservative. The comparisons revealed important differences in tools in development, which results in differences in the predictions. Importantly, the models used for the development of PNECpro use a different ecotoxicity dataset, and a different bioavailability normalization approach using fewer biotic ligand models (BLMs) than that used for the derivation of the Ni EQS. The failure to include all of the available toxicity data, and all of the appropriate NiBLMs, has led to some significant differences between the predictions provided by PNECpro and those calculated using the process agreed to in Europe under the Water Framework Directive and other chemicals management programs (such as REACH). These considerable differences mean that PNECpro does not reflect the behavior, fate, and ecotoxicity of nickel, and raises concerns about its applicability for checking compliance against the Ni EQS. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2397-2404. © 2016 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Peters
- wca environment, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Merrington G, Peters A, Schlekat CE. Accounting for metal bioavailability in assessing water quality: A step change? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:257-265. [PMID: 26808908 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bioavailability of metals to aquatic organisms can be considered to be a combination of the physicochemical factors governing metal behavior and the specific pathophysiological characteristics of the organism's biological receptor. Effectively this means that a measure of bioavailability will reflect the exposures that organisms in the water column actually "experience". This is important because it has long been established that measures of total metal in waters have limited relevance to potential environmental risk. The concept of accounting for bioavailability in regard to deriving and implementing environmental water quality standards is not new, but the regulatory reality has lagged behind the development of scientific evidence supporting the concept. Practical and technical reasons help to explain this situation. For example, concerns remain from regulators and the regulated that the efforts required to change existing systems of metal environmental protection that have been in place for over 35 yr are so great as not to be commensurate with likely benefits. However, more regulatory jurisdictions are now considering accounting for metal bioavailability in assessments of water quality as a means to support evidence-based decision-making. In the past decade, both the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission have established bioavailability-based standards for metals, including Cu and Ni. These actions have shifted the debate toward identifying harmonized approaches for determining when knowledge is adequate to establish bioavailability-based approaches and how to implement them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Peters
- WCA Environment Ltd., Brunel House, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Christian E Schlekat
- Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|