Life stage and endpoint sensitivity differences of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) to chemicals with various modes of action

Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) test was proposed as an alternative to the traditional test methods using larval or adult fish. However, whether fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) embryo is appropriate for FET remains uncertain. In the present study, ecological threshold of toxicological concern (ecoTTC) values and uncertainty factors (UFs) for each Verhaar et al. category in P. promelas were identified by employing probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) approach with chemical toxicity distributions (CTDs). The sensitivity among different life stages and toxicity among different mode of actions (MOAs) classes were comprehensively compared by CTD comparisons. The results showed that embryo exhibited the less or similar sensitivity compared to larva or adult for Verhaar et al. MOA classes (1-4) while adults were more sensitive, followed by embryo than larval for non-classified chemicals. Considering growth effect as endpoint to class 1, class 3, and non-classified chemicals on P. promelas embryo and larva was more sensitive than mortality. Non-classified chemicals especially inorganic compounds were most toxic to P. promelas embryo for the four concerned Verharr et al. MOA-specific chemical classes. This study also derived uncertainty factors (UFs) as 26.5 (9.8, 109) for embryo-to-larva, 6.26 (3.94, 11.0) for embryo-to-adult, 15.6 (10.1, 36.1) for mortality-to-growth, and 3.03 (1.86, 7.08) for mortality-to-reproduction, which can be applied for extrapolations of life stage-to-life stage and effect-to-effect to reduce the underestimating and overestimating risk by the use of default UF such as 10, 100 or 1000. Our findings are vital for feasibility of FET test of P. promelas for ecotoxicity testing and ecological risk assessment for chemicals with different MOAs.

Effects of crude oil and aromatic compounds on growth and bioluminescence of Vibrio campbellii FS5

Fifteen native luminescent bacteria were isolated from the Gulf of Thailand, and their sensitivity for the detection of toxicity of crude oil and its aromatic components was investigated. Of these isolates, Vibrio campbellii strain FS5 was one of the two most highly inhibited bacteria at all crude oil concentrations. This bacterium showed a decrease in luminescence intensity of between 10.7 and 80.2% after a 15-min exposure to 0.0001-10 mg/L of crude oil. The degree of bioluminescence inhibition increased with increasing concentrations of crude oil. The presence of crude oil at all concentrations had negative effects on the log bioluminescence per log number of viable cells after 15- to 105-min exposure. About 10 to 100 times, lower half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values were observed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than those for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). In the presence of each individual BTEX and PAH, the bioluminescence inhibition increased with increasing exposure time (1-32 h). This indigenous bacterium can be used as a simple and general indicator of oil contamination and its impact on coastal waters as well as for assessing potential toxicity during oil bioremediation.

Improved Aliivibrio fischeri based-toxicity assay: Graphene-oxide as a sensitivity booster with a mobile-phone application

Recently, many bioluminescence-based applications have arisen in several fields, such as biosensing, bioimaging, molecular biology, and human health diagnosis. Among all bioluminescent organisms, Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri) is a bioluminescent bacterium used to carry out water toxicity assays since the late 1970s. Since then, several commercial A. fischeri-based products have been launched to the market, as these bacteria are considered as a gold standard for water toxicity assessment worldwide. However, the aforementioned commercial products rely on expensive equipment, requiring several reagents and working steps, as well as high-trained personnel to perform the assays and analyze the output data. For these reasons, in this work, we have developed for the first time a mobile-phone-based sensing platform for water toxicity assessment in just 5 min using two widespread pesticides as model analytes. To accomplish this, we have established new methodologies to enhance the bioluminescent signal of A. fischeri based on the bacterial culture in a solid media and/or using graphene oxide. Finally, we have addressed the biocompatibility of graphene oxide to A. fischeri, boosting the sensitivity of the toxicity assays and the bacterial growth of the lyophilized bacterial cultures for more user-friendly storage.

In Vitro Toxicity Testing Using Marine Luminescent Bacteria (Photobacterium phosphoreum): the Biotox™ test

Marine luminescent bacteria emit light naturally when they are in an optimal environment. If harmful substances are present, their bioluminescence decreases, and the amount of light loss is proportional to the toxicity. In this paper, a new short-term toxicity test system, Biotox™, based on freeze-dried Photobacterium phosphoreum, is assessed. Concentration-effect curves for 25 laboratory chemicals were measured, and EC50 values (the concentrations of chemical, μg/ml, which reduce the light output of bacteria by 50% after being in contact with bacteria over a certain time period) were calculated. The sensitivity of the Biotox™ test to hydrophilic compounds was approximately two times greater than the sensitivity of the Microtox™ test. However, the sensitivity of the Biotox™ test to hydrophobic compounds was shown to be 2–4 times lower than the sensitivity of the Microtox™ test. The Biotox™ test was especially sensitive to As5+, giving an EC50 value of 0.04μg/ml, compared with 1.5μg/ml in the Microtox™ assay.

Application of the Ames Genotoxicity Assay and the Bioluminescent Toxicity Assay in the Testing of Urine Samples

Urine samples from ski factory, shoe factory and kindergarten workers were analysed using the Ames genotoxicity assay and Biotox™ toxicity test (BioOrbit, Turku, Finland), to screen the occupational exposure of these people to mutagenic and toxic chemicals. Different strains of Salmonella typhimurium were used for the screening of different groups. The assay was performed without S9 mix, i.e. directly acting mutagens were tested. The ski factory workers were grouped according to their specific tasks (compressors and polishers). The urinary mutagenicity of compressors analysed using Salmonella strain TA98 was significantly higher than the urinary mutagenicity of polishers (p < 0.05, Student's t test). In the case of Salmonella strains YG1021 and YG1024, the urinary mutagenicity of shoe factory workers was significantly lower than the urinary mutagenicity of the control group, i.e. the occupational exposure either had no effect or it could not be detected under the experimental conditions used. The Ames mutagenicity test, and the Biotox™ toxicity test, yielded analogous patterns in the case of all groups of people analysed: the higher average mutagenicity was always accompanied by higher average toxicity.

Aquatic Toxicology in Vitro: A Brief Review

There is an urgent need for effective in vitro tests in aquatic toxicology, because only a very small proportion of the chemicals in common use have been adequately tested for their toxicity to aquatic organisms and aquatic ecosystems. Toxicity tests with higher animals, besides being time-consuming and expensive, are ethically questionable, which further increases the importance of developing efficient in vitro toxicity tests. In developing in vitro tests for toxicity assessments, aquatic toxicology lags behind mammalian toxicology. Aqueous environmental chemistry is complex, and the sensitivity of the organisms living in a particular aquatic environment may vary considerably. The predictive value of single-species or cell culture tests is therefore generally considered to be low. Nevertheless, single-species tests, utilising bacteria, algae, protozoans and invertebrates, have frequently been used in in vitro toxicity studies of aquatic pollutants (mainly as screening tests). Attempts at large-scale validations are few. Such attempts seem to be hampered by the complexity of the aquatic ecosystem. Although cells from aquatic organisms have been isolated and cultured for many years, the use of isolated or cultured cells in aquatic toxicology has been limited. However, during the last few years, interest in the use of fish cells in toxicity testing has grown rapidly. For aquatic in vitro toxicology to develop further, a more comparative and mechanistic approach needs to be adopted.

Similarities in the Mechanisms of Antibacterial Activity (Microtox™ Assay) and Toxicity to Vertebrates

The structural determinants associated with inhibition of bacterial growth (Microtox assay), as well as those associated with other toxicological activities, were identified using the CASE/Multi-CASE structure-activity relational system. CASE/Multi-CASE also possesses the ability to compare structural determinants associated with different biological phenomena. The extent of the homology between structural determinants can be used to evaluate common mechanisms of action. Using this approach, significant commonalities between structural determinants associated with the Microtox assay and those associated with toxicity to mammals and fish were found, suggesting that there may be a mechanistic relationship between these toxicological activities. The findings indicate that, within these structural similarities, the Microtox assay can be used as an indicator of potential toxicity to mammals and fish.

Cytotoxicity Assays with Fish Cells as an Alternative to the Acute Lethality Test with Fish

In ecotoxicology, in vitro assays with fish cells are currently applied for mechanistic studies, bioanalytical purposes and toxicity screening. This paper discusses the potential of cytotoxicity assays with fish cells to reduce, refine or replace acute lethality tests using fish. Basal cytotoxicity data obtained with fish cell lines or fish primary cell cultures show a reasonable to good correlation with lethality data from acute toxicity tests, with the exception of compounds that exert a specific mode of toxic action. Basal cytotoxicity data from fish cell lines also correlate well with cytotoxicity data from mammalian cell lines. However, both the piscine and mammalian in vitro assays are clearly less sensitive than the fish test. Therefore, in vivo LC50 values (concentrations of the test compounds that are lethal to 50% of the fish in the experiment within 96 hours) currently cannot be predicted from in vitro values. This in vitro-in vivo difference in sensitivity appears to be true for both fish cell lines and mammalian cell lines. Given the good in vitro-in vivo correlation in toxicity ranking, together with the clear-cut difference in sensitivity, the role of cytotoxicity assays in a tiered alternative testing strategy could be in priority setting in relation to toxic hazard and in the toxicity classification of chemicals and environmental samples.

Acute stress response of fathead minnows caged downstream of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Bow River, Calgary

We examined whether exposure to municipal wastewater effluent (MWWE) compromised the stress performance of laboratory-reared fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) in a field setting. Adult minnows were caged at two sites upstream and three sites downstream of wastewater treatments plants (WWTPs) discharging MWWE into the Bow River, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At each site one group of fish was sampled after a 26 day exposure to MWWE, while another group was subjected to 1-min air exposure followed by 60-min confinement and then sampled. Fish morphometrics and proximate composition were measured, and whole-body cortisol, glucose and lactate levels assessed as markers of the stress response. The whole-body protein, glycogen and lipid content were higher at the site closest to a WWTP outfall relative to the other downstream and upstream sites. There were no significant differences in whole-body cortisol levels in minnows sampled at sites either upstream or downstream of WWTPs. Acute stressor exposure significantly elevated whole-body cortisol levels in all groups, and this response was not modified by the location of the sampling sites. The whole-body metabolite profile, including glucose and lactate levels, were significantly higher in fish caged immediately downstream from WWTP inputs relative to upstream sites. There was an acute-stressor-mediated increase in whole-body lactate, but not glucose, levels and this response was independent of sampling site. The results reveal that the capacity to evoke an acute stress response was not compromised in fathead minnows caged for 26 days downstream of WWTPs in the Bow River. However, there were changes in the whole-body proximate composition and metabolite levels immediately downstream from the WWTP outfall suggesting greater accumulation of energy stores in these fish. Taken together, our results suggest that environmental factors in addition to contaminants, including higher water temperature and nutrient availability, influence the impact of MWWEs on fish stress performance.

Heavy metals detection using biosensor cells of a novel marine luminescent bacterium Vibrio sp. MM1 isolated from the Caspian Sea

Monitoring and assessing toxic materials which are being released into the environment along with wastewater is a growing concern in many industries. The current research describes a highly sensitive and rapid method for the detection of toxic concentrations of heavy metals in aquatic environments. Water samples were collected from southern coasts of the Caspian Sea followed by screening of luminescent bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis, including gene sequence of 16S rRNA, and biochemical tests were performed for identification of the isolate. Luminescence activity was tested and measured after treatment of the isolate with different concentrations of heavy metals and reported as EC₅₀ value for each metal. A luminous, gram negative bacterium with the shape of a curved rod was isolated from the Caspian Sea. Biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolate MM1 had more than 99% similarity to Vibrio campbellii. The novel isolate is able to emit high levels of light. Bioluminescence inhibitory assay showed that the Vibrio sp. MM1 had the highest sensitivity to zinc and the lowest sensitivity to cadmium; EC₅₀ values were 0.97mgl^-1 and 14.54mgl^-1, respectively. The current research shows that even low concentrations of heavy metals can cause a detectable decline in luminescence activity of the novel bacterium Vibrio sp. MM1; hence, it makes a good choice for commercial kits for the purpose of monitoring toxic materials.

Multi-Shell Nano-CarboScavengers for Petroleum Spill Remediation

Increasingly frequent petroleum contamination in water bodies continues to threaten our ecosystem, which lacks efficient and safe remediation tactics both on macro and nanoscales. Current nanomaterial and dispersant remediation methods neglect to investigate their adverse environmental and biological impact, which can lead to a synergistic chemical imbalance. In response to this rising threat, a highly efficient, environmentally friendly and biocompatible nano-dispersant has been developed comprising a multi-shelled nanoparticle termed 'Nano-CarboScavengers' (NCS) with native properties for facile recovery via booms and mesh tools. NCS treated different forms of petroleum oil (raw and distillate form) with considerable efficiency (80% and 91%, respectively) utilizing sequestration and dispersion abilities in tandem with a ~10:1 (oil: NCS; w/w) loading capacity. In extreme contrast with chemical dispersants, the NCS was found to be remarkably benign in in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, the carbonaceous nature of NCS broke down by human myeloperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase enzymes, revealing that incidental biological uptake can enzymatically digest the sugar based core.

Treatment of sugarcane vinasse by combination of coagulation/flocculation and Fenton's oxidation

The efficiency of individual and integrated processes applied to organic matter reduction and biodegradability improvement of a biodigested sugarcane vinasse wastewater was assessed. Strategies considered were Fenton's oxidation (Strategy 1), coagulation/flocculation (Strategy 2) and the combination of both processes (coagulation/flocculation followed by Fenton's reaction) - Strategy 3. It was found that Fenton's oxidation per se allowed reducing the organic matter, increasing the wastewater biodegradability and a non-toxic effluent was generated; however the cost of treatment was very high (86.6 R$/m(3) - 21.2 €/m(3)). Under optimized conditions, coagulation/flocculation provided a slight increase in effluent's biodegradability, toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri was also eliminated and moderate removals of total organic carbon - TOC - (30.5%), biological oxygen demand - BOD5 - (27.9%) and chemical oxygen demand - COD - (43.6%) were achieved; however, the operating costs are much smaller. The use of dissolved iron resulting from coagulation/flocculation (270 mg/L) as catalyst in the second stage - Fenton's oxidation - was shown to be an innovative and economically attractive strategy. Under optimal conditions overall removals of 51.6% for TOC, 45.7% for BOD5 and 69.2% for COD were achieved, and a biodegradable (BOD5:COD ratio = 0.54) and non-toxic effluent was obtained. In order to increase the efficiency of the process but using less hydrogen peroxide, the Fenton's oxidation was performed by gradually adding the oxidant. This procedure allowed to obtain the highest organic matter removal efficiency (as compared with the addition of all hydrogen peroxide at the beginning of the reaction). This way it was possible to minimize the reagent consumption and, consequently, reduce the treatment cost.

Toxicity assessment using different bioassays and microbial biosensors

Toxicity assessment of water streams, wastewater, and contaminated sediments, is a very important part of environmental pollution monitoring. Evaluation of biological effects using a rapid, sensitive and cost effective method can indicate specific information on ecotoxicity assessment. Recently, different biological assays for toxicity assessment based on higher and lower organisms such as fish, invertebrates, plants and algal cells, and microbial bioassays have been used. This review focuses on microbial biosensors as an analytical device for environmental, food, and biomedical applications. Different techniques which are commonly used in microbial biosensing include amperometry, potentiometry, conductometry, voltammetry, microbial fuel cells, fluorescence, bioluminescence, and colorimetry. Examples of the use of different microbial biosensors in assessing a variety of environments are summarized.

Multiple linear and principal component regressions for modelling ecotoxicity bioassay response

The ecotoxicological response of the living organisms in an aquatic system depends on the physical, chemical and bacteriological variables, as well as the interactions between them. An important challenge to scientists is to understand the interaction and behaviour of factors involved in a multidimensional process such as the ecotoxicological response. With this aim, multiple linear regression (MLR) and principal component regression were applied to the ecotoxicity bioassay response of Chlorella vulgaris and Vibrio fischeri in water collected at seven sites of Leça river during five monitoring campaigns (February, May, June, August and September of 2006). The river water characterization included the analysis of 22 physicochemical and 3 microbiological parameters. The model that best fitted the data was MLR, which shows: (i) a negative correlation with dissolved organic carbon, zinc and manganese, and a positive one with turbidity and arsenic, regarding C. vulgaris toxic response; (ii) a negative correlation with conductivity and turbidity and a positive one with phosphorus, hardness, iron, mercury, arsenic and faecal coliforms, concerning V. fischeri toxic response. This integrated assessment may allow the evaluation of the effect of future pollution abatement measures over the water quality of Leça River.

Comparison of test methods to screen for residual chemical contamination on medical device surfaces

Reprocessing medical devices involves several steps including cleaning and disinfection or sterilization. Chemical residuals can occur at various stages of reprocessing. These residues could interfere with device function and potentially harm patients. These solutions are composed of a combination of various chemicals and their residues are highly diluted post rinsing, therefore, it is difficult to find a sensitive and rapid method to detect toxicity due to chemical residues. This study focused on (1) finding the levels of residues that are cytotoxic using two mammalian cell lines and Daphnia magna, and (2) evaluating two test methods, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Luminescent Bacteria Test (LBT), to measure residual chemicals levels. The two mammalian cell lines were equal in their cytotoxicity responses. However, Daphnia were more sensitive to some chemical residue than the two mammalian cell lines. TOC and LBT were able to detect the presence of residue well below the levels that were determined to cause mammalian cytotoxicity. LBT was more sensitive for some chemicals and TOC for others, both in solution and in simulated cleaning and rinsing for the limited number of solutions tested in this study.

Rapid screening of aquatic toxicity of several metal-based nanoparticles using the MetPLATE™ bioassay

Current understanding of potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to aquatic microorganisms is limited for risk assessment and management. Here we evaluate if the MetPLATE™ test can be used as an effective and rapid screening tool to test for potential aquatic toxicity of various metal-based nanoparticles (NPs). The MetPLATE bioassay is a heavy metal sensitive test based on β-galactosidase activity in Escherichia coli. Five different types of metal-based NPs were screened for toxicity: (1) citrate coated nAg (Citrate-nanosilver), (2) polyvinylpyrrolidone coated nAg (PVP-nAg), (3) uncoated nZnO, (4) uncoated nTiO(2) and (5) 1-Octadecylamine coated CdSe Quantum Dots (CdSe QDs); and compared with their corresponding ionic salt toxicity. Citrate-nAg was further fractionated into clean Citrate-nAg, unclean Citrate-nAg and permeate using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system to eliminate residual ions and impurities from the stock Citrate-nAg suspension and also to differentiate between ionic- versus nano-specific toxicity. Our results showed that nAg, nZnO and CdSe QDs were less toxic than their corresponding ionic salts tested, while nano- or ionic form of TiO(2) was not toxic as high as 2.5 g L(-1) to the MetPLATE™ bacteria. Although coating-dependent toxicity was noticeable between two types of Ag NPs evaluated, particle size and surface charge were not adequate to explain the observed toxicity; hence, the toxicity appeared to be material-specific. Overall, the toxicity followed the trend: CdCl(2)>AgNO(3)>PVP-nAg>unclean Citrate-nAg>clean Citrate-nAg>ZnSO(4)>nZnO>CdSe QDs>nTiO(2)/TiO(2). These results indicate that an evaluation of β-galactosidase inhibition in MetPLATE™ E. coli can be an important consideration for rapid screening of metal-based NP toxicity, and should facilitate ecological risk assessment of these emerging contaminants.

Implementation of a minimal set of biological tests to assess the ecotoxic effects of effluents from land-based marine fish farms

Environmental monitoring plans (EMP) that include chemical analysis of water, a battery of bioassays and the study of local hydrodynamic conditions are required for land-based marine aquaculture. In this study, the following standardized toxicity tests were performed to assess the toxicity of effluents from eight land-base marine fish farms (LBMFFs) located on the northwest coast of Spain: bacterial bioluminescence (with Vibrio fischeri at 15 and 30 min), microalgal growth (with Phaeodactyllum tricornutum and Isochrysis galbana) and sea urchin larval development (with Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula). These bioassays were evaluated for inclusion in routine fish farm monitoring. Effective concentrations (EC(5), EC(10), EC(20), EC(50)) for each bioassay were calculated from dose-response curves, obtained by fitting the bioassay results to the best parametric model. Moreover, a graphical method of integrating the results from the battery of bioassays and classifying the toxicity was proposed, and the potential ecotoxic effects probe (PEEP) index was calculated. The bacterial bioluminiscence test at 30min, growth of I. galbana and larval development of A. lixula were found to be the most sensitive and useful tests. Graphical integration of these test results enabled definition of the ecotoxicological profiles of the different farms. The PEEP index, considering EC(20), efficiently reflected the toxic loading potential of LBMFF effluents. In conclusion, a battery of bioassays with species from different low trophic levels is recommended as a rapid and cost-effective methodology for assessing LBMFF discharges. The graphical integration method and the PEEP index are proposed for consideration in EMPs for such farms.

Isolation of Photobacterium sp. LuB-1 and its application in rapid assays for chemical toxicants in water

AIMS

To isolate marine bacteria with strong bioluminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration, especially at low salt conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A luminous bacterium named LuB-1 was isolated from China. It was identified by biochemical analysis and phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and designated as Photobacterium sp. The isolate is capable of emitting strong and stable luminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration from 0.2 to 5% (w/v). For most toxic agents tested in this study, the response of LuB-1 was better than that of MicrotoxVibrio fischeri under both low salt (0.9% NaCl) and high salt (2.0% NaCl) conditions.

CONCLUSION

The strain LuB-1 had an obvious predominance of bioluminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration and better response for heavy metal pollutants and some organic toxicants in both low and high salt toxicity test systems.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Because of its good sensitivity in a wide range of salt concentration, the strain LuB-1 should have its unique advantage in rapid assay for toxicants in water with different salt concentrations.

Toxicology evaluation of Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plant effluent

The purpose of this study was to carry out an acute aquatic toxicity assessment on select effluent samples from Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plants. Raw effluent acute aquatic toxicity for the flatfish and salmon effluents was assessed using the acute lethality test and Microtox test. The effectiveness of dissolved air flotation treatment (DAF) in removing acute toxicity from these effluents was evaluated using the Microtox test. The salmon effluent failed the acute lethality test using rainbow trout while the flatfish effluent showed acute toxicity in the Microtox test with a 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) of 38.84%. Subsequent treatment by DAF of the flatfish and salmon effluents increased IC(50) values by 20% and 26% respectively. The findings of this study indicate that all of the processing effluents sampled showed characteristics that could potentially degrade effluent receiving waters and acute toxicity was demonstrated in the two raw finfish effluents. Application of DAF treatment was successful in significantly increasing Microtox IC(50) values, thereby reducing acute toxicity, but failed to entirely remove acute toxicity.

Toxicity of pulp and paper solid organic waste constituents to soil organisms

This study examined the potential biological hazard of pulp and paper waste solids. The solids examined were chosen on the basis of the range of wood-related organic extractives and were either primary solids screened from the effluent stream before secondary treatment, or biosolids from aerated stabilisation lagoons. Acute effects were tested at the level of plants, invertebrates and soil microbes using an oat germination and growth test, earthworm survival and reproduction test, an enchytraeid worm survival and reproduction test, and standard measures of microbial respiration. This was further benchmarked against a marine bacteria toxicity test using extract of the waste solids. Resin acids and resin acid neutrals made up the greatest proportion of organic extractives measured in biosolids whereas resin acids and fatty acids were the main constituents detected in primary solids. Examination of the tissue of earthworms from the tests revealed no net bioconcentration of the organic extractives. The waste solids were not acutely toxic to any of the soil organisms as tested without any dilution. Conversely, extracts of the waste solids demonstrated toxicity in the marine bacteria. In some cases, the solid waste material enhanced the growth of plants, earthworm reproduction and microbial respiration. The only adverse affect was that reproduction of enchytraeids was reduced by some of the waste solid treatments. However these effects did not appear to be associated with concentrations of resin acid neutrals and resin acids in these materials. Overall pulp and paper wastes were relatively benign in terms of toxicity to the soil organisms tested.

Oxygen flux as an indicator of physiological stress in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) embryos: a real-time biomonitoring system of water quality

The detection of harmful chemicals and biological agents in real time is a critical need for protecting freshwater ecosystems. We studied the real-time effects of five environmental contaminants with differing modes of action (atrazine, cadmium chloride, pentachlorophenol, malathion, and potassium cyanide) on respiratory oxygen consumption in 2-day postfertilization fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) eggs. Our objective was to assess the sensitivity of fathead minnow eggs using the self-referencing micro-optrode technique to detect instantaneous changes in oxygen consumption after brief exposures to low concentrations of contaminants. Oxygen consumption data indicated that the technique is indeed sensitive enough to reliably detect physiological alterations induced by four of the five contaminants. After 2 h of exposure, we identified significant increases in oxygen consumption upon exposure to pentachlorophenol (100 and 1000 microg/L), cadmium chloride (0.0002 and 0.002 microg/L), and atrazine (150 microg/L). In contrast, we observed a significant decrease in oxygen flux after exposuresto potassium cyanide (44 and 66 microg/L) and atrazine (1500 microg/L). No effects were detected after exposures to malathion (200 and 340 microg/L). Our work is the first step in development of a new technique for physiologically coupled biomonitoring as a sensitive and reliable tool for the detection of environmental toxicants.

Seasonal variation of sediment toxicity in the Rivers Dommel and Elbe

Contaminated sediment in the river basin has become a source of pollution with increasing importance to the aquatic ecosystem downstream. To monitor the temporal changes of the sediment bound contaminants in the River Elbe and the River Dommel monthly toxicity tests were applied to layered sediment and river water samples over the course of 10 months. There is an indication that contaminated sediments upstream adversely affected sediments downstream, but this process did not cause a continuous increase of sediment toxicity. A clear decrease of toxic effects in water and upper layer sediment was observed at the River Elbe station in spring related to high water discharge and algal blooms. The less obvious variation of sediment toxicity in the River Dommel could be explained by stable hydrological conditions. Future monitoring programmes should promote a more frequent and intensive sampling regime during these particular events for ecotoxicological evaluation.

Rapid and onsite BOD sensing system using luminous bacterial cells-immobilized chip

A BOD monitoring system based on a bio-chip which immobilized luminous bacterium in micrometer-order holes were arrayed and fabricated by micro-machine techniques, was developed. The acrylic chip (3 cmx3 cm) comprises nine micro-holes (diameter: 700 microm or 1 mm, depth: 100 microm) arranged in a three by three array. Cells of the marine luminous bacterium, Photobacterium phosphoreum IFO 13896, which was grown at 15 degrees C for 15 h, were immobilized with 3% or 15% sodium alginate gel. BOD standard solutions or actual sample solution (approximately 10 microl) was fallen onto the cell-arrayed chip, and then the chip was incubated at 25 degrees C for 25 min. After incubation, bioluminescence from the each hole was gray-scaled and measured by a chemi-imager or newly developed onsite-type-monitoring system using a digital camera and a mobile-type personal computer. BOD values less than 16 ppm could detect by the chip, in particular, linear relationship at the concentrations between 0 and 16 ppm could be observed when luminous cells were immobilized with 3% sodium alginate gel. Steady bioluminescence was observed on the chip in the presence of BOD standard solution (GGA solution) which contained mineral elements. Furthermore, simultaneous detection of BOD values in various samples could be employed in the single chip. These results showed that the monitoring system with bio-chip could achieve high-through-put and onsite BOD detection. Our newly developed onsite-type BOD detection system which was used a digital camera and a (mobile) laptop computer was applied to measure and detect organic pollution due to biodegradable substances in wastewater treatment system. The same performance as the chemi-imager system was obtained for data of bioluminescence. The obtained BOD values showed a similar correlation with that of the conventional method for BOD determination (BOD5). These results suggested for successful achievement of high-though-put and onsite detection of BOD in practical.

A novel continuous toxicity test system using a luminously modified freshwater bacterium

An automated continuous toxicity test system was developed using a recombinant bioluminescent freshwater bacterium. The groundwater-borne bacterium, Janthinobacterium lividum YH9-RC, was modified with luxAB and optimized for toxicity tests using different kinds of organic carbon compounds and heavy metals. luxAB-marked YH9-RC cells were much more sensitive (average 7.3-8.6 times) to chemicals used for toxicity detection than marine Vibrio fischeri cells used in the Microtox assay. Toxicity tests for wastewater samples using the YH9-RC-based toxicity assay showed that EC50-5 min values in an untreated raw wastewater sample (23.9 +/- 12.8%) were the lowest, while those in an effluent sample (76.7 +/- 14.9%) were the highest. Lyophilization conditions were optimized in 384-multiwell plates containing bioluminescent bacteria that were pre-incubated for 15 min in 0.16 M of trehalose prior to freeze-drying, increasing the recovery of bioluminescence and viability by 50%. Luminously modified cells exposed to continuous phenol or wastewater stream showed a rapid decrease in bioluminescence, which fell below detectable range within 1 min. An advanced toxicity test system, featuring automated real-time toxicity monitoring and alerting functions, was designed and finely tuned. This novel continuous toxicity test system can be used for real-time biomonitoring of water toxicity, and can potentially be used as a biological early warning system.

Effects of ultrahigh dilutions of 3,5-dichlorophenol on the luminescence of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri

There is a great need for research in the field of homeopathy for laboratory test systems to investigate the actions of ultrahighly diluted biological effectors. With this in mind, we used the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which is used throughout the world in testing water quality. Luminescence inhibition is utilized as a test parameter for the toxicity of a sample. We used ultrahigh dilutions (UHD) of 3,5-dichlorophenol as effector and adapted the standard test procedure for water toxicity in a way that let us evaluate very minute effects. Three groups of samples were prepared and then blinded: 45 dilutions of 3,5-dichlorophenol in steps of 10, starting with 4.2 x 10(-2) M, with vigorous shaking between dilution steps; 45 identical dilutions of 3,5-dichlorophenol without vigorous shaking; and 49 control samples of the diluent. The results of, and the discussion based on, a thorough statistical analysis led to the conclusion that an effect based on UHD, which results in an inhibition of luminescence of less than 1.5%, can be confirmed for some of the potency samples. There were both effective and ineffective samples in the three sample groups. The size of the effect was very small (ca. 1.5%), though statistically significant. The number of effective samples was significantly higher among the vigorously shaken samples than among the controls and the unshaken samples (14, 6 and 7 effective samples, respectively).

A comparison of ecotoxicological tests

A simple, inexpensive and rapid method of determining toxicity by using a bacterium as the indicator organism was developed and compared with 23 other tests. The average correlation coefficient when comparing these 23 tests with the present test was 0.800, ranging from 0.580 to 0.950. Eleven of the tests were compared in detail by using 35 of the chemicals on the Multicentre Evaluation of In Vitro Cytotoxicity list of test chemicals. Comparing results from the present test with test results for these 35 chemicals with Microtox, Biotox, Daphnia magna, rat hepatocytes and ascites tumour cell resulted in correlation coefficients ranging from 0.871 to 0.933. Comparisons of the test data with rodent LD50 values, human lethal dose estimates from autopsies and human lethal doses obtained from the literature provided correlation coefficients ranging from 0.580 to 0.770, indicating that the test compares less favourably with these methods. This test provides data comparable to data from other ecotoxicological tests.

A comparison of five rapid direct toxicity assessment methods to determine toxicity of pollutants to activated sludge

Five rapid direct toxicity assessment methods were used in three European partner countries to determine the toxicity of single toxicants, mixed toxicants and real industrial wastes. The final aim was to protect microbial degradation of organic wastes in biological treatment processes and hence enhance the quality of treated effluents to be discharged to the environment. Nitrification inhibition, Respirometry, Adenosine triphosphate luminescence and Enzyme inhibition were tested utilising activated sludge as the testing matrix. The Vibrio fischeri toxicity test was used as a surrogate to compare the various microbial bioassays. The IC50 (toxicant concentration eliciting a 50% inhibitory effect) was determined for a number of pollutants including single toxicants Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, 3,5-dichlorophenol, toluene and linear alkylbenzenesulphonate (LAS); a standard mixture of metals and LAS; a standard mixture of organics and LAS, and 16 industrial effluents. The V. fischeri bioassay was also chosen in order to assess quality control of toxicant preparation during testing in the different laboratories of the partner countries. Comparisons of sensitivity, cost of implementation, cost per test, relevance, and ease of use were made. The most sensitive bioassays were V. fischeri and Nitrification inhibition, however, this depended in the main on the pollutant and mixtures tested. It is recommended that during assessment of wastewater toxicity a suite of tests be used rather than reliance on one particular test.

A novel and sensitive test for rapid determination of water toxicity

The performance of a novel, rapid, and sensitive test for detecting chemical toxicants in water is described in this article. The bioassay utilizes a highly sensitive variant of the luminescent bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi that allows the detection in water at levels below milligrams per liter of diverse groups of toxicants, including heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fuel traces. For most toxic agents reported in this study, the new assay was markedly more sensitive than the Microtox(trade mark) Vibrio fischeri assay according to the bacterial bioluminescence toxicity data reported in the literature. Additional features of the new bioassay include the ability to discriminate between cationic heavy metals and organic toxicants and the option of being run at ambient temperatures (18 degrees C-27 degrees C), thereby enabling on-site testing with low-cost luminometers. In addition, the stability of the freeze-dried bacterial reagent preparation at ambient temperatures precludes the need for refrigeration or freezing during shipment, which contributes to further reducing overall operational costs.

Hydrolysis of terbufos using simulated environmental conditions: rates, mechanisms, and product analysis

This study focuses on the hydrolysis of terbufos, an organophosphorus pesticide. Combining GC-MS and wet chemistry methods, di-tert-butyl disulfide and formaldehyde were identified and quantified as major degradation products. Diethyl dithiophosphate was also indirectly identified as a degradation product under alkaline conditions. Hydrolysis rate constants of terbufos under homogeneous conditions were comparable to those of phorate and show relative insensitivity to pH under slightly acidic to neutral pH conditions, as the observed rate constants varied only in the range of (4.5-5.0) x 10(-6) s(-1) between pH 5.7 and 9.4; neutral hydrolysis is thus the most dominant hydrolysis pathway of terbufos in ambient waters. The mechanisms for terbufos hydrolysis and the formation of the major products and their temporal profiles are discussed. To assess the environmental impact of degradation products of this widely used pesticide, Microtox was used to analyze the toxicity of terbufos and two of its degradation products: diethyl dithiophosphate and di-tert-butyl disulfide; the EC(50) of terbufos was found to be >17 microM, whereas the EC(50) of di-tert-butyl disulfide was 1.3 microM.

The non-specific inhibition of enzymes by environmental pollutants: a study of a model system towards the development of electrochemical biosensor arrays

Previous research has shown that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was competitively inhibited by pentachlorophenol (PCP) and a modified assay produced a detection limit of 1 microM (270 microg l(-1)). This work used spectrophotometric rate-determination but in order to move towards biosensor development the selected detection method was electrochemical. The linkage of LDH to lactate oxidase (LOD) provided the electroactive species, hydrogen peroxide. This could be monitored using a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) incorporating the mediator, cobalt phthalocyanine, at a potential of +300 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). A linked LDH/LOD system was optimised with respect to inhibition by PCP. It was found that the SPCE support material, PVC, acted to reduce inhibition, possibly by combining with PCP. A cellulose acetate membrane removed this effect. Inhibition of the system was greatest at enzyme activities of 5 U ml(-1) LDH and 0.8 U ml(-1) LOD in reactions containing 246 microM pyruvate and 7.5 microM NADPH. PCP detection limits were an EC(10) of 800 nM (213 microg l(-1)) and a minimum inhibition detectable (MID) limit of 650 nM (173 microg l(-1)). The inclusion of a third enzyme, glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), provided cofactor recycling to enable low concentrations of NADPH to be incorporated within the assay. NADPH was reduced from 7.5 to 2 microM. PCP detection limits were obtained for an assay containing 5 U ml(-1) LDH, 0.8 U ml(-1) LOD and 0.1 U ml(-1) GDH with 246 microM pyruvate, 400 mM glucose and 2 microM NADPH. The EC(10) limit was 150 nM (39.9 microg l(-1)) and the MID was 100 nM (26.6 microg l(-1)). The design of the inhibition assays discussed has significance as a model for other enzymes and moves forward the possibility of an electrochemical biosensor array for pollution monitoring.

Correlation of field-measured toxicity with chemical concentration and pollutant availability

Direct field toxicity tests were performed in two Louisiana waterways, Bayous Trepagnier and St. John, on sediments containing organic/heavy metal mixtures. Our approach involved bioluminescent bacterial toxicity assays (using DeltaTox, which qualitatively identifies polluted areas, and Microtox, which quantifies toxicity). Samples were more completely analyzed in our laboratory using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results indicate that lead is the primary toxic metal at the sites examined, though concentrations of metals fluctuate due to spatial variation and the dynamic nature of the waterways. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most abundant group of organics measured and appear to contribute to the overall toxic response. DeltaTox located toxic hotspots where there was an average light loss of 53-100%. Toxicity results from both assays agree but are well correlated with concentration measurements only for certain sediment fractions. Overall, the DeltaTox/Microtox approach appears to be rapid and cost effective for on-site hotspot identification, and may increase understanding of hazards associated with heavy metal and organic contaminants in these waterways.

Swimming characteristics of magnetic bacterium, Magnetospirillum sp. AMB-1, and implications as toxicity measurement

To develop a novel toxicity measurement system using the persistent swimming property of magnetic bacteria along an externally applied magnetic field, certain characteristics of Magnetospirillum sp. AMB-1 cells were examined, including their growth pattern, motility, magnetosensitivity, swimming speed, and cell length distribution. In addition, the effect of toxic compounds on the swimming speed was assessed relative to application as a toxicity sensor. With an inoculum of 1.0 x 10(8) cells/mL, the cells reached the stationary phase with a concentration of about 5 x 10(8) cells/mL after 20 h, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The distribution of the cell length did not vary significantly during the growth period, and both aerobically and anaerobically growing cells showed a similar cell length distribution. Although the cells showed similar growth patterns under both conditions, the anaerobically grown cells exhibited higher motility and magnetosensitivity. Actively growing cells under anaerobic conditions had an average swimming speed of 49 microm/s with a standard deviation of 20 microm/s. When the anaerobically growing cells were exposed to various concentrations of toxic compounds, such as 1-propanol and acetone, the swimming speed decreased with an increased concentration of the toxic compound. Accordingly, the relationship between swimming speed and toxicity can be used as an effective quantitative toxicity measurement; furthermore, the relative sensitivity of the proposed system was comparable to Microtox, which is commercially available.

Microbial biosensors

A microbial biosensor consists of a transducer in conjunction with immobilised viable or non-viable microbial cells. Non-viable cells obtained after permeabilisation or whole cells containing periplasmic enzymes have mostly been used as an economical substitute for enzymes. Viable cells make use of the respiratory and metabolic functions of the cell, the analyte to be monitored being either a substrate or an inhibitor of these processes. Bioluminescence-based microbial biosensors have also been developed using genetically engineered microorganisms constructed by fusing the lux gene with an inducible gene promoter for toxicity and bioavailability testing. In this review, some of the recent trends in microbial biosensors with reference to the advantages and limitations are been discussed. Some of the recent applications of microbial biosensors in environmental monitoring and for use in food, fermentation and allied fields have been reviewed. Prospective future microbial biosensor designs have also been identified.

Toxicity tests to assess pollutants removal during wastewater treatment and the quality of receiving waters in Argentina

In Argentina, legislation to control adverse impacts of effluent discharges and the quality of receiving waters is scant and relies mainly on the physicochemical characteristics of the effluents and receiving waters. Objectives of this study were to use standardized acute toxicity tests to assess treatment of petrochemical industry effluents and the toxicity of various treated industrial effluents in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and their receiving waters. Tests for the first objective used Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia; those for the second used D. magna, Spirillum volutans, and Scenedesmus spinosus. Chemical analyses demonstrated that the removal of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, and naphthalene) from the petrochemical effluents ranged between 77 and 93%, but toxicity removal was significantly lower: untreated effluents were very toxic and treated effluents were very toxic to toxic [acute toxicity units (TUa) > 3]. Physicochemical parameters measured according to current Argentinian regulations indicated that industrial effluents (e.g., from textile and paper industries) were within established guidelines, but 25% of the samples were moderately to highly toxic (TUa > 1.33). However, for the receiving waters, toxicity tests were moderate to very toxic. The results show the need of including tests for toxicity of discharged effluents, and their effects on receiving waters of Argentina, especially for regulatory purposes.

Automated biomonitoring using real time movement analysis of Euglena gracilis

An automated biomonitoring system for early warning of pollutants in aquatic environments is described and characterized. The system uses sublethal changes in the movement behavior of the flagellate Euglena gracilis as biological endpoints. The movement is determined by real time image analysis. All parameters describing motility, velocity, orientation, and form of the cells are calculated during measurement, and changes of these parameters are interpreted as effect. By automatic dilution of the water sample, dose-effect relationships can be recorded automatically. A total measurement procedure, including control and sample measurement and filling and rinsing of the system, typically requires 8 min. Measurements with different organic and inorganic toxic compounds were performed and the calculated EC(50) values compared with literature data for the bioluminescence test with Vibrio fischeri. Also, measurements with waste water samples from different industrial plants were performed. The fast response time, the small size, the reliable image analysis system, the calculation of several endpoints, and the automatic measuring procedure are major advantages compared to other biological test systems.

Toxicity evaluation of metal plating wastewater employing the Microtox assay: a comparison with cladocerans and fish

The relative sensitivity of the Microtox assay is closely related to the type of toxicant, and hence its utility in biomonitoring effluents is better evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Microtox assay, employing the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, was evaluated for its applicability in monitoring metal plating wastewater for toxicity. The results of the Microtox assay after 5, 15, and 30 min of exposure, were compared with data obtained from conventional whole effluent toxicity testing (WET) methods that employed Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The Microtox assay produced notably comparable EC50 values to the LC50 values of the acute fathead minnow toxicity test (< 0.5 order of difference). The Spearman's rank correlation analyses showed that the bacterial assay, regardless of exposure duration, correlated better with the acute fish than the daphnid results (p < 0.05). These observations were consistent to other studies conducted with inorganic contaminants. The relative sensitivity of the 30-min Microtox assay was within the range of the two frequently used acute daphnid/fish toxicity tests. In conclusion, the Microtox assay correlated well with the acute fathead minnow data and is well suited for toxicity monitoring for these types of industrial wastes.

Acute toxicity assessment of Polish (waste) water with a microplate-based Hydra attenuata assay: a comparison with the Microtox test

The use of Hydra attenuata in acute toxicity assessment is a potentially useful tool in (waste) water biomonitoring. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of H. attenuata with the extensively used Microtox test on 14 (waste) water samples from the Kraków region (South Poland). To this end, specific morphological changes displayed by the freshwater cnidarian Hydra attenuata (lethal LC50s and sublethal EC50s effects) and bioluminescence of the marine bacteria Vibrio fisheri (Microtox) were compared. Clearly, the Hydra assay was the more sensitive indicator of toxicity. No relationship was found among Hydra toxicological responses and water levels of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Zn. However, it appeared that toxicity to Hydra might be due to ammonia levels. Additional studies to better circumscribe the tolerance of H. attenuata to 'natural' water characteristics are needed.

Identification of polar toxicants in industrial wastewaters using toxicity-based fractionation with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

An efficient and novel method for the identification of toxic compounds in industrial wastewater was developed. In the first step, the samples collected were tested for toxicity using the recently developed ToxAlert 10 system based upon luminescence inhibition of freeze-dried Vibrio fischeri. In the second step, sequential solid-phase extraction (SSPE) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for compound identification were employed to isolate and identify compounds in the waters. Average recoveries ranging from 72 to 95% were obtained using the SSPE methodology for ubiquitous analytes such as poly(ethylene glycol)s, nonylphenol and alcohol polyethoxylates, phenols, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, and benzene- and naphthalenesulfonates. In the third step, all the extracts obtained after SSPE followed by LC/MS identification were tested again with the ToxAlert system. The procedure was applied to influent and effluent samples of a sewage treatment plant (STP) and to a raw tannery effluent that constitutes the main type of influent in the receiving waters of the STP. This method has shown that, despite the complexity of the untreated tannery wastewaters with an average total organic carbon (TOC) value of 1960 mg of C/L, the biological treatment of the STP eliminates compounds that inhibit luminiscence of V. fischeri. In the final step, the chemical toxicity of the tentatively identified chemicals was tested to identify the toxicants in the waters. Comparison of the toxicities of the sample, the extracts, and individual components has shown that diverse classes of pollutants were responsible for toxicity, as all fractions of toxic samples gave significant bioluminescence inhibition values. Toxicity of the two intermediate-polarity SSPE fractions was attributed to alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylates, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and linear alkylbenzenesulfonates. In the most nonpolar and most polar fractions, identification of the compounds responsible for toxicity was unclear. By the toxicity-based fractionation, followed by LC/MS methodology, it was feasible to identify between 1.4 and 7.5% of the TOC, thus expanding the number of toxicants identified in these complex wastewaters as compared to those identified by conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) methods. When artificial water samples were reconstituted using similar concentrations of the chemicals detected in the wastewaters, nonsynergetic toxicity effects were observed for all analytes with the exception of 2,6-naphthalenedisulfonate (2,6-NPS), which promoted the bioluminescence inhibition. The toxicity-directed identification was successful for the STP's samples and showed 1400 times higher toxicity for the raw tannery wastewaters as compared to the mixed industrial and domestic wastewaters by applying the Weibull model.

Removal of phenolic compounds from a petrochemical effluent with a methanogenic consortium

A methanogenic consortium was used to degrade phenol and ortho- (o-) cresol from a specific effluent of a petrochemical refinery. This effluent did not meet the local environmental regulations for phenolic compounds (178 mg/L), oils and greases (61 mg/L), ammoniacal nitrogen (75 mg/L) or sulfides (3.2 mg/L). The consortium, which degrades phenol via its carboxylation to benzoic acid, was progressively adapted to the effluent. Despite the very high effluent toxicity (EC50 of 2% with Microtox), the adapted consortium degraded 97% of 156 mg/L phenol in the supplemented effluent after 13 days in batch cultures (serum bottle). The addition of proteose peptone to the effluent is essential for phenol degradation. o-cresol was also transformed but not meta- or para-cresols. A continuous flow fixed-film anaerobic bioreactor was developed with the consortium. Treating the effluent with the bioreactor reduced phenol and phenolic compounds concentrations by 97 and 83%, respectively, for a hydraulic residence time of 6 h. This treatment also reduced by about half the effluent toxicity. Oils and greases and ammoniacal nitrogen were not affected. Similar microbiological forms were observed in serum bottles and in the bioreactors with or without the petrochemical effluent. These results indicate that this methanogenic consortium can treat efficiently the phenolic compounds in this specific petrochemical effluent.Key words: phenolic compounds, anaerobic consortium, petrochemical effluent, biodegradation, methanogenic conditions.

Comparison of test methods and early toxicity characterization for five dispersants

The acute toxicities of a commercial dispersant (Corexit 9527) and four experimental dispersant formulations were evaluated using the 96-h mysid (Mysidopsis bahia) test and two rapid screening tests, Microtox and the Mysid IQ Toxicity Test. During 96-h toxicity tests, survival observations were recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h to document mortalities from short-term exposures more consistent with field exposure times and more approximate to exposure times used in Microtox and the Mysid IQ Toxicity Test. At nominal concentrations (6.25 and 12.5 mg/liter) and exposure times (3-24 h) near the upper range of predicted field conditions, mysid mortalities were </=5% for all test materials. Microtox and Mysid IQ Toxicity Test were evaluated for their ability to differentiate test materials compared with that of the 96-h mysid test. Dispersant formulations were ranked by relative toxicities based on LC50 or EC50 values and ranks compared among test methods. Microtox ranked the test materials similar to the 96-h mysid test. Ranks from the Mysid IQ Toxicity Test were dissimilar to those of the other tests. Early mortality observations during 96-h tests did not provide a better basis for comparing results of the rapid screening tests.

Toxicological evaluation of constructed wetland habitat sediments utilizing Hyalella azteca 10-day sediment toxicity test and bacterial bioluminescence

A toxicological evaluation was conducted on wetland habitats created as a result of run-off from agricultural areas. These temporary wetlands were created by using drop pipes as a means of reducing erosional cutting in agricultural fields. Toxicity bioassays utilizing bacterial bioluminescence and Hyalella azteca were used to assess sediment pore water and whole sediment, respectively. Inhibition of bacterial bioluminescence was initially used to determine relative toxicities of pore water from ten wetland sites. Constructed wetland sites were compared to the University of Mississippi Biological Field Station, a relatively pristine reference site. The H. azteca ten day sediment toxicity test was utilized to assess sediment from four selected sites using survival and growth as toxicological endpoints. Results from the toxicological evaluation, along with extensive ecological evaluations, were used to assess the best approach for implementation of temporary wetland habitats with existing agricultural practices.

Validation of Vibrio fisheri acute toxicity data: mechanism of action-based QSARs for non-polar narcotics and polar narcotic phenols

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) have been utilized to validate toxicity data to Vibrio fisheri (the acute Microtox test) at each of the 5-, 15- and 30-min endpoints. Statistically robust QSARs were found for chemicals acting by a non-polar narcosis mechanism of action (MOA). The baseline, non-polar narcosis QSARs were similar to those found in other aquatic organisms, thus indicating that for this MOA, the acute V. fisheri assay makes a suitable surrogate for higher test species. For the toxicity of phenols, previously modeled in other species with parameters describing membrane transport (i.e. hydrophobicity) and soft electrophilicity or ionization, no significant relationships were obtained. The use of acute V. fisheri toxicity data is not recommended for extrapolation to higher species for these compounds. Despite this recommendation, it was noted, however, that a 'minimal' phenolic toxicity was apparent that was analogous to polar narcosis in other species. This confirmed that a polar narcosis MOA does operate in the acute V. fisheri system analogous to other species. For all the compounds considered, there were highly significant correlations between the toxicities at each endpoint, indicating that data from different time endpoints were effectively interchangeable.

Toxicity assessment of 16 inorganic environmental pollutants by six bioassays

The relative toxicity of 16 environmental pollutants, such as inorganic elements (Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ge, Hg, Mn, Nb, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, and Zn), is evaluated on the L-929 established cell line of murine fibroblasts, with five bioassays [RNA synthesis rate assay (RNA), MTT reduction assay (MTT), neutral red incorporation assay (NRI), Coomassie blue assay, and cellular growth rate assay], and on the ciliated protozoa Tetrahymena pyriformis GL [doubling time of T. pyriformis GL population assay (DTP)]. For each inorganic substance, the six bioassays allowed the toxicological index IC50 ("inhibitory concentration 50%") to be calculated. The IC50 values are useful to rank the tested elements and to compare the features of the six bioassays. The most sensitive assays were the RNA, MTT, NRI, and DTP assays. Moreover, the in vitro IC50 values correlated with the in vivo LD50 values; these results were close to those obtained with established lines of human, murine, or fish cells. The sensitivity and the complementarity of these bioassays would be in favor of their incorporation in a "battery" of tests used for toxicological screening studies of xenobiotics.

Evaluation of toxicity of medical devices using Spirotox and Microtox tests: I. Toxicity of selected toxicants in various diluents

Significant effort has been directed toward developing in vitro alternatives, which can be the first step of toxicity analysis. Tissue culture assays are currently the most popular in vitro tests for evaluating acute toxicity. The possibility of applying two bioassays using microorganisms in assessing the toxicity of extracts of medical devices was investigated. The Microtox test system--a luminescent bacteria toxicity test--assesses changes in light output from a luminescent bacteria, Vibrio fischeri. Spirotox used a large ciliate protozoan: Spirostomum ambiguum. The most widely used extraction solvent, 0.9% NaCl, must be concentrated up to 2% for Microtox and diluted nine times for the Spirotox test. The organic solvents ethanol, DMSO, and polyethylene glycol 400 were not toxic in either test in concentrations of 1-2%. The toxicity of reference compounds Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb, and SDS was examined in various diluents. The sequence of toxicity of the tested compounds in Spirotox and Microtox was: Hg > Cd > Zn > Pb > SDS, and Hg > Pb = Zn > SDS > Cd, respectively. Addition of organic solvents changed the toxicity of compounds tested in 60% of Spirotox tests and only in 25% of Microtox tests. Changes were low, not exceeding 100% in almost all cases. No correlation was observed between diluent and toxicant in either bioassay.

Rubber tire leachates in the aquatic environment

Tires have a deleterious effect on the environment. This review discusses the background of scrap tires discarded in the environment, including tire composition, adverse environmental effects, threats to public health and safety, and solid waste management. Despite the widespread use of scrap tires in environmental applications, both land-based and aquatic, data on the indicators of environmental degradation are extremely scarce. Indicators of environmental degradation include analysis of chemicals within the water and sediment, analysis of contaminants within organisms, and analysis of the biological effects of these compounds on plants, animals, microbes, and organelles. Although these indicators are most useful when used in parallel, a review of the available information on chemical characterization of tire leachate from tire storage facilities, manufacturing, usage in recycling applications, and toxicity exposure studies, of vegetation surveys from waste tire areas and reviews of mammalian tire product toxicity, and of toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of tire exposure in experimental aquatic animals, microbes, and organelles is presented. The major characteristics of these studies are discussed in specific sections. The "Discussion and Conclusions" section discusses and summarizes the biological effects and chemical characterization of tire leachates. A global environmental perspective is included to improve our understanding of the deficiency of the current knowledge of tire leachate toxicity from various sources and to encourage interdisciplinary studies to establish the pattern of pollution associated with waste tire management.