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Rodrigues ET, Pereira E, Oliveira PJ, Pardal MA. The H9c2(2-1) cell-based sulforhodamine B assay is a non-animal alternative to evaluate municipal wastewater quality over time. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1395. [PMID: 37906309 PMCID: PMC10618365 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12017-8] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The present study validates the potential of the in vitro H9c2(2-1) cell-based sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay to evaluate the temporal variability of wastewater quality. The impact of effluent disposal on water quality and the efficiency of the wastewater treatment process were also assessed. To correlate standard analytical method results with in vitro results, a total of 16 physicochemical parameters, such as nutrients, pH, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and metals, were determined in both raw and treated wastewater samples. Results revealed that the H9c2(2-1) cell-based SRB assay has an enormous potential to evaluate municipal wastewater quality over time and to discriminate influent and effluent toxic characteristics, as well as for water quality monitoring and surveillance of the efficacy of treatment processes. Finally, the gathered results alerted to the impact of phosphates in a biological system, leading us to recommend the selection of this parameter as a potential environmental health indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa T Rodrigues
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UC Biotech, University of Coimbra, Biocant Park, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Rodrigues ET, Pardal MA, Pereira E, Monteiro JF, Certal AC, Oliveira PJ. H9c2(2-1)-based sulforhodamine B assay as a possible alternative in vitro platform to investigate effluent and metals toxicity on fish. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 275:130009. [PMID: 33652281 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130009] [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: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To overcome restrictions on the use of fish in toxicity testing, the present study proposes to compare the 50% growth inhibition potential (EC50) of four types of effluents on the rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cell line by using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) cell mass colorimetric assay, with the corresponding fish lethal test results. Our objective was to evaluate if H9c2(2-1) cells shows comparable sensitivities, in both relative and absolute terms, to those provided by fish. In parallel, this study also compared the results of the chemical characterization with the legislation in force for environmental protection against effluent release into the receiving environment. Moreover, we tested the H9c2(2-1)-based SRB assays with the metals of concern found in the effluent samples. Both fish and cell assays showed the same toxicity rank for effluents: Metal > Oil > Municipal > Paper, and it should be stressed that the complementarity of using chemical and biological data represents a step forward to guarantee both environmental and human safety, since the chemical characterization showed a different toxicity rank: Metal > Municipal > Oil > Paper. Regarding metal elements, the short-term fish results showed a toxicity rank non-comparable with the rank obtained for cells. Nevertheless, the gathered results reveal the potentiality of the in vitro H9c2(2-1) platform as an alternative for fish lethal testing to assess, in absolute terms, the toxicity of effluents, particularly municipal effluents, and metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa T Rodrigues
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Joana F Monteiro
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana C Certal
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UC Biotech, University of Coimbra, Biocant Park, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal.
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Perfetto M, Kirkham SG, Ayers MC, Wei S, Gallagher JEG. 4-Methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) affects viability, development, and movement of Xenopus embryos. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:38-43. [PMID: 33391995 PMCID: PMC7772722 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Following chemical spill disasters, it is important to estimate the effects of spilled chemicals on humans and the environment. Here we analyzed the toxicological effects of the coal cleaning chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), which was spilled into the Elk River water supply in 2014. The viability of HEK293 T human cell line cultures and Xenopus tropicalis embryos was negatively affected, and the addition of the antioxidants alleviated toxicity with MCHM exposure. Additionally, X. tropicalis embryos suffered developmental defects as well as reversible non-responsiveness and melanization defects. The impact MCHM has on HEK293 T cells and X. tropicalis points to the importance of continued follow-up studies of this chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Perfetto
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Scotia G Kirkham
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Michael C Ayers
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Shuo Wei
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Jennifer E G Gallagher
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
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Rodrigues ET, Nascimento SF, Moreno MJ, Oliveira PJ, Pardal MA. Rat cardiomyocyte H9c2(2-1)-based sulforhodamine B assay as a promising in vitro method to assess the biological component of effluent toxicity. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 96:163-170. [PMID: 32819690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of wastewaters is crucial to maintain the ecological status of receiving waters, and thereby guarantee the protection of aquatic life and human health. Wastewater quality evaluation is conventionally based on physicochemical parameters, but increasing attention has been paid to integrate physicochemical and biological data. Nevertheless, the regulatory use of fish in biological testing methods has been subject to various ethical and cost concerns, and in vitro cell-based assays have thus become an important topic of interest. Hence, the present study intends: (a) to evaluate the efficiency of two different sample pre-concentration techniques (lyophilisation and solid phase extraction) to assess the toxicity of municipal effluents on rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cells, and (b) maximizing the use of the effluent sample collected, to estimate the environmental condition of the receiving environment. The gathered results demonstrate that the H9c2(2-1) sulforhodamine B-based assay is an appropriate in vitro method to assess biological effluent toxicity, and the best results were attained by lyophilising the sample as pre-treatment. Due to its response, the H9c2(2-1) cell line might be a possible alternative in vitro model for fish lethal testing to assess the toxicity of municipal effluents. The physicochemical status of the sample suggests a high potential for eutrophication, and iron exceeded the permissible level for wastewater discharge, possibly due to the addition of ferric chloride for wastewater treatment. In general, the levels of carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole are higher than those reported for other countries, and both surpassed the aquatic protective values for long-term exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa T Rodrigues
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal.
| | - Susana F Nascimento
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Chemistry Center, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
| | - Maria João Moreno
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Chemistry Center, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, UC Biotech, Biocant Park, Cantanhede 3060-197, Portugal
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
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Neves RAF, Pardal MA, Nascimento SM, Oliveira PJ, Rodrigues ET. Screening-level evaluation of marine benthic dinoflagellates toxicity using mammalian cell lines. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 195:110465. [PMID: 32199217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Complementary studies at different levels of the biological organization are fundamental to fully link environmental exposure to marine benthic dinoflagellate toxins and their effects. In order to contribute to this transdisciplinary evaluation, and for the first time, the present study aims to study the effects of Gambierdiscus excentricus, Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Prorocentrum hoffmannianum and Prorocentrum lima extracts on seven functionally different mammalian cell lines: HEK 293, HepG2, HNDF, H9c2(2-1), MC3T3-E1, Raw 264.7 and SH-SY5Y. All the cell lines presented cell mass decrease in a concentration-dependence of dinoflagellate extracts, exhibiting marked differences in cell toxicity. Gambierdiscus excentricus presented the highest effect, at very low concentrations with EC50,24h (i.e., the concentration that gives half-maximal response after a 24-h exposure) between 1.3 and 13 cells mL-1, followed by O. cf. ovata (EC50,24h between 3.3 and 40 cells mL-1), and Prorocentrum species (P. lima: EC50,24h between 191 and 1027 cells mL-1 and P. hoffmannianum: EC50,24h between 152 and 783 cells mL-1). Cellular specificities were also detected and rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cells were in general the most sensitive to dinoflagellate toxic compounds, suggesting that this cell line is an animal-free potential model for dinoflagellate toxin testing. Finally, the sensitivity of cells expressing distinct phenotypes to each dinoflagellate extract exhibited low relation to human poisoning symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel A F Neves
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av Pasteur 458-314B, 22290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Silvia M Nascimento
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av Pasteur 458-314B, 22290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, UC-Biotech, Biocant Park, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal.
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Neves RAF, Pardal MA, Nascimento SM, Silva A, Oliveira PJ, Rodrigues ET. High sensitivity of rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cells to Gambierdiscus toxic compounds. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 223:105475. [PMID: 32325308 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105475] [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: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ciguatera fish poisoning is a frequently reported non-bacterial food-borne illness related to the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins, and possibly maitotoxins. These toxins are synthesized by marine dinoflagellate species of Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa genera, and their abundance is a matter of great concern due to their adverse effects to aquatic life and human health. The present study aims to assess the sensitivity of rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cells to Gambierdiscus toxic compounds using concentration- and time-dependent sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assays. Low concentrations of Gambierdiscus extracts (corresponding to 1.3-2.3 cells mL-1) induced a concentration-dependent response. Specificity in time-dependent response of H9c2(2-1) cells was demonstrated for G. excentricus after a 180 min exposure compared to both G. cf. belizeanus and G. silvae species, with EC50s obtained after 720 and 360 min, respectively. The sensitivity of H9c2(2-1) cells to dinoflagellate toxic compounds was also tested with other genera from benthic (Coolia malayensis, Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Prorocentrum hoffmannianum and P. lima) and planktonic (Amphidinium carterae and Lingulodinium polyedrum) habitats. Amphidinium, Coolia and Lingulodinium data did not present any concentration-response relationships, and EC50 values could only be obtained after 720 and 1440 min of exposure to both Prorocentrum species and O. cf. ovata, respectively. This study demonstrated that the H9c2(2-1) SRB assay represents a promising and sensitive tool for the detection of Gambierdiscus toxic compounds present in water samples, particularly of G. excentricus at very low cell abundances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel A F Neves
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av Pasteur 458-307, 22290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Silvia M Nascimento
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av Pasteur 458-307, 22290-240, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Alexandra Silva
- Phytoplankton Laboratory, Division of Oceanography and Environment, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-006, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra Biotech Building, Lot 8A, Biocant Park, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal.
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Gallagher JE, Ser SL, Ayers MC, Nassif C, Pupo A. The Polymorphic PolyQ Tail Protein of the Mediator Complex, Med15, Regulates the Variable Response to Diverse Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051894. [PMID: 32164312 PMCID: PMC7094212 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mediator is composed of multiple subunits conserved from yeast to humans and plays a central role in transcription. The tail components are not required for basal transcription but are required for responses to different stresses. While some stresses are familiar, such as heat, desiccation, and starvation, others are exotic, yet yeast can elicit a successful stress response. 4-Methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) is a hydrotrope that induces growth arrest in yeast. We found that a naturally occurring variation in the Med15 allele, a component of the Mediator tail, altered the stress response to many chemicals in addition to MCHM. Med15 contains two polyglutamine repeats (polyQ) of variable lengths that change the gene expression of diverse pathways. The Med15 protein existed in multiple isoforms and its stability was dependent on Ydj1, a protein chaperone. The protein level of Med15 with longer polyQ tracts was lower and turned over faster than the allele with shorter polyQ repeats. MCHM sensitivity via variation of Med15 was regulated by Snf1 in a Myc-tag-dependent manner. Tagging Med15 with Myc altered its function in response to stress. Genetic variation in transcriptional regulators magnified genetic differences in response to environmental changes. These polymorphic control genes were master variators.
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Abstract
On January 2014 approximately 10,000 gallons of crude 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenol ether (PPH) were accidentally released into the Elk River, West Virginia, contaminating the tap water of around 300,000 residents. Crude MCHM is an industrial chemical used as flotation reagent to clean coal. At the time of the spill, MCHM's toxicological data were limited, an issue that has been addressed by different studies focused on understanding the immediate and long-term effects of MCHM on human health and the environment. Using S. cerevisiae as a model organism we study the effect of acute exposure to crude MCHM on metabolism. Yeasts were treated with MCHM 550 ppm in YPD for 30 minutes. Polar and lipid metabolites were extracted from cells by a chloroform-methanol-water mixture. The extracts were then analyzed by direct injection ESI-MS and by GC-MS. The metabolomics analysis was complemented with flux balance analysis simulations done with genome-scale metabolic network models (GSMNM) of MCHM treated vs non-treated control. We integrated the effect of MCHM on yeast gene expression from RNA-Seq data within these GSMNM. A total of 215 and 73 metabolites were identified by the ESI-MS and GC-MS procedures, respectively. From these 26 and 23 relevant metabolites were selected from ESI-MS and GC-MS respectively, for 49 unique compounds. MCHM induced amino acid accumulation, via its effects on amino acid metabolism, as well as a potential impairment of ribosome biogenesis. MCHM affects phospholipid biosynthesis, with a potential impact on the biophysical properties of yeast cellular membranes. The FBA simulations were able to reproduce the deleterious effect of MCHM on cellular growth and suggest that the effect of MCHM on ubiquinol:ferricytochrome c reductase reaction, caused by the under-expression of CYT1 gene, could be the driven force behind the observed effect on yeast metabolism and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Pupo
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kang Mo Ku
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer E. G. Gallagher
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rodrigues ET, Varela AT, Pardal MA, Oliveira PJ. Cell-based assays seem not to accurately predict fish short-term toxicity of pesticides. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 252:476-482. [PMID: 31158675 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
A key action of current aquatic environmental sciences is the determination of concentration-response assessments to quantitatively measure the risk of pollutants, and fish lethal tests are still a regulatory requirement for assessing the environmental risk of both new and existing substances in the aquatic compartment. However, animal health and welfare aspects, as well as the time and resources required to support fish lethal testing, stimulate research for alternative in vitro methods, and cell-based assays are considered as one such alternative. The first goal of the present study was to compile existing fish short-term toxicity and cell toxicity data of pesticides through a scientific literature search, and relate in vivo and in vitro results to identify sensitive cell models, mammalian-, fish- or arthropod-derived. Discovering cell models which are sensitive is of great importance, since the risk of false negatives, believed to be the main limitation of cell-based assays as an alternative to fish tests, may decrease. As to the second goal, this study also determined and compared cell toxicity results for 12 pesticides using rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cells with the corresponding fish LC50,96h (50% lethal concentration at 96 h of exposure) values collected in literature. On the whole, the in vivo/in vitro ratio was obtained for 50 pesticides belonging to 23 groups, and presented only 27% of positive results, thus confirming the low sensitivity of cell-based assays in relation to fish lethal data for pesticides. In general, cell-based assays still do not seem to be an alternative to the regulatory short-term fish assay for pesticides, making further studies necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa T Rodrigues
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Ana T Varela
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Paulo J Oliveira
- CNC - Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, UC-Biotech, Lot 8A, Biocant Park, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L. Mako
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, 140 Flagg Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Joan M. Racicot
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, 140 Flagg Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Mindy Levine
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, 140 Flagg Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
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Horzmann KA, de Perre C, Lee LS, Whelton AJ, Freeman JL. Comparative analytical and toxicological assessment of methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) mixtures associated with the Elk River chemical spill. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 188:599-607. [PMID: 28917212 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
On January 9, 2014, a chemical mixture containing crude methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) contaminated the water supply of Charleston, West Virginia. Although the mixture was later identified as a mix of crude MCHM and stripped propylene glycol phenyl ethers, initial risk assessment focused on 4-MCHM, the predominant component of crude MCHM. The mixture's exact composition and the toxicity differences between 4-MCHM, crude MCHM, and the tank mixture were unknown. We analyzed the chemical composition of crude MCHM and the tank mixture via GC/MS and, based on identified spectra, found that crude MCHM and the tank mixture differed in chemical composition. To evaluate acute developmental toxicity, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0, 1, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 parts per million (ppm; mg/L) of 4-MCHM, crude MCHM, or the tank mixture. The percent mortality and percent hatch, larval morphology alterations, and larval visual motor response test were used to establish toxicity profiles for each of the chemicals or mixtures. The acute toxicity differed between 4-MCHM, crude MCHM and the tank mixture with significant differences in survival, hatching, morphology, and locomotion at levels as low as the short-term screening level of 1 ppm, suggesting a need for further research into human health risks. This study is the first to evaluate the developmental toxicity of the tank mixture and highlights that studies evaluating risk should not assume the effects of 4-MCHM or crude MCHM are representative of the Tank 396 mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chloe de Perre
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Andrew J Whelton
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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