1
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Johnson M, Finlayson K, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL. Adaption and application of cell-based bioassays to whole-water samples. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142572. [PMID: 38852631 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142572] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The increasing presence of contaminants of emerging concern in wastewater and their potential environmental risks require improved monitoring and analysis methods. Direct toxicity assessment (DTA) using bioassays can complement chemical analysis of wastewater discharge, but traditional in vivo tests have ethical considerations and are expensive, low-throughput, and limited to apical endpoints (mortality, reproduction, development, and growth). In vitro bioassays offer an alternative approach that is cheaper, faster, and more ethical, and can provide higher sensitivity for some environmentally relevant endpoints. This study explores the potential benefits of using whole water samples of wastewater and environmental surface water instead of traditional solid phase extraction (SPE) methods for in vitro bioassays testing. Whole water samples produced a stronger response in most bioassays, likely due to the loss or alteration of contaminants during SPE sample extraction. In addition, there was no notable difference in results for most bioassays after freezing whole water samples, which allows for increased flexibility in testing timelines and cost savings. These findings highlight the potential advantages of using whole water samples in DTA and provide a framework for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Johnson
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia; Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Urrbrae, SA, 5064, Australia.
| | - Kimberly Finlayson
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia.
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia.
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia.
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2
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Nguyen TV, Trang PN, Kumar A. Understanding PFAS toxicity through cell culture metabolomics: Current applications and future perspectives. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108620. [PMID: 38579451 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108620] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ubiquitous environmental contaminants, pose significant challenges to ecosystems and human health. While cell cultures have emerged as new approach methodologies (NAMs) in ecotoxicity research, metabolomics is an emerging technique used to characterize the small-molecule metabolites present in cells and to understand their role in various biological processes. Integration of metabolomics with cell cultures, known as cell culture metabolomics, provides a novel and robust tool to unravel the complex molecular responses induced by PFAS exposure. In vitro testing also reduces reliance on animal testing, aligning with ethical and regulatory imperatives. The current review summarizes key findings from recent studies utilizing cell culture metabolomics to investigate PFAS toxicity, highlighting alterations in metabolic pathways, biomarker identification, and the potential linkages between metabolic perturbations. Additionally, the paper discusses different types of cell cultures and metabolomics methods used for studies of environmental contaminants and particularly PFAS. Future perspectives on the combination of metabolomics with other advanced technologies, such as single-cell metabolomics (SCM), imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), extracellular flux analysis (EFA), and multi-omics are also explored, which offers a holistic understanding of environmental contaminants. The synthesis of current knowledge and identification of research gaps provide a foundation for future investigations that aim to elucidate the complexities of PFAS-induced cellular responses and contribute to the development of effective strategies for mitigating their adverse effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao V Nguyen
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Waite Campus, South Australia 5064, Australia; NTT Institute of High Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Phan Nguyen Trang
- Department of Food Technology, Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho, Viet Nam.
| | - Anu Kumar
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Waite Campus, South Australia 5064, Australia.
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3
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Wilkinson A, Ariel E, van de Merwe J, Brodie J. Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Blood and Scute Trace Element Concentrations in the Northern Great Barrier Reef. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2375-2388. [PMID: 37477460 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5718] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Marine turtles face numerous anthropogenic threats, including that of chemical contaminant exposure. The ecotoxicological impact of toxic metals is a global issue facing Chelonia mydas in coastal sites. Local investigation of C. mydas short-term blood metal profiles is an emerging field, while little research has been conducted on scute metal loads as potential indicators of long-term exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate and describe C. mydas blood and scute metal profiles in coastal and offshore populations of the Great Barrier Reef. This was achieved by analyzing blood and scute material sampled from local C. mydas populations in five field sites, for a suite of ecologically relevant metals. By applying principal component analysis and comparing coastal sample data with those of reference intervals derived from the control site, insight was gleaned on local metal profiles of each population. Blood metal concentrations in turtles from coastal sites were typically elevated when compared with levels recorded in the offshore control population (Howick Island Group). Scute metal profiles were similar in Cockle Bay, Upstart Bay, and Edgecumbe Bay, all of which were distinct from that of Toolakea. Some elements were reported at similar concentrations in blood and scutes, but most were higher in scute samples, indicative of temporal accumulation. Coastal C. mydas populations may be at risk of toxic effects from metals such as Co, which was consistently found to be at concentrations magnitudes above region-specific reference intervals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2375-2388. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wilkinson
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jon Brodie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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4
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Barraza AD, Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, Limpus CJ, van de Merwe JP. Understanding contaminant exposure risks in nesting Loggerhead sea turtle populations. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115605. [PMID: 37844482 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115605] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Queensland loggerhead turtle nest numbers at Mon Repos (MR) indicate population recovery that doesn't occur at Wreck Island (WI). Previous research illustrated that MR and WI turtles forage in different locations, potentially indicating risks differences. Blood, scute, and egg were collected from turtles nesting at MR and WI, with known foraging sites (from concurrent studies). Trace element and organic contaminants were assessed via acid digestion and in vitro cytotoxicity bioassays, respectively. WI turtles had significantly higher scute uranium and blood molybdenum compared to MR turtles, and arsenic was higher in WI turtles foraging north and MR turtles foraging south. Egg and blood titanium, manganese, cadmium, barium, lead, and molybdenum, and scute and egg selenium and mercury significantly correlated. Blood (75 %) extracts produced significant toxicity in vitro in turtle fibroblast cells. In conclusion, reducing chemical exposure at higher risk foraging sites would likely benefit sea turtles and their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur D Barraza
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kimberly A Finlayson
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, QLD, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, QLD, Australia
| | - Colin J Limpus
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, QLD, Australia
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5
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Chaousis S, Leusch FDL, Nouwens A, Melvin SD, van de Merwe JP. Influence of chemical dose and exposure duration on protein synthesis in green sea turtle primary cells. J Proteomics 2023; 285:104942. [PMID: 37285907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104942] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the impacts of chemical exposure in marine wildlife is challenging, due to practical and ethical constraints that preclude traditional toxicology research on these animals. This study addressed some of these limitations by presenting an ethical and high throughput cell-based approach to elucidate molecular-level effects of contaminants on sea turtles. The experimental design addressed basic questions of cell-based toxicology, including chemical dose and exposure time. Primary green turtle skin cells were exposed to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 153 and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) for 24 and 48 h, at three sub-lethal, environmentally relevant concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg/L). Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) identified over 1000 differentially abundant proteins within the 1% false discovery rate (FDR) threshold. The 24 h exposure resulted in a greater number of differentially abundant proteins, compared to 48 h exposure, for both contaminants. However, there were no statistically significant dose-response relationships for the number of differentially synthesised proteins, nor differences in the proportion of increased vs decreased proteins between or within exposure times. Known in vivo markers of contaminant exposure, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, were differentially abundant following exposure to PCB153 and PFNA. SIGNIFICANCE: Cell-based (in vitro) proteomics provides an ethical and high throughput approach to understanding the impacts of chemical contamination on sea turtles. Through investigating effects of chemical dose and exposure duration on unique protein abundance in vitro, this study provides an optimised framework for conducting cell-based studies in wildlife proteomics, and highlights that proteins detected in vitro could act as biomarkers of chemical exposure and effect in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Chaousis
- Griffith School of Science and Environment and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith Univeristy, Building 51, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Griffith School of Science and Environment and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith Univeristy, Building 51, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Queensland, Building 76, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Steven D Melvin
- Griffith School of Science and Environment and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith Univeristy, Building 51, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Griffith School of Science and Environment and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith Univeristy, Building 51, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia.
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6
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Bailey D, Finlayson KA, Dogruer G, Bennett WW, van de Merwe JP. Dose metric evaluation of a cell-based bioassay for assessing the toxicity of metals to Dugong dugon: Effect of metal-media interactions on exposure concentrations. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 255:106394. [PMID: 36603369 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based toxicity testing has emerged as a useful tool in (eco)toxicological research, allowing the ethical assessment of the effects of contaminants such as trace metals on marine megafauna. However, metal interactions with various dissolved ligands in the microplate environment may influence the effective exposure concentrations. Hence, the cells are not exposed to the nominal concentrations within the test system. This study aimed to establish and evaluate the effectiveness of cell-based bioassays for investigating the toxicity of selected metals in dugongs through the following objectives: (1) measure the cytotoxic potential of cadmium (Cd2+), and chromium (Cr6+) to dugong skin cell cultures, (2) investigate the interactions between media constituents and selected trace metals in cell-based bioassays, and (3) evaluate the risk to a free-ranging population of dugong based on effect values. Chromium was the most toxic of the metals tested (EC50 = 1.14 µM), followed by Cd (EC50 = 6.35 µM). Assessment of ultrafiltered (< 3 kDa) exposure media showed that 1% and 92.5% of Cr and Cd were associated with larger organic components of the media. Further, the binding of Cd to media constituents was calculated to underestimate Cd toxicity in cell-based assays by an order of magnitude. This understanding of metal partitioning in cell-based bioassays provides a more accurate method for assessing toxicity in cell-based bioassays. In addition, this study illustrated that dugong cells are more sensitive to Cr and Cd than other marine wildlife species. The chemical risk assessment found the dugong population in Moreton Bay to be at high risk from Cd exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bailey
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kimberly A Finlayson
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Gulsah Dogruer
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands
| | - William W Bennett
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Perkins GE, Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. Pelagic and coastal green turtles (Chelonia mydas) experience differences in chemical exposure and effect. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 183:114027. [PMID: 35985101 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114027] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Green turtles foraging in coastal areas are exposed to land-based chemical pollutants that accumulate in the habitats to which they show high site fidelity. However, prior to coastal recruitment, they may be exposed to a different range of chemical threats. The recent development of species-specific in vitro bioassays for marine turtles allows for an effect-based assessment of toxicological endpoints. Blood was collected from green turtles of two life-stages, 'recent recruits' and 'coastal residents', in Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay. Organic contaminants were extracted from blood using the QuEChERS method, and cytotoxicity of the extracts measured in green turtle skin cells. Although not statistically significant, extracts from 'coastal residents' exhibited greater mean toxicity compared to 'recent recruits', possibly indicative of increased chemical accumulation from coastal habitat exposure. The bioassay results also indicated that turtles foraging in Hervey Bay are at greater risk of chemical exposure than those foraging in Moreton Bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Perkins
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
| | | | - Jason P van de Merwe
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia
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8
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Bianchi L, Casini S, Vantaggiato L, Di Noi A, Carleo A, Shaba E, Armini A, Bellucci F, Furii G, Bini L, Caliani I. A Novel Ex Vivo Approach Based on Proteomics and Biomarkers to Evaluate the Effects of Chrysene, MEHP, and PBDE-47 on Loggerhead Sea Turtles ( Caretta caretta). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074369. [PMID: 35410049 PMCID: PMC8998652 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The principal aim of the present study was to develop and apply novel ex vivo tests as an alternative to cell cultures able to evaluate the possible effects of emerging and legacy contaminants in Caretta caretta. To this end, we performed ex vivo experiments on non-invasively collected whole-blood and skin-biopsy slices treated with chrysene, MEHP, or PBDE-47. Blood samples were tested by oxidative stress (TAS), immune system (respiratory burst, lysozyme, and complement system), and genotoxicity (ENA assay) biomarkers, and genotoxic and immune system effects were observed. Skin slices were analyzed by applying a 2D-PAGE/MS proteomic approach, and specific contaminant signatures were delineated on the skin proteomic profile. These reflect biochemical effects induced by each treatment and allowed to identify glutathione S-transferase P, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A, mimecan, and protein S100-A6 as potential biomarkers of the health-threatening impact the texted toxicants have on C. caretta. Obtained results confirm the suitability of the ex vivo system and indicate the potential risk the loggerhead sea turtle is undergoing in the natural environment. In conclusion, this work proved the relevance that the applied ex vivo models may have in testing the toxicity of other compounds and mixtures and in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bianchi
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Lorenza Vantaggiato
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Agata Di Noi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Alfonso Carleo
- Department of Pulmonology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Enxhi Shaba
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Alessandro Armini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Francesco Bellucci
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
| | - Giovanni Furii
- Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine Legambiente, Molo di Ponente, 71043 Manfredonia, Italy;
| | - Luca Bini
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
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9
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Dogruer G, Kramer NI, Schaap IL, Hollert H, Gaus C, van de Merwe JP. An integrative approach to define chemical exposure threshold limits for endangered sea turtles. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 420:126512. [PMID: 34284283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126512] [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: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants pose serious health threats to marine megafauna species, yet methods defining exposure threshold limits are lacking. Here, a three-pillar chemical risk assessment framework is presented based on (1) species- and chemical-specific lifetime bioaccumulation modelling, (2) non-destructive in vitro and in vivo toxicity threshold assessment, and (3) chemical risk quantification. We used the effects of cadmium (Cd) in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) as a proof of concept to evaluate the quantitative mechanistic modelling approach. A physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) model simulated Cd tissue concentrations (liver, kidney, muscle, fat, brain, scute, and 'rest of the body') in C.mydas. The validated PBK model then translated species-specific in vitro results to in vivo effects. The results showed that the resilience of C.mydas towards Cd kidney toxicity is age-dependent and differs with changing physiology and feeding ecology. Using the model in reverse mode, a steady-state exposure threshold of 0.1 µg/g dry weight Cd in forage was derived and compared to real-world exposure scenarios. Three out of the four globally distinct C.mydas populations assessed are exposed to Cd levels above this threshold limit. This approach can be adapted to other marine species and chemicals to prioritize measures for managing potentially harmful chemical exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsah Dogruer
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, The School of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - Nynke I Kramer
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, The School of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Iris L Schaap
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, The School of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Caroline Gaus
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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10
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Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. Differences in marine megafauna in vitro sensitivity highlights the need for species-specific chemical risk assessments. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 239:105939. [PMID: 34455206 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs can be exposed to large mixtures of contaminants due to the proximity of foraging locations to anthropogenic inputs. Differences in accumulation and effect result in differences of chemical risk to these species. However, little is known about the effect of contaminants in marine wildlife. Cell-based, or in vitro, exposure experiments offer an ethical alternative to investigate the effect of contaminants in wildlife. Data from in vitro studies can then be placed in an environmental context, by using screening risk assessments, comparing effect data with accumulation data from the literature, to identify risk to populations of marine wildlife. Cytotoxicity of Cr6+, Cd2+, Hg2+, 4,4'-DDE, and PFNA were investigated in primary skin fibroblasts of green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, dugongs, Burrunan dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins. The general order of toxicity for all species was Hg2+> Cr6+ > Cd2+> 4,4'-DDE > PFNA, and significant differences in cytotoxicity were found between species for Cr6+, Cd2+ and PFNA. For Cd2+, in particular, cells from turtle species were less sensitive than mammalian species, and dugong cells were by far the most sensitive. The results from the cytotoxicity assay were then used in combination with published data on tissue contaminant concentrations to calculate risk quotients for identifying populations of each species most at risk from these chemicals. Cr, Cd and Hg were identified as posing risk in all six species. Dugongs were particularly at risk from Cd accumulation and dolphin species were particularly at risk from Hg accumulation. These results demonstrate the importance of using species-specific effect and accumulation data for developing chemical risk assessments and can be used to inform managers of priority contaminants, species, or populations. Development of additional in vitro endpoints, and improving links between in vitro and in vivo effects, would further improve this approach to understanding chemical risk in marine megafauna.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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11
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Barraza AD, Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. Systematic review of reptile reproductive toxicology to inform future research directions on endangered or threatened species, such as sea turtles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 286:117470. [PMID: 34438481 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Threatened or endangered reptiles, such as sea turtles, are generally understudied within the field of wildlife toxicology, with even fewer studies on how contaminants affect threatened species reproduction. This paper aimed to better inform threatened species conservation by systematically and quantitatively reviewing available research on the reproductive toxicology of all reptiles, threatened and non-threatened. This review found 178 studies that matched our search criteria. These papers were categorized into location conducted, taxa studied, species studied, effects found, and chemicals investigated. The most studied taxa were turtles (n = 87 studies, 49%), alligators/crocodiles (n = 54, 30%), and lizards (n = 37, 21%). Maternal transfer, sex steroid alterations, sex reversal, altered sexual development, developmental abnormalities, and egg contamination were the most common effects found across all reptile taxa, providing guidance for avenues of research into threatened species. Maternal transfer of contaminants was found across all taxa, and taking into account the foraging behavior of sea turtles, could help elucidate differences in maternal transfer seen at nesting beaches. Sex steroid alterations were a common effect found with contaminant exposure, indicating the potential to use sex steroids as biomarkers along with traditional biomarkers such as vitellogenin. Sex reversal through chemical exposure was commonly found among species that exhibit temperature dependent sex determination, indicating the potential for both environmental pollution and climate change to disrupt population dynamics of many reptile species, including sea turtles. Few studies used in vitro, DNA, or molecular methodologies, indicating the need for more research using high-throughput, non-invasive, and cost-effective tools for threatened species research. The prevalence of developmental abnormalities and altered sexual development and function indicates the need to further study how anthropogenic pollutants affect reproductive output in threatened reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur D Barraza
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, Qld, Australia.
| | - Kimberly A Finlayson
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, Qld, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, Qld, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, 4222, Qld, Australia
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12
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Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, Villa CA, Limpus CJ, van de Merwe JP. Combining analytical and in vitro techniques for comprehensive assessments of chemical exposure and effect in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 274:129752. [PMID: 33529958 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtle populations foraging in coastal areas adjacent to human activity can be exposed to numerous chemical contaminants for long periods of time. For trace elements, well-developed, sensitive and inexpensive analytical techniques remain the most effective method for assessing exposure in sea turtles. However, there are many thousands more organic contaminants present in sea turtles, often at low levels as complex mixtures. Recently developed species-specific in vitro bioassays provide an effective means to identify the presence, and effect of, organic chemicals in sea turtles. This study used a combination of chemical analysis and effects-based bioassays to provide complementary information on chemical exposure and effects for three green turtle foraging populations (Chelonia mydas) in southern Queensland, Australia. Blood was collected from foraging sub-adult green turtles captured in Moreton Bay, Hervey Bay, and Port Curtis. Twenty-six trace elements were measured in whole blood using ICP-MS. Organic contaminants in turtle blood were extracted via QuEChERS and applied to primary green turtle skin fibroblast cell in vitro assays for two toxicity endpoints; cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. The trace element analysis and bioassay results indicated site-specific differences between foraging populations. In particular, turtles from Moreton Bay, a heavily populated coastal embayment, had pronounced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress from organic blood extracts, and elevated concentrations of Cs, Ag, and Zn relative to the other sites. Incorporating traditional chemical analysis with novel effects-based methods can provide a comprehensive assessment of chemical risk in sea turtle populations, contributing to the conservation and management of these threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Cesar A Villa
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland, Australia
| | - Colin J Limpus
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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13
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Weltmeyer A, Dogruer G, Hollert H, Ouellet JD, Townsend K, Covaci A, Weijs L. Distribution and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and methoxylated polybrominated diphenylethers in different tissues of the green turtle Chelonia mydas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 277:116795. [PMID: 33640813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116795] [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: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Investigating environmental pollution is important to understand its impact on endangered species such as green turtles (Chelonia mydas). In this study, we investigated the accumulation and potential toxicity of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and naturally occurring MeO-PBDEs in liver, fat, kidney and muscle of turtles (n = 30) of different gender, size, year of death, location and health status. Overall, POP concentrations were low and accumulation was highest in liver and lowest in fat which is likely due to the poor health of several animals, causing a remobilization of lipids and associated compounds. PCBs and p,p'-DDE dominated the POP profiles, and relatively high MeO-PBDE concentrations (2'-MeO-BDE 68 up to 192 ng/g lw, 6-MeO-BDE 47 up to 79 ng/g lw) were detected in all tissues. Only few influences of factors such as age, gender and location were found. While concentrations were low compared to other marine wildlife, biological toxicity equivalences obtained by screening the tissue extracts using the micro-EROD assay ranged from 2.8 to 356 pg/g and the highest values were observed in muscle, followed by kidney and liver. This emphazises that pollutant mixtures found in the turtles have the potential to cause dioxin-like effects in these animals and that dioxin-like compounds should not be overlooked in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Weltmeyer
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Gülsah Dogruer
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia; Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Ijmuiden, the Netherlands
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Jacob D Ouellet
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Kathy Townsend
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Australia
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Weijs
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
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14
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Finlayson KA, Madden Hof CA, van de Merwe JP. Development and application of species-specific cell-based bioassays to assess toxicity in green sea turtles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:142095. [PMID: 33076209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite the detection of a wide range of contaminants in the blood of green turtle populations foraging in three locations of northern Queensland - Upstart Bay, Cleveland Bay and the Howick Group of Reefs, little is known about the effects of these contaminants on turtle health. Newly developed cell-based bioassays using green turtle primary cell cultures provide an ethical, reproducible, and high-throughput method for assessing the risk of chemical exposure sea turtles. In this project, the toxicity of six priority metals (Mn, Co, Mo, As, Sb, Cu) and blood extracts from foraging turtles were tested in two bioassays adapted to green turtle primary skin and liver cells. Cytotoxicity of metals and blood extracts was measured in primary skin fibroblast cells using a resazurin assay. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was measured in primary skin fibroblasts and primary liver epithelial cells following exposure to metals and blood extracts. Arsenic, molybdenum, cobalt and copper were found to be cytotoxic to green turtle skin cells. Only manganese, cobalt and copper were found to alter GST activity, predominantly in skin cells, indicating a higher sensitivity of green turtle skin cells compared to liver cells. Effect concentrations of metals in both bioassays were above concentrations found in turtle blood. Turtle blood extracts from the three foraging grounds showed differences in cytotoxicity and GST activity. In both assays, blood extracts of turtles from Upstart Bay were the most toxic, followed by those from Cleveland Bay, then the Howick Reefs, suggesting turtles from Upstart Bay and Cleveland Bay may be at risk from current concentrations of organic contaminants. This study demonstrates that species-specific cell-based bioassays can be used effectively to assess chemical risk in sea turtles and their foraging grounds, and could be applied to assess chemical risk in other marine wildlife.
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15
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Barraza AD, Komoroske LM, Allen CD, Eguchi T, Gossett R, Holland E, Lawson DD, LeRoux RA, Lorenzi V, Seminoff JA, Lowe CG. Persistent organic pollutants in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabiting two urbanized Southern California habitats. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 153:110979. [PMID: 32275536 PMCID: PMC7174570 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Within Southern California, east Pacific green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) forage year-round, taking advantage of diverse food resources, including seagrass, marine algae, and invertebrates. Assessing persistent organic pollutants (POP) in green turtle aggregations in the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (SBNWR, n = 17) and San Diego Bay (SDB, n = 25) can help quantify contamination risks for these populations. Blood plasma was analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PCBs and body size explained much of the separation of turtles by foraging aggregation in a principal component analysis. Turtles from SDB had significantly (p < 0.001) higher total PCBs than SBNWR turtles. Most PCBs detected in turtles were non-dioxin-like PCB congeners (153, 138, 99) that are associated with neurotoxicity. Recaptured turtles' POP levels changed significantly over time indicating significant variation in POP levels through time and space, even among adjacent foraging locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur D Barraza
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA.
| | - Lisa M Komoroske
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Camryn D Allen
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA; The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Protected Species Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Tomoharu Eguchi
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rich Gossett
- Institute for Integrated Research on Materials, Environment, and Society, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Erika Holland
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Daniel D Lawson
- Long Beach Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Robin A LeRoux
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Varenka Lorenzi
- Institute for Integrated Research on Materials, Environment, and Society, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Seminoff
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christopher G Lowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
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16
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Speer RM, Wise SS, Croom-Perez TJ, Aboueissa AM, Martin-Bras M, Barandiaran M, Bermúdez E, Wise JP. A comparison of particulate hexavalent chromium cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human and leatherback sea turtle lung cells from a one environmental health perspective. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 376:70-81. [PMID: 31108106 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating health risks of environmental contaminants can be better achieved by considering toxic impacts across species. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a marine pollutant and global environmental contaminant. While Cr(VI) has been identified as a human lung carcinogen, health effects in marine species are poorly understood. Little is known about how Cr(VI) might impact humans and marine species differently. This study used a One Environmental Health Approach to compare the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of particulate Cr(VI) in human and leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) lung fibroblasts. Leatherbacks may experience prolonged exposures to environmental contaminants and provide insight to how environmental exposures affect health across species. Since humans and leatherbacks may experience prolonged exposure to Cr(VI), and prolonged Cr(VI) exposure leads to carcinogenesis in humans, in this study we considered both acute and prolonged exposures. We found particulate Cr(VI) induced cytotoxicity in leatherback cells comparable to human cell data supporting current research that shows Cr(VI) impacts health across species. To better understand mechanisms of Cr(VI) toxicity we assessed the genotoxic effects of particulate Cr(VI) in human and leatherback cells. Particulate Cr(VI) induced similar genotoxicity in both cell lines, however, human cells arrested at lower concentrations than leatherback cells. We also measured intracellular Cr ion concentrations and found after prolonged exposure human cells accumulated more Cr than leatherback cells. These data indicate Cr(VI) is a health concern for humans and leatherbacks. The data also suggest humans and leatherbacks respond to chemical exposure differently, possibly leading to the discovery of species-specific protective mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Speer
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 500 S Preston St, Rm 1422, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America
| | - Sandra S Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 500 S Preston St, Rm 1422, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America
| | - Tayler J Croom-Perez
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 500 S Preston St, Rm 1422, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America
| | | | - Mark Martin-Bras
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 500 S Preston St, Rm 1422, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America; Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, 138 Calle Flamboyan, Vieques 00765, Puerto Rico
| | - Mike Barandiaran
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Rd 997 km 3.2, Vieques 00765, Puerto Rico
| | - Erick Bermúdez
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Rd 997 km 3.2, Vieques 00765, Puerto Rico
| | - John Pierce Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, 500 S Preston St, Rm 1422, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America.
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