Mitigation of nitrite toxicity by increased salinity is associated with multiple physiological responses: A case study using an economically important model species, the juvenile obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus)

Antioxidant response to ZnO nanoparticles in juvenile Takifugu obscurus: protective effects of salinity

The extensive utilization of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has garnered significant attention due to their detrimental impacts on ecosystem. Unfortunately, ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs in coastal waters with fluctuating salinity has been disregarded. This study mainly discussed the toxic effects of ZnO NPs on species inhabiting the transition zones between freshwater and brackish water, who are of great ecological and economic importance among fish. To serve as the model organism, Takifugu obscurus, a juvenile euryhaline fish, was exposed to different ZnO NPs concentrations (0-200 mg/L) and salinity levels (0 and 15 ppt). The results showed that a moderate increase in salinity (15 ppt) could alleviate the toxic effect of ZnO NPs, as evidenced by improved survival rates. The integrated biomarker response index on oxidative stress also revealed that the toxicity of ZnO NPs was higher in freshwater compared to brackish water. These outcomes can be attributed to higher salinity (15 ppt) reducing the bioavailability of ZnO NPs by facilitating their aggregation and inhibiting the release of metal ions. It is noteworthy that elevated salinity was found to alleviate ZnO NPs toxicity by means of osmotic adjustment via the activation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity. This study demonstrates the salinity-dependent effect of ZnO NPs on T. obscurus, suggesting the possibility for euryhaline fish like T. obscurus to adapt their habitat towards more saline environments, under constant exposure to ZnO NPs.

Salinity-dependent mitigation of naphthalene toxicity in migratory Takifugu obscurus juveniles: Implications for survival, oxidative stress, and osmoregulation

Naphthalene, an environmental pollutant classified as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), can induce toxicity in fish and other aquatic organisms. Through our investigation, we determined how Takifugu obscurus juveniles were affected by naphthalene (0, 2 mg L-1) exposure in terms of oxidative stress biomarkers and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in various tissues (gill, liver, kidney and muscle) under dissimilar salinities (0, 10 psu). Results suggest that naphthalene exposure significantly affects the survival of T. obscurus juveniles and leads to significant changes in the levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, which are indicative of oxidative stress and emphasized the risks associated with osmoregulatory function. The higher salinity affected on the noxious effects of naphthalene can be observed, resulting in decreased biomarker levels and increased Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Salinity levels affected the uptake of naphthalene and its impact on different tissues, with high salinity conditions having mitigating effects on oxidative stress and naphthalene uptake in the liver and kidney tissues. Increased Na+/K+-ATPase activity was observed in all tissues treated with 10 psu and 2 mg L-1 naphthalene. Our findings deepen the understanding of T. obscurus juveniles' physiological responses to naphthalene exposure, and highlight the potential mitigating effects of salinity. These insights can inform the development of appropriate conservation and management practices to protect aquatic organisms from susceptibility.

Novel synergistic metabolic processes for phenanthrene biodegradation by a nitrate-reducing phenanthrene-degrading culture and an anammox culture

The synergistic metabolism by anammox cultures and nitrate-reducers for anaerobic PAH biodegradation is largely unknown, including whether anammox culture and which kind of anammox bacterium can perform nitrogen metabolism in the anaerobic PAH biodegradation processes, the inhibitory effect of PAH on anammox activity and nitrite on PAH-degrading nitrate-reducers activity, and the synergistic metabolic processes. Herein, an anammox culture that can eliminate nitrite accumulation and decrease inorganic carbon emission during anaerobic phenanthrene (a model of PAH in this study) biodegradation, the synergistic mechanism for phenanthrene biodegradation by a nitrate-reducer and such anammox culture, and the inhibition effect of phenanthrene on such anammox culture and nitrite on a phenanthrene-degrading nitrate-reducer were newly discussed. The results showed that nitrite largely accumulated during anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation (nitrate accumulation is a common phenomenon for the biodegradation of refractory matter, including PAHs, by nitrate-reducers) by a nitrate-reducer, PheN2, which mineralizes phenanthrene to inorganic carbon, and nitrite was verified as an inhibiting factor for further biodegradation. Anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation rates and nitrite concentrations (0-7 mM) appeared to have a negative linear correlation. The anammox culture that mainly contained Candidatus Kuenenia was newly found to efficiently reduce nitrite accumulation and inorganic carbon emissions and significantly promote biodegradation efficiency by ∼1.94-fold. Our results showed that phenanthrene absorbed in and on anammox cells had a more direct relationship with the inhibitory effect on anammox activity than phenanthrene in the environment, and 15.2 mg/gVSS phenanthrene absorbed in and on the cells (4 mM concentration in the culture) showed nearly complete inhibition of anammox culture in this study. In addition, few (less than 2% abundance) anammox bacteria were found to be enough for the removal of nitrite produced from anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation. In an ideal world, co-pollutants of ammonia, nitrate, phenanthrene, and nitrite could be converted to nitrogen gas and biomass by the synergistic metabolism of anammox cultures and nitrate reducers. Our study reveals a new synergistic process that may exist in our environments for PAH elimination by an anammox culture and a nitrate-reducer, which provides a new strategy for the bioremediation of PAH-polluted anoxic zones.

Exposure to nitrate induces alterations in blood parameter responses, liver immunity, and lipid metabolism in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Nitrate (NO₃^-) pollution of waterbodies has attracted significant global attention as it poses a serious threat to aquatic organisms and human beings. This study aimed to evaluate the role of NO₃^-, an end product of biological nitrification processes, in immune status and lipid metabolism to have a comprehensive understanding of its toxic effects on fishes. Therefore, in this work, juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were subjected to four nominal concentrations of NO₃^- (i.e., 0, 50, 200, 400 mg/L of NO₃^--N) for a 60-day period. The results indicated that increased exposure to NO₃^- (200 and/or 400 mg/L) enhanced the concentrations of plasma heat shock protein concentrations (HSP70), complement component 3 (C3), complement component 4 (C4), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and lysozyme (LYS), which meant that NO₃^-caused fluctuations in the plasma immune system. Higher exposure to NO₃^- (200 and/or 400 mg/L) also caused significant enhancements in plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), as well as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity. Furthermore, NO₃^- exposure resulted in upregulation of liver TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP70, HSP90, and LYS. Additionally, the results suggested that NO₃^-exposure caused a certain degree of histological damage and inflammation in the liver and activated the immune defense processes of juvenile turbot. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of certain genes associated with lipid metabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha [PPAR-α], carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1[CPT1], liver X receptor [LXR] together with sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 [SREBP-1]) increased significantly within fish liver exposed to 200/400 mg/L NO₃^--N treatments. Finally, the results obtained from the analysis of the integrated biological responses version 2 (IBRv2) also confirmed the toxic effects of NO₃^- on juvenile turbot. According to these findings, it can be found that NO₃^- emission in the aquatic environment needs to be strictly controlled, as it may cause immune and lipid metabolism disorders in fish.

Acute nitrite exposure-induced oxidative damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis caused gill tissue damage of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Relieved by dietary protein

Nitrite poses a serious threat to intensive aquaculture. Protein, as a major nutrient in animals, is vital for protecting animal tissues from damage. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of dietary protein on gill tissue structure and the underlying mechanisms in sub-adult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exposed to nitrite stress. Six iso-energetic semi-purified diets containing different protein levels (16-31 %) were formulated, and fed to fish for 60 d. The fish were then exposed to a nitrite solution for 4 d. Histopathological observation and determination of related indices (serum glucose, serum cortisol, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl) showed that 22-25 % dietary protein significantly alleviated the nitrite-induced stress response, gill tissue damage and oxidative damage. Further research found that a suitable dietary protein suppressed the nitrite-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) related signaling pathway which possibly activated autophagy and apoptosis. Interestingly, we discovered that proper dietary protein reduced autophagy, probably through unc-51-like kinase 1 (Ulk1), BCL-2-interacting myosin-like coiled-coil protein (Beclin1), autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5), Atg12, microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3 (LC3), BCL-2 interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and autophagy receptor P62 (p62). We also found that an appropriate dietary protein inhibited nitrite-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial and death receptor pathways. In summary, our findings are the first to demonstrate that 22-25 % of dietary protein levels can play a protective role against nitrite-induced gill injury.

Nitrite Stress Induces Oxidative Stress and Leads to Muscle Quality Decreased in Wuchang Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih) Juveniles

To determine the effects of nitrite exposure on muscle quality and physiological functions in Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), we exposed M. amblycephala juveniles to acute nitrite (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 mg/L), and the muscle and blood samples were measured at 12, 24, 48, and 96 h. The results showed that when exposed to nitrite for 12 h, the concentrations of blood glucose, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the 20 mg/L experimental group had the maximum value. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased significantly in a dose-dependently manner and peaked at 96 h in the 20 mg/L group. During 96 h of exposure to nitrite, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity in the liver of the 20 mg/L experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group, while the concentration of muscle glycogen showed a downtrend. At 12 h and 96 h, the hardness of the four experimental groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. Our research shows that acute sodium nitrite exposure will not only cause oxidative stress and decreased muscle quality in M. amblycephala juveniles but also will be accompanied by changes in serum biochemical index, liver antioxidant capacity, muscle physiological characteristics, and muscle physical characteristics. Preliminary speculation may be that acute nitrite exposure may cause M. amblycephala juveniles to choose to reduce muscle quality and activate antioxidant systems.

Raney nickel coupled nascent hydrogen as a novel strategy for enhanced reduction of nitrate and nitrite

Raney nickel (R-Ni) is a cost-effective hydrogenation catalyst, and nascent hydrogen (Nas-H₂) generated in situ on the cathode trends to more reactive than commercial hydrogen (Com-H₂). In the present work, nitrate and nitrite (NO_X^-) reduction via R-Ni/Nas-H₂ catalytic system was investigated. The results show that hydrogenation of NO_X^- (C₀ = 3.0 mM) follows pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with kinetic constants of 5.18 × 10^-2 min^-1 (NO₃^-) and 6.46 × 10^-2 min^-1 (NO₂^-). The saturation demand for Nas-H₂ is only 0.8 mL min^-1 at a fixed R-Ni dosage of 1.0 g L^-1. The experiments reveal that both Nas-H₂ and hydrogen adatoms (H_ads∗) can drive the reduction of NO_X^-. The improved reduction ratios of NO_X^- are attributed to two aspects: (1) the micro/nano-sized Nas-H₂ bubbles exhibits increased reactivity due to the fine dispersion of the hydrogen molecules; (2) the alkaline environment formed by the cathode positively maintain R-Ni activity, thus, Nas-H₂ bubbles were more readily activated to generate powerful H_ads∗. The results give insight into NO_X^- hydrogenation via introducing fine hydrogen resource, and can develop an efficient catalytic hydrogenation technique without noble metals.

Copper nanoparticles induce the formation of fatty liver in Takifugu fasciatus triggered by the PERK-EIF2α- SREBP-1c pathway

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), a new pollutant in water environments, were widely used in various industrial and commercial applications. This study indicated that the presence of CuNPs exposure under environmental related concentration is an inducing factor that contributes to the fatty liver formation in Takifugu fasciatus. Furthermore, we explored the fatty liver formation mechanism. The results shown, (1) the cloned genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) (GRP78, IRE-1α, PERK, and ATF-6α) were highly expressed in the liver of T. fasciatus. (2) after 30-days exposure, CuNPs accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum of liver and induced the appearance of ERS, then activated unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the SREBP-1c pathway that plays a key role in lipid synthesis was activated. (3) by using 4-PBA and GSK inhibitors to respectively stimulate ERS and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) through in vitro experiments, we confirmed that CuNPs induced the fatty liver formation in T. fasciatus triggered by the PERK-EIF2α pathway by activating the SREBP-1c pathway to promote fatty liver formation. This study provides a new perspective for identifying the pathogens of fatty liver formation, and adds to the knowledge of the ecological safety data service of CuNPs in water.

Toxic microcystis reduces tolerance of daphnia to increased chloride, and low chloride alleviates the harm of toxic microcystis to daphnia

Salinization of freshwater ecosystems caused by human activities and climate change is a global problem that threatens freshwater resources and aquatic organisms. The aggravation of salinization and the presence of cyanobacterial blooms may pose a serious threat to crustacean zooplankton Daphnia. To test the consequences of these effects, we exposed Daphnia magna to the combined treatments of different chloride concentrations and three food compositions (100% Chlorella pyrenoidosa, 90% C. pyrenoidosa + 10% toxic Microcystis aeruginosa, 80% C. pyrenoidosa + 20% toxic M. aeruginosa) for 21 days, recorded relevant life history indicators, and fitted them using Sigmoidal and Gaussian model if appropriate. Results showed that both increased chloride and the presence of toxic M. aeruginosa in the food had significantly negative effects on key life history traits and clearance rate, and the two factors also had a significant interaction on the survival, development, and reproduction of D. magna. The maximum values of the key life-history traits and clearance rate, the median effect chloride concentrations, and the optimal chloride concentrations derived from the models showed that the survival, reproduction, and clearance rate of D. magna were threatened by high chloride concentrations, which were exacerbated by the presence of toxic M. aeruginosa, but lower concentration of chloride was beneficial to D. magna to resist toxic M. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the combined effects of increasing chloride concentration and cyanobacterial blooms have severely adverse impacts on cladocerans, which may cause cladocera population to decline more rapidly and potentially disrupt the food webs of aquatic ecosystems.

Adsorption Capability of Fe-HT3.0 for Nitrite and Nitrate Ions in a Binary Solution System

In this study, the adsorption capability of Fe-HT3.0 for nitrite and nitrate ions in a binary solution system was evaluated. It was found that the amount of nitrite and nitrate ions adsorbed in a single solution (1.19 and 1.27 mmol/g, respectively) was higher than that in a binary solution (0.36 and 0.90 mmol/g, respectively). Equilibrium adsorption was attained within 6-24 h. The adsorption data were fitted to a pseudo-second-order model (correlation coefficient: 0.999), and indicated that the adsorption of both nitrite and nitrate ions is controlled by chemical sorption. Additionally, the binding energies before and after the adsorption of nitrite and nitrate ions in the binary solution system were measured. After adsorption, new nitrogen peaks (approx. 399 and 403 eV) were detected. The results of this study show the potential of Fe-HT3.0 for the removal of nitrite and nitrate ions from aqueous solution systems.

The key differentially expressed genes and proteins related to immune response in the spleen of pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus) infected by Aeromonas hydrophila

The immune mechanism elicited in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus) against the invasion of Aeromonas hydrophila is still poorly understood. We examined the spleen of pufferfish at the transcriptome and proteome levels by using Illumina-seq and TMT coupled mass spectrometry after 12 h infection by A. hydrophila, respectively. A total of 2,339 genes (1,512 up-regulated and 827 down-regulated) and 537 (237 up-regulated and 300 down-regulated) proteins were identified. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the responses to stimulus were the main biological processes, intestinal immune network for IgT production and calcium signaling pathway. Fourteen genes (8 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated) and proteins (5 up-regulated and 9 down-regulated) involved immune responses or signal transduction were validated by qRT-PCR and parallel reaction monitoring to confirm the reliability of the transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, respectively. Moreover, qRT-PCR and flow cytometry were used to detect dynamics of the genes in calcium signaling pathway and changes of concentration of cytoplasm Ca²⁺ in spleen cells within a 72 h challenge. This study provides the findings regarding immune response, especially intestinal immune network for IgT production pathway and calcium signaling pathway at the molecular, protein and cellular in pufferfish after infection by A. hydrophila. These results would provide a new insight and molecular targets into the response to pathogenic infection in pufferfish.

Increased sensitivity of subantarctic marine invertebrates to copper under a changing climate - Effects of salinity and temperature

Stressors associated with climate change and contaminants, resulting from the activities of humans, are affecting organisms and ecosystems globally. Previous studies suggest that the unique characteristics of polar biota, such as slower metabolisms and growth, and the generally stable conditions in their natural environment, cause higher susceptibility to contamination and climate change than those in temperate and tropical areas. We investigated the effects of increased temperature and decreased salinity on copper toxicity in four subantarctic marine invertebrates using realistic projected conditions under a future climatic change scenario for this region. We hypothesised that these relatively subtle shifts in environmental stressors would impact the sensitivity of cold-adapted species to copper. The four test species were: a copepod Harpacticus sp.; isopod Limnoria stephenseni; flatworm Obrimoposthia ohlini; and bivalve Gaimardia trapesina. These species occupy a range of ecological niches, spanning intertidal and subtidal nearshore zones. We predicted that species would differ in their tolerance to stressors, depending on where they occurred within this ecological gradient. Organisms were exposed to the multiple stressors in a factorial design in laboratory based toxicity tests. Sensitivity estimates for copper (LC50) were calculated using a novel statistical approach which directly assessed the impacts of the multiple stressors. In three of the four species tested, sensitivity to copper was amplified by small increases in temperature (2-4 °C). The effects of salinity were more variable but a decrease of as little as 2 ppt caused a significant effect in one species. This study provides some of the first evidence that high latitude species may be at increased risk from contaminants under projected future climate conditions. This interaction, between contaminants and the abiotic environment, highlights a potential pathway to biodiversity loss under a changing climate.

Individual and combined effects of salinity and lipopolysaccharides on the immune response of juvenile Takifugu fasciatus

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and salinity are important variables in aquatic environments. High concentration of LPS and large changes in salinity seriously threat the survival of a variety of organisms, including fish. To reveal the effects of salinity and LPS on a fish immune response, we measured the immune-related parameters (total leukocyte count, total serum protein, albumin and globulin concentrations, complement C3 concentration, and lysozyme activity) and genes (the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and SOCS1-3 at the mRNA and protein levels) of juvenile Takifugu fasciatus exposed to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or LPS (25 μg mL^-1) under different salinities (0, 15, and 30 ppt) for 24 h. Changes in key immunological indicators suggested that the LPS challenge induced considerable damage to T. fasciatus, whereas an increase in salinity mitigated the harmful effects. Moreover, although the immune responses in blood and other selected tissues (gill and kidney) were suppressed with an increase in salinity, the increased response in liver in saltwater enabled T. fasciatus to conquer large salinity variation during migration. The appropriate addition of salts appeared to be a sensible strategy to mitigate LPS-induced toxicity in the aquaculture of T. fasciatus.

The design of a polyaniline-decorated three dimensional W18O49 composite for full solar spectrum light driven photocatalytic removal of aqueous nitrite with high N2 selectivity

Photocatalysis using solar energy is the most promising green technology for nitrite removal. However, effective photocatalytic performance is often challenged by the limited light absorption, utilization of expensive noble metals and undesired products (nitrate and ammonium). Here, we report for the first time that a full solar light response polyaniline-decorated three dimensional W₁₈O₄₉ composite (PANI@W₁₈O₄₉), a noble metal-free photocatalyst, possesses excellent photocatalytic activity for aqueous nitrite removal with high N₂ selectivity. The prepared sample was thoroughly identified via XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM, TEM, UV-vis DRS and PL. The catalytic results demonstrated that over 80% N₂ selectivity (initial concentration 1.0 mM) was achieved through the PANI@W₁₈O₄₉ without sacrificial agent under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation for 60 min. Such advantages were attributed to the built-in junction between n-type W₁₈O₄₉ and p-type PANI, offering suitable redox levels of electron-hole pairs for NO₂^- reaction. The modification of PANI also benefited the light harvesting ability and activated carriers migration, the calculated rate constant of PANI@W₁₈O₄₉ is about four times as high as that of W₁₈O₄₉. The current study not only prepared a promising photocatalyst, but also provides new insights into improving the photocatalytic activity and N₂ selectivity for nitrite treatment.

High concentration of Phaeocystis globosa reduces the sensitivity of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to cadmium: Based on an exponential approach fitting the changes in some key life-history traits

Most coastal waters are at risk of heavy metal pollution, and the biomass of primary producer phytoplankton always fluctuates, which usually causes zooplankton to be exposed in different concentrations of food and heavy metal. Phytoplankton abundance and heavy metal may interact on zooplankton. Therefore, to assess the definite interactive way, in this study we investigated the combined effects of different cadmium (Cd) levels and Phaeocystis globosa concentrations on some key life-history traits of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Results showed that the Cd level and P. globosa concentration had a significant interaction on the key life-history parameters of the rotifer. Mid-level algal concentrations (5-36 × 10⁴ cells mL^-1) had an apparent effect on brood production and the number of rotifers producing offspring at high Cd level. The time to first reproduction exponentially decreased with increasing P. globosa concentrations under any Cd levels and then subsequently reached a constant value. With increasing P. globosa concentration, the total number of offspring exponentially increased and then reached the asymptotic value; the survival time under any Cd levels exponentially decreased with the increasing P. globosa concentration and subsequently tended to be a constant value. Without Cd, the low P. globosa concentration only decreased the reproduction of rotifers. However, the extreme low P. globosa concentration (1-3 × 10⁴ cells mL^-1) under higher Cd level (0.0354 mM) completely inhibited the reproduction and also shorten the survival time. Higher Cd level decreased the asymptotic total offspring per rotifer and survival time. High concentration of P. globosa can reduce the sensitivity of rotifer to heavy metal. However, the negative effects could not be eliminated completely by the increasing P. globosa concentration. The findings indicated that ecotoxicological studies on the toxicity of heavy metal need to consider the effects of food concentrations, which contributes to understanding the diverse tolerance of zooplankton to heavy metals.

Adsorption characteristics of nitrite on natural filter medium: Kinetic, equilibrium, and site energy distribution studies

Nitrite is one of the world's major contaminants in drinking water resources, and granular anthracite is often used as filter medium in water treatment. In this study, the adsorption characteristics of nitrite on granular anthracite under various temperatures were investigated through adsorption kinetic, isotherm models, and site energy distribution theory. The adsorption of nitrite on granular anthracite was an endothermic reaction, while intraparticle diffusion was not the only rate control step. The adsorption could be well described by using pseudo-second-order and Langmuir-Freundlich equations. The adsorption capacity was 402.51 mg NO₂^--N kg^-1 at 298 K, which could be significantly improved to 1380.1 mg NO₂^--N kg^-1 when the temperature reached 308 K. Furthermore, nitrite ions first occupied the high-energy adsorption sites and then diffused to the low-energy adsorption sites on granular anthracite. There were more sites, including high-energy sites and low-energy sites, for nitrite adsorption at 308 K. Besides, the thickness of the boundary layer increased with the adsorption capacity improved at a higher temperature, and nitrite ions were adsorbed mainly through chemical mechanisms. Moreover, the neutral pH was helpful for the adsorption. The presence of co-existing ions could limit the adsorption and the effect followed the order of PO₄^3- > CO₃^2- > SO₄^2- > NO₃^- > Cl^-. The saturated anthracite could be effectively regenerated by 0.2 mol L^-1 HCl solution. Therefore, the granular anthracite used as filter medium also has a possible application as a nitrite scavenger at the same time.

Interactive effects of temperature and salinity on the survival, oxidative stress, and Na+/K+-ATPase activity of newly hatched obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus) larvae

Obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus) is an anadromous fish widely distributed around the coastal and inland rivers in East Asia. T. obscurus often encounters fluctuations in temperature and salinity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the interactions of temperature and salinity on survival and oxidative stress response of newly hatched T. obscurus larvae. A combination of three temperatures (19, 25, and 31 °C) and three salinities (0, 10, and 20 ppt) was applied for 96 h under laboratory conditions. The newly hatched larvae could not tolerate 31 °C for 96 h. No death was recorded at other temperatures during this experiment. Malondialdehyde concentrations increased significantly after 6 h of exposure to high salinity (10 and 20 ppt) and then decreased until the end of the experiment at each temperature. The highest superoxide dismutase activity was observed under the exposure to 20 ppt for 24 h at 31 °C. Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity significantly increased as salinity increased, especially at low temperatures. With the prolong of exposure time, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) values showed an increase until 48 h and then declined at 96 h in most treatments. The largest IBR value appeared when larvae were exposed to the highest temperature and salinity for 24 h. Our study indicated that high temperature with high salinity may negatively affect the early development of T. obscurus and their combined effects should be considered in the larvae culture.

Facile synthesis of highly porous CuO nanoplates (NPs) for ultrasensitive and highly selective nitrogen dioxide/nitrite sensing

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoplates (NPs of ∼100 nm width) were successfully synthesized via a chemical method (emulsion method). Superior catalytic activities towards both chemical and electrochemical sensing of nitrite were achieved.

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoplates (NPs of ∼100 nm width) have been successfully synthesized by using a chemical method (emulsion method). Superior catalytic activities towards both chemical and electrochemical sensing of nitrite were achieved.

Copper nanoparticles induced oxidation stress, cell apoptosis and immune response in the liver of juvenile Takifugu fasciatus

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) are a new pollutant in aquaculture, representing a hazard to aquatic organisms. We investigated the effects of Cu NPs exposure on oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune response in an economically important model species, Takifugu fasciatus. The juvenile fish were exposed to control, 20 or 100 μg Cu NPs/L for 30 days. The growth of T. fasciatus was inhibited after Cu NPs exposure. Copper accumulation in liver increased with increasing Cu NPs dose. Oxidative stress indicators [malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH)], apoptosis index and activities of caspases (caspase-3, caspase-9) were all increased with the increase of Cu NPs concentration in liver. With an increase in Cu NPs dose, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase as well as cytochrome c (Cyt-c) concentration in mitochondria decreased, accompanied by increased Cyt-c concentration in cytosol. Apoptosis-related gene expressions of p53, caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax were increased with the increase of Cu NPs dose. However, the opposite result was found in Bcl2 expression. The physiological indicators of immune response [heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and lysozyme (LZM)] as well as the mRNA levels of HSP70, HSP90, IgM and C-LZM were all increased after Cu NPs exposure. Our results will be helpful in understanding the mechanism of Cu NPs toxicity in T. fasciatus.

Effects of waterborne nitrite on hematological parameters and stress indicators in olive flounders, Paralichthys olivaceus, raised in bio-floc and seawater

Juvenile olive flounders, Paralichthys olivaceus (mean weight 2.69 ± 0.31 g), were raised in bio-floc and seawater for six months, these P. olivaceus (mean weight 280.1 ± 10.5 g, mean length 28.37 ± 2.3 cm) were exposed to different concentrations of waterborne nitrite (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg NO₂^-/L) for 7 days. None of the P. olivaceus individuals exposed to bio-floc and seawater containing waterborne nitrite concentrations of 200 mg/L for 7 days survived. Hematological parameters (hemoglobin and hematocrit) were significantly reduced by nitrite exposure. Regarding plasma components, the concentrations of glucose, glutamic oxalate transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased significantly in response to nitrite exposure, whereas cholesterol concentrations significantly decreased. Stress indicators, including concentrations of plasma glucose, cortisol, and liver and gill concentrations of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were significantly increased by nitrite exposure. The results of the study indicate that nitrite exposure affected the hematological parameters and stress indicators of P. olivaceus raised in bio-floc and seawater, and these changes were more prominent in the P. olivaceus raised in seawater than those raised in bio-floc.

Integrative Biomarker Assessment of the Influence of Saxitoxin on Marine Bivalves: A Comparative Study of the Two Bivalve Species Oysters, Crassostrea gigas, and Scallops, Chlamys farreri

Harmful algae blooms have expanded greatly in recent decades, and their secreted toxins pose a severe threat to human health and marine ecosystems. Saxitoxin (STX) is a main paralytic shellfish poison naturally produced by marine microalgae of the genus Alexandrium. Despite numerous studies have assessed the impacts of STX on marine bivalves, comparative in vivo study on the toxicity of STX on bivalves with distinct accumulation ability (such as oysters and scallops) has been seldom investigated. The aim of this study was to identify whether distinct sensitivity exists between oysters, Crassostrea gigas, and scallops, Chlamys farreri under the same amount of STX exposure using multiple biomarker responses. The responses of different biochemical markers including oxidative stress markers (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and lipid peroxidation) and immunotoxicity biomarkers (hemocyte phagocytosis rate, reactive oxidative species production, and DNA damages) were evaluated in bivalves after 12, 48, and 96 h of exposure to STX. The integrated biomarker responses value combined with two-way ANOVA analysis suggested that STX posed slightly severer stress on scallops than oysters for the extended period of time. This study provided preliminary results on the usefulness of a multi-biomarker approach to assess the toxicity associated with STX exposure in marine bivalves.

Poly(quercetin)-bismuth nanowires as a new modifier for simultaneous voltammetric determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers and nitrite

Dihydroxybenzene isomers and nitrite, NO₂⁻, are present in the environment as highly toxic compounds and cause human cancer. In this study, for the first time poly(quercetin) (PQ) was synthesized from the reaction between quercetin (Q) and hydroquinone (HQ) as a linker. Bismuth nanowires (BNWs) were synthesized using a solvothermal technique and then the BNWs and PQ were used for preparation of a novel modified graphite paste electrode (GPE/PQ–BNWs) for simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers; HQ, catechol (CC), resorcinol (RS) in the presence of NO₂⁻. The product was characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemical response characteristics of the modified GPE toward mix HQ, CC, RS and NO₂⁻ were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under the optimum conditions, detection limits of 0.12, 0.2, 0.82 and 4.5 μM were obtained for HQ, CC, RS and NO₂⁻, respectively. Moreover, the GPE/PQ–BNWs were applied to determine HQ, CC, RS and NO₂⁻ in water samples with satisfactory results.

Dihydroxybenzene isomers and nitrite, NO₂⁻, are present in environment as the high toxic compounds and cause human cancer. A novel GPE/PQ–BNWs for simultaneous determination dihydroxybenzene isomers; HQ, CC, RS in presence of NO₂⁻.