Evaluation of Complex Mixture Toxicity in the Milwaukee Estuary (WI, USA) Using Whole-Mixture and Component-Based Evaluation Methods

Anthropogenic activities introduce complex mixtures into aquatic environments, necessitating mixture toxicity evaluation during risk assessment. There are many alternative approaches that can be used to complement traditional techniques for mixture assessment. Our study aimed to demonstrate how these approaches could be employed for mixture evaluation in a target watershed. Evaluations were carried out over 2 years (2017-2018) across 8-11 study sites in the Milwaukee Estuary (WI, USA). Whole mixtures were evaluated on a site-specific basis by deploying caged fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) alongside composite samplers for 96 h and characterizing chemical composition, in vitro bioactivity of collected water samples, and in vivo effects in whole organisms. Chemicals were grouped based on structure/mode of action, bioactivity, and pharmacological activity. Priority chemicals and mixtures were identified based on their relative contributions to estimated mixture pressure (based on cumulative toxic units) and via predictive assessments (random forest regression). Whole mixture assessments identified target sites for further evaluation including two sites targeted for industrial/urban chemical mixture effects assessment; three target sites for pharmaceutical mixture effects assessment; three target sites for further mixture characterization; and three low-priority sites. Analyses identified 14 mixtures and 16 chemicals that significantly contributed to cumulative effects, representing high or medium priority targets for further ecotoxicological evaluation, monitoring, or regulatory assessment. Overall, our study represents an important complement to single-chemical prioritizations, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the cumulative effects of mixtures detected in a target watershed. Furthermore, it demonstrates how different tools and techniques can be used to identify diverse facets of mixture risk and highlights strategies that can be considered in future complex mixture assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1229-1256. © 2023 SETAC.

Rare malformations associated with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return: a cadaveric case report

A unique partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in combination with other rare malformations such as annular pancreas and a persistent umbilical vein was discovered in a female Caucasian cadaver during an anatomical dissection at the Paracelsus Medical University in Nuremberg, Germany. The pulmonary anomaly comprised of the aberrant left superior pulmonary vein connecting the superior lobe of the left lung with the left brachiocephalic vein resulting in a left to right shunt. An annular pancreas without any signs of probable symptom causing duodenal compression was additionally found. To complete the constellation of malformations, a persistent umbilical vein connecting to the inferior branch of the extrahepatic left portal vein running in the round ligament fissure of the liver was also observed. This rare constellation of malformations has been illustrated and thoroughly discussed with the currently available literature to develop a hypothesis for the genetic and developmental background.

Characterization of ice-nucleating bacteria using on-line electron impact ionization aerosol mass spectrometry

The mass spectral signatures of airborne bacteria were measured and analyzed in cloud simulation experiments at the AIDA (Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) facility. Suspensions of cultured cells in pure water were sprayed into the aerosol and cloud chambers forming an aerosol which consisted of intact cells, cell fragments and residual particles from the agar medium in which the bacteria were cultured. The aerosol particles were analyzed with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer equipped with a newly developed PM2.5 aerodynamic lens. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) using the multilinear engine (ME-2) source apportionment was applied to deconvolve the bacteria and agar mass spectral signatures. The bacteria mass fraction contributed between 75 and 95% depending on the aerosol generation, with the remaining mass attributed to agar. We present mass spectra of Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria typical for ice-nucleation active bacteria in the atmosphere to facilitate the distinction of airborne bacteria from other constituents in ambient aerosol, e.g. by PMF/ME-2 source apportionment analyses. Nitrogen-containing ions were the most salient feature of the bacteria mass spectra, and a combination of C4 H8 N(+) (m/z 70) and C5 H12 N(+) (m/z 86) may be used as marker ions.

Bovine whey fractionation based on cation-exchange chromatography

Bovine whey proteins have potential applications in veterinary medicine, food industry and as supplements for cell culture media. A fractionation scheme for the economically interesting proteins, such as IgG, lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase, based on cation exchangers was the goal of our investigations. A chromatographic process was developed where alpha-lactalbumin passes through the column and separation of the desired proteins is achieved. Four different cation-exchange media (S-HyperD-F, S-Sepharose FF, Fractogel EMD SO3- 650 (S) and Macro-Prep High S Support) were compared in regard to their dynamic binding capacity for IgG and their different elution behaviours when sequential step gradients with NaCl buffers were applied. Peak fractions were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Lactoperoxidase activity was monitored by the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine. In order to explain the different resolution behaviours, isocratic runs with pure standards of whey proteins were performed. The k' values were calculated and plotted against salt concentration. Fractogel EMD had the highest binding capacity for IgG, 3.7 mg/ml gel at a linear flow-rate of 100 cm/h, but the resolution was low compared to that with the other three media. S-Hyper D and S-Sepharose FF showed lower capacities, 3.3 and 3.2 mg/ml gel, respectively, but exhibited better protein resolution. These effects could be partially explained by the k' versus salt concentration plots. The binding capacity of Macro-Prep S was considerably lower compared to that of the other resins investigated because its selectivity for whey proteins was completely different. S-Sepharose FF and S-Hyper D combine relatively high dynamic capacity for IgG and good resolution. Compared to studies with standard proteins, such as 100 mg/ml bovine serum albumin for S-Hyper D, their binding capacities were very low. Even after removal of low-molecular-mass compounds, the capacity could not be improved significantly. The running conditions (low pH) were responsible for the low protein binding capacity, since low-molecular-mass compounds in the feed do not compete with the adsorption of whey protein. The dynamic capacity did not decrease to a large extent within the range of flow-rates (100-600 cm/h) investigated. The dynamic capacity of HyperD and Fractogel was at least five times higher when pure bovine IgG was used for determination. In conclusion, S-Sepharose FF, S-Hyper D-F and Fractogel EMD SO3- 650 (S) are considered as successful candidates for the large-scale purification of bovine whey proteins.