Copper toxicity in the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias): urea loss contributes to the osmoregulatory disturbance.

Previous research showed that the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, is much more sensitive to silver exposure than typical marine teleosts. The aim of the present study was to investigate if spiny dogfish were equally sensitive to copper exposure and whether the toxic mechanisms were the same. We exposed cannulated and non-cannulated spiny dogfish to measured concentrations of Cu (nominally 0, 500, 1000 and 1500 microg L(-1) Cu) for 72-96 h. All Cu exposures induced acidosis and lactate accumulation of either a temporary (500 microg L(-1)) or more persistent nature (1000 and 1500 microg L(-1)). At the two highest Cu concentrations, gill Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activities were reduced by 45% (1000 microg L(-1)) and 62% (1500 microg L(-1)), and plasma Na(+) and Cl(-) concentrations increased by approximately 50 mM each. At the same time urea excretion doubled and plasma urea dropped by approximately 100 mM. Together with plasma urea, plasma TMAO levels dropped proportionally, indicating that the general impermeability of the gills was compromised. Overall plasma osmolarity did not change. Cu accumulation was limited with significant increases in plasma Cu and elevated gill and kidney Cu burdens at 1000 and 1500 microg L(-1). We conclude that Cu, like Ag, exerts toxic effect on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activities in the shark similar to those of teleosts, but there is an additional toxic action on elasmobranch urea retention capacities. With a 96 h LC(50) in the 800-1000 microg L(-1) range, overall sensitivity of spiny dogfish for Cu is, in contrast with its sensitivity to Ag, only slightly lower than in typical marine teleosts.

Swimming performance and energy metabolism of rainbow trout, common carp and gibel carp respond differently to sublethal copper exposure.

We compared the effects of sublethal waterborne copper exposure on swimming performance and respiration rates in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, with those in less sensitive cyprinid species such as common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio. These cyprinids are considerably more resistant to Cu intoxication, and differ from trout in swimming performance and respiratory behaviour. Critical swimming speed (U(crit)), oxygen consumption, plasma ammonia and muscle ammonia, lactate and pH were measured during a 28-day sublethal exposure to 1 microM Cu. U(crit) decreased with 48, 31 and 13% within the first 12-24 h for rainbow trout, common and gibel respectively. Gibel carp recovered quickly and experienced no further reduction in swimming performance. Recovery of swimming capacity in rainbow trout and common carp was only partial. All three species displayed similar plasma ammonia peaks in the first hours to days, and a more gradual muscle ammonia accumulation over time. Whereas no signs of respiratory stress occurred in rainbow trout, common carp experienced a transient reduction in oxygen consumption combined with anaerobic metabolism after 24 h of exposure. At the same time, oxygen consumption was also reduced in gibel carp, but no signs of anaerobic metabolism were detected. Cu accumulated quickly to similar levels (36-39 microg g(-1) dry weight at day 3) in the gills of all three species, after which accumulation leveled off. Liver tissue of rainbow trout had a high Cu level from the start, and Cu concentration did not show any additional accumulation. In contrast, common carp liver showed a significant Cu accumulation from day 3 onwards, while accumulation in gibel livers was much slower and was significant from day 7 onwards. Interestingly, Cu accumulation patterns in plasma and kidney revealed a possibly important role for the kidney in Cu homeostasis of gibel carp.

Accumulation of 99Tc in duckweed Lemna minor L. as a function of growth rate and 99Tc concentration.

This study focuses on the question of whether short-term studies can be used to forecast the accumulation of the long-lived fission product 99Tc in duckweed, Lemna minor L., grown in the field; in other words, are the accumulation parameters independent of changing growth rates typical of natural populations of duckweed. Two processes determine the 99Tc accumulation: (i) uptake and release of 99TcO4-, characterised by a concentration factor, Kd, and (ii) first-order reduction and complexation of TcVII, characterised by kred. At various 99Tc concentrations, the growth, total Tc and TcO4- accumulation were monitored over 10 days; parameters were fitted and compared with earlier results. Both Kd and kred turn out to be independent of time, concentration and growth rate up to a concentration of 10(-6)mol l(-1) 99TcO4-. Concentrations above this level result in toxic effects. The Tc accumulation in field populations of duckweed at Tc concentrations which generally occur in the environment can be forecasted by using the results from short-term experiments.

Influence of salinity and eutrophication on bioaccumulation of 99technetium in duckweed.

This study concerns the bioaccumulation of the long-lived nuclear waste product 99Tc in duckweed (Lemna minor L.). 99Tc was present as the oxyanion TcO4-, being the main chemical form of technetium in aerobic water systems. In contrast with terrestrial plants, bioaccumulation in duckweed proved to be independent of the nitrate concentration in the medium. However, uptake is controlled by electrostatic effects in the cell wall, which affects the bioaccumulation of 99Tc in duckweed in natural environments. These waters are characterized by a range of salinity and hardness, and this study suggests that this may result in up to a threefold difference in 99Tc accumulation. Because of screening of negative charges in the cell wall, the highest accumulation may be expected in hard, brackish water. This behavior can be described by a general model, which includes electrostatic effects and binding of cations at the cell wall. The model also explains why cationic radionuclides are preferably taken up in soft, fresh water while anionic species are concomitantly taken up in hard, chlorine-rich waters.

Uptake kinetics of 99Tc in common duckweed.

The uptake of the nuclear waste product technetium-99 was studied in common duckweed (Lemna minor). In addition to measurements, a model involving two compartments in duckweed with different chemical forms of technetium was derived. The model was tested by chemical speciation, i.e. differentiating between reduced Tc-compounds and Tc(VII)O(4)(-). The TcO(4)(-) concentrations measured were in good agreement with those predicted by the model. Two processes determine technetium uptake: (1) transport of Tc(VII)O(4)(-) across the cell membrane, and (2) reduction of Tc(VII). The TcO(4)(-) concentration in duckweed reaches a steady state within 2 h while reduced Tc-compounds are stored, as a result of absence of release or re-oxidation processes. Bioaccumulation kinetic properties were derived by varying 99Tc concentration, temperature, nutrient concentrations, and light intensity. The reduction of technetium in duckweed was highly correlated with light intensity and temperature. At 25 degrees C the maximum reduction rate was observed at light intensities above 200 µmol m(-2) s(-1) while half of the maximum transformation rate was reached at 41 µmol m(-2) s(-1). Transport of TcO(4)(-) over the cell membrane requires about 9.4 kJ mol(-1), indicating an active transport mechanism. However, this mechanism behaved as first-order kinetics instead of Michaelis-Menten kinetics between 1x10(-14) and 2.5x10(-5) mol l(-1) TcO(4)(-). Tc uptake could not be inhibited by 10(-3) mol l(-1) nitrate, phosphate, sulphate or chloride.

Impact of the fungicide carbendazim in freshwater microcosms. II. Zooplankton, primary producers and final conclusions.

Effects of chronic application of the fungicide Derosal(R) (active ingredient carbendazim) were studied in indoor macrophyte-dominated freshwater microcosms. The concentrations (0, 3.3, 33, 100, 330 and 1000 µg/l) were kept at a constant level for 4 weeks. This paper is the second of a series of two; it describes the effects on zooplankton and primary producers and presents an overall discussion. The zooplankton community was negatively affected by the three highest treatment levels (NOEC(community)=33 µg/l). At higher treatment levels Cladocera taxa were completely eliminated, while Copepod numbers were reduced. Rotatoria taxa decreased (Keratella quadrata and Lecane sp.) or increased in abundance (Testudinella parva) at the highest treatment level only. Due to the reduced grazing pressure, the abundance of some phytoplankton taxa and the chlorophyll-a content of the phytoplankton increased at the three highest treatment levels (NOEC(community)=33 µg/l). This effect was not observed for the periphyton, most probably because the reduced grazing pressure was compensated by the increased abundance of some snail species such as Lymnaea stagnalis and Physella acuta. At the end of the experimental period the biomass of the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii was significantly elevated at the two highest treatment levels. It is hypothesised that carbendazim might have caused, directly or indirectly, the removal of pathogene organisms from the macrophyte.