Nitrate contents in some vegetables in Tunisia

This study reports the nitrate level of 22 vegetables species collected from 40 farms in several locations of an intensive agricultural area in two regions of Tunisia (Sousse and Monastir). Nitrate levels ranged between 57 and 2970 mg kg^?1. The highest and the lowest levels were found in turnip and tomato, respectively. Only five species (potato, field bean, cauliflower, pea and artichoke) had exceeded the norms established by the World Health Organization. Factors influencing nitrate accumulation in some vegetables were analyzed and discussed. It was observed that nitrate contents in vegetables varied depending on the type of vegetables, genetic factor, level of nitrogen fertilization and soil nitrogen content.     

Time-of-day dependence of neurological deficits induced by sodium nitroprusside in young mice

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is widely used in pharmacological studies as a potent vasodilator or a nitric oxide donor. SNP-induced ataxic effects were assessed in mice by the Joulou-Couvoisier test. Swiss albino mice of both genders, 2-8 weeks of age, were acclimated at least for 2 weeks to 12 h light (rest span)/12 h dark (activity span). In 2 and 4 week old mice, maxima of ataxia were found following intraperitoneal administration of a dose ranging from 3 to 3.6 mg.kg-1 SNP at ≈ 1 and 13 HALO (Hours After Light Onset). The sublethal toxicity was statistically dosing-time dependent (χ2 test: P < 0.005). No rhythm was validated in neurotoxicity by cosinor analyses. At the 8th week of post-natal development (PND), SNP-induced ataxia was greatest at ≈ 1 HALO (69% in males vs. 49% in females) and lowest at ≈ 13 HALO (21% in males vs. 11% in females) (χ2 test: P < 0.00001). Cosinor analysis also revealed no statistically significant rhythm in mice injected with 3 or 3.3 mg.kg-1. However, a significant circadian (τ = 24 h) rhythm was detected by adjusted cosinor in 3.6 mg.kg-1-treated mice (P < 0.004). In all studied groups, SNP-induced motor impairment (expressed in %) was lower during the dark than the light phase. Furthermore, there was a non-significant gender-related difference in SNP-induced neuronal toxicity with the males more sensitive than females at every studied PND. The ataxic effects were inversely proportional to the lag time from injection and to the age of animals (with P < 0.05 only between 2 and 8 week old mice). These data indicate that both the administration time and age of the animal significantly affect the neurotoxic effects of SNP.     

Use of earthworms Eisenia andrei on the bioremediation of contaminated area in north of Tunisia and microbial soil enzymes as bioindicator of change on heavy metals speciation

Purpose

A better understanding is required of the potential of soil biota in controlling the availability and mobility of heavy metals and ascertaining their toxicity. The objectives of this work are to assess, first, the modification of heavy metal speciation induced by earthworms Eisenia andrei and, second, the consequence of this metal speciation change on soil enzyme activities as an easy bioindicator of stress.

Materials and methods

The experiment was conducted on six sites from Jebel Ressas Mines, which are characterized by a gradient heavy metal contamination (Pb, Zn, and Cd). Earthworms E. andrei were introduced in these six soils for 60 days. We had performed heavy metal speciation both in the presence and absence of worms. Modifications of activities of seven enzymes implicated in C, N, and P biochemical cycles were used as a bioindicator of metal stress. We had used the co-inertia statistical method to evaluate the correlation between change in heavy metal speciation induced by earthworms and the enzyme activities in soils.

Results and discussion

Our results suggested that earthworms modified the heavy metal dynamic and speciation. They decrease the amount of metal associated with the most available fraction, such as exchangeable one, and increase the amount of metal bound to the more stable fraction, like Mn and Fe oxide ones. On the same hand, enzyme activities increased in majority of the soils, following earthworm activity, but this effect is dependent on the amount of soil contamination. Moreover, the co-inertia results denote that change in heavy metal speciation significantly influences the soil enzyme activities in Jebel Ressas soils, especially β-glucosidase, urease, deshydrogenase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA), and can be considered as bioindicators of metal toxicity and biological quality in the contaminated area.

Conclusions

By reducing the availability of heavy metals, the earthworms are useful in the bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Soil enzymes β- glucosidase, urease, deshydrogenase, and FDA can be used to assess the changes in metal speciation and can let us, therefore, predict if the soils are bioremediated.