Uptake and phytotransformation of organophosphorus pesticides by axenically cultivated aquatic plants

The uptake and phytotransformation of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides (malathion, demeton-S-methyl, and crufomate) was investigated in vitro using the axenically aquatic cultivated plants parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), duckweed (Spirodela oligorrhiza L.), and elodea (Elodea canadensis). The decay profile of these OP pesticides from the aqueous medium adhered to first-order kinetics. However, extent of decay and rate constants depended on both the physicochemical properties of the OP compounds and the nature of the plant species. Malathion and demeton-S-methyl exhibited similar transformation patterns in all three plants: 29-48 and 83-95% phytotransformation, respectively, when calculated by mass recovery balance during an 8-day incubation. No significant disappearance and phytotransformation of crufomate occurred in elodea over 14 days, whereas 17-24% degraded in the other plants over the same incubation period. Using enzyme extracts derived from duckweed, 15-25% of the three pesticides were transformed within 24 h of incubation, which provided evidence for the degradation of the OP compounds by an organophosphorus hydrolase (EC 3.1.8.1) or multiple enzyme systems. The results of this study showed that selected aquatic plants have the potential to accumulate and to metabolize OP compounds; it also provided knowledge for potential use in phytoremediation processes.     

DDTs在土壤中的老化规律及生物有效性

用室内模拟培养的方法研究了DDTs在土壤中的老化行为及其在蚯蚓体内的生物富集规律。结果表明。DDTs在土壤中存在老化现象。此类物质在土壤中的可提取态含量随着老化时间延长逐渐降低，并呈现初始老化速率较快，而后老化速率减慢的趋势。在开始的0—30d，其老化的速率较快，o，p’-DDT、p，p’-DDT、o．p’-DDE、p，p’-DDE和p，p’-DDD在土壤中的老化减少量分别是其添加量的53．5％、52．1％、31．4％、36．0％和38．3％。DDTs在蚯蚓体内的生物富集量和生物富集系数也表现出随时间而逐渐降低的趋势，并呈如下规律：p，p＇-DDE〉p，p’-DDD〉o，p’-DDE〉o，p＇-DDT〉p，p＇-DDT。老化虽然可使DDTs的可提取态含量降低。但仍可以在蚯蚓体内有一定的生物富集，潜在的生态风险依然存在。     

Residues in broiler chick tissues from low level feedings of seven chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides.

Two chlorinated insecticide feeding studies from 1967-1968, using broiler chicks, have been completed. In Study I, lindane, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endrin, methoxychlor, and DDT were fed in combination at 3 levels: 0.05, 0.15, and 0.45 ppm. Data show that, in fat tissues, heptachlor epoxide attained a level approximately 20 times the respective levels in the feed; dieldrin 15 times; endrin 10 times; p,p'-DDT 9 times; lindane 3 times; and o.p'-DDT less than the feeding levels. Of the DDT metabolites, p.p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD, only p,p'-DDE was significant at 3 times the 0.45 ppm feeding level. Endrin ketone, a metabolite of endrin, reached plateau levels approximately equal to feeding levels. All residue levels in liver tissues were less than 0.02 ppm. In Study II, technical chlordane was fed singly at the 0.05, 0.15, and 0.45 ppm levels. Results are tabulated for both total chlordane and for 6 identifiable isomers. Total chlordane in fat tissues attained plateau levels 3-5 times the respective feeding levels. Total chlordane levels in liver and breast tissues were all less than 0.01 ppm.     

Gas chromatographic method for determination of p,p'-DDT in DDT technical and formulated products: collaborative study

A gas chromatographic (GC) method for determination of p,p'-DDT in technical and formulated products was developed and it performed well in an initial small collaborative study among 4 laboratories. Samples are dissolved in chloroform, and p,p'-DDT is separated on an OV-210 column and determined by GC analysis with flame ionization detection. 2,2'-Dinitrobiphenyl is used as an internal standard. The method was subjected to an international collaborative study with 10 participating laboratories. Collaborators received matched pairs of technical DDT products and of water-dispersible powder, emulsifiable concentrate, and dustable powder formulations. Relative standard deviations for reproducibility (RSDR) for the paired samples were 1.16, 1.48, 2.08, and 1.80%, respectively. The method has been approved interim official first action by AOAC as a CIPAC-AOAC method.     

Organohalogen residues in human adipose autopsy samples from six Ontario municipalities

Human adipose tissue samples obtained during autopsies in 6 Canadian Great Lakes municipalities were analyzed for chlorobenzenes, polychlorobiphenyls, and organohalogen pesticide residues. The frequency of occurrence and the range and mean for 28 organohalogen residues are reported for male and female donors in each municipality. Overall mean residue values in females were significantly higher than those in males for hexachlorobenzene, beta-HCH, p,p'-DDE,p,p'-DDD + o,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDT. The means and ranges of residue values were similar to those reported in previous Canadian surveys.     

One-step extraction and cleanup procedure for determination of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE in fish

A simplified method that combines extraction, partitioning, and cleanup in a single step for measuring p,p'-DDT and its metabolites in fish is described. Minced fish samples are emulsified with disodium hydrogen orthophosphate and trisodium citrate, ground with sodium sulfate, and eluted from a chromatographic column prepacked with alumina and silicic acid. The fats and fatty acids are solubilized and easily extracted from the tissues and retained by the column, while p,p'-DDT and its metabolites are quantitatively eluted with 40 mL n-hexane. The eluate is directly applied to a gas chromatographic column. Average recoveries of p,p'-DDT and its metabolites added to fish in vitro are 81%. The average coefficient of variation for recoveries of p,p'-DDT and its metabolites is less than 6.5% and the detection limit is 0.001 micrograms/g for p,p'-DDE, thus making this method very suitable for residue analysis.     

Long-term preservation of egg and tissue homogenates for determination of organochlorine compounds: freezing versus freeze-drying

Storage of wet egg homogenates at temperatures from -18 degrees to -28 degrees C was more suitable for long-term preservation than freeze-drying. Changes in residue levels of heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene,p,p'-DDE, mirex, and PCBs were not significant over a 3-year period in fresh herring gull egg homogenates stored at -18 degrees to -28 degrees C. Compounds with gas chromatographic retention times shorter than hexachlorobenzene vaporized during freeze-drying at a rate proportional to their volatility. Evaporative losses of components with vapor pressures less than hexachlorobenzene did not occur in naturally contaminated herring gull eggs after storage at room temperature for up to 1 year. Higher losses of all compounds, up to 25% for p,p'-DDE, occurred in freeze-dried whole-body herring gull homogenates. Easily dehydrochlorinated compounds were rapidly degraded in freeze-dried chicken egg homogenate at room temperature: The half-life of p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD was about 20 days, and that of alpha- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane was much less than 16 days. About one-third of oxychlordane in herring gull eggs was lost in 1 year under these conditions, but none was lost after freeze-drying when the homogenate was stored at -18 degrees to -28 degrees C.     

Release and consumption of nitrogen by snail feces in Negev Desert soils

Snail grazing and feces production have been shown to be major components of the nitrogen (N) budget of Negev Desert ecosystems. However, the movement of N from feces into soil N cycling processes has not been studied. In this study, we measured immediate N release from different types of snail feces following wetting of dry desert soils, and characterized potential net N mineralization and nitrification and soil respiration over a 12-day incubation under laboratory conditions. The dynamics of morganic N exhibited two distinct phases during the 12-day incubation: (1) immediate release of inorganic N following wetting of the soil and (2) decline of inorganic N from day 1 today 12 of the incubation. The immediate pulse of N release from this one wetting event (6–25 mg N m^-2) was larger than annual atmospheric inputs of N to Negev Desert ecosystems (<2 mg N m^-2); however, from 50 to 80% of the N released upon wetting was consumed by the end of the incubation. There were differences in inorganic N release and respiration from feces from different kinds of snails, and from feces from the same species of snail fed different plants. The results suggest that while snail feces contribute significant amounts of plant available N to Negev ecosystems, plants must compete with other sinks for this N.     

Collaborative study of an extension of the Mills et al. method for the determination of pesticide residues in foods.

Fifteen laboratories collaboratively determined parathion, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDE in kale, and lindane, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and p,p'-DDE in eggs, using electron capture gas-liquid chromatography (potassium chloride thermionic detector for parathion). Pesticide levels ranged from 0.033 ppm heptachlor epoxide to 3.32 ppm p,p'-DDT. Mean recoveries (+/- standard deviations) were: parathion 91+/-15%, o,p'-DDT 99+/-8%, P,P'-DDT 97+/-8%, lindane 94+/-4%, dieldrin 106+/-8%, heptachloro epoxide 106+/-5%, p,p'-DDE 94+/-8% in eggs and 101+/-9% in kale. The methods have been adopted as official first action.     

浮萍吸收不同形态氮的动力学特性研究

吸收试验结果表明,浮萍(Spirodela oligorrhiza)吸收铵态氮和硝态氮的动力学特性可用M ichaelis-M enten方程来描述。浮萍对铵态氮的亲和力大于对硝态氮的亲和力,证实了浮萍“优先吸收净化铵态氮”的观点。研究还发现,浮萍吸收硝态氮的最大速率大于吸收铵态氮的最大速率,基于浮萍吸收不同形态氮的动力学特性,提出了构建物理作用(增氧工艺)—微生物(硝化作用)—植物(浮萍)复合污水净化体系的见解。     

高纯度o,p-DDT的合成

为提高稳定同位素利用率和产物的化学纯度,对DDT的合成方法进行了改进:利用浓硫酸及发烟硫酸混合催化的方法,直接使用水合三氯乙醛为原料,经低温长时间反应,半微量合成纯度高于98%的O,P-DDT。以碳酸钡计,DDT合成收率为17.1%。该方法可用于DDT的稳定同位素标记合成。     

Flumequine Uptake and the Aquatic Duckweed, Lemna minor L.

Phytotoxicity of Flumequine (F) on the aquatic duckweed, Lemna minor L., and plant drug uptake were evaluated by a simple ecotoxicological test. Flumequine, at all concentrations between 50 and 1000 μg L^-1 tested, affected the plant growth: leaves and roots were damaged, but duckweed continued to grow on a five weeks period. Furthermore, increasing drug concentrations decreased the chlorophyll b content in plants. These effects depend on F uptake by plants, which is quite high (from 0.72 to 13.93 μg g^-1 plant dry weight). Based on this activity, Lemna can be taken into consideration as a tool for in situ remediation of drug contaminated waters: the presence of Lemna significantly lower the F concentration in culture media on a five weeks period. Results strongly support its remediation capability.     

DDT and HCH Residues in Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa) Cultivated in Dehradun (India)

Organochlorine pesticides were used earlier for agricultureproduction. Their residues may still be present in soil and mayaccumulate in food crops, posing potential health problems to consumers. DDT, HCH, their isomers and metabolites were analyzedin samples of soil and rice plants collected from ten differentvillages of a well-known Basmati rice growing area in Dehradun.Residues of both pesticides were found in all samples ofsoil and different parts of rice plants except for a few grainsamples. Maximum residue was observed in husk and minimum ingrains. The average concentration of DDT in soil ranged from0.013 to 0.238 ppm. p,p′-DDE was the major metabolite (>63%). Theaverage concentration of DDT in rice grain varied from 0.002 to 0.040 ppm. o,p′-DDT was the main isomer (>93%). Theaverage concentration of HCH in soil ranged from 0.122 to 0.638 ppm. β-HCH was the predominant (43%) isomerfollowed by α-HCH (21%). The average HCH concentrationin rice grain ranged between 0.013 and 0.113 ppm. All four isomers were present in grains. The levels of DDT and CHCin grains were similar in magnitude as those from differentIndian states, but well below the maximum residue limit of 0.1 ppm for DDT and 0.05 ppm for HCH prescribed by the Government ofIndia and WHO/FAO. As such, the pesticide residue levels in thisexport commodity are not of hazardous nature.     

肯尼亚水稻土和甘蔗地土壤中~(14)C-六氯苯和~(14)C-滴滴涕的自然消解

氯代持久性有机污染物的农田土壤污染呈现污染浓度低、面积大、新源污染不断输入的特点。农田土壤本身微生物种类丰富,对氯代有机污染物具有较大的降解潜力和未知性。本试验以典型高氯代和低氯代持久性有机污染物——六氯苯(HCB)和滴滴涕(DDT)为研究对象,结合~(14)C同位素示踪技术,研究HCB和DDT在热带水稻土和甘蔗地土壤的矿化现象,同时监测HCB和DDT在两种土壤中的挥发、降解产物以及结合残留。结果表明,经84 d好氧培养,HCB和DDT在两种土壤中的矿化量分别仅为0.14%和3%,低氯代有机污染物DDT的矿化速率显著高于高氯代有机污染物HCB。然而,两种土壤对HCB或DDT的矿化没有显著性差异。HCB或DDT在水稻土中的挥发量略微高于甘蔗地土壤,两种土壤中HCB和DDT的挥发量在0.1%~0.6%之间,表明挥发不是其主要的环境过程。在DDT污染水稻土和甘蔗地土壤中添加1.25%的堆肥增加了DDT在土壤中的矿化与结合残留,减少了DDT的挥发。本研究结果表明土壤在好氧条件下对氯代持久性有机污染物的自然消解能力非常弱,而有机肥的使用有助于土壤中持久性氯代有机污染物的矿化消除。     

Bioefficacy of Hen Feather Keratin Hydrolysate and Compost on Vegetable Plant Growth

ABSTRACT

The potential of keratin wastes originating from poultry farms in practical application as a valuable organic fertilizer, gives rise to the need for intensive study on their effect on plants. In this study, for the first time there has been examined the influence of hen feather keratin bio-hydrolysate (FKH) and hen feather keratin compost (FKC) on plant growth, and the following features that indicate the plant condition: the leaf chlorophyll content, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) enzymes. The results of pot experiments showed a potential plant growth promoting effect of FKH, applied as a leaf treatment and of FKC manure. Fertilization of tested plants with FKC resulted in significant increase of their fresh weight. There was no effect on plant biomass after FKH treatment. The stimulating effect on plant physiology was expressed by decreased PAL activity after FKC treatment, and enhanced GPX activity, after FKH and FKC treatment. The application of FKC as a manure gave better effects for the plant condition expressed by the activity of PAL and GPX in comparison with FKH spraying. The chlorophyll content did not prove to be an efficient parameter to evaluate the impact of FKH or FKC on white cabbage, tomato, and maize plant. However, a significant increase in the leaf chlorophyll a, b, and a+b concentration was observed in cucumber plant after FKC treatment. Among the tested plants, the cucumber has shown the most profitable effect of feather compost on plant growth.     

Accumulation of weathered p,p'-DDTs in grafted watermelon

The grafting of melon plants onto cucurbit rootstocks is a common commercial practice in many parts of the world. However, certain cucurbits have been shown to accumulate large quantities of weathered persistent organic pollutants from the soil, and the potential contamination of grafted produce has not been thoroughly evaluated. Large pot and field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of grafting on accumulation of weathered DDX (the sum of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE) from soils. Intact squash (Cucurbita maxima × moschata) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), their homografts, and compatible heterografts were grown in pots containing soil with weathered DDX at 1480-1760 ng/g soil or under field conditions in soil at 150-300 ng/g DDX. Movement of DDX through the soil-plant system was investigated by determining contaminant levels in the bulk soil and in the xylem sap, roots, stems, leaves, and fruit of the grafted and nongrafted plants. In all plants, the highest DDX concentrations were detected in the roots, followed by decreasing amounts in the stems, leaves, and fruit. Dry weight concentrations of DDX in the roots ranged from 7900 ng/g (intact watermelon) to 30100 ng/g (heterografted watermelon) in the pot study and from 650 ng/g (intact watermelon) to 2430 ng/g (homografted squash) in the field experiment. Grafting watermelon onto squash rootstock significantly increased contaminant uptake into the melon shoot system. In the pot and field studies, the highest stem DDX content was measured in heterografted watermelon at 1220 and 244 ng/g, respectively; these values are 140 and 19 times greater than contaminant concentrations in the intact watermelon, respectively. The xylem sap DDX concentrations of pot-grown plants were greatest in the heterografted watermelon (6.10 μg/L). The DDX contents of the leaves and fruit of watermelon heterografts were 3-12 and 0.53-8.25 ng/g, respectively, indicating that although the heterografted watermelon accumulated greater pollutant levels, the resulting contamination is not likely a food safety concern.     

Bioremediation of soil contaminated by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane with the use of aerobic strain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus wratislaviensis</Emphasis> Ch628

The concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was determined in a sandy soil of specially Protected Natural Area Osinskaya Lesnaya Dacha (Perm region) 45 years after the last application of the insecticide in this area. The concentration of DDT in the soil exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 250 times and reached 25.05 mg/kg of soil. Under the conditions of model experiment, efficient decontamination of the soil was recorded in the system with the introduced strain Rhodococcus wratislaviensis Ch628; the DDT concentration decreased by 99.7% and equaled 0.07 mg/kg. The process of DDT degradation proceeded slower in the model soil system with autochthonous microbial complex. In this case, 58.2% DDT degraded in 70 days, and the final concentration was 10.47 mg/kg. The soil lost its toxicity for animal and plant test objects by the end of the experiment only in the model system containing the R. wratislaviensis Ch628 strain.     

花生对DDT的吸收积累

采用盆栽试验,通过向土壤中添加DDT设置3个浓度处理(T1,295 ng g-1;T2,3723 ng g-1;T3,6109 ng g-1)和1个对照(CK,31 ng g-1),研究花生(Arachis hypogaea)对DDT的吸收积累。花生果实成熟后将植株分成根、茎、果壳和果仁四部分,GC-ECD测定各部位中的DDT浓度。结果表明,在T2和T3处理中,花生果仁中的DDT含量高达200 ng g-1左右,超过100 ng g-1的WHO/FAO最大残留限量标准。虽然在CK和T1中,花生的果仁没有超标,但是,果壳和茎中,特别是根中DDT的高浓度值得关注。根部的总量最大,果仁中的总量最小,根部是DDT吸收积累的最主要部位。花生根部和茎部较高的生物蓄积系数暗示着花生对DDT具有较强的吸收积累能力。此外,研究显示花生果仁中高的含油量可能有助于亲脂性DDT的吸收积累。     

Boron tolerance and accumulation in the duckweed,Lemna minor.

A sensitive measure of growth in the duckweed, Lernna minor, was used to demonstrate the tolerance of this higher plant to boron [B(OH)₃] at levels of 10 to 20 μg/mL in the growth medium at pH 5.0. Growth inhibition by B in concentrations up to 100 μg/mL in the external medium was reversible after transfer to control medium. At pH 4.0 and in the presence of 20 μg/mL B for 7 days, the plants accumulated 93 μg B/g fresh weight (148% of the control) and this increased with pH up to pH 7.0 where the plants accumulated 257 μg B/g fresh weight (525% of the control). Only at pH 7.0 in the presence of B was growth inhibited. Thus, plants which had accumulated more than 100 μg B/g fresh weight still grew normally. This corresponds to about 800 μg B/g dry weight accumulated by this monocot without effect upon growth rate.     

Effect of lindane and DDT on populations of protozoa in a garden soil

Applications of lindane and p,p'-DDT to a garden soil at rates of 5 and 50 parts/10⁶ inhibited soil protozoa. The inhibitory effect of DDT was still apparent 3 months after application but that of lindane, although noted at the time of application and after 1 month, was not detectable after 2 months' incubation of the treated soil.