SINO-GERMAN COOPERATIVE RESEARCHES ON AQUATIC ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

China has a huge population with relatively poor freshwater resources.With the development of industry and the explosion of its urban population,a great deal of industrial waste water containing various chemicals and untreated urban sewage has been discharged into rivers and lakes and caused severe contamination of many freshwater resources.The deterioration of the aquatic environment has affected the quality of drinking water, fishery and agricultural irrigation.It is estimated that by the 21st century,there will be a shortage of freshwater resources,which arc indispensable to human life, and the future shortage of freshwater

New Insights in the Biodegradability and the Ecotoxicological Effects of Solar Products Containing Mineral and Chemical UV-Filters on Marine Zoo- and Phytoplanktons: An in silico and in vitro Study

Background: Cosmetic formulations, and particularly solar products which contain mineral and chemical UV-filters, are often suspected of causing harmful effects on marine fauna and flora. After the publication of our work in 2019 concerning the ecotoxicological effects of such formulations on corals (Seriatopora hystrix), we here provide some new information about the biodegradability and the ecotoxicological effects of these products on marine zoo- and phytoplankton. Therefore, we choose to realize in silico and in vitro studies of the biodegradability of several solar products but also to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of these products on one phytoplankton, i.e. Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and one zooplankton, i.e. Acartia tonsa, of a great importance for sea species survival (notably as sources of food). Materials and methods: Two different approaches were used to study the biodegradability of the tested products: One in silico method and an in vitro one. 2 solar products were involved in the in silico study which consisted in the determination of the degradation factor (DF) of each ingredient of the tested formulas in order to finally obtain their estimated biodegradability percentage. Already available data concerning each ingredient coupled to a computer model developed with one of our partners were used to achieve this study. The in vitro study involved 8 formulas containing UV-filters and was led by following the OECD 301 F guidelines. Ecotoxicological studies of 7 of the formulas containing UV-filters were for their part realized by following the ISO 10253 guidelines for the experiments led with Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and the ISO 14669 guidelines for the experiments led with Acartia tonsa. In these studies, the effect of each tested product on crustaceans’ mortality and algal growth inhibition was assessed. Results: The in silico study predicted that formulas containing chemical UV-filters display a high biodegradability (superior to the threshold value of 60% given by the OECD 301 F guidelines). In the in vitro part of our work, the 8 tested formulas showed a biodegradability slightly inferior to the one predicted in the in silico experiments. Therefore, in order to evaluate if these calculated biodegradability value could have significant harmful effects on zoo- or phytoplankton, we studied the effect of our products regarding the growth inhibition on Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the mortality on Acartia tonsa. In this last part of the study, all the tested products were classified as “non ecotoxic” following an internal classification based on Part 4 entitled “Environmental Hazards” of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), 9th edition (2021). Conclusions: These results are notably in line with those published by our teams in 2019 on the effects of solar cosmetic products on corals and seem to confirm that formulas containing mineral and chemical UV-filters can be daily used without displaying significant noxious effects on marine fauna and flora. .

Toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos on earthworm Eisenia fetida in phaiozem, northeast China

Acetochlor and methamidophos are two important agrochemicals which are widely applied to agricultural production in northeast China. The investigation on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as an important type of soil animals exposed to single and binary-combined contamination of acetochlor and methamidophos was thus carried out. The single toxic effect test showed that the two agrochemicals had their toxicity to the earthworms living in phaiozem. Acetochlor had a stronger acute toxic effect on the earthworms than methamidophos. The mortality of the earthworms exposed to individual acetochlor and methamidophos changed with an increase in the exposure time and the exposed concentrations. The LD50 value of acetochlor and methamidophos toxic to the earthworms was 115.6-275,3 and 29.5-228.6 mg/kg, respectively. The weight of the earthworms was a more sensitive index compared to the mortality in indicating toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem. When considering both the mortality and the body-weight change, the combined pollution of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem resulted in their synergic toxic effects on the earthworms.

Single and joint stress of acetochlor and Pb on three agricultural crops in northeast China

In order to evaluate ecological risk of agrochemicals in agricultural environment, single and joint toxic effects of an important herbicide and a typical heavy metal on root elongation of crops were investigated. Seeds of the three crops including wheat （Triticum aestivum）, Chinese cabbage （Brassica pekimensis） and soybean （Glycine max） as the main crops in northeast China were exposed to acetochior as a herbicide and lead （Pb） as a heavy metal using the pot-culture method, and meadow brown soil as one of the main soils distributed in northeast China was applied in the investigation. The results indicated that the interactive effects of the two pollutants on root elongation of the three crops were very complicated although they had markedly significant （P〈0.01） linear interrelationships based on the regression analyses. When the concentration of added Pb^2＋ reached 200 mg/kg, acetochlor and Pb had an antagonistic effect on the inhibition of root elongation of the three crops. However, acetochlor and Pb had significantly （P〈0.05） synergic effects on the inhibition of root elongation when concentration of added Pb^2＋ was up to 1000 mg/kg. At the low concentration of added Pb, joint toxicity of acetochlor and Pb was more dependent on the concentration of Pb. Among the three crops, wheat was the most sensitive to the toxicity of Pb and Chinese cabbage was the most sensitive to the toxicity of acetochlor.

Single and joint effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and cadmium on the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis Grube

Using the concentration gradient and combined pollutant exposure method, the single and joint effects of petroleum hydrocarbons （PHCs） and cadmium （Cd） on polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis Grube, an ecologically keystone species in estuarine and coastal environment, have been investigated. The results indicate that the toxicity of PHCs to P. aibuhitensis is stronger than that of Cd to the organism. There are positive correlations between the mortality of worms and the exposed concentration of single Cd or PHCs in solution. Similarly, the accumulation of Cd or PHCs in worms increased with increasing Cd- or PHC-exposed concentrations. All the correlation relationships can be described using unitary quadratic equations （Y or Z = aX^2 ＋ bX ＋ c）. It is calculated, on the basis of these expressions, that the median lethal dose （LC50） ofP aibuhitensis exposed to a single Cd or PHCs is 793.4-13567.3 and 28.0-119.9 μg/L, respectively. The exposed time has some stimulative effect on the two pollutants and on the mortality of the worms. Thus, even a low concentration of a single Cd or PHCs may have strong toxic effects on the worms when the exposed time becomes longer. The accumulation of Cd or PHCs in worms differs with an increase in exposure time at the given exposed concentration of a single Cd or PHCs. Noticeably, the accumulation of PHCs in worms decreases with an increase in exposure time at the given high concentration of PHCs in solution. The joint effect of PHCs and Cd on P. aibuhitensis is very complicated and changes with the exposed concentrations of the two pollutants. At the given concentration of PHCs, the joint toxicity of the two pollutants on the worms changes from synergism to antagonism with an increase in Cd concentration. The accumulation of Cd in the worms significantly decreases with the addition of PHCs to exposure solution.

Major environmental and ecotoxicological processes of heavy metals in Lean River polluted by discharges from mining activities

This paper summarizes the major environmental and ecotoxicological processes of heavy metals pollution from Dexing Copper Mine in Jiangxi Province based on various findings in the Cooperative Ecological Research Project (CERP; Tang, 1994). It shows the knowledge necessary to elucidate metal pollution and its ecological implications. Processes devoted to the ecological implication include generation of acid mine drainage, formation of secondary minerals from precipitation, temporal and spatial distribution of metal pollutants in sediments and relevant toxicity, as well as ecosystem alternation which may relate to chemical pollution.\; From the results, it was stated that the major emphasis should be placed on the environmental processes associated with sediment pollution by heavy metals. It shows that ad/desorption on the inorganic minerals, such as Fe/Al oxyhydroxides, play an important role in the immobilization of heavy metals in this river. There were clear indications that metal pollution has resulted in the toxicological and ecological consequences and there would be the risk of secondary pollution in the way of mobilization of bound metals to the overlying water when environmental conditions are varied.

Tolerance of ciliated protozoan Paramecium bursaria (Protozoa, Ciliophora) to ammonia and nitrites

The tolerance to ammonia and nitrites in freshwater ciliate Paramecium bursaria was measured in a conventional open system. The ciliate was exposed to different concentrations of ammonia and nitrites for 2h and 12h in order to determine the lethal concentrations. Linear regression analysis revealed that the 2h-LC50 value for ammonia was 95.94 mg/L and for nitrite 27.35 mg/L using probit scale method (with 95% confidence intervals). There was a linear correlation between the mortality probit scale and logarithmic concentration of ammonia which fit by a regression equation y=7.32x–9.51 (R2=0.98; y, mortality probit scale; x, logarithmic concentration of ammonia), by which 2 h–LC50 value for ammonia was found to be 95.50 mg/L. A linear correla- tion between mortality probit scales and logarithmic concentration of nitrite is also followed the regression equa- tion y=2.86x+0.89 (R2=0.95; y, mortality probit scale; x, logarithmic concentration of nitrite). The regression analysis of toxicity curves showed that the linear correlation between exposed time of ammonia-N LC50 value and ammonia-N LC50 value followed the regression equation y=2 862.85e-0.08x (R2=0.95; y, duration of exposure to LC50 value; x, LC50 value), and that between exposed time of nitrite-N LC50 value and nitrite-N LC50 value followed the regression equation y = 127.15e-0.13x (R2=0.91; y, exposed time of LC50 value; x, LC50 value). The results demonstrate that the tolerance to ammonia in P. bursaria is considerably higher than that of the larvae or juveniles of some metozoa, e.g. cultured prawns and oysters. In addition, ciliates, as bacterial predators, are likely to play a positive role in maintaining and improving water quality in aquatic environments with high-level ammonium, such as sewage treatment systems.

Toxic effects of crude-oil-contaminated soil in aquatic environment on Carassius auratus and their hepatic antioxidant defense system

Under the indoor simulant conditions, toxic effects of crude-oil-contaminated soil which was put into aquatic environment on the young fishes Carassius auratus and their hepatic antioxidant system after a 20-d exposure were investigated. Results showed that the relationship between the mortality of C. auratus and the exposed doses could be divided into 3 phases： fishes exposed to the low dose groups （0.5-5.0 g/L） were dead due to the ingestion of crude-oil-contaminated soils in aquatic environment; at the medium dose groups （5.0-25.0 g/L） fishes were dead due to the penetration of toxic substances; at the high dose groups （25.0-50.0 g/L） fishes were dead due to environmental stress. The highest mortality and death speed were found in the 1.0 g/L dose group, and the death speed was sharply increased in the 50.0 g/L dose group in the late phase of exposure. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and glutathione S-transferase （GST） and the content of malaondialdehyde （MDA） in the hepatic tissues of C. auratus were induced significantly. The activity of SOD was increased and then decreased. It was significantly inhibited in the 50.0 g/L dose group. The activity of CAT was highly induced, and restored to a level which is little more than the control when the exposed doses exceeded 10.0 g/L. The activity of GST was the most sensitive, it was significantly induced in all dose groups, and the highest elevation was up to 6 times in the 0.5 g/L dose group comparing with the control. The MDA content was significantly elevated in the 50.0 g/L dose group, and the changes of the MDA content were opposite with the changes of GST activity.

Laboratory study on the ecological impact of sophorolipid used for harmful algae elimination

We studied the role of sophorolipid in inhibiting harmful algae bloom （HAB）. Different sophorolipid concentrations were tested on marine microalgae, zooplankton, fish, and bivalve （Mytilus edulis） in laboratory. The result shows that sophorolipid could inhibit the growth of algal species selectively. Among three algae species selected, Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis was promoted with increasing sophorolipid concentration; Isochrysis galbana was inhibited seven days later in sophorolipid concentration below 40 mg/L; and Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima was inhibited obviously in only a high sophorolipid concentration over 20 mg/L. Therefore, sophorolipid in a low concentration at 〈20 mg/L could remove certain harmful algae species effectivelywithout harming other non-harmful microalgae. For other animals, sophorolipid could inhibit the growth of ciliate Strombidium sp. by 50% at 20 mg/L sophorolipid concentration after 96 h. The concentration in 96-h LC50 for Calanus sinicus, Neomysis awatschensis, Lateolabrax japonicus, and Paralichthys olivaceus was 15, 150, 60, and 110 mg/L, respectively. The 24 h LC50 value for Arternia salina was 600 mg/L. The relative clearance rate of mussel Mytilus edulis decreased to 80%, 40%, and 20% of the control group after being exposed to 20, 50, and 100 mg/L sophorolipid for 24 h. Therefore, the toxicity for mitigation of harmful algae bloom at previously recommended concentration of 5-20 mg/L sophorolipid is low for most tested organisms in this reaserch.

Metabolomic Fingerprint of the Model Ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila Determined by Untargeted Profiling Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The ciliate Tetrahymena is a valuable model organism in the studies of ecotoxicology. Changes in intracellular metabolism are caused by exogenous chemicals in the environment. Intracellular metabolite changes signify toxic effects and can be monitored by metabolomics analysis. In this work, a protocol for the GC-MS-based metabolomic analysis of Tetrahymena was established. Different extraction solvents showed divergent effects on the metabolomic analysis of Tetrahymena thermophila. The peak intensity of metabolites detected in the samples of extraction solvent Formula 1(F1) was the strongest and stable, while 61 metabolites were identified. Formula 1 showed an excellent extraction performance for carbohydrates. In the samples of extraction solvent Formula 2(F2), 66 metabolites were characterized, and fatty acid metabolites were extracted. Meanwhile, 57 and 58 metabolites were characterized in the extraction with Formula 3(F3) and Formula 4(F4), respectively. However, the peak intensity of the metabolites was low, and the metabolites were unstable. These results indicated that different extraction solvents substantially affected the detected coverage and peak intensity of intracellular metabolites. A total of 74 metabolites(19 amino acids, 11 organic acids, 2 inorganic acids, 11 fatty acids, 11 carbohydrates, 3 glycosides, 4 alcohols, 6 amines, and 7 other compounds) were identified in all experimental groups. Among these metabolites, amino acids, glycerol, myoinositol, and unsaturated fatty acids may become potential biomarkers of metabolite set enrichment analysis for detecting the ability of T. thermophila against environmental stresses.

Ecological functions of ciliated protozoa in marine ecosystem： effects of ammonium on the population growth of Euplotes vannus

The effects of ammonium on the population growth of the marine ciliate, Euplotes vannus, were examined using ecotoxicological method, h is showed that ammonium exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of the ciliate populations in a concentration-dependent way. Statistical analvsis reveals that the population growth dynamics exposed to ammoniunt-N concentration over 100mg/L are significantly different from that in the control at P 〈 0.05 level. Linear regression determined that the 24h, 36h, 48h, 60h, 72h and 84h IC50 values of ammonium-N are 19.68, 201.51, 167.49, 47.86, 50.43 and 43.11 concentration over 100mg/L, respectively （ P 〈 0.05; pH 8.2; salinity 28 ppt; temperature, 25℃ ）. The results indicate that the tolerance to ammonium in E. vannus is considerably higher than that of the larvae or juveniles of some metozoa, such as cuhured prawns and oysters. Therefore, it is believed that the high tolerance to ammonium is necessary for eiliated protozoa to play positive roles in maintaining and improving water quality in marine ecosystems, especially in the intensive aquacuhure waters with high-level ammonium. In addition, the correlation between /C50 values and exposure time was discussed.

Short-Term Biochemical Impacts in Cyphoderus javanus Borner (Collembola) as Potential Biomarkers of Fly Ash and Heavy Metal Pollution in Tropical Lateritic Soil

The detritivorous soil microarthropods are ideal models for environmental health assessment, but only scant information is available on their biomarker potentials against xenobiotics in the tropical edaphic conditions. This microcosm study has estimated short-term biochemical changes with respect to tissue nutrient levels and digestive enzyme activities in a near cosmopolitan Collembola Cyphoderus javanus Borner exposed to coal fly ash amended lateritic cropland soil (5% and 20% w/w i.e. 50 or 200 t ·ha-1), and cadmium sulphate (200 mg/kg soil)/lead acetate (200 mg/kg soil) treated sterile river sand. The levels of total tissue carbohydrates, proteins, free amino acids, and lipids decrease within 7 days in the specimens of fly ash (P α-amylase, cellulase and protease activities are also down regulated by fly ash and heavy metals (P < 0.05). It is also observed the enzyme: protein ratios increase in fly ash treated sets and decrease in lead and cadmium treated specimens. Specimens in treated sets accumulate high levels of lead and cadmium within 15 days, which decrease subsequently probably due to elimination through frequent moulting. These short-term biochemical effects in Collembola have applied importance in C. javanus, as biomarkers for quick ecotoxicological assessments in the tropical agricultural soils.

Does wetland watershed land use influence amphibian larval development? A relevant effect of agriculture on biota

Agriculture practices have been widely proposed as the major cause of amphibian population decline. However, the majority of these results have been based on laboratory experiments. The present study was conducted to test the repercussion of wetland sediment provenance on amphibian larval development.Bufo bufo larvae were used in two dif ferent treatments in an outdoor experiment, the ?rst one using sediment from one wetland surrounded by intensive agricultural practices, and the second using sediment with no record of agrochemical uses. A negative ef fect was observed in the agricultural treatment, from subcellular to individual level. The results showed that the sediment from agricultural practices watershed generates a reduction in survival. Furthermore, individuals that developed under this treatment showed a lower total length and a delay in the time necessary to complete metamorphosis; these features are connected with recruitment success. In the same way, biochemical analysis showed high values of lipid peroxidation in metamorphs developing in sediments from an agricultural area. Finally, the results obtained highlight the importance of considering the sediments, not only the water, as origin treatment, allowing us to understand the consequences on amphibian populations that inhabit areas af fected by intensive agriculture.

Active <i>in Situ</i>Biomonitoring of Pesticide Pulses Using <i>Gammarus</i>spp. in Small Tributaries of Lake Constance

Gammarids are important members of a stream’s macrozoobenthos biocoenosis and food web. Moreover, they proved to be very sensitive towards different types of pollution. GamToxTM is a new in situ ecotoxicity test, based on survival and feeding behavior of caged gammarids for active monitoring of small streams in agricultural areas. GamToxTM has been applied in two streams with specific pollution problems in the catchment of Lake Constance. Ten organisms were exposed in 5 replicates in flow through test tubes containing one conditioned alder leaf, placed in baskets which were attached in the stream bottom and on the banks. Each week, the number of living animals was counted, the percentage of leaf skeletized estimated in semi-quantitative classes and a new elder leaf provided. Dead organisms were removed. Simultaneously, chemical analyses of pesticides and nutrients (N-compounds, P) were performed on cumulative water samples over one week. Moreover, macrozoobenthos was collected and determined according to the IBCH method, and the SPEAR index calculated. GamToxTM proved to be very sensitive to detect pesticides, copper as well as nutrients, both during acute pollution pulses and chronic exposures of up to 6 weeks. Survival turned out to be a more sensitive and less variable parameter than feeding. GamToxTM is easy to perform and directly provides a measure of ecotoxicological effects of toxicant/nutrient mixtures, which cannot be predicted by biological indices based on macrozoobenthos data such as IBCH and SPEAR-index. This study was co-financed by the InterReg IV project “?kotoxikologischer Index im Bodenseeraum”, no. 227 (2011-2013) supported by the EFRE.

Ecotoxicological Effects of Cosmetic Formulas Containing Chemical and Mineral UV Filters on Seriatopora hystrix Fragments

Background: Over the last few years sunscreen products have been suspected to be harmful to corals, especially because of their putative negative impact on symbiotic microalgae housed by these cnidarians. Previous publications reported that minerals or chemical UV filters could induce the release of microalgae from corals inducing their bleaching. The study of the ecotoxicity of finished cosmetic products containing these filters is important. Objectives: We sought to assess ex vivo the toxicity of five emulsions containing UV-filters on coral cuttings of Seriatopora hystrix. Materials and Methods: Coral cuttings were put in contact with 5 different emulsions containing UV-filters. The toxicity readout was the ability to induce polyp retraction and/or fragment bleaching of the coral cuttings of Seriatopora hystrix. Results: In our experimental conditions, none of the five tested formulas neither induced any significant polyp retraction nor triggered fragment bleaching of the coral. Conclusions: The five tested emulsions containing UV-filters did not modify coral cuttings. In vivo, larger tests are necessary to verify the results of this ex vivo pilot study.

The Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Primary Producers in the Marine Environment

Plastic debris is an emerging environmental threat all over the world.But its effect and distribution in the marine ecosystem is barely known.Microplastics abundance in the marine vegetated area is about 2 to 3 times higher than the bare site in the ocean.Although seagrass meadows trap huge amount of microplastics over the ocean floor,a considerable amount of microplastics are also sink incorporating with the marine aggregates from the epipelagic zone of the ocean.Scavenging of microplastics by diatom aggregation decreases the sinking rate of them rather than cryptophyte.As we know,marine snow is the leading carbon source for zoobenthos,but the ubiquitous presence of microplastics damages cell of different microalgae which may alter the food webs of marine ecosystems.Additionally,microplastics releases immense amount of dissolved organic carbons(DOC)in the surrounding seawater that stimulates the growth of heterotrophic microorganisms as well as their functional activity.Plastic debris result in outbreaks of disease in the marine environment and coral reefs are highly affected by it.When coral reef comes in contact with microplastics,the disease infestation rate of the reef increases massively.Three major disease viz.,skeletal eroding band,white syndrome and black band of coral reef causes approximately 46%of reef mortality due to microplastics consumption.Due to complex structure and size,the corals accumulates huge amount of microplastics that increases growth of pathogens by hampering the coral immune system.Existing scientific evidence presents that exposure of microplastics in aquatic environments triggers a wide variety of toxic insult from feeding disruption to reproductive performance,disturbances in energy metabolism throughout the ocean.The present review focused on the ecotoxicological effect of microplastics on primary producers of ocean,its uptake,accumulation,and excretion,and its probable toxicity with risk assessment approaches.

Detoxification Efforts in Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) Exposed to Municipal and Agricultural Inputs

Ecological impacts of contaminants on population patterns in wild fish are impacted by many contaminants that readily enter aquatic systems. Responses to toxicants by individuals in lab studies generally do not predict population level consequences in natural systems. Trace levels of contaminants are present in all major rivers in southern Alberta, Canada, with concentrations higher down-stream of anthropogenic inputs like agricultural land-use and inputs of municipal wastewater effluents. Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) were used as a sentinel species to study field-based population-level responses to contaminants. We hypothesized that biomarker activity, triggered by contaminant exposure, should increase downstream of anthropogenic inputs in two southern Alberta rivers, with corresponding relations between biomarker activity and sex ratios, after accounting for age structure. Liver detoxification (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity = EROD) measured at reference and exposed sites on each river differed significantly in only the Bow River system. Sex ratios varied more downstream of anthropogenic inputs than upstream, but the direction of sex ratio bias was inconsistent and temporally dynamic. Sex ratios correlated with liver detoxification in only the Bow River. Taken together, these results suggest that contaminants alter sex ratios in long-nose dace, but that there is variation in anthropogenic stressors among rivers.

Stress Response Monitoring of Photoautotrophic Higher Plant Suspension Cultures by Fluorescence Imaging for High-Throughput Toxic Compound Screening

Photoautotrophic suspension cultures have been established from various model and crop plants and proved to be valuable and robust experimental system to assess coordinated responses of primary and secondary metabolism to metabolic and stress related signals. The use of suspension cultures combines the ease of handling microalgae in microtiter plates with the advantage of testing physiological responses of higher plants, notably in combination with the assessment of the response of photosynthetic activity by PAM chlorophyll fluorescence imaging as well as monitoring changes in secondary metabolite production and ROS formation by steady state fluorescence of plant fluorophores or introduced fluorescent probes. Photoautotrophic cultures provide various advantages as fast, highly sensitive, robust and high-through-put experimental system for screening and characterization of the impact of toxic compounds on higher plants. This opinion article discusses and critically evaluates the potential of photoautotrophic cultures of higher plants in combination with fluorescence imaging assays in microtiter plates as a complement to existing guidelines for testing the toxicity of chemicals in plants.

Glyphosate-Residues in Roundup-Ready Soybean Impair Daphnia magna Life-Cycle

Herbicide tolerant plants such as Roundup-Ready soybean contain residues of glyphosate herbicide. These residues are considered safe and previous animal-feeding-studies have failed to find negative effects related to such chemical residues. The present study tests 8 experimental soy- meal diets as feed in groups (each containing 20 individuals) of test-animals (D. magna). The diets have different levels of glyphosate residues and we show that animal growth, reproductive maturity and number of offspring are correlated with these chemicals. The tested soybeans are from ordinary agriculture in Iowa USA and the residues are below the regulatory limits. Despite this, clear negative effects are seen in life-long feeding. The work enhances the need for including analysis of herbicide residues in future assessment of GMO.

Microbial Community and Urban Water Quality

Urbanization of China is substantial and growing, and water resources are crucial for both economic and social sustainable development. Unfortunately, the frequency and intensity of water contamination events are increasing at an unprecedented rate and often accompanied by increased pollutant loading due to human activities such as irreversible industrialization and urbanization. The impacts of human pollution are most evident and of greatest concern at the microbial level. The research of the Aquatic Ecohealth Group, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been focusing mainly on aquatic microorganisms in the urban environment, from drinking water and landscape water to waste water. Its projects fall into three categories: biomonitoring and bioassessment, microbial ecology and diversity, ecotoxicology and environmental microbiology. Its scientif ic topics include the aquatic ecological safety and microbial food web.