Impacts of water pH on the toxicity of fluoxetine on Daphnia magna: a multi-generational study

Fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been widely prescribed as anti-depressant. While FLX has been frequently detected in surface waters, sediments and biota, only limited information is available on its in vivo toxicity, particularly in invertebrates, under changing water pH. In the present study, the ecotoxicity of FLX (pKa = 9.8) was investigated in different pH levels (6.8, 8.3, and 9.2) using Daphnia magna. Daphnia neonates ( (F0) were exposed to 0, solvent control, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, or 1000 μg/L for 48 hr and its effects on survivals (EC20, 50 and 75) were determined. Moreover, Daphnia neonates (The first brood daphnids from the chronic tests were discarded and the second brood daphnids (F1) were employed for the multigenerational acute test within 12 hours. F1 neonates were further exposed to 0, solvent control, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 μg/L for 48 hr and their survivals (EC20, 50 and 75) were determined. F0 juveniles exposed to 0 or 55.6 μg/L at 10 d were measured for MDA. After 48 hr of F0 and F1 exposure, the EC50 significantly decreased (p < 0.05) at 6.17 μg/L of FLX at all tested pHs. Moreover, after 21 d F0 exposure, the reproduction showed an increasing trend until 55.6 μg/L and significantly decreased at 166.7 μg/L at pH 9.2. F1 neonates showed significantly decreased body length after 21 d exposure to 2.06, 6.17, 18.5 and 55.6 μg/L at pH 9.2. Malformation of F1 daphnids development was also observed at 2.06 μg/L to 500 μg/L. MDA concentration was also demonstrated increasing trends in all pHs and significantly increased at 55.6 μg/L at pH 6.8 and 9.2. Our observation clearly indicates that survival, reproduction, and growth performance in aquatic invertebrate can be adversely affected by FLX and the toxicity increases as water pH increases. A greater amount of uncharged ions from FLX has increased Reactive Oxidative Stress (ROS), MDA, by the ionic speciation at higher pH. Increased MDA concentration affected the mortality of F0 daphnids. Increased F1 daphnids population demonstrated significantly greater toxicity. As a result, the toxicity of FLX has increased acutely, chronically, and multigenerational effects by increasing pH levels. Consequences of longer-term exposure over multigenerations warrant further investigation

Uncertainties of size measurements in electron microscopy characterization of nanomaterials in foods

Electron microscopy is a recognized standard tool for nanomaterial characterization, and recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for the size measurement of nanomaterials in food. Despite this, little data have been published assessing the reliability of the method, especially for size measurement of nanomaterials characterized by a broad size distribution and/or added to food matrices. This study is a thorough investigation of the measurement uncertainty when applying electron microscopy for size measurement of engineered nanomaterials in foods. Our results show that the number of measured particles was only a minor source of measurement uncertainty for nanomaterials in food, compared to the combined influence of sampling, sample preparation prior to imaging and the image analysis. The main conclusion is that to improve the measurement reliability, care should be taken to consider replications and matrix removal prior to sample preparation

Portable LED fluorescence instrumentation for the rapid assessment of potable water quality

Characterising the organic and microbial matrix of water are key issues in ensuring a safe potable water supply. Current techniques only confirm water quality retrospectively via laboratory analysis of discrete samples. Whilst such analysis is required for regulatory purposes, it would be highly beneficial to monitor water quality in-situ in real time, enabling rapid water quality assessment and facilitating proactive management of water supply systems. A novel LED-based instrument, detecting fluorescence peaks C and T (surrogates for organic and microbial matter, respectively), was constructed and performance assessed. Results from over 200 samples taken from source waters through to customer tap from three UK water companies are presented. Excellent correlation was observed between the new device and a research grade spectrophotometer (r 2 = 0.98 and 0.77 for peak C and peak T respectively), demonstrating the potential of providing a low cost, portable alternative fluorimeter. The peak C/TOC correlation was very good (r 2 = 0.75) at low TOC levels found in drinking water. However, correlations between peak T and regulatory measures of microbial matter (2 day/3 day heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), E. coli, and total coliforms) were poor, due to the specific nature of these regulatory measures and the general measure of peak T. A more promising correlation was obtained between peak T and total bacteria using flow cytometry. Assessment of the fluorescence of four individual bacteria isolated from drinking water was also considered and excellent correlations found with peak T (Sphingobium sp. (r 2 = 0.83); Methylobacterium sp. (r 2 = 1.0); Rhodococcus sp. (r 2 = 0.86); Xenophilus sp. (r 2 = 0.96)). It is notable that each of the bacteria studied exhibited different levels of fluorescence as a function of their number. The scope for LED based instrumentation for insitu, real time assessment of the organic and microbial matrix of potable water is clearly demonstrated

Towards the decontamination of plutonium contaminated bricks:Creation of a cerium-based simulant contamination system

There is a need for the decontamination of a number of plutonium-contaminated bricks encountered in a legacy BUTEX reprocessing plant on Sellafield site in the UK. Documentary review has indicated that the source of the contamination was a 8 mol dm -3 nitric acid process stream containing 10 mmol dm -3 of Pu in either the (III) or (IV) oxidation state. Here we have sought to emulate the behaviour of Pu(III) by treatment of fired clay brick surfaces with a solution of 10 mmol dm -3 Ce(III) nitrate in 8 mol dm -3 nitric acid. XRD, porosimetry and EDX measurements of the untreated bricks reveal them to be comprised of low porosity silica and aluminosilicate phases with a surface layer of a low-Si content Al-C-N oxide derived from the atmosphere of the kiln in which the bricks were fired. Depth profiling after an initial 6 week acid soak reveals that the acid penetrates <10 mm into the brick. SEM/EDX analysis reveals that acid treatment significantly roughens the brick surface due to dissolution the above described Al-C-N oxide layer. The EDX data also shows that virtually no Ce is retained as tenacious contamination at the brick surface; this may be due to a either a mass action/kinetic effect or taken to indicate that trivalent Ce(III) is less likely to absorb at the crystalline silica/aluminosilicate surface of the brick than its more easily hydrolysable tetravalent equivalent. Preliminary higher-resolution EDX analysis indicates that small quantities of Ce(III) can be detected in pores or cracks on the surface of acid-treated brick samples. This suggests that Ce(III) may be non-tenaciously sequestered into surface defects - and that a simple salt wash may be sufficient to remove it. Based on the above observations, potential decontamination strategies are discussed and future studies outlined

Fur : A non-invasive approach to monitor metal exposure in bats

This paper presents a novel assessment of the use of fur as a non-invasive proxy to biomonitor metal contamination in insectivorous bats. Concentrations of metals (cadmium, copper, lead and zinc) were measured using ICP-MS in tissues (kidneys, liver, stomach and stomach content, bones and fur) obtained from 193 Pipistrellus pipistrellus/pygmaeus bats. The bats were collected across a gradient of metal pollution in England and Wales. The utility of small samples of fur as an indicator of metal exposure from the environment was demonstrated with strong relationships obtained between the concentrations of non-essential metals in fur with concentrations in stomach content, kidneys, liver and bones. Stronger relationships were observed for non-essential metals than for essential metals. Fur analyses might therefore be a useful non-invasive proxy for understanding recent, as well as long term and chronic, metal exposure of live animals. The use of fur may provide valuable information on the level of endogenous metal exposure and contamination of bat populations and communities

The operational value of inlet monitoring at service reservoirs

Drinking water quality leaving water treatment works is known to deteriorate as it makes its way through distribution networks. As deterioration rates are related to the condition of the network and how it is operated, it is important to determine the location and magnitude so that causes can be determined and effective maintenance implemented. Water quality is typically monitored at outlets of service reservoirs to help track changing water quality. However, these results do not confirm whether the issue is linked to the network between treatment and the service reservoir, the service reservoir itself, or both. The work in this paper investigates the value of using inlet monitoring at service reservoirs to overcome this limitation. Results show that monitoring at both the inlet and outlet of service reservoirs provides valuable information on asset performance and highlights the location and extent of deterioration helping inform cost-efficient resource provision