41 research outputs found
Metal release from contaminated estuarine sediment under pH changes in the marine environment
The contaminant release from estuarine sediment due to pH changes was investigated using a modified CEN/TS 14429 pH-dependence leaching test. The test is performed in the range of pH values of 0-14 using deionised water and seawater as leaching solutions. The experimental conditions mimic different circumstances of the marine environment due to the global acidification, carbon dioxide (CO2) leakages from carbon capture and sequestration technologies, and accidental chemical spills in seawater. Leaching test results using seawater as leaching solution show a better neutralisation capacity giving slightly lower metal leaching concentrations than when using deionised water. The contaminated sediment shows a low base-neutralisation capacity (BNCpH 12 = -0.44 eq/kg for deionised water and BNCpH 12 = -1.38 eq/kg for seawater) but a high acid-neutralisation capacity when using deionised water (ANCpH 4 = 3.58 eq/ kg) and seawater (ANCpH 4 = 3.97 eq/kg). Experimental results are modelled with the Visual MINTEQ geochemical software to predict metal release from sediment using both leaching liquids. Surface adsorption to iron- and aluminium- (hydr)oxides was applied for all studied elements. The consideration of the metal-organic matter binding through the NICA-Donnan model and Stockholm Humic Model for lead and copper, respectively, improves the former metal release prediction. Modelled curves can be useful for the environmental impact assessment of seawater acidification due to its match with the experimental values.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Project No. CTM 2011-28437-C02-01, ERDF included. M. C. MartıŽn-Torre was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness by means of FPI. Fellowship No. BES-2012-053816
EFFECTS FROM FILTRATION, CAPPING AGENTS, AND PRESENCE/ABSENCE OF FOOD ON THE TOXICITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES TO \u3ci\u3eDAPHNIA MAGNA\u3c/i\u3e
Relatively little is known about the behavior and toxicity of nanoparticles in the environment. Objectives of work presented here include establishing the toxicity of a variety of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to Daphnia magna neonates, assessing the applicability of a commonly used bioassay for testing AgNPs, and determining the advantages and disadvantages of multiple characterization techniques for AgNPs in simple aquatic systems. Daphnia magna were exposed to a silver nitrate solution and AgNPs suspensions including commercially available AgNPs (uncoated and coated), and laboratory-synthesized AgNPs (coated with coffee or citrate). The nanoparticle suspensions were analyzed for silver concentration (microwave acid digestions), size (dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy), shape (electron microscopy), surface charge (zeta potentiometer), and chemical speciation (X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction). Toxicities of filtered (100 nm) versus unfiltered suspensions were compared. Additionally, effects from addition of food were examined. Stock suspensions were prepared by adding AgNPs to moderately hard reconstituted water, which were then diluted and used straight or after filtration with 100-nm filters. All nanoparticle exposure suspensions, at every time interval, were digested via microwave digester and analyzed by inductively coupled argon plasmaâoptical emission spectroscopy or graphite furnaceâ atomic absorption spectroscopy. Doseâresponse curves were generated and median lethal concentration (LC50) values calculated. The LC50 values for the unfiltered particles were (in ÎŒ/L): 1.1±0.1-AgNO3; 1.0±0.1-coffee coated; 1.1±0.2-citrate coated; 16.7±2.4 Sigma Aldrich Ag-nanoparticles (SA) uncoated; 31.5±8.1 SA coated. LC50 values for the filtered particles were (in ÎŒ/L): 0.7±0.1- AgNO3; 1.4±0.1-SA uncoated; 4.4±1.4-SA coated. The LC50 resulting from the addition of food was 176.4±25.5-SA coated. Recommendations presented in this study include AgNP handling methods, effects from sample preparation, and advantages/ disadvantages of different nanoparticle characterization techniques
Arsenic contamination of natural waters in San Juan and La Pampa, Argentina
Arsenic (As) speciation in surface and groundwater from two provinces in Argentina (San Juan and La Pampa) was investigated using solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge methodology with comparison to total arsenic concentrations. A third province, RĂo Negro, was used as a control to the study. Strong cation exchange (SCX) and strong anion exchange (SAX) cartridges were utilised in series for the separation and preservation of arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MAV) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV). Samples were collected from a range of water outlets (rivers/streams, wells, untreated domestic taps, well water treatment works) to assess the relationship between total arsenic and arsenic species, water type and water parameters (pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids, TDS). Analysis of the waters for arsenic (total and species) was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in collision cell mode. Total arsenic concentrations in the surface and groundwater from Encon and the San JosĂ© de JĂĄchal region of San Juan (north-west Argentina within the Cuyo region) ranged from 9 to 357 ÎŒg lâ1 As. Groundwater from Eduardo Castex (EC) and Ingeniero Luiggi (LU) in La Pampa (central Argentina within the Chaco-Pampean Plain) ranged from 3 to 1326 ÎŒg lâ1 As. The pH range for the provinces of San Juan (7.2â9.7) and La Pampa (7.0â9.9) are in agreement with other published literature. The highest total arsenic concentrations were found in La Pampa well waters (both rural farms and pre-treated urban sources), particularly where there was high pH (typically > 8.2), conductivity (>2,600 ÎŒS cmâ1) and TDS (>1,400 mg lâ1). Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment of well waters in La Pampa for domestic drinking water in EC and LU significantly reduced total arsenic concentrations from a range of 216â224 ÎŒg lâ1 As to 0.3â0.8 ÎŒg lâ1 As. Arsenic species for both provinces were predominantly AsIII and AsV. AsIII and AsV concentrations in San Juan ranged from 4â138 ÎŒg lâ1 to <0.02â22 ÎŒg lâ1 for surface waters (in the San JosĂ© de JĂĄchal region) and 23â346 ÎŒg lâ1 and 0.04â76 ÎŒg lâ1 for groundwater, respectively. This translates to a relative AsIII abundance of 69â100% of the total arsenic in surface waters and 32â100% in groundwater. This is unexpected because it is typically thought that in oxidising conditions (surface waters), the dominant arsenic species is AsV. However, data from the SPE methodology suggests that AsIII is the prevalent species in San Juan, indicating a greater influence from reductive processes. La Pampa groundwater had AsIII and AsV concentrations of 5â1,332 ÎŒg lâ1 and 0.09â592 ÎŒg lâ1 for EC and 32â242 ÎŒg lâ1 and 30â277 ÎŒg lâ1 As for LU, respectively. Detectable levels of MAV were reported in both provinces up to a concentration of 79 ÎŒg lâ1 (equating to up to 33% of the total arsenic). Previously published literature has focused primarily on the inorganic arsenic species, however this study highlights the potentially significant concentrations of organoarsenicals present in natural waters. The potential for separating and preserving individual arsenic species in the field to avoid transformation during transport to the laboratory, enabling an accurate assessment of in situ arsenic speciation in water supplies is discussed
Assembly of protein-based hollow spheres encapsulating a therapeutic factor
Neurotrophins, as important regulators of neural development, function and survival, have a therapeutic potential to repair damaged neurons. However, a controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules to injured tissue remains one of the greatest challenges facing the translation of novel drug therapeutics field. This study presents the development of an innovative protein-protein delivery technology of nerve growth factor (NGF) by an electrostatically assembled protein-based (collagen) reservoir system that can be directly injected into the injury site and provide long term release of the therapeutic. A protein-based biomimetic hollow reservoir system was fabricated using a template method. The capability of neurotrophins to localise in these reservoir systems was confirmed by confocal images of fluorescently labelled collagen and NGF. In addition, high loading efficiency of the reservoir system was proven using ELISA. By comparing release profile from microspheres with varying crosslinking, highly cross-linked collagen spheres were chosen as they have the slowest release rate. Finally, biological activity of released NGF was assessed using rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line and primary rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cell bioassay where cell treatment with NGF-loaded reservoirs induced significant neuronal outgrowth, similar to that seen in NGF treated controls. Data presented here highlights the potential of a high capacity reservoir-growth factor technology as a promising therapeutic treatment for neuroregenerative applications and other neurodegenerative diseases.Funding Information
Funding for this work was provided by Covidien LLC and the Industrial Development Agency of Ireland.peer-reviewe
Toxicity and Transcriptomic Analysis in <i>Hyalella azteca</i> Suggests Increased Exposure and Susceptibility of Epibenthic Organisms to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles
(NPs) are expected to make their way into the aquatic
environment where sedimentation of particles will likely occur, putting
benthic organisms at particular risk. Therefore, organisms such as <i>Hyalella azteca</i>, an epibenthic crustacean which forages
at the sediment surface, is likely to have a high potential exposure.
Here we show that zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs are more toxic to <i>H.
azteca</i> compared with the corresponding metal ion, Zn<sup>2+</sup>. Dissolution of ZnO NPs contributes about 50% of the Zn
measured in the ZnO NP suspensions, and cannot account for the toxicity
of these particles to <i>H. azteca</i>. However, gene expression
analysis is unable to distinguish between the ZnO NP exposures and
zinc sulfate (ZnSO<sub>4</sub>) exposures at equitoxic concentrations.
These results lead us to hypothesize that ZnO NPs provide an enhanced
exposure route for Zn<sup>2+</sup> uptake into <i>H. azteca</i>, and possibly other sediment dwelling organisms. Our study supports
the prediction that sediment dwelling organisms are highly susceptible
to the effects of ZnO NPs and should be considered in the risk assessment
of these nanomaterials
Toxicogenomic Responses of Nanotoxicity in <i>Daphnia magna</i> Exposed to Silver Nitrate and Coated Silver Nanoparticles
Applications for silver nanomaterials in consumer products
are
rapidly expanding, creating an urgent need for toxicological examination
of the exposure potential and ecological effects of silver nanoparticles
(AgNPs). The integration of genomic techniques into environmental
toxicology has presented new avenues to develop exposure biomarkers
and investigate the mode of toxicity of novel chemicals. In the present
study we used a 15k oligonucleotide microarray for <i>Daphnia
magna</i>, a freshwater crustacean and common indicator species
for toxicity, to differentiate between particle specific and ionic
silver toxicity and to develop exposure biomarkers for citrate-coated
and PVP-coated AgNPs. Gene expression profiles revealed that AgNO<sub>3</sub> and AgNPs have distinct expression profiles suggesting different
modes of toxicity. Major biological processes disrupted by the AgNPs
include protein metabolism and signal transduction. In contrast, AgNO<sub>3</sub> caused a downregulation of developmental processes, particularly
in sensory development. Metal responsive and DNA damage repair genes
were induced by the PVP AgNPs, but not the other treatments. In addition,
two specific biomarkers were developed for the environmental detection
of PVP AgNPs; although further verification under different environmental
conditions is needed
Toxicogenomic Responses of Nanotoxicity in <i>Daphnia magna</i> Exposed to Silver Nitrate and Coated Silver Nanoparticles
Applications for silver nanomaterials in consumer products
are
rapidly expanding, creating an urgent need for toxicological examination
of the exposure potential and ecological effects of silver nanoparticles
(AgNPs). The integration of genomic techniques into environmental
toxicology has presented new avenues to develop exposure biomarkers
and investigate the mode of toxicity of novel chemicals. In the present
study we used a 15k oligonucleotide microarray for <i>Daphnia
magna</i>, a freshwater crustacean and common indicator species
for toxicity, to differentiate between particle specific and ionic
silver toxicity and to develop exposure biomarkers for citrate-coated
and PVP-coated AgNPs. Gene expression profiles revealed that AgNO<sub>3</sub> and AgNPs have distinct expression profiles suggesting different
modes of toxicity. Major biological processes disrupted by the AgNPs
include protein metabolism and signal transduction. In contrast, AgNO<sub>3</sub> caused a downregulation of developmental processes, particularly
in sensory development. Metal responsive and DNA damage repair genes
were induced by the PVP AgNPs, but not the other treatments. In addition,
two specific biomarkers were developed for the environmental detection
of PVP AgNPs; although further verification under different environmental
conditions is needed
Exploring the Mechanisms of Selectivity for Environmentally Significant Oxo-Anion Removal during Water Treatment: A Review of Common Competing Oxo-Anions and Tools for Quantifying Selective Adsorption
Development of novel adsorbents often neglects the
competitive adsorption between co-occurring oxo-anions, overestimating realistic pollutant removal potentials, and overlooking
the need to improve selectivity of materials. This critical review
focuses on adsorptive competition between commonly cooccurring oxo-anions in water and mechanistic approaches for
the design and development of selective adsorbents. Six âtargetâ
oxo-anion pollutants (arsenate, arsenite, selenate, selenite,
chromate, and perchlorate) were selected for study. Five
âcompetingâ co-occurring oxo-anions (phosphate, sulfate, bicarbonate, silicate, and nitrate) were selected due to their potential to
compete with target oxo-anions for sorption sites resulting in
decreased removal of the target oxo-anions. First, a comprehensive review of competition between target and competitor oxo-anions
to sorb on commonly used, nonselective, metal (hydr)oxide materials is presented, and the strength of competition between each
target and competitive oxo-anion pair is classified. This is followed by a critical discussion of the different equations and models used
to quantify selectivity. Next, four mechanisms that have been successfully utilized in the development of selective adsorbents are
reviewed: variation in surface complexation, Lewis acid/base hardness, steric hindrance, and electrostatic interactions. For each
mechanism, the oxo-anions, both target and competitors, are ranked in terms of adsorptive attraction and technologies that exploit
this mechanism are reviewed. Third, given the significant effort to evaluate these systems empirically, the potential to use
computational quantum techniques, such as density functional theory (DFT), for modeling and prediction is explored. Finally, areas
within the field of selective adsorption requiring further research are detailed with guidance on priorities for screening and defining
selective adsorbents