Uptake and Effects of the Beta-Adrenergic Agonist Salbutamol in Fish: Supporting Evidence for the Fish Plasma Model.

The fish plasma model (FPM) predicts the fish blood plasma concentration of a pharmaceutical from the water concentration to which the fish is exposed and compares it with the human therapeutic plasma concentration (H PC) with the postulate that no adverse toxic effects occur below the H PC. The present study provides several lines of evidence supporting the FPM for the beta-adrenergic agonist salbutamol, a small cationic molecule at ambient pH. Salbutamol exhibited very low acute toxicity to early and adult life stages of fish.

Environmental risk or benefit? Comprehensive risk assessment of groundwater treated with nano Fe-based Carbo-Iron®.

Groundwater is essential for the provision of drinking water in many areas around the world. The performance of the groundwater-bearing aquifer relies on the ecosystem services provided by groundwater-related organisms. Therefore, if remediation of contaminated groundwater is necessary, the remediation method has to be carefully selected to avoid risk-risk trade-offs that might impact these ecosystems.

Does long-term fungicide exposure affect the reproductive performance of leaf-shredders? A partial life-cycle study using Hyalella azteca.

Leaf-shredding amphipods play a critical role in the ecosystem function of leaf litter breakdown, a key process in many low order streams. Fungicides, however, may adversely influence shredders' behavior and the functions they provide, while there is only limited knowledge concerning effects on their reproductive performance. To assess the latter, a semi-static 56-day partial life-cycle bioassay using the model shredder Hyalella azteca (n = 30) was performed applying two environmentally relevant concentrations of a model fungicide mixture (i.

Towards sensible toxicity testing for nanomaterials: proposal for the specification of test design.

During the last decade, nanomaterials (NM) were extensively tested for potential harmful effects towards humans and environmental organisms. However, a sound hazard assessment was so far hampered by uncertainties and a low comparability of test results. The reason for the low comparability is a high variation in the (1) type of NM tested with regard to raw material, size and shape and (2) procedures before and during the toxicity testing.

Oxidized Carbo-Iron causes reduced reproduction and lower tolerance of juveniles in the amphipod Hyalella azteca.

For in situ remediation of groundwater contaminated by halogenated hydrocarbons Carbo-Iron, a composite of microscale activated carbon and nano Fe, was developed. Against the background of intended release of Carbo-Iron into the environment in concentrations in the g/L-range, potential ecotoxicological consequences were evaluated in the present study. The nano Fei in Carbo-Iron acts as reducing agent and is oxidized in aqueous systems by chlorinated solvents, groundwater constituents (e.

The oxidized state of the nanocomposite Carbo-Iron® causes no adverse effects on growth, survival and differential gene expression in zebrafish.

For degradation of halogenated chemicals in groundwater Carbo-Iron®, a composite of activated carbon and nano-sized Fe(0), was developed (Mackenzie et al., 2012). Potential effects of this nanocomposite on fish were assessed.

Treatment of micropollutants in municipal wastewater: ozone or powdered activated carbon?

Many organic micropollutants present in wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides, are poorly removed in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To reduce the release of these substances into the aquatic environment, advanced wastewater treatments are necessary. In this context, two large-scale pilot advanced treatments were tested in parallel over more than one year at the municipal WWTP of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Toxication or detoxication? In vivo toxicity assessment of ozonation as advanced wastewater treatment with the rainbow trout.

Ozonation as advanced wastewater treatment method is an effective technique for micropollutant removal. However, the application of this method carries the inherent danger to produce toxic oxidation byproducts. For an ecotoxicological assessment conventionally treated wastewater, wastewater after ozonation and ozonated wastewater after sand filtration were evaluated in parallel at an operating treatment plant via the fish early life stage toxicity test (FELST) using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Gene expression analysis in zebrafish embryos: a potential approach to predict effect concentrations in the fish early life stage test.

Based on the hypothesis that analysis of gene expression could be used to predict chronic fish toxicity, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo test (DarT), developed as a replacement method for the acute fish test, was expanded to a gene expression D. rerio embryo test (Gene-DarT). The effects of 14 substances on lethal and sublethal endpoints of the DarT and on expression of potential marker genes were investigated: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2, cytochrome P450 1A (cypla), heat shock protein 70, fizzy-related protein 1, the transcription factors v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family protein g (avian) 1 and NF-E2-p45-related factor, and heme oxygenase 1 (hmox1).