Uptake and physiological effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and its commercial formulation Confidor® in a widespread freshwater oligochaete.

The neonicotinoid imidacloprid (IMI) is one of the most extensively applied neuro-active insecticides worldwide and continues to enter surface waters in many countries despite a recent ban for outdoor use in the EU. Yet little is known about ecotoxicological effects on non-target benthic freshwater species exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of IMI and its marketed products. The aim of the present study was to narrow this gap by assessing effects of pure IMI and its commercial formulation Confidor® on the aquatic oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, a key species in freshwater sediments.

Protein association of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine in Triticum aestivum via irrigation.

Bioaccumulation of several cyanotoxins has been observed in numerous food webs. More recently, the neurotoxic, non-proteinogenic amino acid β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) was shown to biomagnify in marine food webs. It was thus necessary to assess whether a human exposure risk via a terrestrial food source could exist.

Uptake, distribution in different tissues, and genotoxicity of imidacloprid in the freshwater fish Australoheros facetus.

The neonicotinoid imidacloprid is under re-evaluation by regulatory agencies because of the poor current information available regarding its potential effects. One of the goals of the present study was to determine imidacloprid uptake and distribution in the freshwater fish Australoheros facetus experimentally exposed for 24 h and 48 h to 100 μg/L, 300 μg/L, and 2500 μg/L. The toxicity of imidacloprid to fish reported in the literature is in the milligrams per liter or gram per liter range, but sublethal effects at micrograms per liter in some groups other than fish have been described.

Time dependent uptake, bioaccumulation and biotransformation of cell free crude extract microcystins from Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala by Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa and Hydrilla verticillata.

Recent studies evidence that macrophytes can uptake and bioaccumulate microcystins (MC) from contaminated environments, suggesting their use in phytoremediation. In the present study Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa and Hydrilla verticillata were exposed to cell free crude extracts (CE) containing three MC congeners MC-LR, MC-RR and MC-YR at a total MC concentration of 104.4 ± 7.

Single and combined exposure to MC-LR and BMAA confirm suitability of Aegagropila linnaei for use in green liver systems(®)-A case study with cyanobacterial toxins.

The filamentous green algae Aegagropila linnaei was tested for its uptake capacity of the cyanobacterial toxins microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) in order to approve the suitability of its use in the Green Liver System(®). Uptake into the algae and toxin reduction in the medium were analyzed by LC-MS/MS after static exposure for one week to 20μgL(-1) MC-LR, 80μgL(-1) BMAA, and 20μgL(-1) MC-LR together with 80μgL(-1) BMAA, respectively. BMAA was effectively removed by A.