Relationship between nitrate, heavy metal, and sterols contents in Japanese agricultural soils with risk of groundwater pollution.

In Japanese agricultural lands, nitrate-nitrogen contamination of soil and groundwater often occurs due to the application of livestock excrements and compost. Therefore, rural soils in Japan were sampled and analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen leaching, heavy metal content, and sterols associated with livestock excrement and compost to calculate contamination risk indicators. The results were analyzed using self-organizing maps and cluster analysis.

Seasonal Fluctuation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Aerosol Genotoxicity in Long-Range Transported Air Mass Observed at the Western End of Japan.

In order to clarify the level transboundary air pollution caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and genotoxic substances, aerosols were collected from forest and suburban sites in Nagasaki, west Japan, for 6 years. The PAH concentration was measured, and the genotoxicity of the substances were evaluated using the umu test. The results showed no notable trends in the concentration or toxicity of either sites throughout the study period.

Field survey of environmental estrogen pollution in the coastal area of Tokyo Bay and Nagasaki City using the Japanese common goby Acanthogobius flavimanus.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are common pollutants in coastal waters. To investigate the estrogen risk of EDCs in the coastal areas of Japan, the Japanese common goby, which is a commonly observed species in these waters, was used as the target fish. Plasma 17β-estradiol (E) and vitellogenin (VTG) levels were analyzed and the gonads of fish collected from the Taira River (northern Nagasaki, reference site), Nagasaki Port, and two sites in Tokyo Bay were observed.

Occurrence and seasonal variation of equine estrogens, equilin and equilenin, in the river water of Japan: Implication with endocrine-disrupting potentials to Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

In this study, we determined the concentration of equine estrogens, such as equilin (Eq) and equilenin (Eqn), in the river water collected from nine research stations in Hokkaido, Japan. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that Eq concentrations were 2.7 ± 6.

Size distribution and sources of 37 toxic species of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during summer and winter in Baoshan suburban area of Shanghai, China.

The objectives of this study were to assess the size-segregated distribution and sources of 37 different species of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a suburban area of Shanghai metropolitan City, China. The ambient particulate sampling was carried out on the rooftop of a five-stories building in Baoshan campus of Shanghai University. An Andersen high-volume air sampler was employed to collect ambient size-segregated particulate matter during summer of August to September and winter of November to December 2015.

Accumulation and pharmacokinetics of estrogenic chemicals in the pre- and post-hatch embryos of the frog Rana rugosa.

Amphibian eggs spawned in water are exposed immediately to various chemicals present in their water. The present study aimed to investigate the accumulation and pharmacokinetics of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE(2)), bisphenol A (BPA), and nonylphenol (NP), as well as 17β-estradiol (E(2)), in the pre-hatch and post-hatch embryos of the frog Rana rugosa. Fertilized eggs were exposed to chemicals at a final concentration of 500 nM in breeding water for two days, then the embryos with jelly coats were reared in fresh-breeding water without supplementation of the xenoestrogens for six more days.

Survey of contamination of estrogenic chemicals in Japanese and Korean coastal waters using the wild grey mullet (Mugil cephalus).

We monitored the contamination by environmental estrogens (EEs) of coastal areas in Korea and Japan using the wild grey mullet. The grey mullet were collected from Ansan, Jeju, Yeosu, Tongyeong, and Busan in Korea and Nagasaki, Omuta, and Fukuoka in Japan. Contamination by EEs was determined by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) levels in serum and identifying gonadal abnormalities histologically (i.

In vitro evaluation of atmospheric particulate matter and sedimentation particles using yeast bioassay system.

Little information on the evaluation of airborne particulate matter (APM) and sedimentation particles from subway stations is available. The thermal metamorphism of train wheels generating toxic particles in subway stations is a possibility. In this study, the toxicity and physiological effects of particles from subway stations were evaluated using a yeast bioassay system.

Hormonal activity of polycyclic musks evaluated by reporter gene assay.

Synthetic musk fragrance compounds, such as polycyclic musks (PCMs), are a group of chemicals used extensively as personal care products, and can be found in the environment and the human body. PCMs, such as 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexa-methylcyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyltetralin (AHTN), are known to have agonistic activities toward human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) and hERbeta, and have antagonistic activity toward the human androgen receptor (hAR), as shown in several reporter gene assays. However, little is known about the interaction of PCMs with the human thyroid hormone receptor (hTR), and the hormonal effects of other PCMs except for HHCB and AHTN.

Initial ecological risk assessment of eight selected human pharmaceuticals in Japan.

Eight pharmaceuticals were selected on the basis of their domestic consumption in Japan, the excretion ratio of the parent compound and the frequency of detection in the aquatic environment or wastewater treatment plant effluent. Toxicity tests on these pharmaceuticals were conducted using Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), daphnia (Daphnia magna), and green algae (Psuedokirchneriella subcapitata). Predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) was calculated using lethal or effect concentration 50 (LC50 or EC50) values and no effect concentration (NOEC) obtained in the toxicity tests for these compounds.

Reproductive effects and bioconcentration of 4-nonylphenol in medaka fish (Oryzias latipes).

The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive success (fertility and fecundity) of medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in water and the viability of their F(1) offspring. In addition, we measured the bioconcentration of 4-NP in eggs. After a 21-d exposure to 100microg/l 4-NP, medaka showed reduced egg production and fertility.

Effects of triclosan on the early life stages and reproduction of medaka Oryzias latipes and induction of hepatic vitellogenin.

Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is widely used as antibacterial agent in various industrial products, such as textile goods, soap, shampoo, liquid toothpaste and cosmetics, and often detected in wastewater effluent. In this study, the effects of TCS on the early life stages and reproduction of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were investigated. The 96-h median lethal concentration value of TCS for 24-h-old larvae was 602 microg/l.

Styrene dimers and trimers affect reproduction of daphnid (Ceriodaphnia dubia).

The endocrine disruptor activity of styrene in humans and other vertebrates appears to be negligible. However, offspring numbers were reduced in Ceriodaphnia dubia bred in polystyrene cups. Styrene dimers and trimers were found to be eluted from the polystyrene cups by hexane and methanol with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.