Laboratory and In situ Selenium Bioaccumulation Assessment in the Benthic Macroinvertebrates Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus.

Selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and toxicity in aquatic vertebrates have been thoroughly investigated. Limited information is available on Se bioaccumulation at the base of aquatic food webs. In this study, we evaluated Se bioaccumulation in two benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI), Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus raised in the laboratory and caged in-situ to a Canadian boreal lake e (i.e., McClean Lake) that receives continuous low-level inputs of Se (< 1 µg/L) from a uranium mill. Additional Se bioaccumulation assays were conducted in the laboratory with these BMI to (i) confirm field results, (ii) compare Se bioaccumulation in lab-read and native H. azteca populations and (iii) identify the major Se exposure pathway (surface water, top 1 cm and top 2-3 cm sediment layers) leading to Se bioaccumulation in H. azteca. Field and laboratory studies indicated overall comparable Se bioaccumulation and trophic transfer factors (TTFs) in co-exposed H. azteca (whole-body Se 0.9-3.1 µg/g d.w; TTFs 0.6-6.3) and C. dilutus (whole-body Se at 0.7-3.2 µg Se/g d.w.; TTFs 0.7-3.4). Native and lab-reared H. azteca populations exposed to sediment and periphyton from McClean Lake exhibited similar Se uptake and bioaccumulation (NLR, p = 0.003; 4.1 ± 0.8 µg Se/g d.w), demonstrating that lab-reared organisms are good surrogates to assess on-site Se bioaccumulation potential. The greater Se concentrations in H. azteca exposed to the top 1-3 cm sediment layer relative to waterborne exposure, corroborates the importance of the sediment-detrital pathway leading to greater Se bioaccumulation potential to higher trophic levels via BMI.

Laboratory and Field-Based Assessment of the Effects of Sediment Capping Materials on Zinc Flux, Bioavailability, and Toxicity.

A former mining site has been the subject of extensive remediation and restoration, with a significant focus on disconnecting mine spoils from groundwater and managing the quantity and quality of runoff. A remaining task is ensuring concentrations of zinc (Zn) in the stream outflow of a pit lake are reduced below water quality standards. The efficacy of multiple capping materials for decreasing Zn dissolution from sediments was conducted under natural and reasonable worst-case conditions (pH = 5.5). Capping materials included AquaBlok™, limestone, and limestone-bone char. Field exposures were conducted in limnocorrals that isolated overlying water columns above the sediment and capping treatments. Simultaneous in situ and ex situ toxicity tests were conducted using Daphnia magna, Hyalella azteca, and Chironomus dilutus. In situ caged organisms were protected from temperature shock (warm epilimnetic waters) by deploying within a Toxicity Assessment Container System (TACS). Organisms were exposed to surficial sediments, caps, and hypolimnetic overlying waters for 4 d. Ex situ testing was conducted in core tube mesocosms containing sediments and caps at similar temperatures (15-19 °C). Results demonstrated the usefulness of TACS deployment in stratified lake systems. There were no differences in responses between treatments involving sediment capping materials in both in situ and ex situ tests. The lack of differences was likely due to dissolved Zn in surface water being below the hardness-adjusted threshold effects levels (164 µg L-1 ). This field- and laboratory-based weight-of-evidence study provided site-specific data to support the selection of an effective remedy, with reduced uncertainty compared to laboratory and chemistry-only approaches. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;39:240-249. © 2019 SETAC.

A Multiparametric Approach to Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle Toxicity Assessment in Non-Biting Midges.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are included in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) priority list of engineered nanomaterials for assessment of their environmental impact. The present study was carried out to assess the CeO2 NP toxicity to the freshwater midge Chironomus riparius larvae at concentrations of 2.5, 25, 250, and 2500 mg of CeO2 NP/kg of sediment. Experiments were designed to assess the prolonged exposure of midges to CeO2 NPs while adhering to OECD test guideline 218. The following parameters were investigated: CeO2 NP uptake by larvae, oxidative stress parameters, in vivo genotoxic effects, and life trait parameters. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the concentration of CeO2 NPs in the sediment and its uptake by the larvae. No significant mortality was observed in C. riparius, and oxidative stress was not detected. The only significantly induced sublethal effect was genotoxicity, which began to manifest at a lowest-observed-effect concentration of 25 mg kg-1 of sediment and progressively increased at higher concentrations. Our results indicate that exposure to CeO2 NP-contaminated freshwater sediments does not pose a risk to chironomids at environmentally realistic concentrations. However, the significant accumulation of CeO2 NPs by chironomid larvae may pose a risk through trophic transfer to organisms further up the food chain. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;39:131-140. © 2019 SETAC.

Full-Life Cycle Toxicity Assessment of Sediment-Bound DDT and Its Degradation Products on Chironomus dilutus.

Because of its hydrophobicity and persistence, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is ubiquitous in sediments and poses significant risk to benthic organisms. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the long-term toxicity of DDT. However, limited information is available on its chronic toxicity to benthic invertebrates. Full-life cycle toxicity of sediment-bound DDT to Chironomus dilutus was assessed. Median lethal concentrations (with 95% confidence limits) of DDT and its degradation products (DDX) to C. dilutus were 334 (165-568), 21.4 (11.2-34.3), and 7.50 (4.61-10.6) nmol/g organic carbon after 10-, 20-, and 63-d exposure, respectively. In addition, median effect concentrations of DDX were 20.0 (15.0-25.3), 7.13 (4.10-10.5), and 8.92 (3.32-15.1) nmol/g organic carbon for growth, emergence, and reproduction, respectively. A toxicity spectrum was established to visually summarize chronic effects of DDX to midges. In addition, DDT degraded to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) during sediment aging, and their toxicity differed from that of the parent compound. Predicted toxic units of DDX in porewater were utilized to distinguish between toxicity from DDT and that of DDD and DDE. The results showed that DDD was the main contributor to the toxicity in C. dilutus. To improve the accuracy of sediment risk assessment of DDT, the composition of DDX should be considered. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2698-2707. © 2019 SETAC.

Encaged Chironomus riparius larvae in assessment of trace metal bioavailability and transfer in a landfill leachate collection pond.

Household wastes may constitute a vector of environmental contamination when buried, in particular through degradation and production of leachates containing significant trace metal (TM) concentrations that may constitute a serious risk to biota. The objectives of this study were to assess the bioavailability and transfer potential of various TMs present in water and sediments in a reservoir receiving landfill leachates. An active biomonitoring approach was adopted consisting of exposing naive laboratory organisms in cages deployed in the field. Aquatic insects such as Chironomus riparius larvae are good candidates since they represent key organisms in the trophic functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The results show that water, suspended particles, and sediments were significantly contaminated by various TMs (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). Their contribution to the transfer of TMs depends, however, on the specific element considered, e.g., Cd in sediments or Pb in both suspended particles and sediments. The internal fate of TMs was investigated according to their fractionation between an insoluble and a cytosolic fraction. This approach revealed different detoxification strategies capable of preventing the induction of deleterious effects at the individual scale. However, the accumulation of several TMs in C. riparius larvae tissues may also represent a significant load potentially transferable to higher trophic levels.

Integrated sediment quality assessment through biomarker responses and bioavailability measurements: Application in Tai Lake, China.

A weight of evidence (WoE) framework has been applied to assess sediment quality of a typical freshwater lake, Tai Lake in China, where the sediments were contaminated by various chemicals but showed no acute lethality to the benthic invertebrate, Chironomus dilutus. A quantitative scoring method was employed to integrate three lines of evidence (LoE), including adverse effects in life cycle bioassays, biomarker responses, and bioavailability-based chemical analysis. Six biomarkers were determined in C. dilutus after the exposure to the sediments from Tai Lake and provided sensitive indication of sublethal effects at the molecular level. The biomarkers included cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, acetylcholinesterase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation. The changes of the biomarkers were summarized for individual sampling sites by computing the integrated biomarker response (IBR) indices. Complementary information was also confirmed by the interrelationship of the LoEs. The IBR indices gained before pupation correlated well with the impairments of emergence of the midges, and altered acetylcholinesterase was corroborated by the detection of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide. The relationship between bioavailable toxic units estimated by Tenax extractable concentrations of chemicals in sediment and the observed toxicity in the midges helped to identify the putative toxicity contributors to C. dilutus. Overall, the WoE method clearly distinguished the contaminated sites and ranked them by the level of contamination. Sediment-associated pesticides, particularly γ-hexachlorocyclohexane and chlorpyrifos, were the possible contributors to chronic toxicity to the midges.

An in situ assessment of selenium bioaccumulation from water-, sediment-, and dietary-exposure pathways using caged Chironomus dilutus larvae.

An in situ caging study was conducted downstream of a metal mine in northern Canada to determine the significance of surface water versus sediment exposure on selenium (Se) bioaccumulation in the benthic invertebrate Chironomus dilutus. Laboratory-reared C. dilutus larvae were exposed to either site-specific whole-sediment and surface water or surface water only for 10 d at sites with differing sediment and Se characteristics. Results showed elevated whole-body Se concentrations in C. dilutus larvae when exposed to sediment and water, compared with larvae exposed to Se in the surface water only at concentrations ranging from <1 µg Se/L to 12 µg Se/L. In response to these findings, a second in situ experiment was conducted to investigate the importance of dietary Se (biofilm and detritus) versus whole-sediment-exposure pathways. Larvae exposed to sediment detritus had the highest Se concentrations after 10 d of exposure (15.6 ± 1.9 µg/g dry wt) compared with larvae exposed to whole-sediment (12.9 ± 1.7 µg/g dry wt) or biofilm (9.9 ± 1.6 µg/g dry wt). Detritus and biofilm appear to be enriched sources of organic Se, which are more bioaccumulative than inorganic Se. Midge larvae from the reference treatment contained elevated concentrations of diselenides (i.e., selenocystine), while larvae from the biofilm treatment had the highest concentrations of selenomethionine-like compounds, which may be a biomarker of elevated Se exposures derived from anthropogenic sources. Whenever possible, Se concentrations in the organic fraction of sediment should be measured separately from whole-sediment Se and used for more accurate ecological risk assessments of potential Se impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

Survival and energetic costs of repeated cold exposure in the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica: a comparison between frozen and supercooled larvae.

In this study, we examined the effects of repeated cold exposure (RCE) on the survival, energy content and stress protein expression of larvae of the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica (Diptera: Chironomidae). Additionally, we compared results between larvae that were frozen at -5°C in the presence of water during RCE and those that were supercooled at -5°C in a dry environment. Although >95% of larvae survived a single 12 h bout of freezing at -5°C, after five cycles of RCE survival of frozen larvae dropped below 70%. Meanwhile, the survival of control and supercooled larvae was unchanged, remaining around 90% for the duration of the study. At the tissue level, frozen larvae had higher rates of cell mortality in the midgut than control and supercooled larvae. Furthermore, larvae that were frozen during RCE experienced a dramatic reduction in energy reserves; after five cycles, frozen larvae had 25% less lipid, 30% less glycogen and nearly 40% less trehalose than supercooled larvae. Finally, larvae that were frozen during RCE had higher expression of hsp70 than those that were supercooled, indicating a higher degree of protein damage in the frozen group. Results were similar between larvae that had accumulated 60 h of freezing at -5°C over five cycles of RCE and those that were frozen continuously for 60 h, suggesting that the total time spent frozen determines the physiological response. Our results suggest that it is preferable, both from a survival and energetic standpoint, for larvae to seek dry microhabitats where they can avoid inoculative freezing and remain unfrozen during RCE.

Relationships among total recoverable and reactive metals and metalloid in St. Lawrence River sediment: bioaccumulation by chironomids and implications for ecological risk assessment.

The availability and bioaccumulation of metals and metalloids, and the geochemical interactions among them, are essential to developing an ecological risk assessment (ERA) framework and determining threshold concentrations for these elements. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among total recoverable and reactive metals and metalloid in sediment and their bioaccumulation by chironomids. In the fall of 2004 and 2005, 58 stations located in the three fluvial lakes of the St. Lawrence River and its largest harbour area in Montreal, Canada, were sampled. Nine total recoverable and reactive metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) and one metalloid (As) were measured in whole sediment using two extraction methods: HCl/HNO(3) and HCl 1N, respectively. The bioaccumulation of six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and As by chironomids was evaluated in a subset of 22 stations. Strong collinearities were observed between some total recoverable or reactive metal concentrations in sediment; two principal clusters, including collinear metals, were obtained. The first one included metals of mainly geological origin (Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni), while the second one included As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, which likely derive mainly from point sources of anthropogenic contamination. Each element also showed strong collinearity between their total recoverable and reactive forms (0.65< or =r < or =0.97). We can conclude that both chemical forms are equivalent for use in statistical models needed to explain biological responses and also in screening risk assessment. However, these relationships are not always proportional. Lower availability percentages were observed for Cd, Cu and Zn in the highly mixed-contaminated area of the Montreal Harbour, even though concentrations in sediment were higher. We observed a significant correlation (0.50< or =r < or =0.56) between concentrations in chironomids and concentrations of both total recoverable and reactive Cr and Pb in sediment. Arsenic was an exception, with accumulation by chironomids being highly related to reactive sediment concentrations. Finally, we observed variable influences of explanatory factors (e.g. sediment grain size, Al, Fe, Mn, S, TOC), depending on which metal or metalloid was being predicted in chironomids. In this context, it is difficult to choose a universal predictive method to explain the bioaccumulation of specific metals, and more research is still needed into normalization procedures that consider a combination of explanatory factors.

Net methylmercury production as a basis for improved risk assessment of mercury-contaminated sediments.

Sediments contaminated by various sources of mercury (Hg) were studied at 8 sites in Sweden covering wide ranges of climate, salinity, and sediment types. At all sites, biota (plankton, sediment living organisms, and fish) showed enhanced concentrations of Hg relative to corresponding organisms at nearby reference sites. The key process determining the risk at these sites is the net transformation of inorganic Hg to the highly toxic and bioavailable methylmercury (MeHg). Accordingly, Hg concentrations in Perca fluviatilis were more strongly correlated to MeHg (p < 0.05) than to inorganic Hg concentrations in the sediments. At all sites, except one, concentrations of inorganic Hg (2-55 microg g(-1)) in sediments were significantly, positively correlated to the concentration of MeHg (4-90 ng g(-1)). The MeHg/Hg ratio (which is assumed to reflect the net production of MeHg normalized to the Hg concentration) varied widely among sites. The highest MeHg/Hg ratios were encountered in loose-fiber sediments situated in southern freshwaters, and the lowest ratios were found in brackish-water sediments and firm, minerogenic sediments at the northernmost freshwater site. This pattern may be explained by an increased MeHg production by methylating bacteria with increasing temperature, availability of energy-rich organic matter (which is correlated with primary production), and availability of neutral Hg sulfides in the sediment pore waters. These factors therefore need to be considered when the risk associated with Hg-contaminated sediments is assessed.

Contrasting pathways of assimilation: stable isotope assessment of fish exposure to pulp mill effluents.

Fish are commonly used for monitoring the quality of waters receiving pulp mill effluents (PMEs). Isotopic assays of fish tissues have the potential to provide empirical evidence to link an effluent source to exposure. We show in a 45-d factorial laboratory experiment that different exposure pathways lead to isotopic signatures in fish tissue. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to 10% PME in three ways; direct exposure through addition of PME to aquaria, indirect exposure through invertebrate food consumption (Chironomus tentans cultured in 10% PME), and a combination of both exposure pathways. Of the four stable isotopes measured (delta13C, delta15N, delta34S, delta37Cl), delta13C, delta34S, and delta37Cl showed significant differences in exposed animal tissues. Delta37Cl of fish muscle tissue showed consistent differences across trophic levels and revealed contrasting pathways of PME exposure. Contrasting delta 37Cl values in C. tentans due to the presence or absence of 10% PME did not translate into delta37Cl differences in fish. Rather, delta37Cl ratios of fish muscle tissue were specifically related to 10% PME exposure in the aquaria (waterborne exposure pathway). Feasible distributions of 37Cl source contributions for observed mixture ratios confirmed that PME accounted for observed differences in delta37Cl among treatments. Direct uptake of chloride ions across gill surfaces is the most likely pathway for assimilation of PME into fish tissues. Considering the variability of PMEs and receiving environments, use of a multi-isotope approach is recommended for tracing exposure of fish. Use of 37Cl should also be considered in light of its alternative assimilation pathway.

Assessment of contaminated sediments with an indoor freshwater/sediment microcosm assay.

This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using a 2-L, indoor microcosm assay to evaluate five contaminated sediments (A, B, C, D, and E). Toxic potential was deduced in the light of general contamination of sediments, pollutant partitioning in microcosms, and biological responses of species (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Lemna minor, Daphnia magna, Hyalella azteca, Chironomus riparius): E > A > B > C > D. Sediments mainly were contaminated by metals (lead and zinc). Organic pollutant contents varied among the sediments. The major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were pyrene, fluoranthene, and phenanthrene. Sediments A, B, and C highly stimulated duckweed growth (> 700%) and impaired daphnid (< 20%) and amphipod survival (< 30%). Sediment D had no significant effect on pelagic and benthic organisms. Finally, sediment E, the most toxic, limited duckweed growth (inhibition of 82%) and impaired daphnid survival (0% of survival). Amphipods were impaired dramatically by this sediment (0% of survival), in contrast with chironomids, for which no toxic effect was measured. The 2-L, indoor microcosm assay successfully was applied to the assessment of those five contaminated sediments. Sediments A, B, C, and E should not be deposited in gravel quarries, and new, more sensitive endpoint measurements should be developed.

Caged midge larvae (Chironomus riparius) for the assessment of metal bioaccumulation from sediments in situ.

First-stage larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius were exposed in small enclosures at 19 sites located in three different river basins in Flanders (Belgium). Sediments were sampled and sieved at 200 microm at all exposure sites. A layer of approximately 2 cm of sediment was placed in each cage and 100 midge larvae were added. Cages were placed in watercourses where resident midge larvae were present. Accumulation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn was determined after four weeks of exposure when larvae had reached the fourth stage. Comparing metal levels between caged and resident larvae revealed no significant differences. A significant correlation between metal levels in caged and resident larvae was found when all sites were considered. However, such correlation was low (r2 = 0.28) for Pb. The highly significant r2 values found for Cu and Ni probably were due to only one site. Metal levels in tissue were related to levels in water and sediment, taking into account some sediment characteristics (particle size distribution and organic carbon) and oxygen level in the water. To determine the relative importance of these different sediment factors contributing to the variation in metal accumulation by the chironomids, nonlinear regression models were constructed. With the models used, 56.1, 32.2, and 57.4% of the variation for Cd, Pb, and Zn, respectively, could be described. None and 26.9% of the variation could be described for Cu and Ni, respectively. Among the environmental factors, organic carbon and oxygen levels in water were important in describing the accumulation of metals.