Assessing the toxicity and risk of salt-impacted winter road runoff to the early life stages of freshwater mussels in the Canadian province of Ontario.

In temperate urbanized areas where road salting is used for winter road maintenance, the level of chloride in surface waters has been increasing. While a number of studies have shown that the early-life stages of freshwater mussels are particularly sensitive to salt; few studies have examined the toxicity of salt-impacted winter road runoff to the early-life stages of freshwater mussels to confirm that chloride is the driver of toxicity in this mixture. This study examines the acute toxicity of field-collected winter road runoff to the glochidia of wavy-rayed lampmussels (Lampsilis fasciola) (48 h exposure) and newly released juvenile fatmucket mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) (<1 week old; 96 h exposure) under different water hardness. The chronic toxicity (28 d) to older juvenile L. siliquoidea (7-12 months old) was also investigated. The 48-h EC50 and 96-h LC50 for L. fasciola glochidia and L. siliquoidea juveniles exposed to different dilutions of road run-off created with moderately hard synthetic water (∼80 mg CaCO3/L) were 1177 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1011-1344 mg Cl-/L) and 2276 mg Cl-/L (95% CI: 1698-2854 mg Cl-/L), respectively. These effect concentrations correspond with the toxicity of chloride reported in other studies, indicating that chloride is likely the driver of toxicity in salt-impacted road-runoff, with other contaminants (e.g., metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) playing a de minimis role. Toxicity data from the current study and literature and concentrations of chloride in the surface waters of Ontario were used to conduct a probabilistic risk assessment of chloride to early-life stage freshwater mussels. The assessment indicated that chronic exposure to elevated chloride levels could pose a risk to freshwater mussels; further investigation is warranted to ensure that the most sensitive organisms are protected.

Bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the unionid mussel Lasmigona costata in a river receiving wastewater effluent.

Freshwater mussels are frequently found in rivers receiving effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), and there is strong evidence that poor water quality is deleterious to freshwater mussel populations. WWTPs are among the main sources of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface waters. We monitored 145 PPCPs in wild and caged mussels both upstream and downstream of the Kitchener WWTP in the Grand River, Ontario, as well as 118 PPCPs in water samples. Our objectives were to characterize the seasonal changes in PPCP concentrations in water, to calculate bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of PPCPs in mussels, and to determine the chemical and physical properties of PPCPs driving the bioaccumulation. Seventy PPCPs were detected in water, and concentrations were highest in the summer or early fall, which corresponded to low river flow. Forty-three PPCPs from many pharmaceutical classes were detected in mussel tissues, including stimulants, a contrasting agent, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-bacterial agents, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, progestins, and illicit drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines. The BAFs ranged from 0.66 for metformin to 32,022 for sertraline. Using partial least squares to predict BAFs based upon chemical properties, log KOC, Log KOW, and fugacity ratio (sediment) all had similar and positive loadings with BAFs (R(2)X = 0.70; caged mussels). BAFs of PPCPs in mussels were predictable from fugacity models that estimate bioconcentration factors using log KOW. Our study demonstrated that mussels readily bioaccumulate PPCPs, in a manner consistent with expectations based upon BCF models and the chemical characteristics of each compound.

Distribution of estrogens, 17beta-estradiol and estrone, in Canadian municipal wastewater treatment plants.

The distribution of female hormones, 17beta-estradiol and estrone, was determined in effluents of 18 selected municipal treatment plants across Canada. Replicate 24-h composite samples were collected from the influent and final effluent of each treatment plant, and the removal efficiency compared to the operational characteristics of the plants. In conventional activated sludge and lagoon treatment systems, the mean concentrations of 17beta-estradiol and estrone in influent were 15.6 ng/l (range 2.4-26 ng/l) and 49 ng/l (19-78 ng/l). In final effluents, the mean concentrations of both 17beta-estradiol and estrone were reduced to 1.8 ng/l (0.2-14.7 ng/l) and 17 ng/l (1-96 ng/l), respectively. 17beta-estradiol was removed effectively, >75% and as high as 98%, in most of the conventional mechanical treatment systems with secondary treatment. The removal of estrone was much more complex with removal varying from 98% to situations where the concentrations in the effluent were elevated above that detected in the influent. The estrogenicity, measured using a transfected estrogen receptor in yeast (YES) assay, was also variable, ranging from high removal to elevations of estrogenicity in final effluent. Although the apparent removals were not statistically correlated with either hydraulic (HRT) or solid (SRT) retention times, plants or lagoons with high SRT were very effective at reducing the levels of hormones. Well-operated plants that achieved nitrification also tended to have higher removal of hormones than those that did not nitrify. Laboratory aerobic reactor experiments confirmed the rapid removal of 17beta-estradiol, estrone, and estrogenicity when exposed to sewage slurries.

Disruption of lymphocyte function and signaling in CD45-associated protein-null mice.

CD45-AP specifically associates with CD45, a protein tyrosine phosphatase essential for lymphocyte differentiation and antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction. CD45 is thought to mediate antigen receptor signaling by dephosphorylating regulatory tyrosine residues on Src family protein tyrosine kinases such as Lck. However, the mechanism for regulating CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase activity remains unclear. CD45-AP-null mice were created to examine the role of CD45-AP in CD45-mediated signal transduction. T and B lymphocytes showed reduced proliferation in response to antigen receptor stimulation. Both mixed leukocyte reaction and cytotoxic T lymphocyte functions of T cells were also markedly decreased in CD45-AP-null mice. Interestingly, the interaction between CD45 and Lck was significantly reduced in CD45-AP-null T cells, indicating that CD45-AP directly or indirectly mediates the interaction of CD45 with Lck. Our data indicate that CD45-AP is required for normal antigen receptor signaling and function in lymphocytes.

Use of messenger RNA differential display to identify interleukin-11-responsive genes in human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells: IL-11 upregulates the expression of the hMAL gene.

Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) mononuclear cells represent a source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, including cells responsive to interleukin-11 (IL-11). To investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with IL-11 action, we have used HUCB mononuclear cells as a model system to identify genes that are transcriptional targets of IL-11. Using the technique of messenger RNA differential display, we have identified 17 candidate cDNA differentially expressed in mononuclear cells incubated without and with IL-11. Fifteen of these cDNA were recovered, and 11 were sequenced. DNA sequence analysis has identified one of these cDNA as being the human MAL gene, originally identified as a marker for intermediate stages of T cell differentiation. Northern analysis using a MAL-specific probe confirms the upregulation of MAL by IL-11 in HUCB cells.

Intrasplenic vaccination against experimental melanoma.

The immunodominant component of a formalinized extracellular antigen (fECA) vaccine prepared from B16 F10 melanoma cells is the melanoma-associated antigen B700. We now demonstrate that a single prophylactic intrasplenic inoculation of B700 antigen (1-10 mu g) stimulates the production of antibodies which have antiproliferative effects on B16 F10 melanoma cells in vitro. In addition, potential cytotoxic effects of splenocytes from B700 antigen inoculated mice were evaluated for two cellular immune effector functions, natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell activity; both activities were increased following B700 antigen inoculation. Intrasplenic injection of B700 antigen elicited an increase in the expression of the CD25 surface antigen (IL-2 R alpha) by T lymphocytes and up-regulated the expression of IL-2 R alpha mRNA. Thus both humoral and cellular cytotoxic immune responses might play roles in the decreased growth of primary tumors in B700 antigen inoculated mice and in the higher survival rate in this group of animals.

Unexpected nuclear localization of a chimeric beta-galactosidase lacZ reporter gene product in mammalian cells.

A lacZ cassette was designed to include a synthetic amino terminus optimized for translation in eukaryotic cells, as well as multiple restriction sites for the insertion of heterologous regulatory elements both 5' and 3' of the reporter. The cassette was placed under the control of the metallothionein promoter in combination with the SV40 enhancer and this plasmid was introduced into mammalian cells. High levels of beta-galactosidase were observed in several cell types, demonstrating efficient expression of the reporter. Unexpectedly, most of the chromogenic reaction product appeared to be intra- or peri-nuclear, indicating that the enzyme is similarly localized. The synthetic amino terminus does not resemble known nuclear localization signals and thus may constitute a novel signal.

Toxicity of organomercury compounds: bioassay results as a basis for risk assessment.

A former mercury plant, where mercury salts and organomercurials for pesticide use were produced, caused soil contamination in high concentrations. Typical organomercurial products included ethylmercury, phenylmercury, methoxyethylmercury and ethoxyethylmercury compounds. Risk assessment of these sites must be carried out before any major clean-up processes can be planned. A sensitive speciation technique for the various organomercury species in environmental matrices is a prerequisite for toxicity investigations. In this connection, a high-performance liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-AFS) technique has been developed to differentiate between and determine the presence of eight organomercury compounds in environmental samples. Using this technique, methylmercury, ethylmercury and phenylmercury and some unknown organomercury species were found in soil samples collected from the sites of an old mercury products producing plant. With regard to risk assessment, it is necessary to assess the toxicity of the organomercurials. As different microbial metabolic pathways react differently to mercury and its compounds, batteries of bioassays are, therefore, useful to evaluate the toxicity of pollutants. To describe the toxicity and genotoxicity of MeHg+, MeOEtHg+, EtHg+, EtOEtHg+ and PhHg+, p-tolymercury chloride, nitromersol and Hg2+ six bioassays were used: resazurin reduction method, Spirillum volutans test, nematode toxicity assay Panagrellus redivivus, Toxi-Chromotest and SOS-Chromotest. A ranking of the toxicity of the organomercurial is shown. The SOS-Chromotest indicated genotoxicity for 5-7 organomercurials.

Selective enzymatic depletion during RNA-PCR: improved detection of rare RNA forms.

A procedure that facilitates the detection of rare RNAs by RNA-polymerase chain reaction (RNA-PCR) when a large excess of competing template is present in the PCR is described. We have used this assay to detect spliced mRNAs of low abundance, which result from in vitro splicing of an intron derived from the rat fibronectin gene. RNA was isolated from splicing reactions, reverse transcribed, then PCR was performed, using primers based on exon sequences. After a limited number of cycles, amplified DNAs were incubated with a restriction enzyme which cleaved only within the intron, leaving the spliced two-exon product intact. This step selectively depleted the unspliced pre-mRNA, and subsequent rounds of PCR served to enrich for spliced product. The spliced product was not detected by performing PCR without restriction digestion to deplete pre-mRNA-derived species. The broader application of the enzymatic depletion strategy to detection of rare alternative mRNA isoforms is also demonstrated.