Göran Dave

Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition.

Plastics constitute a large material group with a global annual production that has doubled in 15 years (245 million tonnes in 2008). Plastics are present everywhere in society and the environment, especially the marine environment, where large amounts of plastic waste accumulate. The knowledge of human and environmental hazards and risks from chemicals associated with the diversity of plastic products is very limited. Most chemicals used for producing plastic polymers are derived from non-renewable crude oil, and several are hazardous. These may be released during the production, use and disposal of the plastic product. In this study the environmental and health hazards of chemicals used in 55 thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers were identified and compiled. A hazard ranking model was developed for the hazard classes and categories in the EU classification and labelling (CLP) regulation which is based on the UN Globally Harmonized System. The polymers were ranked based on monomer hazard classifications, and initial assessments were made. The polymers that ranked as most hazardous are made of monomers classified as mutagenic and/or carcinogenic (category 1A or 1B). These belong to the polymer families of polyurethanes, polyacrylonitriles, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and styrenic copolymers. All have a large global annual production (1-37 million tonnes). A considerable number of polymers (31 out of 55) are made of monomers that belong to the two worst of the ranking models five hazard levels, i.e. levels IV-V. The polymers that are made of level IV monomers and have a large global annual production (1-5 million tonnes) are phenol formaldehyde resins, unsaturated polyesters, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, and urea-formaldehyde resins. This study has identified hazardous substances used in polymer production for which the risks should be evaluated for decisions on the need for risk reduction measures, substitution, or even phase out.

Toxicity of mercury, copper, nickel, lead, and cobalt to embryos and larvae of zebrafish,Brachydanio rerio

The toxicity of mercury (HgCl2), copper (CuCl2: 5 H2O), nickel (NiSO4: 6 H2O), lead (Pb(CH3COO)2: 3 H2O) and cobalt (CoCl2: 6 H2O) was studied under standardized conditions in embryos and larvae of the zebrafish,Brachydanio rerio. Exposures were started at the blastula stage (2–4 h after spawning) and the effects on hatching and survival were monitored daily for 16 days. Copper and nickel were more specific inhibitors of hatching than cobalt, lead, and mercury. Nominal “no effect” concentrations determined from the dose-response relationships (ZEPs, Zero Equivalent Points) for effect on hatching time were 0.05 μg Cu/L, 10 μg Hg/L, 20 μg Pb/L, 40 μg Ni/L and 3,840 μg Co/L, and those for effect on survival time were 0.25 μg Cu/L, 1.2 μg Hg/L, 30 μg Pb/L, 80 μg Ni/L, and 60 μg Co/L. The “no effect” concentrations for Ni, Hg and Pb are consistent with previously reported MATC values for sensitive species of fish. The “no effect” concentrations for copper are 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than previously reported values. The major reason for the latter discrepancy was considered to be the absence of organics that can complex copper ions in the reconstituted water that we used, which had a hardness of 100 mg/L (as CaCO3) and a pH of 7.5–7.7. Unexposed controls were started with embryos from different parental zebrafishes and the parental-caused variability in early embryo mortality, median hatching time and median survival time were estimated.

Metabolic and hematological effects of starvation in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L.—I. Carbohydrate, lipid, protein and inorganic ion metabolism

Abstract 1. The effects of starvation on different metabolities in blood, liver and muscle and the level of cortisol and some inorganic ions in plasma were studied in eels, Anguilla anguilla L., after 11, 47, 96 and 164 days. 2. During the first 96 days the eels apparently used mainly liver and muscle triglycerides and this utilization was accompanied by an increase in water content. 3. Between 47 and 96 days the levels of blood glucose and muscle glycogen increased followed by a decrease. 4. Between 96 and 164 days there was a marked decrease in liver glycogen and plasma protein while the triglyceride and water content of liver and muscle was unaffected. 5. The alterations in cholesterol and phospholipids and the possible role of LCAT (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase) in the regulation of these parameters is discussed. 6. During the entire starvation period the level of inorganic phosphate in blood plasma decreased and the level of blood lactate, plasma sodium and plasma cortisol increased. 7. The plasma chloride initially decreased followed by an increase after 96 days. These alterations in plasma chloride are discussed in relation to hematological studies and the level of plasma protein.

Occurrence and effects of tire wear particles in the environment - a critical review and an initial risk assessment.

This review summarizes the existing knowledge on the occurrence of tire wear particles in the environment, and their ecotoxicological effects. A meta-analysis on tire components in the environment revealed that tire wear particles are present in all environmental compartments, including air, water, soils/sediments, and biota. The maximum Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs) of tire wear particles in surface waters range from 0.03 to 56 mg l(-1) and the maximum PECs in sediments range from 0.3 to 155 g kg(-1) d.w. The results from our previous long-term studies with Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata were used to derive Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs). The upper ranges for PEC/PNEC ratios in water and sediment were >1, meaning that tire wear particles present potential risks for aquatic organisms. We suggest that management should be directed towards development and production of more environmentally friendly tires and improved road runoff treatment.

Hematological effects of cortisol in the european eel, Anguilla anguilla L.

Abstract 1. 1. Yellow European eels were intraperitoneally injected with Cortisol (5 mg/kg body weight of hydrocortisone-21-phosphate-Na-salt) in 0.9% saline or saline only daily during 14 days. 2. 2. Sampling of blood and tissues was performed after 1, 4 and 14 days and parameters of inorganic ion, carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism were studied. 3. 3. As expected, the blood plasma cortisol levels were significantly elevated at all sampling events as an effect of cortisol injections. 4. 4. These elevated cortisol levels had a stabilizing effect on osmoregulation and weak hypokalemic and hyperphosphatemic actions. 5. 5. Further, a stimulated liver gluconeogenesis and carbohydrate metabolism together with evidence for an enhanced lipolysis were observed.

Leachates from plastic consumer products - screening for toxicity with Daphnia magna.

Plastic products can contain chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. In this study, it was investigated if various plastic products emit hazardous chemical substances to water. Two leaching methods (batch and diffusion tests) were used and the leachates were tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. Nine out of 32 tested plastic product leachates had Daphnia 48-h EC(50)s ranging from 5 to 80 g plastic material L(-1). For the remaining 23 products no effect on mobility was seen even at the highest test concentrations (70-100 g plastic material L(-1)). A compact disc (recordable) was the most toxic plastic product, but the toxicity was traced to the silver layer not the polycarbonate plastic material. The other products that displayed toxicity were made of either plasticized PVC (artificial leather, bath tub toy, inflatable bathing ring and table cloth) or polyurethane (artificial leather, floor coating and childrens handbag). While the Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) for compact discs using sodium thiosulfate addition showed that silver was causing the toxicity, the TIE for artificial leather using C18 cartridges showed that hydrophobic compounds were causing the toxicity. Acute toxicity tests of plastic product leachates were found to be useful for screening purposes for differentiating between toxic and non-toxic products.

Metabolic and hematological studies on the yellow and silver phases of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L.—I. Carbohydrate, lipid, protein and inorganic ion metabolism

1. 1. The contents of different metabolites were determined in white and dark muscle, liver, blood and gonads of the yellow and silver phases of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L. 2. 2. The plasma cortisol level in the silver eels was lower than in the yellow eels. 3. 3. The silver eels also showed an increased redistribution and utilization of fat as well as a changed carbohydrate and protein metabolism. 4. 4. An enhanced content of dark muscle was found in the silver eels, indicating an adaptation for spawning migration.

Toxicity and detoxification of Swedish detergents and softener products

Detergents and softeners are used in large quantities and some of their ingredients are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. In the present study the acute toxicity to Daphnia magna was determined for 26 detergents and five softener Swedish products. Only one of the detergents had a 48-h EC50 > 100 mg/l. The 48-h EC50 for the other 25 detergents ranged from 4 to 85 mg/l. The 48-h EC50 for the five softeners ranged from 15 to 166 mg/l. Detoxification tests, with and without inoculum of sewage organisms, showed that all tested products were detoxified to some extent after 16 days and that the rate of detoxification was considerably higher with addition of sewage organisms. Toxicity to D. magna of the detergents and softeners, and the biotic detoxification rate was correlated with the concentration of surfactants used in formulating the products (more surfactants increased toxicity and a slower rate of detoxification). These results emphasize the importance of biological purification of domestic wastewater containing detergents and a suggested development of less toxic and more easily degradable surfactants.

Metabolic and hematological effects of starvation in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L.—II. Hematology

Abstract 1. The effects of starvation on some hematological parameters were studied in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L. after 11, 47, 96 and 164 days. 2. During the first 47 days there was an increase in the hematocrit as well as in the mean corpuscle volume (MCV), probably due to a swelling phenomenon of the erythrocytes. 3. Between 47 and 96 days the red blood cells (RBC) count increased while the hemoglobin content and the MCV decreased. 4. During the last period (96–164 days) the hemoglobin content returned to the starting level, the hematocrit was still slightly elevated, the RBC count increased and the MCV decreased. 5. There was a successive decrease in the white blood cells (WBC) count during the entire starvation period.

Metabolic and hematological studies on the yellow and silver phases of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L.—III. Hematology

Abstract 1. 1. In the yellow and silver phases of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L., the following hematological parameters were studied: cell differentiation, cell sizes, cell numbers, hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin content. 2. 2. No differences in cell differentiation, numbers and sizes of white blood cells were observed between the two eel phase. 3. 3. In hemoglobin and hematocrit there was a significant difference between the two stages. However, the mean erythrocyte hemoglobin content and the size of the erythrocytes were the same in both yellow and silver phase. The higher erythrocyte count in the silver phase is probably due to higher erythropoiesis or increased release of erythrocytes from erythropoietic and erythrocyte-storing tissues.