Hideaki Maki

Spatial, phase, and temporal distributions of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in Tokyo Bay, Japan.

The spatial distribution, partitioning, and time trends of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were investigated in the water column and bottom sediment of Tokyo Bay, Japan, during 2004-2006. A total of 480 water and 60 sediment samples obtained by regular 20-station samplings ascertained the three-dimensional distributions of these compounds and changes in the seawater structure in the whole bay. The median of volume-based average water-borne concentrations of PFOS and PFOA was 3.7 and 12 ng/L, respectively. The median concentrations in sediment were 0.61 (PFOS) and 0.20 (PFOA) ng/g-dry. Vertical mixing of the water column probably affected the vertical distribution of these compounds. The negative correlations between PFOS and PFOA concentrations and water salinity and the horizontal distributions of their concentrations suggested that freshwater inputs into the bay were the source of these compounds. A mixing model estimated the average PFOS concentration in the freshwater inputs to be 29 ng/L. The common logarithm of the partition coefficients between the dissolved and suspended-particle-sorbed phases varied among samples, with the average of 4.2 (PFOS) and 3.5 (PFOA). Our analyses indicated no apparent time trends in the concentrations of these compounds during 2004-2006 in either the freshwater input or the bay.

Cloning, sequence analysis and expression in Escherichia coli of a gene encoding an alginate lyase from Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9.

A gene (aly) encoding alginate lyase (ALY; EC 4.2.2.3) was isolated from a library constructed with the cosmid vector pHC79 and Sau3AI-digested genomic DNA of Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9. Successive subcloning of the aly-containing cosmid enabled us to locate the gene on a 2.3 kb HpaI fragment. Nucleotide sequencing of this fragment revealed a single open reading frame (ORF) of 1365 bp. The directly determined N-terminal amino acid sequence of the ALY protein purified from Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9 was found in the amino acid sequence deduced from this ORF between nucleotides 282 and 366. Expression of aly was induced by IPTG in Escherichia coli and leakage of the enzyme into the extracellular milieu was significantly enhanced by addition of glycine to the growth medium. The ALY enzyme had a greater specificity for the homopolymer of mannuronate than for that of guluronate.

Diversity and Similarity of Microbial Communities in Petroleum Crude Oils Produced in Asia

To understand microbial communities in petroleum crude oils, we precipitated DNA using high concentrations of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (isooctane) and purified. Samples of DNA from five crude oils, (Middle East, 3; China, 1; and Japan, 1) were characterized based upon their 16S rRNA gene sequences after PCR amplification and the construction of clone libraries. We detected 48 eubacterial species, one cyanobacterium, and one archaeon in total. The microbial constituents were diverse in the DNA samples. Most of the bacteria affiliated with the sequences of the three oils from the Middle East comprised similar mesophilic species. Acinetobacter, Propionibacterium, Sphingobium and a Bacillales were common. In contrast, the bacterial communities in Japanese and Chinese samples were unique. Thermophilic Petrotoga-like bacteria (11%) and several anaerobic-thermophilic Clostridia- and Synergistetes-like bacteria (20%) were detected in the Chinese sample. Different thermophiles (12%) and Clostridia (2%) were detected in the Japanese sample.

Crude oil bioremediation field experiment in the Sea of Japan.

Experimental bioremediation of crude oil was conducted for approximately 3 months in the intertidal zone of the Sea of Japan, Hyogo Prefecture. Artificial mixtures of weathered Arabian light crude oil and sand taken from the experimental site were wrapped in polyester net envelopes. The envelopes were placed in drum-shaped acrylic vessels with perforated sides to facilitate seawater exchange. The vessels were laid in the intertidal area. Slow release nitrogen and phosphorus synthetic fertilizer granules were added to the oil-sand mixtures in three different amounts. Some oil-sand mixtures were unfertilized controls. The oil-sand mixtures were periodically sampled and changes in the composition of the residual oils were monitored. Oil samples were subjected to gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for analysis of some representative semi-volatile aliphatic and aromatic compounds. All values for each analyte were normalized against that of hopane to evaluate the extent of oil biodegradation. Significant increases in the concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorus were found in the fertilized sections in accordance with the amounts of added fertilizers. Although significant natural attenuation of oil was observed in the unfertilized sections, fertilization stimulated the degradation rate of the oil in the early stage of the experimental term. The extent of the oil biodegradation increased as the amount of added fertilizer increased. However, the final degradation efficiencies for each oil component in the fertilized sections were not significantly different from those in the unfertilized sections, and the degradation of each oil component had almost ceased after 6 weeks. We conclude that excessive amounts of macronutrients are required to accelerate oil biodegradation and that fertilization is only effective in the early stages.

Effect of medium-chain triglycerides on the postprandial triglyceride concentration in healthy men

This study compared the serum lipid concentrations after a single dose of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) or long-chain triglycerides (LCT) between individuals grouped according to the body mass index (BMI). Twenty-five males participated as volunteers, the test diet containing 10 g of MCT or LCT. Blood samples were collected up to 6 h after the intake of a test diets. The LCT diet resulted in significantly greater increases in areas under the curves (AUCs) for serum and chylomicron triglyceride in the BMI≥23 kg/m2 group than those in the BMI<23 kg/m2 group. The magnitude of response after intake of the MCT diet by the BMI≥23 kg/m2 group was significantly lower than that after the LCT diet. These results suggest that, in subjects with BMI≥23 kg/m2, the intake of MCT is preferable to that of LCT for maintaining postprandial triglyceride at a low concentration.

Abundance and Population Structure of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria That Inhabit Canal Sediments Receiving Effluents from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

ABSTRACT A polyphasic, culture-independent study was conducted to investigate the abundance and population structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in canal sediments receiving wastewater discharge. The abundance of AOB ranged from 0.2 to 1.9% and 1.6 to 5.7% of the total bacterial fraction by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Clone analysis and restriction endonuclease analysis revealed that the AOB communities influenced by the wastewater discharge were dominated by Nitrosomonas, were similar to each other, and were less diverse than the communities outside of the immediate discharge zone.

Intrinsic Biodegradation of Heavy Oil from Nakhodka and the Effect of Exogenous Fertilization at a Coastal Area of the Sea of Japan

We performed a field experiment in thebiodegradation of heavy oil spilled from the Russian tankerNakhodka on a beach in the Sea of Japan. We collectedoil-contaminated cobbles and treated half with nitrogen andphosphorus slow-release fertilizers to stimulate microbialdegradation of the oil; the other half acted as unfertilizedcontrols. The cobbles were placed in porous acrylic vessels andsubmerged. We monitored changes in the oils, macronutrients,microbial community structure and amount of chlorophyll a. There were no significant differences in these criteriabetween the fertilized and unfertilized vessels, apart from anincrease in chlorophyll a in the fertilized vessels.However, there was a major intrinsic degradation of semi-volatile oil compounds in the unfertilized vessels; this occurred at a rate similar to that in the fertilized vessels, despite the low concentration of macronutrients in the seawater at the site.

Temporal trends for inflow of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) to Tokyo Bay, Japan, estimated by a receptor-oriented approach.

We estimated inflow rates of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) to Tokyo Bay, Japan, between February 2004 and February 2011 by a receptor-oriented approach based on quarterly samplings of the bay water. Temporal trends in these inflow rates are an important basis for evaluating changes in PFOS and PFOA emissions in the Tokyo Bay catchment basin. A mixing model estimated the average concentrations of these compounds in the freshwater inflow to the bay, which were then multiplied by estimated freshwater inflow rates to obtain the inflow rates of these compounds. The receptor-oriented approach enabled us to comprehensively cover inflow to the bay, including inflow via direct discharge to the bay. On a logarithmic basis, the rate of inflow for PFOS decreased gradually, particularly after 2006, whereas that for PFOA exhibited a marked stepwise decrease from 2006 to 2007. The rate of inflow for PFOS decreased from 730kg/y during 2004-2006 to 160kg/y in 2010, whereas that for PFOA decreased from 2000kg/y during 2004-2006 to 290kg/y in 2010. These reductions probably reflected reductions in the use and emission of these compounds and their precursors in the Tokyo Bay catchment basin. Our estimated per-person inflow rates (i.e., inflow rates divided by the estimated population in the basin) for PFOS were generally comparable to previously reported per-person waterborne emission rates in Japan and other countries, whereas those for PFOA were generally higher than previously reported per-person waterborne emission rates. A comparison with previous estimates of household emission rates of these compounds suggested that our inflow estimates included a considerable contribution from point industrial sources.

Temporal changes in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of macrozoobenthos on an artificial tidal flat facing a hypertrophic canal, inner Tokyo Bay.

Temporal changes in benthic food web structure were analyzed in an artificial tidal flat in inner Tokyo Bay, Japan, using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ(13)C and δ(15)N). Microphytobenthos were the most important food sources of macrozoobenthos, due to high microphytobenthic biomass on the tidal flat, while phytoplankton in canal water (canal POMPP), terrestrial materials from urban surface runoff (canal POMTM), and marsh plants were less important. Dietary contribution of microphytobenthos was highest in April to June, while decreased towards December owing to the supply of canal POMPP and canal POMTM following red tides and heavy rainfall events in summer to fall. Temporal changes in δ(15)N (Δδ(15)N) of consumer corresponded well to the (15)N-enrichment in canal POMPP in summer. A meta-analysis showed that the consumer-Δδ(15)N was considerably larger in inner Tokyo Bay than those in other estuaries, which may be a specific characteristic of benthic food web in highly urbanized estuaries.

Transfer kinetics of perfluorooctane sulfonate from water and sediment to a marine benthic fish, the marbled flounder (Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae)

The authors investigated the kinetics of transfer of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from water, suspended sediment, and bottom sediment to a marine benthic fish, the marbled flounder (Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae). Fish were exposed in 3 treatments to PFOS in combinations of these exposure media for 28 d and then depurated for 84 d. A major part (37–66%) of PFOS in the fish was in the carcass (i.e., whole body minus muscle and internal organs). Three first-order-kinetic models that differed in exposure media, that is, 1) sum of dissolved and particulate phases and sediment; 2) dissolved phase, particulate phase, and sediment; and 3) dissolved phase only, were fitted to the data assuming common rate constants among the treatments. The uptake efficiency of dissolved PFOS at the respiratory surfaces was estimated to be 3.2% that of oxygen, and the half-life of PFOS in the whole body to be 29 d to 31 d. The better fit of models 1 and 2 and the values of the estimated uptake rate constants suggested that the PFOS in suspended and bottom sediments, in addition to that dissolved in water, contributed to the observed body burden of the fish. Based on an evaluation of several possible contributing factors to the uptake of PFOS from suspended and bottom sediments, the authors propose that further investigation is necessary regarding the mechanisms responsible for the uptake. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2009–2017.