Klaus L.E. Kaiser

Effects of selected chemicals to photoluminescent bacteria and their correlations with acute and sublethal effects on other organisms

MicrotoxR1 test toxicity values for twenty chlorophenols, twelve chlorobenzenes and thirteen para-substituted phenols have been determined and correlated with the acute and sublethal effects of these chemicals on several species of fish, bacteria and shrimp. The results indicate that the MicrotoxR test provides good estimates of the toxicities to the various biota, as shown by the linear correlation equations presented, and that it is useful for the calculation of structure-activity correlations with physico-chemical parameters, such as the octanol/water partition coefficient.

Congener-specific analysis of the accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by aquatic organisms in the maximum turbidity zone of the St. Lawrence estuary, Québec, Canada☆

The polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of the biota of the St. Lawrence estuary maximum turbidity zone (MTZ) was investigated. The species analyzed consist of zooplankton (mostly Neomysis americana), larval smelt (Osmerus mordax), juvenile smelt, juvenile tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) and adult smelt, tomcod and capelin (Mallotus villosus). A significant increase in total PCB contamination from zooplankton to all fish developmental stages indicates that the St. Lawrence MTZ is a site of significant PCB contamination. The total PCB contamination of adult smelt and tomcod sampled in the St. Lawrence MTZ was greater than the limit of 0.1 ppm set by the International Joint Commission for the protection of predators. For zooplankton, tomcod and capelin, significant correlations were found between lipid content and PCB contamination. The congener-specific analyses showed that the bioconcentration factor of the individual congeners varied with the species involved and with the molecular structure of the congener. It was found that the chlorine atoms in positions 2, 4 and 5 on at least one phenyl ring of the PCB molecule was a dominant factor causing accumulation of PCBs in aquatic organisms. The pattern of PCB congeners found in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) whale tissues is similar to the PCB pattern found in the St. Lawrence estuary MTZ biota.

Trace Organic Contaminants in the Detroit River

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs), chlorobenzenes (CBs), chlorophenols (CPs), and a number of other organochlorine compounds (OCs) have been determined in the surface microlayer, subsurface water, suspended solids, sediments, and in sediment pore water at 20 sampling stations in the Detroit River. The data are discussed in terms of contaminant sources, pathways, and sinks. Spatial trends within the river and relationships of contaminant groups within and between compartments are described. The results indicate a continuing input of all contaminant groups to the river from a variety of sources, particularly from sewage treatment plant effluents and several tributaries. The contaminant distributions and intercorrelations also indicate that major sources of PCBs, PNAs, OCs, and CBs are concentrated on the westerly river shore, while CPs enter the river mainly from the easterly shore.

Determination of nitrolotriacetic, ethylenediaminetetraacetic and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acids in sewage treatment plant and paper mill effluents

A method for the determination of nitrilotriacetic (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) and diethylene-triaminepentaacetic (DTPA) acids in sewage treatment plant (STP) and paper mill effluents has been developed. The chelating acids were extracted by solid-phase extraction cartridges packed with strong anion-exchange resins and were eluted by a small volume of 16 M formic acid. After conversion into their 1-propyl esters, the acids were quantified by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus-selective detector and confirmed by GC-MS with a mass selective detector. At a pH of 3.5, the recovery of these acids varied from 83 to 104% in water and STP effluent samples fortified to levels from 1 to 1000 μg/1. Based on a concentration factor of 100, the detection limit for these acids was 0.5 μg/1. All three acids were found in STP effluents, although the concentrations were relatively low for EDTA ( 1000 μg/1) of NTA were observed for nearly all primary STP effluents. A large variation in the levels of these acids was observed in the paper recycling mill effluents collected. Although their concentrations were mostly 2500 μg/1) in the effluents obtained from two mills that use this chelating agent to remove metal ions. DTPA was not detected and the concentrations for NTA and EDTA were <11 μg/1 in the effluents collected from the non-recylcing paper mills.

Fates of Organic Compounds from Niagara Falls Dumpsites in Lake Ontario

Abstract Sediment samples from the western portion of Lake Ontario were analyzed for chlorinated organic compounds using gas chromatography and gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. Both electron impact and negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry were employed. Many of the chlorinated compounds previously found to be leaking into the Niagara River from waste disposal sites in the city of Niagara Falls were identified in the sediments of Lake Ontario. In particular, two unique chlorofluorinated compounds were found in the lakes sediment, showing that stable compounds introduced into the Niagara River accumulate to detectable levels 100 km away in Lake Ontario. Chlorinated styrenes as well as several highly chlorinated poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were also found. Their exact origin is uncertain at this time.

Distribution of Hydrocarbons and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Various Phases of the Detroit River

Concentrations of several chlorohydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the Detroit River were measured. For purposes of this study, the river ecosystem was divided into six phases or compartments: sediments, pore water in the sediments, suspended solids, subsurface water, surface microlayer, and air. Significant amounts of the above mentioned compounds occur in all of these compartments except air (for which our detection was relatively insensitive). The sediments contained over 99% of the chlorinated compounds. The polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were distributed between the subsurface water and the sediments.

Bacterial degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls II. Rate studies

SummaryPolychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1221, 1242 and 1254) at concentrations up to 0.1% in glucose did not inhibit the growth of lake water bacteria. The bacteria used Aroclor 1221 and 1242 but not 1254 as sole carbon and energy sources for growth. Less than 1% of lake water bacteria, however, possess this ability. Seven bacterial isolates from Aroclor agar plates were identified; five belonged toAchromobacter sp. and two werePseudomonas sp. The metabolic breakdown of Aroclor 1221 was followed. The mixture was completely degraded into several low molecular weight compounds after one month incubation. Unchlorinated biphenyl was degraded at a faster rate than 2-chlorobiphenyl and 4-chlorobiphenyl isomers.

A non-linear function for the approximation of octanol/water partition coefficients of aromatic compounds with multiple chlorine substitution

From the comparison of linear and power curve regression analyses of several sets of congeners, it is suggested that the increasing chlorine substitution of aromatic and heterocyclic parent compounds, such as benzene, aniline, pyridine, and diphenyl results in declining increases of the octanol/water partition coefficients. The partition coefficients of the chloro congeners follow the general equation logPN = (N+1)∗logPO, where N is the number of chlorine substituents, logPO the partition coefficient of the parent compound and b is a constant, specific for each set of congeners. The parameters logPO and b are also correlated with each other by the equation b = z∗logPOY, where z and y are the same constants for all sets. Together, the two equations allow the quick estimation of the partition coefficient of any congener from the known value of another. This ability is of special importance for compounds with 4 < logP, where experimental values are difficult to obtain.

Correlation of metal ion toxicities to mice

Recently reported correlations of acute ip LD50 metal ion toxicities to mice by Turner et al. (1983), have been re-investigated using the ion-specific parameters reported by Kaiser (1980) for sublethal metal ion toxicities to Daphnia magna. For the 15 ions with partially or completely filled d-shells, Rh(III), Fe(III), Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Pd(II), Ni(II), Au(III), Zn(II), Pt(II), Ag(I), Cu(II), In(III), Hg(II), and Cd(II), a correlation coefficient of r2 = 0.76 is found. This is a significant improvement over the value of r2 = 0.36 observed for the 14 divalent metal ions by Turner et al. with the softness parameter sigma as the independent variable. This re-investigation proves the applicability of the ionization potential and redox potential derived parameters for the quantitative correlation of metal ion toxicities to both aquatic and terrestrial biota.

Toxicities of Chloroanilines to Photobacterium Phosphoreum and their Correlations with Effects on Other Organisms and Structural Parameters

The toxicities of aniline and sixteen chloro—substituted anilines to Photobacterium phosphoreum have been determined using the Microtox test. The values obtained correlate well with the toxic effects of these compounds to four different species of yeast and with the octanol/water partition coefficients.