Roger M. Bean

Uptake and biotransformation of quinoline by rainbow trout

Abstract Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) readily absorb and metabolize [14C]quinoline when exposed to 1 mg/1 concentration in water. Juvenile fish accumulated over 60% of the total radiolabel body burden in the gall bladder as quinoline metabolites after 48 h exposure followed by 24 h in clean water. Hydrolysis products of the metabolites, isolated by alkaline digestion and base-catalysed acetylation, were found to be hydroxyquinolines and quinolinethiols. There is evidence that the hydroxy form was present in the gall bladders as the glucuronide was obtained from thin layer chromatographic experiments, and by cleavage with β-glucuronidase. The thiols, identified by high and low resolution mass spectrometry, predominated over the hydroxy derivative in most tissues examined. Relative body burdens of quinoline plus metabolites after 48 h were in the order gall bladder > muscle > gut > eyes > liver ≅ gill ≅ kidney.

Analysis of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) in bush bean plants

Abstract Previous attempts to delineate the metabolism of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) in plants have been unsuccessful. Development of an appropriate analytical methodology has been thwarted due to the extreme thermal and base lability of tetryl as well as its propensity to undergo photodecomposition. This study presents a methodology based on solvent extraction of plant tissue followed by fractionation of the organic extract on silica gel with subsequent determination of tetryl by HPLC. This methodology allowed 82.70 ± 5.54% recovery of tetryl from fortified bush bean leaves. The developed methodology was applied to study tetryl uptake and metabolism in bush bean plants exposed to tetryl-amended hydroponic cultures.

Effects of coal liquid water-soluble fractions on growth and survival of four aquatic organisms

Toxicities of water soluble fractions (WSF) derived from a fresh and a water-leached solvent-refined coal (SRC II) material were compared by observing freshwater organism response to chronic exposure. Concentrations, relative distributions, and loss over time of phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons differed between aqueous extracts derived from fresh and leached SRC II material. Readily water-soluble phenols predominated in initial WSFs; higher molecular weight compounds with relatively lower solubility predominated in leached WSFs. Suppression of growth, reproduction and survival of invertebrates,Chironomus tentans, Tanytarsus dissimilis, andDaphnia magna and the algaeSelenastrum capricornutum, were observed at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.42% of WSFs derived from fresh SRC II liquid and 0.80 to 3.95% of WSFs derived from leached SRC II material. Alga populations were the least sensitive to WSFs generated from the coal liquid. Based on equal concentrations of carbon or phenols, solutions derived from leached SRC II liquids were usually more toxic to test species. Data suggest that tests of potential long-term effects of complex materials must be designed and interpreted on the basis of organism exposure to compounds most likely to persist in the environment.

Chronic Effects of Coal-Liquid Dispersions on Fathead Minnows and Rainbow Trout

Abstract Partial-life-cycle bioassays were conducted on fathead minnows Pimephales promelas and rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri, under continuous-flow regimes, with water-soluble fractions (WSFs) derived from a coal liquid. Phenols constituted 95% of the organic carbon in stock WSFs. Growth of larval fathead minnows was significantly reduced at 0.25 mg/liter total phenols as determined by dye photometry. Spawning of adult fathead minnows exposed to coal-liquid WSFs was inhibited at 1.27 mg/liter total phenols and was significantly reduced at 0.62 mg/liter total phenols. Spawning inhibition was not permanent at concentrations tested; after 21 days of exposure, fathead minnow pairs resumed spawning upon transfer to control water. The minimal concentration of WSF that resulted in significant mortality of rainbow trout embryos was time-dependent. No rainbow trout embryos survived 14 days of exposure to ≥2.98 mg/liter total phenols because of egg mortality or premature hatching. Swim-up rainbow trout suffered ra...

Retention and toxicity of a coal liquid in artificially contaminated sediments

Columbia River fine sediments were artificially spiked with coal liquids and removal rates and composition of retained phenolics were characterized following sequential water extractions. Acute (48 h) exposure of invertebrates Daphnia magna and Chironomus tentans within test containers provided an index of toxicity. Total phenols in the water column declined rapidly, with resultant reduced toxicity to pelagic D. magna. Significant mortalities to C. tentans larvae residing in the sediments were noted at the lowest sediment exposure level of 0.28 mg 1−1 total phenolics. Relative rates of phenolic compound removal from the sediments were noted as: C1, C2, C3, C4 phenols > C1, C2 indanols > phenol > C3 indanols. Sediment retention of less soluble, higher molecular weight phenolics may affect behavior and survival of sediment dwelling organisms following observance of transient effects in the water column.

Chemical characteristics and acute toxicity of sequentially extracted water-soluble fractions of a coal liquid

Abstract Chemical characteristics and acute toxicity to Daphnia magna were determined for seven sequentially extracted water-soluble fractions (WSFs) of a solvent-refined coal-II (SRC-II) liquid (2·9:1 blend of middle: heavy distillates). The WSFs were complex mixtures of phenols and aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), total oil, total phenols and hydrocarbons in WSFs generally decreased with successive extractions of the coal liquid. The relative contribution of lower molecular weight phenols decreased with successive extractions, while that of higher molecular weight phenols remained constant or increased. Because WSFs were less concentrated with successive extractions, a higher percentage of each successive WSF was needed to induce an acute toxic effect. However, based on TOC, acute toxicities of successive extractions were similar, while based on total phenols, acute toxicity increased. The increase in toxicity in later extracts is attributed to less soluble, higher molecular weight, more persistent phenol classes, and increased relative contributions of aromatic hydrocarbons.