Presence Of Lindane Research Articles

ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS, PESTICIDES AND PAHs IN HONEY

Honey is a very popular food that is often consumed by immunocompromised people, so it is crucial that it is safe. The safety of honey is determined by numerous hazards- the chemical ones like residues of sulfonamides, lindane and PAHs. Honey from our country contains high concentrations of banned antimicrobial substances such as sulfonamides (3.9% of samples). The frequent presence of lindane in honey is not unexpected considering the fact that this pesticide is present in the soil, plants and animals from Serbia. PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as a relatively unexplored chemical hazard in honey proved to be widespread in the honey from Serbia- even 6.6% of honey samples contains toxic concentrations of these compounds. The control of chemical hazards and the production of safe honey in Serbia could be improved by implementing better measures to prevent illegal use of antimicrobial drugs, pollution control and further research in the field of risk assessment.

Mechanistic insight to mycoremediation potential of a metal resistant fungal strain for removal of hazardous metals from multimetal pesticide matrix

Fungi have an exceptional capability to flourish in presence of heavy metals and pesticide. However, the mechanism of bioremediation of pesticide (lindane) and multimetal [mixture of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn)] by a fungus is little understood. In the present study, Aspergillus fumigatus, a filamentous fungus was found to accumulate heavy metals in the order [Zn(98%)>Pb(95%)>Cd(63%)>Cr(62%)>Ni(46%)>Cu(37%)] from a cocktail of 30 mg L−1 multimetal and lindane (30 mg L−1) in a composite media amended with 1% glucose. Particularly, Pb and Zn uptake was enhanced in presence of lindane. Remarkably, lindane was degraded to 1.92 ± 0.01 mg L−1 in 72 h which is below the permissible limit value (2.0 mg L−1) for the discharge of lindane into the aquatic bodies as prescribed by European Community legislation. The utilization of lindane as a cometabolite from the complex environment was evident by the phenomenal growth of the fungal pellet biomass (5.89 ± 0.03 g L−1) at 72 h with cube root growth constant of fungus (0.0211 g1/3 L−1/3 h−1) compared to the biomasses obtained in case of the biotic control as well as in presence of multimetal complex without lindane. The different analytical techniques revealed the various stress coping strategies adopted by A. fumigatus for multimetal uptake in the simultaneous presence of multimetal and pesticide. From the Transmission electron microscope coupled energy dispersive X-ray analysis (TEM-EDAX) results, uptake of the metals Cd, Cu and Pb in the cytoplasmic membrane and the accumulation of the metals Cr, Ni and Zn in the cytoplasm of the fungus were deduced. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed involvement of carboxyl/amide group of fungal cell wall in metal chelation. Thus A. fumigatus exhibited biosorption and bioaccumulation as the mechanisms involved in detoxification of multimetals.

Isolation and Protein Characterization of Lindane Degrading Root Epiphytic Bacterium Arthrobacter sp. T16 from Typha latifolia

Lindane, extensively used as pesticide, causes severe environmental hazard and is a threat to the humanity. The present study aims to assess the capability and mechanism of root epiphytic bacteria of wetland plant Typha latifolia to degrade lindane. Isolation of lindane degrading root epiphytic bacteria was done by standard enrichment technique and lindane degradation analysis was done using Gas Liquid Chromatography. Bacterial strain Arthrobacter sp. T16 was isolated and identified, which showed maximum degradation of 71.2 ± 1.3% of 50 mg l-1 lindane. Lindane biodegradation was accompanied with decrease in pH, increase in chloride ions concentration of culture medium and a positive dechlorination assay. Biodegradation potential of Arthrobacter sp. T16 was also studied at different lindane concentrations. Maximum degradation was observed at 10 mg l-1 lindane followed by 50 mg l-1 and 100 mg l-1 lindane. Lindane biodegradation kinetics study inferred that the average rate of lindane degradation increased with increase in lindane concentration. Lindane induced proteins in Arthrobacter sp. T16 were studied by SDS-PAGE. Distinctive polypeptides came into view in the presence of lindane and were identified as putative ABC transporter periplasmic amino acid-binding protein, elongation factor Tu and trifunctional transcriptional regulator/proline dehydrogenase/pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase, each expressed due to lindane stress. This study specifies the potential of phytoremediation in controlling the environmental contamination problem with the help of indigenous organisms present in roots of plants.

Lindane dissipation in a biomixture: Effect of soil properties and bioaugmentation

The biomixture is the major constituent of a biopurification system and one of the most important factors in its efficiency; hence the selection of the components is crucial to ensure the efficient pesticides removal. Besides, bioaugmentation is an interesting approach for the optimization of these systems.A mixed culture of the fungus Trametes versicolor SGNG1 and the actinobacteria Streptomyces sp. A2, A5, A11, and M7, was designed to inoculate the biomixtures, based on previously demonstrated ligninolytic and pesticide-degrading activities and the absence of antagonism among the strains. The presence of lindane and/or the inoculum in the biomixtures had no significant effect on the development of culturable microorganisms regardless the soil type. The consortium improved lindane dissipation achieving 81–87% of removal at 66 d of incubation in the different biomixtures, decreasing lindane half-life to an average of 24 d, i.e. 6-fold less than t1/2 of lindane in soils. However, after recontamination, only the bioaugmented biomixture of silty loam soil enhanced lindane dissipation and decreased the t1/2 compared to non-bioaugmented. The biomixture formulated with silty loam soil, sugarcane bagasse, and peat, inoculated with a fungal-actinobacterial consortium, could be appropriate for the treatment of agroindustrial effluents contaminated with organochlorine pesticides in biopurification systems.

Determination of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane and its metabolites in biological samples from rat

We have determined γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) and its metabolites in urine, serum and feces samples from rats using HPLC-UV-Vis and confirmation of mass with matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. Samples were collected from rats treated orally with lindane (17.6 mg/kg; 1/5 of LD50) or vehicle for 2 weeks. Lindane and metabolites were extracted from samples with hexane and analyzed. The HPLC–MALDI-TOF is highly sensitive to the point of detecting very low level (5 ppm) of lindane and metabolites. The HPLC-UV-Vis analysis confirmed the presence of lindane in urine (386–1652 ppm), serum (207–371 ppm) and feces (5–74 ppm). Control samples had no peak corresponding to lindane. MALDI-TOF analysis of urine and serum samples showed a major peak at 293 m/z, whereas feces showed a minor peak at 292–293 m/z, which were consistent with the peak obtained for standard lindane (293 m/z). Our data indicates that HPLC-UV-Vis–MALDI-TOF combo method is sensitive for detecting and quantifying lindane and its metabolites in serum, urine and feces. Our results further showed that minor quantities of lindane and metabolites were excreted through feces confirming that the main pathway for excretion of lindane and metabolites is through urine.

Effect of the pesticide lindane on the biomass of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata

ABSTRACTThis study assesses the growth of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata in the presence of lindane and the ability of N. oculata to remove lindane from media. Algal biomass increased with 0.1 and 0.5 mg L−1 of lindane, and lindane concentrations in the media decreased. N. oculata removed 73% and 68.2% of lindane in the 0.1 and 0.5 mg L−1 media concentrations, respectively. Algal biomass decreased to the level of the control at lindane concentrations greater than 2.5 mg L−1, probably due to toxicity. N. oculata removed lindane from the media at concentrations lower than 1.0 mg L−1. Thus, N. oculata may be useful for lindane bioremediation in contaminated aquatic systems.

γ-Lindane Increases Microcystin Synthesis in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806.

HCH factories, and the waste dumpsites associated to its production, have become a global environmental concern, and their runoff could pollute ground and surface waters with high levels of the pollutant. In this study, the influence of lindane (γ-HCH) on microcystin production has been investigated in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806. This toxic cyanobacterium is highly tolerant to γ-lindane (20 mg/L), and produces more toxin (microcystin) in the presence of the pollutant. Microcystis degrades γ-lindane and presence of γ-lindane induces genes involved in its own degradation (nirA). RT-PCRsq has been used to monitor changes in levels of transcripts encoded by the mcy operon (mcyD, mcyH and mcyJ), responsible for the microcystin synthesis machinery, as well as other genes involved in its transcriptional regulation, such as ntcA and fur family members. The presence of lindane in the culture media induces mcyD expression, as well as ntcA gene transcription, while other genes, such as mcyH, (putative ABC transporter), are downregulated. The amount of microcystin found in the cells and the culture media is higher when M. aeruginosa is treated with γ-lindane than in control cells. The results suggest that in a lindane polluted environment, Microcystis toxic strains may enhance their microcystin synthesis.

Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Farm Fish, Sediments and Water from Punjab (India)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that are adversely affecting animal and human health and the environment around the world. They persist for long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass from one species to the next through the food chain. The present study aimed for determination of POPs residues in farm fish and its environment. Total 195 farm fish, 39 sediments and 39 water samples were collected from Punjab and then analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry. Residues of lindane, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, endosulfan sulfate, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-28, PCB-138, and PCB-180 were detected with mean levels of 22.6, 15.3, 22.7, 23.7, 26.9, 27.3, and 25.7 ng/g in farm fish samples, respectively. In the fishpond sediment samples presence of lindane and p,p'-DDE residues were noticed with mean levels of 17.7 and 9.4 ng/g, respectively. Residues of p,p'-DDE and endosulfan sulfate were detected with a mean level of 14.9 and 64.4 ng/g in fish pond water samples. The comparison of overall mean residues of POPs observed in fish samples throughout Punjab revealed that the levels were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) described by EU-MRLs, Italian-MRLs, FDA-2001, and FAO-1983. The presence of POPs residues in the aquatic environment requires continuous monitoring for the safeguard of human health.

A simple Streptomyces spore-based impedimetric biosensor to detect lindane pesticide

Lindane is a pesticide potentially harmful to environment and human health and in general, its detection involves mostly tedious, expensive and time-consuming techniques. A new strategy to detect lindane can be focused on the activity of Streptomyces strain M7 (SM7), which is capable to grow in the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) as carbon source. On this regard, the aim of this work is to present an optimized design of a microbial biosensor prototype based on a SM7 spore platform to detect and quantify lindane by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as the transduction method. By means of this technique, the metabolic bacterial activity was evaluated by analyzing a set of electrical parameters calculated by fitting the measured impedance spectra through an equivalent electrical circuit. Activity studies were performed by incubating the SM7 spore platform with (optimized incubation conditions) and without (to be used in a practical biosensor) shaking in the presence of lindane. In all cases, bacterial activity was measured by the impedance changes produced in the cells due to lindane removal from the culture medium. This proposed label-free impedimetric biosensor is simple, cost-effective and feasible to detect changes in the lindane concentration as low as 120μgL−1 in less than 2 days without sample pretreatment. In addition, the surface of electrodes can be reused for several different tests. This sensor prototype represents a valuable alternative for OCPs detection.

Lindane removal by pure and mixed cultures of immobilized actinobacteria

Lindane (γ-HCH) is an organochlorine insecticide that has been widely used in developing countries. It is known to persist in the environment and can cause serious health problems. One of the strategies adopted to remove lindane from the environment is bioremediation using microorganisms. Immobilized cells present advantages over free suspended cells, like their high degradation efficiency and protection against toxins. The aims of this work were: (1) To evaluate the ability of Streptomyces strains immobilized in four different matrices to remove lindane, (2) To select the support with optimum lindane removal by pure cultures, (3) To assay the selected support with consortia and (4) To evaluate the reusability of the immobilized cells. Four Streptomyces sp. strains had previously shown their ability to grow in the presence of lindane. Lindane removal by microorganisms immobilized was significantly higher than in free cells. Specifically immobilized cells in cloth sachets showed an improvement of around 25% in lindane removal compared to the abiotic control. Three strains showed significantly higher microbial growth when they were entrapped in silicone tubes. Strains immobilized in PVA-alginate demonstrated lowest growth. Mixed cultures immobilized inside cloth sachets showed no significant enhancement compared to pure cultures, reaching a maximum removal of 81% after 96h for consortium I, consisting of the four immobilized strains together. Nevertheless, the cells could be reused for two additional cycles of 96h each, obtaining a maximum removal efficiency of 71.5% when each of the four strains was immobilized in a separate bag (consortium III).

Specific dechlorinase activity in lindane degradation by Streptomyces sp. M7

Synthesis of dechlorinase in Streptomyces sp. M7 was induced when the microorganism was grown in the presence of lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) as the only carbon source. Activity of cells grown with lindane was about four and half times higher compared to cells grown with glucose. Maximum dechlorinase activity was observed at 30°C in alkaline conditions pH (7.9) and the enzyme did not show cation dependency. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed one differential band with a molecular weight similar to serum albumin (M r 66,200), which corresponded to polynucleotide phosphorylase, an enzyme that plays an important role in the regulation system and could be involved in the regulation of the dechlorinase gene. Detected in cell-free extracts were γ-pentachlorocyclohexene and 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-1,4-cyclohexadiene, both being products of the dechlorinase activity. This is the first time that the presence of an enzyme with dechlorinase activity has been demonstrated in an actinomycete strain isolated in Tucuman, Argentina. Characteristics of this enzyme revealed that Streptomyces sp. M7 could be useful in the future in bioremediation of soil or as a biosensor.

Lindane-induced immunological alterations in human poisoning cases

Objectives: Evaluation of immunological alterations in the blood of human lindane poisoning cases. Design and methods: Serum IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IL-2, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were measured using immunoassay in 20 human cases of lindane poisoning. The presence of lindane in blood was confirmed by HPLC. Results: Serum IL-2, IL-4, and TNF-α levels were significantly raised with decrease in IFN-γ levels in the lindane-exposed cases. Immunoglobulin levels were not altered. Conclusions: The results suggest that lindane exposure at chronically high levels affects cytokine levels in humans and indicates the severity of immunotoxicity.

Monitoring Cell Cycle Distributions in MCF-7 Cells Using Near-Field Photothermal Microspectroscopy

Microspectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) have played an important role in "fingerprinting" the biochemical composition of cellular components. Based on structure and function, complex biomolecules absorb energy in the mid-infrared (lambda = 2-20 microm) yielding characteristic vibrational infrared (IR) spectra. However, optical detection FTIR microspectroscopy may not be suitable for IR-absorbing sample materials. Photothermal microspectroscopy (PTMS) permits the direct measurement of heat generated as a result of sample material absorbing radiation. This approach generates true absorption spectra and is implemented by interfacing a scanning probe microscope and an FTIR spectrometer. Detection is performed using a near-field ultra-miniaturized temperature sensor. Employing PTMS, IR spectra of MCF-7 cells were examined in spectral regions (900-2000 cm(-1)) corresponding to proteins, DNA, RNA, glycoproteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and levels of protein phosphorylation. As a cell passes through the cell cycle, its nuclear material decondenses and condenses and this has led to ambiguity as to whether the intensity of such spectral regions may be associated with the G(1)-, S- or G(2)-phases of the cell cycle. Cultured cells were tracked over a time course known to correspond to marked alterations in cell-cycle distributions, as determined using flow cytometry. Experiments were carried out in the absence or presence of lindane, a pesticide known to induce G(1)-arrest in MCF-7 cells. Significant (P < 0.05) elevations in spectral intensities were associated with exponentially growing cell populations, predominantly in S-phase or G(2)-phase, compared to more quiescent populations predominantly in G(1)-phase. Increases in the absorption band at 970 cm(-1), associated with elevated protein phosphorylation, were observed in vibrational spectra of exponentially growing cell populations compared to those exhibiting a slowing in their growth kinetics. These results seem to suggest that intracellular bulk changes, associated with transit through the cell cycle, can be tracked using PTMS.

Effects of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of the cyanobacterium Anabaena: fluorescence induction studies and immunolocalization of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase.

Cyanobacteria have the natural ability to degrade moderate amounts of organic pollutants. However, when pollutant concentration exceeds the level of tolerance, bleaching of the cells and death occur within 24 hours. Under stress conditions, cyanobacterial response includes the short-term adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to light quality, named state transitions. Moreover, prolonged stresses produce changes in the functional organization of phycobilisomes and in the core-complexes of both photosystems, which can result in large changes in the PS II fluorescence yield. The localization of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) at the ends of some peripheral rods of the cyanobacterial phycobilisomes, makes this protein a useful marker to check phycobilisome integrity. The goal of this work is to improve the knowledge of the mechanism of action of a very potent pesticide, lindane (gamma-hexaclorociclohexane), in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp., which can be considered a potential candidate for bioremediation of pesticides. We have studied the effect of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of Anabaena using fluorescence induction studies. As ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase plays a key role in the response to oxidative stress in several systems, changes in synthesis, degradation and activity of FNR were analyzed. Immunolocalization of this enzyme was used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. The knowledge of the changes caused by lindane in the photosynthetic apparatus is essential for rational further design of genetically-modified cyanobacteria with improved biorremediation abilities. Polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence rise measurements (OJIP) have been used to evaluate the vitality and stress adaptation of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7119 in the presence of increasing concentrations of lindane. Effects of the pesticide on the ultrastructure have been investigated by electron microscopy, and FNR has been used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. Cultures of Anabaena sp. treated with moderate amounts of lindane showed a decrease in growth rate followed by a recovery after 72 hours of pesticide treatment. Concentrations of lindane below 5 ppm increased the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells. Higher amounts of pesticide caused a decrease in these activities which seems to be due to a non-competitive inhibition of PS II. Active PS II units are converted into non-QA reducing, so called heat sink centers. Specific activity and amount of FNR in lindane-treated cells were similar to the values measured in control cultures. Release of FNR from the thylakoid after 48 hours of exposure to 5 ppm of lindane towards the cytoplasm was detected by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. From these results, we conclude that the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells are slightly increased in the presence of lindane up to 5 ppm. Moreover, in those conditions, lindane did not produce significant changes in the synthesis, degradation or activity of FNR. The high capability of Anabaena to tolerate lindane makes this cyanobacterium a good candidate for phytoremediation of polluted areas. The results of this study show that cultures of Anabaena PCC 7119 tolerate lindane up to 5 ppm, without significant changes in the photosynthetic vitality index of the cells. However, a slight increase in phycobiliprotein synthesis is observed, which is related to total protein content. This change might be due to degradation of proteins less stable than phycobiliproteins. An identification of the proteins with altered expression pattern in the presence of the pesticide remains the subject of further work and will provide valuable information for the preparation of strains which are highly tolerant to lindane.

Detection of chlorinated pesticides on the surface of fungus using ToF-SIMS

Chlorinated organic compounds are commonly used as pesticides (e.g. Lindane or DDT); unfortunately these compounds have the ability to be concentrated in aquatic and terrestrial food chains causing environmental problems due to their toxicity. Therefore there is a need for their removal using wastewater treatment plants. It is known that these pollutants adsorb on to the surface of the fungi Rhizopus arrizus from a water solution. However the actual mode of biosorption is unknown. We aim to investigate this interaction further using time-of-flight (ToF)-SIMS. Samples of fungus were grown in aqueous solutions containing Lindane then freeze-dried, the presence of Lindane was independently quantified by a gas chromatography-electron capture detector technique. The samples were then subjected to ToF-SIMS analysis. Evidence for Lindane was seen on the surface of the fungus, however it became apparent that the Lindane was too volatile for such an analysis. This rapid deterioration of signal is preventing a more in depth study of the interaction between Lindane and R. arrhizus. However it is anticipated that by utilising a frozen-hydrated sample preparation technique, of a type currently being developed at UMIST, that these challenges would be overcome.

Involvement of adaptive mechanism and an energy-dependent efflux system of Pseudomonas sp. LE2 counteracting insecticide lindane

An adaptive mechanism and efflux-transport system of Pseudomonas sp. LE2 counteracting organochlorine insecticide lindane were investigated to understand the survival mechanism of this microorganism in lindane-contaminated environment. Changes in membrane fluidity and fatty acid composition of Pseudomonas sp. LE2 cells grown on glucose either in the presence or absence of lindane were determined. Considerably high ratio of total saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in cells grown on glucose in the presence of lindane was observed as compared to that in cells grown on glucose in the absence of lindane. Lindane significantly affected in vitro the membrane of Pseudomonas sp. LE2 cells by decreasing the fluorescence polarization of membrane probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) inserted into cytoplasmic membrane. Less fluidizing effect of lindane on the membranes of cells that had adapted to lindane was observed. Lindane transport was assessed by incubating cell suspensions with [ 14C]lindane either in the presence or absence of sodium azide, a membrane transport inhibitor, and by measuring the radioactivity in cell pellets. No time-dependent and steady-state increase in the radioactivity of [ 14C]lindane without sodium azide treatment was observed in cell pellets, suggesting simple diffusion mechanism for lindane accumulation in cells. Significant increase in the radioactivity was observed in cell pellets by sodium azide treatment. Sodium azide inhibited the efflux of lindane by Pseudomonas sp. LE2. These results suggest the view that Pseudomonas sp. LE2 capable of growing in the presence of lindane is able to adapt to the fluidizing action of lindane by incorporating the saturated fatty acid into membrane lipids, and eliminate lindane from cells by an energy-dependent efflux mechanism.

Degradation of insecticide lindane (γ‐HCH) by white‐rot fungi Cyathus bulleri and Phanerochaete sordida

An Erratum for this article has been published in Pest Management Science 56(5) 493 (2000). The degradation of the insecticide lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-HCH) by two white-rot fungi, Cyathus bulleri and Phanerochaete sordida, was studied. C bulleri degraded lindane more efficiently than P sordida. Two degradative intermediates identified in P sordida culture were tetrachlorocyclohexene and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. However, tetrachlorocyclohexanol was the sole degradation product detected in cultures of C bulleri. The presence of lindane only inside the mycelial cells of both fungi eliminated any role of intracellular enzymes during initial steps of its degradation. The insecticide at 0.27 µM showed no adverse effect on fungal growth. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Degradation of insecticide lindane (γ-HCH) by white-rot fungiCyathus bulleri andPhanerochaete sordida

An Erratum for this article has been published in Pest Management Science 56(5) 493 (2000). The degradation of the insecticide lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-HCH) by two white-rot fungi, Cyathus bulleri and Phanerochaete sordida, was studied. C bulleri degraded lindane more efficiently than P sordida. Two degradative intermediates identified in P sordida culture were tetrachlorocyclohexene and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. However, tetrachlorocyclohexanol was the sole degradation product detected in cultures of C bulleri. The presence of lindane only inside the mycelial cells of both fungi eliminated any role of intracellular enzymes during initial steps of its degradation. The insecticide at 0.27 µM showed no adverse effect on fungal growth. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Biodegradation of lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) by the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsutus.

The ability of the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsutus to degrade an insecticide, lindane, in liquid culture was investigated and compared with that of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Trametes hirsutus degraded lindane faster than P. chrysosporium but the mechanism of degradation appears to be the same in both. Two metabolites identified in both fungi were tetrachlorocyclohexane and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. The presence of lindane alone inside the mycelium ruled out the involvement of any intracellular enzyme(s) during the initial step of lindane degradation. Lindane at a concentration of 0.27 mumol l-1 exhibited no adverse effect on fungal growth.

Accumulation of Organochlorine Compounds in Oysters (Crassostrea Gasar) of an Estuarine Environment: Case of A Tropical Lagoon in the Gulf of Guinea

As part of a pollution monitoring study, oysters (Crassostrea gasar) were sampled in June 1996, in order to determine the concentrations and distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons in two stations (near Boulay Island and Riviera Golf) of the Ebrie Lagoon, in the Abidjan area. The chromatographic analysis of the oven dried samples revealed the presence of PCBs (2.13 to 86.22 ppb or ng/g dry weight), DDE (<0.48 to 169.55 ppb), DDD (<1.04 to 60.27 ppb), DDT (1.43 to 77.81 ppb, lindane (<0.22 to 91.64 ppb), aldrin (<0.30 to 154.1 ppb), endrin (<0.23 to 293.31 ppb) and dieldrin (<0.26 to 199.74 ppb). the results indicated high concentrations in oysters sampled near Boulay Island, due to industrial, agricultural and port activities going on in this area. Compared to DDD/ΣDDT and DDT/ΣDDT, the DDE/ΣDDT ratios were high indicating old DDT inputs. the ΣDDT/PCBs ratios were higher than 1 illustrated the predominance of organochlorine inputs from agriculture activities. the presence of lindane in both stations illustrated the problem of fishing with toxic products. Negative correlations found between dry tissue weight and organochlorine compounds concentrations showed that young oysters may concentrate more of these substances. More studies are needed in order to make any conclusions on their bioaccumulation trends.