Toxicity Identification And Evaluation Research Articles

A Glow before Darkness: Toxicity of Glitter Particles to Marine Invertebrates.

Glitter particles are considered a model of microplastics, which are used in a wide range of products. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of two types of glitter (green and white, with distinct chemical compositions) dispersions on the embryonic development of the sea urchins Echinometra lucunte, Arbacia lixula, and the mussel Perna perna. The Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) approach was used to identify possible chemicals related to toxicity. Glitter dispersions were prepared using 0.05% ethanol. The tested dispersions ranged from 50 to 500 mg/L. The white glitter was composed of a vinyl chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer. The effective concentrations of green glitter to 50% embryos (EC50) were 246.1 (235.8-256.4) mg/L to A. lixula, 23.0 (20.2-25.8) mg/L to P. perna and 105.9 (61.2-150.2) mg/L, whereas the EC50 of white glitter to E. lucunter was 272.2 (261.5-282.9) mg/L. The EC50 for P. perna could not be calculated; however, the lowest effect concentration was 10 mg/L-that was the lowest concentration tested. The filtered suspension of green glitter had Ag levels exceeding the legal standards for marine waters. TIE showed that metals, volatiles, and oxidant compounds contribute to toxicity. The results showed that glitter may adversely affect marine organisms; however, further studies are necessary to determine its environmental risks.

Acute toxicity assay using mysid as an alternative test organism in the assessment of the aqueous fraction of sediment.

The evaluation of sediment quality through biological testing of the aqueous fraction can be applied in dredging situations and is associated with a small number of confounding factors. The use of test organisms that are relatively resistant to contaminants is recommended when working with complex mixtures such as sediments. In this study, the sensitivity of the mysid Mysidopsis juniae to ammonia (NH3) and metals was investigated in acute toxicity laboratory tests and the results were compared to those obtained in the traditional test with sea urchin embryos and larvae. The ability of the toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) technique, with the use of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate, to indicate the factors responsible for adverse effects was determined. The results indicate that mysids are almost 5 times more resistant than the sea urchin to ammonia (NH3), more sensitive to Cd2+ and Ni2+ and more resistant to Zn2+ and Pb2+. With the TIE technique and with the use of EDTA as a complexing agent, a greater resolution was observed in the diagnosis of the presence of the metals Cd2+ and Ni2+, which could be applied to the aqueous fraction of the sediment.

Lightsticks cause adverse effects on behavior and mortality of marine mysids Promysis atlantica

Lightsticks baits are discharged into the ocean after their use in longline fishing. The traditional Brazilian community of Costa dos Coqueiros, Bahia, uses lightsticks as a medicine for rheumatism, vitiligo, and mycoses. It may affect marine life when its content leak into the ocean. This study assessed the toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) of lightsticks constituents on marine mysids Promysis atlantica. The internal solution was dissolved in seawater with ethanol. The lethal concentration of the contaminant that causes mortality in 50% of the exposed population (LC50) after 3h was 0.001%, demonstrating that lightstick is exceptionally toxic because low concentrations cause mortality to mysids P. atlantica. Due to lightsticks' high toxicity, the TIE baseline was 0.005% SSE (stock solution ethanol), and the selected endpoints were behavior and lethality. The sample submitted to aeration presented a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in toxicity (0.005% SSE) because the volatile compounds caused the toxic effect. The sodium thiosulfate treatment induced an insignificant decrease in toxicity. Thus, a new assay was conducted considering aeration and sodium thiosulfate. This combination reduced lightstick toxicity compared to the baseline lightstick, suggesting that volatile compounds and oxidants were responsible for toxicity; even in low concentrations, lightstick can promote significant behavior changes and deleterious effects. It is recommended to create new mechanisms to inspect fishing vessels, thus avoiding the improper disposal of attractors at sea and common garbage.

Toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) of a petroleum refinery wastewater

ABSTRACTPetroleum refineries generate large amounts of wastewaters, which can have acute/chronic toxicity toward aquatic organisms. Previous studies have shown that many contaminants can be responsible for this toxicity, among them ammonia, sulfide, cyanide, phenols and hydrocarbons. In the study reported herein, the cause of the chronic toxicity of a biotreated petroleum refinery wastewater was investigated by applying the TIE methodology using the microcrustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia. Five samples were analyzed, and the results suggest that copper is the primary toxicant, showing a strong correlation with wastewater toxicity in Phase III. Other metal contaminants, such as zinc and nickel, are present in the samples at toxic concentrations and these may also contribute (to a lesser degree) toward the toxicity. In the case of one sample, the toxicity was attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), possibly benzo(a)pyrene, which was present at a concentration toxic to C. dubia. Although the values for the physicochemical parameters of the samples were below Brazilian environmental regulation limits (CONAMA 430), this was not sufficient to prevent chronic toxicity toward aquatic life, indicating that these limits are relatively high.

Development of whole-sediment toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) techniques for two Australian freshwater species: Chironomus tepperi and Austrochiltonia subtenuis.

Most of the public literature and available guidance documents on the conduct of freshwater whole-sediment toxicity identification and evaluations (TIEs) detail the use of test organisms and amending agents that are readily available in North America. These commonly used test organisms and the supported amending agents, however, are not available and largely inappropriate (i.e., not native species) for conducting whole-sediment TIEs outside of North America. The overall objective of the present study was to build foundational methods for performing freshwater whole-sediment TIEs in Australia. We examined the capability of 3 amending agents: ANZ38 Zeolite (for ammonia; Castle Mountain Zeolites), Oxpure 325B-9 Activated Carbon (for nonpolar organics; Oxbow Activated Carbon), and Lewatit MonoPlus TP 207 (for cationic metals; Lanxess Deutschland) on 2 Australian native freshwater species: the midge Chironomus tepperi and the amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis. To evaluate the effectiveness of each amendment, bioassays were conducted with spiked sediments of ammonia, permethrin (as part of a commercial formulation), and copper using acute median lethal concentrations (LC50s) for both species and growth median effect concentration (EC50) of midges as the endpoints of interest. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2476-2484. © 2017 SETAC.

What's causing toxicity in sediments? Results of 20 years of toxicity identification and evaluations

Sediment toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods have been used for 20 yr to identify the causes of toxicity in sediments around the world. In the present study, the authors summarize and categorize results of 36 peer-reviewed TIE studies (67 sediments) into nonionic organic, cationic, ammonia, and "other" toxicant groups. Results are then further categorized according to whether the study was performed in freshwater or marine sediments and whether the study was performed using whole-sediment or interstitial-water TIE methods. When all studies were grouped, nonionic organic toxicants, either singly or in combination with other toxicants, were implicated in 70% of all studies. When studies were divided into interstitial-water TIE methodology compared with whole-sediment TIE methodology, results indicated that studies performed using interstitial-water TIE methods reported nonionic organic toxicity slightly more often than toxicity from cationic metals (67% compared with 49%). In contrast, studies using whole-sediment TIE methods report nonionic organic chemical toxicity, either singly or in combination with another toxicant, in 90% of all sediments tested. Cationic metals play a much smaller role in whole-sediment TIE studies-fewer than 20% of all sediments had a metals signal. The discrepancy between the 2 methods can be attributed to exposure differences. Contrary to earlier findings, ammonia generally plays only a minor role in sediment toxicity.

Expert opinion on toxicity profiling—report from a NORMAN expert group meeting

This article describes the outcome and follow-up discussions of an expert group meeting (Amsterdam, October 9, 2009) on the applicability of toxicity profiling for diagnostic environmental risk assessment. A toxicity profile was defined as a toxicological "fingerprint" of a sample, ranging from a pure compound to a complex mixture, obtained by testing the sample or its extract for its activity toward a battery of biological endpoints. The expert group concluded that toxicity profiling is an effective first tier tool for screening the integrated hazard of complex environmental mixtures with known and unknown toxicologically active constituents. In addition, toxicity profiles can be used for prioritization of sampling locations, for identification of hot spots, and--in combination with effect-directed analysis (EDA) or toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approaches--for establishing cause-effect relationships by identifying emerging pollutants responsible for the observed toxic potency. Small volume in vitro bioassays are especially applicable for these purposes, as they are relatively cheap and fast with costs comparable to chemical analyses, and the results are toxicologically more relevant and more suitable for realistic risk assessment. For regulatory acceptance in the European Union, toxicity profiling terminology should keep as close as possible to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) terminology, and validation, standardization, statistical analyses, and other quality aspects of toxicity profiling should be further elaborated.

The occurrence, causes, and consequences of estrogens in the aquatic environment

The occurrence, causes, and consequences of estrogens in the aquatic environment

Evaluation of effectiveness of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate in removing metal toxicity toward sea urchin embryo-larval applying the TIE

Since the development of the TIE (Toxicity Identification and Evaluation) in 1988 it has been assumed that the capacity of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate to complex some metals, and thus remove their toxicity, can be applied to both freshwater and seawater ecotoxicological tests and the results subsequently interpreted. However, it is now known that there is a wide variability in the extent of this complexation. In this context, the removal of toxicity caused by the presence of Hg2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr6+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Ag1+ and Se2+, through metal complexation by EDTA and sodium thiosulfate, in relation to the performance of embryo-larval tests with the sea urchin Arbacia lixula was investigated. It was observed that EDTA was capable of removing the toxicity of Pb2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ while sodium thiosulfate only reduced the toxicity of Ag1+. Compared to the complexation observed in freshwater ecotoxicological tests, the complexing agents used in this study (EDTA and sodium thiosulfate) have a lower capacity to complex metals in the marine ecotoxicological test with A. lixula.

Diagnosis of potential stressors adversely affecting benthic communities in New Bedford Harbor, MA (USA)

Diagnosing the causes of impaired ecosystems in the marine environment is critical for effective management action. When ecological impairment is based on toxicological or biological criteria (i.e., degraded benthic community composition or toxicity test results), managers are faced with the additional problem of diagnosing the cause of impairment before plans can be initiated to reduce the pollutant loading. We evaluated a number of diagnostic tools to determine their ability to identify pollutants in New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts (USA), using a modified version of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) stressor identification (SI) guidance. In this study, we linked chemical sources and toxic chemicals in the sediment with spatial concentration studies; we also linked toxic chemicals in the sediment with toxicity test results using toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) studies. We used geographical information systems (GIS) maps to determine sources and to aid in determining spatially integrated inorganic nitrogen (SIIN). The SIIN values of reference and test estuaries were quantified and compared. Using this approach, we determined that toxic chemicals continue to be active stressors in NBH and that a moderate nutrient stress exists, but we were unable to link the nutrient stressor with a source. Also excess sedimentation was evaluated, but it does not appear to be an active stressor in this harbor. The research included an evaluation of the effectiveness of tools under development that may be used to evaluate stressors in water bodies. We found that the following tools were useful in diagnosing active stressors: toxicity tests, toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods, comparison of grain size-normalized total organic carbon (TOC) ratios with reference sites, and comparison of SIIN with reference sites. This approach allowed us to successfully evaluate stressors in NBH retrospectively; however, a limitation in using retrospective data sets is that the approach may underestimate current or newly emerging stressors.

Profiles and Some Initial Identifications of (Anti)Androgenic Compounds in Fish Exposed to Wastewater Treatment Works Effluents

Exposure of fish to wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) effluents can result in reproductive anomalies consistent with exposure to estrogenic compounds. However, UK WwTWs effluents also contain compounds with androgen receptor activities which may contribute to reproductive dysfunction in fish. A toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approach was used to profile (anti)androgenic compounds in bile of fish exposed to two WwTWs effluents. Extracts of bile from exposed fish and effluent were fractionated by liquid chromatography and tested for (anti)androgenic activity using a yeast androgen receptor transcription screen (YAS). A number of bile fractions contained (anti)androgenic activity unique to the effluent-exposed fish. Some of these fractions contained di(chloromethyl)anthracene or dichlorophene, and these contaminants showed antagonistic activity in the YAS when tested as pure compounds. No androgenic activity was detected in the effluents, but TIE analysis of bile revealed a number of androgenic fractions which contained testosterone metabolites that were unique to effluent-exposed fish. This is the first work reported on the nature of some of the (anti)androgenic compounds that bioaccumulate in fish from WwTWs effluents and indicates that other contaminants, besides estrogenic substances, need to be considered for their potential to contribute to the disruption of reproductive system of fish in UK waters.

Do Toxicity Identification and Evaluation Laboratory-Based Methods Reflect Causes of Field Impairment?

Sediment toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods are relatively simple laboratory methods designed to identify specific toxicants or classes of toxicants in sediments; however, the question of whether the same toxicant identified in the laboratory is causing effects in the field remains unanswered. The objective of our study was to determine if laboratory TIE methods accurately reflect field effects. A TIE performed on sediments collected from the Elizabeth River (ER) in Virginia identified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as the major toxicants. Several lines of evidence indicated PAHs were the major toxic agents in the field, including elevated PAH concentrations in ER sediments, comet assay results from in situ caged Merceneria merceneria, and chemical analyses of exposed M. merceneria, which indicated high PAH concentrations in the bivalve tissue. Our final evidence was the response from test organisms exposed to ER sediment extracts and then ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation caused a toxic diagnostic response unique to PAHs. The aggregation of these various lines of evidence supports the conclusion that PAHs were the likely cause of effects in laboratory- and field-exposed organisms, and that laboratory-based TIE findings reflect causes of field impairment

Establishing cause–effect relationships in hydrocarbon‐contaminated sediments using a sublethal response of the benthic marine alga, Entomoneis CF Punctulata

A sublethal whole-sediment toxicity test that uses flow cytometry to measure inhibition of esterase activity in the marine microalga Entomoneis cf punctulata was applied to the assessment of hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments and toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE). Concentration-response relationships were developed, and a 20% effect concentration for total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of 60 mg/kg normalized to 1% total organic carbon was calculated. Relationships between toxic effects and sediment organic carbon concentrations, organic carbon forms (e.g., black carbon), and sediment particle size indicated that further normalization of hydrocarbon concentrations to sediment particle size may improve concentration-response relationships. The algal toxicity test was applied as a rapid whole-sediment TIE procedure that involved the addition to sediment of powdered coconut charcoal (PCC), a hydrophobic, carbon-based material that strongly adsorbs PAHs and decreases the pore-water exposure pathway. Sediments with PCC concentrations of up to 15% (w/w) provided acceptable responses in control sediments. For six sediments with total PAH concentrations of 1,060, 4,060, 5,120, 9,150, 9,900, and 15,900 mg/kg, inhibition of E. cf punctulata esterase activity (% of control) was 75, 97, 94, 93, 100, and 97%, respectively. Following a 15% PCC amendment to these sediments, inhibition of esterase activity was 0, 1, 11, 69, 32, and 68%, respectively, indicating a decrease in toxicity in all sediments. Because the alga E. cf punctulata is exposed to toxicants via both pore water and overlying water, the reduction in toxicity achieved by 15% PCC additions can be related to the efficient removal of dissolved hydrocarbons released from sediment particles. The sediment-PCC manipulations coupled with algal whole-sediment toxicity tests provided an effective and rapid TIE method to determine whether hydrocarbon contaminants are responsible for toxicity in sediments.

Toxicity of arterial road runoff: investigations in South Australia using an artificial rainfall event

As a first step to quantifying the consequences of urban arterial road runoff in South Australia ecotoxicological testing has been carried out on samples obtained during the application of an artificial rainfall event. Water was applied by water cart, enabling control of the timing of the runoff event, as well as the event duration and intensity. The use of de-ionised water discharged in predetermined rates and volumes on roads open to traffic controls many variables associated with natural events and reduces the cost of the project. Using this simulated rainfall methodology ensures that the event is ‘typical’, translatable and repeatable and that the solubility of runoff constituents is maximised. The methodology of applying the rainfall by water truck proved to be cost effective, with no set up costs. The roads could be left under traffic, so that washoff from the undersides of the vehicles would occur, as would the removal of the pollutants from the road surface by the action of the vehicle’s wheels and aerodynamic effects. Four arterial road sites were sampled. The testing was carried out in March 2001, and repeated in November 2001, to investigate seasonal effects. The toxicity of runoff was assessed using waterfleas (Ceriodaphnia dubia), and Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) was used to determine the class of contaminants that were most likely causing the effects. Rainbow fish, Melanotaenia duboulayi were used to determine the bioaccumulation of contaminants from road runoff. Impacts on fish gill function due to road runoff exposure were also investigated. The results indicted that there was significant spatial variation, with some sites not producing significant impact on the survival of the waterfleas. Trace metals and volatile organics were the probable toxic constituents, with zinc and copper being the most likely cause of effects. In general the March samples were more toxic than the November samples.

Identification of metal toxicity in sewage sludge leachate

Sewage sludge is a source of organic matter and nutrients with the potential for being used as a fertilizer. However, metals in sewage sludge might accumulate in soil after repeated sludge applications, and metal concentrations might reach concentrations that are toxic to microorganisms, soil organisms and/or plants. This toxicity might change with time due to kinetic factors or abiotic factors such as freezing, drying or rainfall. The objective of this study was to determine toxicity of sewage sludge leachate from a lysimeter with 50 cm of sludge applied. Attempts were also made to identify the cause of toxicity of the sludge leachate by toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) techniques. Sludge leachate was collected monthly during 1 experimental year (August 2001 to August 2002). Metal concentrations were analysed, and the toxicity was determined with Daphnia magna (48-h immobility). The effect of EDTA or sodium thiosulphate addition, filtration through a CM-resin or a Millex-resin on toxicity was also tested. The results showed that toxicity of the sludge leachate apparently varied during the year, and that filtration through the CM-resin reduced most of the toxicity followed by the addition of EDTA. None of the other treatments reduced the toxicity of the sludge leachate. This indicated that one or more metals were responsible for the observed toxicity. Further calculations of toxic units (TU) suggested that Zn contributed most to the toxicity. Results also indicated that Ca concentrations in the sludge leachate reduced the toxicity of Zn.

Toxicological profiling of sediments using in vitro bioassays, with emphasis on endocrine disruption.

In vitro bioassays are valuable tools for screening environmental samples for the presence of bioactive (e.g., endocrine-disrupting) compounds. They can be used to direct chemical analysis of active compounds in toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approaches. In the present study, five in vitro bioassays were used to profile toxic potencies in sediments, with emphasis on endocrine disruption. Nonpolar total and acid-treated stable extracts of sediments from 15 locations in the Rhine Meuse estuary area in The Netherlands were assessed. Dioxin-like and estrogenic activities (using dioxin-responsive chemical-activated luciferase gene expression [DR-CALUX] and estrogen-responsive chemical-activated luciferase gene expression [ER-CALUX] assays) as well as genotoxicity (UMU test) and nonspecific toxic potency (Vibrio fischeri assay) were observed in sediment extracts. For the first time, to our knowledge, in vitro displacement of thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) from the thyroid hormone transport protein thransthyretin by sediment extracts was observed, indicating the presence of compounds potentially able to disrupt T4 plasma transport processes. Antiestrogenic activity was also observed in sediment. The present study showed the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting potencies in sediments from the Dutch delta and the suitability of the ER- and DR-CALUX bioassays to direct endocrine-disruption TIE studies.

Endocrine disrupting compounds and other emerging contaminants in the environment: a survey on new monitoring strategies and occurrence data.

An overview of Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) procedures, used for the effect-based analysis of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in environmental samples, is presented. Future trends in advanced chemical analysis of EDCs and some emerging contaminants are outlined. The review also gives an overview of concentration levels found in environmental samples and discusses the correlation of calculated estrogenicity (based on chemical analysis of target EDCs) with that measured by various bioassays.

Use of Marine Toxicity Identification and Evaluation Methods in Determining Causes of Toxicity to Fish in a Marine Aquarium Facility

Abstract We obtained a water sample containing broken pieces of a tropical coral reef decor that was suspected of causing fish toxicity in a major aquarium. A toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) was performed using three species: a mysid shrimp, Americamysis bahia; inland silverside Menidia beryllina; and an amphipod, Ampelisca abdita. Initial tests indicated that only the shrimp was sensitive to the unknown toxicant. The first phase of the TIE indicated that the toxicity to the shrimp could be eliminated by either the addition of EDTA or manipulation of the cation exchange column. Elevated concentrations of Cd were detected by inductively coupled plasma analysis, and metal toxicity was confirmed when the cation exchange column treatment successfully isolated the toxic metal. Analysis of affected fish tissue indicated Cd levels ranging from less than 0.3 ng/g in the muscle to 200 μg/g in the liver. This study demonstrates a unique application of TIE methods to diagnose toxicity problems in aquari...

Identifying the causative agents: The use of combined chemical and biological strategies in monitoring programs

The toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approach that identified unconjugated natural and synthetic steroid estrogens to be the major estrogenic component in domestic sewage treatment work effluent is described. Given the increasing popularity of TIE-based approaches in ecotoxicology research, a number of important considerations, limitations, and possible future directions of TIE studies are also discussed.

An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials

The identification of toxicants affecting aquatic benthic systems is critical to sound assessment and management of our nation's waterways. Identification of toxicants can be useful in designing effective sediment remediation plans and reasonable options for sediment disposal. Knowledge of which contaminants affect benthic systems allows managers to link pollution to specific dischargers and prevent further release of toxicant(s). In addition, identification of major causes of toxicity in sediments may guide programs such as those developing environmental sediment guidelines and registering pesticides, while knowledge of the causes of toxicity which drive ecological changes such as shifts in benthic community structure would be useful in performing ecological risk assessments. To this end, the US Environmental Protection Agency has developed tools (toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods) that allow investigators to characterize and identify chemicals causing acute toxicity in sediments and dredged materials. To date, most sediment TIEs have been performed on interstitial waters. Preliminary evidence from the use of interstitial water TIEs reveals certain patterns in causes of sediment toxicity. First, among all sediments tested, there is no one predominant cause of toxicity; metals, organics, and ammonia play approximately equal roles in causing toxicity. Second, within a single sediment there are multiple causes of toxicity detected; not just one chemical class is active. Third, the role of ammonia is very prominent in these interstitial waters. Finally, if sediments are divided into marine or freshwater, TIEs performed on interstitial waters from freshwater sediments indicate a variety of toxicants in fairly equal proportions, while TIEs performed on interstitial waters from marine sediments have identified only ammonia and organics as toxicants, with metals playing a minor role. Preliminary evidence from whole sediment TIEs indicates that organic compounds play a major role in the toxicity of marine sediments, with almost no evidence for either metal or ammonia toxicity. However, interpretation of these results may be skewed because only a small number of interstitial water ( n=13) and whole sediment ( n=5) TIEs have been completed. These trends may change as more data are collected.