diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent , lipophilic chemicals with different sources, pathways, and patterns of human exposure. Mixtures of PBDEs are present as noncovalently bound flame-retardant additives to synthetic fabrics, foams, or plastics in a variety of consumer products. Two mixtures, the penta-and octa-BDEs, are no longer used. Deca-BDE, the majo...

Experiments were undertaken to determine the tissue distribution of Escherichia coli and a coliphage after contamination of the common mussel (Mytilus edulis). Mussels were contaminated with high levels of feces-associated E. coli and a 22-nm icosahedral coliphage over a 2-day period in a flowing-seawater facility. After contamination, individual tissues were carefully dissected and assayed for...

Neohelice granulata were collected during a bloom dominated by Microcystis sp. in Patos Lagoon (RS, Brazil) and then sacrificed at different times of depuration in laboratory in order to verify microcystin (MC) content and toxic effects in hepatopancreas of the estuarine crab. Biochemical measurements were: lipid peroxidation (LPO), activity of glutathioneS-transferase (GST), alanine aminotrans...

Bioaccumulation of cadmium was assessed in different tissues the benthic fish Solea senegalensis. Juvenile Senegalese soles were simultaneously exposed to cadmium-contaminated diet (Hediste diversicolor) and water during 14 days allowed depurate for another days. Cadmium content measured muscle, gills, liver intestine, with recorded values increasing these this same order. Muscle showed a consi...

The synthetic antioxidant ethoxyquin (EQ) is increasingly used in animal feeds and has been candidate for carcinogenicity testing. EQ has the potential for toxicological and adverse health effects for both fish and fish consumers through "carryover" processes. The toxicological aspects of EQ have not been systematically investigated. The present study was performed to investigate the hepatic me...

The cyanobacterial toxin Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a potent protein synthesis inhibitor, is increasingly being found in freshwater bodies infested by cyanobacterial blooms worldwide. Moreover, it has been reported to be implicated in human intoxications and animal mortality. Recently, the alteration of the activity and gene expression of some glutathione related enzymes in tilapias (Oreochromis...

It is inevitable that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will be released to and widely dispersed in environmental ecosystems, given their numerous expected applications. Determination of their potential for bioaccumulation by ecological receptors is thus critical. Previous, research involving several different terrestrial and benthic organisms has indicated that CNTs spiked to soils or sediments do not b...

We examined the influence of speciation on the kinetics of silver uptake and depuration in the gills of two freshwater fish, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) which has high branchial Na(+) and Cl(-) uptake rates and is relatively sensitive to silver, and the European eel (Anguilla anguilla, yellow stage) which has low ion uptake rates and is relatively resistant to silver. Fish previousl...