J. Xenobiot., Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2014) – 7 articles

Phenols and phenolic compounds are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Due to toxic potential, some phenolic compounds mainly chlorophenols and nitrophenols have been classified as priority pollutants. They enter into the environment through various sources such as industrial, domestic and vehicular emissions. For compliance of national and international regulations, various analytical methods have been developed for assessment in the environmental matrices. This paper presents quick, easy and reliable method for simultaneous determination of eleven priority phenolic compounds in wastewater using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and diode array detector. Liquid-liquid extraction technique with dichloromethane in acidic condition was used for the extraction, and chromatographic separation of compounds was carried out on a C18 column with water and methanol as the mobile phase. The following parameters like selectivity/ specificity, linearity (R²), range, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), precision (repeatability) and accuracy (recovery) were validated for consistent and reliable results. Calibration curves for all compounds were linear (R², 0.998-0.999) within the concentration range of 5-125 (μg/mL). The LOD and LOQ of the method ranged between 0.11- 0.61 μg/L and 0.37-2.04 μg/L, respectively. This method was applied to quantify phenolic compounds in wastewater samples from urban drain with good separated peaks, precision and accuracy. Full article

The present investigation was aimed to determine the effect of sub-chronic exposure to Solignum^®, a permethrin-containing wood preservative on biochemical and histological changes in liver and kidneys of male Wistar albino rats. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into four groups: control and three treatment concentrations containing 8 rats each. The treatment groups were exposed to Solignum^® at dose rates of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) respectively per day orally for four weeks. Data obtained from the study showed a progressive increase in the body weight of rats in control whereas, rats treated with different concentrations (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) of Solignum^® decreased significantly (≤0.05) especially at the end of the second and fourth week when compared with control. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the relative liver weights of rats treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg BW Solignum^® while rats treated with 400 mg/kg BW showed a significant increase when compared with control. The relative weight of kidneys in experimental groups increased significantly when compared with control. Biochemical analysis results illustrated that there was a significant increase in marker enzymes namely alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity at the end of the fourth week. Similarly, total bilirubin, serum urea, creatinine and electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^-) levels increased in a dose dependent manner in treated rats when compared with untreated control group. Serum total protein decreased significantly in experimental rats when compared with control. However, cholesterol and triglycerides showed no significant difference when compared with control. Histopathological examination of hepatocytes in treated rats was characterized by mild periportal inflammatory cells and cytoplasmic degeneration. Furthermore, histopathological examination of rat kidneys revealed inflammatory cells, congested vessel and interstitial hemorrhage in rats treated with Solignum^®. Therefore, this present study is aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic potentials associated with sub-chronic exposure to the commercial pesticide Solignum^®. Full article

Paraquat (PQ) is a bipyridylium herbicide that is applied around trees in orchards and between crop rows to control broad-leaved and grassy weeds. Its oxidation results in the formation of superoxides which causes damage to cellular components. In this study, we determined the antioxidant effect vitamin C has on the cellular integrity of kidney function in rats following repeated exposure to PQ. Ninety-six male rats, grouped twelve rats per subgroup (A, A_vit.c, B, B_vit.c, C, C_vit.c, D and D_vit.c) were intraperitoneally injected with different sublethal increasing doses (0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6 and 6 mg/kg body weight) of PQ respectively on biweekly (14 days) intervals over a period of three months (84 days). Subsequently, the subgrouped animals (A_vit.c, B_vit.c, C_vit.c and D_vit.c) were maintained orally with 1 g/L vitamin C, while the other subgrouped animals (A, B, C and D) received drinking water with negligible vitamin content throughout the study period. At the end of each monthly (28 days) treatment, four animals per subgroup were selected. Urine samples were collected from each of the selected rats, after which each of the animals were anaesthetized with gaseous isoflurane and 5 mL of blood samples were collected using cardiac puncture procedure. The animals were later decapitated and their kidneys harvested. The samples collected were analyzed for urine [specific gravity (SG), pH, protein and glucose], blood (urea, creatinine, total protein and glucose), and the histological studies on kidney slides. The dose and exposure- time dependent PQ toxicity resulted in the reduction in urinary pH, elevation in urinary SG, and the detectable presence of protein and glucose in urine. It also caused marked elevation in serum urea and creatinine levels with reduction in serum protein and glucose levels and alterations in the cellular integrity of the renal architecture, especially the glomeruli and tubular tissues. Treatments on the PQ insulted animals with vitamin C resulted in the significant presentation of biochemical and histological values that were a complete reversal or near normalization in the parameters assayed, except the urinary pH which presented with more acidic values (vitamin C is acidic in solution). Vitamin C treatment significantly brought down the urine SG level to normal or near normal. It caused near or total disappearance of protein and glucose in urine, reduction in serum urea and creatinine concentration and elevation or normalization of serum total protein and glucose values with restoration of the renal function of treated rats. These findings clearly show that vitamin C has an important role to play in the body’s antioxidant defense system. Its use caused normalization of the biochemical and histological parameters studied and restored the health status of the affected animals. Full article

Effectiveness of chiral drugs is very well established against several lethal diseases. The demand of chiral drugs is increasing day by day. Besides this, the racemization of some chiral drugs is also found in biological as well as in environmental matrices. The analysis of chiral drugs has become a necessary Research and Development Unit task for any analytical scientist, pharmaceutical institute or pharma industry considering not only the specific role of these drugs for better and suitable treatment of any lethal disease but also for their occurrence and fate in environmental matrices. The present article highlights the importance, bioactivities, occurrence and fate of chiral drugs in environment. Full article

The potential use of waste tyre rubber granules (WTRG) for the batch adsorption of naphthalene from aqueous solutions was investigated. The effect of various operational variables such as contact time, initial naphthalene concentration, adsorbent dose, size of adsorbent particles, and temperature of solution on the adsorption capacity of WTRG was evaluated. The adsorption of naphthalene by WTRG was a fast kinetic process with an equilibrium contact time of 60 min. A low temperature (5°C), small adsorbent particle size (0.212 mm) and higher adsorbent dosage favored the adsorption process. Results of isotherm studies revealed that adsorption of naphthalene was best described by the Langmuir isotherm equation (R²=0.997) while the kinetics of the process was best described by the Lagergren pseudofirst order kinetic equation (R²=0.998). This study has demonstrated the suitability of WTRG for the removal of naphthalene from aqueous solution. Full article

Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is a type II pyrethroid insecticide widely used in pest management. This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxic effects of LCT on the kidneys and adrenal glands of rats after subacute exposure. Twenty-eight 6-week-old male albino Rattus norvegicus rats were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 was the control group, which received distilled water. The experimental groups 2, 3 and 4 received 20.4, 30.6 and 61.2 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of LCT, administered orally over 28 days. The effects of the insecticide on various biochemical parameters were evaluated at 14 and 28 days. Histopathological studies were carried out in the kidneys and adrenal glands at the end of the experiment. Lambda-cyhalothrin, as a pyrethroid insecticide, induced significant increases (P≤0.05) in plasma urea, creatinine, uric acid and glucose concentrations, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities after 14 and 28 days. In the rat plasma samples after 28 days, residual concentrations of LCT 1R, cis, S cyhalothrin (1) and 1S, cis, R, yhalothrin (2) were clearly detected. All experimental animals showed dose-dependent organ pathologies, such as necrotic degeneration of the adrenal glands and narrowed appearance of Bowman’s space, degeneration of tubular epithelial lining, widened lumen, and tissue congestion in the kidney. It can be concluded that lambda cyhalothrin is highly toxic for rat adrenal glands and kidneys. Full article

The spill of liquid industrial waste from chemical and petrochemical industries in Mercier lagoons located 20 km south of Montreal, Quebec, caused a major groundwater contamination by industrial contaminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of Mercier groundwater, following 4 and 14 days of exposure to graded concentrations from three wells at increasing distances 1.2, 2.7 and 5.4 km from the source of contamination. Rainbow trout were examined for several biomarkers of defense [ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and gluthatione S-transferase (GST) activities] and those of tissue damage [lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA strand breaks]. The results showed that EROD activity was significantly enhanced in hepatic tissue at 1.2 and 5.4 km, whereas inhibition in activity was observed in group at 2.7 km. Therefore, GST activity was significantly increased at 3.1% concentration for the 2.7 km well. No change in LPO was observed. However, a significant induction of DNA strand breaks in liver was obtained at each distance. In conclusion, the data suggest that the release of these contaminants in groundwater leads to increased biotransformation for coplanar aromatic hydrocarbons and DNA damage in groundwater. Full article