Zoology
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Item Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for Asia(Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2021, 2021) Kenneth, M.Y.; Leung;, Katie W.Y.; Yeung;, Jing; You; Kyungho, Choi; Xiaowei, Zhang; Ross, Smith; Guang-Jie; Zhou; Mana, M.N; Yung, Carlos Arias-Barreiro; Youn-Joo An, S; Rebekah, Burket; Robert, Dwyer; Nathalie, Goodkin; Yii Siang; Hii;, Tham; Hoang;, Chris; Humphrey;, Chuleemas Boonthai; Iwai;, Seung-Woo; Jeong;, Guillaume; Juhel;, Ali; Karami;, Katerina Kyriazi; Lee;, Bin-Le; Lin; Ben, Lu; Patrick, Martin; Mae Grace; Nillos;, Katharina; Oginawati; Rathnayake, I.V.N; Risjani, Mohammad Yenny;; Shoeb;, Chin Hon; Tan; Maria Claret; Tsuchiya; Gerald T; Ankley;, Alistair; B.A; Boxall, Murray A; Rudd, Bryan W.Environmental and human health challenges are pronounced in Asia, an exceptionally diverse and complex region where influences of global megatrends are extensive and numerous stresses to environmental quality exist. ...Item Chromosomal Abnormalities in Allium cepa Induced by Treated Textile Effluents: Spatial and Temporal Variations(Journal of Toxicology, 2020) Wijeyaratne, W. M. D. N.; Wickramasinghe, P. G. M. U.Appropriate effluent treatment processes are expected to significantly reduce the toxicity of effluents before they are released to the natural environment. 0e present study was aimed to assess the spatial and temporal variations of the physical and chemical water quality parameters of a natural water body receiving treated textile effluents and to assess the chromosomal abnormalities induced by the treated textile effluents. Four sampling sites (A: effluent discharge point; B: 100m downstream from site A along the tributary; C: 200m downstream from site A along the tributary; D: 100m upstream from site A along the tributary) were selected associated to a tributary that received treated textile effluent. 0e physical and chemical water quality parameters were measured in the composite water samples collected from the study sites, and Allium cepa bioassay was conducted using aged tap water as the control. Sampling was conducted in both rainy and dry seasons. 0e conductivity, TDS, COD, and colour intensity of the water samples collected from the study sites were significantly higher during the dry season compared to those in the rainy season. Allium cepa root meristematic cells exposed to water samples from sites A, B, and C showed a significantly high interphase and prophase indices compared to those exposed to aged tap water and upstream site during both rainy and dry seasons. 0e mitotic index of the root tip cells of Allium cepa bulbs exposed to the water samples collected from the effluent discharge point (site A) and from the 100m downstream site from site A (site B) was significantly lower than that of the other sites in both rainy and dry seasons. However, the mitotic index of the root tip cells of Allium cepa bulbs exposed to the water samples from the upstream site was not significantly different from that of the control treatment during both sampling seasons. 0e bioassay indicated that the mitotic index and phase index of the root meristematic cells of Allium cepa can be affected by the treated textile effluents released to the water body and the occurrence of C metaphase, chromosomal adherence, bridges, disturbed anaphase, vagrant chromosomes, and chromosomal breaks indicated that the treated textile effluent receiving tributary can possibly contain genotoxic and mutagenic compounds which can induce chromosomal abnormalities.Item Allometric Modelling of the Stem Carbon Content of Rhizophora mucronata in a Tropical Mangrove Ecosystem(International Journal of Forestry Research, 2020) Nilmini Wijeyaratne, W. M. D.; Liyanage, P. M.Mangrove ecosystems are identified as important blue carbon ecosystems because they play an important role in carbon sequestration among the coastal ecosystems. .e present study was conducted to develop an allometric model to determine the stem carbon content of Rhizophora mucronata in a conserved tropical mangrove ecosystem. .e stepwise regression with backward elimination was used to identify the best fit model to predict the stem carbon content of Rhizophora mucronata. .e allometric equation, Ln C � −2.403 + 2.247 Ln DBH, where C: stem carbon content and DBH: diameter at breast height, was constructed to be evaluated and validated as the most suitable and practically applicable model. .e reliability of the model was 76.7%, and the model was significant at 95% level of significance. .e model bias values and the model efficiency values for the best fit model suggested that the model is suitable to be used practically. .e present study used a nondestructive method of measuring individual tree parameters to develop this allometric equation to predict the stem carbon content and it is considered as an environmentally friendly approach with minimum damage to the tree.Item Dissolution of ZnO nanoparticles at circumneutral pH: a study of size effects in the presence and absence of citric acid(American Chemical Society., 2011) Mudunkotuwa, I.A.; Rupasinghe, T.; Ming Wu, C.; Grassian, V.H.Understanding size-dependent processes, including dissolution, of engineered nanoparticles is essential in addressing the potential environmental and health impacts of these materials as well as their long-term stability. In this study, experimental measurements of size-dependent dissolution of well-characterized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with particle diameters in the range of 4 to 130 nm have been measured at circumneutral pH (pH 7.5) and compared. Dissolution was found to be enhanced with smaller ZnO nanoparticles compared to larger-sized particles, even though the nanoparticles were present in solution as aggregates with hydrodynamic diameters on the order of 1–3 μm in size. The presence of citric acid significantly enhanced the extent of ZnO dissolution for all sizes, and the greatest enhancement was observed for the 4 nm particles. Although these results are found to be in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions, a linearized form of the Kelvin equation to calculate a surface free energy yielded quantities inconsistent with expected values from the literature. Reasons for this inconsistency are discussed and include potential deviations of solubility behavior from classical thermodynamics as a result of a lack of detailed knowledge of surface structure and surface properties, including the presence of different surface crystal facets, and the aggregation state.Item In vitro metabolism of benzene, toluene, and xylene in rat liver(North Dakota State Univ., Fargo (USA)., 1985) Pathiratne, A.A headspace gas chromatographic method was used to study the metabolism of benzene, toluene, and m-xylene in rat liver. Metabolism of benzene was lower than that of toluene, or m-xylene. Investigating metabolic rates of subcellular fractions, it was found that glutathione and glutathione S-transferase in the cytosol are involved in metabolism of benzene and toluene by microsomes. When both benzene and toluene are present in the incubation medium, they act as inhibitors of each others metabolism. Toluene and m-xylene metabolism were induced by the pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital (75 mg/kg), or 3-methylcholanthrene (25 mg/kg), or Aroclor 1254 (75 mg/kg) for 3 days, whereas benzene metabolism was not induced by all pretreatments. Another series of experiments was conducted to compare the effects of benzene, toluene, and xylene pretreatment on liver metabolism. In vivo metabolism of /sup 14/C-toluene and possible covalent binding of /sup 14/C-toluene to microsomes were also investigated. /sup 14/C-toluene when incubated with liver microsomes in the presence of a NADPH generating system formed benzylalcohol and cresols. Some of the radioactivity was covalently bound preferentially to microsomal proteins. The binding process required cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidases. This study suggests that toluene is metabolized to several reactive intermediates by liver microsomal enzymes and these metabolites are responsible for the covalent binding to macromolecules which represents a subcellular mechanism by which toluene may express its own in vivo toxicity.Item Bioassessment of the Effluents Discharged from Two Export Oriented Industrial Zones Located in Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka Using Erythrocytic Responses of the Fish, Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)(Springer US., 2017) Hemachandra, C.K.; Pathiratne, A.Complex effluents originating from diverse industrial processes in industrial zones could pose cytotoxic/genotoxic hazards to biota in the receiving ecosystems which cannot be revealed by conventional monitoring methods. This study assessed potential cytotoxicity/genotoxicity of treated effluents of two industrial zones which are discharged into Kelani river, Sri Lanka combining erythrocytic abnormality tests and comet assay of the tropical model fish, Nile tilapia. Exposure of fish to the effluents induced erythrocytic DNA damage and deformed erythrocytes with serrated membranes, vacuolations, nuclear buds and micronuclei showing cytotoxic/genotoxic hazards in all cases. Occasional exceedance of industrial effluent discharge regulatory limits was noted for color and lead which may have contributed to the observed cytotoxicity/genotoxicity of effluents. The results demonstrate that fish erythrocytic responses could be used as effective bioanalytical tools for cytotoxic/genotoxic hazard assessments of complex effluents of industrial zones for optimization of the waste treatment process in order to reduce biological impacts.Item Survival and cholinesterase activity of Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) tadpoles following short term exposure to a carbosulfan-based pesticide(Sri Lanka Association of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources., 2017) Samarakoon, H.M.T.R.; Pathiratne, A.Carbosulfan, a carbamate pesticide widely used in agriculture especially in the Asian region has received less attention in ecological impact assessments particularly to non-target amphibians. In this study, short term effects of a carbosulfan-based pesticide (Marshal®) on survival and cholinesterase (ChE) activity of tadpoles of Duttaphrynus melanostictus, a non-target amphibian in tropical Asia were evaluated. Based on the concentration-toxicity response patterns, estimated median lethal concentration (LC50) and median ChE inhibitory concentration (IC50) for 96 h were 24 and 2.1 mg/L carbosulfan respectively. For the ChE inhibition for 96 h, the lowest observable effect concentration and no observable effect concentrations of carbosulfan were 0.6 and 0.3 mg/L respectively. Upon transfer to pesticide-free water by 14 days, ChE activities of the tadpoles were restored to normal levels. Since the tadpoles exposed to 0.3 mg/L carbosulfan have not exhibited lethality, morphological deformities, abnormal behavior or statistically significant ChE depression, it is unlikely that the carbosulfan-based pesticide could induce neurotoxic effects for D. melanostictus tadpoles at the concentration of ≤ 0.3 mg/L of active ingredient under short term exposure.Item Cytogenotoxicity screening of source water, wastewater and treated water of drinking water treatment plants using two in vivo test systems: Allium cepa root based and Nile tilapia erythrocyte based tests(Pergamon., 2017) Hemachandra, C.K.; Pathiratne, A.Biological effect directed in vivo tests with model organisms are useful in assessing potential health risks associated with chemical contaminations in surface waters. This study examined the applicability of two in vivo test systems viz. plant, Allium cepa root based tests and fish, Oreochromis niloticus erythrocyte based tests for screening cytogenotoxic potential of raw source water, water treatment waste (effluents) and treated water of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) using two DWTPs associated with a major river in Sri Lanka. Measured physico-chemical parameters of the raw water, effluents and treated water samples complied with the respective Sri Lankan standards. In the in vivo tests, raw water induced statistically significant root growth retardation, mitodepression and chromosomal abnormalities in the root meristem of the plant and micronuclei/nuclear buds evolution and genetic damage (as reflected by comet scores) in the erythrocytes of the fish compared to the aged tap water controls signifying greater genotoxicity of the source water especially in the dry period. The effluents provoked relatively high cytogenotoxic effects on both test systems but the toxicity in most cases was considerably reduced to the raw water level with the effluent dilution (1:8). In vivo tests indicated reduction of cytogenotoxic potential in the tested drinking water samples. The results support the potential applications of practically feasible in vivo biological test systems such as A. cepa root based tests and the fish erythrocyte based tests as complementary tools for screening cytogenotoxicity potential of the source water and water treatment waste reaching downstream of aquatic ecosystems and for evaluating cytogenotoxicity eliminating efficacy of the DWTPs in different seasons in view of human and ecological safety.Item Combination of physico-chemical analysis, Allium cepa test system and Oreochromis niloticus erythrocyte based comet assay/nuclear abnormalities tests for cyto-genotoxicity assessments of treated effluents discharged from textile industries(Academic Press., 2016) Hemachandra, C.K.; Pathiratne, A.Bioassays for cyto-genotoxicity assessments are generally not required in current textile industry effluent discharge management regulations. The present study applied in vivo plant and fish based toxicity tests viz. Allium cepa test system and Oreochromis niloticus erythrocyte based comet assay and nuclear abnormalities tests in combination with physico-chemical analysis for assessing potential cytotoxic/genotoxic impacts of treated textile industry effluents reaching a major river (Kelani River) in Sri Lanka. Of the treated effluents tested from two textile industries, color in the Textile industry 1 effluents occasionally and color, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand in the Textile industry 2 effluents frequently exceeded the specified Sri Lankan tolerance limits for discharge of industrial effluents into inland surface waters. Exposure of A. cepa bulbs to 100% and 12.5% treated effluents from both industries resulted in statistically significant root growth retardation, mito-depression, and induction of chromosomal abnormalities in root meristematic cells in comparison to the dilution water in all cases demonstrating cyto-genotoxicity associated with the treated effluents. Exposure of O. niloticus to the 100% and 12.5% effluents, resulted in erythrocytic genetic damage as shown by elevated total comet scores and induction of nuclear abnormalities confirming the genotoxicity of the treated effluents even with 1:8 dilution. The results provide strong scientific evidence for the crucial necessity of incorporating cyto-genotoxicity impact assessment tools in textile industry effluent management regulations considering human health and ecological health of the receiving water course under chronic exposure.Item Efficacy of Allium cepa test system for screening cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of industrial effluents originated from different industrial activities(Springer International Publishing., 2015) Pathiratne, A.; Hemachandra, C.K.; De Silva, N.Efficacy of Allium cepa test system for screening cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of treated effluents originated from four types of industrial activities (two textile industries, three rubber based industries, two common treatment plants of industrial zones, and two water treatment plants) was assessed. Physico-chemical parameters including the heavy metal/metalloid levels of the effluents varied depending on the industry profile, but most of the measured parameters in the effluents were within the specified tolerance limits of Sri Lankan environmental regulations for discharge of industrial effluents into inland surface waters. In the A. cepa test system, the undiluted effluents induced statistically significant root growth retardation, mitosis depression, and chromosomal aberrations in root meristematic cells in most cases in comparison to the dilution water and upstream water signifying effluent induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Ethyl methane sulphonate (a mutagen, positive control) and all the effluents under 1:8 dilution significantly induced total chromosomal aberrations in root meristematic cells in comparison to the dilution water and upstream water indicating inadequacy of expected 1:8 dilutions in the receiving waters for curtailing genotoxic impacts. The results support the use of a practically feasible A. cepa test system for rapid screening of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of diverse industrial effluents discharging into inland surface waters.