There were two main objectives in this study. The first was to compare the accuracy of different ... more There were two main objectives in this study. The first was to compare the accuracy of different prediction methods for the chemical concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the organism, based on the measured chemical concentrations existing in sediment dry matter or pore water. The predicted tissue concentrations were compared to the measured ones after 28-day laboratory test using oligochaeta worms (Lumbriculus variegatus). The second objective was to compare the bioaccumulation of PAHs and PCBs in the laboratory test with the in situ bioaccumulation of these compounds. Using the traditional organic carbon-water partitioning model, tissue concentrations were greatly overestimated, based on the concentrations in the sediment dry matter. Use of an additional correction factor for black carbon with a two-carbon model, significantly improved the bioaccumulation predictions, thus confirming that black carbon was important in binding th...
The nonbiting midge Chironomus riparius was used to study the remediation potential and secondary... more The nonbiting midge Chironomus riparius was used to study the remediation potential and secondary effects of activated carbon (AC, ø 63-200 μm) in PCB contaminated sediments. AC amendments efficiently reduced PCB bioavailability determined by Chironomus riparius bioaccumulation tests and passive samplers. PCBs were shown to transfer from larvae to adults. Lower PCB concentrations were observed in adult midges emerging from AC amended compared to unamended sediments. Increased reproduction, survival, larval growth and gut wall microvilli length were observed with low AC dose (0.5% sediment dw) compared to unamended sediment, indicating an improved success of larvae in the sediment with low organic carbon content. On the other hand, higher AC doses (2.5% sediment dw) caused adverse effects on emergence and larval development. In addition, morphological changes in the gut wall microvilli layer were observed. This study showed that the secondary effects of AC amendments are dependent on...
The two basic routes of exposure by which organisms accumulate organic pollutants (bioavailabilit... more The two basic routes of exposure by which organisms accumulate organic pollutants (bioavailability) are (I) transport across biological membranes exposed to the aqueous phase, an:o (2) direct ingestion of contaminated food particles. As our purview js to address the effects ~f particulate and dissolved material within the water and sediment environments on the bioavailability of organic chemicals, we will focus almost exclusively on how. these materials influence :the rate and magnitude of direct chemical transport across membranes from the external aqueous phase. Although contaminants associated with ingested food particles must cross biological membranes within the gut, digestive (catabolic) processes acting therein make this a unique route of exposure, separate from other routes in which membranes are in direct contact with the aqueous phase. In many instances, exposure via ingestion may contribute significantly to the overall uptake of a contaminant from the environment, 1•2 alt...
The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere, on land, and especially in water bodies i... more The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere, on land, and especially in water bodies is well acknowledged. In this study, we establish an optical method based on three different techniques, namely, specular reflection to probe the medium, transmission spectroscopy measurements for the detection and identification, and a speckle pattern for monitoring the sedimentation of MPs filtrated from wastewater sludge and suspended in ethanol. We used first Raman measurements to estimate the presence and types of different MPs in wastewater sludge samples. We also used microscopy to identify the shapes of the main MPs. This allowed us to create a teaching set of samples to be characterized with our optical method. With the developed method, we clearly show that MPs from common plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE), are present in wastewater sludge and can be identified. Additionally, the results also indicate ...
ABSTRACT The relative health of benthic invertebrate populations is threatened by both dissolved ... more ABSTRACT The relative health of benthic invertebrate populations is threatened by both dissolved and strongly-bound contaminants. Sediment-bound contaminants can be mobilized and metabolized in the guts of deposit-feeders and may lead to even more potent derivatives. For this reason, measures of parent substance concentrations in organisms are not a suitable exposure indicator when substantial biotransformation can occur. In this study, we assessed the concentration of waterborne 14C-benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in Chironomus riparius larvae and in the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus at different levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). These two species have different biotransformation capabilities. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber was used to assess the freely-dissolved concentrations for the prediction of uptake and elimination kinetics. Exposure concentrations decreased due to the presence of DOC. Radioactivity that corresponded to the metabolites exceeded 90% of total extractable fractions in C. riparius, and suggested that BaP metabolism was faster than uptake from solution. However, only 10% of the extracted activity was attributed to metabolites in L. variegatus. Measured tissue concentrations and model-predicted uptake and elimination rates showed that L. variegatus mainly accumulated parent compound, whereas C. riparius accumulated mainly metabolites. No effect of DOC was observed on the biotransformation of BaP in either species.
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 19, 2018
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, prote... more The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the Eu...
The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy pot... more The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy potential is one of the best worldwide. Therefore, many types of solar power plant facilities are being built to take advantage of this renewable energy resource. Solar energy is considered a clean source of energy, but there are potential environmental effects of solar technology, such as landscape fragmentation, extinction of local biota, microclimate changes, among others. To be able to minimize environmental impacts of solar power plants, it is important to know what kind of environmental conditions solar power plants create. This study provides information about abiotic and biotic conditions in the vicinity of photovoltaic solar power plants. Herein, the influence of these power plants as drivers of new microclimate conditions and arthropods diversity composition in the Atacama Desert was evaluated. Microclimatic conditions between panel mounts was found to be more extreme than in the ...
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 28, 2016
European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) embryos and larvae were exposed to 6 different manganese... more European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) embryos and larvae were exposed to 6 different manganese sulfate (MnSO4 ) concentrations from fertilization to the 3-d-old larvae. The fertilization success, offspring survival, larval growth, yolk consumption, embryonic and larval Mn tissue concentrations, and transcript levels of detoxification-related genes were measured in the long-term incubation. A full factorial breeding design (4 females × 2 males) allowed examination of the significance of both female and male effects, as well as female-male interactions in conjunction with the MnSO4 exposure in terms of the observed endpoints. The MnSO4 exposure reduced the survival of the whitefish early life stages. The offspring MnSO4 tolerance also was affected by the female parent, and the female-specific mean lethal concentrations (LC50s) varied from 42.0 mg MnSO4 /L to 84.6 mg MnSO4 /L. The larval yolk consumption seemed slightly inhibited at the exposure concentration of 41.8 mg MnSO4 /L. Th...
Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, Jan 12, 2016
The increased use of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in industrial and consumer products worldwide ha... more The increased use of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in industrial and consumer products worldwide has resulted in their release to aquatic environments. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of AgNP on pelagic species, whereas few studies have assessed the risks to benthic invertebrates despite the fact that the sediments act as a large potential sink for NPs. In this study, the toxicity of sediment-associated AgNP was evaluated using the standard sediment toxicity test for chemicals provided by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. The freshwater benthic oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus was exposed to sediment-associated AgNP in artificial and natural sediments at concentrations ranging from 91 to 1098 mg Ag/kg sediment dry weight. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was used as a reference compound for Ag toxicity. The measured end points of toxicity were mortality, reproduction, and total biomass. In addition, the impact of sediment-associated AgNP on the...
There were two main objectives in this study. The first was to compare the accuracy of different ... more There were two main objectives in this study. The first was to compare the accuracy of different prediction methods for the chemical concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the organism, based on the measured chemical concentrations existing in sediment dry matter or pore water. The predicted tissue concentrations were compared to the measured ones after 28-day laboratory test using oligochaeta worms (Lumbriculus variegatus). The second objective was to compare the bioaccumulation of PAHs and PCBs in the laboratory test with the in situ bioaccumulation of these compounds. Using the traditional organic carbon-water partitioning model, tissue concentrations were greatly overestimated, based on the concentrations in the sediment dry matter. Use of an additional correction factor for black carbon with a two-carbon model, significantly improved the bioaccumulation predictions, thus confirming that black carbon was important in binding th...
The nonbiting midge Chironomus riparius was used to study the remediation potential and secondary... more The nonbiting midge Chironomus riparius was used to study the remediation potential and secondary effects of activated carbon (AC, ø 63-200 μm) in PCB contaminated sediments. AC amendments efficiently reduced PCB bioavailability determined by Chironomus riparius bioaccumulation tests and passive samplers. PCBs were shown to transfer from larvae to adults. Lower PCB concentrations were observed in adult midges emerging from AC amended compared to unamended sediments. Increased reproduction, survival, larval growth and gut wall microvilli length were observed with low AC dose (0.5% sediment dw) compared to unamended sediment, indicating an improved success of larvae in the sediment with low organic carbon content. On the other hand, higher AC doses (2.5% sediment dw) caused adverse effects on emergence and larval development. In addition, morphological changes in the gut wall microvilli layer were observed. This study showed that the secondary effects of AC amendments are dependent on...
The two basic routes of exposure by which organisms accumulate organic pollutants (bioavailabilit... more The two basic routes of exposure by which organisms accumulate organic pollutants (bioavailability) are (I) transport across biological membranes exposed to the aqueous phase, an:o (2) direct ingestion of contaminated food particles. As our purview js to address the effects ~f particulate and dissolved material within the water and sediment environments on the bioavailability of organic chemicals, we will focus almost exclusively on how. these materials influence :the rate and magnitude of direct chemical transport across membranes from the external aqueous phase. Although contaminants associated with ingested food particles must cross biological membranes within the gut, digestive (catabolic) processes acting therein make this a unique route of exposure, separate from other routes in which membranes are in direct contact with the aqueous phase. In many instances, exposure via ingestion may contribute significantly to the overall uptake of a contaminant from the environment, 1•2 alt...
The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere, on land, and especially in water bodies i... more The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere, on land, and especially in water bodies is well acknowledged. In this study, we establish an optical method based on three different techniques, namely, specular reflection to probe the medium, transmission spectroscopy measurements for the detection and identification, and a speckle pattern for monitoring the sedimentation of MPs filtrated from wastewater sludge and suspended in ethanol. We used first Raman measurements to estimate the presence and types of different MPs in wastewater sludge samples. We also used microscopy to identify the shapes of the main MPs. This allowed us to create a teaching set of samples to be characterized with our optical method. With the developed method, we clearly show that MPs from common plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE), are present in wastewater sludge and can be identified. Additionally, the results also indicate ...
ABSTRACT The relative health of benthic invertebrate populations is threatened by both dissolved ... more ABSTRACT The relative health of benthic invertebrate populations is threatened by both dissolved and strongly-bound contaminants. Sediment-bound contaminants can be mobilized and metabolized in the guts of deposit-feeders and may lead to even more potent derivatives. For this reason, measures of parent substance concentrations in organisms are not a suitable exposure indicator when substantial biotransformation can occur. In this study, we assessed the concentration of waterborne 14C-benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in Chironomus riparius larvae and in the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus at different levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). These two species have different biotransformation capabilities. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber was used to assess the freely-dissolved concentrations for the prediction of uptake and elimination kinetics. Exposure concentrations decreased due to the presence of DOC. Radioactivity that corresponded to the metabolites exceeded 90% of total extractable fractions in C. riparius, and suggested that BaP metabolism was faster than uptake from solution. However, only 10% of the extracted activity was attributed to metabolites in L. variegatus. Measured tissue concentrations and model-predicted uptake and elimination rates showed that L. variegatus mainly accumulated parent compound, whereas C. riparius accumulated mainly metabolites. No effect of DOC was observed on the biotransformation of BaP in either species.
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 19, 2018
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, prote... more The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the Eu...
The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy pot... more The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy potential is one of the best worldwide. Therefore, many types of solar power plant facilities are being built to take advantage of this renewable energy resource. Solar energy is considered a clean source of energy, but there are potential environmental effects of solar technology, such as landscape fragmentation, extinction of local biota, microclimate changes, among others. To be able to minimize environmental impacts of solar power plants, it is important to know what kind of environmental conditions solar power plants create. This study provides information about abiotic and biotic conditions in the vicinity of photovoltaic solar power plants. Herein, the influence of these power plants as drivers of new microclimate conditions and arthropods diversity composition in the Atacama Desert was evaluated. Microclimatic conditions between panel mounts was found to be more extreme than in the ...
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, Jan 28, 2016
European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) embryos and larvae were exposed to 6 different manganese... more European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) embryos and larvae were exposed to 6 different manganese sulfate (MnSO4 ) concentrations from fertilization to the 3-d-old larvae. The fertilization success, offspring survival, larval growth, yolk consumption, embryonic and larval Mn tissue concentrations, and transcript levels of detoxification-related genes were measured in the long-term incubation. A full factorial breeding design (4 females × 2 males) allowed examination of the significance of both female and male effects, as well as female-male interactions in conjunction with the MnSO4 exposure in terms of the observed endpoints. The MnSO4 exposure reduced the survival of the whitefish early life stages. The offspring MnSO4 tolerance also was affected by the female parent, and the female-specific mean lethal concentrations (LC50s) varied from 42.0 mg MnSO4 /L to 84.6 mg MnSO4 /L. The larval yolk consumption seemed slightly inhibited at the exposure concentration of 41.8 mg MnSO4 /L. Th...
Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, Jan 12, 2016
The increased use of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in industrial and consumer products worldwide ha... more The increased use of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in industrial and consumer products worldwide has resulted in their release to aquatic environments. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of AgNP on pelagic species, whereas few studies have assessed the risks to benthic invertebrates despite the fact that the sediments act as a large potential sink for NPs. In this study, the toxicity of sediment-associated AgNP was evaluated using the standard sediment toxicity test for chemicals provided by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. The freshwater benthic oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus was exposed to sediment-associated AgNP in artificial and natural sediments at concentrations ranging from 91 to 1098 mg Ag/kg sediment dry weight. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was used as a reference compound for Ag toxicity. The measured end points of toxicity were mortality, reproduction, and total biomass. In addition, the impact of sediment-associated AgNP on the...
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Papers by Jussi Kukkonen