Biomedical subjects

Timothy J Ward

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy J Ward.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Apparent toxicity resulting from the sequestering of nutrient trace metals during standard Selenastrum capricornutum toxicity tests.

The water accommodated fractions (WAFs) of aqueous mixtures of three lubricant additives showed significant apparent toxicity to the freshwater alga, Selenastrum capricornutum, and experiments were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that toxicity resulted from the removal of one or more essential nutrients from the test medium by the lubricant additives. Algal growth effects were noted at ashless dispersant A concentrations as low as 0.5 x mg l(-1) and growth was completely inhibited at 100 mg x l(-1). Algal cells transferred from the 100 mg x l(-1) WAF of ashless dispersant A to fresh medium at the end of a standard 96-h toxicity test resumed growing at a rate similar to growth in undosed algal medium, indicating that the effect was algistatic rather than algicidal. Fortifying the iron (Fe) and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) concentrations of the WAF with 200% of the concentrations used in the formulation of algal medium after 24 h of exposure caused a resumption of algal growth at a rate comparable to the control growth, and a resulting EL50 value above 100 mg x l(-1). Similar effects were observed when the two other lubricant additives were tested at WAF concentrations that completely inhibited algal growth during standard toxicity tests: fortification of a 50 mg x l(-1) WAF of ZnDTP with 1000% of the Fe and EDTA used in the formulation of algal medium caused a resumption of growth at a rate statistically identical to the control growth, and the fortification of a 2800 mg x l(-1) WAF of ashless dispersant B with 700% of the entire complement of nutrients used in the formulation of algal medium caused a resumption of growth at a rate comparable to the control. The indirect toxic effect of these lubricant additives to algae results from the sequestration of one or more nutrient metals essential for algal growth. Standard algal toxicity tests with these lubricant additives may, therefore, have little environmental relevance because the complex chemistry of natural waters differs greatly from the nutrient limited algal medium, and the sequestration effect observed in these static tests could be absent under real world conditions.

Chlorophyta↗

PubMed2002

Chiral separations.

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Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

PubMed2002

Aquatic toxicity evaluation of para-methylstyrene.

The aquatic toxicity of para-methylstyrene was evaluated in acute toxicity studies using fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and freshwater green algae (Selenastrum capricornutum). Static tests were performed in sealed containers with no headspace to minimize loss of this volatile compound to the atmosphere. Concentrations of para-methylstyrene in test solutions were analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a purge and trap module and flame ionization detection. Test results are based on mean, measured concentrations. para-Methylstyrene was moderately toxic to fathead minnows, daphnids, and green algae. The 96-h LC(50) and NOEC for fathead minnows were 5.2 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. The 48-h EC(50) and NOEC for daphnids were 1.3 and 0.81 mg/L, respectively. The 72-h EC(50) and NOEC for green algae were 2.3 and 0.53 mg/L, respectively; these effects were algistatic rather than algicidal. para-Methylstyrene's potential impact on aquatic ecosystems is significantly mitigated by its volatility, an important fate process.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Silver speciation during chronic toxicity tests with the mysid, Americamysis bahia.

A 28-day chronic toxicity test and two 7-day chronic estimation toxicity tests were conducted with silver nitrate (AgNO(3)) and the marine invertebrate, Americamysis bahia, in 20 per thousand (parts-per thousand) salinity seawater. One 7-day test was initiated with 7-day-old mysids and the second was initiated with <24-h-old mysids. There was very good agreement between the three toxicity tests. The no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) values from the 28-day test, the 7-day test initiated with 7-day-old mysids, and the 7-day test initiated with <24-h-old mysids were 34, 65 and 38 microg/l silver, respectively. The 96-h LC50 values from the 28-day toxicity test and the 7-day toxicity test initiated with 7-day old mysids were 260 microg/l, and the 96-h LC50 value from the 7-day toxicity test initiated with <24-h-old mysids was 280 microg/l. Free ionic silver, Ag(+), concentrations measured with a silver electrode were in good agreement with concentrations calculated using total dissolved silver and chloride concentrations. Mean measured concentrations of Ag(+) in the test solutions ranged from 0.99 to 25 ng/l for the dissolved silver concentrations that ranged from 34 to 410 microg/l silver, indicating that free ionic silver varied from 0.003 to 0.006% of the silver dissolved in the 20 per thousand salinity seawater. Understanding the relationship of salinity and silver speciation, and the effect of this relationship on chronic invertebrate toxicity, will be useful for development of a marine biotic ligand model (BLM) and a water quality criterion for silver. This model could provide an important tool for improving the relationship of laboratory toxicity test results and predicted effects in natural environments, where variations in salinity may act to modify the toxicity of silver and other metals.

Animals↗