EMCB-ENVIS Node ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

EMCB-ENVIS Centre
Organic chlorine compounds can be persistent environmental contaminants and may be
accumulated through the food chain to the aquatic organisms, to fish and humans, depending
basically on their hydrophobic properties. Consequently, there is an interest to measure these
organic compounds from both the scientific and regulatory communities. The analytical essays
have been improved for measuring specific organic chlorine compounds that present the most
toxicological potential (polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], certain pesticides and dioxins),
although they are tedious and time-consuming procedures. The existing tests to measure
adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) or extractable organic halogens (EOX) do not distinguish
the more hydrophobic organic chlorine matter. The intention of this paper is to make a review of
the existing methods to measure the potentially bioaccumulating organochlorine compounds
(OCs) from wastewater and propose a methodology to a standardisation procedure for complex
mixtures of OCs in wastewater, such as pulp mill effluents. A new method has been proposed for
determining the most hydrophobic part of the extractable organic halogens (EOXfob), the lowest
reported value is 0.6 μg/l, expressed as chloride, and the relative standard deviation at 20 μg/l is
7% on laboratory samples and 30% on real effluents. This new procedure could be a valuable
tool to complement environmental risk assessment studies of wastewater discharges.
M. Kantola, R. Purkunen, P. Kröger, A. Tooming, J. Juravskaja, M. Pasanen, S. Saarikoski,
T. Vartiainen. (Department of Chemistry, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Department of Chemistry, National Public Health Institute, 95, FIN-70701, Kuopio, Finland.
Central Hospital of Rakvere, Rakvere, Estonia. Institute for Advanced Training of Physicians,
St. Petersburg, Russia. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu and
National Agency for Medicines, Oulu, Finland. Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
University Hospital of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland). Accumulation of Cadmium, Zinc, and
Copper in Maternal Blood and Developmental Placental Tissue: Differences
between Finland, Estonia, and St. Petersburg. Environmental Research, 83(1) (2000),
54-66.
Cadmium, zinc, and copper from placental tissue and blood samples at the first trimester (n=64)
and at term (n=152) were analyzed; the welfare of newborns and placental 7-eothoxycoumarin
O-deethylase (ECOD) activities in vitro were determined. The study material was collected from
Finland, Estonia, and Russia. The results demonstrate that Cd starts to accumulate in the placenta
during the first trimester and that Zn and Cu contents were significantly higher at the first
trimester than at term. Among nonsmokers a negative correlation was found between placental
Cu content and birth weight of neonates. Among smokers a positive correlation between
placental Zn content and birth weight and ECOD activity was found. The birth weights
correlated inversely with the length of time the mothers smoked. The highest Cd concentrations
were detected in the samples collected from St. Petersburg. The data demonstrate an inverse
accumulation of Zn and Cd throughout the pregnancy in the placenta and maternal blood
samples. Zn may act as a positive marker or even an enzymatic enhancement for the human
placental vital functions. Smoking, parity, age, and especially the place of residence affect the
Cd, Zn, and Cu contents and ratios in placenta and mother's blood.
M. -L. Bouché, F. Habets, S. Biagianti-Risbourg, G. Vernet. (Laboratoire d'Éco-toxicologie,
Faculté des Sciences, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Bâtiment Europol'Agro,
1039, F-51687, Reims cedex 2, France. Laboratoire de Toxicologie des Métaux, Faculté de
Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, 51096, Reims
cedex, France). Toxic Effects and Bioaccumulation of Cadmium in the Aquatic
Oligochaete Tubifex tubifex. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 46(3) (2000),
246-251.
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