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EPR detection of hydroxyl radical generation and oxidative perturbations in lead-exposed earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in the presence of decabromodiphenyl ether

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Abstract

Lead (Pb) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) are the main contaminants at e-waste recycling sites, and their potential toxicological effects on terrestrial organisms have received extensive attention. However, the impacts on the oxidative perturbations and hydroxyl radical (·OH) generation in earthworms of exposure to the two chemicals remain almost unknown. Therefore, indoor incubation tests were performed on control and contaminated soil samples to determine the effects of Pb in earthworms Eisenia fetida in the presence of BDE209 through the use of several biomarkers in microcosms. The results have demonstrated that the addition of BDE209 (1 or 10 mg kg−1) decreased the enzymatic activities [superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), peroxidase] and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) compared with exposure to BDE209 alone (50, 250 or 500 mg kg−1). Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra indicated that ·OH radicals in earthworms were significantly induced by Pb in the presence of BDE209. The changing pattern of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents was accordant with that of ·OH intensity suggested that reactive oxygen species might lead to cellular lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, CAT exhibited more sensitive response to single Pb exposure than the other biomarkers, while T-AOC, ·OH and MDA might be three most sensitive biomarkers in earthworms after simultaneous exposure to Pb and BDE209. The results of these observations suggested that oxidative stress appeared in E. fetida, and it may play an important role in inducing the Pb and BDE209 toxicity to earthworms.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41371467, 40901148), the National Environmental Protection Public Welfare Science and Technology Research Program of China (201409037, 201509060, 201309047, 201309030), the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (2011CB200904), the Scientific Project on Treatment and Control of Water Pollution (2014ZX07104006).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Kou Liu, Wei Zhang & Kuangfei Lin

  2. School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Kou Liu, Wei Zhang & Kuangfei Lin

  3. Shanghai Fisheries Research Institute, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Lin Chen

  4. Shanghai Agricultural Extension and Service Center, Shanghai, 201103, China

    Li Zhao

Authors
  1. Kou Liu
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  2. Lin Chen
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  3. Wei Zhang
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  4. Kuangfei Lin
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  5. Li Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Zhang.

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Lin Chen is Joint first author.

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Liu, K., Chen, L., Zhang, W. et al. EPR detection of hydroxyl radical generation and oxidative perturbations in lead-exposed earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in the presence of decabromodiphenyl ether. Ecotoxicology 24, 301–308 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1378-4

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