<p>Mayflies are important macroinvertebrate members of steam communities and are highly sensitive to agricultural insecticides. In this dissertation I sought to explore whether Heptageniidae<i> </i>mayflies in Indiana have evolved greater tolerance to clothianidin, a neonicotinoid insecticide that has been widely applied over the predominant corn and soybean crops of the state for the last 20 years. Over the five chapters of this dissertation, I investigate different aspects of the effects of clothianidin on mayfly populations. First, I collected mayfly populations from streams around the state across a gradient of agricultural landscape to see if proximity to corn and soybean crops was associated with tolerance to the insecticide. I found significant variation in tolerance between the populations but only connected it to land use for one species and one insecticide. Second, I investigated the potential for increases in predation rates due to exposure to low concentrations of clothianidin by both a vertebrate and invertebrate predator. Sublethal exposure did increase the risk of predation by the invertebrate predator but not the vertebrate. Third, I collected four populations of mayflies and placed them in a common stream which is heavily impacted by agricultural runoff. The most tolerant of the four populations had the highest survival rates and was native to the polluted stream, suggesting that it was best adapted to the local conditions. Finally, the last chapter is a discussion of the factors influencing the evolution of contaminant tolerance, the implications for biomonitoring, and a series of recommendations for incorporating evolved tolerance into biomonitoring practices. Collectively, this work suggests that the lethal and sublethal effects of clothianidin exposure create conditions suitable for the evolution of tolerance in Heptageniid mayflies. While there are already differences in tolerance between populations, it seems likely that mayfly pesticide tolerance will continue to increase as pesticides continue to impact aquatic ecosystems. </p>

Dans le contexte libanais, les infrastructures de traitement et d’approvisionnement en eau potable ne sont pas optimales et il existe un manque de connaissances sur l’association entre la consommation d’eau et les niveaux d’exposition aux métaux et éléments traces. La présente étude est une première tentative faisant état de l'exposition aux métaux et aux éléments traces dans des sous-groupes de la population libanaise en utilisant une approche de biosurveillance multi-matrices. Les concentrations en 11 métaux et éléments traces (aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chrome (Cr), cuivre (Cu), fer (Fe), plomb (Pb), manganèse (Mn), sélénium (Se), uranium (U), zinc (Zn)) ont été mesurées dans des échantillons d'urine, de cheveux et d'ongles d’orteils d'un groupe de la population et les niveaux ont été comparés en fonction de l'âge, du sexe, du tabagisme, du statut économique, de la zone géographique et de la source d'eau potable. Alors que la plupart des concentrations urinaires et d'ongles n'étaient pas statistiquement différentes entre les hommes et les femmes, les concentrations mesurées d'éléments dans les cheveux étaient statistiquement plus élevées chez les femmes que chez les hommes. Les concentrations urinaires d'Al, Cu, Se et Zn étaient statistiquement plus élevées chez les enfants comparativement aux adolescents et aux adultes. Les concentrations de plusieurs éléments dans les cheveux et les ongles (As, Cd, Pb, Mn, Se dans les cheveux et les ongles plus Al, Fe dans les ongles d’orteils) étaient significativement plus élevées chez les enfants que chez les adolescents et/ou adultes (MG chez les enfants vs. les adolescents vs. les adultes dans les cheveux: 0,009 vs 0,009 vs. 0.005 µg As/g (p<0,01); 0,046 vs. 0,016 vs. 0,022 µg Cd/ g (p<0,05); 1,16 vs. 0,580 vs. 0,627 µg Pb/g (p<0,1); 0,305 vs. 0,168 vs. 0,275 µg Mn/g (p<0,1); 0,365 vs. 0,370 vs. 0,217 µg Se/g (p<0,05) et dans les ongles d’orteils : 17,0 vs. 14,3 vs. 7,31 µg Al/g et 56,9 vs. 46,0 vs. 23,8 µg Fe/g (p<0,05). Le statut tabagique n’a aucune influence sur les concentrations de As, cd et Pb. Les niveaux de Cd, Pb et Mn étaient également statistiquement plus élevés dans les échantillons des sous-groupes ayant un statut économique inférieur (Cd et Pb dans les 3 matrices urines, cheveux et ongles d’orteils respectivement de 0,223 µg Cd/L(p<0,1); 0,062 µg Cd/ g (p<0,05) et 0,038 µg Cd/ g (p<0,01); 1,16 µg Pb/L(p<0,05); 1,84 µg Pb/ g (p<0,01) et 0,840 µg Pb/ g (p<0,01) et Mn dans les cheveux et ongles d’orteils respectivement de 0,434 µg Mn/ g (p<0,05); 0,689 µg Mn/g (p<0,05). Les mêmes tendances ont été observées pour la stratification en fonction de la zone géographique, mais la différence n'était pas statistiquement significative, sauf pour le Pb dans l'urine où les participants de Beyrouth centre avaient des niveaux urinaires significativement moins élevés que les autres zones (0,560 µg Pb/L(p<0,01). Très peu de corrélations ont été identifiées entre les sources d’eau potable et les concentrations des métaux et éléments traces dans les urines, cheveux et ongles d’orteils. Cependant, une corrélation a été trouvée entre les niveaux d’As, Cd et Pb dans les cheveux et les ongles d’orteils respectivement (r = 0,4, p<0,05); (r = 0,310, p<0,05) et (r = 0.,270, p<0,1). Dans l’ensemble, les résultats ont montré que la population était exposée à des concentrations plus élevées de certains métaux que les autres populations, une attention particulière doit être accordée à l'exposition aux As, Cd et Pb, Mn et Se. Bien que la source d'eau n'ait pas contribué à la différence dans les niveaux d'exposition, les niveaux de certains métaux et éléments traces différaient selon l'âge, le sexe, les zones géographiques de résidence et le statut économique. Il pourrait être pertinent d'étendre ce type d'enquête à une initiative de biosurveillance humaine à grande échelle dans la population libanaise afin de valider et de généraliser les résultats et d'observer les tendances temporelles dans le temps. / In the Lebanese context, drinking water treatment and supply infrastructures are not optimal and it exists a lack of knowledge on the association between water consumption and levels of exposure to metals and trace elements. The present study is a first attempt reporting exposure to metals and trace elements in subgroups of the Lebanese population using a multi-matrix biomonitoring approach. Concentrations of 11 metals and trace elements (aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), uranium (U), zinc (Zn)) were measured in urine, hair and toenail samples from a population group and the levels were compared according to the age, gender, smoking status, economic status, geographic area, and source of drinking water. While most urinary and nail concentrations were not statistically different between men and women, measured element concentrations in hair were statistically higher in women than in men. Urinary concentrations of Al, Cu, Se and Zn were statistically higher in children compared to adolescents and adults. Concentrations of several elements in hair and nails (As, Cd, Pb, Mn, Se in hair and toenails plus Al, Fe in toenails) were significantly higher in children than in adolescents and/or adults (MG in children vs. adolescents vs. adults in hair: 0.009 vs. 0.009 vs. 0.005 µg As/g (p<0.01); 0.046 vs. 0.016 vs. 0.022 µg Cd/g (p< 0.05), 1.16 vs. 0.580 vs. 0.627 µg Pb/g (p<0.1), 0.305 vs. 0.168 vs. 0.275 µg Mn/g (p<0.1), 0.365 vs. 0.370 vs. 0.217 µg Se/g (p<0.05) and in the nails: 17.0 vs. 14.3 vs. 7.31 µg Al/g and 56.9 vs. 46.0 vs. 23.8 µg Fe/g. Smoking status has no influence on the concentrations of metals and trace elements. The levels of Cd, Pb and Mn were also statistically higher in the samples of the subgroups with a lower economic status (Cd and Pb in the 3 matrices urine, hair and toenails respectively of 0.223 µg Cd/L (p<0, 1);0.062 µg Cd/g (p<0.05) and 0.038 µg Cd/g (p<0.01);1.16 µg Pb/L(p<0.05);1.84 µg Pb/ g (p<0.01) and 0.840 µg Pb/g (p<0.01) and Mn in hair and toenails respectively 0.434 µg Mn/g (p<0.05), 0.689 µg Mn/g (p <0.05). The same trends were observed for stratification according to geographical area, but the difference was not statistically significant, except for Pb in urine where participants from central Beirut had significantly lower urinary levels than the others zones (0.560 µg Pb/L (p<0.01). Very few correlations have been identified between the sources of drinking water and the concentrations of metals and trace elements in urine, hair and toenails. However, a correlation was found between As, Cd and Pb levels in hair and toenails respectively r = 0.4, p<0.05), r = 0.310, p<0.05) and r = 0.270, p<0.1). Overall, the results showed that the population was exposed to higher concentrations of some metals than other populations, particular attention should be paid to exposure to As, Cd and Pb, Mn and Se. Although water source did not contribute to the difference in exposure levels, levels of some metals and trace elements differed by age, sex, smoking status, geographic areas of residence, and economic status. It might be relevant to extend this type of investigation to a large-scale human biomonitoring initiative in the Lebanese population in order to validate and generalize the results and to observe temporal trends over time.

No description available.

Le captane est un fongicide utilisé pour prévenir l’apparition de champignons notamment dans la culture de petits fruits. Les travailleurs agricoles québécois cultivant les petits fruits sont susceptibles d’être exposés au captane dans leur milieu professionnel. La biosurveillance de l’exposition au captane couplée à la modélisation toxicocinétique permet une évaluation du risque de ces travailleurs agricoles. Ainsi, cette étude avait pour objectif de documenter la pertinence de l’utilisation des profils temporels de biomarqueurs d’exposition au captane dans l’urine pour évaluer l’exposition individuelle de travailleurs agricoles. À partir des profils d’excrétion urinaire de l’acide 2-thioxothiazolidine-4-carboxylique (TTCA), des informations auto-rapportées durant la période de suivi et d’un modèle toxicocinétique, les doses absorbées de captane pour chaque travailleur ont été estimées et les principales voies d’exposition ont été déterminées. Parmi les six travailleurs ayant appliqué du captane, le TTCA a été détecté dans leurs urines majoritairement après 20 heures post-exposition (moyenne de 30,0 ± 36,1 μmol/mol de créatinine entre 0 - 24 heures). La détection de TTCA semble donc être due à une exposition secondaire à l’application provenant de tâches telles que le nettoyage de l’équipement ou un travail dans les champs traités dans la journée suivant l’application. La simulation des profils temporels des travailleurs à l’aide de la modélisation toxicocinétique suggère une absorption majoritairement par voie orale du captane. Ceci serait compatible avec un comportement main-bouche suite à un contact avec des surfaces contaminées. Selon la modélisation des doses absorbées estimées de captane, la probabilité de dépassement de la dose journalière admissible (DJA) ou Acceptable daily intake (ADI en anglais) est inférieure à 1 (DJA fixée à 0,1 mg/kg pc/jour). L’utilisation de ce fongicide à court terme ne semble pas poser de risque appréciable pour la santé chez la majorité de ces travailleurs, sur la base de la comparaison avec la DJA (ADI). / Captan is a fungicide used to prevent the appearance of fungi especially in the cultivation of small fruit. Agricultural workers in Quebec who grow small fruit are likely to be occupationally exposed to captan. Biomonitoring of captan coupled with toxicokinetic modelling enables risk assessment of these field workers. The aim of this study was to document the relevance of using temporal profiles of biomarkers of exposure to captan in urine to assess the individual exposure of agricultural field workers. Using urinary excretion profiles for 2-thioxothiazolidine-4-carboxilic acid (TTCA), self-reported information during the follow-up period and a toxicokinetic model, the absorbed doses of captan for each worker were estimated. The main routes of exposure were also determined. Among the six agricultural field workers who applied captan, TTCA was detected in their urine mainly after 20 hours post-exposure (mean of 30.0 ± 36.1 μmol/mol creatinine between 0 and 24 hours). The detection of TTCA seems to be caused by secondary exposure to the application arising from tasks such as cleaning equipment or working in the treated fields on the day following application. Simulation of the temporal profiles of workers using toxicokinetic modelling suggests a predominantly oral absorption to captan. This would be compatible with hand-to-mouth behaviour following contact with contaminated surfaces. Based on modelling of estimated absorbed doses of captan, the probability of exceeding the acceptable daily intake (ADI) is less than 1 (ADI set at 0.1 mg/kg bw/day). Short-term use of this fungicide does not appear to pose any appreciable health risk for the majority of these workers based on comparison with the ADI.

Gewässer sind Lebensgrundlage, jedoch gleichzeitig Schadstoffsenken für eine Vielzahl von Kontaminanten. Biologische Wirkungstests und das Biomonitoring aquatischer Proben sind daher besonders wichtig, um Umwelt-Gefahrenpotenziale erkennen zu können. Der "Comet Assay" (Einzelzell-Gelelektrophorese) ist ein Indikator von DNA-Strangbrüchen und wurde hier als Test auf gentoxische Wirkungen erprobt und angewandt. Mit bekannten, gentoxischen Substanzen wurden Nachweisgrenzen und Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehungen für die Zelllinien RTG-2 und RTL-W1 (aus der Regenbogenforelle, Oncorhynchus mykiss) in vitro ermittelt und methodische Parameter an die Zellen angepasst. Der Test reagierte sehr sensitiv auf 4-Nitrochinolin-1-oxid. Die Substanz war daher geeignet, um in weiteren Versuchen als Positivkontrolle zu dienen. Zur Bewertung der Messdaten wurde ein geeignetes statistisches Verfahren gefunden, das auch historische Kontrollen mit einbezog. Der zeitliche Verlauf der DNA-Schädigung des Testsystems mit RTG-2-Zellen wurde ermittelt, und durch Inhibition der DNA-Reparatur mit Aphidicolin wurden Zusammenhänge zwischen der Entstehung von DNA-Strangbrüchen, der DNA-Reparaturkapazität sowie der Metabolisierungskapazität untersucht. In einer zweiten Phase wurden unbehandelte Wasserproben aus Rhein, Elbe sowie weitere Oberflächenwasserproben mit dem Comet Assay an RTG-2-Zellen getestet. Bei 15 von 49 Proben zeigten sich gentoxische Effekte. In einer dritten Phase wurden Erythrozyten von freilebenden Döbeln, Leuciscus cephalus, aus der Mosel mit dem Comet Assay untersucht. Die Fische von drei Messstellen zeigten erhöhte Werte von DNA-Schädigungen, gegenüber einer vierten, stromabwärts gelegenen Messstation. Korrelationen mit den Ergebnissen zusätzlicher Biomarker ergaben sich nur teilweise. Chemische Analysen von Wasser- oder Gewebeproben ließen keine Rückschlüsse auf verursachende Kontaminanten zu - gerade dies unterstreicht jedoch die Wichtigkeit biologischer Tests bei komplexen Proben. / Bodies of Water are both vital resources and pollutant sinks for a multitude of contaminants. Therefore, biological effect tests and biomonitoring of aquatic samples are of particular importance to detect potential environmental hazards. The "comet assay" (single cell gel electrophoresis) is an indicator for DNA strand breaks and was explored and applied as a genotoxicity test in the present study. Known genotoxic substances were used to determine the detection limits and dose-response relationships for the cell lines RTG-2 and RTL-W1 (from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss) in vitro, and to adapt methodological parameters to the cells. The test was very sensitive to 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide. This substance was therefore well-suited to serve as positive control in further experiments. In order to evaluate the measurement data, an appropriate statistical procedure was developed, which also took "historical" controls into account. The time course of DNA damage in the test system using RTG-2 cells was determined, and relationships between the origin of DNA strand breaks, DNA repair capacity and the metabolizing capacity of the cells was investigated by means of inhibition of DNA repair with Aphidicoline. In the second stage, native water samples from the rivers Rhine and Elbe and further surface waters were tested with the comet assay, using RTG-2 cells. 15 out of 49 samples showed genotoxic effects. In a third stage, erythrocytes of feral chub, Leuciscus cephalus, from the Moselle river were examined with the comet assay. The fish from three measuring stations showed elevated values of DNA damage compared to fish sampled from a downstream station. There were only partly correlations with the results from additional biomarkers. Chemical analyses of water and tissue samples did not permit conclusions on effect-causing substances.However, this emphasizes the importance of biological tests in dealing with complex environmental samples.

This thesis seeks to uncover women’s concerns about chemicals in the household, and, more specifically, in cleaning products. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with women who are primarily responsible for household cleaning and who consciously avoid conventional cleaning products. From a sociological standpoint, the topic remains unstudied. The women were critical of greenwashing and the institutions responsible for chemical regulation. Further, the women’s chemical-free lifestyle defied conventional definitions of activism. Sociological theories of risk are used to help understand women’s avoidance of chemicals. It was found that tenets of the precautionary principle were reflected in their reasoning for avoiding chemicals. Recent biomonitoring and body burden studies have influenced women’s knowledge of chemical risk and their decision to avoid them. The thesis demonstrates that risk-management, in this context, has become an individualized pursuit reflective of the neo-liberal ideology informing chemical regulation. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Denise N de Bastos.pdf: 584150 bytes, checksum: 5ec6369c1a7266f038b37ea1a2b8ccdd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The objective of this study was to avaluate the toxicity to Daphnia magna cultivated on a large scale and post-larvae of jundia (Rhamdia quelen) to Glyphosate herbicide and the reference substances. Were used daphnia with age between 2 and 26 hours of life, from large scale cultured arrays. There were performed six sensitivity assays that were composed of seven treatments and three replica, at concentrations of 0; 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 0.7; 0.9 and 1.2 mg.L-1 of potassium dichromate, with 24 hours duration. The acute toxicity assays, with copper sulfate at concentrations of 0; 0.01; 0.025; 0.05; 0.075 and 0.10 mg.L-1, and to the glyphosate concentrations of 0; 11; 21; 31; 41 and 51 µg.L-1, with three and two replica respectively, and 48 hours duration. However the post-larvae of jundia were exposed to concentrations of 0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 mg.L-1 of glyphosate, per 96 hours. Each replica was composed of a bottle with 10 individuals. The chronic toxicity test, the daphnia were exposed to concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µg.L-1 of glyphosate, with 10 replica, being a daphnia per replica, evaluating the survival and fecundity in 21 days. For acute toxicity assays, was calculated mortality using the Median Effective Concentration (EC50) in each test. The mean EC50 for D. magna with potassium dichromate was 0.57 mg.L-1. The value of acute toxicity for copper sulphate was reached at a concentration of 0.034 mg.L-1. And for the glyphosate the EC50 of 32 µg.L-1 is toxic for the species. The chronic assay showed high rate of mortality, possibly the result of unfavourable conditions for the large scale cultivation of arrays, hurt his endurance. For the R. quelen the EC50 was achieved at 0.9 mg. L-1. The results showed that organisms of the species D. magna cultivated on a large scale can be used in acute toxicity tests, but not in chronic toxicity testing, for the assessment of water quality. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a toxicidade de Daphnia magna cultivada em larga escala e pós-larvas do jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) ao herbicida Glifosato e a substâncias de referência. Foram utilizadas dáfnias com idade de 2 a 26 horas de vida, provenientes de matrizes cultivadas em larga escala. Foram realizados seis ensaios de sensibilidade que foram compostos por sete tratamentos e três réplicas, nas concentrações de 0; 0,1; 0,3; 0,5; 0,7; 0,9 e 1,2 mg.L-1 de dicromato de potássio, com duração de 24 horas. E os testes de toxicidade aguda, com sulfato de cobre nas concentrações de 0; 0,01; 0,025; 0,05; 0,075 e 0,10 mg.L-1, e para o glifosato as concentrações de 0; 11; 21; 31; 41 e 51 µg.L-1, com três e duas réplicas respectivamente, e duração de 48 horas. Já as pós-larvas de jundiá foram expostas às concentrações de 0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0 e 2,5 mg.L-1 de glifosato, por 96 horas. Cada réplica era composta de um frasco com 10 indivíduos. No teste de toxicidade crônica, as dáfnias foram expostas as concentrações de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10 µg.L-1 de glifosato, com 10 réplicas, sendo uma dáfnia por réplica, avaliando a sobrevivência e fecundidade em 21 dias. Para os experimentos de toxicidade aguda foi calculada mortalidade através da Concentração Efetiva Mediana (CE50) em cada teste. A média da CE50 para a D. magna com dicromato de potássio foi de 0,57 mg.L-1. O valor de toxicidade aguda para o sulfato de cobre foi alcançado na concentração de 0,034 mg.L-1. Já para o glifosato a CE50 de 32 µg.L-1 é toxica para a espécie. No teste crônico, a alta taxa de mortalidade possivelmente é resultado das condições desfavoráveis no cultivo das matrizes em larga escala, o que prejudicou sua resistência. Para o R. quelen a CE50 alcançada foi em 0,9 mg.L-1. Os resultados demostraram que organismos da espécie D. magna cultivadas em larga escala podem ser utilizados em testes de toxicidade aguda, mas não em testes de toxicidade crônica, para a avaliação da qualidade da água.