RESUMEN
The receptor-binding assay (RBA) method for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins was evaluated for its overall performance in comparison with the mouse bioassay (MBA). An initial study to evaluate the effects of filtering shellfish extracts prior to running the RBA indicated no significant difference between filtered and unfiltered extracts on the determined saxitoxin (STX) concentrations. Next, we tested the RBA assay on 295 naturally contaminated mussel tissue samples, ranging in concentrations from 320 µg STX equiv. kg-1 to 13,000 µg STX equiv. kg-1 by MBA. An overall trend was observed with the RBA giving higher results (256 µg STX equiv. kg-1 on average) than the MBA; however, at low concentrations (< 500 µg STX equiv. kg-1) the RBA results were marginally lower. A third study was conducted using spiked mussel tissue analysed by three independent laboratories, two of which performed the RBA and one the MBA. This multi-laboratory study again showed the RBA to give higher results than the MBA; however, it also revealed that STX determination was accurate by the RBA, unlike the MBA. To optimise the assay for efficient usage under regulatory practice, three suggestions have been made: the use of an initial screening plate to separate those samples that exceed the alert level; use of rapid PSP test kits in the field and in the laboratory for screening negative samples and for early detection of toxicity; and use of an alternate commercially available porcine membrane in place of the laboratory-prepared rat membrane homogenate. The large number of samples analysed and the diversity of the tests conducted in this study further support the RBA as an affordable rapid method for STX detection that is also free of the routine sacrifice of live animals.
Asunto(s)
Bioensayo , Toxinas Marinas/análisis , Saxitoxina/análisis , Intoxicación por Mariscos , Animales , Ratones , MariscosRESUMEN
A liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method having several advantages over the gas proportional counting (GPC) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 900.0 for the detection of gross alpha activity in drinking water was evaluated in this study. The improved method described here involves the use of nitromethane as the quench agent for establishing counting efficiencies and spillover factors, and it minimizes sample preparation. It has the advantage of achieving the regulatory detection limit of 111 mBq L(-1) with short count times (100 min) and small sample aliquot sizes. A thorough method validation study was performed by testing field samples ranging in total dissolved solids (TDS) from 0.3 mg L(-1) to 1,000 mg L(-1) and spiking each matrix from 194 mBq L(-1) to 11.6 Bq L(-1). Comparable method precision and accuracy was observed on the two types of LSC instruments tested, Perkin Elmer Quantulus 1220 and Packard 2550, with the former giving better performance. Data presented demonstrate that this efficient and high throughput LSC method is suitable for groundwater samples in excess of 1,000 mg L(-1) of TDS in contrast with the 500 mg L(-1) limit by the routine GPC method. Groundwater wells across the state of California were sampled, analyzed for gross alpha activity using the EPA- approved method and the improved LSC method, and the results were compared.
Asunto(s)
Partículas alfa , Monitoreo de Radiación/métodos , Conteo por Cintilación/métodos , Contaminantes Radiactivos del Agua/análisis , Abastecimiento de Agua/análisis , California , Monitoreo de Radiación/instrumentación , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Conteo por Cintilación/instrumentación , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Estados Unidos , United States Environmental Protection AgencyRESUMEN
Groundwater wells from across the State of California were sampled and analyzed for Pb and Po. The separation method involved Fe(OH)3 precipitation from a 5-L groundwater sample followed by electrodeposition of Po on a nickel disk. The resulting solution was passed through an ion-exchange resin column for the isolation of Pb. De-ionized water spiked at a concentration range from 4.92 mBq L(-1) to 755 mBq L(-1) with these radionuclide standards showed excellent accuracy and precision of the method. In the groundwater wells, overall activity of Pb ranged from 3.7 mBq L(-1) to 1,481 mBq L(-1) and the Po activity ranged from 0.25 mBq L(-1) to 555 mBq L(-1). Of the select wells tested, 27% for Pb and 19% for Po were above the proposed maximum contamination limits for these radionuclides, which are set at 37 mBq L(-1) and 26 mBq L(-1), respectively. From a public health perspective this is a concern, since the drinking water screening levels for gross alpha is at 555 mBq L(-1) and gross beta is at 1,850 mBq L(-1). At such high screening levels Pb and Po will not be captured, and this situation was found in several of the wells studied. The occurrence of Pb and Po are not correlated within the sources, however; the polonium concentrations were always lower than the lead concentrations. Activities of Pb measured from wells two years apart clearly demonstrated the continuous flux of groundwater within aquifers.
Asunto(s)
Radioisótopos de Plomo/análisis , Polonio/análisis , Monitoreo de Radiación , Contaminantes Radiactivos del Agua/análisis , Contaminación Radiactiva del Agua/análisis , Contaminación Radiactiva del Agua/estadística & datos numéricos , Abastecimiento de Agua/análisis , CaliforniaRESUMEN
One hundred and twelve groundwater wells sampled from all the major aquifers in California were analyzed for 224Ra, 226Ra, 228Ra, gross alpha, and uranium. The results showed that radium is found in relatively low concentration, 1.56 x 10(-2)-1.23 Bq L(-1) (0.42-33 pCi L(-1)) for 224Ra, 2.2 x 10(-3)-0.81 Bq L(-1) (0.06-22 pCi L(-1)) for 226Ra, and 8.5 x 10(-3)-1.31 Bq L(-1) (0.23-35 pCi L(-1)) for 228Ra in California groundwater. Uranium was found at the highest concentration on both mass and activity basis and was correlated with the gross alpha measurement. Short-lived radioisotopes showed no significant contribution to gross alpha measurements. There was a strong correlation between 224Ra and 228Ra activities, suggesting the latter to be an indicator for the occurrence of the former. Comparison of 226Ra to 238U, 224Ra to 226Ra, and 226Ra to 228Ra showed scattered data indicating no correlation between each of these isotope pairs. Approximately 4% of the wells were found to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established maximum contaminant level for total radium of 0.185 Bq L(-1) (5 pCi L(-1)). Analysis of 228Ra by gamma-ray spectroscopy was in good agreement with the U.S. EPA-approved procedure.