The impact of oxidative stress on the environment can be seen in several fundamental areas. One of the most obvious is heavy metal pollution in soils, rivers and streams. These heavy metals often work to increase stress levels in species that consume them, thereby threatening food supply. Not so obvious is the effect of global warming working to induce heat stress and oxidative stress in oxygen producing plant systems and in more complex symbiotic marine systems such as with coral/zooxanthellae. Researchers have reported oxidative stress as a key player in the phenomenon known as coral bleaching wherein corals expel zooxanthellae algae resulting in the coral turning white in the process. These events are of concern due to the reef and the fish it supports being of great importance in the food chain and because many coastal economies are at least partly reliant on a healthy reef system for tourism.
Biodiesel versus diesel exposure: Enhanced pulmonary inflammation, oxidative stress, and differential morphological changes in the mouse lung
This study compared the effects of inhaling biodiesel fumes compared to regular diesel fumes. The authors used products NWK-MPO03 and NWK-PCK01 to measure the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and protein carbonyls (PC) in mouse lung tissue after exposure to biodiesel and diesel particulates. Higher levels of inflammatory and protein damage biomarkers in BD exposed lungs compared to D exposed lungs was seen as evidence that although they are produced in lower quantities BD exhaust particles could be more toxic than D particles.
Naveena Y et al, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Volume 272, Issue 2, 15 October 2013, Pages 373–383 (new window)
Identification of toxicity variations in a stream affected by industrial effluents using Daphnia magna and Ulva pertusa
Daphnia magna (water flea) and Ulva pertusa (sea lettuce) were used as indicator species for toxicity study related to industrial effluents. Malondialdehyde was measured using NWK-MDA01 and was found to be greatly increased in Ulva pertussa exposed to industrial effluents. The study was able to successfully identify Cu and Zinc as toxic agents.
Jisu Yoo, et al, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 260, 15 September 2013, Pages 1042–1049 (new window)
Relationship among Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, and Proliferative Capacity in Human Corneal Endothelium
The authors looked at whether biomarkers of oxidative stress in fish liver could be used as indicators of exposure to Zn. The antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were measured using NWK-CAT01, NWK-GPX01 and NWK-GR01 respectively. Results showed that all 3 enzymes decreased significantly in a dose dependent fashion in liver tissue from Zn exposed fish compared to controls.
Ali Alkaladi et al, Archives Des Sciences Vol 66, No. 2; Feb 2011 (PDF)
