Phytotoxicity of Acridine, an Important Representative of a Group of Tar and Creosote Contaminents, N-Pac Compounds

Abstract

N-PAC (azaarenes) occur in the environment at levels that are 1-10% of the analogous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), e.g. from the production and use of creosote and tar. In this investigation navew (Brassica campestris L.), Italian rye-grass (Loliurn multiporum L.) and barley (Hordeurn uulgare L.) were grown in two different soils containing concentrations of 0, 1 and 100 ppm acridine. The observations reveal that acridine inhibits the seed production of navew and the growth of Italian rye-grass. Inhibition was noted at 1 ppm level. At 100 ppm nawev seeds either did not germinate or the sprouts did not survive.

Phytotoxicity of Phenanthrene and Its Nitrogen Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Analogues in Ageing Soil

“…Several studies have reported that seed germination may be insensitive to toxic chemicals in soil as seedlings derive their food from internal materials (Sverdrup et al 2003;Eom et al 2007;Chung et al 2007;Smith et al 2006). In contrast, however, Henner et al (1999) reported that volatile, water soluble, low molecular weight hydrocarbons (<3-rings) such as 1,7-PHENANTHROLINE (wet biomass) TIME (d) In this current study, however, the observed inhibitory effect of N-PAHs on seedling emergence (over time) is in agreement with the findings of Hulzebos et al (1993), who reported higher toxicities of N compounds (pyridine, acrylamide and acetanilide) on plant germination and that of Gissel-Nielson and Nielson (1996), who reported that at 100 ppm navew seeds either did not germinate or if they did, the seedlings did not survive in acridine-amended soils. Similarly (although not in the soil environment), Pašková et al (2006) reported NPAHs as chemicals with the strongest inhibitory effects on germination and growth of plants using a liquid exposure media.…”

“…In support, Gissel-Nielson and Nielson (1996) reported that acridine inhibited the seed production of navew and growth of Italian rye grass. Similarly, Pašková et al (2006) recorded that only NPAHs (not the homocyclic PAHs) inhibited germination and growth of Sinapis alba, Triticum aestivum and Phaseolus vulgaris.…”

“…It have been reported that N-PAHs can be rapidly photo-modified and this may increase their effects on biotas (Dijkman et al 1997;Bleeker et al 2002). Thus, contamination by these chemicals raises a number of environmental concerns due to their reported greater toxicity than the PAH analogues (Gissel-Nielson and Nielson 1996;Pašková et al 2006;Anyanwu et al 2013;Anyanwu and Semple 2015a, b).…”

“…In most cases however, a combination of these pathways facilitates the uptake of chemicals (such as PAHs and N-PAHs) into plants. Studies have reported the adverse effects of PAHs and some N-PAHs on plants; but, many of these trials involve freshly spiked soils or incubation of seeds to PAHs solutions on filter paper (Hulzebos et al 1993;Gissel-Nielson and Nielson 1996;Sverdrup et al 2003;Pašková et al 2006;Chung et al 2007). However, the effects of soil-chemical-contact time (chronically contaminated soil) have not been measured on plants using phenanthrene and its nitrogen-containing analogues.…”

Identification, Quantification and Distribution of Pac-Metabolites, Heterocyclic Pac and Substituted Pac in Groundwater Samples of Tar-Contaminated Sites From Germany

“…In particular the formation and distribution of polar PAC and their metabolites by intrinsic natural retention and degradation processes in the subsoil and aquifers of contaminated sites is the object of current research (13,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Our knowledge about formation, identification, distribution and degradation of these usually more polar, and in some cases toxic, compounds compared to their parent non-polar and poorly water-soluble PAH (24)(25)(26) is limited, nevertheless.…”