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Sewage effluent has been identified as a potential source of metal(loid) contamination in the aquatic environment. The Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, can accumulate most metals and is well established as a biomonitor of metals in the marine environment. To determine if Burwood Beach wastewater treatment works (WWTW) is a source of metal(loid) contamination, S. glomerata was deployed for 6 weeks in effluent receiving waters (Burwood Beach near and Burwood Beach far) and at reference locations (Redhead, Fingal Island 1 and Fingal Island 2) at depths 4, 8 and 12 m. In dried oyster tissue, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was employed to measure concentrations of a suite of metal(loid)s including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc. It was found that for all metal(loid)s, S. glomerata tissue concentrations were not significantly higher at Burwood Beach locations in comparison to all reference locations. Concentrations of metal(loid)s were similar to those which have been detected in previous studies of background locations in New South Wales (NSW). Further, all metals fell below National Food Authority maximum residue levels (MRLs), except for arsenic and this does not appear uncommon for concentrations in biota within NSW. Comparisons to historical data suggested that concentrations of metal(loid)s in sewage effluent from Burwood Beach WWTW, assessed via concentrations in oyster tissue, are similar or lower, suggesting that changes in treatment processes initiated in the intervening time have lowered metallic inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrobenthic community assemblage diversity and abundance were monitored on both Cowan and Berowra Creeks in the estuarine reaches of the Hawkesbury River, Sydney Australia during 1997–1998. Natural sediment physicochemical differences were assessed, along with low-level anthropogenic contaminants including copper, lead, zinc, phosphorus and nitrogen. Contaminant levels at all sites were below sediment guideline values for biological effects. Natural physicochemical sediment differences were the main determinants in species assemblage patterns among sites. Three groupings of sites with similar assemblages were observed during February 1998. Berowra Creek sites, which were higher in organic content and silt/clay (and thus metals and nutrients), higher in pH and lower in salinity, were similar in terms of contributions by the polychaetes Ceratoneresis aequisetis, Scoloplos normalis, the isopod Cyathura hakea and the bivalve mollusc Soletellina alba. Sites on upper Cowan Creek, higher in organic content, silt/clay (nutrients and metals) and lower in salinity, were similar and separated from other sites in terms of the polychaete Carazziella victoriensis and the gastropod mollusc Nassarius jonasii. Sites lower in Cowan Creek, tended to be higher in sand content, more saline and lower in organic content and thus nutrient and metal concentrations. These sites were similar in terms of contributions of the polychaete Sigalion bandaensis and the bivalve molluscs, Mysella vitrea and Tellina deltoidalis. The biotic assemblage patterns were not maintained temporally, suggesting the importance of monitoring over time to assess possible future impacts. Aggregating species data to the family level resulted in similar site discrimination. Site differences were less distinct at higher taxonomic levels and suggests future monitoring at the family level is sufficient to detect assemblage differences among sites. The results obtained represent the difficulty in detecting responses to low-level contamination at the community level, and provide a sound anticipatory baseline for the assessment of future possible anthropogenic disturbance in the Hawkesbury River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence and mortality rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers have been reported to be increasing in Europe and the United States, with particularly large increases in mortality in central and eastern Europe. Such increases have been noted to be birth cohort-based, primarily affecting young and middle-aged men. In this report oral and pharyngeal cancer incidence data from New South Wales, Australia has been analysed for the period 1972-90. Although an increase in the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer occurred during the mid-1970s and early 1980s, it did not continue. This pattern is consistent with Australian trends in per capita consumption of tobacco, alcohol, fruit and vegetables. Individual regions within metropolitan Sydney showed substantial geographical variation with age-specific rates of oral and pharyngeal cancers (combined) in middle-aged men being at least three times higher in the city of Sydney than in New South Wales as a whole. Given the preventable nature of the disease, such high rates need not occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, has been demonstrated as a useful biomonitor of estrogenic compounds following laboratory exposures, yet its utility in the assessment of estrogenic exposure and effects under field conditions requires investigation. To achieve this aim, S. glomerata were deployed in Newcastle, Australia in the effluent receiving marine waters of Burwood Beach WWTP (Burwood Beach "near", <50 m from outfall and Burwood Beach "far", 100-150 m from outfall) and reference locations (Redhead, Fingal Island 1 and Fingal Island 2) at depths of 4, 8 and 12 m for six weeks. Effluent receiving waters of Burwood Beach WWTP were found to be a suitable impact location, demonstrated via measurement of estrogenic compounds and activity throughout the deployment. Estrogenic compounds were detected (average of combined solids and liquid fractions) at average concentrations of: 1.42 ng/L for estrone, 0.69 ng/L for 17β estradiol, 3.83 ng/L for estriol (E3), 0.56 ng/L for 17α-ethynylestradiol, 64.2 ng/L for bisphenol A, 7.51 ng/L for 4-nonylphenol and 5.93 ng/L for 4-tert-octylphenol. Total estrogenic activity was estimated at 4.48 ng/L EEQ via the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES(®)) assay (average of combined solid and liquid fractions). Female vitellogenin gene expression was highest at Burwood Beach locations, yet no significant differences were detected among locations for either sex. Vitellogenin protein was significantly higher (p<0.05) in S. glomerata at Burwood Beach Near compared to reference locations for the 4 and 12 m depths. Increased proportions of females were found at Burwood Beach Near, at 4m depth (p<0.05). Both Burwood Beach locations had higher proportions of mature female gonadal development stages compared to reference locations (p<0.05). Oocyte area was highest at both Burwood Beach locations, but no significant differences were detected among locations. Findings provided further evidence that female S. glomerata may be a suitable candidate species for assessment of effects of estrogenic compounds in Australian waters., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of pearl oysters has recently been proposed as an environmental remediation tool in coastal ecosystems. This study quantified the nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metal content of the tissue and shell of pearl oysters harvested from a small pearl oyster farm at Port Stephens, Australia. Each tonne of pearl oyster material harvested resulted in approximately 703 g metals, 7452 g nitrogen, and 545 g phosphorus being removed from the waters of Port Stephens. Increasing current farm production of 9.8 tyr(-1) to 499 tyr(-1) would balance current nitrogen loads entering Port Stephens from a small Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located on its southern shores. Furthermore, manipulation of harvest dates to coincide with oyster condition would likely remove substantially greater quantities of nutrients. This study demonstrates that pearl aquaculture may be used to assist in the removal of pollutants from coastal waters while producing a commercially profitable commodity.

Mangroves have been observed to possess a tolerance to high levels of heavy metals, yet accumulated metals may induce subcellular biochemical changes, which can impact on processes at the organism level. Six month-old seedlings of the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh, were exposed to a range of Cu (0-800 micrograms/g), Pb (0-800 micrograms/g) and Zn (0-1000 micrograms/g) concentrations in sediments under laboratory conditions, to determine leaf tissue metal accumulation patterns, effects on photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase. Limited Cu uptake to leaves was observed at low sediment Cu levels, with saturation and visible toxicity to Cu at sediment levels greater than 400 micrograms/g. Leaf Pb concentrations remained low over a range of Pb sediment concentrations, up to 400 micrograms/g Pb, above which it appeared that unrestricted transport of Pb occurred, although no visible signs of Pb toxicity were observed. Zn was accumulated linearly with sediment zinc concentration, and visible toxicity occurring at the highest concentration, 1000 micrograms/g Zn. Significant increases in peroxidase activity and decreases in photopigments were found with Cu and Zn at concentrations lower than those inducing visible toxicity. Significant increases in peroxidase activity only, were found when plants were exposed to Pb. Positive linear relationships between peroxidase activity and leaf tissue metal concentrations were found for all metals. Significant linear decreases in photosynthetic pigments with increasing leaf tissue metal concentrations were observed with Cu and Zn only. Photosynthetic pigments and peroxidase activity may be applicable as sensitive biological indicators of Cu and Zn stress, and peroxidase activity for Pb stress in A. marina.

Data from the New South Wales (NSW) (Australia) Central Cancer Registry for the period 1972-91 were examined to determine the risk of second primary cancers following an initial invasive cancer of the renal parenchyma (ICD-9 code 189.0), renal pelvis (code 189.1), or prostate (code 185). Eligible cases were restricted to those who had survived for at least two months after diagnosis of the first primary cancer. Expected numbers of cancers were obtained by assuming that subjects experienced the same cancer incidence as prevailed in the corresponding general population and applying gender-, age-, and calendar-specific rates to the appropriate person-years at risk. The relative risk (RR) of a second primary cancer was taken to be the ratio of observed to expected numbers of second cancers. Following prostatic cancer, there was an overall deficit of cancers at all sites combined (RR = 0.79, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.75-0.84), and no site had a significantly raised RR. Taking this into consideration, there appeared to be a reciprocal relationship of increased risk of prostatic cancer (RR = 1.7, CI = 1.2-2.3) following an initial cancer of the renal parenchyma and of renal parenchymal cancer (RR = 1.2, CI = 0.8-1.7) after cancer of the prostate. An increased risk of bladder cancer occurred following renal parenchymal (RR = 3.4, CI = 1.1-8.0, for women only) as well as after renal pelvic cancer (men: RR = 8.7, CI = 5.4-13; women: RR = 39, CI = 26-56). A tobacco-related pattern of excess risk was seen after renal pelvic cancer but not after cancer of the renal parenchyma. These data illustrate that an excess of second primary cancers may reflect shared etiologic factors or increased medical surveillance.

Data over at least 20 years from three large population-based registries in Europe and Australasia have been used to assess the risk of second primary tumours occurring after a cancer of the mouth or pharynx. These patients have previously been shown in clinical series to be at a particularly high risk of subsequent tumours, while data from cancer registries have shown conflicting results on the magnitude of the risk. In this study, patients were found to have between a 2-fold (Scotland and New South Wales) and 4-fold (Slovenia) increase in risk of a subsequent tumour over that in the population, although the actual risk in each centre was similar (between 2.8 and 3.1 per 100 person years). The risk remained for 10 years after diagnosis of the original tumour and was primarily in the upper aerodigestive tract. The most elevated risks (approximately 10-fold) were for tumours in the oral cavity and oesophagus. These data provide higher estimates of risk than previously reported from European cancer registries for second primary tumours and emphasize the need for close follow-up of patients who may represent an appropriate population in which to assess possible new chemopreventive agents.