Environmental Accumulation of Airborne Fluorides in Romania

The nature and extent of pollution from an aluminium smelter and a fertiliser factory in Romania were studied. These are large industrial complexes, and both types of industry are known to release fluorides into the atmosphere. In grass samples collected from around the aluminium smelter, the maximum fluoride levels were found to be 4023mgkg^–1 and 162mgkg^–1 in unwashed and washed grass samples respectively, and 89mgkg^–1 in soils. For the fertiliser factory, the maximum levels in washed grasses were found to be 207mgkg^–1, and 11mgkg^–1 in the soils. In both locations, these maximum values were obtained in samples collected from within 200m of the factory limits, and compare with regional background levels of less than 10mgkg^–1 for grasses and 2mgkg^–1 for soils. The high fluoride levels of fluoride in the grasses are sufficient to give cause for concern for the effects that these could have on the local population and on grazing animals.     

Biochemical composition of Nyctiphanes australis and its possible use as an aquaculture feed source: Lipids,pigments and fluoride content

Nyctiphanes australis contained, on a dry weight basis, an average of 52% crude protein and 5.0 to 9.5% lipid. The fatty acid profile of N. australis was markedly unsaturated, with a mean total 3 fatty acid content of 48.6±2.4% of total fatty acids. N. australis contained high levels of the essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:53) and docosahexaencic (DHA, 22:63), ranging from 16.6 to 36.5% and 11.1 to 24.8%, respectively. The concentration of total carotenoids ranged from 137 to 302 g g^–1 dry wt, with no significant differences in concentrations found with season or life stage. The carotenoids were comprised of 79.5% astaxanthin and 20.5% canthaxanthin. The lipid and pigment compositions of N. australis suggest that the species could serve as a suitable feed source for cultured salmonids. Like other euphausiids, N. australis contained high levels of fluoride, with a seasonal range between 277 and 3507 g g^–1 dry wt. The high fluoride levels found in N. australis would not detract from its potential as a feed source for salmonids because ingested fluoride is largely absorbed by the skeleton.     

Balanus amphitrite (Cirripedia: Thoracica) — A potential indicator of fluoride,copper, lead,chromium and mercury in North Adriatic lagoons

The capacity of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite Darwin to accumulate pollutants above ambient levels was examined in two North Adriatic lagoons with respect to fluoride, copper, lead, chromium and mercury. Levels in soft tissues ranged from 138 to 312 ppm (dry weight) for fluoride, 41 to 109 ppm for copper, 7.1 to 11.7 ppm for lead, 2.10 to 3.89 ppm for chromium, and from 0.96 to 1.35 ppm for mercury. The concentration factor was of the order of 10² for fluoride, 10³ for copper, and possibly higher than 10³ for lead, chromium and mercury. The differences of about 2:1 in the fluoride and copper concentrations in the waters of the two lagoons were clearly reflected by the levels in the barnacles. B. amphitrite that had set on experimental panels had levels similar to those found in specimens collected from long-term natural populations as early as 42 days after immersion of the panels. Compared with literature data, the accumulation levels found in B. amphitrite for fluoride were among the highest known for invertebrates; the values for copper and lead were considerable, but exceeded by others published for B. balanoides; the results for chromium and mercury were one order of magnitude lower than values reported for other suspension-feeders or indicator organisms. B. amphitrite appears to possess most of the properties considered essential for a biological indicator. Eventual determination of the response time of the barnacle to changes in environmental level could profitably be carried out utilizing experimental panels.     

The effect of selenium on fluoride — clay interactions: Possible environmental health implications

Previous epidemiological studies have shown that dental fluorosis is endemic in the lowland, dry zone of Sri Lanka, which is considered to be an area in which excessive quantities of fluorides are present in the drinking water supplies. It has been found that kaolinitic clay forms a suitable raw material in the defluoridation of water.It is shown that there is a noticeable effect of selenium and media pH on the reactions involved in the interaction of fluoride with clay. In this study, 1 mM fluoride solutions containing SeO ₃ ^2– (selenite) concentrations of 0 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM and 1 mM were used in the reactions with kaolinitic clay. The effect of pH was monitored in the range 4 to 8. It was observed that fluoride adsorption was maximum at a pH of 5.6 without either SeO ₃ ^2– or SeO ₄ ^2– , the adsorption capacity being 15.2 mol F^– g^–1 clay. However, when the SeO ₃ ^2– concentration was increased up to 0.5 mM at this optimum pH, the adsorption capacity reduced to 12.8 mol F^– g^–1 clay. Monitoring of the effect of SeO ₄ ^2– and media pH on fluoride adsorption showed that when the SeO ₄ ^2– concentration increases from zero to 0.1 mM, there is a reduction of fluoride adsorption capacity. However, when the SeO ₄ ^2– concentration is further increased from 0.1 mM to 1.0 mM, there was an increase in the fluoride adsorption capacity, indicating a more consistent effect of SeO ₃ ^2– on fluoride-kaolinitic clay interaction than SeO ₄ ^2– .Fluoride concentrations in drinking water supplies have a marked effect on dental health and the geochemistry of selenium appears to play an important role in the geochemical mobility of fluoride ions.     

Arsenic in ground-water under oxidizing conditions,south-west United States

Concentrations of dissolved arsenic in ground-water in alluvial basins of Arizona commonly exceed 50 g L^–1 and reach values as large as 1,300 g L^–1. Arsenic speciation analyses show that arsenic occurs in the fully oxidized state of plus 5 (As+5), most likely in the form of HAsO4², under existing oxidizing and pH conditions. Arsenic in source areas presumably is oxidized to soluble As before transport into the basin or, if after transport, before burial. Probable sources of arsenic are the sulphide and arsenide deposits in the mineralized areas of the mountains surrounding the basins. Arsenic content of alluvial material ranged from 2 to 88 ppm. Occurrence and removal of arsenic in ground-water are related to the pH and the redox condition of the ground-water, the oxidation state of arsenic, and sorption or exchange. Within basins, dissolved arsenic correlates (P<0.01) with dissolved molybdenum, selenium, vanadium, and fluoride and with pH, suggesting sorption of negative ions. The sorption hypothesis is further supported by enrichment of teachable arsenic in the basin-fill sediments by about tenfold relative to the crustal abundance and by as much as a thousandfold relative to concentrations found in ground-water. Silicate hydrolysis reactions, as defined within the alluvial basins, under closed conditions cause increases in pH basinward and would promote desorption. Within the region, large concentrations of arsenic are commonly associated with the central parts of basins whose chemistries evolve under closed conditions. Arsenic does not correlate with dissolved iron (r = 0.09) but may be partly controlled by iron in the solid phase. High solid-phase arsenic contents were found in red clay beds. Large concentrations of arsenic also were found in water associated with red clay beds. Basins that contain the larger concentrations are bounded primarily by basalt and andesite, suggesting that the iron content as well as the arsenic content of the basin fill may play a role in the occurrence of arsenic in ground-water. Under oxidizing conditions in Arizona, arsenic in ground-water appears to be controlled in part by sorption or desorption of HAsO4² on active ferric oxyhydroxide surfaces.     

Photoinhibition at low quantum flux densities in a marine dinoflagellate (Amphidinium carterae)

Growth and photosynthetic properties of the marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulbert were examined under continuous illumination in batch cultures at four different irradiances between 2 and 150 E m^-2 s^-1. The slope of both cell- and Chl a-based photosynthesis versus the irradiance curves was greatest for cells grown at 15 E m^-2 s^-1. The relative Chl a values cell^-1 were 1, 1.5 and 2 for cultures grown at 150, 80 and 15 E m^-2 s^-1, respectively. A low-temperature (-196°C) fluorescence technique was used to examine cells for photoinhibiton. Photoinhibition was greatest for cells grown at 150 E m^-2 s^-1. However, significant photoinhibition of this species was noted even at 80 E m^-2 s^-1. No significant difference in the fluorescence pattern was found between cells grown at 2 and 15 E m^-2 s^-1. Time course studies indicate that photoinhibition may occur within 2 h following exposure to 350 E m^-2 s^-1 in cells grown at 15 E m^-2 s^-1 and is reversible when light levels are lowered within 4 h. The ecological significance of phytoplankton unable to cope with excess photosynthetic excitation energy is discussed.     

Lead and cadmium in urban allotment and garden soils and vegetables in the United Kingdom

In order to assess the intake of lead and cadmium by consumers of home grown vegetables in urban areas, replicated experimental plots of uniform size, comprising summer and winter crops, were established in 94 gardens and allotments in nine towns and cities in England.The geometric mean lead and cadmium concentrations for the soils (n = 94) were 217 g g^–1 (ranging from 27 to 1,676 g g^–1) and 0.53 g g^–1 (<0.2–5.9 g g^–1), respectively. Compared with agricultural soils, the garden and allotment soils contained elevated levels of lead but not cadmium.Lead concentrations in the vegetables ranged from <0.25 g g^–1 to 16.7 g g^–1 dry weight and cadmium concentrations ranged from <0.025 g g^–1 to 10.4 g g^–1 dry weight. Lead concentrations were higher than reported background levels, although <1% exceeded the statutory limit for saleable food in the UK (1 g g^–1 fresh weight). Cadmium concentrations were generally similar to background levels.     

Growth response of Chaetoceros calcitrans (Bacillariophyceae) in batch culture to a range of initial silica concentrations

Batch cultures of the marine unicellular centric diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans (Paulsen) Takano were maintained by serial subculturing every 4 d into nutrient-enriched natural sea-water medium supplemented with 350, 950 and 1 400 g-at Si l^-1. The diatom cultures removed initial silica concentrations of 350 and 950 g-at l^-1 from the medium within 2 and 3 d, respectively. About 30 g-at l^-1 of the highest initial concentration remained in the medium after 4 d. The mean final cell density with an enrichment of 350 g-at Si l^-1 was 3.43±0.26×10⁴ cells l^-1 (median cell volume = 77.5±5.0 m³); with 950 g-at Si l^-1, 8.55±0.55×10⁴ cells l^-1 (50.0±4.5 m³); and with 1 400 g-at Si l^-1, 9.72±0.48×10⁴ cells l^-1 (37.3±5.0 m³). There was no significant difference in the final total organic weight of cells produced, which was in the range of 170 to 190 mg per 250 ml culture. This consisted of proportionately more lipid and carbohydrate and less protein from the treatment with 350 g-at Si l^-1 than from the 1 400 g-at Si l^-1 treatment.     

Uptake of glucose by bacteria in the sediment

A method is described for the incubation of undisturbed sediment cores under in situ conditions with the addition of low concentrations of ¹⁴C-glucose. Data are presented for respiration, gross uptake and actual uptake rate of glucose by bacteria in sandy, wave-washed beaches of the Baltic Sea. On the average, the bacteria respired 8% of the total glucose taken up. The gross uptake measured was between 2.3×10^-3 and 6.8×10^-3 g ¹⁴C-glucose g sediment^-1 (dry weight) h^-1 (average 4.7×10^-3 g g^-1 h^-1). Minima in the gross uptake rate corresponded with maxima in the concentration of natural free dissolved glucose. For the actual uptake rate, however, very similar uptake rates were calculated for the sediments examined (between 1.4×10^-1 and 1.9×10^-1 g glucose g^-1 h^-1, average 1.7×10^-1 g g^-1 h^-1).Publication No. 183 of the Joint Research Program at Kiel University (Sonderforschungsbereich 95 der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft).     

Thallium in marine plankton

Concentrations of thallium in phytoplankton (0.02 to 0.8 g g^–1), zooplankton (0.03 to 0.5 g g^–1) and ichthyoplankton (0.1 g g^–1) from the central Pacific were comparable , as were the atomic ratios of thallium to calcium (3x10^–6) and to potassium (1x10^–6) in those organisms. These relatively constant ratios, plus the biounlimited ocean profile of thallium, indicate that it is rapidly cycled through plankton in the same manner as potassium, its principal biogeochemical analogue. The higher atomic ratios of thallium to potassium in pelagic clays (6x10^–6) and ferromanganese nodules (4x10^–3) suggest that both biological transport processes and abiotic transport processes influence this trace element's oceanic cycle.     

Effect of heavy metals (Zn,Hg, Cu,Cd, Pb,Ni) on the length growth of Mytilus edulis

The shortterm (10–22 d) effect of Zn, Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni on the length growth of Mytilus edulis is studied. Significant reductions of growth rate was found at 0.3 g Hgl^-1, 3 g Cul^-1, 10 g Znl^-1, and 10 g Cdl^-1 added to the local sea water, while concentrations of up to 200 gl^-1 of Pb and Ni had no effect on the growth. With exposure to Cu and Zn, there was a linear reduction in growth rate with increasing metal concentration up to about 6 g Cul^-1 and 100 g Znl^-1. Above these levels, growth stopped with Cu, while with Zn it was stabilized at about 20% of control growth. When Hg and Cd were added, a curvilinear relationship between growth and metal concentration is indicated. With Hg, growth rate is nearly zero above 3–4 g Hgl^-1, while the growth rate was 50% of control after 10 d of exposure to 100 g Cdl^-1. At 2 g Cdl^-1 there was a significant stimulation of length increase. Observed EC₅₀-values for growth were 0.3–0.4 g Hgl^-1, 3–4 g Cul^-1, 60 g Znl^-1, and 100 g Cdl^-1.     

Lead in New Orleans soils: New images of an urban environment

This paper describes a survey of lead in soil and computer generated maps that have been derived for New Orleans, Louisiana. The soil survey included streetside, houseside and open space samples. Because the survey covered every census tract in the metropolitan area it was possible to construct a computer-generated map of the distribution of lead dust in the soils of the urban environment. The data base consists of coordinates, site characteristics and lead analytical results of 3,704 soil samples. The resulting graphics show peaks of lead ranging from 600–1,200 g per g in the streetside soil of the inner-city and a steeply declining slope to the suburban areas of the city where the lead content of streetside soils is less than 75 g/g. In the inner-city, the amount of lead in soils found near building foundations is 10 to 20 times higher than the soils adjacent to streets where the median lead content of soils is over 300 g g^–1. In areas surrounding the city core (mid-city), the amount of lead next to the foundation and adjacent to the street are equivalent with medians of 110 g g^–1. In suburban locations, the median lead content of soil along streetsides is 86 g g^–1. Soils adjacent to surburban foundations has a median Pb content of 50 g g^–1. The lowest median lead content in soil is found in open spaces, ranging from 212 to 40 to 28 g g^–1, respectively, for the inner-city, mid-city, and suburbs. These observations are consistent with the production and consumer use of lead-based paint and leaded-fuels within the modern city.     

Physiological ecology of picoplankton in the North Sea

The distribution of cyanobacteria in the surface waters of the North Sea was measured during July 1987. Numbers of cyanobacteria ranged from 2.5x10⁶ to 1.7x10⁸ cells 1^-1. In the majority of stations, cyanobacterial numbers were highest in the near-surface water and a subsurface maximum was found at only one station. The distribution of ¹⁴C among the end-products of photosynthesis was determined for picoplankton (<1 m) and other phytoplankton >1 m throughout the North Sea. The majority of label was found in the protein fraction of both picoplankton and >1 m phytoplankton; incorporation into lipids and polysaccharides plus nucleic acids was much lower. We interpret the large incorporation into protein to be a consequence of nutrient limitation of these natural assemblages. Photosynthetic parameters of the two size fractions were also determined. Assimilation number (P _m ^B ) and initial slope were greater for the picoplankton fraction than for phytoplankton >1 m but there was no evidence of significant photoinhibition of either fraction at irradiances up to 1 000 E m^-2 s^-1.     

Cadmium accumulation,LC50 and oxygen consumption in the tropical marine amphipod Elasmopus rapax

Adult Elasmopus rapax, collected from the eastern coast of Venezuela in 1990, were exposed to seawater containing various CdCl₂ concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 5.5 mol l^-1. The 48-h and 96-h LC₅₀ values obtained were 4.0 and 1.6 mol Cd l^-1, respectively. In amphipods exposed to 1 mol Cd l^-1 for up to 240 h, the apparent rate of cadmium uptake was higher in dead animals (most of which had molted during the preceding 24 to 48 h) than in those which survived throughout the treatments without molting. Thus, whole-body cadmium content reached 1.74 mol g^-1 dry weight (dw) in the former and only 0.85 mol g^-1 dw in the latter; the higher body Cd-load may have caused the increased mortality observed in molters. On exposure to cadmium levels above 0.5 mol l^-1 the oxygen consumption rate of non-molters decreased from 2.2 to about 1.5 ml O₂ g^-1 dw h^-1 over the first 24 h, remaining unchanged thereafter. The results place E. rapax among the most sensitive marine organisms yet studied concerning cadmium toxicity, and emphasize the usefulness of the Amphipoda as bioindicators and research tools for bioassays.     

Aluminium and fluoride concentrations of three tea varieties growing at Lantau Island,Hong Kong

The present project aims to investigate aluminium (Al) and fluoride (F) contents in teas (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Three different commercial tea varieties: Assam variety and two China sub-varieties, a large leafed variety and small leafed variety, were collected in two tea gardens of Lantau Island tea plantation of Hong Kong. In general, high concentrations of Al and F were accumulated in the mature leaves (15.3 and of 2.07 g kg^–1 respectively). Among the three varieties, the small leafed variety exhibited the highest Al and F contents followed by the large leafed variety whereas the Assam variety had the lowest Al and F concentrations in its tea bushes. Tea products from a plantation were also analysed and it was noted that black tea had higher Al and F concentrations than green tea. The amount of Al and F released into tea liquor was also tested and the results showed that higher concentrations of Al and F were released into tea liquor under repeated infusion method than continuous infusion method.     

Effect of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on meiobenthic communities established in an experimental system

Aquaria containing clean sand received a continuous supply of seawater from Santa Rosa Sound, Florida, USA, mixed with known concentrations (7, 76 and 622 g l^-1) of pentachlorophenol (PCP). After 9 weeks, nematodes accounted for 87% of the total meiofauna. Nematode biomass and densities were greatest in aquaria exposed to 76 g PCP l^-1 and were least in aquaria exposed to 622 g PCP l^-1. Epistrate feeders were abundant in control aquaria and aquaria exposed to 7 and 76 g PCP l^-1, but not in aquaria exposed to 622 g PCP l^-1. Selective deposit feeders were not abundant in the control aquaria and aquaria exposed to 7 g PCP l^-1, but comprised 19% of the nematodes in aquaria exposed to 76 g PCP l^-1 and 61% in aquaria exposed to 622 g PCP l^-1.     

Background levels of soil beryllium in several countries

Beryllium and aluminium contents in uncontaminated soils from six countries are reported. The means and ranges of beryllium in the surface soils were as follows: 1.43(0.20–5.50)g g^–1 in Thailand (n=28), 0.7 (0.31–1.03) g g^–1 in Indonesia (n=12), 0.99(0.82–1.32) g g^–1 in New Zealand (n=3), 0.58(0.08-1.68)g g^–1 in Brazil (n=16), 3.52(2.49–4.97)g g^–1 in the former Yugoslavia (n=10), and 1.56(1.01–2.73) g g^–1 in the former USSR (n=8). The mean and range of beryllium contents of the surface soils in Japan (1.17(0.27–1.95)g g^–1 n=27) are situated within the values of the soils from these countries except for the Yugoslav soils derived from limestones. The mean of the mean beryllium contents of the surface soils in all these countries is 1.42 g g^–1 which will be used as a tentative average content of beryllium in uncontaminated surface soils, except for the soils derived from parent materials high in beryllium content. The beryllium contents of the subsoils were higher than those of the surface soils in New Zealand and Yugoslavia as is the case with Japan. The correlation coefficient between the contents of beryllium and aluminium in all the soil samples (n=113) including surface soils and subsoils was 0.505 (p < 0.001).     

Geochemical Characteristics of the Acid Mine Drainage in the Water System in the Vicinity of the Dogye Coal Mine in Korea

This study investigated geochemical characteristics of the acid mine drainage (AMD) discharged from the abandoned mine adits in the vicinity of the Dogye coal mine in Korea. Acid mine drainage discharged from Jeoncha pit adit of the Dogye coal mine, which is the main source of the AMD in the study area, had a pH value of 3.0 and concentrations of 2148mg SO₄ ^2– L^–1, 229mg Fe L^–1, 71mg A1 L^–1 and 11mg Mn L^–1. The reduction of some metal concentrations downstream from the discharge point could be explained on the basis of dilution and precipitation. The order of removal of metal ions downstream from the discharge point was Fe>A1, Cu>Zn, Mn. Acidity could be used as a good determining factor offering comprehensive and quantitative values for the polluting extent of acid mine drainage. The acidities existing in all acidic water samples in the Gunahan district originated primarily from mineral acidity, especially in the upper Nahan Creek from dissolved Fe and Al and in the middle and down Nahan Creek from dissolved Al. From the application of the WATEQ4F program, it was determined that predominant species of dissolved Fe in all water samples was Fe²⁺, and those of dissolved Al were AlSO₄ ⁺ and Al³⁺ except for IW2 sample which was associated with white precipitates. The species of dissolved Al in IW2 sample include also AlOH²⁺ and Al(OH)₂ ⁺. The saturation indices of goethite and haematite were positive in the water samples associated with ochrous precipitates (usually called Yellow Boy), therefore these solids might be precipitated. For the IW2 sample, the saturation indices of amorphous Al(OH)₃ and gibbsite were positive, so theoretically these solids might also be precipitated. By XRD analysis, it was found that goethite occurs in ochrous precipitates, and gibbsite in white precipitates.     

Carotenoids versus retinoids (Vitamin A) as essential growth factors in penaeid prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus)

Penaeus semisulcatus de Haan adult gravid females, eggs and non-feeding early larvae, including Protozoea I, were used to test the hypothesis that retinoid (Vitamin A) is not required in early decapod crustacean development. In the adult gravid females, retinoids were detected only in the eyes (1.56±0.23 g g^-1 wet mass), whereas there were up to 97 g g^-1 wet mass total carotenoid in digestive gland and epidermis. This was mostly esterified, except in the ovaries, where free astaxanthin predominated (30 g g^-1). No retinoids could be detected in the eggs, the naupliar stages or Protozoea I, but free astaxanthin was metabolised exponentially, falling from 19 g g^-1 in the eggs to 4 g g^-1 in Protozoea I. This suggests that retinoid is not essential in early development and that carotenoid could be taking its place. Also, including retinoids in artificial diets appears to be unnecessary, provided adequate carotenoid is supplied.