Development and characterization of complex particles for delivery of amino acids to early marine fish larvae

Complex particles (CP), zein microbound particles and lipid-spray beads (LSB) were prepared and their performances were compared for delivering glycine and a mixture of free amino acids (FAA; alanine, glycine, leucine, serine and tyrosine) to early fish larvae. Measures of performances of microparticles included inclusion, encapsulation, retention and delivery efficiencies in addition to T50 (time to 50% retention) values. CP were prepared containing LSB and a defined dietary mixture that were bound together with zein. CP had significantly higher retention and delivery efficiencies for FAA compared to those of zein microbound particles. Free LSB had higher retention efficiencies for particulate glycine compared with CP, possibly due to differences in suspension characteristics. Free LSB clumped and floated when suspended in water, negatively affecting their acceptability by fish larvae; therefore, LSB should be incorporated into CP for more effective delivery of amino acids. There was a significant inverse correlation between retention efficiencies and solubilities of FAA encapsulated in CP. After 1 h of aqueous suspension, highest retention (44%) and delivery efficiencies (20.3 mg tyrosine g^–1 particle) were achieved with tyrosine. T50 values indicated 50% of the initial tyrosine in CP was still available after 36.7 min of suspension in water. Furthermore, CP can deliver FAA to marine fish larvae based on the results of feeding studies in which CP were digested by 3-day-old clownfish larvae; therefore, this particle type could be a valuable tool in studies of larval fish nutrition.Communicated by R.J. Thompson, St. Johns     

pH dependence of ferrous sorption onto two smectite clays

This work examines the abilities of two smectite minerals (SWa-1 and Wyoming montmorillonite) to adsorb ferrous iron at concentrations from 0.037 mM (2 ppm) to 2.5 mM (240 ppm) over a range of pHs from 4.0 to 8.0. Both sorption isotherm and sorption edge data are presented. Ferrous sorption (Fe(aq)2+ = 0.1 mM) to both SWa-1 and Wyoming montmorillonite over the pH range 4.0-6.75 is relatively constant at approximately 1000 l kg(-1) for both minerals. Sorption in this pH range is attributed to the cation exchange capacity of the clay along the basal surfaces. At pH values above 6.75 the amount of ferrous iron sorbed increases dramatically. At pH 8, sorption (Fe(aq)+ = 0.1 mM) reaches 6600 l kg(-1) and 8000 l kg(-1) for Swa-1 and Wyoming montmorillonite respectively. This is attributed to the specific interaction between ferrous ions and surface sites along mineral edges. The overriding geochemical implication is that in reduced sediments containing more than a few percent clay, the pool of sorbed ferrous iron is vast. This pool of reduced iron is both redox labile and bio-available and is not readily indicated by simple measurement of dissolved Fe2+.     

Influence of sediment on the fate and toxicity of a polyethoxylated tallowamine surfactant system (MON 0818) in aquatic microcosms

The fate and toxicity of a polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA) surfactant system, MON 0818, was evaluated in water-sediment microcosms during a 4-d laboratory study. A surfactant solution of 8 mg l(-1) nominal concentration was added to each of nine 72-l aquaria with or without a 3-cm layer of one of two natural sediments (total organic carbon (TOC) 1.5% or 3.0%). Control well water was added to each of nine additional 72-l aquaria with or without sediment. Water samples were collected from the microcosms after 2, 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of aging to conduct 48-h toxicity tests with Daphnia magna and to determine surfactant concentrations. Elevated mortality of D. magna (43-83%) was observed in overlying water sampled from water-only microcosms throughout the 96-h aging period, whereas elevated mortality (23-97%) was only observed in overlying water sampled from water-sediment microcosms during the first 24h of aging. Measured concentrations of MON 0818 in water-only microcosms remained relatively constant (4-6 mg l(-1)) during the 96-h period, whereas the concentrations in overlying water from microcosms containing either of the two types of sediment dissipated rapidly, with half-lives of 13 h in the 3.0% TOC sediment and 18 h in the 1.5% TOC sediment. Both toxicity and the concentration of MON 0818 in overlying water decreased more rapidly in microcosms containing sediment with the higher percent TOC and clay and with a higher microbial biomass. Mortality of D. magna was significantly correlated with surfactant concentrations in the overlying water. These results indicate that the toxicity of the POEA surfactant in water rapidly declines in the presence of sediment due to a reduction in the surfactant concentration in the overlying water above the sediment.     

Variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from uncontrolled combustion of household waste in barrels

The uncontrolled burning of household waste in barrels has recently been implicated as a major source of airborne emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). A detailed, systematic study to understand the variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels was performed. The waste composition, fullness of the barrel, and the combustion conditions within the barrel all contribute significantly to determining the emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels. The study found no statistically significant effect on emissions from the Cl content of waste except at high levels, which are not representative of typical household waste. At these elevated Cl concentrations, the impact of Cl on PCDD/F emissions was found to be independent of the form of the Cl (inorganic or organic). For typical burn conditions, most of the PCDD/F emissions appear to be associated with the later stages of the burn when the waste is smoldering. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also measured for a subset of the tests. For the nominal waste composition, the average emissions were 76.8 ng toxic equivalency units (TEQ)WHO98/kg of waste combusted, which suggests that uncontrolled burning of household waste could be a major source of airborne PCDD/Fs in the United States.     

Recovery from acidification in European surface waters: a view to the future

There is now overwhelming documentation of large-scale chemical recovery from surface water acidification in Europe, but to date there has been little documentation of biological recovery. Modelling studies based on current emission reduction plans in Europe indicate that there will be further chemical recovery. The uncertainties in these scenarios mainly relate to the future behavior of nitrogen in the ecosystem and the effects of climate change. Four major climate-related confounding factors that may influence the chemical and biological recovery process are: i) increased frequency and severity of sea-salt episodes; ii) increased frequency and severity of drought; iii) increased turnover of organic carbon; iv) increased mineralization of nitrogen. International cooperative work to abate acidification has so far been very successful, but there is still a long way to go, and many potential setbacks. It is essential that future development of water chemistry and aquatic biota in acidified waterbodies continue to be monitored in relation to further emission reductions of S and N and future effects of climate change.     

The interaction effects of binary mixtures of benzene and toluene on the developing heart of medaka (Oryzias latipes)

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has pursued the estimation of risk of adverse health effects from exposure to chemical mixtures since the early 1980s. Methods used to calculate risk estimates of mixtures were often based on single chemical information that required assumptions of dose-addition or response-addition and did not consider possible changes in response due to interaction effects among chemicals. Full factorial designs for laboratory studies can produce interactions information, but these are expensive to perform and may not provide the information needed to evaluate specific environmentally relevant mixtures. In this research, groups of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos were exposed to binary mixtures of benzene and toluene as well as to each of these chemicals alone. Endpoint specific dose-response models were built for the hydrocarbon mixture under an assumption of dose-additivity, using the single chemical dose-response information on benzene and toluene. The endpoints included heart rate, heart rate progression, and lethality. Results included a synergistic response for heart rate at 72 h of development, and either additivity or antagonism for all other endpoints at 96 h of development. This work uses an established statistical method to evaluate the toxicity of an environmentally relevant mixture to ascertain whether interaction effects are occurring, thus providing additional information on toxicity.     

Preparation of mercury emissions inventory for eastern North America

Point and area inventories of anthropogenic mercury emissions documented by US and Canadian environmental agencies have been aggregated into a single archive for analysis and air pollution modeling work. For 5341 point sources and 1634 aggregated area sources, mercury emissions are apportioned among elemental gaseous [Hg(0)], reactive gaseous[Hg(II)], and particulate [Hg(p)] emissions using speciation factors derived from available monitoring measurements. According to this inventory, 4.82 x 10(5) mol of mercury were emitted in calendar year 1996 in the latitude range 24-51 degrees north, and longitude range 64-91 degrees west, which covers most of North America east of the Mississippi River. Using speciation factors consistent with past emission source studies, we find the relative emission proportions among Hg(0):Hg(II):Hg(p) species are 47:35:18. Maps of the various mercury species' emissions patterns are presented. Gridded emission patterns show local mercury emission extremes associated with individual cement production and municipal incineration facilities, and in contrast to past inventories, population centers do not stand out. Considerable uncertainties are still present in estimating emissions from large point sources, as are methods of apportioning emissions among various mercury species.     

Vertebrate diet decreases winter torpor use in a desert marsupial

One of the energetic benefits of daily torpor over prolonged hibernation is that it enables animals to regularly forage and, therefore, replenish food reserves between bouts of torpor. However, little is known about the diet of predators undergoing torpor or whether differences in prey composition among individuals influence torpor characteristics. Here, we test the hypothesis that prey composition affects winter torpor use and patterns of a population of carnivorous marsupial, the brush-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus blythi), in the Great Sandy Desert, Australia. Mulgaras in the study population captured a wide range of prey including vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, birds), seven insect orders, spiders and centipedes. The proportion of vertebrates in the diet was negatively correlated with both frequency of torpor use and maximum bout duration. This variation in torpor use with diet can be explained by the higher energetic content of vertebrates as well as their larger size. Even assuming uniform intake of prey biomass among individuals, those that subsisted on an invertebrate-dominated diet during winter apparently suffered energetic shortages as a result of the scarcity of invertebrate taxa with high energy content (such as insect larvae). Our study is the first to demonstrate a link between diet composition and daily torpor use in a free-ranging mammal.     

Case Study and Retrospective: Aerobic Fixed Film Biological Treatment Process for 1,4‐Dioxane at the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site

An aerobic fixed film biological treatment system has been successfully treating recovered groundwater/landfill leachate containing 1,4‐dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and other constituents since 2003. The most likely mode of 1,4‐dioxane biotransformation is via a cometabolic pathway in the presence of THF. Pilot studies conducted during the process development phase established a design basis process loading factor of 0.6 g 1,4‐dioxane and THF (as chemical oxygen demand [COD])/g total solids per day and proved the efficacy of the process. Full‐scale design includes the use of three parallel moving bed bioreactors with effluent recycle capability. Removal efficiencies in excess of 98 percent have been documented for 1,4‐dioxane. Evolving operational challenges are associated with recent trends in 1,4‐dioxane pretreatment discharge limitations in combination with ongoing process optimization and increased influent flow rate conditions associated with seasonal precipitation patterns. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.