True trisomy 15 mosaicism,detected by amniocentesis at 12 weeks of gestation and fetal echocardiography

A case of mosaicism of trisomy 15, with two-thirds of the cells trisomic, was detected at 12 weeks of gestation in amniotic fluid cell cultures obtained with the filtration technique. Ultrasound examination at 13 weeks showed a nodule protruding into the amniotic cavity which was speculated to be remnants of a co-twin, causing the trisomic cell line. At 20 weeks of gestation, a malformation scan (level III) was normal, but supplementary fetal echocardiography revealed a severe cardiac defect (mitral atresia and a ventricular septal defect). Fetal lymphocytes obtained by cordocentesis showed trisomy 15 mosaicism, but only in 5 per cent of the mitoses. After termination, the same percentage of trisomy 15 mosaicism was found in cells from skin and tendon as in the original early amniocentesis. No sign of earlier twinning was found in the placenta or membranes. We conclude that mosaicism in early amniotic fluid obtained by the filter technique in this case reflected the true karyotype accurately and that supplementary echocardiography added significantly to the interpretation of the clinical implications.     

Fetal presentation of morquio disease type A

A fetus with mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A (Morquio type A) is described. The family had one affected child exhibiting symptoms of classical Morquio A disease, and late in the subsequent pregnancy prenatal diagnosis was requested. At 23 weeks' gestation, moderate ascites was detected by detailed ultrasound scan and keratan sulphate was found in the amniotic fluid. The pregnancy was terminated by prostaglandin induction and the diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A was confirmed by demonstration of a deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulphate (GalNac-6-S) sulphatase in cultured amniotic cells and in post-mortem fibroblast cultures. The activities of β-galactosidase and arylsulphatase A were normal, ruling out Morquio disease type B and multiple sulphatase deficiency. These results indicate that mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (a disease that predominantly affects the skeletal system) may produce ascites in the fetus to such an extent that it can be detected by ultrasound.     

The effects of zooplankton swimming behavior on prey-capture kinematics of red drum larvae, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sciaenops ocellatus</Emphasis>

Most marine fishes undergo a pelagic larval phase, the early life history stage that is often associated with a high rate of mortality due to starvation and predation. We present the first study that examines the effects of prey swimming behavior on prey-capture kinematics in marine fish larvae. Using a digital high-speed video camera, we recorded the swimming velocity of zooplankton prey (Artemia franciscana, Brachionus rotundiformis, a ciliate species, and two species of copepods) and the feeding behavior of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae. From the video recordings we measured: (1) zooplankton swimming velocity in the absence of a red drum larva; (2) zooplankton swimming velocity in the presence of a red drum larva; and (3) the excursion and timing of key kinematic events during prey capture in red drum larvae. Two-way ANOVA revealed that: (1) swimming velocity varied among zooplankton prey; and (2) all zooplankton prey, except rotifers and ciliates, increased their swimming velocity in the presence of a red drum larva. The kinematics of prey capture differed between two developmental stages in S. ocellatus larvae. Hyoid-stage larvae (3–14 days old) fed on slow swimming B. rotundiformis (rotifers) while hyoid-opercular stage larvae (15 days and older) ate fast moving A. franciscana. Hyoid-opercular stage red drum larvae had a larger gape, hyoid depression and lower jaw angle, and a longer gape cycle duration relative to their hyoid-stage conspecifics. Interestingly, the feeding repertoire within either stage of red drum development was not affected by prey type. Knowledge of the direct relationship between fish larvae and their prey aids in our understanding of optimal foraging strategies and of the sources of mortality in marine fish larvae.     

Effects of sulfonamide and tetracycline antibiotics on soil microbial activity and microbial biomass

Increasingly often soil residual concentrations of pharmaceutical antibiotics are detected, while their ecotoxic relevance is scarcely known. Thus, dose related effects of two antibiotics, sulfapyridine and oxytetracycline, on microorganisms of two different topsoils were investigated. The fumigation-extracted microbial C (E(C)) and ergosterol were determined to indicate soil microbial and fungal biomass, respectively. Microbial activity was tested as basal respiration (BR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and Fe(III) reduction. The BR and DHA were uninfluenced even at antibiotic concentrations of 1000 microg g(-1). This revealed that an activation of microbial growth through nutrient substrate addition is required to test possible effects of the bacteriostatic antibiotics. In addition, the effects of both antibiotics were time dependent, showing that short-term tests were not suitable. Clear dose-response relations were determined with SIR when the short-term incubation of 4h was extended into the growth phase of the microorganisms (24 and 48 h). The Fe(III) reduction test, with a 7-d incubation, was also found to be suitable for toxicity testing of antibiotics in soils. Effective doses inhibiting the microbial activity by 10% (ED(10)) ranged from total antibiotic concentrations of 0.003-7.35 microg g(-1), depending on the antibiotic compound and its soil adsorption. Effective solution concentrations (EC(10)), calculated from distribution coefficients, ranged from 0.2 to 160 ng g(-1). The antibiotics significantly (p<0.05) reduced numbers of soil bacteria, resulting in dose related shifts in the fungal:bacterial ratio, which increased during 14 d, as determined from analysis of ergosterol and E(C). It was concluded that pharmaceutical antibiotics can exert a temporary selective pressure on soil microorganisms even at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

Concentrations of Synthetic organic chemicals in leachate from a municipal landfill

A study on the concentrations of synthetic organic chemicals in leachate from the municipal landfill of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was conducted from June 1987 through March 1989. The primary objective of this study was to provide information on the concentrations of synthetic organics in leachate from a typical municipal landfill. Leachate analyses yielded the presence of a variety of synthetic organic compounds at wide ranges in concentration. These compounds are potentially dangerous to human health.     

Effect of drying and composting biosolids on the movement of nitrate and phosphate through repacked soil columns under steady-state hydrological conditions

Effects of two "enhanced" treatments (drying and composting mesophilic anaerobically digested (MAD) biosolid) on nutrient leaching were investigated. Repacked sandy or sandy loam textured soil cores amended with fresh, dried and composted MAD biosolid (250 kg N ha(-1)), were investigated under steady-state hydrological conditions. Two 24 h, 4.5 mm h(-1) rainfall events, with a 14-day interval, were simulated using water-tracers. Losses of nitrate from the sandy loam soil during rainfall event 1 (43.9-68.0 mg kg(-1)) were significantly greater (P < or = 0.05) than during event 2 (6.4-11.9 mg kg(-1)). Phosphate losses were significantly greater (P < or = 0.05) during event 2 (up to 0.30 mg kg(-1)) compared to the first (< 0.05 mg kg(-1)). The sand soil showed similar effects. Losses of nitrate-N (percentage of total N applied) from the sand soil were small (around 0.06% for fresh/dried and 0.63% for composted MAD biosolids). Losses of nitrate-N from the sandy loam soil were greater; 4% for fresh and dried and 3% for composted MAD biosolids. This research showed that drying MAD biosolid had little impact on nitrate and phosphate losses from soil compared to fresh MAD biosolid. The effect of composting MAD biosolid on nutrient losses was more variable.     

The impact of a building implosion on airborne particulate matter in an urban community

In response to community concerns, the air quality impact of imploding a 22-story building in east Baltimore, MD, was studied. Time- and space-resolved concentrations of indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM) (nominally 0.5-10 microm) were measured using a portable nephelometer at seven and four locations, respectively. PM10 levels varied in time and space; there was no measurable effect observed upwind of the implosion. The downwind peak PM10 levels varied with distance (54,000-589 microg/m3) exceeding pre-implosion levels for sites 100 and 1130 m 3000- and 20-fold, respectively. Estimated outdoor 24-hr integrated mass concentrations varied from 15 to 72 microg/m3. The implosion did not result in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM10 being exceeded. X-ray fluorescence analysis indicated that the elemental composition was dominated by crustal elements: calcium (57%), silicon (23%), aluminum (7.6%), and iron (6.1%). Lead was above background but at a low level (0.17 microg/m3). Peak PM10 concentrations were short-lived; most sites returned to background within 15 min. No increase in indoor PM10 was observed even at the most proximate 250 m location. These results demonstrate that a building implosion can have a severe but short-lived impact on community air quality. Effective protection is offered by being indoors or upwind.     

Industrial Pollution Prevention

The 1992 A&WMA Critical Review was authored by Harry Freeman and members of his staff at the Pollution Prevention Research Branch, Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Freeman presented the paper "Industrial Pollution Prevention," at the Critical Review session held during the 85th Air & Waste Management Association Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. Prepared discussions and invited comments presented during the session are published here, as well as closing remarks by Mr. Freeman.     

Comparison of levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in edible oils and oil-based products--possible link to environmental factors

Food consumption has been widely reported to be the main source of human exposure to PCBs. A total of 47 samples of food products on sale in supermarkets in the United Kingdom were thus analyzed for PCBs to determine residual levels in oil and oil-based products. The objective was to compare the measured levels of total PCBs (Sigma PCBs) in food products to those reported in various environmental compartments. Combined extraction and online clean up was achieved using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) to recover target analytes for analysis by GC-MSD (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). Sigma PCBs (ng/g) in each product were in the ranges of 4.73-44.38 edible oil; 1.40-6.18 mayonnaise; 1.21-6.25 salad cream; 1.28-5.64 seafood sauce, and 0.97-15.08 exotic dressing. The level of human exposure to PCBs in all products was < 1 microg/kg body weight/day when considering a 70 kg male or 57 kg female, possibly reflecting the reported decline of PCBs in the environment.