Biological effects monitoring of the North Sea employing fish embryological data

Using the reproductive capacity of fish appears to be a suitable approach for risk assessment in the aquatic environment since fish are a typical representative thereof and in addition they are of considerable societal value. Generally the early embryonic stages are considered to be one of the most sensitive parts of a fish's life cycle. A method has been developed to use the state of health of live, naturally spawned fish embryos from plankton samples for biological effects monitoring. During the years 1985–1987 in the southern North Sea and in 1991–1992 in the whole of the North Sea fish eggs were sampled from surface waters and examined for developmental abnormalities. Elevated embryo malformation rates were detected in the plume of the major rivers Elbe and Rhine as well as along the eastern coast of England. Occurring malformations are thought to be pollution-related and may be used to define areas of environmental deterioration. The method is discussed in view of its suitability for biological effects monitoring using malformations in fish embryos as biomarkers.     

Ivemark syndrome with agenesis of the corpus callosum: a case report with a review of the literature

Asplenia associated with situs ambiguus, symmetric liver, bilateral trilobulated lungs, and a complex heart defect was diagnosed on autopsy in a 14-day-old infant. Furthermore, examination of the brain displayed agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) with pachygyria and hydrocephalus. The characteristic association of asplenia with visceroatrial heterotaxia is traditionally named after the Swedish pediatrician, Ivemark. Although exceptional, association of Ivemark syndrome with callosal agenesis has been reported recently. The concept of ‘developmental fields’ describes morphogenetically reactive units of the embryo determining and controlling the development of complex structures in a hierarchical manner. Lateralization defects such as situs inversus, asplenia or polysplenia due to defective left–right axis development, as well as decussation defects such as ACC, are considered as defects of the primary developmental field. Therefore, additional callosal agenesis in Ivemark syndrome may be a coherent and synchronic defect in the primary developmental field rather than a causally independent malformation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Some pharmacokinetic aspects of PCDDs and PCDFs in mammals after administration of a fly ash extract from a municipal incinerator

Fly ash extracts were fed to male hamster (single dose), male rat (single dose and multiple dose), pregnant and lactating female rat (multiple dose). The retention of four isomers, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PnCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PnCDF, was studied in the liver of the adults, foetuses and liver of the sucklings.

Liver retention was structure dependent and different for both species. Transportation of the isomers via the mother milk was 50–100 times more effective than via the placenta.

After a single intravenous dose of fly ash extract to male rats the elimination of these four isomers was studied in the liver, during a period of 10 days. Elimination rates for 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PnCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PnCDF were in the same range. Pharmacokinetic calculations were done on both tetra congeners, to obtain information about the validity of the published K_e values in the multiple dose experiments with male rats.

For 2,3,7,8-TCDF the K_e value was applicable, but for 2,3,7,8-TCDD the validity of the K_e could not be determined.     

Local stakeholders' acceptance of model-generated data used as a communication tool in water management: The Rönneå Study

The objective of this study was to increase the knowledge of local stakeholders' acceptance of model-generated data when used as a communication tool in water quality management. The R?nne? catchment in the southwest of Sweden was chosen as the study area. The results indicate the model-generated data served as a uniting factor. Simultaneously, the stakeholders were concerned with presented data, the main problems being sources of pollution, which were not accounted for, lack of trustworthiness when measuring pollution, and the uncertainty of the impact of natural variation and delayed effects. Four clusters of factors were identified as influencing stakeholders' acceptance of the model-generated data: confidence in its practical applications, confidence in the people involved in or providing material for the dialog (such as experts, decision-makers, and media), the social characteristics of the participants (such as age and profession), and the way of communicating the data (such as tone of communication, group composition, duration, and geographical scope of the dialog). The perception of the fairness of the practical application of given model-generated data was also an important factor for acceptance.     

Discussion of methods of investigating the food of fishes,with reference to a preliminary study of the prey of Gobiusculus flavescens (Gobiidae)

The validity, reliability and practicability of different methods for the investigation of stomach contents of a small, plankton-eating fish are discussed. Tests demonstrated the problems related to mass and volume measurements of planktonic food. Several nutrition indices, particularly Hynes's frequency of occurrence are criticized. A logarithmic version of Shorigin's index is proposed as a replacement for Ivlev's food selection index. A preliminary study on the food of Gobiusculus flavescens (Fabricius), sampled in July, 1975 at Helgoland, provides some numerical information on the composition of its stomach contents and food preference.