Effect of UV-B exposure on eggs and embryos of patagonian anurans and evidence of photoprotection

In Patagonia, enhanced levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are affecting not only the southernmost territories but the northern as well, and there is a growing body of evidence indicating effects on terrestrial and aquatic communities. Anurans occur along a wide geographical gradient in Patagonia and are common in shallow waters, usually breeding during spring when seasonal UV-B radiation is at its highest level. In this paper we analyse the effective irradiances (I) experienced in nature by eggs and embryos of the patagonian anurans Pleurodema bufoninum, Pleurodema thaul and Bufo spinulosus papillosus, considering water and egg jelly optical properties. Besides, we determine photoprotective pigments in eggs and embryos of the different species, and ontogenetic shifts in pigment concentration. Finally, we studied the effects of natural and enhanced levels of UV-B on eggs of P. bufoninum aiming to evaluate the role of the jelly envelope in screening the damaging radiation. The evidence gathered in this work shows that natural and enhanced UV-B levels did not induce significant changes on the survivorship but incremented the occurrence of malformations. Also, the species experiencing high levels of exposure presented high concentrations of melanin suggesting that exposure to sunlight triggers photoprotection by pigments. Collectively our results suggest that the studied species bear certain levels of adaptation to cope with high ambient UVR conferred by environmental and biological factors.     

Estrogenic and dioxin-like compounds in sediment from Zierikzee harbour identified with CALUX assay-directed fractionation combined with one and two dimensional gas chromatography analyses

The identity of compounds responsible for estrogenic and dioxin-like activities in sediment from the harbour of the small town Zierikzee in Zeeland, The Netherlands, was investigated using a bioassay directed fractionation approach with the in vitro estrogen and dioxin responsive reporter gene assays ER- and DR-CALUX. For identification of compounds exhibiting activity in the bioassays, either one or two-dimensional GC in combination with quadrupole (MSD), ion trap (ITD) or time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (ToF-MS) was used, depending on the biological and chemical characteristics and the complexity of the fractions. The natural estrogenic hormone 17-β-estradiol and its metabolite estrone were identified with GC–ITD as the main contributors to the estrogenic activity. After successive rounds of fractionation, the dioxin-like activity could be explained by the presence of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons identified with GC–MSD and two-dimensional comprehensive GC × GC–ToF-MS. Some estrogenic activity of a relatively non-polar nature remained unidentified.     

Induction of host specificity in larvae of Manduca sexta: chemical dependence controlling host recognition and developmental rate

Summary. The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is a specialist on Solanaceae. This host specificity is induced as the larva feeds on solanaceous foliage, so that solanaceous-reared larvae will refuse to feed on other plants. Experiments were designed to determine the role of dietary constituents on the induction of host specificity and the effects of these on development of M. sexta. Choice assays using leaf discs of cowpea, Vigna sinensis (Fabaceae), were used to monitor the isolation of relevant chemical cues from foliage of potato. An aqueous extract of potato foliage strongly stimulated feeding. This extract was partitioned with n-butanol under alkaline conditions to obtain a highly active butanol extract. Reversed phase flash chromatography with a water-methanol gradient gave an active fraction that was used as a supplement for wheat germ-based artificial diet. Larvae reared on this s-diet became dependent on potato allelochemicals for initiation and continuation of feeding activity. These larvae also developed faster than larvae reared on the control p-diet, but no effect on adult mass was detected. Further flash chromatography of the active fraction under alkaline conditions provided a highly active sub-fraction, and semi-preparative HPLC using gradients of water and acetonitrile resulted in the isolation of a single compound. Bioassays indicated that this compound alone can account for host recognition by solanaceous-reared larvae. The results suggest that the mechanism of induced host specificity in M. sexta involves development of dependence on this compound. Received 21 December 1999; accepted 14 March 2000     

Analytical improvements of hybrid LC-MS/MS techniques for the efficient evaluation of emerging contaminants in river waters: a case study of the Henares River (Madrid, Spain)

Purpose  

Instrumental capabilities and software tools of modern hybrid mass spectrometry (MS) instruments such as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF), and quadrupole linear ion trap (QLIT) were experimentally investigated for the study of emerging contaminants in Henares River water samples.     

Levels and trends of industrial chemicals (PCBs, PFCs, PBDEs) in archived herring gull eggs from German coastal regions

Background

Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], perfluorinated compounds, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs] were retrospectively analyzed in archived herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs from the North and the Baltic Sea over the last 20 years. The aim was to assess temporal trends and effects of regulatory measures.

Results

PCBs (sum of 7 congeners) were highest in eggs from the North Sea island Trischen, i.e., 3,710 to 20,760 ng/g lipid weight [lw] compared to 2,530 to 11,650 ng/g lw on the North Sea island Mellum and 4,840 to 9,190 ng/g lw on the Baltic Sea island Heuwiese. During the study period, PCBs decreased significantly. Concentrations of PFOS ranged between 46 and 170 ng/g wet weight [ww] at Trischen, 39 to 99 ng/g ww at Mellum, and 20 to 159 ng/g ww at Heuwiese. Since 2000 and 2003, concentration levels decreased in eggs from Mellum and Heuwiese, respectively. Perfluorooctanoic acid was the dominant perfluorinated carboxylic acid in the North Sea eggs (Trischen 2.0 to 74 ng/g ww; Mellum 2.6 to 118 ng/g ww), whereas perfluoroundecanoate [PFUnA] and perfluorodecanoate [PFDA] (means 3.9 ± 3.6 ng/g and 2.9 ± 2.3 ng/g ww, respectively) dominated in the Baltic Sea eggs. At all three locations, longer-chained perfluorinated carboxylic acids (perfluorononanoate, PFDA, PFUnA, perfluorododecanoate) increased during the monitoring period. PBDE concentrations (sum of 35 congeners) in eggs were in the ranges of 282 to 2,059 ng/g lw (Mellum), 116 to 1,722 ng/g (Trischen), and 232 to 2,021 ng/g lw (Heuwiese). Congeners associated with commercial Penta- and Octa-BDE formulations decreased during the study period. No decrease was observed for technical Deca-BDE.

Conclusion

Effects of regulatory measures were apparent for PCBs and Penta- and Octa-BDE, while no consistent trend is noticeable for PFOS.     

Ability of O-anisate degrading microorganisms to come tabolize dicamba and other related herbicides

O-anisate degrading microorganisms were isolated from soil samples and identified. 80, 24, 64 and 64% of the isolates showed cometabolism to the herbicides dicamba, 2, 3, 6-TBA, 2, 4-D and MCPA, respectively.     

Natural materials for treatment of industrial effluents: comparative study of the retention of Cd, Zn and Co by calcite and hydroxyapatite. Part I: batch experiments

This work explores the heavy metal retention capacity of materials developed from minerals that are abundant in nature, with low cost and minimum environmental impact. To accomplish this objective we have: (a) characterized commercial samples of calcite (CA) and hydroxyapatite (HAP)--including their surface properties (BET area, electrophoretic mobility, SEM, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy); and, (b) qualified and quantified the interaction of Cd, Zn and Co with calcite (CaCO3) and hydroxyapatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] through batch experiments, in a range of metal concentrations (4Zn>Co and Cd>Zn approximately Co, respectively. Retention increased with pCa and pH and could be modeled by: (a) a non-ideal ion exchange mechanism (Me/Ca) for the adsorption of Cd, Zn and Co onto CA; and, (b) a mechanism of non-ideal ion exchange and specific adsorption (Me/Ca and identical with PO4O-Me) in the case of HAP. The pH dependence is indirect in CA and is related to its solubility changes (pCa increases with pH, and so does sorption of Cd, Zn and Co). Both materials, HAP and CA, can be used for heavy metal retention. The former has better performance for water treatment due to its greater efficiency for the retention of Cd, Zn and Co (over two orders of magnitude per gram of material) and its lower solubility in a wide range of pH (6相似文献   

From the traditional concept of safety management to safety integrated with quality

This editorial reviews the evolution of the concepts of safety and quality that have been used in the traditional workplace. The traditional programs of safety are explored showing strengths and weaknesses. The concept of quality management is also viewed. Safety management and quality management principles, stages, and measurement are highlighted. The concepts of quality and safety guarantee are assessed. Total Quality Management concepts are reviewed and applied to safety quality. Total safety management principles are discussed. Finally, an analysis of the relationship between quality and safety from data collected from a company in Spain is presented.     

Organisational behaviour and strategies in the adoption of certified management systems: an analysis of the Spanish hotel industry

While the literature over the last ten years has dealt with the implementation of quality, environmental and other management systems in terms of the interest aroused and results obtained, little has been written about organisational behaviour and the extent to which such standards have been adopted in the service sector. The present article explores these variables in the hotel industry, based on information collected from 403 hotels. The empirical analysis conducted evinces significant differences in behaviour and penetration between the service and manufacturing sectors, as well as between the implementation of management systems and the introduction of other business practices in the hotel industry. The results shed light on the importance of implementing certified management systems for conducting the hotel business.