PM2.5 and PM10: The influence of sugarcane burning on potential cancer risk

In Brazil, sugarcane fields are often burned to facilitate manual harvesting, and this burning causes environmental pollution from the large amounts of soot released into the atmosphere. This material contains numerous organic compounds such as PAHs. In this study, the concentrations of PAHs in two particulate-matter fractions (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in the city of Araraquara (SE Brazil, with around 200,000 inhabitants and surrounded by sugarcane plantations) were determined during the sugarcane harvest (HV) and non-harvest (NHV) seasons in 2008 and 2009. The sampling strategy included four campaigns, with 60 samples in the NHV season and 220 samples in the HV season. The PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ fractions were collected using a dichotomous sampler (10 L min^?1, 24 h) with Teflon? filters. The filter sets were extracted (ultrasonic bath with hexane/acetone (1:1 v/v)) and analyzed by HPLC/Fluorescence. The median concentration for total PAHs (PM_2.5 in 2009) was 0.99 ng m^?3 (NHV) and 3.3 ng m^?3 (HV). In the HV season, the total concentration of carcinogenic PAHs (benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) was 5 times higher than in the NHV season. B(a)P median concentrations were 0.017 ng m^?3 and 0.12 ng m^?3 for the NHV and HV seasons, respectively. The potential cancer risk associated with exposure through inhalation of these compounds was estimated based on the benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalence (BaP_eq), where the overall toxicity of a PAH mixture is defined by the concentration of each compound multiplied by its relative toxic equivalence factor (TEF). BaP_eq median (2008 and 2009 years) ranged between 0.65 and 1.0 ng m^?3 and 1.2–1.4 ng m^?3 for the NHV and HV seasons, respectively. Considering that the maximum permissible BaP_eq in ambient air is 1 ng m^?3, related to the increased carcinogenic risk, our data suggest that the level of human exposure to PAHs in cities surrounded by sugarcane crops where the burning process is used is cause for concern.     

The relationship between whole effluent toxicity (WET) and chemical-based effluent quality assessment in Vojvodina (Serbia)

The relationship between whole effluent toxicity (WET) and chemical-based effluent quality assessment across a range of effluent types was examined for the first time in Serbia. WET was determined by Daphnia magna acute tests, while chemical-based toxicity was taken as theoretical for concentrations of priority chemicals and effluent quality assessment based on the valid Serbian regulations. A poor correlation was found between WET and chemical-based effluent quality assessment: positive toxicity tests were found, in general, in cases where samples satisfied the requirements of mandatory effluent monitoring. Statistically insignificant correlation between the predicted and observed toxicity indicated that the presence of priority substances accounted to the overall toxicity only to a certain degree, most probably due to a rather short list of priority pollutants regularly analysed in effluents. Current monitoring requirements neglect hazards that derive from potentially present toxicants and unpredictable toxicity of complex mixtures, which led to poor correlation between the WET and chemical-based results in this study.     

Four years of continuous monitoring of the Meirama end-pit lake and its impact in the definition of future uses

Following the technical closure of the brown lignite Meirama mine (NW Spain) in April 2008, the reclamation of the mined area is being accomplished with the controlled flooding of its large pit. During the first 7 months of flooding, the sequential arrest of the ground water dewatering system led to the growth of an acidic water body of about 2 hm³. Since October 2008, the surface waters from some local streams have been diverted towards the pit so that these have become the major water input in the flooding process. Surface water has promoted a major change in the chemical composition of the lake water so that, at present, its surface has a circum neutral pH, net alkalinity, and low conductivity. At present, the lake has slightly more than one half of its final volume, and it is expected the overflow in 3 to 3.5 years. The lake is meromictic, with a sharp chemocline separating the acidic monimolimnion (pH?≈?3.2, acidity?≈?150 mg CaCO₃/L, κ ₂₅?≈?2.4 mS/cm) from the main water body (pH?≈?6.5, alkalinity?≈?15 mg CaCO₃/L, κ ₂₅?≈?0.3 mS/cm). Oxygen is being depleted at the bottom of the lake so that the monimolimnion became anoxic in January 2011. Above the chemocline, the composition of the lake is similar, but not identical, to that of the flooding stream waters. Close to the surface, some constituents (pH, metals) show strong seasonal variations in coincidence with the phytoplankton growing periods. Those parameters whose limits are legally prescribed comply with the corresponding water quality standards, and they are also consistent with the forecasting results obtained in early modeling. At present, a project considering the construction of an uptake tunnel to exploit the lake is being developed for the emergency water supply of the metropolitan area of A Coruña.     

Long-Term Changes in Game Species Over a Long Period of Transformation in the Iberian Mediterranean Landscape

Agricultural change has transformed large areas of traditional farming landscapes, leading to important changes in the species community assemblages in most European countries. We suspect that the drastic changes in land-use that have occurred in Andalusia (southern Spain) over recent decades, may have affected the distribution and abundance of game species in this region. This article compares the distribution of the main game species in Andalusia during the 1960s and 1990s, using data from maps available from the Mainland Spanish Fish, Game and National Parks Service and from recent datasets on hunting yield distributions, respectively. Big-game and small-game species were significantly segregated in southern Spain during the 1990s, as two clearly independent chorotypes (groups of species whose abundances are similarly distributed) were obtained from the classification analysis. In contrast, big-game and small-game species were not significantly segregated several decades ago, when there was only one chorotype consisting of small-game species and wild boar. The other three ungulates did not constitute a significant chorotype, as they showed positive correlations with some species in the group mentioned above. These changes seem to be a consequence of the transformations that have occurred in the Iberian Mediterranean landscape over the last few decades. The abandoning of traditional activities, and the consequent formation of dense scrubland and woodland, has led to an expansion of big-game species, and a decrease of small-game species in mountain areas. Moreover, agricultural intensification has apparently depleted small-game species populations in some agricultural areas. On the other hand, the increasingly intensive hunting management could be artificially boosting this segregation between small-game and big-game species. Our results suggest that the conservation and regeneration of traditional agricultural landscapes (like those predominating in the 1960s) should be a priority for the conservation of small-game species.     

Use of the Light Absorption Coefficient to Monitor Elemental Carbon and PM2.5—Example of Santiago de Chile

Abstract

The optical absorption coefficient, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm, and elemental carbon (EC) have been measured simultaneously during winter and spring of 2000 in the western part of Santiago, Chile (Pudahuel district). The optical measurements were carried out with a low-cost instrument recently developed at the University of Santiago. From the data, a site-specific mass absorption coefficient of 4.45 ± 0.01 m²/g has been found for EC. In addition, a mass absorption coefficient of 1.02 ± 0.03 m²/g has been obtained for PM_2.5. These coefficients can be used during the colder months (May-August) to obtain EC concentration or PM_2.5 from a measurement of the light absorption coefficient (σ_a). The high correlation that has been found between these variables indicates that σ_a is a good indicator of the degree of contamination of urbanized areas.

The data also show an increase in PM_2.5 and EC concentration during winter and an increase in the ratio of EC to PM_2.5. When the EC/PM_2.5 ratio is calculated during rush hour (7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) and during part of the night (9:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.), it is found that the increase is caused by higher concentration levels of EC at night. These results suggest that the rise in the EC concentration is caused by emissions from heating and air mass transport of pollution from other parts of the city, while traffic contribution remains approximately constant.     

Genotoxicity of sediment extracts of the Berre lagoon (France)

To evaluate the genotoxic risk that contaminated sediment could constitute for benthic organisms, three contaminated (VA, VC and VN) and one uncontaminated (RN) sediment samples were collected in the Berre lagoon (France). Potentially bioavailable contaminants in sediments were obtained using sediment extraction with synthetic seawater adjusted to pH 4 or pH 6, simulating the range of pH prevailing in the digestive tract of benthic organisms. The genotoxic activities of these extracts were evaluated by three short-term bioassays: the Salmonella mutagenicity test using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA102, the alkaline comet assay and the micronucleus assay on the Chinese Hamster Ovary cells CHO-K1. Results of the Salmonella mutagenicity assay detected a mutagenic response for RN extract at pH 6, and for VA extract at pH 4. Results of the comet and micronucleus assays detected low genotoxic/clastogenic activities for VA and VC extracts at pH 6 and higher activities for RN, VA and VC extracts at pH 4. To identify if metals (Al, Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were involved in these genotoxic activities, their concentrations were determined in the extracts, and their speciation was assessed by thermodynamic calculations. Results showed that extracts from sites VA, VC and VN generally presented the highest trace metal contents for both extractants, while the site RN presented lower trace metal contents but the highest Fe and Mn contents. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that Fe, Mn, As and in a lower extend Co, Ni and Zn were mainly present under free forms in extracts, and were consequently, more likely able to induce a genotoxic effect. Results globally showed no correspondence between free metal contents and genotoxic activities. They suggested that these positive results could be due to uncharacterized compounds, acting as direct genotoxic agents or enhancing the genotoxic properties of analyzed metals.     

Immunosuppression in the infaunal bivalve Scrobicularia plana environmentally exposed to mercury and association with its accumulation

This study aimed to test the hypothesis whether mercury (Hg) activates or suppresses inappropriately the immunity of the bivalve Scrobicularia plana inhabiting a Hg contaminated area (Laranjo basin, Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Immunity endpoints, as well as lipid peroxidation (LPO) as a sign of damage, were evaluated in parallel with total Hg burden. Bivalves from both moderately (MO) and highly (HI) contaminated sites displayed higher haemolymph Hg load and reduced plasma agglutination. Increased haemocytes density and decreased phagocytosis were observed at HI, whereas increased oxidative burst activity (OBA) was observed at MO, pointing out that the immunotoxicity is a result of Hg direct contact involving no ROS intervention. OBA observed at MO was concomitantly associated to peroxidative damage as depicted by LPO increase in haemocytes and haemolymph plasma. Thus, S. plana can be suggested as a suitable bioindicator of metal pollution in coastal areas on the basis of Hg bioaccumulation and immunotoxicity responses.     

Long-term effect of temperature on bioaccumulation of dietary metals and metallothionein induction in Sparus aurata

Previous studies have demonstrated that the commercial feed of aquacultured fish contains trace amounts of toxic and essential metals which can accumulate in tissues and finally be ingested by consumers. Recently rising temperatures, associated to the global warming phenomenon, have been reported as a factor to be taken into consideration in ecotoxicology, since temperature-dependent alterations in bioavailability, toxicokinetics and biotransformation rates can be expected. Sparus aurata were kept at 22 °C, 27 °C and 30 °C for 3 months in order to determine the temperature effect on metallothionein induction and metal bioaccumulation from a non-experimentally contaminated commercial feed. A significant temperature-dependent accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and iron (Fe) was found in liver, together with that of manganese (Mn), Fe and Zn in muscle. Hg presented the highest bioaccumulation factor, and essential metal homeostasis was disturbed in both tissues at warm temperatures. An enhancement of hepatic metallothionein induction was found in fish exposed to the highest temperature.