Photosynthetic rates of benthic marine algae in relation to light intensity and seasonal variations

The effect of light intensity on rate of photosynthesis was measured at irregular intervals over a 12-month period for 22 benthic marine algae in the western Baltic Sea. In most species photosynthesis (mg O₂·g dry weight^-1·h^-1) was highest in spring and summer, corresponding to the seasonal growth pattern of the algae. In winter all the species showed adaptation of the light compensation point. Highest productivity was shown by algae which are: short-lived annual species rather than perennials, eulittoral rather than sublittoral, and which possess sheet-like or filamentous thalli rather than coarsely branched forms. These factors are clearly inter-related.This research was carried out while one of us (R.J.K.) was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the University of Kiel, and is part of the programme Sonderforschungsbereich 95, Wechselwirkung Meer-Meeresboden, Universität Kiel.     

Determination photostability of selected agrochemicals in water and soil.

The photolysis of selected pesticides in aqueous solutions has been investigated. The photolysis produced different intermediate substances, which were also found to be soil and microbial degradation products. The phototransformation in the presence of TiO2 and humic substances leads to a disappearance of these compounds. The reaction rate is dependent on the semiconductor oxide and concentration. Photoproducts were isolated and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. Results from this study indicate that degradation products of isoproturon are more toxic on Daphnia magna than on the parent compound.     

Partitioning of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) to semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD)

Background, aim, and scope  

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) are widely used substances that were detected even in remote regions of the world. For the determination of FTOH in the atmosphere, appropriate sampling techniques are needed. In this study, triolein-filled low-density polyethylene tubes were used as semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) and tested for their suitability as passive air samplers for FTOH.     

Novel sampling methods for atmospheric semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) in a high altitude alpine environment

High- and low-volume active air samplers as well as bulk deposition samplers were developed to sample atmospheric SOCs under the adverse conditions of a mountain environment. Active sampling employed separate filters for different European source regions. Filters were switched depending on daily trajectory forecasts, whose accuracy was evaluated post hoc. The sampling continued on three alpine summits over five periods of four months. The prevailing trajectories varied stronger between sampling periods than between stations. The sampling equipment (active and bulk deposition) proved dependable for operation in a mountain environment, with idle times being mainly due to non-routine manipulations and connectivity.     

Vertical distribution of organochlorine pesticides in humus along Alpine altitudinal profiles in relation to ambiental parameters

In forest soils along vertical profiles located in different parts of the Alps, concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin and mirex, were measured. Though local characteristics of the sites are influenced by numerous factors like orographic and meteorological parameters, forest stand characteristics and humus parameters, we ascertained a marked vertical increase of concentrations of some organochlorine compounds in the soil. On the basis of climatological values of each site, we found that the contamination increase with altitude can be ascribed to a certain ‘cold condensation effect’. In addition, the perennial atmospheric deposition of POPs is controlled by precipitation. Other key parameters explaining the accumulation of POPs are the soil organic carbon stocks, the turnover times, the re-volatilisation and degradation processes, which vary with altitude.     

Hair-biomonitoring of organic pollutants

This report reviews past research on hair analysis development for organic contaminants from the point of view of analytical procedures, successful applications and their limitations. For the past 20 years, hair analysis for organic pollutants has received more and more attention, since it is non-invasive, easily available and ethically not prioritized. New methods such as SFE, SPME and INAA have been developed to make the analysis more accurate and reliable. Furthermore, the correlation of contamination levels between hair samples and ambient air or internal tissues has been found by hair analysis and short-term and long-term exposure assessment in combination. However, there are still some limitations of hair analysis to be a validated risk assessment tool for many compounds. Some limitations had been of the past, some have not been fully investigated and need still further study. In this way, hair analysis can be the key to successfully biomonitor organic contaminations.     

From mother to child: investigation of prenatal and postnatal exposure to persistent bioaccumulating toxicants using breast milk and placenta biomonitoring

The exposure levels of placenta and paired breast milk samples to selected organochlorine compounds and pesticides from Danish and Finnish samples have been investigated. p,p'-DDE is the dominant pollutant, beta-HCH, hexachlorobenzene, endosulfan-I, dieldrin, oxychlordane, cis-heptachlor epoxide and p,p'-DDT being the other major constituents. Their concentrations are linearly correlated between milk and placenta in similar patterns for Danish and Finnish samples. Milk samples have higher levels of these pollutants than placenta on lipid base. However, the apparently not correlated compounds, such as alpha-HCH, pentachlorobenzene, pentachloroanisole and methoxychlor, are generally accumulated more in placenta, which may suggest a tissue specific metabolic activity. Thus, depending on the compound of interest, biomonitoring may be done in placenta only or in both matrices.