Zoning of Landscapes Exposed to Technogenic Emissions from the Norilsk Mining and Smelting Works

In this study, we have analyzed the degradation of pretundra forests and distinguished the levels of pollution using ground-based and remote-sensing data. The study region is located in the area exposed to emissions from the Norilsk Mining and Smelting Works. The main components of emissions are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and heavy metals. Currently, the zone of damaged forests extends for more than 200 km. The comparison of the zones of degradation of pretundra vegetation distinguished in satellite images with the results of ground-based observations yielded high similarity coefficients (0.73–0.83) of the Kappa statistics. The zones of vegetation state were classified by NDVI values. The images from the NOAA/AVHRR satellite may be used for delimiting the zones of vegetation degradation by the proposed method.     

用疣荔枝螺性畸变监测海洋有机锡污染的方法初探

选取我国沿海广泛分布的疣荔枝螺为海洋有机锡污染的指示种 ,对疣荔枝螺性畸变的调查方法、分析方法和性畸变程度评价指标等作了初步探讨 ,并以厦门港疣荔枝螺性畸变的调查结果为例讨论了疣荔枝螺性畸变在海洋有机锡污染生物监测中的具体应用 ,以期建立我国海洋有机锡污染的生物监测体系。     

In situ monitoring of urban air in Córdoba, Argentina using the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay

During the last decades, a significant deterioration of ambient air quality has been observed in Argentina. However, the availability of air pollution monitoring stations is still limited to only few cities. In this study, we investigated the genotoxicity of ambient levels of air pollution in Córdoba using the Tradescantia micronucleus assay. The experiment was performed from October, 2004 to April 2005. Pots with Tradescantia pallida were placed in three sites: Córdoba city center, characterized by important avenues with high traffic activity (cars, taxis, and public transport vehicles); the university campus, along a side road with heavy traffic of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles, buses and trucks; and a residential area, with no significant local sources of air pollution. Twenty young T. pallida inflorescences were collected from each sampling site in November, February and April. Micronuclei frequencies were determined in early tetrads of pollen mother cells and expressed as MCN/100 tetrads. Simultaneously, the environmental levels of total suspended particles (24 h mean) were determined for each site. A significant difference in micronuclei frequency was observed among sites (p=0.036). Post-hoc analysis revealed that the residential area exhibited a lower micronuclei frequency than the university and city center areas. In conclusion, we found that the gradients of ambient air pollution of Córdoba are associated with changes in the spontaneous micronuclei frequency of Tradescantia pollen mother cells. These results indicate that in situ biomonitoring with higher plants may be useful for characterizing air pollution in areas without instrumental monitoring techniques, or for exploring the distribution of air contaminants at a microscale.     

Fate and distribution of fipronil on companion animals and in their indoor residences following spot-on flea treatments

Use of fipronil {5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile CAS 120068–37-3} topical pet products on dogs and cats introduces low level residues into residences. Distribution and fate studies of fipronil on pets and in residences were performed to evaluate potential determinants of human exposure. Fipronil, desulfinyl fipronil, fipronil sulfone and fipronil sulfide were measured on hair clippings and brushed hair. The derivatives usually represented <10% of fipronil applied. Cotton gloves worn over impervious nitrile gloves, cotton cloths placed indoors in locations frequented by pets, and cotton socks worn by residents as direct dosimeters collected fipronil and its derivatives listed above in low amounts during 4-week study periods. Subsequent acid hydrolysis urine biomonitoring did not reveal significant excretion of biomarkers at ppb levels. The human exposure potential of fipronil is low relative to levels of health concern.     

斑马鱼群体行为变化用于水质在线预警的研究

采用计算机摄像跟踪技术,以正常水体中斑马鱼鱼群的行为变化为基础,模拟污染物突发暴露下斑马鱼鱼群游动行为(速度和高度)、通讯行为(平均距离和分散度)和区域分布(不同区域停留时间)的变化规律.结果表明:在氯氰菊酯和溴氰菊酯联合突发暴露下,斑马鱼表现出慌乱不安的过度活跃,游动速度在暴露前30 min内持续增大,变化区间由暴露前30～60 mm·s-1增至60～85 mm·s-1,而后又迅速下降至20mm·s-1左右.高度的变化稍微滞后于速度的突变,在暴露12 min后才明显增高.持续的污染物暴露和其对鱼的毒性作用也破坏了鱼群原有的通讯和分布规律,平均距离和分散度分别增大43.5%和120.0%,且鱼群在浓度相对较低、接近水面的出水口附近的停留时间明显增加.与传统的以个体鱼和单一行为反应为监测对象的方式相比,基于斑马鱼群体行为变化用于水质在线预警系统能够获得更加全面、有效的信息,是预警水质突变的可靠手段.     

Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) B.S.G. and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. as trace element bioindicators: Statistical comparison of bioaccumulative properties

The principal objective of this study was to compare bioaccumulative properties of two terrestrial moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi from the Kielce area (south-central Poland), using various statistical techniques. Forty-six moss samples from 23 sampling sites located within the city limits were analyzed for 33 trace elements. The results indicated that 17 elements (Ba, Ce, Co, Cu, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hg, La, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Sm, V, Y) dominated in H. splendens, whereas only three elements (Mn, Sr, Zn) occurred in excessive amounts in P. schreberi. No differences in the distribution pattern of Dy, Er, Ho, Sn, Tb, Th and Yb were observed. The element concentration ratio (PI/Hy) varied from 0.50 to 1.19. For 14 elements (Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, Gd, Hg, La, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Sm, Th, V), PI/Hy < 1; for 4 elements (Cd, Mn, Sr, Zn), PI/Hy > 1; for 7 elements (Ba, Dy, Er, Eu, Pr, Y, Yb), PI/Hy = equalled 1. Czekanowski’s method showed similarities in rare earth element concentrations for both moss species. The cluster analysis exhibited three significant clusters at D link /D max × 100 < 50 for both moss species. Strong positive Spearman correlations between both moss species were recorded for the following pairs:Ba-Ba, Co-Co, Er-Er, Eu-Eu, Gd Gd, Mn-Mn, Ni-Ni, Pb-Pb, Pr-Pr, Sm-Sm, Th-Th, Y-Y, and Yb-Yb. Nonparametric tests (Sign test, Wilcoxon tests) showed statistically significant differences only for Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb and Sr. The scanning electron microscope study of H. splendens and P. schreberi revealed a different morphology of these species with no injuries.     

Visual Assessment of Foliar Injury Induced by Ozone on Indicator Tobacco Plants: A Data Quality Evaluation

A group of 50 inexperienced scorers were asked to estimate –using standard reference photos – foliar injury induced by the gas pollutant ozone on the supersensitive indicator planttobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cv. Bel-W3. Theaverage accuracy level was 56.1% (95.9% when theclasses nearest to the reality were also consideredcorrect) and the average repeatability was 65.4%. Theextreme classes were easily scored. Central classesproved to be more difficult to be evaluated: this maydepend on the fact that two leaves may have similaractual total injured area, but substantially differentnumbers and spatial distribution of the lesions. Insome cases we observed a prevalence of overestimationerrors in the high classes and underestimation in thelow classes: this is in contradiction with theWeber-Fechner law. It is noteworthy the very shorttime required by operators to score, regardless of the results.     

污染水体的总抗氧化能力生物标志物研究

以无污染饲养鲫鱼为监测生物,采取主动生物监测法(ABM)对太湖北部梅梁湖与贡湖污染区进行生物监测,并分析各监测点常规水质指标及表层沉积物中多环芳烃(PAHs)、多氯联苯(PCBs)、有机氯农药(OCPs)与重金属含量,同时定期(7,14,2,28d)采集生物样,分析鲫鱼大脑组织及肌肉组织中总抗氧化能力(TAOC)活性.结果表明,鲫鱼脑组织TAOC活性比肌肉组织TAOC活性值高出约4倍,并且对污染物协迫反应敏感.实验第14d开始,脑组织TAOC呈显著诱导效应(P<0.05),最大值出现在PCBs污染严重的梅梁湖4号站点,相比参照点活性增加62.19%.其次是重金属污染严重的梅梁湖3号监测点,而污染最小的贡湖1号监测点TAOC变化较小.肌肉组织中TAOC对污染物反应不敏感,不适合作微污染区生物标志物.     

Lifestyle and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human milk in the United States: A pilot study

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are a class of brominated flame retardants with some congeners having the ability to accumulate in body lipids. The incorporation of PBDE in consumer products found primarily in the indoor environment suggests that routes of exposure include inhalation of indoor air and contact with indoor dust. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that lifestyle factors, and in particular the proximity and use of products likely to contain PBDE in the indoor environment, are primarily responsible for levels of PBDE found in human milk. Human milk samples were taken from two populations of lactating women in the same geographic region of the United States: one “typical” of US suburban lifestyle, and the other practicing a traditional Amish lifestyle, which excludes many modern amenities containing PBDE, such as computers and televisions. For a subset of the cohort, persistent organic pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were also measured in human milk samples. Despite the small number of participants, there is evidence suggestive of Amish women having lower PBDE concentrations in their milk. In addition, the nonsignificant differences in levels of PCBs and pesticides between the two groups of women as compared to the significant differences in levels of PBDE suggest an important route of exposure for PBDE other than diet. Information prepared for study participants is provided to initiate a dialogue on how to best communicate biomonitoring findings to study participants and to the public in general.     

Introduction of the land snail Cornu aspersum as a bioindicator organism of terrestrial pollution with the use of a suite of biomarkers

The use of organisms in biomonitoring studies allows the determination of the pollution levels, the assessment of the quality of the enviroment and the study of toxic effects of pollutants on the organisms. By studying the responses (biomarkers) of organisms, it is possible to assess the exposure and effects of pollutants. Land gastropods are widely used in relevant studies as they possess several characteristics that make them ideal for use as bioindicators. In the present study we sought to evaluate several biomarkers in the laboratory using snails of the species Cornu aspersum after the exposure to heavy metals (Cd, Hg) and a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (anthracene, phenanthrene and naphthalene). The biomarkers studied were the following: lysosomic membrane stability using the neutral red retention assay (NRR), the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using the compound DCFH-DA and flow cytometry, lipid peroxidation using the TBARs assay that measures the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonylation (–CO) using ELISA, and single strand breaks of DNA using the comet assay. Our results show significant differences in the responses between the control group and the groups that were exposed to pollutans, enhancing the role of Cornu aspersum as a promising bioindicator organism in terrestrial pollution studies with the use of the biomarkers applied.