Toxicity of the mosquito control insecticide phenothrin to three life stages of the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)

Phenothrin is a synthetic pyrethroid used as a contact insecticide in mosquito control programs. This study compared the toxicity of phenothrin to adult, larval and embryonic grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) and examined oxidative stress responses in adult and larval grass shrimp. The adult 24-h LC50 was 0.341 μg/L (95 % confidence intervals 0.282-0.412) and the 96-h LC50 was 0.161 μg/L (95 % CI 0.128-0.203 μg/L). The larval 24-h LC50 was 0.50 μg/L (95 % CI 0.441-0.568) and the 96-h LC50 was 0.154 μg/L (95 % CI 0.139-0.170 μg/L). In the presence of sediment, the 24-h LC50 was 6.30 μg/L (95 % CI 5.00-7.44 μg/L) for adults and 0.771 μg/L (95 % CI 0.630-0.944) for larvae. The sublethal biomarkers glutathione and lipid peroxidase (LPx) were examined after 96-h phenothrin exposure at five concentrations, and there were no statistically significant differences in these levels in adults or larvae compared to controls. There was a significant downward trend in larval LPx levels. This research confirms that phenothrin is highly toxic to grass shrimp and suggests that both adult and larval grass shrimp are appropriate life stages for risk assessments.     

Relationship between carbon dioxide/methane emissions and the water quality/sediment characteristics of Taiwan's main rivers

River and sediment have unique carbon dynamics and are important sources of the dominant greenhouse gases (GHG), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). To understand the relationship between CO2/CH4 emissions and water quality/sediment characteristics, we have investigated critical parameters in the river water. Eight parameters of water quality (dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential [ORP], chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand [BOD5], suspended solid, nitrate [NO3-], NH4+, and bacteria) and four sediment characteristics (total organic carbon [TOC], total nitrogen [T-N], NO3-, and ammonium [NH4+]) were measured in two of the larger rivers in Taiwan, and relevant environmental conditions were recorded. The experimental results indicated that CO2 emissions from the river were mainly affected by BOD5 concentrations and the levels of bacteria. CH4 emissions, on the other hand, were greatly affected by the ORP in the river. The correlation between CO2 emissions and sediment characteristics was insignificant (R2 < 0.3). However, TOC and T-N in the sediment may lead to increases in CH4 emissions into the atmosphere. A deeper analysis of the relationship between the different parameters and GHG emissions by ANOVA and the multiple regression method revealed that CO2 emission (y) was significantly related to bacteria number (x1) and BOD concentration (X2). The regression equation takes the form y = 0.00032x1 + 3.18089x2 + 25.37304. Also, the regression relationship between CH4 emission (y) and ORP (x) in the river can be described as y = -0.825216x + 169.02257. The relationship between CH4 emission and sediment characteristics may be described as y = 5.073962x1(TOC) + 2.871245x2(T-N) - 12.3262. Extra sampling data were collected to examine the feasibility of the developed multiple regression equations. The experimental results suggest that the emissions of such GHGs as CO2 and CH4 from rivers can be predicted using the regression equations developed here. Moreover, the emissions may be reduced by manipulating the proper factors.     

Effect of copper chloride on the emissions of PCDD/Fs and PAHs from PVC combustion

The influences of temperature, air flow and the amount of copper chloride upon the types and amount of the toxic emissions such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during combustion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were investigated. The mechanism concerning the effect of temperature and copper chloride on the PCDD/Fs and PAHs formation was discussed. The results shown that without copper chloride, trace amounts of PCDD/Fs and large amounts of PAHs were found in the emissions from the pure PVC combustion under various combustion conditions. The addition of copper chloride enhanced PCDD/Fs formation, but it seems that the formation of PAHs decreased with increasing amount of copper chloride, and greater total amount of PAHs were produced at the higher temperature under our experimental conditions.     

Toxicity of the mosquito control pesticide Scourge to adult and larval grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)

This study investigated the toxicity of various concentrations of technical resmethrin and Scourge on adult and larval Palaemonetes pugio, a common grass shrimp species. Two types of tests were conducted for each of the resmethrin formulations using adult and larval grass shrimp life stages, a 96-h static renewal aqueous test without sediment, and a 24-h static nonrenewal aqueous test with sediment. For resmethrin, the 96-h aqueous LC50 value for adult shrimp was 0.53 microg/L (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.60 microg/L), and for larval shrimp was 0.35 microg/L (95% CI: 0.28-0.42 microg/L). In the presence of sediment, technical resmethrin produced a 24-h LC50 value for adult shrimp of 5.44 microg/L (95% CI: 4.52-6.55 microg/L), and for larval shrimp of 2.15 microg/L (95% CI: 1.35-3.43 microg/L). For Scourge, the 96-h aqueous LC50 for adult shrimp was 2.08 microg/L (95% CI: 1.70-2.54 microg/L), and for larval shrimp was 0.36 microg/L (95% CI: 0.24-0.55 microg/L). The 24-h sediment test yielded an LC50 value of 16.12 microg/L (95% CI: 14.79-17.57 microg/L) for adult shrimp, and 14.16 microg/L (95% CI: 12.21-16.43 microg/L) for larvae. Adjusted LC50 values to reflect the 18% resmethrin concentration in Scourge are 0.37 microg/L (adult), 0.07 microg/L (larvae) for the 96-h aqueous test, and 2.90 microg/L (adult), 2.6 microg/L (larvae) for the 24-h sediment test. Larval grass shrimp were more sensitive to technical resmethrin and Scourge than the adult life stage. The results also demonstrate that synergized resmethrin is more toxic to P. pugio than the nonsynergized form, and that the presence of sediment decreases the toxicity of both resmethrin and Scourge.     

Evaluation of the use of diffusive air samplers for determining temporal and spatial variation of volatile organic compounds in the ambient air of urban communities

The Houston-Galveston metropolitan area has a relatively high density of point and mobile sources of air toxics, and determining and understanding the relationship between emissions and ambient air concentrations of air toxics is important for evaluating potential impacts on public health and formulating effective regulatory policies to control this impact, both in this region and elsewhere. However, conventional ambient air monitoring approaches are limited with regard to expense, siting limitations, and representative sampling necessary for adequate exposure assessment. The overall goal of this multiphase study is to evaluate the use of simple passive air samplers to determine temporal and spatial variability of the ambient air concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas. Phase 1 of this study, reported here, was a field evaluation of 3M organic vapor monitors (OVMs) involving limited comparisons with commonly used active sampling methods, an assessment of sampler precision, a determination of optimal sampling duration, and an investigation of the utility of a simple modification of the commercial sampler. The results indicated that a sampling duration of 72 hr exhibited generally low bias relative to automated continuous gas chromatography measurements, good overall precision, and an acceptable number of measurements above detection limits. The modified sampler showed good correlation with the commercial sampler, with higher sampling rates, although lower than expected.     

Safety related questions for computer-controlled plants: derivation, organisation and application

The use of computers in process control has improved productivity and product quality but has also caused a number of accidents. If we learn from these accidents we may be able to prevent them from happening again. This paper advocates a systematic approach to deriving and organising safety-related questions from past incidents and then applying the questions to consider the safety issues related to the whole life-cycle of computer-controlled plants. Over 170 questions were derived from 300 incident reports provided by two major organisations. The questions are organised into a structured framework so that relevant questions can be located easily when considering different aspects of a computer-controlled plant. Examples illustrating the application of the questions are given. The whole set of questions is listed in the Appendix.     

Detection of Pathogenic Viruses in the Ambient Air in Seoul,Korea

The possible transport of pathogenic microorganisms during Asian dust events could be an important concern for health workers; however, this is still uncertain owing to a lack of supporting evidence. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in air samples collected during the Asian and non-Asian dust periods. Between March and September 2016, air samples were collected at three weather observation stations in Seoul using a high-volume air sampler. Multiplex PCR was performed using the Allplex? respiratory and gastrointestinal panel assay kits to detect 46 microorganisms. RT-PCR was performed for klassevirus, Aichivirus, and human parechovirus (HPeV) detection. In total, 71 air samples were collected during the Asian (8 samples) and non-Asian (63 samples) dust events. During an Asian dust event, only one human rhinovirus (HRV)-positive air sample was collected on April 23. During the non-Asian dust period, HRV, HPeV, norovirus (NoV), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and Blastocystis hominis were detected in four, two, one, one, one, and one air samples, respectively. Pathogenic viruses were mostly detected in ambient air samples during the non-Asian dust period, which suggests a possible air-borne transmission of viral pathogens; however, the role of Asian dust in epidemics caused by pathogenic viruses is unclear.     

Site selection of check dams using geospatial techniques in Debre Berhan region,Ethiopia — water management perspective

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Remote sensing and GIS technology were very helpful to determine an appropriate location of freshwater storage in Amhara, Ethiopia. The techniques...     

Study of Fishes in the Chung-Kung Stream: Species Distribution and Organochlorine Pesticide Residues

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential for reductive dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) by municipal sewage sludge adapted to 2,4-DCP at different concentrations. 2,4-DCP was completely dechlorinated within 4 weeks. After 18 weeks' incubation, 2,4,6-TCP was also completely dechlorinated and the residue of PCP was 0, 44.46, 51.96% at 0.5, 5, and 50 μg ml¹ respectively. the 2,4-DCP adapted communities initially removed the ortho-chlorine from PCP of 5.0, 50 μg ml¹, following an ortho < para < meta order of chlorine removal. Intermediate products were 3,4,5-TCP, 3,5-DCP, 3-CP (3-chlorophenol), phenol, benzoate and hexanoic acids, whereas PCP (0.5 μg ml¹) indicated a preference for meta-chlorine removal. the intermediate product of 2,4,6-TCP at three concentrations were 2,4-DCP, phenol, benzoate and hexanoic acid. These products were identified by GC-MASS spectrometry. the effects of supplements, including sodium citrate (0.08 mM), sodium pyruvate (0.18 mM), sodium sulphate (0.14 mM) had a direct stimulatory effect on the dechlorination of 2,4,6-TCP and PCP after treatment for 4 weeks, but dechlorination was inhibited after 8 weeks.