A preliminary investigation of the efficacy of riparian fencing schemes for reducing contributions from eroding channel banks to the siltation of salmonid spawning gravels across the south west UK

The low productivity of salmonids in many river systems across the UK is testament to their intolerance of water quality perturbations including those associated with excessive sedimentation. Catchment and fishery managers concerned with combating such issues require reliable information on the key sources of the sediment problem to target management and on the efficacy of the mitigation options being implemented. In recognition of the latter requirement, a pre- and post-remediation sediment sourcing survey was used to examine the potential for using sediment tracing to assemble preliminary information on the efficacy of riparian fencing schemes for reducing sediment contributions from eroding channel banks to salmonid spawning gravels in the Rivers Camel, Fal, Lynher, Plym, Tamar and Tavy in the south west of the UK. Respective estimates of the overall mean proportion (±95% confidence limits) of the interstitial sediment input to salmonid spawning gravels originating from eroding channel banks during the pre- (1999–2000) and post-remediation (2008–2009) study periods were computed at 97 ± 1% vs. 69 ± 1%, 94 ± 1% vs. 91 ± 1%, 12 ± 1% vs. 10 ± 1%, 92 ± 1% vs. 34 ± 1%, 31 ± 1% vs. 16 ± 1% and 90 ± 1% vs. 66 ± 1%. Whilst the study demonstrates the potential utility of the fingerprinting approach for helping to assemble important information on the efficacy of bank fencing as a sediment source control measure at catchment scale, a number of limitations of the work and some suggestions for improving experimental design are discussed. Equivalent data are urgently required for many sediment mitigation options to help inform the development of water quality policy packages designed to protect aquatic ecosystems.     

Sources and spatial distribution of heavy metals in scleractinian coral tissues and sediments from the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama

Marine ecosystems worldwide are threatened by aquatic pollution; however, there is a paucity in data from the Caribbean region. As such, five heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury) were measured in tissues of the scleractinian corals Porites furcata and Agaricia tenuifolia and in adjacent sediments in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama. Samples were collected from five reef sites along a gradient of distance from an international shipping port and were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for mercury. Copper and zinc were the most abundant metals and ranged from 11 to 63 mg kg^?1 and from 31 to 185 mg kg^?1 in coral tissues, respectively. The highest concentration of each metal was measured in P. furcata tissues, with copper and mercury concentrations significantly higher in P. furcata than in A. tenuifolia at every site. These results suggest that P. furcata has a higher affinity for metal accumulation and storage than A. tenuifolia. With the exception of cadmium, metal concentrations in coral tissues were generally elevated at coral reefs in closer proximity to the port; however, this pattern was not observed in sediments. Hard coral cover was lowest at reefs in closest proximity to the port, suggesting that metal pollution from port-related activities is influencing hard coral abundance at nearby coral reefs.     

Chlorfenvinphos Dermal Absorption in Rats: Histological and Ultrastructural Changes in the Skin and Internal Organs

We studied the effect of chlorfenvinphos dermal absorption on the morphological picture of blood, on the histological and fine structure of tail skin, and on the histological structure of internal organs (lungs, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney) of rats. This study was conducted on 25 white Wistar rats, the tail skin of which was—or was not—hydrated before exposure. Rat tails were soaked in 0.5% or 0.05% chlorfenvinphos for 1 hr day for 3 months. Evident tendencies for a decrease in the absolute level of leukocytes and for an increase in the absolute level of erythrocytes in all experimental animals were observed. Histopathological changes in the internal organs were mildly manifested in only a few rats, mainly as liver and pulmonary hyperaemia. Rat tail skin at the direct exposure site showed hyperceratosis, intensive desquamation, and compensatory hyperplasia.     

Remediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by simultaneous persulfate chemical oxidation and biodegradation processes

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous compounds with carcinogenic and/or mutagenic potential. To address the limitations of individual remediation techniques and to achieve better PAH removal efficiencies, the combination of chemical and biological treatments can be used. The degradation of phenanthrene (chosen as a model of PAH) by persulfate in freshly contaminated soil microcosms was studied to assess its impact on the biodegradation process and on soil properties. Soil microcosms contaminated with 140 mg/kg_{DRY SOIL} of phenanthrene were treated with different persulfate (PS) concentrations 0.86–41.7 g/kg_{DRY SOIL} and incubated for 28 days. Analyses of phenanthrene and persulfate concentrations and soil pH were performed. Cultivable heterotrophic bacterial count was carried out after 28 days of treatment. Genetic diversity analysis of the soil microcosm bacterial community was performed by PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA fragments followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The addition of PS in low concentrations could be an interesting biostimulatory strategy that managed to shorten the lag phase of the phenanthrene biological elimination, without negative effects on the physicochemical and biological soil properties, improving the remediation treatment.     

Work ability in ageing workers suffering from chronic diseases.

The aim of this study was to investigate the work ability in ageing workers suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), coronary heart disease (CHD) or hypertension (H). One hundred and sixty-six OA and 355 CHD/H outpatients were evaluated. The Work Ability Index (WAI) served for work ability assessment. Patients' results were compared with the results of a control group of 225 healthy young workers. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA tests. WAI in female and male CHD/H patients was higher than in OA patients (p < .01), better work ability was related to better education (p < .01), white-collar work (p < .01) and better recreation (p < .01); subjective work ability was determined mostly by the objective health status. The promotion of work ability among workers suffering from advanced age-related diseases should be closely related to the promotion of health. It is indicative to improve occupational education and skills, already at an early stage of a disease.     

Estimation of Polish cigarettes contamination with cadmium and lead, and exposure to these metals via smoking

To estimate exposure to cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) through cigarette smoking, the concentrations of both metals in the blood or/and urine of smokers (20 cigarettes or more per day for 10 years or longer) and their non-smoking counterparts inhabiting an environmentally unpolluted area (Bialystok, Poland) were evaluated, as well as Cd and Pb contents in the cigarette brands (produced in Poland) smoked by the participants, including intact cigarettes, pre-smoking (tobacco, paper and filter) and post-smoking (butt, ash and smoke) cigarette components. Blood and urinary Cd concentrations in the smokers have been already reported by us to be 2–4 times higher than in the non-smokers (Galażyn-Sidorczuk et al. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 13 (Suppl.1):91–95, 2004). All the other measurements are the subject of the present paper. Pb concentration in the blood of the cigarette smokers (52.12 ± 15.51 μg l⁻¹) was higher by 29% than in the non-smokers (40.42 ± 11.19 μg l⁻¹). The mean Cd and Pb contents in the cigarettes were 0.6801 ± 0.1765 and 0.6853 ± 0.0746 μg per cigarette, respectively. Under cigarette burning, performed using a machine for self-acting burning, on average 33% of Cd and 11% of Pb present in the whole cigarette was released into the smoke. For Cd, unlike Pb, there was a high positive correlation between the metal content in cigarettes and tobacco and its release into the smoke. Moreover, the subjects smoking cigarettes containing the highest Cd amount had higher blood Cd concentration than smokers of other cigarette brands. The results give clear evidence that in the case of inhabitants of areas unpolluted with Cd and Pb habitual cigarette smoking, due to tobacco contamination, creates a serious source of chronic exposure to these metals, especially to Cd.     

Relation between individual tree mortality and tree characteristics in a polluted and non-polluted environment

Data on individual tree mortality in relatively healthy (Berezinskiy biosphere reserve) and damaged (surroundings of the mineral fertilizer plant 'Achema') even-aged Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands are presented. Tree size and competition intensity were found to be the most significant predictors of individual tree mortality in all age groups of the relatively healthy Scots pine stands, however, an essential reduction in the closeness of relations between the tree mortality rate and these variables was determined with the aging of stands. An exponential decrease in tree mortality probability with an increase of tree size is characteristic for trees suffering different competition intensity, however, this decrease becomes much more pronounced as the competition pressure increases. The relations of different tree and stand variables with tree mortality probability have been found to become much weaker in the polluted environment. An exponential increase in tree mortality probability with an increase of crown defoliation was characteristic of damaged Scots pine stands, however, the rate of the increase was different in different age and diameter classes. The impact of crown defoliation on tree mortality rate increased with the aging of stands. At the same defoliation level, individual tree mortality probability was much higher for smaller suppressed trees, however, a relative increase in tree mortality probability along with an increase of crown defoliation was more pronounced for dominant trees. Conclusion: a higher mortality of damaged (defoliated) trees should be considered while assessing losses in forest productivity in a polluted environment.     

Accumulation of heavy metals and antioxidant responses in Vicia faba plants grown on monometallic contaminated soil

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of soil contamination by selected metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead or zinc) on the antioxidant response of Vicia faba plants. The levels of the antioxidants: glutathione, proline, non-protein thiols, as well as guaiacol peroxidase and catalase activities were measured in the upperparts of plants. Additionally, the potential bioavailability of metals in the soil and their concentrations in V. faba plants were compared. Treatment with metal caused the problem of an elevation in its bioavailability in soil and its concentration in leaves and stems. The most serious problems seemed to be metal elevations in soil, especially Zn and Ni as well as in the aerial parts of V. faba plants. The antioxidant responses appeared to be metal specific. The elevation of guaiacol peroxidase activity in leaves and stems as well as the proline in leaves was the only more general reaction to metal exposure. Upon analysis of the effects of soil metal contamination on V. faba plants, we recommend the use of some measurements such as guaiacol peroxidase activity and proline level as useful tools in biological monitoring.