Reproductive effects of tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol in the rat.

Tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPM) is a global contaminant of unknown origin that is structurally related to the endocrine modulating pesticides 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and Dicofol. Therefore, the potential reproductive toxic effects of TCPM were investigated in sexually mature male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 20) treated with 1.0, 10.0 or 100 ppm of TCPM mixed in the diet for 28 days. The calculated TCPM intake was 0.0, 0.1, 1.2 and 12.4 mg/kg/day, respectively. Serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in terminal blood samples were significantly (P < 0.02) elevated in the highest dose group compared to the controls. In contrast, dietary exposure to TCPM had no effect on circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and the T/LH ratio. Incubation of MCF-7 cells with increasing concentrations of TCPM failed to either induce proliferation or to block the proliferative effect induced by estradiol indicating that TCPM is neither estrogenic or anti-estrogenic. Relative binding affinity studies using androgen receptors from the prostate revealed that TCPM has a binding affinity comparable to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), the principle metabolite of DDT. In addition, the calculated Ki (0.62 microM) for TCPM is lower than the reported Ki's for the antiandrogenic pesticides p,p'-DDE and vinclozolin. Although TCPM binds with the androgen receptor in vitro, the absence of both an effect on serum T levels and morphological changes in the testis suggests that the mechanism of action for elevated FSH levels seen in vivo may not involve an antiandrogenic effect of TCPM at the dose level used in this study. The no adverse effect level for reproductive effects of TCPM is 10 ppm which is equivalent to a calculated intake of 1.2 mg/kg/day.     

Apportionment of bioavailable phosphorus loads entering Cayuga Lake,New York

The integration of the phosphorus (P) bioavailability concept into a P loading analysis for Cayuga Lake, New York, is documented. Components of the analyses included the: (1) monitoring of particulate P (PP), soluble unreactive P (SUP), and soluble reactive P (SRP), supported by biweekly and runoff event‐based sampling of the lake's four largest tributaries; (2) development of relationships between tributary P concentrations and flow; (3) algal bioavailability assays of PP, SUP, and SRP from primary tributaries and the three largest point sources; and (4) development of P loading estimates to apportion contributions according to individual nonpoint and point sources, and to represent the effects of interannual variations in tributary flows on P loads. Tributary SRP, SUP, and PP are demonstrated to be completely, mostly, and less bioavailable, respectively. The highest mean bioavailability for PP was observed for the stream with the highest agriculture land use. Point source contributions to the total bioavailable P load (BAP_L) are minor (5%), reflecting the benefit of reductions from recent treatment upgrades. The BAP_L represented only about 26% of the total P load, because of the large contribution of the low bioavailable PP component. Most of BAP_L (>70%) is received during high flow intervals. Large interannual variations in tributary flow and coupled BAP_L will tend to mask future responses to changes in individual inputs.     

Australian Greens party members and supporters: their profiles and activities

In an era of widespread party membership decline, there is debate over the utility, within the ‘European’ tradition, of conceptualising party membership as the locus of individual party engagement, and of maintaining membership and supportership as distinct categories in analysing party activism. This debate is particularly relevant to Green parties, which, through their particular social movement origins and emphasis on grass-roots democracy, bring into question the assumption that the activities and profile of members and supporters are functionally different. Using original data gathered from two surveys of Australian Greens party members and supporters undertaken in 2012 and 2013, the political activity, associational membership, ideological position, and demographic characteristics of these two groups are compared. While active party members are distinctive in their party-specific political activities and their ideological positioning, there is much less difference between the rest of the formal party membership and the party’s active supporter base.