Anthropogenic and naturally occurring polybrominated phenolic compounds in the blood of cetaceans stranded along Japanese coastal waters

We determined the residue levels and patterns of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs), and related compounds, such as PBDEs, methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs), and bromophenols (BPhs) in the blood of eleven cetacean species stranded along the Japanese coasts. The dominant OH- and MeO-PBDE isomers found in all cetaceans were 6OH-BDE47 and 6MeO-BDE47. Additionally, 2,4,6-triBPh was dominant isomer in all cetaceans. In contrast, specific differences in the distribution of para- and meta- OH-PBDE isomers and some BPhs (potential PBDEs metabolites) were found among the cetaceans.Residue levels of ΣMeO-PBDEs and 6OH-BDE47 + 2′OH-BDE68, and 2,4,6-triBPh and 6OH-BDE47 + 2′OH-BDE68 showed a significant positive correlation. These results may suggest that the large percentages of OH-PBDEs, MeO-PBDEs and 2,4,6-triBPh might share common source (i.e. biosynthesis by marine organisms), or metabolic pathway in cetacean species. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of BDE99 and 2,4,5-triBPh. This result suggested that 2,4,5-triBPh in cetaceans could be a metabolite of BDE99.     

Understanding productivity declines of resource accumulation in the prefectures of Japan

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - This study employs a data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework using long-term panel data of the physical stocks of buildings and infrastructure...     

Lead contamination in surface soil on roads from used lead–acid battery recycling in Dong Mai,Northern Vietnam

Used lead–acid battery (ULAB) recycling has caused numerous health and environmental issues in developing countries. Surface soil pollution from ULAB recycling activities has been linked with elevated levels of lead in human blood. We measured surface soil lead in and surrounding the ULAB recycling village of Hung Yen in northern Vietnam in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The data were analyzed statistically and discussed with respect to distance from the contamination source, year of measurement, contamination pathway, and countermeasures against the contamination. Transportation routes from the smelter or collection site displayed the greatest concentration of surface soil lead (median 6400–10,000 mg/kg). Surface soil lead decreased significantly with distance along the road from the ULAB recycling site, although such a decrease was not observed for rice fields, agricultural roads, or garden soil. Re-suspension and adherence by traffic were identified as key pollution pathways. Distance from the source, covering of the surface of roads, construction of walls, and position relative to the source were shown to be the most effective factors in the reduction of surface soil lead pollution. Application of a combination of these measures should result in improvement in the health of residents.     

First evaluation of the Brazilian microorganisms biocatalytic potential

The biocatalytic potential of two novel Brazilian strains of Aspergillus niger and Rhodotorula glutinis, revealed enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity in the asymmetrization of meso-epoxide and monosubstituted epoxides respectively. These two types of oxirane derivatives are not usually good substrates for biocatalytic enantioselective conversion.     

Abundance and survival rates of green turtles in an urban environment: coexistence of humans and an endangered species

Longitudinal capture-mark-recapture data were used to estimate abundance and survival rates for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in San Diego Bay, California, USA. These turtles were closely associated with warm effluent from a power plant during winter months. The life stage distribution of green turtles in the bay ranged from post-pelagic juveniles to adults (44.0–110.4 cm straight carapace length). During 99 capture sessions between December 2, 1990, and March 25, 2009, 96 individual green turtles were caught. To estimate abundance and survival rates, robust-design mark-recapture models were fitted to capture-recapture histories using software MARK. The estimated annual survival rate was 0.861 (SE = 0.147, 95% CI = 0.356–0.986), whereas annual abundance ranged from 16 (SE = 6.3, 95% CI = 4–29) to 61 (SE = 13.2, 95% CI = 36–88). This study provides the first survival rate and abundance estimates for a green turtle foraging population in the highly industrialized San Diego Bay.     

Identification of distinct movement patterns in Pacific leatherback turtle populations influenced by ocean conditions

Interactions with fisheries are believed to be a major cause of mortality for adult leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), which is of particular concern in the Pacific Ocean, where they have been rapidly declining. In order to identify where these interactions are occurring and how they may be reduced, it is essential first to understand the movements and behavior of leatherback turtles. There are two regional nesting populations in the East Pacific (EP) and West Pacific (WP), comprising multiple nesting sites. We synthesized tracking data from the two populations and compared their movement patterns. A switching state-space model was applied to 135 Argos satellite tracks to account for observation error, and to distinguish between migratory and area-restricted search behaviors. The tracking data, from the largest leatherback data set ever assembled, indicated that there was a high degree of spatial segregation between EP and WP leatherbacks. Area-restricted search behavior mainly occurred in the southeast Pacific for the EP leatherbacks, whereas the WP leatherbacks had several different search areas in the California Current, central North Pacific, South China Sea, off eastern Indonesia, and off southeastern Australia. We also extracted remotely sensed oceanographic data and applied a generalized linear mixed model to determine if leatherbacks exhibited different behavior in relation to environmental variables. For the WP population, the probability of area-restricted search behavior was positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration. This response was less strong in the EP population, but these turtles had a higher probability of search behavior where there was greater Ekman upwelling, which may increase the transport of nutrients and consequently prey availability. These divergent responses to oceanographic conditions have implications for leatherback vulnerability to fisheries interactions and to the effects of climate change. The occurrence of leatherback turtles within both coastal and pelagic areas means they have a high risk of exposure to many different fisheries, which may be very distant from their nesting sites. The EP leatherbacks have more limited foraging grounds than the WP leatherbacks, which could make them more susceptible to any temperature or prey changes that occur in response to climate change.     

PCDDs/DFs emissions from crematories in Japan

Concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in emission gases from 10 crematories were measured. The relationship between PCDDs/DFs and several factors such as structure, equipment and operational state of the crematory is discussed. Furthermore, emission of PCDDs/DFs from all crematories in Japan is estimated. The following results are obtained: (1) total concentration of PCDDs/DFs was 2.2-290 ng/N m3, whose TEQ concentration was 0.0099-6.5 ng TEQ/N m3; (2) total concentration of PCDFs was higher than that of PCDDs; (3) T4CDFs was the highest in the homologue pattern and 2,3,7,8-T4CDF was the highest in the isomer pattern; (4) emission of PCDDs/DFs was the largest in the first 20 min of cremation; (5) concentration of PCDDs/DFs was related to the existence of a secondary combustion chamber and a dust collector, and the ratio of the numbers of main and secondary combustion chambers; (6) total emission of PCDDs/DFs from crematories in Japan was estimated to be 8.9 g TEQ/yr.     

Identification of chemical substances in industrial wastes and their pyrolytic decomposition products

In order to quantify the sources of chemical pollutants in the leachate from reclaimed wastes, chemical substances in 11 different types of industrial wastes were identified. Their elution behaviors were also investigated. Alkanes (5.3-890 ng g(-1)), benzenes (8.1-110 ng g(-1)), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (3.2-560 ng g(-1)), alcohols, steroids, phenol (7.1 ng g(-1)), ketones, furans (190-210 ng g(-1)), phthalates (8.9-560 ng g(-1)), benzoquinones, dibenzothiophene (190 ng g(-1)), benthiocarb (4.2 ng g(-1)), sulfur, nitrile compounds, amino compounds, amido compounds, pyridines, quinolines (1.8-15 ng g(-1)), isoquinolines, carbazoles, acridines, chlordenes (1.5-1.6 ng g(-1)) and nonachlors (1.1-1.6 ng g(-1)) were detected in 9 types of industrial wastes. The chemical substances detected in waste at the highest concentrations were alkanes, PAHs and phthalates. Water supply sludge, dust and brick garbage contained many kinds of chemical substances. The elution behaviors of specific chemical substances, COD and nutrients varied by characteristic and production process of each waste. Over 100 different compounds were detected in pyrolysis products including carbohydrate, carotynoid, amino acids, proteins, humic acids, lignin and combustion products.     

Environmental and human exposure assessment monitoring of communities near an abandoned mercury mine in the Philippines: a toxic legacy

Abandoned mines are an important global concern and continue to pose real or potential threats to human safety and health including environmental damage/s. Very few countries had government mine regulation and reclamation policies until the latter part of the century where legal, financial and technical procedures were required for existing mining operations. Major reasons for mine closure may be mainly due to poor economies of the commodity making mining unprofitable, technical difficulties and national security. If the mine is abandoned, more often than not it is the government that shoulders the burden of clean-up, monitoring and remediation. The topic of abandoned mines is complex because of the associated financial and legal liability implications. Abandoned mercury mines have been identified as one of the major concerns because of their significant long-term environmental problems. Primary mercury production is still ongoing in Spain, Kyrgzystan, China, Algeria, Russia and Slovakia while world production declined substantially in the late 1980s. In the Philippines, the mercury mine located southeast of Manila was in operation from 1955 to 1976, before ceasing operation because of the decline in world market price for the commodity. During this time, annual production of mercury was estimated to be about 140,000 kg of mercury yearly. Approximately 2,000,000 t of mine-waste calcines (retorted ore) were produced during mining and roughly 1,000,000 t of these calcines were dumped into nearby Honda Bay to construct a jetty to facilitate mine operations where about 2000 people reside in the nearby three barangays. In October, 1994 the Department of Health received a request from the Provincial Health Office for technical assistance relative to the investigation of increasing complaints of unusual symptoms (e.g. miscarriages, tooth loss, muscle weakness, paralysis, anemia, tremors, etc.) among residents of three barangays. Initial health reports revealed significant elevation of blood mercury levels exceeding the then recommended exposure level of 20ppb in 12 out of the 43 (27.9%) residents examined. The majority of the volunteers were former mine workers. In this study the abnormal findings included gingivitis, mercury lines, gum bleeding and pterydium. The most common neurologic complaints were numbness, weakness, tremors and incoordination. Anemia and elevated liver function tests were also seen in a majority of those examined. The assessment also revealed a probable association between blood mercury level and eosinophilia. The same association was also seen between high mercury levels and the presence of tremors and working in the mercury mine. To date, there are very limited environmental and health studies on the impact of both total and methylmercury that have been undertaken in the Philippines. Thus, this area of study was selected primarily because of its importance as an emerging issue in the country, especially regarding the combined effects of total and methylmercury low-dose and continuous uptake from environmental sources. At present the effects of total mercury exposure combined with MeHg consumption remain an important issue, especially those of low-dose and continuous uptake. Results of the study showed that four (4) species of fish, namely ibis, tabas, lapu-lapu and torsillo, had exceeded the recommended total mercury and methylmercury levels in fish (NV>0.5 microg/gf.w., NV>0.3 microg/gf.w., respectively). Saging and kanuping also exceeded the permissible levels for methylmercury. Total and methylmercury in canned fish, and total mercury in rice, ambient air and drinking water were within the recommended levels, however, additional mercury load from these sources may contribute to the over-all body burden of mercury among residents in the area. Surface water quality at the mining area, Honda Bay and during some monitoring periods at Palawan Bay exceeded total mercury standards (NV>0.002 ng/mL). Soil samples in two sites, namely Tagburos and Honda Bay, exceeded the EPA Region 9 Primary Remediation Goal recommended values for total mercury for residential purposes (NV>23 mg/kg). The hand to mouth activity among infants and children is another significant route for mercury exposure. Statistically significant results were obtained for infants when comparing the results after one year of monitoring for methylmercury levels in hair for both exposed and control sub-groups. Likewise, comparing the initial and final hair methylmercury levels among pregnant women/mothers in the exposed group showed statistically significant (p<0.05) results. Comparing the exposed and control sub-groups' mercury hair levels per sub-group showed statistically significant results among the following: (a) initial and final total mercury hair levels among children, (b) initial and final methylmercury hair levels among children, (c) final total mercury hair levels among pregnant women, (d) initial and final total mercury hair levels among mothers, and (e) initial and final methyl hair levels among mothers.