Correction to: Environmental factors in debromination activity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by hepatic microsomes of freshwater fish

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The corrected Electronic Supplementary Material is presented in this paper.     

Leaching characteristics of bisphenol A from epoxy-resin pavement materials

We investigated the leaching characteristics of bisphenol A (BPA) from two kinds of epoxy-resin pavement materials, one containing epoxy resins (EPs) and the other containing epoxy-acrylate resins (EPAs). Both samples contained residual BPA monomer, at levels of 9.0?µg?g^?1 for the EP resin sample and 4.4?µg?g^?1 for the EPA resin sample. These amounts were larger than amounts previously measured for polycarbonate samples. The amount of BPA leached from the samples increased with temperature. The leaching of BPA from EP was more strongly affected by temperature than the leaching from EPA. The pH also affected the amount of leached BPA. The maximum leached amount was observed under alkaline conditions (pH 10.8) for both sample types. The amounts of BPA that might leach from pavement materials during 1?h of heavy rain were estimated to be 0.9?µg?m^?2 for EP and 3.5?µg?m^?2 for EPA. Our results indicate that EPs disposed of in waste landfills without any treatment may be a source of BPA in leachate at landfill sites.     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza confers lead tolerance and uptake in Miscanthus sacchariflorus

The effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) association on the growth, survival capabilities, nutrients and lead (Pb) uptake of Miscanthus sacchariflorus under different Pb concentrations were studied in the form of pot cultures. The treatments comprised inoculation or non-inoculation of the AMF, Gigaspora margarita, and the addition of three Pb concentrations to the soil (0, 100 and 1000?mg?kg^?1). The addition of Pb significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonisation. The inoculation of AMF with Pb increased chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, total dry mass, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, whereas H₂O₂ level, indole-3-acetic acid oxidase (IAAO) activity, and peroxidase (POD) activity were low compared to those in the non-inoculated treatments. Moreover, the application of AMF together with Pb doses induces concentrations of Pb in the plant, where the higher dose of Pb (1000?mg?kg^?1) induces a lower content of Pb in the aerial part of the plant but a higher content in the root. G. margarita enhanced the tolerance of M. sacchariflorus against Pb toxicity, and facilitated the accumulation of Pb in the plant roots, whereas translocation to the shoots was inhibited at the highest dose Pb (1000?mg?kg^?1). However, in contaminated soil, the Pb removal capability of M. sacchariflorus with AMF was remarkable.     

Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by Ozonated Glycerol

We evaluated the SARS-CoV-2-inactivation activity of ozonated glycerol (OG). When a viral solution with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was mixed with test solutions at a ratio of 1:19 and incubated for 20 s, OG with ozone concentrations of over 1000 ppm inactivated ≥ 94.38% of the virus. Extension of the reaction time to 1 h led to the inactivation of ≥ 99.82% of the virus (the viral titer was below the detection limit). Extension to 24 h resulted in concentrations over 200 ppm OG inactivating ≥ 99.87% of the virus (the viral titers were below the detection limit). Next, viral solutions with 1, 20, and 40% FBS were mixed with test solutions at a ratio of 1:19 and incubated for 5 min. Whereas the virucidal activity of 500 ppm OG was very limited in the presence of 1% FBS (79.47% inactivation), it increased in the presence of 20 and 40% FBS (95.13 and 97.95% inactivation, respectively; the viral titers were not below the detection limit). Meanwhile, over 1000 ppm OG inactivated ≥ 99.44% of the virus regardless of the FBS concentration (the viral titers were below the detection limit). Extension of the reaction time to 1 h led to 500 ppm OG inactivating ≥ 99.91 and ≥ 99.95% of the virus with 20 and 40% FBS, respectively (the viral titers were below the detection limit). These results suggested that OG might be useful as a virucidal agent against SARS-CoV-2.

     

Silver speciation in liver of marine mammals by synchrotron X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies

The chemical form of Ag in the livers of five species of marine mammals was examined using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopies. The XAFS analysis suggested that Ag(2)Se was present in the livers of the Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), and Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), whereas Ag(2)S was present in the livers of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata). XRF spectroscopy results revealed that the distribution patterns of Ag and Se in a thin section of the liver of the Franciscana dolphin were the same; this also implied that Ag was associated with Se in the liver. Thus, the interaction of Ag with Se or S may offer significant protection against the toxicity of Ag in marine mammals. The formation of either Ag(2)Se or Ag(2)S might depend on the Hg levels in the liver. Ag(2)Se was observed in liver samples with relatively high Ag/Hg ratio, whereas liver samples with low Ag/Hg ratio contained Ag(2)S.     

Equity rules for burden sharing in the mitigation process of climate change

Although international negotiation on the mitigation of climate change is a process of determining burden-sharing rules between countries, there has been no clear agreement on equity principles for burden sharing. During the negotiating process up to the Kyoto Protocol, various proposals were made on such burden-sharing rules, but an agreement on emission targets for Annex I countries was achieved without explicitly agree-ing to any rules. In the next phase of the negotiation, debates on emission targets are likely to shift from those between developed countries to those between all parties to the convention. In such a phase, debates on burden-sharing rules will be revisited. The purpose of this paper is: (1) to determine implicitly a formula for the rule for burden sharing between Annex I countries that was considered to be underlying the emission targets of the Kyoto Protocol, and (2) to examine plausible emission targets and timing of commitments for non-Annex I countries in the future by using the result of the analysis on the Kyoto Protocol. A multi-regression method is used for this purpose. It was concluded that the burden sharing between Annex I countries in the Kyoto Protocol can mostly be explained by three variables: the increase in the rate of CO₂ emission during the years 1990 to 2010, the increase in the rate of afforestation between 1990 and 1995, and the GDP per capita at the time of negotiation. The timing of future commitments of developing countries and the levels of targets differ widely, depending on which index or formula is agreed as “equitable”. Some of the developing countries would have to start limiting their emissions within several years if GDP per capita or CO₂ per capita were chosen as the burden-sharing indicator. Developing countries would not have to make commitments until the mid-late 21st century if population growth rate were chosen. If the inferred formula of the Kyoto Protocol were applied to developing countries, they would have had to start mild limitation from 1990.     

Reduced hypoosmoregulatory ability and alteration in gill chloride cell distribution in mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) migrating upstream for spawning

Osmoregulatory ability of mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) during spawning migration was examined by following the changes in gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity and in the distribution and morphology of chloride cells. Mature chum salmon caught in Otsuchi Bay, northern Honshu Island, Japan, died within 5 d in seawater (SW) in association with a marked increase in plasma osmolality, whereas the fish transferred to fresh water (FW) maintained plasma osmolality efficiently. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity decreased in both SW-maintained and FW-transferred fish. Well-developed chloride cells, identified by immunocytochemical staining specific for Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, were present mainly in the filament epithelium of immature fish caught in the ocean. In mature fish caught in the bay, however, additional chloride cells were also found in the lamellar epithelium. The number of filament chloride cells decreased markedly in the mature fish both in SW and in FW, whereas the number of lamellar chloride cells was maintained. These results suggest that the loss of hypoosmoregulatory ability in mature chum salmon may be attributable to the decrease in filament chloride cells and associated decrease in gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, and also that appearance of lamellar chloride cells may be preparatory to the forthcoming upstream migration. Received: 14 April 1997 / Accepted: 5 May 1997     

Positive buoyancy in eel leptocephali: an adaptation for life in the ocean surface layer

Many planktonic organisms have adaptations such as floats or lighter substances to obtain buoyancy to help them remain in the surface layer of the ocean where photosynthetic primary production occurs and food is most abundant. The almost totally transparent eel larvae, called leptocephali, are a unique member of the planktonic community of the surface layer, but their ecology and physiology are poorly understood. We conducted a comparative study on the specific gravity of planktonic animals including 25 taxa of 7 phyla of marine invertebrates and 6 taxa of leptocephali (vertebrate) to gain a broad perspective on the buoyancy of the eggs and larval stages of the Japanese eel. The specific gravity values of the various freshly caught marine invertebrate taxa varied widely from 1.020 to 1.425, but leptocephali had some of the lowest values (1.028–1.043). Artificially cultured live leptocephali had even greater buoyancies with specific gravities of 1.019–1.025 that were close to or lower than seawater, and their buoyancy showed ontogenetic changes among the different early life history stages. Leptocephali appear to have a unique mechanism of buoyancy control by chloride cells all over body surface through osmoregulation of body fluid contained in the extracellular matrix of transparent gelatinous glycosaminoglycans filling their bodies. This adaptation is likely a key factor for their survival by helping them to remain in the surface layer where food particles are the most abundant, while being transparent for predator avoidance. The ontogenetic change in buoyancy of eel eggs, leptocephali and glass eels likely enhances their larval survival, transport, and recruitment to terrestrial freshwater habitats.     

Environmental factors in debromination activity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by hepatic microsomes of freshwater fish

Although the debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish species has been studied, environmental factors, such as chemical contamination and habitat temperature, have not been well understood. This study compared debromination of BDE209 by hepatic microsomes of wild and cultured fish. PBDE concentrations in muscle tissue were lower in cultured fish than in wild fish. Debromination activity was high in wild common carp, followed by cultured common carp, moderate in cultured ayu sweetfish, and low in two cultured fish (rainbow trout and cherry salmon) and wild Japanese sea bass. Although common carps have been known as the species which have higher debromination ability, there were differences between wild and cultured common carps. First, wild common carp debrominated much more BDE209 than cultured common carp. Second was debromination of BDE209 lasted 96 h in wild carp but only 24 h in cultured carp. Wild carp were collected from warm wastewater effluent with consistently high concentrations of micropollutants. Cultured carp were collected from colder clean waters. Therefore, environmental factors in debromination include contamination or ambient temperature. To investigate the effects of habitat environment on debromination of PBDEs, we collected wild carp in summer and winter at two different locations with similar PBDE contamination levels. Carp collected from the natural river in winter had the highest BDE99 debromination activity. Although the results indicated seasonal difference of debromination of BDE209, we could not confirm whether habitat temperature or physiological cycle of carp affected to debromination ability. Thus, further investigation such as in vivo experiment is required.

     

Evaluating households’ preferences regarding reducing power outages in rural areas: cases in the Ganges Floodplain in Bangladesh

This paper investigates household preferences regarding an improved supply of electricity in rural Bangladesh, where the expansion of stable electricity is an urgent policy issue. The paper examines household preferences regarding reductions in the frequency and duration of power outages. It also examines prior notification mechanisms that do not necessarily provide an increased supply of electricity but that allow households to prepare for potential power failures. A questionnaire survey designed as a choice experiment was applied to households to elicit preferences. The econometric analysis reveals that villagers prefer a reduction in both the frequency and duration of power outages and a 1-day prior notification of power outages. There are slight disparities in preferences according to the season and the timing of improvements (e.g., summer or winter and all day or peak hours). Thus, the present study may be beneficial for policymakers when considering the provision of electricity supply improvements in rural areas in exchange for slight increases in electricity tariffs.