Incidence,occurrence and distribution of the nematode Echinomermella matsi in its echinoid host,Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis,in northern Norway

The incidence, occurrence and distribution of the nematode Echinomermella matsi (Jones and Hagen) in its host, the echinoid Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis Müller, were examined in Norwegian waters from Nordmre (63° N) to the Russian border (70° N) in a range of habitats (e.g. kelp cover and community type) from 1982 to 1992. The results are used to examine the likely influence of the parasite on fitness (individual growth and gonad production) and its potential in regulating the population size of its echinoid host. The nematode infections are restricted to areas between Vikna (Vega) and middle Troms, with the highest prevalence (40 to 88% infected) in the Bodø area, the focus of the distribution. The prevalence rates are similar on kelp beds and barren grounds. No difference in growth rates between infected and noninfected sea urchins was found. Nematode-infected sea urchins in kelp bed populations had gonads weighing about one-sixth of those of equivalent uninfected individuals. This indicates that nematodes are really parasites causing reduced reproductive capacity. Areas with high prevalence (>40% infected) of nematodes had low sea urchin densities. High nematode intensities were found in the areas with high prevalence. The mean abundance in high prevalence areas was highest (eight nematodes) in the 4-to 7-yr-old age group and decreased to zero among the oldest age groups. The ratio of variance/mean abundance was also highest among 5-to 8-yr-old sea urchins. At highly and slightly infected locations, the relationships between the log of the variance and the log of the mean abundance of parasites were 1.35 and 1.69, respectively. Measurements of the frequency distribution of nematodes in sea urchins and the corresponding estimates of the negative binomial distribution showed significantly higher counts in estimated than observed subpopulations exceeding 20 nematodes per sea urchin. These results may explain nematode-induced sea urchin mortality. The low density of the host in the Bodø area, which had high prevalence, may be a result of increased host mortality caused by nematodes, by lower recruitment because of reduced gonad production, or by other factors. Low prevalence among older sea urchins may be caused by nematodeinduced host mortality or by cycles in infection. However, studies on the life cycle of the nematode and long term investigations of host density and nematode intensity/prevalence will be needed before any true conclusions can can be drawn.     

Ruminant uptake of nickel and other elements from industrial air pollution in the Norwegian-Russian border area

Concentrations of the elements aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and zinc in liver, and of nickel in kidneys, were studied in reindeer, moose and sheep from South Varanger in eastern Finnmark and comparable districts in western Finnmark, Norway. The study included samples from 31 reindeer, 10 moose and 10 sheep from Jarfjord (South Varanger); 31 reindeer, 27 moose and 15 sheep from Pasvik (South Varanger); and 40 reindeer, 16 moose and 15 sheep from western Finnmark. Levels of arsenic, copper, nickel and selenium were much higher in reindeer from one or both areas in South Varanger than in reindeer from western Finnmark. Levels of chromium, cobalt and zinc were also significantly higher in South Varanger reindeer than in reindeer from the reference area. Within South Varanger the highest levels of these elements were invariably found in the Jarfjord area. For the other elements studied hepatic levels in South Varanger were similar to or lower than in western Finnmark. Also in moose, higher levels of nickel and of selenium (Jarfjord only) were found in the South Varanger samples than in samples from western Finnmark. In sheep, on the other hand, levels in South Varanger samples were similar to levels in western Finnmark for all the elements studied. Comparing the results with reports on pollution of air and vegetation, it was concluded that for all the elements showing higher levels in reindeer and moose from South Varanger compared to the reference areas, the effect most probably was a result of atmospheric transport of industrial pollution from the nearby Russian towns Nikel and Zapoljarnij. The geographical and interspecies differences within the South Varanger samples support this conclusion.     

Test of the Multi Increment Sampling® Method on 14 Playgrounds

The Capital Region of Denmark tested the Multi Increment Sampling^® (MIS) technology at 14 children's playgrounds in the region to assess whether the method provides representative test results and an improved foundation for risk assessment. The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the previous uses of the playground areas have led to soil contamination that poses a health risk to its current users (children). The unpaved areas of the playgrounds were divided into decision units based on historical data along with the expected patterns of movement from its users. The samples from each unit consisted of 45 to 100 increments were collected from three depths within the upper one‐half meter. Furthermore, triplicate samples were taken from the upper sampling depth in at least one unit for quality control purposes. The investigation results showed excellent consistency between the pollution parameters and contamination levels in different decision units for each playground. The decision units where high levels of soil contamination exist coincide well with the previous site history. The MIS method has proven to be expensive and time consuming. However, in the future it will be easier to implement as we gain more experience with use of this method.  ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Air pollution exposure monitoring and estimating. Part I. Integrated air quality monitoring system

This paper presents an integrated exposure monitoring system, based on an expansion of existing air quality monitoring systems using dispersion modelling. The system allows: (1) identifying geographical areas whose inhabitants are most exposed to ambient pollution; (2) identifying how many people in an area are exposed to concentrations of pollution exceeding air quality guidelines; (3) describing the exposure of population subgroups (e.g. children); (4) planning pollution abatement measures and quantifying their effects; (5) establishing risk assessment and management programs, and (6) investigating the short- and long-term effects of both pollutants and pollution sources on public health. The effect of pollution is rarely very large and in order to discover it, exposure estimation must provide data that reflects both spatial and temporal variations. Estimates of pollution exposure are obtained using an integrated approach that combines results of measurements from monitoring programs with dispersion calculations. These values can serve as estimates for individual short-term or long-term exposure. The grouped data allows the expression of ambient pollution concentrations as the spatial distribution of estimates such as the mean or 98th percentile of such compounds as SO2, O3, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. This integrated approach has been combined into a single software package, AirQUIS.     

Trends in atmospheric particulate matter in Dhaka,Bangladesh, and the vicinity

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dhaka and its neighboring areas suffer from severe air pollution, especially during dry season (November–April). We investigated temporal and...     

Estimation of Diffuse Hydrocarbon Leakages from Petrochemical Factories

Tracer experiments were carried out to quantify the diffuse leakages of hydrocarbons at two petrochemical complexes in Norway. Single tracer (SF₆) and dual tracer (SF₆/CBrF₃) experiments were performed for different test designs and different meteorological conditions.

A simple proportionality model was applied to estimate leakage rates of ethylene, propylene, ethane, propane and isobutane from different parts of the plants. A discussion of uncertainties in the release rate estimates is also included.

Dispersion models were applied to verify concentration profiles and to identify leakage areas. A model using K_z for estimating vertical spread and σ_θ for estimating horizontal spread, including building size parameters as initial dilution factors, was best correlated to measured tracer concentrations.     

The effects of the contemporary-use insecticide (fipronil) in an estuarine mesocosm

To examine the effects of environmentally realistic fipronil concentrations on estuarine ecosystems, replicated mesocosms containing intact marsh plots and seawater were exposed to three treatments of fipronil (150, 355, and 5000 ng/L) and a Control. Juvenile fish (Cyprinidon variegatus), juvenile clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), oysters (Crassostrea virginica), and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) were added prior to fipronil in an effort to quantify survival, growth, and the persistence of toxicity during the planned 28-day exposure. Results indicated that there were no fipronil-associated effects on the clams, oysters, or fish. Shrimp were sensitive to the highest two concentrations (40% survival at 355 ng/L and 0% survival at 5000 ng/L). Additionally, the highest fipronil treatment (5000 ng/L) was toxic to shrimp for 6 weeks post dose. These results suggest that fipronil may impact shrimp populations at low concentrations and further use in coastal areas should be carefully assessed.