Chemical characteristics of fine particulate matter emitted from commercial cooking

The chemical characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) emitted from commercial cooking were explored in this study. Three typical commercial restaurants in Shanghai, i.e., a Shanghai-style one (SHS), a Sichuan-style one (SCS) and an Italian-style one (ITS), were selected to conduct PM_2.5 sampling. Particulate organic matter (POM) was found to be the predominant contributor to cooking-related PM_2.5 mass in all the tested restaurants, with a proportion of 69.1% to 77.1%. Specifically, 80 trace organic compounds were identified and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which accounted for 3.8%–6.5% of the total PM_2.5 mass. Among the quantified organic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids had the highest concentration, followed by saturated fatty acids. Comparatively, the impacts of other kinds of organic compounds were much smaller. Oleic acid was the most abundant single species in both SCS and ITS. However, in the case of SHS, linoleic acid was the richest one. ITS produced a much larger mass fraction of most organic species in POM than the two Chinese cooking styles except for monosaccharide anhydrides and sterols. The results of this study could be utilized to explore the contribution of cooking emissions to PM_2.5 pollution and to develop the emission inventory of PM_2.5 from cooking, which could then help the policymakers design efficient treatment measures and control strategies on cooking emissions in the future.     

三丁基氯化锡对红鳍笛鲷的急性毒性及不同组织生化指标的影响

为研究有机锡化合物对海洋生物抗氧化防御系统和神经系统的影响,以我国东南沿海常见的中下层增养殖鱼类红鳍笛鲷(Lutjanus erythopterus)幼鱼为实验生物,采用半静态毒性实验方法,分别研究了三丁基氯化锡(tributyltin chloride,TBTCl)的急性毒性和96 h暴露时间内对红鳍笛鲷幼鱼鳃、脑和...     

Variation in measures of immunocompetence of sea fan coral, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gorgonia ventalina</Emphasis>, in the Florida Keys

Aspergillosis is a widespread disease that has impacted the demography of the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina. The innate coral immune defenses can be measured as constitutive levels of immune proteins (peroxidase [POX], prophenoloxidase [PPO], lysozyme-like activity [LYS], exochitinase [EXOC]), antioxidant (superoxide dismutase [SOD]), and antimicrobial (antibacterial [AB] and antifungal [AF]) activity. Therefore, variations in these parameters across a geographic region could provide clues to the role of environment in disease. This study examined healthy sea fans collected in July 2005 from six offshore sites in the Florida Keys lying between 24.569°N and 25.220°N, a distance of ~145 km. Contrary to expectations, small (<15 cm) colonies did not differ significantly from large colonies (>15 cm) in the protein-based levels of activity in any of the measured parameters. However, there were significant differences in many of the parameters among sites, and Molasses Reef and Looe Key Reef were the most different in POX, PPO, SOD, and AF activity. This suggests that there are potential site-specific environmental factors that shape the immune physiology of colonies. Several proxies of environmental stress were also regressed against levels of the immune parameters. The proxies included 10 year averages of benthic community composition, 5 year averages of water quality, and historic aspergillosis disease prevalence and severity. Generality about environmental drivers was limited by assaying only six sites, but several patterns did emerge. SOD, EXOC, and AF activity were all correlated with percent bare substrate cover, suggesting that certain immune components may be activated in low coral environments. LYS and EXOC activity were positively correlated with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), one proxy of water quality. There were no relationships between any of the measured immune parameters and previous disease prevalence and severity. This study is a first step in evaluating levels of within- and between-site variation in coral immunity and investigating possible environmental drivers.     

全氟辛烷磺酸短期暴露对不同作物苗期生长的影响

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)作为一种新型持久性有机污染物,目前国内外对其生态毒性研究主要集中在水环境领域,而高等植物的生态毒性数据尚不完善。因此,本研究采用内培养方式,选取小麦、大麦、小白菜、三叶草、绿豆作为供试植物,利用根伸长、芽伸长、地上部分生物量等评价指标,研究了PFOS短期暴露对不同供试作物苗期生长的影响,建立了PFOS和作物苗期生长的剂量-效应关系,并对不同的评价指标进行相关性分析,筛选出表征PFOS生态毒性的敏感植物。结果表明,不同供试作物培育3 d后,PFOS对其于不同毒性终点的最小EC₅₀值为：小麦352 mg·kg^-1(根伸长)、大麦434 mg·kg^-1(根伸长)、三叶草794 mg·kg^-1(地上部分生物量鲜重)、小白菜829 mg·kg^-1(地上部分生物量鲜重)、绿豆>1 000 mg·kg^-1,因此敏感程度依次为：小麦>大麦>三叶草>小白菜>绿豆。须根系作物小麦、大麦较直根系作物三叶草、小白菜和绿豆敏感,而须根系作物各评价指标的敏感程度依次为：根伸长>地上部分生物量鲜重>芽伸长>地上部分生物量干重,可见小麦的根伸长对PFOS污染最为敏感。各评价指标间均呈正相关关系,表明PFOS对同种植物的不同评价指标影响趋势一致。     

Effects of irradiance and ultraviolet radiation on photoadaptation in the zooxanthellae of Aiptasia pallida: primary production,photoinhibition, and enzymic defenses against oxygen toxicity

Cnidarians which contain symbiotic algae are constantly faced with the challenges of a changing photic regime and a hyperoxic environment. Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.) from the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida (Verrill), collected and cultured at Bermuda Biological Station in 1986, exhibit a suite of compensatory responses to changes in irradiance, ultraviolet radiation (UV), and to the toxicity resulting from their interaction with photosynthetically produced oxygen. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase inactivate superoxide radicals (O₂ ^-) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which are mediators of oxygen toxicity, show an increase in specific activity with irradiance and in response to UV, both in cultured zooxanthellae (CZ) and freshly isolated zooxanthellae (FIZ) from acclimated anemones. CZ and FIZ exposed to environmentally realistic UV levels show a 30 to 40% increase in SOD activities compared with zooxanthellae exposed to similar irradiances without UV. CZ consistently show higher activities of both SOD and catalase compared to FIZ. Both CZ and FIZ exhibit changes in chlorophyll content and in the relationship between photosynthesis and irradiance which suggest photoadaptive changes in CO₂-fixing enzymes, the photosynthetic-electron transport system, or in photosynthetic unit size (PSU). UV has a greater effect on the photosynthetic capacity (P _max) of FIZ when compared to CZ acclimated at an equivalent irradiance with or without a UV component. UV also enhances the photoinhibition observed at high irradiance in both CZ and FIZ. Differences in enzyme activity between CZ and FIZ suggest an important role for the host in the protection of zooxanthellae against the direct effects of environmentally realistic UV while the photosynthetic performance of zooxanthellae in situ may not be as well protected.     

苯并\[a\]芘对马氏珠母贝肝组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

为揭示不同浓度苯并[a]芘(B[a]P)对海洋贝类的生态毒理效应,将马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensi)暴露于不同浓度(1、4和8μg.L-1)B[a]P中,检测暴露3、7和10d后,B[a]P对马氏珠母贝肝组织抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT)活性的影响。结果表明:暴露时间3d时,随着B[a]P浓度的增加,SOD活性无明显变化,GST的活性被激活,在7d和10d受到抑制,GST活性表现为抑制,并表现出一定的剂量-效应关系,而CAT的活性在染毒后第7天受到激活;暴露时间10d时,SOD活性增加,GST活性和CAT活性均受到抑制。B[a]P暴露时间相同,GST活性和CAT活性变化趋势基本相似。B[a]P浓度相同(1和4μg.L-1)时,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性无明显变化,GST的活性受到抑制,CAT的活性表现为先激活后抑制的趋势。另外,相对于SOD活性,GST和CAT的活性变化可以更好地反映B[a]P对马氏珠母贝胁迫的毒性效应。     

双酚A对紫背浮萍生长和光合色素及抗氧化系统影响

以紫背浮萍为实验对象,探究双酚A(bsiphenol A, BPA)对其生长、光合色素含量、抗氧化系统和渗透压调节物质的影响。结果表明,不同浓度(0、1、5、20和50 mg·L~(-1))BPA连续暴露7 d后,与对照组相比,随暴露浓度升高,紫背浮萍湿重和叶绿素含量呈现先显著增加后降低的趋势;暴露组过氧化氢(H_2O_2)含量和抗超氧阴离子自由基活性显著降低;丙二醛(MDA)含量在20和50 mg·L~(-1)组显著升高;暴露组抗氧化酶活性包括超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)均低于对照组;谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量在高浓度组显著升高,20 mg·L~(-1)组可溶性糖含量显著升高,可溶性蛋白含量在中高浓度组显著增加。研究表明,中低浓度BPA会提高紫背浮萍光合色素含量,有机物积累增多,促进其生长;但随BPA浓度不断升高,紫背浮萍体内产生氧化损伤,抗氧化酶活性及叶绿素含量降低,生长受到抑制。本研究结果将为BPA污染控制及对水生植物生态毒性效应评价提供理论基础。     

O3浓度升高对不同生长期冬小麦叶片抗氧化系统的影响

由于人口的快速增长,人类活动导致近地层O3浓度不断提高,O3浓度升高将对植物、动物和人体健康产生极大的危害.采用开顶式气室(OTC)原位实验方法,研究O3浓度升高对不同生长期冬小麦叶片抗氧化系统的影响,进而分析O3对植物的伤害机制.结果表明,O3浓度升高可导致冬小麦拔节期和抽穗期叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶...     

外源Hg胁迫对3种烟草品种叶绿素含量和光合效应的影响

为研究不同浓度汞(Hg)对烟草光合作用的影响,选择福建省3个主栽烟草品种(翠碧1号、K326、云烟87)幼苗进行盆栽试验,设置0、1、2、4、8、16 mg·kg~(-1)共6个浓度组。结果表明:(1)3种烟草叶片叶绿素含量与对照比均无显著差异(P0.05),但F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o、PI_(ABS)随胁迫浓度增加均呈下降趋势,可见Hg胁迫下烟草叶绿素含量和光合强度没有必然的相关性。(2)在较高浓度(4 mg·kg~(-1))Hg胁迫下,OJIP曲线改变了形状,表明Hg胁迫对烟草叶片光合机构影响主要是PSⅡ及光系统反应中心受到损伤,光合电子传递过程受到抑制,这可能是烟草叶片光合效应显著下降的主要因素。(3)烟草叶片PSII单位反应中心比活性参数ABS/RC、TRo/RC、DIo/RC与胁迫浓度正相关,ETo/RC和RC/CSo与胁迫浓度呈负相关,在较高浓度Hg胁迫下烟草叶片通过耗散过剩的光能和提高多余能量消耗量来保护光合机构免受更大的伤害,表现出较强的自我调节能力。     

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚对大型溞的毒性效应

以实验室培养的大型溞为受试生物,进行了2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞的48h急性毒性实验和21d慢性毒性实验,并研究了暴露在不同质量浓度和处理时间的BDE-47中,大型溞的抗氧化酶系中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的酶活性变化。结果表明,BDE-47对大型溞的48h的半致死浓度为1.04mg·L-1,属于高毒物质;在BDE-47慢性毒性实验低浓度处理组中,大型溞的体长及繁殖能力受到了抑制,而高浓度处理组中大型溞的体长及繁殖能力上升,其中第一次产仔数和产卵总数是表征BDE-47慢性毒性的最灵敏参数。随着BDE-47浓度的增加,大型溞SOD和GST活性均呈现出低浓度诱导高浓度抑制的现象。SOD和GST均表现出一定的敏感性,但相对SOD,GST对BDE-47暴露更为敏感。     

双酚A对青岛大扁藻的干扰效应

为了探讨双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)对海洋微藻的生态毒性效应,实验选择了以青岛大扁藻(Platymonas helgolanidica)作为受试物种,设置6个实验浓度(即0、2、4、6、8、10 mg·L-1)对微藻进行了96 h暴露处理,测定了不同浓度暴露下对青岛大扁藻的生长以及抗氧化系统酶活性等指标。研究结果表明,BPA对青岛大扁藻的96h-EC50为9.32 mg·L-1,属高毒类污染物。青岛大扁藻经过BPA暴露处理后,细胞密度下降,细胞色素含量降低,并且呈现明显的剂量-效应关系;细胞抗氧化系统中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性均受到干扰。     

乙酸铜对银鲳幼鱼急性毒性及抗氧化酶活性的影响

为评价乙酸铜对银鲳的安全性及毒性效应,采用静水急性暴露实验,研究了8个乙酸铜浓度梯度(0、0.150、0.206、0.282、0.387、0.531、0.729、1.00 mg·L~(-1))对银鲳幼鱼的急性毒性,以肝脏和鳃组织的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(GSH—PX)以及谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(GST)活性为指标研究乙酸铜对银鲳幼鱼的毒理作用,并进行安全评价。结果表明,高浓度乙酸铜会对银鲳幼鱼产生了较大的毒性,48 h和96 h-LC_(50)分别为0.898 mg·L~(-1)、0.264 mg·L~(-1),安全质量浓度为0.026 mg·L~(-1);不同浓度乙酸铜胁迫下银鲳幼鱼组织中的SOD、CAT、GSH-PX和GST活性均表现为低浓度被诱导而高浓度受抑制的规律,与乙酸铜浓度呈抛物线型剂量效应关系,此外,肝脏中4种抗氧化酶活性普遍高于鳃组织。研究发现,乙酸铜胁迫对抗氧化酶的影响,可以反映银鲳幼鱼机体的受损状况,其中SOD可较灵敏地指示早期低浓度的铜污染。     

A new FTIR method to monitor transesterification in biodiesel production by ultrasonication

New renewable fuels are urgently needed due to increasing fossil fuel pollution. Biodiesel, which contains alkyl esters produced by transesterification of oils, is an alternative fuel. Nevertheless, the main problem of biodiesel is its high price. Costs can be reduced by replacement of the current homogeneous catalysts by heterogeneous catalysts; however, research for new catalysts is actually slowed by lengthy analytical techniques. Here, we set up a simple and rapid analytical method using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to monitor transesterification. Conversion of sunflower and recycled cooking oils to their corresponding methyl esters was easily measured using a linear correlation between the intensity of an infrared peak at 1,437 cm^?1 and the percent conversion. The results obtained by infrared were validated by gas chromatography. We also studied the effect of 20 kHz ultrasonic irradiation on biodiesel synthesis. Using our FTIR method, we found that replacing mechanical stirring with an ultrasonic probe leads to quality biodiesel in 10 min for sunflower oil and 20 min for recycled cooking oil.     

磺化石墨烯对小麦幼苗生长及生理生化指标的影响

随着石墨烯生产量和使用量的不断增大,其对生态环境的风险逐渐引起了环境学家的关注。采用水培试验,探究了磺化石墨烯(SGO)对小麦幼苗的生长、抗氧化酶活性及脂质过氧化的影响。结果表明:在培养10 d后,低浓度磺化石墨烯对小麦根系的生长有显著促进作用(P0.05),200 mg·L-1浓度处理与对照处理相比提高了84.3%,随着浓度增加促进作用逐渐减弱,1 000 mg·L-1时与对照相比提高了19.9%。但对小麦地上部的生长没有影响。磺化石墨烯处理的小麦幼苗根系和叶片组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)及丙二醛(MDA)都呈现先下降后上升的趋势。当磺化石墨烯浓度低于200 mg·L-1时,处理组小麦抗氧化酶的活性及MDA含量相对于对照处理大都有所降低,说明低浓度时磺化石墨烯没有对小麦的生长产生氧化胁迫,这与磺化石墨烯可能具有一定的抗氧化能力有关,而高浓度时由于产生氧化胁迫使各项生理生化指标逐渐上升。本实验结果为石墨烯材料对植物的毒理学研究提供了基础数据。     

Antioxidant enzymes in the digestive gland of the common musselMytilus edulis

Antioxidant enzymes function to remove deleterious reactive oxygen species, including the superoxide anion radical and H₂O₂. Subcellular distributions and optimal and other properties of catalase (EC. 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC. 1.15.1.1), selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPX; EC. 1.11.1.9) and total glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were determined in the digestive gland of the common musselMytilus edulis L. by spectrophotometric and cytochemical/electron microscopic (catalase) techniques. Assay conditions for Se-GPX and total GPX activities were determined which optimized the difference between the non-enzymic and enzymic rates of reaction. General peroxidase activity (guaiacol as substrate) (EC. 1.11.1.7) was not detectable in any subcellular fraction. Catalase was largely, if not totally, peroxisomal, whereas SOD and GPX activities were mainly cytosolic. Distinct mitochondrial (Mn-SOD) and cytosolic (CuZn-SOD) SOD forms were indicated. Catalase properties were consistent with a catalase, rather than a catalase-peroxidase. The pH-dependence and temperature-dependence of GPX activity were different with H₂O₂ or CHP as substrate, and these and other observations indicate the existence of a distinct Se-GPX. Under saturating or optimal (GPX) assay conditions, the apparent Michaelis constantsK _m (mM) were: catalase, 48 to 68 (substrate, H₂O₂); Se-GPX, 0.11 (H₂O₂) and 2.0 (glutathione); and total GPX, 2.2 (eumene hydroperoxide) and 1.2 (glutathione). Calculated catalase activity was 2 to 4 orders of magnitude greater than Se-GPX activity over an [H₂O₂] of 1 to 1000 M. The results are discussed in relation to theoretical calculations of in vivo oxyradical production and phylogenetic differences in antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Mercuric chloride induced proteotoxicity and structural destabilization in marine fish (Therapon jarbua)

The reaction byproducts derived from lipid peroxidation (LPO), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activities were measured in tissues of marine fish (Therapon jarbua) exposed to mercuric chloride (HgCl) in water dispersions of 0.125 or 0.25 ppm. LPO was significantly increased in various tissues relative to control values after 96-h exposure. SOD and GPx activities significantly decreased after exposure to first two doses but significantly elevated CAT in Dose II kidney and liver tissues. The elevated levels of LPO, decreased activities of SOD and GPx, and increased CAT activities in all tissues examined in T. jarbua are an index of oxidative stress in fish. Structural analysis by scanning electron microscopy studies revealed the structural deformation in HgCl₂-exposed animals. These observations suggest that HgCl acts as a mediator in free radical generation. The increase in CAT and decrease in SOD and GPx activities in these tissues may be an adaptive response.     

Dichloroacetate- and trichloroacetate-induced modulation of superoxide dismutase,catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level in the livers of mice after subacute and subchronic exposures

Dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) were previously found to induce various levels of oxidative stress in the hepatic tissues of mice after subacute and subchronic exposures. The cells are known to have several protective mechanisms against production of oxidative stress by different xenobiotics. To assess the roles of the antioxidant enzymes and glutathione (GSH) in DCA- and TCA-induced oxidative stress, groups of B6C3F1 mice were administered either DCA or TCA at doses of 7.7, 77, 154, and 410 mg kg^?1 day^?1, by gavage for 4 weeks (4-W) and 13 weeks (13-W), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, as well as GSH were determined in the hepatic tissues. DCA at doses ranging between 7.7–410, and 7.7–77 mg kg^?1 day^?1, given for 4-W and 13-W, respectively, resulted in either suppression or no change in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities, but doses of 154–410 mg DCA kg^?1 day^?1 administered for 13-W were found to result in a significant induction of the three enzyme activities. TCA administration on the other hand, resulted in increases in the SOD and CAT activities, but caused suppression of GSH-Px activity in both the periods. Except for the DCA doses of 77–154 mg kg^?1 day^?1 administered for 13-W that resulted in a significant reduction in the GSH levels, all other DCA as well as TCA treatments produced no changes in GSH. Since these enzymes are involved in the detoxification of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide anion (SA), and H₂O₂, it is concluded that SA is the main contributor to DCA-induced oxidative stress, while both ROS contribute to that of TCA. The increase in the enzyme activities associated with 154–410 mg DCA kg^1? day^?1 in the 13-W period suggest their role as protective mechanisms contributing to the survival of cells modified in response to those treatments.     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）对斑马鱼（Brachydanio rerio）生理生化特性的影响

为了研究邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)对水生生物的毒性效应,将斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)暴露于DBP5个浓度组中96h急性染毒,测得其半致死浓度(96h-LC50)为8.51mg·L-1,从而得出其安全浓度为0.85mg·L-1.在此基础上,等对数浓度差设置4个质量浓度0.38、0.85、1.90、4.25mg·L-1进行20d慢性染毒,期间每5d测定斑马鱼的体重、肝重和鳃重,同时测定斑马鱼肝脏、鳃中SOD酶和ATPase活性.结果表明,斑马鱼比肝重总体随DBP浓度的增加和暴露时间的延长而升高(p<0.01),而比鳃重总体变化不大.随DBP浓度增大和暴露时间延长,斑马鱼肝脏、鳃中SOD酶和ATPase活性均显著受到抑制(p<0.01).     

Life cycle analysis and choice of natural gas-based automotive alternative fuels in Chongqing Municipality, China

Road transport produces significant amounts of emissions by using crude oil as the primary energy source. A reduction of emissions can be achieved by implementing alternative fuel chains. The objective of this study is to carry out an economic, environmental and energy (EEE) life cycle study on natural gas-based automotive fuels with conventional gasoline in an abundant region of China. A set of indices of four fuels/vehicle systems on the basis of life cycle are assessed in terms of impact of EEE, in which natural gas produces compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol, dimethylether (DME) and Fischer Tropsch diesel (FTD). The study included fuel production, vehicle production, vehicle operation, infrastructure and vehicle end of life as a system for each fuel/vehicle system. A generic gasoline fueled car is used as a baseline. Data have been reviewed and modified based on the best knowledge available to Chongqing local sources. Results indicated that when we could not change electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into commercial vehicles on a large scale, direct use of CNG in a dedicated or bi-fuel vehicle is an economical choice for the region which is most energy efficient and more environmental friendly. The study can be used to support decisions on how natural gas resources can best be utilized as a fuel/energy resource for automobiles, and what issues need to be resolved in Chongqing. The models and approaches for this study can be applied to other regions of China as long as all the assumptions are well defined and modified to find a substitute automotive energy source and establish an energy policy in a specific region.     

Obligatory barrier crossing and adaptive fuel management in migratory birds: the case of the Atlantic crossing in Northern Wheatears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oenanthe oenanthe</Emphasis>)

Behaviour on migration was often suggested to be selected for time-minimising strategies. Current optimality models predict that optimal fuel loads at departure from stopover sites should increase with increasing fuel deposition rates. We modified such models for the special case of the east Atlantic crossing of the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). From optimality theory, we predict that optimal time-minimising behaviour in front of such a barrier should result in a positive correlation between fuel deposition rates and departure fuel loads only above a certain threshold, which is the minimum fuel load (f _min) required for the barrier crossing. Using a robust range equation, we calculated the minimum fuel loads for different barrier crossings and predict that time-minimising wheatears should deposit a minimum of 24% fuel in relation to lean body mass (m ₀ ) for the sea crossing between Iceland and Scotland. Fuel loads of departing birds in autumn in Iceland reached this value only marginally but showed positive correlation between fuel deposition rate (FDR) and departure fuel load (DFL). Birds at Fair Isle (Scotland) in spring, which were heading towards Iceland or Greenland, were significantly heavier and even showed signs of overloading with fuel loads up to 50% of lean body mass. Departure decisions of Icelandic birds correlated significantly with favourable wind situations when assuming a migration direction towards Spain; however, the low departure fuel loads contradict a direct non-stop flight.