Insecticide Contamination of Jamaican Environment. V. Island-Wide Rapid Survey of Residues in Surface and Ground Water

Residues of organochlorines and organophosphates were determined by gas chromatography in water and sediment from 26 locations in 17 major rivers, 7 natural springs and 13 wells across Jamaica. Samples were collected on only one occasion between May and July, 1994. Residues of endosulfan were detected in all but three rivers; -endosulfan in 15 samples of sediment (0.9–108.1, mean = 28.93, S.E. = 7.198 g kg-1) and 13 of water (0.01–0.35, mean = 0.11, S.E. = 0.035 g L-1), -endosulfan in 5 sediment (15.29–49.35, mean = 30.56, S.E. = 7.132 g kg-1) and 12 water (0.05–0.31, mean = 0.14, S.E. = 0.031 g L-1) samples, and endosulfan sulphate in waters of three rivers (0.003–0.244 g L-1). Chlorpyrifos was present in 9 sediment (0.423-135.2, mean = 18.38, S.E. = 10.699 g kg-1) and two water (0.001–0.022 g L-1) samples, diazinon and ethoprophos in the sediment of one river each. Mean levels (g L-1) of and isomers and sulphate of endosulfan were 0.16 (S.E. = 0.057), 0.12 (S.E. = 0.036) and 0.15 (S.E. = 0.089), respectively, in four of the seven springs and 0.23 (S.E. = 0.052), 0.11 (S.E. = 0.029) and 0.26 (S.E. = 0.088), respectively, in seven of the thirteen wells monitored.     

The effect of temperature and salinity on copper body-burden and copper toxicity to Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor

Temperature from 12 to 22°C and salinity from 30.5 to 7.6 increased accumulation of copper in Hediste diversicolor. Copper accumulated ranged from 85.83 to 217.14 g g^-1. Sediments reduced accumulation of copper under temperature-salinity combinations. Accumulated copper ranged from 90.19 to 153.26 g g^-1.However, mortality of the worms was not solely dependent upon copper body-burden. It ranged from 34 to 45% and from 38 to 80% in the presence of sediment. A combination of osmoregulatory and thermal stresses increased the toxic effect of copper to the worms.     

A Survey of Trace Metals in Vegetation, Soil and Lower Animal Along Some Selected Major Roads in Metropolitan City of Lagos

The concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in a total of 144 samples of grass, soil and lower animal (earthworm, Lybrodrilus violaceous) were collected and analysed for their metallic content. Levels of cadmium ranged from 0.01–0.07 g g^–1; 0.01–0.12 g g^–1 and from trace–0.05 g g^–1 dry weight for plant, soil and animal samples respectively. Mean concentration of copper ranged 0.10–1.48 g g^–1; 0.10–2.90 g g^–1 and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 for samples in similar order as above. The levels of Pb varied from 0.01–0.14 g g^–1; 0.02–0.23 g g^–1 and from trace–0.07 g g^–1 while that of Zn ranged from 0.19–1.80 g g^–1; 0.51–3.35 g g^–1and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 also in the same order of samples as mentioned above. Levels of metals in soil samples were higher than the background levels with the exception of Zn but lower than European Union (EU) limits. The results generally revealed the presence of metals in plant and animal samples and metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible. Acceptable recoveries of the spiking experiment validate the experimental protocol.     

The effects of salinity,temperature and sediment on the toxicity of copper to juvenile Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor (O. F. Muller)

Without sediment, increasing salinity (7.3 to 29.2) and increasing temperature (12 to 22 °C) reduced the toxicity of copper to juvenile Hediste diversicolor. The LC₅₀ values ranged from 357 gL^-1 in 7.3 to 513 g L^-1 in 29.2 at 12°C and from 247 to 500 g L^-1 at 22°C. In deionized water all the juvenile were dead in all solutions to which copper was added (100 to 600 g L^-1). Dead worms were swollen and everted their pharynxs. In higher doses of copper (500 to 600 g L^-1) the worms were abnormal in behaviour in all salinities (0 to 29.2). The ability to swim or crawl was disturbed.With sediments increasing temperature and increasing salinity increased the toxicity of copper to the worms. The LC₅₀ values ranged from 3200 to 4100 g L^-1 at 22°C. The response of the juvenile to copper was antagonistic to increasing temperature and salinity and synergistic to increasing salinity and increasing temperature without and with the sediment respectively.     

Trihalomethane Formation Potential and Concentration Changes During Water Treatment at Mumbai (India)

The treated water at the outlet oftreatment plants and representative servicereservoirs of Mumbai city have been evaluatedfor trihalomethane formation potential in1995–1996. Chloroform, dichlorobromomethane,chlorodibromomethane and bromoform have beenmonitored during monsoon, winter and summer.The levels of chloroform are found above theregulated WHO guideline value of 200 g L^-1 in final water during postmonsoon atGhatkopar (226 g L^-1), Malbar (210.3 g L^-1) and Tulsi (231.26 g L^-1).     

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Mining and Concentration Activities in the Kola Peninsula, Russia by Multidate Remote Sensing

On the Kola Peninsula, the mining and concentration industry exerts anthropogenic impact on the environment. Tailing dumps cause airborne pollution through dusting, and waterborne pollution due to direct dumping and accidental releases. The objectives were: (1) to analyse multidate satellite imagesfor 1964–1996 to assess the environmental pollution from themining and concentration activity in the Kola in temporal perspective; (2) to evaluate remote sensing methods for integrated environmental impact assessment. The area of mining and industrial sites steadily expands and amounted to 94 km² in 1996. The polluted water surface amounted to at least 150 km² through dumping in 1978 and to 106 km² in1986 due to dusting. Thus, the impact from the mining and concentration activity should be reconsidered as more significant than it was officially anticipated. In the past the main mechanism of pollution wasdirect dumping into the lakes. Currently and in future, airborne pollution after dusting storms will dominate. The effective recultivation of the tailing dumps will be a long-term process. For effective assessment of impacts from the mining and concentration industry, remote sensing methods should be complemented by in-situ measurements, fieldwork, and mathematical modelling.     

SMOKE CONCENTRATION AS AN INDICATOR OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS LEVELS IN THE AIR

The relationship of polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAH) and smoke concentrationwas analysed at four different locations in Zagreb during theheating season. At two sampling sitessmoke pollution came primarily from domestic heating while theother two sites were under a directinfluence of traffic. At locations away from trafficcorrelations between smoke and PAH concentrationswere stochastically significant at 0.01 level. Takingbenzo-a-pyrene (BaP) as a PAH representative itwas shown that for these two locations the smoke/BaPrelationship can be presented with a singleregression line which can serve for rough assessment of BaPlevels in the air. The BaP concentrationof 10 ng/m³ – proposed by the German FederalEnvironmental Agency as orientation < mark (Lahman et al., 1984) – might be expected to occurat smoke levels 60 g/m³,and above this level it is recommended to start measuringactual concentrations of PAH.     

Application of CFD Methods for Modelling in Air Pollution Problems: Possibilities and Gaps

Different urban air pollution problems deal with complex structure of air flows and turbulence. For such problems the Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods become widely used. However, this approach despite a number of advantages has some problems. Experience of use of CFD tools for development of models and suggestions of their applications for a local scale air pollution over a complex terrain and stable stratification are discussed in this paper, including: Topography and complex geometry: choose of the co-ordinate system and computer grid; Turbulence closure for air pollution modelling: modified k- model for stable stratified ABL; Boundary conditions for vertical profiles of velocity for stable-stratified atmosphere; Effects of the radiation and thermal budget of inclined surfaces to dispersion of pollutants; Artificial sources of air dynamics and circulation.Some examples of CFD applications for air pollution modelling for a flat terrain, mountainous area, mining open cast and indoor ventilation are discussed. Modified k- model for stably-stratified ABL is suggested. Due to the isotropic character of the k- model a combination of it in vertical with the sub-grid turbulence closure in horizontal can be more suitable for ABL. An effective scheme of boundary conditions for velocity profiles, based on the developed similarity theory for stable-stratified ABL, is suggested. Alongside with the common studies of atmospheric dispersion, the CFD methods have also demonstrated a good potential for studying anthropogenic and artificial-ventilation sources of air dynamic and circulation in local-scale processes of air pollution.     

Methane in ocean waters: Concentration and carbon isotope variability at East Pacific Rise and in the Arabian Sea

Methane concentrations and stable carbon isotope ratios of water samples from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) at 21°S and the Arabian Sea (24°N, 65°E) have been determined. EPR surface water is in equilibrium (ca. 50 nl/L and –50<¹³CH₄<–46) with atmospheric methane. Deep background water has the signature of the remaining fraction of atmospheric methane partially oxidized in the water column by bacteria. Bottom near, hydrothermally influenced vent methane (>100nl/L and –30<¹³CH₄<–22) is detectable only close to the seep site. There is no input of hydrothermal methane into the atmosphere. EPR water is considered to be rather a sink than a source of atmospheric methane. Surface waters of the Arabian Sea are enriched in methane relative to the atmosphere (source for atmospheric methane). Carbon isotope ratios point to a bacterial origin of methane (¹³CH₄<–55) that is generated in the surface waters. Concentration changes and variations of carbon isotope ratios also suggest that methane seeping from the sea floor sediments of the Arabian Sea is oxidized by bacterial activity and does not reach the atmosphere.     

Characterization of atmospheric dust at Gurushikar,Mt. Abu,Rajasthan

The nature of atmospheric aerosols at Gurushikar, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan where a gamma ray telescope is to be installed, was investigated. Air particulate samples collected on filters were used to estimate the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) and its elemental composition. The TSPM varied from 31 to 103 g/m³ during January to March 1994. The heighest loads were observed during the months of May and June (80–100 g/m³) and lowest during October (20–60 g/m³). The dust was also examined for size, shape and nature of the mineral matter. The particle sizes varied from 100 m to 5 m. The course particles (>50 m) are irregular shaped quartz grains. Some of the medium size (=50 m) particles were spherical and were highly conducting. These particles were rich in iron content. Correlation coefficients among various elements in the dust showed that it is made up of mainly two components-wind blown ground dust and particulate arising out of wood and coal burning.     

Establishing a standard Sonoran Reference Plant and its application in monitoring industrial and urban pollution throughout the Sonoran Desert

Using analyses from honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) leaves from nearly pristine locations in Arizona, an inorganic plant concentration standard is proposed for use as a Sonoran Reference Plant (SRP). Such a standard can be used as a monitoring device for different anthropogenic pollution sources throughout the Sonoran Desert. To test the application of the SRP, honey mesquite leaves were collected at different sites in southern Arizona and their chemical fingerprints compared to SRP. Sources of element origin were identified through factor analysis and correlation matrices. A terrestrial factor was found in leaves from all sites. Anthropogenic factors varied for different sites. Mesquite leaves accumulated significant amounts of elements originating from copper smelters (As, Sb) and urban pollution (La, Sm, Ce, V). These pollutants are small-sized and have been linked to human lung diseases. Mesquite is a deciduous tree; the yearly comparison of mesquite leaf element concentration spectra to the SRP standard can be used to determine seasonal improvement or deterioration of environmental quality in a particular area.     

Environmental Contaminants in Blood, Hair, and Tissues of Ocelots from the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, 1986–1997

The ocelot (Felis pardalis) isan endangered neotropical cat distributed within asmall range in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), inTexas, U.S.A. Studies of the impacts of environmentalcontaminants in wild cats are few. Approximately onefourth of the estimated population (about 100) ofocelots in the LRGV was sampled to evaluate theimpacts of chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinatedbiphenyls, and trace elements on the population. Hairwas collected from 32 ocelots trapped between 1986–1992,and blood was collected from 20 ocelots trappedbetween 1993–1997. A few blood samples were obtainedfrom individuals recaptured two or three times. Tissue samples from 4 road-killed ocelots were alsoanalyzed. DDE, PCBs, and Hg were some of the mostcommon contaminants detected in hair and blood. MeanHg levels in hair ranged from 0.5 to 1.25 g g^-1 dw,Se from 1.5 to 3.48 g g^-1 dw, and Pb from 0.56 to26.8 g g^-1 dw. Mean DDE concentrations in plasma ranged from 0.005 g g^-1 ww to 0.153 g g^-1 ww, and PCBs ranged from 0.006 g g^-1 ww to 0.092 g g^-1 ww. Mean Hg levels in red blood cells rangedfrom 0.056 g g^-1 dw to 0.25 g g^-1 dw. Concentrations of DDE, PCBs, or Hg, did not increasesignificantly with age, although the highestconcentrations of DDE and Hg were found in olderanimals. Overall, concentrations of DDE, PCBs, and Hgwere low and at levels that currently do not pose anythreat to health or survival of the ocelot. This isfurther supported by good reproduction of the ocelotin the LRGV, where adult females averaged about 1.5kittens/litter. Thus, it seems that the current majorthreat to recovery of the ocelot in the LRGV may behabitat loss, although potential impacts of newgeneration pesticides, such as organophosphorus andcarbamate insecticides need further study.     

An Analysis with the CERT Model of the FSU Market Power in the Carbon Emissions Trading Market

This paper aims to assess the consequences of the amendments made to the Kyoto Protocol during COP 7 in Marrakech. The major issue of hot air and CDM transaction costs is examined using the CERT model to show that primary supply regions, typically those with hot air availability, might control the emissions reduction permit supply market and maximise net export revenues of permit supply by withholding 40 to 60% of available hot air credits. The assumption that primary permit suppliers control permit price via a restriction of hot air supply to the market will inadvertently leave a portion of the market share open to non-Annex B CDM supply, despite potentially extreme variance in CDM transaction costs. A summary table of policy implications on the emissions reduction permit market is also included.     

Adaptation to What and Why?

Adaptation in response to anthropogenic climate change seeks to maintain viability by maximising benefits and minimising losses. It is necessary because some climatic change is now inevitable, despite the international focus on mitigation measures. Indeed, the measures agreed at Kyoto would by themselves result in only a small reduction in the climate changes to be expected over the next century.Discussion of the expected changes and possible impacts leads to the following conclusions regarding climate change scenarios in relation to impacts and adaptation: Climate change in the foreseeable future will not be some new stable "equilibrium" climate, but rather an ongoing "transient" process; Climate change predictions relevant to impacts on most sectors and ecosystems are still highly uncertain; There is a need for a greater focus on developing countries and tropical regions, and on relevant key variables, including the magnitude and frequency of extreme events; The focus should shift from single predictions, or extreme ranges of uncertainty, to risk assessment; Thresholds critical to impacted sectors and ecosystems should be identified, and expressed as functions of climatic variables; Planned adaptations will be necessary to cope with multiple stresses, including those due to non-climatic changes; A major task of adaptation science is to identify the limits of adaptation, i.e., to identify "dangerous levels of greenhouse gases" beyond which adaptation becomes impractical or prohibitively expensive.     

Rural poverty driven soil degradation under climate change: the sensitivity of the disposition towards the Sahel Syndrome with respect to climate

Starting from the basic assumption of the syndrome concept that essentially all of the present problematic civilization–nature interactions on the global scale can be subdivided into a limited number of typical patterns, the analysis of the response of these patterns (syndromes) to climate change can make a major contribution to climate impact research, surmounting the difficulties of more common sectoral ceteris paribus impact studies with respect to their systemic integration. In this paper we investigate in particular the influence of climate on the regional proneness or disposition towards one of the most important syndromes with respect to famines and malnutrition, the Sahel Syndrome. It describes the closely interlinked natural and socioeconomic aspects of rural poverty driven degradation of soil and vegetation on marginal sites. Two strategies of global climate impact assessment on a spatial 0.5°×0.5° grid were pursued: (a) As a measure for the climate sensitivity of the regional proneness, the absolute value of the gradient of the disposition with respect to the global field of 3} 12 monthy normals of temperature, irradiation and precipitation is calculated. (b) The disposition was evaluated for two different climate forecasts under doubled atmospheric CO₂ concentration. For both strategies two new quantitative global models were incorporated in a fuzzy-logic-based algorithm for determining the disposition towards the Sahel Syndrome: a neural-net-based model for plant productivity and a waterbalance model which calculates surface runoff considering vertical and lateral fluxes, both driven by the set of 36 monthly climatological normals and designed to allow very fast global numerical evaluation.Calculation (b) shows that the change in disposition towards the Sahel Syndrome crucially depends on the chosen climate forecast, indicating that the disagreement of climate forecasts is propagated to the impact assessment of the investigated socio-economic pattern. On the other hand the regions with a significant increase in disposition in at least one of the climate scenario-based model runs form a subset of the regions which are indicated by the local climate sensitivity study (a) as highly sensitive – illustrating that the gradient measure applied here provides a resonable way to calculate an upper limit or worst case of negative climate impact. This method is particularly valuable in the case of uncertain climate predictions as, e.g., for the change in precipitation patterns.     

Determination of Cadmium and Lead in Different Cigarette Brands in Jordan

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations in different cigarette brands sold and/or produced in Jordan were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). Average levels of Cd and Pb in different cigarette brands in Jordan were 2.64 and 2.67 g g^{– 1} (DW), respectively. The results obtained in this study estimate the average quantity of Cd inhaled from smoking one packet of 20 cigarettes to be in the range of 3.65–7.30 g. Results suggest that the quantity of Pb inhaled of smoking one packet of 20 cigarettes, is estimated to be 0.74–2.22 g. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in cigarettes were significantly different between cigarette brands tested. Our results were compared with other worldwide studies.     

The monitoring of cadmium,zinc and copper in the kidneys and liver of humans deceased in the region of Cracow (Poland)

Cadmium, zinc and copper levels were determined in the renal cortex and liver of 60 inhabitants of Cracow, Poland. Cadmium levels in the renal cortex were contained in broad limits of 5–176 g/g, mean 50.6 g/g (wet weight). Maximum levels were found in the age group of about 50–60 years. The levels were slightly higher in men (53 g/g) than in women (45 g/g), with no effect of location within the region. The levels in smokers (62 g/g) were much higher than in non-smokers (32 g/g). The above relations were less pronounced for cadmium levels in the liver. Whole body retention of cadmium followed the pattern of cadmium in renal cortex. The level of zinc in renal cortex reflected those of cadmium. A significant proportion of the population (54% in smokers, 9% in non-smokers) showed cadmium levels in renal cortex exceeding the reference level of 50 g/g recently accepted for general population. In the view of the authors the exposure to cadmium of the population of Cracow is excessive and calls for attention.The study was performed under a KBN grant No 40106 91 01.     

Exposure estimates in assessing helath effects of air pollution

Air pollution has been associated with adverse health effects. Difficulties in interpreting studies of health effects of exposure to air pollution arise in estimating exposure. Until recently, studies of effects of air pollution have relied on pollution exposure measurements obtained from fixed location air pollution stations monitoring outside air (to evaluate compliance with air quality standards, rather than to examine population exposure). However, recent evidence suggests that there are substantial differences between air pollution levels measured at such sites and levels to which people are actually exposed, i.e. personal exposure. The present study examines effects of ambient urban air pollution on persons suffering from asthma, healthy non-asthmatic subjects and school children (in 2 Canadian cities, Toronto and Hamilton). Air pollution exposure is being assessed by data obtained from: (1) conventional abatement oriented fixed location air pollution monitoring stations, (2) an extensive population oriented network, (3) inside and (4) outside structures (homes and schools) as well as (5) personal air pollution samplers. The data indicate variability in these different estimates of exposure which have implications on health effects assessment.     

Heavy Metal Contents and Magnetic Properties of Playground Dust in Hong Kong

This study examined the levels of seven heavy metals (namelyzinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and iron) andtheir associations with magnetic properties in playground dustof Hong Kong. Results showed that the playground dust containedhigh concentrations of Zn (mean = 1883 g g^-1), Cu(mean = 143 g g^-1) and Cr (mean = 263 g g^-1).Qualitative examination of dust samples under microscope indicated local traffic as one of the important pollutant sources. Magnetic measurements indicated that these anthropogenicpollutants mainly consisted of coarse-grained multidomain (MD) ferrimagnetic minerals. Superparamagnetic (SP), stable single domain (SSD) ferrimagnetic grains and non-ferrimagnetic mineralswere present in relatively small amounts. Significant correlations between heavy metals and various magnetic parametersindicated a strong affinity of heavy metals to magnetic minerals hence pointed out the potential of magnetic properties for simpleand rapid proxy indications of heavy metal pollution in playground dust.     

Nitrogen isotope ratios in pine bark as an indicator of N emissions from anthropogenic sources

The article describes the use of Scots pine bark to identifynitrogen sources in eastern Germany, as well as background areas in Russia and Bulgaria, by using natural isotope ratios of total nitrogen (N_t) and individual N compoundssuch as ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrate (NO₃ ^-)and amid nitrogen (amide-N). The samples collected were analysed using an elemental analyser in connection with a gas isotope mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS). Natural ¹⁵N abundances in pine bark from impact areas suggest that the ammonium accumulated on the surface of the bark is releasedfrom livestock management. Bark of Scots pines growing near agricultural land had highly depleted ¹⁵N_t values (between –8 and –12), while bark from background areas (unpolluted areas) displayed slightly negative ¹⁵N_t values (mean ¹⁵N_t = –3.8). It is assumed that part of the N adsorbed on the bark surface is mainly derived from ammonia(mean ¹⁵N_t = –40.3) escaping from livestock housing and during the application of manure. This assumption is confirmed by experiments under controlled conditions in which manure samples were spread on soil. In addition, temporal and spatial variations of ¹⁵N_t abundances in pine bark from various locations in eastern Germany as wellas pine stands in Nature Park Dübener Heath are discussed.