The effects of pesticides on greenhouse workers and their produced products

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture but are known to produce adverse effects on humans. In this study, blood activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and levels of malondialdhyde (MDA) were determined in 44 greenhouse workers (24 tomato workers, 20 clove workers) and in tomato (24 samples) and clove (20 samples) products. At the end of this study, blood MDA levels and activities of ALT, AST, and LDH levels in greenhouse workers were significantly increased while SOD and CAT activity levels fell significantly. Pesticide residues were not found in agricultural worker blood. Malathion residues (average 0.8?ppm) were detected in tomatoes (8 samples) in these greenhouses. Data suggest that the health of the greenhouse workers may be adversely affected by pesticides.     

污水生物处理过程药品及个人护理品转化产物识别研究进展

药品及个人护理品(pharmaceuticals and personal care products,PPCPs)在污水生物处理过程会发生生物及化学转化从而生成转化产物,某些转化产物较母体化合物毒性更高.目前对PPCPs转化产物关注不够,转化产物识别方法不明确.本文介绍了污水中PPCPs转化产物的识别流程,系统阐述了...     

Biodiversity of mosquitoes in Manipur State and their medical significance

Entomological studies conducted during monsoon and post-monsoon season in Manipur State revealed the presence of fifty-five species of mosquitoes under ten genera. Out of the seventeen Anopheles species recorded, Anopheles aconitus, An. dirus and An. nivipes were recorded for the first time from the state. The present study has confirmed the existence of An. dirus, the major malaria vector in the Northeast from a selected area of the state. Among Culicines, four species viz., Aedes nigrostriatus, Malaya genurostris, Aediomyia catasticta and Toxorhynchites splendens which were not reported earlier from this state have been recorded in the present study. With the addition of these seven species of mosquitoes to the earlier record of mosquitoes so far reported from Manipur, the mosquito fauna swells up to one hundred and eleven including the major vectors of malaria of the Northeast and the potential vectors of Japanese encephalitis and dengue virus transmission in India.     

The chemistry of aluminum in the environment

There is increased concern over the effects of elevated concentrations of Al in the environment. Unfortunately, studies of the environmental chemistry and toxicity of Al have been limited by our understanding of the processes regulating the aqueous concentration, speciation and bioavailability of this element.Although Al is the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust, it is highly insoluble and generally unavailable to participate in biogeochemical reactions. However, under highly acidic or alkaline conditions, or in the presence of complexing ligands, elevated concentrations may be mobilized to the aquatic environment. Ecologically significant concentrations of Al have been reported in surface waters draining acid-sensitive regions that are receiving elevated inputs of acidic deposition. Acid- sensitive watersheds are characterized by limited release of basic cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and/or retention of strong acid anions (SO₄ ^2–, NO₃ ^–, Cl^–). Under these conditions inputs of strong acids are not completely neutralized, but rather acidic water is exported from the terrestrial environment. It has been hypothesized that acidic deposition to acid-sensitive watersheds mobilizes Al within the mineral soil, causing elevated concentrations in soil solutions and surface waters. As a result of mineral phase solubility constraints, concentrations of aqueous Al increase exponentially with decreases in pH below 6.0.Monomeric Al occurs as a series of complexes in the aqueous environment, including aquo, OH^–, F^–, SO₄ ^2–, HCO₃ ^– and organic species. Of these aquo, OH^–, F^– and organic complexes are the most significant in natural waters.Elevated concentrations of Al are ecologically significant because: 1) Al is an important pH buffer in acidic waters, regulating the lower limit of pH values following acidification by strong acids; 2) through adsorption and coagulation reactions, Al may alter the cycling and availability of important elements like phosphorus, organic carbon and certain trace metals; 3) Al may serve as a coagulant facilitating the removal of light attenuating materials, thereby increasing the clarity and decreasing the thermal stability of lakes; and 4) Al is potentially toxic to organisms. Better understanding of the chemistry and speciation of Al is essential to assess these effects.     

Chemical,physical and biological methods to convert lignocellulosic waste into value-added products. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Actual agricultural practices produce about 998 million tonnes of agricultural waste per year. Therefore, converting lignocellulosic wastes into energy, chemicals,...     

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphic konishii Hayata的生态生物学特性

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphis konishii Hayata是中国特有的常绿小乔木,为潜在的优良园林绿化、观果树种.文章对其树形与冠幅、叶片的形态解剖结构、光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔传导率、叶绿素含量、叶面积、生物量和生产力、植物营养元素等进行了系统的研究,研究表明:它属中性树种,种子较小,其光合曲线为单峰型,光合速率平均值为5.62μmol·m-2·s-1,蒸腾速率为3.6 mmol·m-2·s-1,其气孔导度较大,水分利用效率低,苗期需荫蔽,长大后则需一定光照.圆齿野鸦椿生物量较低,其一年生苗平均生物量是(42.35±8.93)g,为中等生长速度,其苗期根系不深,可用一般营养袋育苗.圆齿野鸦椿体内加权平均养分含量较低,需要生于土壤肥沃、酸性、疏松、排水透气好、营养条件较好的地方或进行施肥.若要大量开发圆齿野鸦椿资源,需要考虑它的这些生态生物学特征,在其苗期与生长期采取不同的栽培管理措施.     

Anthropogenic factors and their potential impacts on the sustainable development of Abu Dhabi's terrestrial biological resources

SUMMARY

Since the discovery of oil, the United Arab Emirates has undergone a process of rapid development, increasingly affecting the ecosystems of the country. Limited scientific literature dealing with these ecosystems is available, although a process of comprehensive ecological research has been initiated over the last few years. Further information on the soils, vegetation, fauna and climate are required in order to initiate a process of sustainable use of natural resources.

Abu Dhabi Emirate was surveyed for anthropogenic factors in its habitats using an off-road vehicle, a global positioning system (GPS) and satellite imagery. The emirate was divided into six geomorphological units. Livestock was found to be the most common anthropogenic factor and is believed to have caused degradation of the natural vegetation. Agriculture, silviculture and urbanization were common and caused habitat loss and fragmentation. Rubbish dumping, earth moving and car tracks were also widespread, whereas air pollution and fences were limited. Four of Abu Dhabi's geomorphological units were classified as low-impact zones, two as low- to medium-impact zones and one as a medium- to major-impact zone. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and detailed ecological research were suggested as future mechanisms to implement sustainable development, and livestock control was suggested as a tool for habitat restoration.     

Distribution of glycosylglycerols and oligosaccharides in the marine environment and their ecological significance in the deep sea

Determination of low molecular weight carbohydrates in marine environments indicated that 1-O--D-galactosylglycerol, 6-O--D-galactosyl-1-O--D-galacto-sylglycerol, sucrose, laminaribiose and laminaritriose are widely distributed in seawaters, suspended and sinking particles, and sediments in coastal as well as in deep-sea waters [e.g. Mikawa Bay and Sagami Bay, Kumano Nada (offshore Japan), and northwest North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea and Antarctic Ocean: collections during 1978–1984]. Identification of these glycosylglycerols and oligosaccharides in algal cells such as a flagellate (Olisthodisus luteus), blue-green algae (e.g.Trichodesmium sp.) and a diatom (Reptocylindrus denicus) strongly suggests that these sugars are photosynthetically produced by algae in the euphotic zone and are then rapidly transported to the deep sea as sinking particles which can be collected by sediment-trap experiments. The rapid decay rate of low molecular weight carbohydrates by microorganisms suggests that the transported sugars provide energy substrates for microorganisms living in the deep sea.Please address all requests for reprints to Dr. Handa at Nagoya University     

Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by chemical and green route and their comparison in respect to biological effect and toxicity

Recent reports demonstrated an increase in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NP) and its applications. The chemical preparation of NP may be harmful. Thus, in this study, the biological activity and toxicology of nickel nanoparticles (NiNP) synthesized through chemical and green routes were compared. Chemical synthesis of NiNP was mediated by polyethylene glycol and hydrazine hydrate as stabilizing and reducing agent, respectively. Desmodium gangeticum aqueous root extract was used to prepare NiNP without any stabilizing and reducing agent. Nickel nanoparticles synthesized by both methods were characterized (ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential and vibrating sample magnetometer) and compared. There was no major significant difference in the nature of the NP prepared by both methods. However, green synthesized NiNP showed reduced size and better monodispersity compared to chemical synthesized one. Free radical scavenging activities and antibacterial activities of NiNP prepared by chemical and green route suggest that these NP, prepared by green route possess reliable antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Evaluation of toxicity in animal and cell line suggests that NiNP synthesized by green route are nontoxic.     

扩散源污染的定义及其研究意义

介绍了扩散源污染的标准定义、特征、学术活动和未来行动等方面，以期引起国内同行对开展扩散源污染研究的讨论和重视。     

The toxicity of aluminum to aquatic species in the US

In August 1988 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an ambient water quality criteria document for the protection of aquatic organisms from the toxic effects of aluminum. The EPA water quality criteria were developed utilizing procedures described in theGuidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, and after careful analysis of the latest toxicological information available to EPA on the adverse effects of aluminum on aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates and plants.The EPA criteria recommend that the four-day average concentration of aluminum not exceed 87 g L^–1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from chronic toxicity. The criteria also recommend that the one-hour average concentration of aluminum not exceed 750 g L^–1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from acute toxicity.Acute toxicity data for 20 species of freshwater aquatic organisms and chronic toxicity data for five species of freshwater aquatic organisms were utilized to develop the EPA water quality criteria. Striped bass and brook trout were observed to be the two most sensitive North American species to the toxic effects of aluminum. Aluminum toxicity was also observed to be increased at lower pH.     

The effects of direct and indirect constraints on biological communities

Human activities are expected to result in a diversity of directional or stochastic constraints that affect species either directly or by indirectly impacting their resources. However, there is no theoretical framework to predict the complex and various effects of these constraints on ecological communities. We developed a dynamic model that mimics the use of different resource types by a community of competing species. We investigated the effects of different environmental constraints (affecting either directly the growth rate of species or having indirect effects on their resources) on several biodiversity indicators. Our results indicate that (i) in realistic community models (assuming uneven resource requirements among species) the effects of perturbations are strongly buffered compared to neutral models; (ii) the species richness of communities can be maximized for intermediate levels of direct constraints (unimodal response), even in the absence of trade-off between competitive ability and tolerance to constraints; (iii) no such unimodal response occurs with indirect constraints; (iv) an increase in the environmental (e.g., climatic) variance may have different effects on community biomass and species richness.     

The models of niche and their application

Having studied the definitions of niche proposed by different ecologists, I have proposed a quantitative method of niche which can be applied to plants. Accordingly, the niche of an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) has been described by a mapping from its environmental set to the unit interval [0, 1], which enables a model of niche to be mathematically operational. The concepts of fundamental niche, realized niche, time niche, etc., may be described by using mathematical models related to each other, and the geometrical relationships between them can be revealed by a multi-dimensional surface. The uni-factor models are built upon the condition that the other factors are optimal for OTU, which are particular cases of the multi-factor models. The establishment of the quantitative relationship between these two kinds of models makes it possible to find out the plants' fundamental niche by doing uni-factor experiments. This may simplify the experiments in which the parameters in a practically applied model are to be estimated. The niche index introduced in this paper is related to average level and aftereffect of plant responses to the effects of its environment (i.e. “inertia”), thus it should be the basis of the simulation of plant seed yield and of its environmental evaluation. Accordingly, models of niche index, of plant seed yield, of plant growth and of environmental evaluation have been built which can be applied to the environmental evaluation or the prediction and management of plant (crop) production, etc.As an example of application, the models of wheat yield and its environmental assessment have been established and practically tested. The results of testing the model of wheat yield showed that the relative errors are 8% and 7.2%, respectively, in 1984 and 1986. The results of the environmental assessment of wheat reveal the fact that the insufficiency of the soil moisture at the 2th and 3th stages is the main restriction of the production of the wheat in Dinxi, Gansu Province, China.     

Types of larval development in marine bottom invertebrates,their distribution and ecological significance: a re-evaluation

The distribution of various types of larval development among marine bottom invertebrates has been discussed on the basis of ecological evidence by Thorson (1936, 1946, 1950, 1952) and Mileikovsky (1961b, 1965). The information at hand is reviewed anew in this paper and is re-evaluated in the light of modern pertinent literature. The interrelationships between certain larval types and their distribution are not as rigid and direct as originally assumed. This can be proved even by the copy book example of the distribution of the various forms of development among species of the coastal gastropod genus Littorina. Especially among species with wide distributional areas, local populations may exhibit greater diversity in larval types than has previously been thought. Different types of larval development have now become known to exist in different populations of opisthobranch gastropods and lamellibranchs, i.e., in invertebrate groups in which such variability had been ruled out by Thorson. Variability in the type of larval development within given species — as a function of geographical, seasonal and other environmental parameters —is also more common in other marine bottom invertebrates than formerly considered. Marine bottom invertebrates are characterized not only by the 3 main different types of larval development proposed by Thorson (pelagic, direct, viviparous), but also by a fourth type: demersal (free non-pelagic) development. This fourth type occurs at all water depths and in all geographic zones of the oceans. The most important of the 4 types is pelagic (planktotrophic) development. Thorson's rule (decrease in numbers of species possessing pelagic development from the Equator towards the Poles, and from shallow-shelf waters to greater oceanic depths) is well substantiated by new data. However, one correction is necessary: pelagic development is not completely absent in the abyssal zone, as was proposed by Thorson (1950, and later), but is represented in it by at least several species belonging to various groups of invertebrates, and is also fairly common in the bathyal zone. A detailed analysis of the distributional pattern of the different types of development of marine bottom invertebrates must further take into consideration asexual reproduction with all its different modifications. Asexual reproduction in benthonic invertebrates is ecologically significant because of its common occurrence in nature; in numerous species it is also important as a biological supplement to sexual reproduction. The vast majority of species inhabiting the shallow-shelf zone and, partly, the higher levels of the slope zone of ocean areas located roughly between the polar circles, reveals development by means of planktotrophic larval stages. In the highest latitudes and on the slopes to abyssal depths—characterized by low water temperatures, scarcity of food, increasing hydrostatic pressure and other environmental peculiarities—other types of larval development prevail and, progressively, replace pelagic development with increasing latitude or depth. The distributional patterns of the various types of development among marine bottom invertebrates form one of the most important factors determining the basic distributional dynamics of the whole benthos in all oceans, both in the geological past and at the present time.Dedicated to the memory of Professor G. Thorson —founder of modern reproductive and larval ecology of marine bottom invertebrates.     

Seaweed sex pheromones and their degradation products frequently suppress amphipod feeding but rarely suppress sea urchin feeding

Summary. A diverse group of brown seaweeds produce bouquets of C₁₁ metabolites, some of which act as pheromones that cue gamete release or attract sperm to eggs following release. We demonstrate that these C₁₁ metabolites and their degradation products also frequently and strongly deter feeding by the herbivorous amphipod Ampithoe longimana, but rarely by the herbivorous sea urchin Arbacia punctulata. Across the range of concentrations tested, seven of twelve C₁₁ metabolites or mixtures that we tested deterred feeding by the amphipod, but only two of eleven deterred the sea urchin. For those compounds where we could rigorously contrast the magnitude of deterrence against the amphipod with the magnitude of deterrence against the urchin, the amphipod was deterred significantly more than the urchin by five of six metabolites. Thus, C₁₁ compounds were more frequently and more strongly deterrent to the amphipod than to the sea urchin. These findings for C₁₁ metabolites conflict with previous investigations, where other classes of seaweed chemical defenses have been shown to deter feeding by large mobile herbivores like urchins and fishes but to be relatively ineffective against mesograzers, especially the species of amphipod that we used here. Our results suggest that C₁₁ metabolites are unusual among the known seaweed chemical defenses in that they are especially effective against mesograzers, which often consume seaweed spores, zygotes, and juveniles. The high concentrations of C₁₁ metabolites in brown algal eggs could allow these defenses to be especially important in defending gametes, zygotes, or young sporelings from herbivorous mesograzers. Received 26 February 1998; accepted 9 April 1998.     

The contribution of photosynthetic products to coral reproduction

The role of autotrophic nutrition in the production of coral planula was investigated in two field experiments carried out in Eilat, the Red Sea during 1980 and 1981, on the branching coral, Stylophora pistillata. Photosynthetically fixed carbon in coral tissue significantly decreased during planulation compared to the non-reproductive season. Planula-larvae collected 1 to 7 mo after coral tissue was labelled with ¹⁴C contained significant amounts of ¹⁴C-labelled photosynthates. The results provide the first direct evidence that energy requirements for planula production in a hermatypic coral are supported by translocation of products from algal photosynthesis. It is suggested that this is also the case in other hermatypic species.     

Quorum sensing regulation methods and their effects on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems: A review

• Quorum sensing enhancement and inhibition methods are summarized. • Effects of quorum sensing regulation on biofilm are reviewed. • Current knowledge gaps and research challenges are proposed. Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in microbial aggregation control. Recently, the optimization of biological waste treatment systems by QS regulation gained an increasing attention. The effects of QS regulation on treatment performances and biofilm were frequently investigated. To understand the state of art of QS regulation, this review summarizes the methods of QS enhancement and QS inhibition in biological waste treatment systems. Typical QS enhancement methods include adding exogenous QS molecules, adding QS accelerants and cultivating QS bacteria, while typical QS inhibition methods include additions of quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria, QS-degrading enzymes, QS-degrading oxidants, and QS inhibitors. The specific improvements after applying these QS regulation methods in different treatment systems are concluded. In addition, the effects of QS regulation methods on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems are reviewed in terms of biofilm formation, extracellular polymeric substances production, microbial viability, and microbial community. In the end, the knowledge gaps in current researches are analyzed, and the requirements for future study are suggested.     

磷对铝胁迫下荞麦根际土壤铝形态和酶活性的影响

采用土培法,以耐铝性明显差异的两个荞麦Fagopyrum esculentum基因型“江西养麦”(耐性)和“内蒙荞麦”(敏感)为材料,研究铝胁迫下磷对荞麦生长和根际土壤铝形态、土壤酶活性的影响.结果表明,0.4 g·kg~(-1)铝配施0.2 g·kg~(-1)磷的内蒙和江西荞麦根系生物量分别比不施磷组增加了67.9%和21.2%,磷能显著缓解铝对荞麦根系生长的抑制,提高根系生物量和根冠比.磷铝互作下根际土壤的交换态铝含量显著降低,毒性较小的吸附态羟基铝和络合态铝含量显著增加.根际土壤酶活性变化复杂,过氧化氢酶活性与磷质量分数呈正相关,w_p=0.2 g·kg~(-1)对铝胁迫下荞麦根际土壤转化酶活性最有利.说明施磷降低铝胁迫根际土壤的交换态铝含量,提高土壤过氧化氢酶活性,减缓铝毒对植株生长的抑制作用.     

Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and half maximal inhibitory concentration of antibiotics and their degradation products to assess the eco-toxicological potential

Abstract

Numerous studies have been reported on today’s ubiquitous presence of antibiotics in surface waters causing the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Advanced water treatment procedures aim at the complete prevention and elimination of antibiotics from entering natural water bodies. In this study, photoinduced degradation processes using UVC-irradiation were applied toward selected fluoroquinolone, tetracycline, macrolide, and sulfonamide antibiotics. Photodegradation products were elucidated using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Rate constants and quantum efficiencies were determined for the active substances and their photo-transformation products. As a measure of ecotoxicity, minimum inhibitory and half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were determined against the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis in a standard assay format. These values were further recorded as a function of UV exposure time. The irradiation time-dependent increase of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values agreed well with the kinetic models. After 10?min of irradiation, the compound solutions ceased to inhibit bacterial cell growth, indicating removal of the pharmaceutical activity. These findings were found in agreement with quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis. The combination of microbiological activity testing, molecular structure analysis, chemical kinetic investigation, and quantitative structure–activity relationship models proved to be able to predict irradiation times and evaluate potential ecotoxicological hazard of the irradiated drugs.     

The determination of partition coefficients of organic compounds in technical products and waste waters for the estimation of their bioaccumulation potential using reversed phase thin layer chromatography

Reversed phase thin layer chromatography (RPTLC) has been investigated for the estimation of octanol/water partition coefficients (P), an important parameter for the prediction of the environmental behaviour of organic chemicals. A strong correlation between P derived from the traditional octanol/water system and RPTLC has been established over five orders of magnitude. RPTLC data are likewise correlated to results obtained by high performance chromatography (HPLC). Due to the low costs, simplicity and separation power RPTLC is especially suited for the investigation and screening of mixtures of compounds before more complicated tests are involved.

Results from a round robin test on the determination of partition coefficients by HPLC, RPTLC and the batch method indicate the simplicity and accuracy of the RPTLC technique. Applications of the RPTLC‐technique on technical products and industrial waste waters are described.