Polychlorinated biphenyls in different trophic levels from a shallow lake in Argentina

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in a aquatic community from Los Padres Lake, Argentina. Twenty four PCB congeners from tri- to octa-chlorinated isomers were detected and quantified using conventional gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of PCBs in freshwater organisms from a shallow lake of Argentina. Stems of bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus), whole tissues of false loosestrife (Ludwigia sp.) and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes argentinus), and liver, gonads, muscle and mesenteric fat (if present) of fish species (Rhamdia sapo) and (Oligosarcus jenynsi) were analyzed. Two areas were selected to macrophytes sampling: the input area, main PCB source of the lake (Station 1), and the output area, a potential anoxic zone (Station 2). Macrophytes from Station 1 bioconcentrated higher total PCB levels than Station 2, showing that the former have received PCBs washed down from upstream areas. Penta- and hexa-congeners were enriched relative to other congeners in animal biota and macrophytes from Station 1, consistent with commercial mixture of Aroclor 1254 used in this region. In bulrush from Station 2 a predominance of tri- and tetra-chlorinated congeners was observed. Grass shrimp showed the lowest PCB values among animal biota. PCB concentrations in fish tissues varied with the species and the gonadal development. Mesenteric fat, only present in post-spawning organisms of R. sapo, had the highest values of PCBs relative to other tissues. A clearance of total PCBs in ovaries of post-spawning females of R. sapo was observed, but not in testes. O. jenynsi/P. argentinus biomagnification factor (BMF) had a mean value of 18.7. Congeners 44, 52 and 151, showed the highest BMF values, being 64, 66 and 62, respectively. These values would be a consequence of the low depuration rate of 44 and 52 congeners with orthochlorine substitution conducted by O. jenynsi and the high depuration rate of congener 151, which lacks 4 4^′- chlorine substitution, carried out by grass shrimp. Although the most of congeners have been biomagnified, they did not clearly displayed a concomitantly increasing with log K_ow.     

Cadmium accumulation and Cd-binding proteins in marine invertebrates--a radiotracer study

Tissue and subcellular accumulation of cadmium were studied in different tissues of three marine invertebrates (blue mussel Mytilus edulis, the tunicate Ciona intestinalis and the sea star Asterias rubens) using radioactive ¹⁰⁹Cd as a tracer. The organisms were exposed to 0.05, 2 and 50 μg Cd l⁻¹ for 21 days. Quantitative data were obtained by dissecting, weighing and subsequently measuring radioactivity in organs and tissues. Differences between each exposure and each tissue with regard to the amount of radioactivity and metallothionein (MT) content were evaluated. Obvious interspecies differences in Cd accumulation were observed, as well as differences between tissues of the three species. The highest concentrations of Cd in all exposure treatments were found in the hepatopancreas of M. edulis and body wall of A. rubens. Taking all treatments into account, Cd accumulation in the tunic of C. intestinalis was high compared to other tissues from this species. Over 60% of Cd was present in the S50 fraction in all treatments in all three species. Metallothionein levels were increased at the highest Cd-exposure in all species and tissues, except in branchial pharynx of C. intestinalis where the highest MT level was reached following exposure to 2 μg Cd l⁻¹. The most surprising finding was that even the lowest Cd exposure concentration (0.05 μg Cd l⁻¹) caused MT induction in pyloric caeca of A. rubens, but there was no dose-dependent increase in MT at higher exposure levels.     

Properties of the 2,3,7,8-TCDD receptor- a QSAR approach

The Ah or 2,3,7,8-TCDD receptor protein plays an important role in mediating the biologic, toxic and genotoxic effects of aryl and halogenated aryl hydrocarbons. An assessment of the physicochemical parameters which facilitate ligand: receptor interactions was determined by multiple parameter linear regression analysis of the relative receptor binding affinities of a series of 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dixoins (Eq 1), 8-substituted-2,3-di (Eq. 2) and 2,3,4-trichlorodibenzofurans (Eq 3). The results demonstrate that substituent lipophilicity (π) and molecular volumes were

(Eq.1)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 1.24 π + 6.10

(Eq.2)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 1.10 π + 5.19

(Eq.3)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 1.09 π + 5.77

the major determinant factors governing interactions between the rat hepatic cytosolic receptor protein and the diverse substituted ligands. It has been shown that there are marked differences in species sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-TCDD (i.e. guinea pig > rat maice > hamster) although hepatic receptor levels in these species are comparable. QSAR analysis of the receptor binding EC₅₀ data for the 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins using rat (Eq. 1), mouse (Eq. 4), guinea pig (Eq. 5) and hamster (Eq. 6) hepatic cytosol demonstrated that there were significant differences in these equations. However it was also noted that

(Eq.4)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 0.95 + 0.93 E_s + 5.28

(Eq.5)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 0.94 + 0.579 σ_p + 6.13

(Eq.6)

log (I/EC₅₀) = 0.70 + 1.227 σ_p + 6.38

physicochemical factors which are important for ligand-receptor interactions were identical for the most sensitive (guinea pig) and least sensitive (hamster) species. These results indicate that events which follow the initial ligand-receptor interaction must be the major factors which determine species sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-TCDD.     

Bioconcentration of trans-chlordane by the midge, Chironomus decorus

The accumulation and transport of the organochlorine pesticide, trans-chlordane, by the midge, Chironomus decorus was examined in a whole life cycle laboratory exposure assay. Larvae were kept in dosed water exposures including food particles from egg stages through adult metamorphosis and were sampled for weight gain and chemical content over the course of the 50 day study. Accumulation of trans-chlordane was related to the amount of contaminant in the larval environment. Concentration of trans-chlordane (ng contaminant/g tissue) in larvae was not significantly different from second through fourth instar stages but depended upon the weight of the larvae. Differences in time to metamorphosis, weight gain and sex ratios occurred among all replicate exposures, including controls, suggesting nongenetic maternal differences, rather than environmental variation caused by chemical exposure. When the larvae metamorphosed, an average of 82.6% of the contaminant was retained in the adults while 11.4% was left behind in the shed exuviae. This study suggests that terrestrial predators feeding on emerging aquatic insects can be exposed to organic pesticides from aquatic environments.     

Disposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in two Norwegian epibenthic marine food webs

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are a group of halogenated hydrocarbons, comprising 210 different, theoretically possible congeners. They are relatively hydrophobic and persistent to biodegradation, thereby rendering them subject to bioaccumulation. This study was conducted in Frierfjord and Eidangerfjord in the Grenland fjord system, Norway, heavily polluted by PCDD/PCDF discharges from the magnesium production at Herøya from 1951 to 2001. Pooled samples of surface-sediments and the following organisms were collected for the Frierfjord and Eidangerfjord study areas: common shrimp (Crangon crangon), polychaetes (mainly Nereis diversicolor), shore crab (Carcinus maenas), cod (Gadus morhua), flounder (Platichthys flesus), trout (Salmo trutta), herring (Clupea harengus), benthic amphipods and zooplankton. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs were quantified in pooled samples for all species. The relative abundances of stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) were evaluated in the organisms as a measure of chemically-derived trophic level. Contrary to earlier studies on other persistent organochlorines, it was found that the concentrations of PCDD/Fs declined with increasing trophic level. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) also showed differences between species in the pattern of PCDD/Fs. Higher chlorinated congeners constituted lower percentages of the PCDD/F-concentrations higher in the food chain as compared to lower trophic levels. In general, congener patterns did not differ between fjords. Infauna (polychaetes) and zooplankton had congener patterns most similar to the pollution source. The results indicate lower accumulation of higher chlorinated congeners in species at higher trophic levels (fish), presumably due to low membrane permeability (high molecular size) and possibly slow transport through intestinal aqueous phases because of low aqueous solubility.     

Thyroid status in juvenile alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from contaminated and reference sites on Lake Okeechobee,Florida, USA

Exposure to environmental contaminants has been shown to alter normal thyroid function in various wildlife species, including the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Abnormalities in circulating levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T₄) have been reported in juvenile alligators from several contaminated lakes in Florida. To further elucidate these functional thyroid abnormalities, this study examines the structure of thyroids and circulating T₄ concentrations from juvenile alligators collected from three sites of varying contamination on Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The following variables were used to characterize thyroid morphology: epithelial cell height, width and area, percent colloid, and follicle area. These variables were compared among study sites and between genders. No difference was detected in epithelial cell height, epithelial cell area, or follicle area among the sites, whereas significant differences in epithelial cell width (p=0.02) and percent colloid (p=0.008) were found. Animals from the most contaminated site (Belle Glade) had significantly greater epithelial cell widths and significantly less colloid present in their follicles compared to animals from the reference site (West). Gender did not have a significant interaction with site for any variable measured. Thyroxine (T₄) concentrations were elevated in the intermediately contaminated site (Conservation Area 3A) compared to the other sites (p<0.0001). It is proposed that the disruptions seen in Lake Okeechobee alligators are due to disruptions at both the thyroid and extra-thyroidal tissues.     

The toxicity of copper,cadmium and zinc to four different Hydra (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa)

An acute toxicity study of three metals to Hydra species carried out using two different assessment methods, (i) determination of the LC50 and (ii) measurement of progressive morphological changes, demonstrated that relative toxicity decreased from copper to cadmium with zinc the least toxic for all species. The latter method revealed more details of the effect on Hydra in terms of physical damage to the polyp but both methods indicated that H. viridissima was more sensitive to copper and cadmium than H. vulgaris¹ (Zurich strain, male clone), H. vulgaris² (a dioecious strain reproducing sexually and asexually) and H. oligactis (dioecious, reproducing sexually and asexually). The responses to zinc were similar for all Hydra. The possible role of metabolic interactions between H. viridissima and its symbiotic green algae in contributing to the greater sensitivity of this polyp is discussed.     

Effect of UV-B exposure on eggs and embryos of patagonian anurans and evidence of photoprotection

In Patagonia, enhanced levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are affecting not only the southernmost territories but the northern as well, and there is a growing body of evidence indicating effects on terrestrial and aquatic communities. Anurans occur along a wide geographical gradient in Patagonia and are common in shallow waters, usually breeding during spring when seasonal UV-B radiation is at its highest level. In this paper we analyse the effective irradiances (I) experienced in nature by eggs and embryos of the patagonian anurans Pleurodema bufoninum, Pleurodema thaul and Bufo spinulosus papillosus, considering water and egg jelly optical properties. Besides, we determine photoprotective pigments in eggs and embryos of the different species, and ontogenetic shifts in pigment concentration. Finally, we studied the effects of natural and enhanced levels of UV-B on eggs of P. bufoninum aiming to evaluate the role of the jelly envelope in screening the damaging radiation. The evidence gathered in this work shows that natural and enhanced UV-B levels did not induce significant changes on the survivorship but incremented the occurrence of malformations. Also, the species experiencing high levels of exposure presented high concentrations of melanin suggesting that exposure to sunlight triggers photoprotection by pigments. Collectively our results suggest that the studied species bear certain levels of adaptation to cope with high ambient UVR conferred by environmental and biological factors.     

Effects of cadmium and zinc on oxygen consumption, ammonium excretion, and osmoregulation of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

White shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, a globally important cultured prawn species, is an ideal animal for studying the impairment caused by the effects of heavy metals that are often detected in coastal areas. The main purpose of the present study was to detect the acute toxicity of Cd and Zn to L. vannamei, and to investigate their effects on gill functions, which have not been carried out in this species before, hoping to obtain some important significance. First of all, we examined the acute toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) to L. vannamei and obtained 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h medium lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values of 2.58, 1.30, 1.14, and 1.07 mg Cd l⁻¹ and 3.98, 2.14, 1.75, and 1.35 mg Zn l⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, we also found that exposure of shrimp to Cd or Zn caused an inhibition in oxygen consumption of 91.3% and 75.9% lower than that of the control. However, after separate exposure to Cd or Zn, elevations in ammonium excretion were obtained, which were 153.7% and 144.1%, respectively, higher than the control. It is most likely that elevations in ammonium excretion were related to decreased osmotic pressure of shrimp blood. Finally, the distribution of Cd and Zn within gills was also determined.     

In situ assays with tropical cladocerans to evaluate edge-of-field pesticide runoff toxicity

Tropical regions’ economy is usually based on agriculture, which involves an intensive use, and even frequent overuse, of pesticides. Nevertheless, not much research has been done on the impact of pesticides on tropical aquatic ecosystems, which are often contaminated by runoff-related pesticide inputs due to unpredictable and torrential rainfalls. This study aimed to: (i) adapt and evaluate a short-term sublethal in situ assay using post-exposure feeding as an endpoint, to the tropical cladoceran species Diaphanosoma brachyurum (collected at the Pedra do Cavalo dam in the Paraguaçu River basin, Bahia, Brazil), and, (ii) assess the role of the standard species Daphnia magna as an adequate laboratory surrogate. Lethal and sublethal (post-exposure feeding) responses were assessed for the two species. To evaluate these responses under environmentally realistic exposure conditions, a runoff event was simulated in an agricultural area previously contaminated with different deltamethrin concentrations. The resultant runoff water was used to set up microcosms with different dilutions, simulating the entrance of runoff water in an adjacent lentic system. An in situ assay with D. brachyurum was performed inside the microcosms, allowing to discriminate the effects due to deltamethrin from those due to other potential stressors associated with the experimental design (e.g. organism handling, load of suspended particles, microcosm design). Water samples were collected from microcosms to conduct a laboratory assay with D. magna. The in situ methodologies revealed to be suitable to conduct assays with D. brachyurum under tropical conditions, since all exposed organisms were successfully retrieved from the chambers. Furthermore, none of the potential stressors associated with the experimental design influenced the daphnids’ performance. The tropical cladoceran species, exposed under more realistic conditions, revealed to be more sensitive than the laboratory standard species: lethal effects were only observed for D. brachyurum and sublethal effects were noticed at a lower deltamethrin concentration for this species than for D. magna.     

Testing sediment biological effects with the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca: the gap between laboratory and nature

The freshwater amphipod, Hyalella azteca, is widely used in laboratory sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation tests. However, its responses in the laboratory are probably very different from those in the field. A review of the literature indicates that in its natural habitat this species complex is primarily epibenthic, derives little nutrition from the sediments, and responds primarily to contaminants in the overlying water column (including water and food), not sediment or porewater. In laboratory sediment toxicity tests H. azteca is deprived of natural food sources such as algal communities on or above the sediments, and is subjected to constant light without any cover except that afforded by burial into the sediments. Under these constraining laboratory conditions, H. azteca has been reported to respond to sediment or porewater contamination. In nature, contamination of overlying water from sediment is less likely than in the laboratory because of the large, generally non-static sink of natural surface water. H. azteca does not appear to be the most appropriate test species for direct assessments of the bioavailability and toxicity of sediment contaminants, though it is probably appropriate for testing the toxicity of surface waters. Toxic and non-toxic responses will be highly conservative, though the latter are probably the most persuasive given the exposure constraints. Thus H. azteca is probably a suitable surrogate species for determining sediments that are likely not toxic to field populations; however, it is not suitable for determining sediments that are likely toxic to field populations.     

Effects of pyridaphenthion on growth of five freshwater species of phytoplankton. A laboratory study

The acute toxicity of the insecticide and acaricide pyridaphenthion to five species of freshwater phytoplankton, Scenedesmus acutus, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella saccharophila and Pseudanabaena galeata was determined. Insecticide concentrations eliciting a 50% growth reduction over 96 h (EC₅₀) ranged from 2.2 to 30.9 mg/l. The two species of Chlorella and the cyanobacteria P. galeata were more tolerant than the two species of Scenedesmus. Concentrations of pyridaphenthion detected in some natural waters were less than the toxic threshold for these species.     

Phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus incrassatulus (Chlorophyceae) in response to heavy metals stress

The microalgae genus Scenedesmus is commonly found in freshwater bodies, wastewater facilities and water polluted with heavy metals. Phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus has been documented in response to a wide variety of conditions; however, heavy metals have not been comprehensively documented as phenotypic plasticity inducers. In this study, we report the phenotypic plasticity of Scenedesmus incrassatulus (a non-spiny, four-cell coenobium forming species) in response to EC₅₀ value of copper, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. S. incrassatulus was grown in batch cultures in the presence of each metal. Chlorophyll-a content, cell size, parameters derived from the schematic energy-flux model for photosystem II, and morphotype expressions were recorded. Divalent cation metals induced unicellular forms, and hexavalent chromium produced out-of-shape coenobia corresponding to various stages of autospore formation. The changes induced by divalent metals were interpreted as phenotypic plasticity, because they were always associated to population doublings and were reversible when toxicant pressure was removed (only for Cu). Copper was the best inductor of unicellular forms and also affected significantly all the photosynthetic parameters measured. The developed morphotypes could confer ecological advantages to S. incrassatulus in metal stressed environments.     

Feasibility of soil dust source apportionment by the pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method

This study tested the feasibility of using pyrolysis (Py)-gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS) to obtain organic chemical species data suitable for source apportionment modeling of soil-derived coarse particulate matter (PM10) dust on ambient filters. A laboratory resuspension apparatus was used with known soils to generate simulated receptor filter samples loaded with approximately 0.4 mg of PM10 dust, which is within the range of mass loading on ambient filters. Py-GC/MS at 740 degrees C generated five times more resolvable compounds than were obtained with thermal desorption GC/MS at 315 degrees C. The identified compounds were consistent with literature from Py experiments using larger samples of bulk soils. A subset of 91 organic species out of the 178 identified Py products was used as input to CMB8 software in a demonstration of source apportionment using laboratory-generated mixtures simulating ambient filter samples. The 178 quantified organic species obtained by Py of soil samples is an improvement compared with the 38 organic species obtained by thermal desorption of soils and the four functionally defined organic fractions reported by thermal/ optical reflectance. Significant differences in the concentration of specific species were seen between samples from different sites, both geographically distant and close, using analysis of variance and cluster analysis. This feasibility study showed that Py-GC/MS can generate useful source profile data for receptor modeling and justifies continued method development.     

A comparison of exposure methods for SPME-based bioavailability estimates

The ability of polydimethlysiloxane coated solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers to predict bioavailability has been documented for a number of species and compounds. There are also a variety of established methods for establishing SPME-based bioavailability estimates; however, factors such as time until equilibrium and exposure regimen could affect fiber concentrations and have not yet been thoroughly tested. Exposure time may influence SPME fiber concentrations at equilibrium. Co-exposure of the fibers with different animals or the invertebrate species used could yield different estimates than those acquired using a shaker table system to achieve equilibrium between the sediment and SPME fibers. The current study examined the effects of time and exposure method (shaker table versus co-exposure with test species) on SPME fiber concentrations for two hydrophobic compounds: permethrin and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). An additional experiment with permethrin determined whether animal densities or fiber number influenced fiber concentrations. There were significant differences between the time required for SPME fibers to reach equilibrium when co-exposed with different species or separately, but fiber concentrations at equilibrium among treatments for both compounds were similar. Furthermore, among the 12 variations in species and fiber densities, there were no significant differences among treatments indicating that neither the route of exposure, animal density, nor fiber volume influenced SPME fiber estimates. This demonstrated that SPME fiber concentrations at equilibrium were not affected by exposure conditions, increasing their versatility in environmental assessments.     

The copper tolerance strategies and the role of antioxidative enzymes in three plant species grown on copper mine

This study was undertaken to identify the strategies and the status of antioxidant enzyme activities involved in three plant species tolerance against Cu-toxicity in copper mine. The following methods were used for evaluations in three wild type species; Datura stramonium, Malva sylvestris and Chenopodium ambrosioides. The level of chlorophyll and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) by spectrometry, malondialdehyde (MDA) and dityrosine by HPLC and the levels of Cu in tissues and soils by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Analysis showed that total and available copper were at toxic levels for plants growing on contaminated soil (zone 1). However, there were not any visual and conspicuous symptoms of Cu toxicity in plant species. Among three species, excess copper was transferred only into the D. stramonium and C. ambrosioides tissues. The C. ambrosioides accumulated Cu in roots and then in leaves, in which the leaves chloroplasts stored Cu around two times of vacuoles. In D. stramonium most of Cu was accumulated in leaves in which the storage rate in vacuoles and chloroplasts were 42% and 8%, respectively. In zone 1, the chlorophyll levels increased significantly in leaves of C. ambrosioides with respect to the same plant growing on uncontaminated soil (zone 2). There was insignificant decrease in chlorophyll content of D. stramonium leaves, collected from zone 1 with respect to zone 2. The D. stramonium and C. ambrosioides in zone 1, both revealed significant increase in their tissues antioxidant enzyme activities in comparison with the same samples of zone 2. There was significant elevation in oxidative damage biomarkers; MDA and dityrosine, when the aerial parts of D. stramonium in zone 1 were compared with the same parts of zone 2.

We concluded that there were different tolerance strategies in studied plant species that protected them against copper toxicity. In M. sylvestris, exclusion of Cu from the roots or its stabilization in the soil restricted Cu toxicity effects. On the other hand D. stramonium and C. ambrosioides, elevated their antioxidative enzyme activities in response to cu-toxicity. In addition, the species D. stramonium accumulated excess of Cu in leaves vacuoles.     

Sources of variability in plant toxicity testing

Published literature is investigated regarding the response of plants to various substances to determine the sensitivity of agricultural plants versus other species, the similarity of effects seen at different taxonomic levels, sensitivity of plants growing outdoors versus in a greenhouse, and the sensitivity of different measurement endpoints. We find that agricultural species are not consistently more or less sensitive to the herbicides tested than non-crop species. Genus and family taxonomic groupings may show similar responses among species, but this similarity quickly decreases as the comparison progress between orders and classes. Results from field and greenhouse studies are less in agreement between studies than data from the other topics. Shoot length will be affected at concentrations lower than for other vegetative endpoints for most species tested for inorganic substances, but for organic substances root and shoot mass were more sensitive. Overall, there is no one species or endpoint that is consistently the most sensitive for all species or all chemicals in all soils, and differences in bioavailability among compounds may confound comparison of test results. Therefore, species sensitivity distributions, adjusted for bioavailability when possible, should be considered in order to better evaluate effects to non-target terrestrial plants.     

Feasibility of Soil Dust Source Apportionment by the Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Method

Abstract

This study tested the feasibility of using pyrolysis (Py)-gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS) to obtain organic chemical species data suitable for source apportionment modeling of soil-derived coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀) dust on ambient filters. A laboratory resuspension apparatus was used with known soils to generate simulated receptor filter samples loaded with ～0.4 mg of PM₁₀ dust, which is within the range of mass loading on ambient filters. Py-GC/MS at 740 °C generated five times more resolvable compounds than were obtained with thermal desorption GC/MS at 315 °C. The identified compounds were consistent with literature from Py experiments using larger samples of bulk soils. A subset of 91 organic species out of the 178 identified Py products was used as input to CMB8 software in a demonstration of source apportionment using laboratory-generated mixtures simulating ambient filter samples. The 178 quantified organic species obtained by Py of soil samples is an improvement compared with the 38 organic species obtained by thermal desorption of soils and the four functionally defined organic fractions reported by thermal/optical reflectance. Significant differences in the concentration of specific species were seen between samples from different sites, both geographically distant and close, using analysis of variance and cluster analysis. This feasibility study showed that Py-GC/MS can generate useful source profile data for receptor modeling and justifies continued method development.     

Organochlorine pesticides accumulation and degradation products in vegetation samples of a contaminated area in Galicia (NW Spain)

The content of 21 organochlorine pesticides were studied in vegetation samples of a highly contaminated area by isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) located close to a former industrial area in Galicia (NW Spain). Five species of plants were collected at different points of the contaminated area and the different parts of the plants were separated in order to study differences in accumulation capabilities. Samples were extracted employing microwave energy followed by a clean-up step using solid phase extraction and finally determined by GC–ECD. The results obtained show that the most abundant pesticides are HCHs isomers, being the main isomers β-HCH and -HCH in all samples whereas δ-HCH and γ-HCH were at lower levels. Some other pesticides such as p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDE were also present in much lower amount in some of the samples. Several degradation products of HCH were also identified in some samples by GC–MS.     

Myxococcus xanthus'' killed cells as inducers of struvite crystallization. Its possible role in the biomineralization processes

We studied the possibility of struvite formation using killed cells of Myxococcus xanthus. Cells were killed by heat, UV light and sonication. In all cases, we show that struvite crystallization occurs and we propose that the dead cells or cell debris can act by themselves as heterogeneous crystallization nuclei. We also show that the slime, produced by Myxococcus in a large quantities, is not involved in this process.