Entsorgung von Pflanzenschutzmittel-Restmengen

Currently, in the Federal Republic of Germany residual amounts of pesticide residues are not separately collected but usually disposed in sanitary landfills with household waste. A concept is presented to prevent this way of waste disposal. It recommends specific incineration methods or, in special cases, the underground disposal. Strategies for collecting systems are also discussed.     

Biomonitoring von Stickstoffimmissionen

Background and aim

Air pollution caused by oxidized and reduced nitrogen is distributed over wide areas of Europe at a high level. As an alternative or complement to physical measurements and modelling calculations, biomonitoring with plants provides techniques to assess amounts and effects of pollution from oxidized and reduced nitrogen compounds (depositions and concentrations). Many of the previously implemented techniques are based on well-proven standardised methods, e.g. documented in VDI guidelines, modified more or less for a biomonitoring of atmospheric nitrogen pollution. This paper gives a review of the techniques for a biomonitoring of atmospheric nitrogen pollution, their possibilities as well as their limitations.

Main features

-diversity of the ground vegetation

-nitrogen accumulation in vascular plants

-exposure of vascular plants

-mapping of epiphytic lichens, bryophytes and algae

-nitrogen accumulation in lichens and bryophytes

-exposure of lichens and bryophytes

Results and Discussion

Important response parameters are nitrogen concentrations in plant tissue (shoot, needle, leave) and biodiversity of plant species. These responses of vascular plants in many cases are influenced by other local varying conditions, in particular the soil. The exposure of vascular plants over a short period provides a standardised quantification of the total atmospheric nitrogen input in a model ecosystem. The enrichment of nitrogen in the plant tissue of bryophytes and lichens from the ground vegetation is closely correlated with the amount of nitrogen deposition. The diversity of epiphytic lichens and the response of exposed Hypogymnia physodes is more sensitive to ammonia than to nitrous oxide, whereas with the diversity of epiphytic bryophytes or the abundance of algae no significant correlation with atmospheric N pollution were found.

Conclusions

Some bioindication techniques provide a causeeffect related, partly standardised biomonitoring of nitrogen pollution. In some cases varying experiences with some biomonitors like the biodiversity of the ground vegetation, exposure of lichens, moss bags and grass cultures stress the need for more research in this subject.     

Abbau von N-Lost

N-Lost grenades (World War II) were investigated to determine composition, environmental impact, and degratation of their contents. The experiments suggest that the contamination of soil and groundwater is less serious than expected, due to the hydrolytic degradation of N-Lost, the minor toxic effect of N,N,N′,N′-tetra(2-chloroethyl)-piperazonium dichloride, the dimerization product of N-Lost, and its hydrolysis to triethanolamine. Gas chromatographic analysis allows for easy and sensitive detection of this warfare agent and its degradation products in water and soil.     

Analyse von Wachstumskurven von Heterostegina depressa (Foraminifera: Nummulitidae)

Chamber formation in individuals of the large foraminifer Heterostegina depressa was studied with the intention of explaining the different shapes of growth curves established for groups of individuals. The material was derived from clone cultures and from the natural habitat. Chamber formation was observed by daily control of many individuals. The growth increments of a group of individuals depend mainly upon the frequency of chamber formation of the individuals, they also depend upon the percentage of growing individuals present and the sizes of chambers. Within a prolifically growing group, each individual builds a new chamber every second or third day, and 81 to 86% exhibit chamber-building activities. Further features of quickly growing individuals are: formation of chambers in a regular sequence, and short periods of rest between long periods of growth. During low illumination intensity and in darkness, growth of H. depressa may cease for several months (up to 81/2 months). Cessation of growth is connected with a marked reduction in all other physiological processes. After month-long inhibition of growth, different individuals responded with different growth behaviour under the same environmental conditions. For example, smaller individuals needed longer periods of physiological regeneration before building new chambers. Prior darkexposure resulted in intermittent growth in many individuals. Periods of rest were followed by periods of unusually intensive growth. Lower temperature resulted in a reduced frequency of chamber formation. The size of chambers, however, was not influenced; accordingly the shape of the test did not vary. Immediately after multiple fission, rapid growth begins. Growth curves of H. depressa, therefore, do not show initial periods of slow growth which is characteristic for general exponential growth. H. depressa exhibited sigmoidal growth curves only after periods of growth inhibition; it displayed typical regenerative growth. During these periods, up to 4 chambers in 4 days, or 9 chambers in 12 days, were built by 11-month-old individuals.     

Biologische Tests von Bodenextrakten zur Erkennung von Bodenkontaminationen Einstiegswerte und Test-Fensterbreite

Initial values and windows of competence together with a biological test system are introduced to identify soil contaminations. Theinitial values are defined as the amount of extract equivalent to a defined amount of soil (gramm soil equivalent) and the same amount of test medium. This is equivalent to a complete replacement of the test medium with the soil being tested. Theeffect limits should be at least the double standard deviation of the blank values. Based on the values found when testing uncontaminated soils, a higher threshold value has to be established for some test systems. Should no relationship be found to a standard test medium (e.g. agar as a matrix in the Ames assay), the so-calledwindow of competence is defined. Within this window no natural response is found when ex amining uncontaminated soil. For mutagenicity tests, the double spontaneous reversion rate (reversion coefficient of 2) as related o the blank sample is evaluated as the effect limit.     

Möglicher einfluß von feinden auf das verhalten von Diadema-seeigeln

The diurnal rhythms of the sea urchin Diadema setosum differ in coral-reef and port populations at Eilat, Israel. In the port basin (built in 1967), predators of D. setosum are not present. The locomotory activity of reef and port sea-urchins was measured in the field, using SCUBA equipment. During the day, reef sea-urchins sit motionless in sheltered areas; at night, they crawl around and search for food. In contrast, port sea-urchins are active during 24 h. The activity pattern of D. setosum seems to depend on the presence or absence of predators. Apparently, the sea urchins which entered the newly-built harbour have adapted to their predatorless environment. It is not known how this fast adaptation came about; possible explanations are discussed.     

Chemische Reaktionen von Phenylarsinverbindungen

Diphenylarsenic chloride (CLARK I) and diphenylarsenic cyanide (CLARK II) react quickly and quantitatively with dimercaptanes at room temperature to yield diphenylarsine thiolthioether. The thiolthioethers could be identified using mass spectrometry. This reaction can be used for the gas-chromatographic detection of diphenylarsenic compounds.