Monitoring of water quality and assessment of organic pollution load in the nilüfer stream, Turkey

This article presents the results of an investigation carried out on the Nilüfer stream located in the southern part of Marmara region in Turkey 1999–2003. It evaluates water quality and proposes local requirements to prevent aquatic pollution problems. The study took into account the seasonal influences of point and non-point discharges on the organic pollution levels of the stream. The results indicated sub-standard water quality in most parts of the stream. Untreated domestic wastewaters, industrial discharges and agricultural activities contributed to the total annual organic loading. This study reveals the importance of construction, operation, maintenance and legislation of wastewater collection and treatment programmes, as well as the need for strict control of point and non-point nutrient loads for the preservation of the Nilüfer stream's water quality. Appropriate strategies for the control of point and non-point pollution sources, amendments and enforcement of legislation should be developed.     

Monitoring The Turbidity and Surface Temperature Changes and Effects of the 17 August 1999 Earthquake in the İzmİt Gulf,Turkey by the Landsat TM/ETM Data

The temporal turbidity and surface temperature changes and effects of the 17 August 1999 earthquake in the İzmit Gulf, Turkey have been investigated using Landsat TM/ETM data. The gulf is in the Mediterranean–Black Sea transition climatic zone and is partially surrounded by green vegetation cover and degraded and densely urbanized-industrialized areas. Landsat TM/ETM data acquired in 1990–1999 confirms increase in turbidity. Turbidity is always low in the southern part and high in the northern part of the gulf, because the more urbanized and industrialized areas are located in the northern part. The Landsat-7 ETM data acquired in the same year (1999) shows seasonal changes in turbidity. Moreover, the two high turbidity and surface temperature anomalies, one of which is parallel to the 17 August 1999 earthquake surface rupture (east–west) and the other which is in the northwest–southeast direction were mapped from Landsat-5 TM data acquired the day (18.08.1999) following the earthquake in the east end of the gulf. On the basis of turbidity implying the sea bottom movement, it is possible to state that a second rupture in the northwest and southeast direction could have occurred at the sea bottom during the earthquake. The distribution of the seismicity centers and the orientation of the lineaments in the area support this finding.     

Hepatic and extrahepatic expression of estrogen-responsive genes in male adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as biomarkers of short-term exposure to 17β-estradiol

Growing concern over reproductive hormones in the environment demands sensitive and efficient methods by use of molecular biomarkers to detect these contaminants in oviparous vertebrates. In this study, a real-time quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to investigate the expressions of three estrogen-responsive genes, Vtg I, Vtg II and ERalpha, in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues of male adult zebrafish exposed to varying concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2) for selected periods. Without exposure to E2, all the genes were expressed in the tissues of male controls with their levels being much lower than those in the respective tissues of female controls. The expressions of hepatic Vtg I and II mRNAs were induced significantly after 1-day exposure to E2 at as low as 0.25 microg L(-1). Significant induction in the expression of hepatic ERalpha mRNA required a higher E2 concentration (> or = 0.5 microg L(-1)) and a longer exposure (> or = 2 days), suggesting that Vtg I and Vtg II are more sensitive to E2 exposure. The induction of Vtg mRNA in the skin of zebrafish was also significant following a short exposure (1 day) to low E2 concentration (0.25 microg L(-1)), with the levels of Vtg I and Vtg II mRNA being increased by 25 and 5 times, respectively. These results suggest that Vtg I mRNA is a highly sensitive biomarker for determining the estrogenic effects of E2 and that the skin of zebrafish may be an appropriate substitute for liver for such a determination.     

Stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C values) of the halogenated monoterpene MHC-1 as found in fish and seaweed from different marine regions

Six samples of the red seaweed Plocamium cartilagineum (two both from Helgoland/Germany, Ireland, and the Antarctic) were analyzed by stable isotope analysis. The bulk δ(13)C values (-31 to -38‰) confirmed that this seaweed was exceptionally highly depleted in (13)C. The δ(15)N values were in the reported range for algae, and a moderate correlation between (13)C and (15)N content was observed. These measurements indicated that the season had a higher impact on the δ(13)C values than the location. Compound specific carbon isotope analysis by gas chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) was used to verify an even stronger depletion in (13)C in the halogenated natural product (HNP) MHC-1 isolated from the seaweed samples. The δ(13)C values of MHC-1 in the range -42 to -45‰ are the lightest determined to date for polyhalogenated compounds in the molecular mass range between 250 and 800 Da. MHC-1 was also isolated from two fish samples. The much higher (13)C content in MHC-1 from the fish samples (-35.6 to -39.2‰) indicated carbon isotope enrichment due to partial transformation. In processes such as the reductive debromination, the partial transformation is associated with an increase in the (13)C content in the remaining non-metabolized share of a compound. Stable isotope analysis may thus provide insights into the degree of transformation of HNPs in environmental samples.     

Application of zirconium–iridium permanent modifier for the simultaneous determination of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and nickel in atmospheric particulate matter by multi-element electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel and robust method for the simultaneous determination of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and nickel in atmospheric particulate matter by multi-element electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was developed, using zirconium–iridium coating as permanent modifier (140 μg Zr and 4 μg Ir). After 300 atomization cycles, it was necessary to add 2 μg of Ir. Due to the varying concentrations of Pb in atmospheric particulate matter, lead was monitored at two wavelengths, at the less sensitive line of 261.4 nm for high concentration samples (>20 μg?L^?1) or at 283.3 nm for the low concentration samples. Matrix-matched calibration had to be performed for quantitative recoveries (96–102 %). Following this approach, the four elements were determined in atmospheric particulate matter samples from an industrial area near the city of Athens in two different time periods (cold–warm) with limits of detection of 5.5 ng?m^?3 for Pb at 261.4 nm and 0.29 ng?m^?3 at 283.3 nm, 0.019 ng?m^?3 for Cd, 0.14 ng?m^?3 for As, and 0.22 ng?m^?3 for Ni. Lead, Cd, and As levels were very low, whereas Ni content was at comparable levels with other areas worldwide.     

Publicly available datasets on thallium (Tl) in the environment—a comment on <Emphasis Type="Italic">“Presence of thallium in the environment: sources of contaminations,distribution and monitoring methods”</Emphasis> by Bozena Karbowska,Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:640 (DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5647-y)

This comment highlights a whole series of datasets on thallium concentrations in the environment that were overlooked in the recent review by Karbowska, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188, 640, 2016 in this journal. Geochemical surveys carried out over the last few decades all over the world at various scales and using different sampling media have reported the concentration of thallium (and dozens more elements) in tens of thousands of samples. These datasets provide a ‘real-world’ foundation upon which source apportionment investigations can be based, monitoring programs devised and modelling studies designed. Furthermore, this comment also draws attention to two global geochemical mapping initiatives that should be of interest to environmental scientists.