Noninvasive heavy metal pollution assessment by means of Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) hair from Galicia (NW Spain): a comparison with invasive samples

The current study represents the first investigation of the suitability of wolf hair as indicator tissue for metal exposure and accumulation within NW Spanish ecosystems. Dead animals, which were not specifically killed for these purposes, were necropsied, and further toxicological analyses were performed in order to establish the heavy metal content (Pb, Cd, and Zn) in liver, kidney, and hair, by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Two different factors, gender and age, were considered in order to determine their influence on heavy metal accumulation. Mean liver, kidney and hair concentrations of both toxic element, Cd (0.528, 2.692, and 0.026 ppm) and Pb (4.108, 0.031, and 0.196 ppm) considered on a dry weight basis, were situated below the established as acute toxicity levels for mammals. The highest concentrations were quantified for Zn, with means ranging from a maximum in hair samples (150.9 ppm) to a minimum in kidney samples (25.81 ppm). When the variable of gender and age were considered, female and adult wolves had higher concentrations of Cd in all the considered organs, although differences were only statistically significant for kidney. Neither the sex nor the age had a significant effect on Pb and Zn concentrations. A significant positive correlation (p?<?0.05) was identified between hair and liver Pb concentrations, as well as between hair and kidney Cd concentrations, thus suggesting the interest of the noninvasive sample for future ecotoxicological biomonitoring studies.     

Immigrant integration models in “illegal” communities: Postville Iowa's shadow context

Immigrant integration models in rural communities are limited because they do not acknowledge the context of illegality that exists within communities that have a high concentration of unauthorised immigrants. In this in-depth case study of Postville, Iowa (the site of an infamous US immigration raid), I examine current rural immigrant community integration strategies under a shadow context of illegality and unauthorised immigrant labour. I find that underground and informal relationships within the towns' employers, immigrants, civic leaders, and native townspeople sustain a shadow context of exploitation and community instability. My research demonstrates that communities with large unauthorised immigrant populations rely on both formal and informal immigrant integration strategies to create “welcoming” immigrant communities. The formal strategies are multicultural approaches that rely on “diversity champions” to instil a climate of inclusion but do not tackle structural issues that place unauthorised communities at risk. The informal strategies rely on tacit understandings of community behaviour that just perpetuate the structural conditions of exploitation present in rural towns. These two forms of immigrant integration strategies support a shadow context that breeds vulnerability and risk for unauthorised immigrants, even in an immigrant “welcoming” environment.     

Phylogeographic pattern and glacial refugia of a rocky shore species with limited dispersal capability: the case of Montagu’s blenny (Coryphoblennius galerita,Blenniidae)

Phylogeographic patterns among coastal fishes are expected to be influenced by distinct ecological, biological and life history traits, along with historical events and oceanography (past and present). This study focuses on the broad range phylogeography of the Montagu’s blenny Coryphoblennius galerita, a species with well-known ecological features, strictly tied to rocky environments and with limited dispersal capability. Eleven locations from the western Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay (including the Macaronesian archipelagos) were sampled. Mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) and the first intron of the S7 ribosomal protein gene were used to address the population structure, the signatures of expansion/contraction events retained in the genealogies and potential glacial refugia. The genetic diversity of the Montagu’s blenny was high throughout the sampled area, reaching maximum values in the Mediterranean and western Iberian Peninsula. The results confirmed a marked structure of C. galerita along the sampled area, with a major separation found between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic populations, and suggesting also a separation between the Azores and the remaining Atlantic locations. This study revealed complex and deep genealogies for this species, with Montagu’s blenny populations presenting signatures of events clearly older than the Last Glacial Maximum, with lineages coalescing in early Pleistocene and Pliocene. Three potential glacial refugia where this species might have survived Pleistocene glaciations and from where the recolonization process might have taken place are suggested: South of Iberian Peninsula/North Africa, Mediterranean and Azores.     

Obtaining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration ratios and molecular markers for residential wood combustion: Temuco, a case study

It is known that residential wood combustion (RWC) is an important source of fine particle emissions. The purpose of this work was to characterize the chemical composition of the particulate matter present in the Temuco urban atmosphere during winter, specifically the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) profile, because PAHs are considered to be among the key compounds in particulate matter toxicity. During the 2008 winter monitoring campaign, samples of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of < or = 10 (PM10) and < or = 2.5 (PM2.5) microm were taken on days with contamination episodes. Sixteen U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PAH compounds were extracted with toluene and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results show that phenantrene was the predominant compound associated with particulate matter at a concentration range between 300 and 600 ng m(-3), 18 times higher than the second most abundant PAH compound. High-molecular-mass compounds such as dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3,c,d]pyrene were also found, but they were minorities in the set. It was recognized from the PAH concentration ratios of the Temuco atmospheric aerosol that the main contamination source was in fact residential wood combustion; although not all the concentration ratios evaluated match the reported reference values, probably due to the kind of biomass used, the characteristics of Chilean heating appliances and climate.     

Persistent Organic Pollutants in gull eggs of two species (Larus michahellis and Larus audouinii) from the Ebro delta Natural Park

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of priority and emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in gull eggs from two species, the scavenger Larus michahellis and the protected species, Larus audouinii. These two species share habitat in the Natural Park of the Ebro delta (Catalonia, Spain). Compounds studied are included or under consideration in the Stockholm Convention and comprise polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated compounds (OCs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Four methods based in selective extraction and gas or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry were used and quality parameters are provided. OC pesticides and marker PCBs were the most abundant chemical families detected in eggs from the two species, followed by PFCs, PBDEs (especially BDE 209) and SCCPs. Dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were also detected in all samples. The overall widespread presence of POPs is discussed in terms of feeding habits, bird ecology and anthropogenic pressures in the protected Ebro delta breeding area.     

Sedimentation rate of settleable particulate matter in Santiago city,Chile

Settleable particulate matter (SPM) is an atmospheric pollutant harmful to human health and the environment in high concentrations. Despite this fact, no up‐to‐date information on SPM levels exists for the capital of Chile, Santiago (7 million inhabitants). To address this knowledge gap, SPM sedimentation rates, including soluble and insoluble components, were measured at three different urban sites from July to November of 2016. We compare the measurements with ambient and meteorological information, as well as urban typology settings. Our results indicate SPM deposition rates between 2.5 and 3.9 g/(m²·30 days). Only one site exceeded the national limit of 4.5 g/(m²·30 days), but we found an increasing trend in all three sites. SPM and its insoluble sedimentation rates increased during warm and dry months and presented significant correlations with meteorological parameters. The highest sedimentation rates were measured at the location with the least permeable surfaces and the lowest green spaces, while the lowest sedimentation rates were found in the sites with abundant green spaces and permeable soil. No significant differences were detected in the soluble components. Our results suggest that SPM levels in Santiago are close to the national limit and may increase with climate change and urban expansion.     

Influence of temperature changes on ambient air NO<Subscript>x</Subscript> chemiluminescence measurements

Users of automatic air pollution monitors are largely unaware of how certain parameters, like temperature, can affect readings. The present work examines the influence of temperature changes on chemiluminescence NO(x) measurements made with a Thermo Scientific 42i analyzer, a model widely used in air monitoring networks and air pollution studies. These changes are grouped into two categories according to European Standard EN 14211: (1) changes in the air surrounding the analyzers and (2) changes in the sampled air. First, the sensitivity tests described in Standard EN 14211 were performed to determine whether the analyzer performance was adapted to the requirements of the standard. The analyzer met the performance criteria of both tests; however, some differences were detected in readings with temperature changes even though the temperature compensator was on. Sample temperature changes were studied more deeply as they were the most critical (they cannot be controlled and differences of several tens of degrees can be present in a single day). Significant differences in readings were obtained when changing sample temperature; however, maximum deviations were around 3% for temperature ranges of 15°C. If other possible uncertainty contributions are controlled and temperature variations with respect to the calibration temperature are not higher than 15°C, the effect of temperature changes could be acceptable and no data correction should have to be applied.     

Analysis of the usefulness of biological parameters for the control of activated sludge wastewater treatment plants in an interlaboratory study context

The quality of the sludge in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) depends on the suitable colonization of the flocs by microorganisms. Due to the functional importance of these biological constituents, several biological or biological-related parameters have been commonly used for the control of depuration efficiency. According to national and international water regulation recommendations, interlaboratory studies have a great relevance to determine which parameters are more reliable for their extensive application in routine control. However, these studies are also very useful to demonstrate consistency in results from multiple laboratories and to develop reliable and reproducible methodologies which might be necessary for protocol validation and also for accreditation issues to meet regulatory environmental requirements. The main purpose of this work was to assess the results obtained in consecutive interlaboratory assays in order to determine the concordance degree in the application of biological parameters by participating laboratories. Following the international recommendations about these studies, a common working protocol was proposed. Statistical tests indicated that Sludge Index and several routine physical-chemical analyses [V30, Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS), Mixed Liquor Volatile Solids (MLVS) and Sludge Volumetric Index (SVI)] show low variability and therefore are suitable tools for laboratory control. Shannon Index and Sludge Biotic Index also presented low variability although a more precise protocol would be necessary, in particular the methodology to count small flagellates. The abundance and identification of protist species showed low concordance among laboratories and three factors were responsible for the low reliability of data: population density, size and morphological distinguishable characters of the specimens.