Occurrence of bisphenol A in surface water and uptake in fish: evaluation of field measurements

In this study the actual presence of the suspected endocrine disrupter Bisphenol A (BPA) in water systems was studied in the Netherlands. BPA was shown to be present in Dutch surface water at levels up to 330 ng/l, and one occasional observation of 21 microg/l. During the three sampling periods, 60-80% of the samples, most from marine and estuarine locations, contained BPA levels below the limit of quantification (14-40 ng/l). At a selected number of locations the presence of BPA in fish was studied, which showed that BPA varied from 2 to 75 ng/g in the liver and 1 to 11 ng/g in the muscle. Based on present measured concentrations in surface water and on literature derived toxicity data it was concluded that ecotoxicological effects nor estrogenic effects are likely to occur in the field situation.     

Uncertainty communication in environmental assessments: views from the Dutch science-policy interface

Scientific assessments of environmental problems, and policy responses to those problems, involve uncertainties of many sorts. Meanwhile, potential impacts of wrong decisions can be far-reaching. This article explores views on uncertainty and uncertainty communication in the Dutch science-policy interface and studies several issues concerning presentation of uncertainty information. Respondents considered uncertainty communication to be important, but it should be concise and policy relevant. Several factors influence policy relevance, including the place of an issue in the policy cycle, and its novelty, topicality and controversiality. Respondents held particular interest in explicit communication on the implications of uncertainty. Related to this, they appreciated information on different sources and types of uncertainty and qualitative aspects of uncertainty (e.g. pedigree charts). The article also studies probability terms, particularly for IPCC's 33–66% probability interval (‘about as likely as not’). Several terms worked reasonably well, with a median interpretation of 40–60%. Finally, as various target groups have different information needs and different amounts of attention for various parts of a report or communication process, it is important to progressively disclose uncertainty information throughout the communication. Improved communication of uncertainty information leads to a deeper understanding and increased awareness of the phenomenon of uncertainty and its policy implications.     

Female-biased sex allocation in peregrine falcons and other raptors

Summary The sex ratios of nestling Falconiformes in which males are smaller than females are often female biased, despite the apparent costs involved in producing very large female offspring. In Australian peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, this bias is most pronounced in broods produced early in the season, and the first eggs to be laid are most likely to produce females. Females that lay early are most likely to be successful breeders. Very large chicks tend to occur in female-biased broods. Collectively, these data suggest that females likely to produce large offspring produce daughters. A modified version of the Trivers/Willard hypothesis is suggested to account for this pattern.Offprint requests to: P.D. Olsen at the second address     

Differential pulmonary inflammation and in vitro cytotoxicity of size-fractionated fly ash particles from pulverized coal combustion

Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse health effects in humans. Pulmonary inflammatory responses were examined in CD1 mice after intratracheal instillation of 25 or 100 microg of ultrafine (< 0.2 microm), fine (< 2.5 microm), and coarse (> 2.5 microm) coal fly ash from a combusted Montana subbituminous coal, and of fine and coarse fractions from a combusted western Kentucky bituminous coal. After 18 hr, the lungs were lavaged and the bronchoalveolar fluid was assessed for cellular influx, biochemical markers, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The responses were compared with saline and endotoxin as negative and positive controls, respectively. On an equal-mass basis, the ultrafine particles from combusted Montana coal induced a higher degree of neutrophil inflammation and cytokine levels than did the fine or coarse PM. The western Kentucky fine PM caused a moderate degree of inflammation and protein levels in bronchoalveolar fluid that were higher than the Montana fine PM. Coarse PM did not produce any significant effects. In vitro experiments with rat alveolar macrophages showed that of the particles tested, only the Montana ultrafine displayed significant cytotoxicity. It is concluded that fly ash toxicity is inversely related with particle size and is associated with increased sulfur and trace element content.     

Seasonal variability in CH4 emissions from a landfill in a cool, semiarid climate

Methane exchange with the atmosphere was measured during three seasons at the Rooney Road landfill in Jefferson County, CO. Substantial spatial and temporal variability in exchange rates were observed. Mean fluxes to the atmosphere were 534, 1290, and 538 mg CH4/m2/day, respectively, in the fall of 1994, winter of 1994-1995, and summer of 1995. Median fluxes were 12.42, 8.62, and 5.65 mg CH4/m2/day, respectively, during those seasons. Forty-three of 177 measurements had small negative fluxes, suggesting methanotrophic activity in the landfill cover soils. Despite probable methanotrophic activity in cover soils, landfills without gas collection systems may emit substantial CH4 to the atmosphere, with large spatial and seasonal variability.     

Remediation of saline–sodic soil with flue gas desulfurization gypsum in a reclaimed tidal flat of southeast China

Salinization and sodicity are obstacles for vegetation reconstruction of coastal tidal flat soils. A study was conducted with flue gas desulfurization(FGD)-gypsum applied at rates of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 Mg/ha to remediate tidal flat soils of the Yangtze River estuary.Exchangeable sodium percentage(ESP), exchangeable sodium(ExNa), p H, soluble salt concentration, and composition of soluble salts were measured in 10 cm increments from the surface to 30 cm depth after 6 and 18 months. The results indicated that the effect of FGD-gypsum is greatest in the 0–10 cm mixing soil layer and 60 Mg/ha was the optimal rate that can reduce the ESP to below 6% and decrease soil p H to neutral(7.0). The improvement effect was reached after 6 months, and remained after 18 months. The composition of soluble salts was transformed from sodic salt ions mainly containing Na~+, HCO_3~-+ CO_3~(2-)and Cl-to neutral salt ions mainly containing Ca~(2+)and SO_4~(2-). Non-halophyte plants were survived at 90%. The study demonstrates that the use of FGD-gypsum for remediating tidal flat soils is promising.     

Quantifying the relative irreplaceability of important bird and biodiversity areas

World governments have committed to increase the global protected areas coverage by 2020, but the effectiveness of this commitment for protecting biodiversity depends on where new protected areas are located. Threshold‐ and complementarity‐based approaches have been independently used to identify important sites for biodiversity. We brought together these approaches by performing a complementarity‐based analysis of irreplaceability in important bird and biodiversity areas (IBAs), which are sites identified using a threshold‐based approach. We determined whether irreplaceability values are higher inside than outside IBAs and whether any observed difference depends on known characteristics of the IBAs. We focused on 3 regions with comprehensive IBA inventories and bird distribution atlases: Australia, southern Africa, and Europe. Irreplaceability values were significantly higher inside than outside IBAs, although differences were much smaller in Europe than elsewhere. Higher irreplaceability values in IBAs were associated with the presence and number of restricted‐range species; number of criteria under which the site was identified; and mean geographic range size of the species for which the site was identified (trigger species). In addition, IBAs were characterized by higher irreplaceability values when using proportional species representation targets, rather than fixed targets. There were broadly comparable results when measuring irreplaceability for trigger species and when considering all bird species, which indicates a good surrogacy effect of the former. Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has convened a consultation to consolidate global standards for the identification of key biodiversity areas (KBAs), building from existing approaches such as IBAs. Our results informed this consultation, and in particular a proposed irreplaceability criterion that will allow the new KBA standard to draw on the strengths of both threshold‐ and complementarity‐based approaches.