The Responsibility of Farmers,Public Authorities and Consumers for Safeguarding Bees Against Harmful Pesticides

Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics - This study examines the influence of environmental values on consumer intentions to participate in agritourism through the theory of planned...     

Multi-component assessment of worker exposures in a copper refinery. Part 1. Environmental monitoring

The exposure characterisation described in this paper for 135 copper refinery workers (45 females, 90 males) focuses on the concentrations of copper, nickel and other trace elements in the inhalable aerosol fractions, as well as in the water-soluble and water-insoluble subfractions. Some information is also provided on the thoracic and respirable aerosol fractions. Further, results are presented for volatile hydrides of arsenic and selenium released in the copper purification steps of the electrorefining process. For the pyrometallurgical operations, a comparison of the geometric means for the inhalable aerosol fraction indicated that water-soluble copper levels were on average 19-fold higher compared to nickel (p < 0.001) and a significant association was evident between them (r = 0.87, p < 0.001); for the insoluble subfraction, the copper : nickel ratio was 12.5 (p < 0.001) and the inter-element correlation had r = 0.98 and p < 0.001. Although for the electrorefinery workers the relative inhalable concentrations of copper and nickel were not significantly different (p > 0.05), the corresponding inter-element associations were: slope of 7.7, r= 0.54, p < or =0.001 for the water-soluble subfraction and slope of 1.3, r = 0.71 and p < or =0.001 for the water-insoluble subfraction. On average, a good proportion of the inhalable copper and nickel were found in the thoracic (40%) and respirable (20%) aerosol fractions. Cobalt air concentrations were generally low with geometric means and 95% confidence intervals of 3.1 (2.4-4.2)microg m(-3) (pyrometallurgical workers) and 0.3 (0.4-0.5) microg m(-3)(electrorefinery workers). Similarly, the maximum concentrations of cadmium and lead were low, respectively 4 and 25 microg m(-3). Of the hydrides, tellurium and antimony could not be detected, but for the arsenic (arsine) and selenium hydrides measurable exposure occurred for almost all electrorefinery workers, although the levels were generally low at 0.2 microg m(-3).     

Effects of acidic water on freshwater snails: results from a study of 1000 lakes throughout Norway

This paper summarizes some results from a monograph which focused on ecological and biogeographical aspects of the biota in Norwegian lakes and rivers with particular reference to the snail fauna. Field studies were made in the course of 20 summers within the period of 1953-1987. Acidic water is the main reason why snails are absent from some 4000 lakes in a low-calcium area in southern Norway ('Acid south'). This area is heavily influenced by acidic precipitation. Snails were not detected in lakes with pH below 5.2. In one lake, three snail species disappeared in parallel with acidification from pH 5.2 to 4.2. The calcium level modified the effect of low pH.     

ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL ATMOSPHERIC TRANSPORT AND DEPOSITION PATTERNS DUE TO RUSSIAN PACIFIC FLEET OPERATIONS

A probabilistic analysis of atmospheric transport and deposition patterns from two nuclear risk sites-Kamchatka and Vladivostok-situated in the Russian Far East to countries and geographical regions of interest (Japan, China, North and South Koreas, territories of the Russian Far East, State of Alaska, and Aleutian Chain Islands, US) was performed. The main questions addressed were the following: Which geographical territories are at the highest risk from hypothetical releases at these sites? What are the probabilities for radionuclide atmospheric transport and deposition on different neighboring countries in case of accidents at the sites? For analysis, several research tools developed within the Arctic Risk Project were applied: (1) isentropic trajectory model to calculate a multiyear dataset of 5-day forward trajectories that originated over the site locations at various altitudes; (2) DERMA long-range transport model to simulate 5-day atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition of 137Cs for 1-day release (at the rate of 10(10) Bq/s); and (3) a set of statistical methods (including exploratory, cluster, and probability fields analyses) for evaluation of trajectory and dispersion modeling results. The possible impact (on annual, seasonal, and monthly basis) of selected risk sites on neighboring geographical regions is evaluated using a set of various indicators. For trajectory modeling, the indicators examined are: (1) atmospheric transport pathways, (2) airflow probability fields, (3) fast transport probability fields, (4) maximum possible impact zone, (5) maximum reaching distance, and (6) typical transport time fields. For dispersion modeling, the indicators examined are: (1) time integrated air concentration, (2) dry deposition, and (3) wet deposition. It was found for both sites that within the boundary layer the westerly flows are dominant throughout the year (more than 60% of the time), increasing with altitude of free troposphere up to 85% of the time. For the Kamchatka site, the US regions are at the highest risk with the average times of atmospheric transport ranging from 3 to 5.1 days and depositions of 10(-1) Bq/m2 and lower. For the Vladivostok site, the northern China and Japan regions are at the highest risk with the average times of atmospheric transport of 0.5 and 1.6 days, respectively, and depositions ranging from 10(0) to 10(+2) Bq/m2. The areas of maximum potentially impacted zones are 30 x 10(4) km2 and 25 x 10(4) km2 for the Kamchatka and Vladivostok sites, respectively.     

Some heavy metals, essential elements, and chlorinated hydrocarbons in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) at Svalbard

During the period 1978-1989, samples of liver, kidney and subcutaneous fat from 24 polar bears, Ursus maritimus, from Svalbard were analysed for mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, selenium, arsenic, HCB, DDE, PCBs (as Aroclor 1260 or Phenoclor DP6). In a selected number of liver (seven) and fat (three) samples, the composition of individual PCB congeners was studied by comparison with 23 individual PCB congeners (IUPAC nos 28, 52, 74, 101, 99, 110, 149, 118, 114, 105, 153, 141, 138, 187, 128, 183, 156, 157, 180, 170, 194, 206 and 209). In the seven liver samples, the concentrations of o,p'- and p,p'-isomers of DDT, TDE, DDE, alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH, oxychlordane, heptachlor, heptachlorepoxide, aldrin and dieldrin were also determined. The hepatic concentrations of mercury, cadmium and lead in animals of all ages were 0.4-6.0, <0.1-1.2, and <0.5-1.6 microg g(-1), respectively. This indicates a moderate exposure. Concentrations of mercury and selenium were correlated (r=0.80). The levels of copper and zinc represented normal physiological concentrations. The concentrations of HCB, DDE and PCBs in fat were <0.05-1.5, <0.1-3.4 and 2.9-90 microg g(-1), respectively. The corresponding results for liver were <0.01-0.11, <0.1-0.5 and 0.1-78 microg g(-1), respectively. Six PCB congeners, PCB-99, -153, -138, -180, -170, and, -194 accounted for about 99 and 87% of the total PCB content (sum of the 12 congeners, nos. 28, 99, 153, 138, 128 + 187, 156, 157, 180, 170, 194, 206 and 209) in liver and fat, respectively. PCB-153 represented 37+/-3 30+/-16% of the sum PCB (sum of 12 congeners) in liver and fat, respectively. The range of the hepatic concentration of oxychlordane was 5-19 microg g(-1). Quantifiable concentrations of heptachlor, heptachlorepoxide, beta-HCH and dieldrin were also found in all the liver samples analysed. Low concentrations of p,p'- and o,p'-DDT were found in two of seven liver and two of two fat samples. Comparisons are made with investigations from Canada and Greenland. Possible effects of PCBs, especially on reproduction, cannot be excluded. Ringed seal, Foca hispida, and to some extent bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus, are the main food of the polar bear. It is therefore likely that the exposure to environmental pollutants occurs via the consumption of these two species.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and non-ortho substituted biphenyls in polar bear milk from Svalbard (Norway)

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), dibenzofurans (PCDF) and non-ortho substituted biphenyls (PCB, CB) were determined in 6 polar bear milk samples from Svalbard (Norway). For these compounds, no data for polar bears have been reported before from this region. Most of the PCDD/PCDF congeners were found at detectable levels. Concentrations expressed as 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (Nordic model) were in the order of 1–3 pg/g⁻¹ fat (0.2–1.6 pg ml⁻¹ milk) which is comparable with ringed and harp seal blubber from the same region. On whole milk basis, concentrations were similar to those found in human milk. An estimation of the daily uptake via milk showed that the intake is lower for polar bears compared to humans. As in human milk, relatively high levels of OCDD were found in some polar bear milk samples. The PCDD/PCDF congener pattern in the milk was different to that found in polar bear fat from the Canadian Arctic. Non-ortho substituted PCB levels in polar bear milk were similar to those found in polar bear fat from the Canadian North. However, CB 77 or 169 dominated in the milk while CB 126 was the most abundant congener in fat. PCDD/PCDF levels expressed as 2,3,7,8-TE were highly correlated with the fat content of the milk. No correlation between CB and PCDD/PCDF concentrations was found. Some data indicate that PCDD/PCDF concentrations in polar bear milk decrease with increasing time after delivery.     

Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

This study was designed to evaluate the degree of environmental contamination and possible exposure of pregnant women to toxic elements in seven selected areas of S?o Paulo State, Brazil. The overall median concentration of Mo in maternal blood was 0.53 μg L?1, highly significant differences found between sites (p < 0.0001). Cd was found to be low overall - 0.09 μg L?1 (0.01-0.58 μg L?1) - with mothers from the Coastal and Rural 1 sites having the highest levels (p < 0.016).Median Hg concentration was 0.60 μg L?1 (0.06 μg L?1-4.35 μg L?1); median Pb level was 16.2 μg L?1 (3.5-57.7 μg L?1) and no differences between sites were observed for both metals. Median Mn level was 16.7 μg L?1 (7.0-39.7 μg L?1), being highest in Urban 2 site (p < 0.016). Concentrations of maternal Co were found to range between 0.06 μg L?1 and 1.1 μg L?1 (median 0.25 μg L?1) and As level was 0.60 μg L?1 (0.10-3.8 μg L?1) overall, with no statistical significance between sites for Co and As. Median Se concentrations were found to be 64 μg L?1 (36-233 μg L?1), with the highest median levels found in Urban 3 site; site differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Correlation for each element (between paired maternal and cord blood) was measured only in Rural site 1; significant correlation was shown for Hg, Pb, Mn and Co (p < 0.05). These findings may be interpreted as indicating low environmental contamination in S?o Paulo State, Brazil. These findings could also indicate that pregnant women have little or no contact with pollutants, possibly due to awareness campaigns carried out by public health practitioners.     

Reproductive performance and organochlorine pollutants in an Antarctic marine top predator: the south polar skua

Despite low levels of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) in Antarctic biota, some compounds may exceed the levels in equivalent Arctic species, and previous studies have found biochemical evidence of pollutant exposure in south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki), a common marine top predator in the region. In this study we examined relationships between fitness components (fecundity and adult return rate between breeding seasons) and concentrations of OCs in this species. In 65 nests, both males and females were caught, and using principal component analyses (PCA) we produced composite measurements (PC1 and PC2) of six highly correlated OCs measured in blood samples. Although the concentrations of OC were below those documented to have reproductive effects in other aquatic birds, we found that the eggs of females with high levels of OCs in the blood hatched later, and their chicks were in poorer condition at hatching, than females with low OC levels. Thus OCs may delay reproduction and reduce foetal growth in the skuas. However, there was no relationship between the parents' OC residues and the occurrence of non-viable eggs, although the proportion of nests containing non-viable eggs was high (47%). Moreover, there were no significant relationships between OCs and reproductive variables in males, even if males had higher OC levels than females, and no associations between OCs and adult return rate between breeding seasons.     

Stage-specific biomass overcompensation by juveniles in response to increased adult mortality in a wild fish population

Recently developed theoretical models of stage-structured consumer-resource systems have shown that stage-specific biomass overcompensation can arise in response to increased mortality rates. We parameterized a stage-structured population model to simulate the effects of increased adult mortality caused by a pathogen outbreak in the perch (Perca fluviatilis) population of Windermere (UK) in 1976. The model predicts biomass overcompensation by juveniles in response to increased adult mortality due to a shift in food-dependent growth and reproduction rates. Considering cannibalism between life stages in the model reinforces this compensatory response due to the release from predation on juveniles at high mortality rates. These model predictions are matched by our analysis of a 60-year time series of scientific monitoring of Windermere perch, which shows that the pathogen outbreak induced a strong decrease in adult biomass and a corresponding increase in juvenile biomass. Age-specific adult fecundity and size at age were higher after than before the disease outbreak, suggesting that the pathogen-induced mortality released adult perch from competition, thereby increasing somatic and reproductive growth. Higher juvenile survival after the pathogen outbreak due to a release from cannibalism likely contributed to the observed biomass overcompensation. Our findings have general implications for predicting population- and community-level responses to increased size-selective mortality caused by exploitation or disease outbreaks.