A simple HPLC method for determination of permethrin residues in wine

An isocratic High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method was optimized for 3-phenoxybenzyl (1RS)-cis-trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate (permethrin) residues identification and quantification in wine matrix. Analytical reverse phase (RP) C-18 column was used (25 cm × 4 mm i.d., 5 μ m) with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water in ratio 70 %/30 % (v v^?1), flow-rate 2.0 mL min^?1, UV-detection at 215 nm and controlled oven temperature at 25°C. The peaks of isomers were identified with the retention times as compared to standard cis-/trans- mixture and confirmed with characteristic spectra using photodiode array detector. Under these conditions, permethrin isomers were well separated with resolution 2.8 and no interference with the naturally present wine compounds was observed. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Linear regression analysis data proved a good linear relationship (correlation coefficients, r², for cis- and trans-isomer are: 0.9995 and 0.9997, respectively) between response of the detector and concentration of permethrin isomers over a wide concentration range for both isomers (0.55 mg L^?1 ?4.40 mg L^?1). Experimental data showed mean recoveries between 93.95% and 96.58% with RSD values in range: 0.89% ?3.69%. The effect of ethanol content in the solvent on permethrin isomers peak areas was also studied and 60% v v^?1 ethanol was found to be optimal for sample preparation. The method was successfully tested on 20 commercial wine samples from the market in which no permethrin was detected. Thus, it was proved that it is suitable for routine permethrin residues analysis. The proposed method is suitable for routine analysis because of the simple sample preparation, acceptable run-time, low cost and its applicability with conventional instruments.     

Evolution of Radiocontamination of the Northern and Middle Adriatic Sea in the Period 1979-1990

Several investigations were carried out on biotic and abiotic samples to determine the difference between Chernobyl and preChernobyl environmental radiocontamination of the Adriatic Sea. Special emphasis was put on the determination of ¹³⁷Cs which resulted in the most abundant radionuclide in a wide variety of samples (sea water, sediment, pelagic and benthic species). Attention was also given to the neutron activation products ^110mAg and ¹³⁴Cs that were first discovered in the Adriatic ecosystem after the Chernobyl event in particular, although the ¹¹⁰Ag fallout deposition over the area was neglected in comparison to that of ¹³⁷Cs, its bioaccumulation in macroalgae and molluscs was much higher suggesting some particular physiological accumulation mechanism.     

Carrier detection of duchenne muscular dystrophy through analysis of dna from deciduous teeth of a dead affected child

The sister of a child affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was referred for genetic counselling to assess the risk of her being a carrier. Her brother had died 15 years previously at the age of 8. There were no other affected males in the family. There were no methods for DNA investigation at the time of the child's death and the family had never been studied for linkage with polymorphic probes on the chromosomal region Xp21. The only tissue from which an assessment of the risk could be made by DNA linkage analysis was two of the child's deciduous teeth that the parents had kept. DNA was extracted using a protocol described for the recovery of ancient DNA from museum specimens and archaeological finds. Multiplex amplification did not reveal deletions in 19 exons spanning the hot-spot regions for deletions within the dystrophin gene in Xp21. Linkage analysis using three highly polymorphic microsatellites demonstrated that the sister had not received the X chromosome borne by her brother. These results show that DNA extracted from teeth is a reliable source for molecular diagnosis.     

Isolation and Genomic Sequence of Hepatitis A Virus from Mixed Frozen Berries in Italy

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) was detected in two samples of mixed frozen berries linked to Italian hepatitis A outbreak in April and September 2013. Both viruses were fully sequenced by next-generation sequencing and the genomes clustered with HAV complete genomes of sub-genotype IA with nucleotide identities of 95–97 %.     

In situ monitoring of urban air in Southern Italy with the Tradescantia micronucleus bioassay and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs)

This study was designed to assess toxic and genotoxic compounds in the urban air of Caserta, South Italy using cuttings from the plant Tradescantia #4430. In situ monitoring of gaseous pollutans was made at 17 sampling points in two seasons of the year. Genotoxicity was evaluated by recording the micronuclei in meiotic pollen mother cells (Trad-MCN assay). In addition, the passive sampler semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed at the sampling points with a significant increase in micronuclei frequency. SPMDs concentrated priority organic pollutants were identified by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, while toxicity and mutagenesis were assessed on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri using the Microtox and Mutatox systems respectively. Significant toxic and mutagenic effects were observed at different points on the town grid and SPMDs effectively concentrated trace contaminants. The relationship between what was present in the air sampled by SPMDs and the micronuclei frequency was also explored.     

Social Demand for Ecosystem Services and Implications for Watershed Management

We performed a sociocultural preference assessment for a suite of ecosystem services provided by the Kiamichi River watershed in the south‐central United States, a region with intense water conflict. The goal was to examine how a social assessment of services could be used to weigh tradeoffs among water resource uses for future watershed management and planning. We identified the ecosystem services beneficiaries groups, analyzed perception for maintaining services, assessed differences in the importance and perceived trends for ecosystem services, and explored the perceived impact on ecosystem services arising from different watershed management scenarios. Results show habitat for species and water regulation were two ecosystem services all beneficiaries agreed were important. The main discrepancies among stakeholder groups were found for water‐related services. The identification of potential tradeoffs between services under different flow scenarios promotes a dynamic management strategy for allocating water resources, one that mitigates potential conflicts. While it is widely accepted the needs of all beneficiaries should be considered for the successful incorporation of ecosystem services into watershed management, the number of studies actually using the sociocultural perspective in ecosystem service assessment is limited. Our study demonstrates it is both possible and useful to quantify social demand of ecosystem services in watershed management.     

A method for measuring low-weight carboxylic acids from biosolid compost

Concentration of low-weight carboxylic acids (LWCA) is one of the important parameters that should be taken into consideration when compost is applied as soil improver for plant cultivation, because high amounts of LWCA can be toxic to plants. The present work describes a method for analysis of LWCA in compost as a useful tool for monitoring compost quality and safety. The method was tested on compost samples of two different ages: 3 (immature) and 6 (mature) months old. Acids from compost samples were extracted at high pH, filtered, and freeze-dried. The dried sodium salts were derivatized with a sulfuric acid-methanol mixture and concentrations of 11 low-weight fatty acids (C1-C10) were analyzed using headspace gas chromatography. The material was analyzed with two analytical techniques: the external calibration method (tested on 11 LWCA) and the standard addition method (tested only on formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, and iso-butyric acids). The two techniques were compared for efficiency of acids quantification. The method allowed good separation and quantification of a wide range of individual acids with high sensitivity at low concentrations. Detection limit for propionic, butyric, caproic, caprylic, and capric acids was 1 mg kg(-1) compost; for formic, acetic, valeric, enanthoic and pelargonic acids it was 5 mg kg(-1) compost; and for iso-butyric acid it was 10 mg kg(-1) compost. Recovery rates of LWCA were higher in 3-mo-old compost (57-99%) than in 6-mo-old compost (29-45%). In comparison with the external calibration technique the standard addition technique proved to be three to four times more precise for older compost and two times for younger compost. Disadvantages of the standard addition technique are that it is more time demanding and laborious.     

Sediment Quality Assessment in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea) Using Complementary Lines of Evidence

Sediments from Polish coastal environments were classified by a quality assessment approach that took into account trace metal and organic micropollutant concentrations, grain-size distribution, and organic carbon content. Generally, no benthic organisms were found at sites where sediments were classified as heavily polluted. However, areas characterized by a moderate contamination showed a variable composition of the benthic community and changing bioaccumulation patterns; therefore, no single species found in the Gulf of Gdańsk could be considered representative of the whole benthic environment. Although sediment monitoring must be considered a suitable tool to detect hot-spot pollution areas in coastal and inland waters, it should be complemented by bioaccumulation measurements to evaluate the actual risk posed by contaminants to benthic organisms. This “biological information” allows a better appreciation of the real benthic infaunal community exposure to chemicals and can usefully complement the existing sediment quality guidelines.     

Ecological tracers and at-sea observations document the foraging ecology of southern long-finned pilot whales (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Globicephala melas edwardii</Emphasis>) in Kerguelen waters

The food and feeding ecology of the poorly known southern long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas edwardii) was investigated using ecological tracers (muscle and skin δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, and total mercury, Hg) on individuals from two mass strandings together with at-sea observations of live animals in Kerguelen waters, southern Indian Ocean. Sightings of cetaceans from longliners over 9 years (2003–2012) emphasized the regular occurrence of pilot whales in slope waters surrounding the archipelago. Tissue δ¹³C values (a proxy of consumer foraging habitat) suggest that pilot whales fed in slope waters and in oceanic subantarctic waters over the last months preceding stranding. Tissue δ¹⁵N values and Hg concentration (dietary proxies) indicate a high trophic position (~4.7) for the pilot whales, likely corresponding to a mixed diet of fish and squid (not crustaceans) of undetermined species. Both skin and muscle Hg concentrations were positively and linearly correlated to individual size with no concomitant δ¹⁵N changes, which can be interpreted as a progressive Hg accumulation in tissues of individuals throughout life with no parallel dietary shift. Skin and muscle Hg concentrations were linearly and positively related; hence, Hg skin could be used as a proxy of Hg concentration in muscle (a main Hg reservoir of the body). Kerguelen southern long-finned pilot whales were less Hg contaminated than most pilot whale populations studied so far, thus suggesting that they are not at a high risk to Hg-induced damages in the remote islands of the Southern Ocean.     

Characterisation of trace elements and methylmercury in an estuarine sediment reference material, IAEA-405

An estuarine sediment sample, IAEA-405, was recently characterised for trace elements and methylmercury (MeHg) for ultimate use as a marine reference material. The reference values were calculated using data sets from 120 laboratories that participated in a world-wide intercomparison exercise. The data evaluation is highlighted, and includes comparisons of different analytical methods, as well as the distribution of data. Overall laboratory performance for this exercise was encouraging: 86 laboratories (72%) reported data with <25% outliers. There was sufficient acceptable data to establish recommended values for 17 elements and information values for a further 15 elements. In addition, a recommended value was established for methylmercury. The estuarine sediment sample, IAEA-405, can be used as a reference material for quality control in the determination of trace elements and methylmercury in moderately polluted sediments.