Estimating Population Size and Detection Probability of the Lorestan Newt,Neurergus kaiseri (Schmidt, 1952) using an Integrated Method

Russian Journal of Ecology - Robust estimates of species population abundance are necessary for the success of conservation plans and species management strategies. In the present study, our main...     

Assessment of soil screening levels due to ingestion and dermal absorption of chrysene and benzo[k]fluoranthene and appropriate remediation method for Dorson Abad

For years, the Dorson Abad region has been extremely polluted by Tehran Oil Refinery due to leaking from its underground pipelines, storage tanks, and evaporation ponds. To assess the concentrations of hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, soil samples were collected from the grounds at and adjacent to a polluted stream located in the study area. The samples were then analyzed, and the results revealed that 12 of the 16 USEPA PAHs were noticeably present in the soil, which, among them, benzo[k]fluoranthene and chrysene had the highest concentrations with averages of 357.17 and 173.38 mg/kg, respectively. A comparison of the obtained concentrations with the soil screening levels indicated that both benzo[k]fluoranthene and chrysene concentrations were substantially higher than EPA screening level values, signifying the necessity of soil remediation for these contaminants in the area. Techniques such as soil washing/flushing, high temperature thermal desorption, and solidification/stabilization were investigated for treatment of the contaminated soil; solidification/stabilization is recommended as an applicable and cost-effective remediation method for Dorson Abad due to the size of the region, relatively low cost of the binder (cement), and low volatility of benzo[k]fluoranthene and chrysene.     

31P-NMR evaluation of organophosphorus pesticides degradation through metal ion promoted hydrolysis

The degradation of some organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in the presence of metal ions was studied by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Both ³¹P-NMR and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy results were used in order to determine the nature of metabolites formed after degradation. The degraded organophosphorus pesticide were investigated for chlorpyrifos and phoxim in the presence of several metal ions including Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ag⁺. ³¹P-NMR results indicated Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ion promoted degradation of OPPs and other metal ions formed complex with OPPs and cannot degrade OPPs. We found that the degradation of chlorpyrifos and phoxim with Ag⁺ or Hg²⁺ led to the formation of O,O-diethyl-O-methyl phosphorothionate, (C₂H₅O)₂(CH₃O)PS, at metal ion/pesticide mole ratios ≤1.0 and completely decomposed at a higher mole ratio of 10. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the degradation study of a number of technical and formulated pesticides in the presence of Ag⁺ ion at a metal ion/pesticide mole ratio of 10.     

Preliminary Source Tracking of Male-Specific (F<Superscript>+</Superscript>) RNA Coliphage on Lettuce as a Surrogate of Enteric Viruses Using Reverse Transcription-PCR

The aim of this research was to preliminary track fecal source male-specific F⁺RNA coliphages including human and animals in lettuce. At first, two published virus extraction procedures of ultracentrifugation and PEG precipitation were compared using DAL assay for determining the recovery efficiency in lettuce spiked artificially with three concentrations (10², 10⁴, 10⁶ pfu/100 ml) of MS2 coliphage. The results showed that PEG precipitation had the highest recovery in which the recovery efficiency at the spiked level of 10⁶ pfu/100 ml was 16.63 %. Aqueous phase obtained from the final step of PEG method was applied for enumeration of coliphage and viral RNA extraction in naturally contaminated lettuce samples (N = 30) collected from two sources (market and farm). The samples were then analyzed based on (I, II, III, and IV primer sets) using RT-PCR method. Coliphages were detected in 9 (60 %) and 12 (80 %) out of 15 market and farm samples, respectively, using DAL assay, whereas male-specific F⁺RNA coliphages were detected using the RT-PCR method in 9 (60 %) and 13 (86.6 %) out of 15 samples of market and farm, respectively. Based on the results, only genotype I of male-specific F⁺RNA coliphages was detected in lettuce samples and no sample tested was positive for other genotypes (II, III, and IV).