Increasing interannual and altitudinal ozone mixing ratios in the Catalan Pyrenees

Interannual, seasonal, daily and altitudinal patterns of tropospheric ozone mixing ratios, as well as ozone phytotoxicity and the relationship with NO_x precursors and meteorological variables were monitored in the Central Catalan Pyrenees (Meranges valley and Forest of Guils) over a period of 5 years (2004–2008). Biweekly measurements using Radiello passive samplers were taken along two altitudinal transects comprised of thirteen stations ranging from 1040 to 2300 m a.s.l. Visual symptoms of ozone damage in Bel-W3 tobacco cultivars were evaluated biweekly for the first three years (2004–2006). High ozone mixing ratios, always above forest and vegetation protection AOT40 thresholds, were monitored every year. In the last 14 years, the AOT40 (Apr–Sept.) has increased significantly by 1047 μg m^?3 h per year. Annual means of ozone mixing ratios ranged between 38 and 67 ppb_v (38 and 74 ppb_v during the warm period) at the highest site (2300 m) and increased at a rate of 5.1 ppb_v year^?1. The ozone mixing ratios were also on average 35–38% greater during the warm period and had a characteristic daily pattern with minimum values in the early morning, a rise during the morning and a decline overnight, that was less marked the higher the altitude. Whereas ozone mixing ratios increased significantly with altitude from 35 ppb_v at 1040 m–56 ppb_v at 2300 m (on average for 2004–2007 period), NO₂ mixing ratios decreased with altitude from 5.5 ppb_v at 1040 m–1 ppb_v at 2300 m. The analysis of meteorological variables and NO_x values suggests that the ozone mainly originated from urban areas and was transported to high-mountain sites, remaining aloft in absence of NO. Ozone damage rates increased with altitude in response to increasing O₃ mixing ratios and a possible increase in O₃ uptake due to more favorable microclimatic conditions found at higher altitude, which confirms Bel-W3 as a suitable biomonitor for ozone concentrations during summer time. Compared to the valley-bottom site the annual means of ozone mixing ratios are 37% larger in the higher sites. Thus the AOT40 for the forest and vegetation protection threshold is greatly exceeded at higher sites. This could have substantial effects on plant life at high altitudes in the Pyrenees.     

Antioxidant responses in the polychaete Perinereis gualpensis (Nereididae) exposed to the carbon nanomaterial fullerene (C60)

The objective of this study was to analyse biochemical responses induced by the carbon nanomaterial fullerene (C₆₀) in the polychaete Perinereis gualpensis (Nereididae). The activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), as well as total antioxidant capacity, concentration of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (TBARS), were analysed. Estuarine worms were maintained in sediments collected at an unpolluted site and spiked with fullerene (3 mg C₆₀·g^?1 sediment). A control group was run in parallel. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of sediment and fullerene indicated that the size of the carbon nanomaterial should enable it to be ingested by the polychaete. No evidence of oxidative damage (TBARS) was observed in any of the treatments, and the same was true for GSH and GCL measurements (p>0.05). Total antioxidant capacity was higher in the C₆₀ group after 2 and 7 d when compared with the control group (p<0.05), suggesting that fullerene is acting as an antioxidant. The fact that P. gualpensis is an infaunal organism diminishes the chance of fullerene photoexcitation with consequent reactive oxygen species production. Thus, the data indicated an absence of toxic responses mediated by oxidative stress in estuarine worms exposed to C₆₀ mixed in sediments.     

Physical–chemical processes of sustainable materials’ production from hazardous toner waste,galvanic glass waste and spent foundry sand

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Several sustainable white ceramic composites were prepared from 3 to 7 wt.% of hazardous toner waste, 30–40% of spent foundry sand,...     

Dependence of Ozone Biomonitoring on Meteorological Conditions of Different Sites in Catalonia (N.E. Spain)

Evaluation of visual symptoms of ozone damage was conducted in the network of bioindicator rural stations of Catalonia (NE Spain) every 14 days from May to October. Damage rates of ozone (and consequently, ozone biomonitoring capacity of bioindicators) were found to vary highly in time and space depending on the local environmental and meteorological conditions. Lower ozone damage to foliage was produced when meteorological conditions favour stomata resistance. Modulatory effects of meteorological conditions need to be considered in biomonitoring and when modeling plant ozone doses and damage.     

Policy And Practice The Ecological Values of Traditional Land Use in Low-lying Coastal Environments: The Example of the Aiguamolls de L'Emporda,Costa Brava1

Traditional strategies of resource use in lowland coastal areas may play a very significant role in modern environmental management since, in many ways, the cultural and biological diversity peculiar to these ecoystems that we now wish to protect are the product of human efforts rather than the product of nature alone. We will illustrate this using the example of the so-called closes (enclosures) in the Natural Park of the Aiguamolls de l'Emporda (Catalonia, Spain). Closes are pasture fields surrounded by tree screens that remain inundated part of the year but that can be used for cattle grazing during the rest of the time. Because of agricultural modernization in the 1960s and 1970s many closes were turned into permanent agricultural fields. Since the creation of the Natural Park in 1983, there has been an attempt to recover these traditional land uses although not without some opposition by the farming sector.     

Prenatal and postnatal characterization of Y chromosome structural anomalies by molecular cytogenetic analysis

We describe three cases in which we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to characterize Y chromosome structural anomalies, unidentifiable by conventional G-banding. Case 1 was a 46,X,+mar karyotype; FISH analysis revealed an entire marker chromosome highlighted after hybridization with the Y chromosome painting probe. The PCR study showed the presence of Y chromosome markers AMG and SY620 and the absence of SY143, SY254 and SY147. CGH results confirmed the loss of Yq11.2-qter. These results indicated the presence of a deletion: del(Y)(q11.2). Case 2 was a 45,X [14]/46,XY[86] karyotype with a very small Y chromosome. The PCR study showed the presence of Y chromosome markers SY620 and AMG, and the absence of SY143, SY254 and SY147. CGH results showed gain of Yq11.2-pter and loss of Yq11.2-q12. These results show the presence of a Yp isodicentric: idic(Y)(q11.2). Case 3 was a 45,X,inv(9)(p11q12)[30]/46,X,idic(Y)(p11.3?),inv(9)(p11q12)[70] karyotype. The FISH signal covered all the abnormal Y chromosome using a Y chromosome paint. The PCR study showed the presence of Y chromosome markers AMG, SY620, SY143, SY254 and SY147. CGH only showed gain of Yq11.2-qter. These results support the presence of an unbalanced (Y;Y) translocation. Our results show that the combined use of molecular and classical cytogenetic methods in clinical diagnosis may allow a better delineation of the chromosome regions implicated in specific clinical disorders. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The evolution of agrarian practices and its effects on the structure of enclosure landscapes in the Alt Empordà (Catalonia,Spain), 1957–2001

During the last 50 years, mechanisation of the rural environment, and, more recently, the Common Agricultural Policy have led to profound changes in agrarian landscapes throughout Europe, and in particular in the rich and diverse Mediterranean landscapes (Meeus et al., 1990). In the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, a small area of hedgerow landscape persists as a remnant of what was once an important centre for livestock production. This paper presents the results of a study carried out in this area with the aim of clarifying the relationship between the structural change of this hedgerow landscape and the evolution of farming practices developed by its owners and workers. It also considers these farmers’ perceptions of their pastures, of their farms and of the region. Up to 61 statistically significant relationships were found between the physical landscape characteristic variables and the socio-economical variables. Results depict a hedgerow landscape determined by the combination of two management models. Here, and contrary to conclusions reported in similar literature, traditional pasture activity leads to a weaker hedgerow network than a farming model based on crop cultivation. Management guidance required to move from the current situation towards a hedgerow landscape supporting both biodiversity and agrarian activity is discussed.     

Airborne trace element pollution in 11 European cities assessed by exposure of standardised ryegrass cultures

Within a European biomonitoring programme, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was employed as accumulative bioindicator of airborne trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, Zn) in urban agglomerations. Applying a highly standardised method, grass cultures were exposed for consecutive periods of four weeks each to ambient air at up to 100 sites in 11 cities during 2000–2002. Results of the 2001 exposure experiments revealed a clear differentiation of trace element pollution within and among local monitoring networks. Pollution was influenced particularly by traffic emissions. Especially Sb, Pb, Cr, Fe, and Cu exhibited a very uneven distribution within the municipal areas with strong accumulation in plants from traffic-exposed sites in the city centres and close to major roads, and moderate to low levels in plants exposed at suburban or rural sites. Accumulation of Ni and V was influenced by other emission sources. The biomonitoring sites located in Spanish city centres featured a much higher pollution load by trace elements than those in other cities of the network, confirming previously reported findings obtained by chemical analyses of dust deposition and aerosols. At some heavily-trafficked sites, legal thresholds for Cu, Pb, and V contents in foodstuff and animal feed were reached or even surpassed. The study confirmed that the standardised grass exposure is a useful and reliable tool to monitor and to assess environmental levels of potentially toxic compounds of particulate matter.     

Antioxidant responses and reactive oxygen species generation in different body regions of the estuarine polychaeta Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae)

The aim of this study was to analyze the total antioxidant capacity (TOSC), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the different body regions of the estuarine polychaeta Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) sampled at non-polluted (NOPOL) and polluted (POL) sites from Lagoa dos Patos (Southern Brazil). Organisms collected at POL during summer showed similar (p>0.05) TOSC values along the body, but worms collected at NOPOL presented higher (p<0.05) TOSC values in the posterior (P) region in respect of anterior (A) region and middle (M) region. TOSC in the P region at NOPOL was higher (p<0.05) compared with the same body region of worms at POL. In summer, ROS concentration was higher in A and M regions of worms at POL in respect of the organisms at NOPOL. During winter all the regions showed higher ROS in worms sampled at POL. It was registered absence of season influence on LPO content, but in the P region at NOPOL in summer there were lower LPO levels compared with the others regions (p<0.05). In vitro assays showed that P region, despite a higher basal ROS, presented a higher competence to cope with pro-oxidants compared with A and M regions (p<0.05), corroborating the field results. A lower proteic sulfhydril content was observed in P in respect of the other regions (p<0.05) supporting the idea of a highest oxidant condition in this region. The results indicate that worms collected at the POL site are confronted to higher ROS concentrations, affecting its antioxidant capacity, a result that depends of body regions.