Verteilungskoeffizienten chlorierter Kohlenwasserstoffe zwischen Muskulatur und Leber bei Fischen

Measured partition coefficients (KL_M/L) related to lipid-concentrations between the muscle (C_ML) and liver (C_LL) tissue of two fish species (Abramis brama, Zoarces viviparus) exhibit nominal values of unity according the relationship KL_M/L=C_ML/C_LL=1 for persistent compounds such as highly chlorinated PCB and values above one for degradable compounds for example chlorinated cyclohexanes or DDT. The corresponding theory is presented. The relationship holds for samples for single fish as well as for pooled samples.     

Bioassay zur Bestimmung von TCDD-Toxizitätsäquivalenten (TEQ) von Umweltproben und Reststoffen

Polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAH) like 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dioxin (TCDD) elicit a multitude of toxic and biological effects. A common trait of these substances is their affinity for a cytosolic receptor protein and the subsequent induction of the synthesis of several gene products, including cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP 1A1). In this publication we present a bioassay to determine the induction of CYP 1A1 as a sum parameter for the total toxic potential of critical halogenated compounds in complex environmental matrices. In order to eliminate compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and naturally occurring substances which might interfere with the bioassay we developed a simple cleanup procedure. TEQ values derived from bioassay are in good agreement with those obtained from chemical analysis. This bioassay in combination with the simplified “single column” clean up represents a cost and time effective alternative to chemical analysis for the screening of large numbers of environmental matrices.     

TRANSIENT STORAGE ASSESSMENTS OF DYE‐TRACER INJECTIONS IN RIVERS OF THE WILLAMETTE BASIN,OREGON1

ABSTRACT: Rhodamine WT dye‐tracer injections in rivers of the Willamette Basin yield concentration‐time curves with characteristically long recession times suggestive of active transient storage processes. The scale of drainage areas contributing to the stream reaches studied in the Willamette Basin ranges from 10 to 12,000 km². A transient storage assessment of the tracer studies has been completed using the U.S. Geological Survey's One‐dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage (OTIS) model, which incorporates storage exchange and decay functions along with the traditional dispersion and advection transport equation. The analysis estimates solute transport of the dye. It identifies first‐order decay coefficients to be on the order of 10^?5/sec for the nonconservative Rhodamine W.T. On an individual subreach basis, the first‐order decay is slower (typically by an order of magnitude) than the transient storage process, indicating that nonconservative tracers may be used to evaluate transient storage in rivers. In the transient storage analysis, a dimensionless parameter (A_s/A) expresses the spatial extent of storage zone area relative to stream cross section. In certain reaches of Willamette Basin pool‐and‐riffle, gravel‐bed rivers, this parameter was as large as 0.5. A measure of the storage exchange flux was calculated for each stream subreach in the simulation analysis. This storage exchange is shown subjectively to be higher at higher stream discharges. Hyporheic linkage between streams and subsurface flows is the probable physical mechanism contributing to a significant part of this inferred active transient storage. Hyporheic linkages are further suggested by detailed measurements of river discharge with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler system delineating zones in two large rivers where water alternately enters and leaves the surface channels through gravel‐and‐cobble riverbeds. Measurements show patterns of hyporheic exchange that are highly variable in time and space.     

Effect of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) on the fate of phenanthrene in a model ecosystem (water-lava-plant-air)

Advanced closed chamber system was used to study the fate of phenanthrene (3-rings PAHs) in the presence of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS). The results showed mineralization and metabolism of phenanthrene are fast in the “culture solution-lava-plant-air“ model ecological system. The distribution proportions of applied ^14C-activity in this simulative ecological system were 41%-45%, 14% to 10% and 1% in plant, lava and culture solution respectively, and 18% to 29%, 11% to 8% recovered in the forms of VOCs and CO2. Main parts of the applied ^14C-activity exist in two forms, one is polar metabolites(25%) which mainly distribute in the root(23%),the other is unextractable part (23%) which have been constructed into plant root (8.98%), shoot (0.53%) or bonded to lava(13.2%). The main metabolites of phenanthrene were polar compounels (25% of applied ^14C-activity), and small portion of ^14C-activity was identified as non-polar metabolites(6% of applied ^14C-activity) and apparent phenanthrene(1.91% of applied ^14C-activity). Phenanthrene and its metabolites can be taken up through plant roots and translocated to plant shoots. The presence of LAS significantly increased the the concentration of ^14C-activity in the plant and production of VOCs, at the same time it decreased the phenanthrene level in the plant and the production of CO2 at the concentration of 200 mg/L.     

Half-lives of tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rats,monkeys, and humans--a critical review

The elimination half-lives (t1/2) in Sprague-Dawley rats for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 1,2, 3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HxCDD), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) were estimated in long-term studies by Schlatter, Poiger and others. Furthermore, there are some published half-lives of TCDD in adult humans. The average half-life of TCDD in adult humans is approximately 2840 days, while in Sprague-Dawley rats the average t1/2 of TCDD is 19 days. The t1/2 of TCDD in humans is about 150 times that of rats. This factor was used to calculate the t1/2 values of the other polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in humans from the rat data. Furthermore, the terminal t1/2 values of PCDDs in adult humans were calculated from the regression equation: logt1/2H = 1.34 logt1/2R + 1.25 which was recently established for 50 xenobiotics (t1/2H = terminal half-lives in days for humans, t1/2R = terminal half-lives in days for rats). The following terminal half-lives in adult humans were obtained: 12.6 years for 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 26-45 years for 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD, 80-102 years for 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and ca. 112-132 years for OCDD. These half-lives of PCDDs are critically compared with measured t1/2 values of PCDDs and other persistent organic pollutants in rats, monkeys and humans.     

Freisetzung schwerflüchtiger chlorierter Kohlenwasserstoffe aus aquatischem Sediment durch Baumaßnahmen in Berlin

In 1996, in fish — especially eels — from the Berlin Teltowkanal (TK) in Rudow, above the former border between the east and west, suddenly appearing amounts of sDDT (ΣDDT, DDE, DDD as 2,4′ and 4,4′ isomers) were determined, demonstrating about 22 000 μg/kg FS or approximately 10fold of the amount measured in the previous year. It was the aim of the works to verify the suspected cause — deep dredging at the former border crossing (Wredebrücke, TK km 32,4) which was closed for all shipping up to 1990 — to pursue the hight of the sDDT loads during the following years and to find out the spatial dimensions of the new sDDT contaminations. The background of these incidents was the production of DDT preprarations in the former VEB Berlin-Chemie (BC), about 5 km upwards from the Wredebrücke until 1984, leading to serious loads in the water. Measured as the contents in indicator fishes, they decreased continuously from 1983, the beginning of the investigations, until 1995. The sampling was performed as electrical fishing by the Fischereiamt (FiA) at the Senat from Berlin, who also gave the order for the capillary gas-chromatographic determinations. The sDDT batch from 1995 decreased in the canal downwards from the Wredebrücke which could be seen at the sampling points Barnackufer, TK km 16.4, Griebnitzsee, TK km 30 and Kleiner Wannsee/Pohlesee, for instance, all waters influenced by the TK. The profiles of the constituents of sDDT in fish in the vicinity of BC was nearly equivalent to those in the production wastewaters. 2,4′-DDD was taken as an indicator substance. This compound could be found in fish until 1984 and appeared in Rudow and at the Barnackufer for the first time in 1995, thus indicating that 2,4′-DDD was released again at the dredging. The isomers of HCH, the main congeners of PCB and HCB, remained inconspicous as contaminants in fish of the TK. In 1998, the sDDT values in fish of the TK at Rudow clearly decreased; at the Barnackufer already by 1997. Similar phenomena were also observed in Berlin waters in the vicinity of other building sites. They are practical examples for the remobilisation of substances from aquatic sediments.     

Decomposition of greenhouse gases by plasma

The topic of decomposition and reduction of greenhouse gases is becoming an important issue in tackling the global warming effect since several years ago. Several technologies, including plasma-utilized process, were proposed to improve the treatment ability for the destruction of green house gases usually emitted by industrial activities. In this review paper, the application of plasma to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases was briefly summarized.     

Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on spruce [Picea abies (L) Karst] needles under sunlight irradiation

Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorbed on surfaces of spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] needles under sunlight irradiation was investigated. PAHs were produced by combustion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and styrene in a stove. The factors of sunlight irradiation on the surfaces of spruce needles were taken into consideration when investigating the kinetic parameters. The photolysis of the 18 PAHs under study follows first-order kinetics. The photolysis half-lives range from 15 h for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 75 h for phenanthrene. Photolysis of some PAHs on surfaces of spruce needles may play an important role on the fate of PAHs in the environment.