Trace contamination with dioxin-like chemicals: evaluation of bioassay-based TEQ determination for hazard assessment and regulatory responses

Many recent dioxin contamination events have been traced back to poisoned animal feed or feed ingredients. Therefore, enforcement authorities placed limits on the levels of dioxins in food and feed or implemented strict monitoring and control programs. The levels in force are generally expressed as TEQ values, which inherently accepts the underlying hypothesis that the effects of dioxin-like chemicals are additive. TEQ determination involves either chemo-analysis, with high-resolution gas chromatography in combination with high-resolution mass spectroscopy, or bio-analysis. Bio-analytical methods, more particularly the reporter gene expression method CALUX, are advantageous due to their high throughput rate and low cost. Moreover, the CALUX methodology detects the overall dioxin-like toxicity, rather than the limited number of compounds investigated by chemo-analysis. Bioanalytical methods such as CALUX also differ from chemo-analysis in that the contribution of antagonistic as well as synergistic effects, which violate the additivity principle, can be detected. The application of bio-analytical methods can facilitate a broader assessment of public health risks by intensifying the current monitoring programs in terms of both sample numbers and types. Bio-analysis provides information on the total dioxin-like activity of the samples under study (hazard assessment); however, chemo-analysis is still needed to identify the predominant contaminants (congener identification) for risk management.     

Antibiotika (Ivermectin, Monensin) und endokrine Umweltchemikalien (nonylphenol, Ethinylöstradiol) im Boden

The influence of four synthetic chemicals (nonylphenol, ethynyl-estradiol, ivermectin, monesin) on the biomass and on the microbial activity was studied in a laboratory experiment using a typical luvisol derived from loess. The polyether antibiotic monensin, the antiparasitic agent ivermectin and the two environmental chemicals with endocrine effects nonylphenol and ethynylestradiol were chosen because of their toxicity to different organisms and known biological activity. These agents may enter the soil together with sewage sludge or manure. To date, however, the effects on soil have hardly been studied. Selected microbial methods revealed in part very significant effects on the microbial biomass and microbial activity during constant physical (15°C, 50% water holding capicity) and chemical conditions (pH, C_org) 1, 14 and 42 days after contamination.     

Developing Policy-Oriented Curricula for Conservation Biology: Professional and Leadership Education in the Public Interest

Abstract: Some conservation biologists question the ability of current university curricula to prepare students to meet the needs of the profession in solving real-life conservation problems or to integrate the goals of conservation biology with other societal goals. The gist of the criticism is that curricula tend to emphasize narrow, technical proficiency at the expense of more integrative, "policy-oriented" problem solving. Conservation biologists' work should be relevant to policy, and I argue that professional participation could become more effective through a broader educational curriculum. Such curricula should teach students three things: (1) an understanding of how the policy-making system works and how human value interactions constitute the core of professional work, (2) mastery of skills in critical thinking and development of an interdisciplinary, "procedural rationality" for analyzing problems and evaluating potential solutions, and (3) development of influence and responsibility within policy systems. Seminars, case studies, and field trips are among the tools that can develop these skills in students. Finally, the education committee of the Society for Conservation Biology has great potential to improve the quality and relevance of professional education.     

全球水价上涨

全球水价上涨,而且有时势头很猛。过去五年,城市供水平均涨价幅度为：美国27％、英国32％、澳大利亚45％、南非50％、加拿大58％。在突尼斯,灌溉水10年里涨了4倍。对14国的最新调查结果表明,城市每立方米水的平均价格从美国的66美分到丹麦和国的2．25美元不等。     

Ecological connectivity of the marine protected area network in the Baltic Sea,Kattegat and Skagerrak: Current knowledge and management needs

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have become a key component of conservation and fisheries management to alleviate anthropogenic pressures. For MPA networks to efficiently promote persistence and recovery of populations, ecological connectivity, i.e. dispersal and movement of organisms and material across ecosystems, needs to be taken into account. To improve the ecological coherence of MPA networks, there is hence a need to evaluate the connectivity of species spreading through active migration and passive dispersal. We reviewed knowledge on ecological connectivity in the Baltic Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak in the northeast Atlantic and present available information on species-specific dispersal and migration distances. Studies on genetic connectivity are summarised and discussed in relation to dispersal-based analyses. Threats to ecological connectivity, limiting dispersal of populations and lowering the resilience to environmental change, were examined. Additionally, a review of studies evaluating the ecological coherence of MPA networks in the Baltic Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak was performed, and suggestions for future evaluations to meet management needs are presented.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01684-x.     

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and obesity,type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of epidemiologic findings

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of fluoro-surfactants widely detected in the environment, wildlife, and humans, have been linked to adverse health effects. A growing body of literature has addressed their effects on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This review summarizes the brief historical use and chemistry of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, routes of human exposure, as well as the epidemiologic evidence for associations between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the development of obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. We identified 22 studies on obesity and 32 studies on diabetes, while only 1 study was found for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by searching PubMed for human studies. Approximately two-third of studies reported positive associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and the prevalence of obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Causal links between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, however, require further large-scale prospective cohort studies combined with mechanistic laboratory studies to better assess these associations.     

Correction to: Documenting lemming population change in the Arctic: Can we detect trends?

Ambio - In the original published article, some of the symbols in figure 1A were modified incorrectly during the typesetting and publication process. The correct version of the figure is provided...     

Applicability of polar organic compound integrative samplers for monitoring pesticides in groundwater

Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCISs) for the monitoring of polar pesticides in groundwater were tested on two sites in order to evaluate their applicability by comparison with the spot-sampling approach. This preliminary study shows that, as in surface water, POCIS is a useful tool, especially for the screening of substances at low concentration levels that are not detected by laboratory analysis of spot samples. For quantitative results, a rough estimation is obtained. The challenge is now to define the required water-flow conditions for a relevant quantification of pesticides in groundwater and to establish more representative sampling rates for groundwater.