Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and tetrachlorodibenzofurans in Atlantic coast striped bass and in selected Hudson River fish,waterfowl and sediments

In striped bass samples from the lower Hudson River and its estuary 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-$\text{p}$-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) was found at concentrations from 16 to 120 pg/g (ppt). Striped bass from two other locations (Rhode Island coastal waters and Chesapeake Bay, Maryland) had <5 ppt, 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,7,8-TCDF), was found in striped bass from all three locations with concentrations varying from 6 ppt in Chesapeake Bay to 78 ppt in the Hudson River. Results from a limited number of non-migratory fish (carp and goldfish) and sediments suggest that the upper Hudson River is not a source for 2,3,7,8-TCDD/2,3,7,8-TCDF contamination of striped bass.     

Assessment of municipal waste compost as a daily cover material for odour control at landfill sites

The ability of municipal waste compost as a daily cover material to reduce the odorous emissions associated with landfill surfaces was investigated. Trials were carried out using landfill gas, a certified sulphurous gas mix and ambient air as a control. Odorous gas was passed through portable test column filled with compost at different densities (590 kg/m3 and 740 kg/m3). Gas samples were taken from the inlet, outlet and at varying column depths and examined using a combination of sensory analysis (olfactometry) and a novel analytical method (Transportable Selected Ion Flow Tube--TSIFT). Results for the trials using landfill gas showed a 69% odour reduction (OU/m3) through the column for compost with a bulk density of 590 kg/m3, and a reduction of 97% using compost with a bulk density of 740 kg/m3. TSIFT analysis showed an overall decrease in the concentration of terpenes, and sulphurous compounds in the outlet gas from the column for both bulk densities. No significant trend could be identified for the concentrations at different depths within the column. Results show the ability of compost to reduce landfill odours under differing conditions. The inconclusive data provided by TSIFT analysis may be due to the analysis of compounds that are not contributing to odour, and thus highlights the potential for synergetic effects and the importance of sensory measurement when examining odorous emissions.     

Volatilization rates of intermediate and low volatility chemicals from water

This paper reports laboratory methods for measuring the gas and liquid phase mass transfer coefficients and volatilization rate constants of intermediate and low volatility compounds and proposes a method for calculating the volatilization rate constants of these types of compounds in the environment.     

Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs) and Biota to Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs) for PCBs in pike and eels

“Freely-dissolved” aqueous concentrations of 9 trichlorothrough heptachlorobiphenyls are reported, alongside those in sediments and fish from the R. Severn. For most congeners, BSAFs and lipid-normalised BAFs for pike exceed those for eels. Whilst R. Severn BSAFs are comparable with those for L. Ontario trout and New Bedford Harbour flounder, R. Severn BAFs are 1–2 orders of magnitude lower. This discrepancy may be due to inter-species variability, as well as inter-laboratory differences between operational definitions of “freely-dissolved” aqueous PCB, underlining that the same operational definition must be employed if R. Severn BAFs are extrapolated elsewhere. For eels, correlation of Log K^ow with Log BAF is better (R² = 0.66) than with BSAF (R² = 0.13), whilst similar correlation coefficients (R² = 0.81 and 0.82) were observed for pike. When Log K^ow is plotted against BSAF and Log BAF for both species combined, better correlation is observed for Log BAF (R² = 0.65), than BSAF (R² = 0.36). For both species combined, the observed relationship between Log BAF and Log K^ow for trichloro-through heptachlorobiphenyls is: Log BAF = 0.96 * Log K^ow −0.24.     

Autoradiographic studies of ethylenediurea distribution in woody plants

Carbon-14-labelled ethylenediurea (EDU), synthesised from diethylenetriamine and (14)C-urea, was stem-injected into 2-year-old seedlings of sugar maple, white ash, flowering dogwood and flowering crabapple. At time intervals ranging from 1 h to 42 days after treatment, macroautoradiographs of leaf, stem and root tissue were made to determine relative distribution patterns of labelled chemical. Translocation of (14)C-EDU was very rapid and predominantly acropetal, especially after the first few hours. Maximum quantities of (14)C were found in leaf tissue approximately 7-10 days following injection, after which the intensity of the labelled chemical declined over the remainder of the study (42 days). Distribution patterns of (14)C-EDU were correlated with observed levels of protection afforded most plants when the chemical is injected 7 days before fumigation with ozone.     

Perspectives of a large scale environmental survey for chlorinated dioxins: overview and soil data

On November 5, 1984, The Dow Chemical Company issued a report entitled: “Point Sources and Environmental Levels of 2378-TCDD on the Midland Plant Site of The Dow Chemical Company and in the City of Midland, Michigan.” This report is based upon the efforts of a 22-person task force who dedicated approx. 21 months of effort to the generation and analysis of over 6000 analytical data points regarding specific CDD/CDF concentrations in the four basic environmental elements of air, earth, fire (incineration), and water. A summarization of this study will be presented which includes methodology, analytical QA-QC criteria, and representative soil analyses, as they pertain to the survey conclusions.     

The effect of thallium on the growth of Lemna minor and plant tissue concentrations in relation to both exposure and toxicity

The effect of thallium on frond production and the rates of increase in surface area and fresh weight in Lemna minor were examined in terms of concentrations of the element in the growth medium and in the plant. The toxicity indices, EC(50) and threshold concentration, indicate that curtailment of frond expansion occurs at a lower thallium exposure than inhibition of frond multiplication. Production of smaller fronds, rather than chlorosis, was the most notable initial response to thallium stress and, below the threshold of toxicity, enhanced multiplication rates were recorded. Subsequent recovery in thallium-free medium was significant in the region of EC(50) exposures and below, but very little recovery occurred at higher exposures. Lemna minor has a remarkable capacity to accumulate thallium, and accumulation factors of 88 x 10(3) at low exposures, and 6 x 10(3) at high exposures, were recorded, which would suggest some form of active uptake.     

Albatross species demonstrate regional differences in North Pacific marine contamination.

Recent concern about negative effects on human health from elevated organochlorine and mercury concentrations in marine foods has highlighted the need to understand temporal and spatial patterns of marine pollution. Seabirds, long-lived pelagic predators with wide foraging ranges, can be used as indicators of regional contaminant patterns across large temporal and spatial scales. Here we evaluate contaminant levels, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, and satellite telemetry data from two sympatrically breeding North Pacific albatross species to demonstrate that (1) organochlorine and mercury contaminant levels are significantly higher in the California Current compared to levels in the high-latitude North Pacific and (2) levels of organochlorine contaminants in the North Pacific are increasing over time. Black-footed Albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes) had 370-460% higher organochlorine (polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes [DDTs]) and mercury body burdens than a closely related species, the Laysan Albatross (P. immutabilis), primarily due to regional segregation of their North Pacific foraging areas. PCBs (the sum of the individual PCB congeners analyzed) and DDE concentrations in both albatross species were 130-360% higher than concentrations measured a decade ago. Our results demonstrate dramatically high and increasing contaminant concentrations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, a finding relevant to other marine predators, including humans.     

Mate competition in the velvet swimming crab Necora puber: effects of perceived resource value on male agonistic behaviour

Male velvet swimming crabs [Necora puber (L.)] were observed to engage in long and vigorous agonistic interactions to gain possession of a sexually receptive female. The role of agonistic behaviour in male mate competition in this species was examined by investigating the effect of the perceived presence of sexually receptive females on interactions between males. Exposing male crabs to water conditioned by sexually receptive females resulted in prolonged interactions, with a greater incidence of potentially injurious behaviour than interactions between control crabs, exposed only to sea water. Maleconditioned water also resulted in more offensive behaviour, but these interactions were of shorter duration and not significantly different from sea water controls. Agonistic superiority was strongly correlated with contestant relative size when males were exposed to male-conditioned water or sea water, but not when exposed to female-conditioned water. Overall, the results conformed with the general predictions of game theoretic models in relation to the influence of resource value on agonistic behaviour. Crabs were more persistent and probably incurred greater fitness costs in the perceived presence of a sexually receptive female, when interactions may have been resolved on the basis of factors more closely related to actual fighting ability than the relative body sizes of contestants.