Polychlorinated-naphthalenes, -biphenyls, -dibenzo-p-dioxins, -dibenzofurans and p,p'-DDE in bluefin tuna,swordfish, cormorants and barn swallows from Italy

Concentrations of p,p'-DDE, polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), polychlorinated-dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), -dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and -naphthalenes (PCNs) were measured in bluefin tuna, swordfish, common cormorants, and barn swallows collected from Italy. Average concentrations of PCBs in livers of tuna, swordfish, cormorant, and swallows were 930, 745, 1420 and 1230 ng PCBs g-1, w.w. respectively. p,p'-DDE was found in tuna, swordfish, cormorant, and swallow livers at mean concentrations of 82, 135, 166 and 95 ng DDE g-1, w.w. respectively. PCNs were found in all the samples analyzed, although at concentrations less than those reported for biota from the Baltic Sea. PCBs, particularly, non-ortho coplanar PCBs accounted for 80-90% of the total TEQs in tuna and swordfish. Relative contribution of PCDDs/DFs to TEQs was greater in cormorants and swallows compared to that in fishes. PCDD/DF congeners accounted for up to 80 and 45% of the total TEQs in cormorants and swallows, respectively.     

Particulate matter in California: part 1--Intercomparison of several PM2.5, PM10-2.5, and PM10 monitoring networks

It will be many years before the recently deployed network of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 microm (PM2.5) Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers produces information on nonattainment areas, trends, and source impacts. However, data on PM2.5 and its major constituents have been routinely collected in California for the past 20 years. The California Air Resources Board operated as many as 20 dichotomous (dichot) samplers for PM2.5 and coarse PM (PM10-2.5). The California Acid Deposition Monitoring Program (CADMP) collected 12-h-average PM2.5 and PM10 from 1988 to 1995 at ten urban and rural sites and 24-h-average PM2.5 at five urban sites since 1995. Beginning in 1994, the Children's Health Study collected 2-week averages of PM2.5 in 12 communities in southern California using the Two-Week Sampler (TWS). Comparisons of collocated samples establish relationships between the dichot, CADMP, and TWS samplers and the 82-site network of PM2.5 FRM samplers deployed since 1999 in California. PM mass data from the different monitoring programs have modest to high correlation to FRM mass data, fairly small systematic biases and negative proportional biases ranging from 7 to 22%. If the biases are taken into account, all of the programs should be considered comparable with the FRM program. Thus, historical data can be used to develop long-term PM trends in California.     

Ambient ozone (O3) and adverse crop response: a unified view of cause and effect

This paper presents a cohesive view of the dynamics of ambient O(3) exposure and adverse crop response relationships, coupling the properties of photochemical O(3) production, flux of O(3) from the atmosphere into crop canopies and the crop response per se. The results from two independent approaches ((a) statistical and (b) micrometeorological) were analyzed for understanding cause-effect relationships of the foliar injury responses of tobacco cv Bel-W3 to the exposure dynamics of ambient O(3) concentrations. Similarly, other results from two independent approaches were analyzed in: (1) establishing a micrometeorological relationship between hourly ambient O(3) concentrations and their vertical flux from the air into a natural grassland canopy; and (2) establishing a statistical relationship between hourly ambient O(3) concentrations in long-term, chronic exposures and crop yield reductions. Independent of the approach used, atmospheric conditions appeared to be most conducive and the crop response appeared to be best explained statistically by the cumulative frequency of hourly ambient O(3) concentrations between 50 ppb and 90 ppb (100 and 180 microg m(-3)). In general, this concentration range represents intermediate or moderately enhanced hourly O(3) values in a polluted environment. Further, the diurnal occurrence of this concentration range (often approximately between 0900 and 1600 h in a polluted, agricultural environment) coincided with the optimal CO(2) flux from the atmosphere into the crop canopy, thus high uptake. The frequency of occurrence of hourly O(3) concentrations > 90 ppb (180 microg m(-3)) appeared to be of little importance and such concentrations in general appeared to occur during atmospheric conditions which did not facilitate optimal vertical flux into the crop canopy, thus low uptake. Alternatively, when > 90 ppb (180 microg m(-3)) O(3) concentrations occurred during the 0900-1600 h window, their frequency of occurrence was low in comparison to the 50-90 ppb (100-180 microg m(-3)) range. Based on the overall results, we conclude that if the cumulative frequency of hourly ambient O(3) concentrations between 50-62 ppb (100-124 microg m(-3)) occurred during 53% of the growing season and the corresponding cumulative frequency of hourly O(3) concentrations between 50-74 ppb (100-148 microg m(-3)) occurred during 71% of the growing season, then yield reductions in sensitive crops could be expected, if other factors supporting growth, such as adequate soil moisture are not limiting.     

Isolation and identification of beta-nitrostyrene from smoked chicken

Extraction and identification of beta-nitrostyrene from smoked chicken is described. Commercially obtained smoked chicken was homogenised and extracted with chloroform-methanol (2:1). The extracts were fractioned by silicic acid column chromatography. The purified extract using thin-layer chromatography was identified by a colour reaction (this qualitative method for some nitrated compounds is developed this time), high pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The concentration of beta-nitrostyrene in the smoked chicken was 94 ppb. The average recovery of added beta-nitrostyrene was 107%. However, the toxicity of this material was not tested in the present paper.     

Detection of sulphite in plants

Artificially SO(2)-fumigated plant material was investigated for its sulphite content. Experiments with moderate concentrations of SO(2) (0.15-0.45 mg m(-3) lasting for 3 weeks, showed no detectable amounts of sulphite present in peas. Considering the detection limit of the method, this indicates that the steady state level in plant tissues is below 4 x 10(-5)M sulphite. Only in pea plants exposed to very high SO(2)-doses of 2.6-26mg m(-3) for 12-48 h, was sulphite recorded. We conclude from our results that sulphite dioxide, taken up by pea plants, is very effectively removed by enzymic and non-enzymic processes, and this 'detoxification' prevents accumulation of sulphite in the plant tissue, and so only very small amounts of sulphite are to be expected in SO(2)-damaged plant material. The possible role of very low sulphite concentrations in plant tissues is discussed.     

Differences in ability of NO2 absorption in various broad-leaved tree species

Absorption of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) by various broad-leaved tree species was determined by the (15)N dilution method. The tree seedlings were continuously exposed to 0.3 ppm (microl litre(-1)) NO(2) or the mixture of 0.3 ppm NO(2) and 0.1 ppm O(3) for 30 days. The total amount of NO(2)-nitrogen absorbed by a seedling during the 30-day exposure period primarily depended on the size of the seedling. Among the tested tree species, three cultivars of Populus showed the highest rate of NO(2) absorption per unit leaf area, reaching as much as 0.3 mg N per dm(2) per day. The absorption rates for Populus cultivars were more than four times greater than those for Viburnum or Cinnamomum which had the lowest rate. A highly significant correlation was recognised between the rate of NO(2) absorption and the stomatal conductance among the species. Three cultivars of Populus which had the highest rates of NO(2) absorption were most susceptible to the mixture of NO(2) and O(3). On the contrary, Cinnamomum, Viburnum and Quercus, which showed the lowest rate of NO(2) absorption, were very tolerant to the mixed gas. These results indicate that the species difference in susceptibility to the mixture of NO(2) and O(3) was mainly determined by the difference in rate of absorption of these gases. Exposure to NO(2) alone had no detrimental effect on the tested tree species.     

Lead induced spermatoxicity in mouse and MPG treatment

Protective efficacy of MPG (2-mercaptopropionyl glycine) was studied against the toxic effects of lead acetate in Swiss albino mice. The animals were treated with single dose of lead acetate @ 180, 200 and 250 mg/kg b.wt. in presence and absence of MPG. The results indicated that the body weight was slightly higher in MPG treated groups on day 10 as compared to only respective lead treated groups in all the three dose level. However, significantly lower body weight was observed in both lead treated and lead along with MPG treated groups as compared to control. Patten of mortality is similar in both lead treated and lead plus MPG treated groups. Conspicuous degenerative changes in testicular tissues and elevation in sperm head shape abnormality were observed in both lead treated and lead along with MPG treated groups but the sperm head shape abnormality and damage were more in lead treated groups as compared to lead plus MPG treated groups. But this difference was non-significant between the two groups. These observations suggest that MPG may not be significantly effective against lead induced damage in testicular tissues at cellular level. However, MPG is able to maintain slightly lower level of sperm abnormality in all the three dose level as compared to their respective lead treated groups. Further, studies are needed to find out the optimum dose of MPG for protection against the lower doses of lead induced lethality as MPG is not significantly effective against the higher doses of lead.     

Toxicity and residue studies of fenvalerate to some selected freshwater fishes

The toxicity test of fenvalerate were conducted to fresh water fishes Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Catla catla (Hamilton), Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton), Aplocheilus punchex (Hamilton) and Ctenopharygodon idellus (Valenciennes). The static and continuous flow through tests were employed to determine the lethal concentration (LC50) for 24h, 48h and 96h to the test fish. It was observed that Cirrhinus mrigala is more sensitive to this pesticide followed by Applochielus punchex, Lebeo rohita, Catla catla and Ctenopharyngodon idellus. The residue analysis for qualitative confirmation was done by thin layer chromatography (TLC) to assess the deposition of pesticide in different tissues of fishes. The quantitative study of accumulation in the whole body tissue was done by Gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The quantitative residues confirm the toxic action.     

Effect of different irrigation methods on yield of red hot pepper and plant mortality caused by Phytophthora capsici Leon

This experiment was conducted in 1999 and 2000 in a field naturally infected by Phytophthora capsici to determine the effects of different irrigation methods, namely, basin (B), closed-end furrow (F), drip (D) and sprinkler (S) irrigation on dry yield of chili pepper (Capsium annuum L. K. Maras Type). Water use efficiency (WUE) and plant mortality were also measured. The averages of total applied water to the B, F, D and S plots for the two years were 937.7 mm, 920.6 mm, 886.5 and 913.4 mm, respectively. Thus, the mean seasonal water use by pepper varied from 1020.7 to 1109.7 mm. The highest water use was measured in B, followed by use for S, D and F methods. The highest mean potential dry yield with 1.58 t ha(-1) was obtained using D method. This was followed by S (1.36 t ha(-1)), B (1.13 t ha(-1)), and F (0.81 t ha(-1)) methods. In terms of plant mortality, crops having B irrigation had the highest (93.9%), followed by lessen amount to the S (3.2%), F (3.1%), and D methods (1.7%). Only the B irrigation method stimulated the development of P. capsici disease. On the other hand, mean WUEs varied between 0.7 and 1.7 kg ha(-1)mnm(-1) for Irrigation methods. WUE for D method was slightly higher than S method, but considerably higher than B and F methods.     

马尼托巴省弗林弗伦—斯诺湖绿岩带中三个块状硫化物矿床附近变质作用的温度-压力条件

马尼托巴省弗林弗伦—斯诺湖绿岩带的三个块状硫化物矿床附近的变质作用,其压力和温度的估计值,已用镁铁质和长英质变质火山岩的矿物共生组合获得。在该带西部,森特尼尔矿床周围的弗林弗伦地区受到了低级绿片岩相变质作用。在该带中部的斯普鲁斯矿床附近,估计变质条件为上绿片岩相,变质的温度和压力分别为475±75℃和2.6±1.2kbar。在安德森湖矿床附近,斯诺湖以西地区,变质作用达到了夕线石级。在十字石-夕线石带,变质的温、压条件为580±25℃和5.25±0.75kbar;在黑云母-夕线石-铁铝榴石带,在最高压力为6.2kbar情况下,温度为620±25℃。斯诺湖地区的温度和压力的估计值表明,低压下的十字石和石英的稳定上限的实验研究所指示的温度,都比野外矿物共生组合所指示的温度高很多。