Perfluorinated compounds in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets from the Upper Mississippi River

Ten different perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluooctane sulfonate (PFOS), were measured in 30 common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets collected from three sites on the Upper Mississippi River in Minnesota in an effort to evaluate the potential impact of PFAA emissions in this area. Samples upstream of the city of St. Cloud (reference site) had median PFOS concentrations of 8.1 ng/g wet weight (ng/g wet wt), but median levels increased significantly downstream in the Minneapolis-St. Paul urban area, with concentrations from the Pig's Eye Lake site at 26 ng/g wet wt (p=0.0015) and the Spring Lake site at 40 ng/g wet wt (p=0.0004). This latter PFOS concentration is within the advisory range for limiting fish consumption to one meal a week according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Other PFAAs were also found to increase significantly between the reference site and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but maximal concentrations remained below 2.0 ng/g wet wt. This study demonstrates the bioaccumulation of PFAAs in a ubiquitous fish species in a major urban area known to have historical inputs of various PFAA compounds. The full extent of this contamination and the potential for accumulation in other species remain to be evaluated.     

Circadian patterns of premating behavior in Teleogryllus oceanicus Le Guillou under laboratory and field conditions

Summary The temporal relationship between male-calling and female-walking of Teleogryllus ocearicus has been studied. Both behaviors are under circadian control. A comparison of singingactivity under controlled environmental conditions and in the field at LD 13.75:10.25 h revealed that in spote of the very different situations, calling occurred during darkness; the times of onset, termination of singing and the calling quantity agreed as well. However, significant individual differences in singing activity were observed in either environment, and for specific males on consecutive nights.This paper is dedicated to Mr. Richard B. Gump, whose generosity has made the described research possible and the South Pacific Biological Research Station a reality     

Reclamation of the Urad molybdenum mine,Empire, Colorado

The Urad Mine, located at an elevation of 10,400 feet near the Continental Divide in central Colorado, was operated from 1967–1974 by AMAX Inc. Mine related activities disturbed approximately 234 acres, of which two tailing deposition areas comprised 121 acres. Comprehensive reclamation was initiated prior to mine closure in 1974 and was completed in 1980.Conventional revegetation techniques were implemented on typical disturbances while the tailing areas were reclaimed with the aid of three waste products. Mine waste rock was used to cap the tailing areas, and sewage and wood wastes were used to convert the rock into a rudimentary soil. The rock was revegetated and the vegetation is now permanent and selfsustaining.     

Development of a terrestrial vertebrate model for assessing bioavailability of cadmium in the fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and in ovo effects on hatchling size and thyroid function

In the terrestrial environment, standardized protocols are available for measuring the exposure and effects of contaminants to invertebrates, but none currently exist for vertebrates. In an effort to address this, we proposed that developing lizard embryos may be used as a terrestrial vertebrate model. Lizard eggs may be particularly susceptible to soil contamination and in ovo exposure may affect hatchling size, mortality, as well as thyroid function. Toxicant-induced perturbations of thyroid function resulting from in ovo chemical exposure may result in toxicity during the critical perinatal period in reptiles. Fertilized Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) eggs were placed in cadmium (Cd)-spiked expanded perlite (0, 1.48, 14.8, 148, 1480, 14 800 μg Cd/g, nominal concentrations), artificially incubated at 28 °C, and examined daily for mortality. Whole lizard hatchlings as well as failed hatches were homogenized in ethanol and the homogenate was divided for Cd body residue analysis and thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄)) analyses. Acute mortality was observed in the two highest doses (1480 and 14 800 μg Cd/g). Cadmium body residues showed a higher internal concentration with increasing exposure concentration indicating uptake of Cd. There was a decrease in T₃:T₄ ratio at the highest surviving dose (148 μg Cd/g), however, there were no differences observed in hatchling size measured as weight and snout-vent length, or in whole body thyroid hormone levels. In summary, this study has shown Cd amended to a solid phase representing soil (perlite) can traverse the thin, parchment-like shell membrane of the fence lizard egg and bioaccumulate in lizard embryos. We believe this study is a good first step in investigating and evaluating this species for use as a model.     

Managing troubled data: coastal data partnerships smooth data integration

Understanding the ecology, condition, and changes of coastal areas requires data from many sources. Broad-scale and long-term ecological questions, such as global climate change, biodiversity, and cumulative impacts of human activities, must be addressed with databases that integrate data from several different research and monitoring programs. Various barriers, including widely differing data formats, codes, directories, systems, and metadata used by individual programs, make such integration troublesome. Coastal data partnerships, by helping overcome technical, social, and organizational barriers, can lead to a better understanding of environmental issues, and may enable better management decisions. Characteristics of successful data partnerships include a common need for shared data, strong collaborative leadership, committed partners willing to invest in the partnership, and clear agreements on data standards and data policy. Emerging data and metadata standards that become widely accepted are crucial. New information technology is making it easier to exchange and integrate data. Data partnerships allow us to create broader databases than would be possible for any one organization to create by itself.     

Synthesis of polychlorinated biphenyls and their metabolites with a modified Suzuki-coupling

A modified procedure for the synthesis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) utilizing the Suzuki-coupling, a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction, is described. The coupling of (chlorinated) benzene boronic acids with bromochlorobenzenes, using Pd(dppf)(2)Cl(2) (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) as the catalyst and aqueous sodium carbonate as the base, gave the desired PCB congeners in moderate to good yields. Eleven PCB congeners, including environmentally important PCB congeners and metabolites, were synthesized using this modified procedure. This new catalyst Pd(dppf)(2)Cl(2) offers the advantage of being less air-sensitive and has a longer shelf life compared to Pd(PPh(4))(4). Three new (di-)methoxylated PCB congeners were synthesized using the same procedure by either coupling a chlorinated benzene boronic acid with a bromo (di-)methoxybenzene or by coupling a (di-)methoxy benzene boronic acid with a chlorinated bromobenzene. The dimethoxylated PCB congeners were readily converted into the respective dihydroxylated PCB derivatives using boron tribromide in dichloromethane. This approach offers the advantage of high selectivity and moderate to good yields compared to conventional methods such as the Cadogan reaction and allows the use of less toxic starting materials.     

A pilot study to assess residential endotoxin and blood IgE in a group of pregnant women from Trujillo, Peru

OBJECTIVE: This November 2003 pilot study investigates the correlation between serum IgE and residential endotoxin levels from a group of 18 pregnant women living in Trujillo, Peru, and investigates the impact of the demographic and lifestyle factors of this group on the IgE and endotoxin levels measured. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 19 subjects and analyzed for IgE. Dust samples were collected from the mattresses of 18 subjects and measured for endotoxin levels. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle information for each subject. RESULTS: Geometric means for IgE and endotoxin were 246.8 (GSD=4.3, n=19) IU/mL and 66.5 EU/mg (GSD=1.7, n=18), respectively. Log-transformed IgE and endotoxin were not correlated (R2=0.02; p=0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Residential endotoxin and serum IgE were not correlated in this group. Potential selection bias and sample size are major limitations of the study. However, 74% (14/19) of the subjects in this study had an IgE over 100 IU/mL, a level generally considered elevated.     

全球环境变化国际人力因素计划推出的工业转变研究举措

本文侧重于全球环境变化国际人力因素计划(IHDP)工业转变项目(IHDP-IT)--一个以当前工业体系向可持续工业体系转变的机制为重点的国际研究举措--迄今为止所取得的结果和进展.这个IHDP-IT项目研究从三个角度分析了工业转变:宏观体系,包括工业体系、金融体系和自然体系;生产体系;和消费体系.     

Heart rate reflects osmostic stress levels in two introduced colonial ascidians <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botryllus schlosseri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrylloides</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">violaceus</Emphasis>

The influence of abiotic factors on the establishment and success of invasive species is often difficult to determine for most marine ecosystems. However, examining this relationship is critical for predicting the spread of invasive species and predicting which habitats will be most vulnerable to invasion. Here we examine the mortality and physiological sensitivity to salinity of adult colonies of the colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus. Adult colonies of each species were exposed to abrupt changes in salinity (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 psu) in the laboratory. Salinity ranges used in the laboratory corresponded with those of the field distributions of B. violaceus and B. schlosseri in the Great Bay Estuary, NH. Heart rate was used as a proxy for health to assess the condition of individual colonies. Heart rates were monitored daily for approximately 2 weeks. Results revealed that both species experienced 100% mortality after 1 day at 5 psu and that their heart rates declined with decreasing salinity. Heart rates of B. schlosseri remained consistent between 15 and 30 psu and slowed at 10 psu. Heart rates of B. violaceus remained constant between 20 and 30 psu, but slowed at 15 psu. These laboratory results corresponded to the distribution of these species in estuaries, indicating salinity is a key factor in the distribution and dominance of B. schlosseri and B. violaceus among coastal and estuarine sites. Furthermore, physiological differences to salinity were found between colonies of B. schlosseri in the Venetian Lagoon and colonies in Portsmouth Harbor, suggesting adaptation to environmental variables.     

鱼中氯化二苯并二噁(PCDD)和氯化二苯并呋喃(PCDF)的分析

本工作建立了鱼中从四氯到八氯的二苯并二(口恶)(口英)和二苯并呋喃的分析方法。鱼样品经消化后以己烷提取,提取液经两套层析柱净化后,用反相HPLC进一步净化并分为两个级份。采用GC/SIM-MS测定各PCDD和PCDF。