Physiological and Biochemical Effects of Simulated Acid Rain on Phaseolus Vulgaris Var. HUR-15

Pot experiments were performed to determine the effects of simulated acid rain on Phaseolus vulgaris var. HUR-15. Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris var. HUR-15 were exposed to simulated acid rain at pH values of 5.1, 4.1, 3.1, 2.1 and 1.1 and a control level of pH 6.8. Plants were harvested at three stages, i.e. pre, peak and post-flowering stages. Seedlings succumbed at pH 1.1. Necrosis developed on the leaves of plants treated with water of pH 2.1, resulting in adverse effect on chlorophyll content. They died after peak-flowering. Root and shoot length and dry weight were reduced with the lowering in pH. Carbohydrate, nitrogen and protein contents decreased with the decrease in pH level, adversely affecting their nutrient value.     

A basidiomycete isolated from the skeleton of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pocillopora damicornis</Emphasis> (Scleractinia) selectively stimulates short-term survival of coral skeletogenic cells

Endolithic fungi bore through the extracellular calcium carbonate skeleton of reef-building scleractinian corals, both healthy and dead, and effect net erosion of coral reefs. Potential fungal interactions with coral tissue were investigated using an in vitro approach suggested by earlier observations of skeletal repair cones at the site of fungal perforation in Porites sp. A fungal strain was isolated from the skeleton of a long-term culture of healthy, tissue-covered, Pocillopora damicornis Linnaeus colonies maintained in a recirculating system in Monaco. As coral soft tissue spontaneously dissociated in vitro, the skeleton became exposed and hyaline hyphae emerged radially from 15% of the total clipped branches. In this study, which was performed between January 2001 and March 2003, 35 skeleton–hypha explants were embedded in agar-based solid medium, yielding 60% hyphal growth. A fungal strain (F19-3-1) of the dominant (80%) morphology was isolated and propagated in agar-based solid medium. The strain was identified by 18S and 26S rDNA gene sequence analysis as a basidiomycete in the genus Cryptococcus. Co-cultures were used to provide experimental exposure of coral soft tissue to the fungus. The fungus extended the survival of coral cells by 2 days, selectively maintaining skeletogenic cell types. This effect may be interpreted as stimulation by the fungus of a short-term coral defense response.Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick     

Rotational application of bioinsecticide with deltamethrin-An antilarval measure for the control of filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Culicidae: Diptera)

A laboratory investigation was undertaken to study the cyclic usage of field recommended doses of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), Bacillus sphaericus (Bsp) and combination of Bti and Bsp (half the recommended dose of each) with deltamethrin 2.8 EC to attain better control of mosquito larvae. To understand the susceptibility status of the Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in the field, early fourth instar field collected larvae were exposed to the above treatments of biopesticides and were monitored for their persistency till 50% mortality was obtained. The larvae those survived in each treatment were transferred to the concentration of deltamethrin that gave 50% mortality. Observations on larval mortality after the treatment with deltamethrin were recorded after 24 h. The results revealed that Bti excels Bsp, as it recorded 54% mortality only on 17th day after application. The other salient finding of this study is LC50 of deltamethrin is sufficient to follow the biopesticides application for an effective control of Culex larvae.     

Kinetics of Biotransformation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol using UASB-Reactor

Chlorophenol compounds are environmental pollutants that are both anthropogenic and xenobiotics. Some of these chemicals are carcinogens and are both toxic to a number biochemical processes. Biotransformation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was studied in the presence of glucose on an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) using mixed culture. A continuously operated UASB reactor was employed using mixed synthetic wastewater. Results obtained from the 1.8 L volume capacity UASB reactor were subjected to kinetic evaluation constants. Results indicate that the degradation of 2,4-DCP in the presence of glucose was strongly influenced by the concentration of the compound. High degradation levels were observed when the concentration of 2,4-DCP was in the range of 50-150 mg L(-1). Concentrations of 2,4-DCP above 160 mg L(-1) were toxic to microbes even in the presence of glucose. The maximum degradation of 2,4-DCP was found to be 70.4% when initial concentration of 2,4-DCP was 124 mg L(-1) and glucose concentration of 500 mg L(-1) at hydraulic retention time of 13.2 hr. The biodegradation followed first order reaction kinetics with a rate constant (K) of 0.67, Vmax of 0.244 kg m(-3) day(-1), Ks of 0.117 kg m(-3) day(-1) and correlation coefficient of 0.766.     

Effect of Cage Design on Growth of Transplanted Asian Clams: Implications for Assessing Bivalve Responses in Streams

This study was designed to determine whether survivorship and growth of Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea [Müller]) differed significantly between two types of field enclosures. Enclosures were either flexible mesh bags or rigid cages (hereto after referred as bioboxes) designed to homogenize substrate among study sites and accommodate Asian clam feeding mechanisms. For 96d, cages remained at 12 Clinch River (CR), Hurricane Fork (HF), and Dump's Creek (DC) sites upstream and downstream of a coal-fired power plant discharge, coal mining effluent, and coal combustion-related disposal facilities in Carbo, Virginia. Although survivorship was not significantly different between cage types, mean growth of clams in bioboxes was significantly greater overall (p = 0.0157). Despite the difference in growth between the two cage types, both confirmed significant reductions of survivorship and growth directly below the power plant discharge. Additionally, coefficient of variance values for biobox growth data were reduced at most study sites (averages of 16% for bioboxes versus 19% for mesh bags). Our results have implications toward strengthening weight-of-evidence approaches used to link impairment of transplanted bivalves to environmental contaminants. More importantly, these results suggest that ecotoxicological impairment of bivalves transplanted downstream of the coal-fired power plant discharge functioned independently of site-specific substrate provisions.     

Characterization of aerosols from biomass burning--a case study from Mizoram (Northeast), India

Physical and optical properties of biomass burning aerosols in Northeastern region, India analyzed based on measurements made during February 2002. Large spatial extent of Northeastern Region moist tropical to moist sub-tropical forests in India have high frequency of burning in annual dry seasons. Characterization of resultant trace gases and aerosols from biomass burning is important for the atmospheric radiative process. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) observed to be high during burning period compared to pre- and post-burning days. Peak period of biomass burning is highly correlated with measured AOD and total columnar water vapor. Size distribution of aerosols showed bimodal size distribution during burning day and unimodal size distribution during pre- and post-burning days. Size distribution retrievals from biomass burning aerosols show dominance of accumulation mode particles. Weighted mean radius is high (0.22 microm) during burning period. Columnar content of aerosols observed to be high during burning period in addition to the drastic reduction of visibility. During the burning day Anderson sampler measurements showed dominance of accumulation mode particles. The diurnal averaged values of surface shortwave aerosol radiative forcing af biomass burning aerosols varies from -59 to -87 Wm(-2) on different days. Measured and modeled solar irradiances are also discussed in the paper.     

Using Multimedia Modeling to Expedite Site Characterization

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: This paper uses two case studies of U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons complex installations to illustrate the integration of expedited site characterization (ESC) and multimedia modeling in the remedial action decision making process. CONCEPTUAL SITE MODELS, MULTIMEDIA MODELS, AND EXPEDITED SITE CHARACTERIZATION: Conceptual site models outline assumptions about contaminates and the spatial/temporal distribution of potential receptors. Multimedia models simulate contaminant transport and fate through multiple environmental media, estimate potential human exposure via specific exposure pathways, and estimate the risk of cancer and non-cancer health outcomes. ESC relies on using monitoring data to quantify the key components of an initial conceptual site model that is modified iteratively using the multimedia model. CASE STUDIES: Two case studies are presented that used the ESC approach: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Pantex. LANL released radionuclides, metals, and organic compounds, into canyons surrounding the facility. The Pantex Plant has past waste management operations which included burning chemical wastes in unlined pits, burying wastes in unlined landfills, and discharging plant wastewaters into on-site surface waters. CONCLUSIONS: The case studies indicate that using multimedia models with the ESC approach can inform assessors about what, where, and how much site characterization data needs to be collected to reduce the uncertainty associated with risk assessment. Lowering the degree of uncertainty reduces the time and cost associated with assessing potential risk and increases the confidence that decision makers have in the assessments performed.     

The composting potential of different organic solid wastes: experience from the island of Crete

For the past 20 years, the National Foundation for Agricultural Research in Crete and the School of Agricultural Technology of the Technological and Educational Institute of Crete have been involved in a number of research and development activities, related to the production and evaluation of compost derived from a variety of local solid, mainly agricultural organic wastes. Materials such as olive press cake, olive tree leaves (OTL) and branches, vine branches (VB), pressed grape skins (PGS), pig manure (PM), sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) have been evaluated for their behaviour during composting, their compatibility in mixtures and the quality of the end product. The quality evaluation included both a detailed physiochemical (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrients concentration, heavy metal concentration, etc.) and biological analyses (pathogenic microorganisms). It also included an agronomic evaluation, in which composts were used either as a soil amendment or as a component for substrates in open air or covered (greenhouse) cultivation mainly of local vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.). All materials were composted successfully, especially when mixed. The end products contained large amounts of organic matter, usually combined with an increased EC value. Pressed grape skins should be considered as the ideal raw material, producing a high quality compost, with the lowest EC value (1.57 mS cm(-1)) and the largest organic matter concentration (84.50%), compared to all other materials. When any of the produced compost was used in a ratio of 30% by volume (v/v), it increased plant growth, whereas in larger volumes, it presented phytotoxic behaviour, inhibiting both root and shoot development.     

Nutrient chemistry of River Pinios (Thessalia, Greece)

The impact of human activities with 3-year monitoring on the fluctuation of nutrients along the Pinios River and its tributaries were studied. Their seasonal variations throughout the years 1996-1998 were also presented. High temperatures, from June to August, cause a restriction of the water flow, an enhancement of nutrient concentration with the subsequent increase of eutrophication. High concentrations of nutrients were observed first in winter (wet period), caused by leaching of fertilizers from terrestrial systems after heavy rainfall, later during the warm months due to low water flow of the river, and at last in autumn when plant organisms began to decompose. The intensive algal and macrophyte growth (spring, summer) resulted in severe depletion of nutrients. Organic carbon showed no seasonal trend but its values were high near the estuaries. Nitrate fluxes were high at the initial station (sources) and the Titarisios tributary, whereas nitrites and ammonium were low. In contrary, the Kalentzis tributary with relatively low nitrate values showed increased values of nitrite ammonium or total nitrogen. On the other hand, the Enipeas tributary showed high SO4 values. Phosphates are remarkably present mainly after the city of Larissa, where sewage and industrial discharges occur. None of the nutrients measured in the Pinios River and its tributaries showed a clear seasonal cycle of concentration. Concentrations of nutrients and organic carbon increased as a consequence of anthropogenic inputs, particularly point discharges from sewage treatment plants (i.e. showing distinct, but variable, concentration peaks), as well as diffuse urban and/or agricultural runoff over long areas during storm events. The agricultural management, the urban pollution, mainly from Larissa City, and the climate conditions in the catchment basin (Thessalia Plain) of Pinios River and its tributaries greatly affect the chemical composition of their waters.     

Bronchial dosimeters for radon progeny for Chinese males and females

Bronchial dosimeters have been designed for adult Chinese males and females for home and mine exposures, which can give the bronchial doses from radon progeny by direct measurements. The bronchial dosimeter for home exposures consists of five 400-mesh wire screens. With a sampling face velocity of 3.3 cm s(-1) for Chinese males and 2.7 cm s(-1) for Chinese females, the deposition pattern on the wire screens were found to satisfactorily match the variation of the dose conversion coefficients (in units of mSv WLM(-1)) with the size of radon progeny from 1 to 1000 nm. The bronchial dosimeter for mine exposures consists of four 250-mesh wire screens. With a sampling face velocity of 3.3 cm s(-1), the deposition pattern on the wire screens were found to satisfactorily match the variation of the dose conversion coefficients for both Chinese males and females. In this way, the bronchial dosimeters directly give the bronchial doses from the alpha counts recorded on the wire-screens.