Effects of sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride and their combination on three Eucalyptus species

The effects of joint action of SO(2) and HF on three Eucalyptus species were studied by exposing them to combinations of < 13, 122 or 271 microg m(-3) of SO(2) and 0.03, 0.39 or 1.05 microg m(-3) of HF in open top chambers for 120 days. HF and SO(2) reduced the area and weight of immature leaves in all three species, but there were few interactive effects on immature leaves. The response of mature leaves to exposure differed among the species, with the greatest effects on E. calophylla and least effects on E. marginata. The interaction of HF + SO2 had no effect on leaf S concentrations in any of the species, but it reduced leaf F concentrations in E. calophylla and E. gomphocephala. HF increased leaf injury in E. calophylla and E. gomphocephala when simultaneously exposed to 271 microg m(-3) of SO(2), but had no effect at 122 microg m(-3), or on E. marginata. The addition of 271 microg m(-3) of SO(2) increased leaf injury when E. gomphocephala was exposed to 0.39 microg m(-3) of HF and when E. calophylla was exposed to 1.05 microg m(-3) of HF, despite reducing the leaf F concentrations. In some cases the interaction of the pollutants may increase susceptibility to visible injury.     

Concentrations of cadmium and other metals in Fucus vesiculosus L. and Fontinalis dalecarlica Br. Eur. from the northern Baltic Sea and the southern Bothnian Sea

Concentrations of Cd and ten other metals (Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were determined in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus L. and the aquatic moss, Fontinalis dalecarlica Br. Eur. from the northern Baltic Sea and the southern Bothnian Sea. Elevated concentrations of metals were found in samples taken close to densely populated areas, such as Stockholm and Nyn?shamn. Very high concentrations of especially Zn were found in both Fucus and Fontinalis samples taken from the area south of the Gulf of G?vle. The results indicate that mining and industrial activities along the river Dal?lven are the main sources of Zn and several other metals. Cd concentrations in Fucus plants reached maximum values (24.5 mg kg(-1)) at the northern site. The gradual increase of Cd concentrations in Fucus plants northward could not be totally explained by the salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea; reasons for this are discussed in this paper.     

Growth responses of birch and Sitka spruce exposed to acidified rain

Seedlings of birch and Sitka spruce were grown on a range of British soils for 2 years and exposed to simulated acid rainfall treatments of pHs 5.6, 4.5, 3.5 and 2.5. Both species developed visible leaf injury patterns when exposed to the pH 2.5 treatment. In Sitka spruce this leaf injury was followed by high needle loss during the first winter and greater mortality. Generally, height growth of Sitka spruce was unaffected by treatments, but acid rainfall at pH 2.5 increased the height of birch. Mean height of both species was strongly affected by soil type. Significant soils x treatment effects on the heights of both species indicated that on some soils plant growth responses to the treatments did not fit the general pattern. Hence, while the results indicate that generally ambient acidities of rainfall in the UK are unlikely to adversely affect the growth of birch or Sitka spruce, plants growing on some soils may be susceptible to injury.     

Tree decline in North America

Air-borne, phytotoxic pollutants are known to adversely affect forest tree growth in North America. On a local scale, exposure to high concentrations of toxic gases, such as sulphur dioxide and fluoride, result in foliar injury, branch dieback, reduced radial growth and increased mortality in a variety of tree species. On a regional scale, the photochemical oxidant, ozone, is responsible for growth decline of pollutant-sensitive eastern white pine genotypes in the eastern United States, and of ponderosa and Jeffrey pines in the mountains of southern and central California. The etiology associated with the reported declines of high elevation red spruce in the Appalachian Mountains and of sugar maple in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada is incompletely known at present. A complex of predisposing and inciting factors, including temperature and moisture stress, edaphic conditions, aluminium toxicity, insect depredation, and air-borne pollutants are probably involved in these declines.     

Stage dependent susceptibility to lead in Bufo arenarum embryos

The stage dependent susceptibility to lead in amphibian development was studied by exposing Bufo arenarum embryos during neurulae, neuromuscular activity and gill circulation stages for twenty hours to 1 ppm Pb(2+). Survival, malformations and behavioral disorders were evaluated. The embryonic susceptibility to lead was markedly stage dependent. The survival at the neuromuscular activity stage was approximately half that of the other two periods; concerning malformations, the gill circulation stage was the least sensitive. The observed malformations consisted of failed closure of neural tube, hydropsy, small and cylindrical tails, reduced body size and incurvations in the body axis. Some alterations occurred in all experimental groups and therefore were considered non-dependent on the period of treatment. In all experimental embryos, neurological disorders such as trembles and loss of equilibrium were observed.     

Mercury levels in the plumage of red-billed gulls Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus of known sex and age

Samples of 4-8 small body feathers were taken from 27 chicks and 35 adult red-billed gulls caught at their nests on the Kaikoura Peninsula, New Zealand, in December 1988. The adults had been ringed as chicks and were of known ages from 2 to 15 years old. Analysis of total mercury in the feather samples showed that levels were independent of sex and age in adults. Mean fresh weight concentration in adult body feathers was 2.4 microg g(-1). The lack of age accumulation of mercury in gull feathers contrasts with the well known age related accumulation of mercury in tissues of fish and marine mammals, but agrees with predictions of recent studies on mercury dynamics in birds. Mercury levels in chick feathers were about 80% of levels in adult feathers.     

90-day oral toxicity of ziram: a thyrostatic and hepatotoxic study

Ziram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide, is extensively used in crop protection. Daily oral doses of ziram (5 and 25 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) for 30, 60 and 90 days produced significant mortality in male rats. The fungicide also caused a significant increase in the thyroid:body weight ratio, histological changes, and a reduced activity of thyroid (125)I uptake and protein bound (125)I. However, the animals did not show any change in the clinical enzyme profile of the liver, serum and brain. It is believed that ETU, the degradation product of ziram and a known antithyroid compound, is the causative agent for the high mortality, as well as for the pronounced thyrostatic and hepatotoxic effects found in the experimental animals.     

Pollen germination is impeded by tap water

Pollen germination in vitro is totally inhibited in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and other species if tap water is used to prepare the germination medium. This effect is already fully present if tap water accounts for only 25% of the medium. Furthermore, the pollen grains deteriorate rapidly and the culture medium turns yellowish-brown. The water toxicity is not caused by one or several compounds regularly monitored by the water authorities but can be removed by ion exchange purification. Although the factor(s) responsible for the inhibition were not identified, the study clearly shows the presence of such a contaminant in three different Orange County (Southern California) water wells. The fact that a fundamental botanical process like pollen germination is inhibited by a factor in drinking water not included in water quality control causes some general health concern. In addition, crop yield might be largely reduced if overhead spray irrigation with this water is utilized. The experiments also suggest that pollen germination in vitro could serve as a sensitive and simple bioassay for water quality.     

Airborne pollutants along a roadside: assessment using snow analyses and moss bags

Vertical snow sampling and moss bag transplants were used to estimate the local inorganic and organic pollutant load deposited from traffic along a major highway in Finland. The pH and concentrations of Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), Ca(2+), Na(+) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined from snow samples collected in winter at different sites along the highway. In summer, moss bags containing 20 g of fresh red-stemmed feather moss (Pleurozium schreberi) were transplanted at the same sites. The moss bag transplants remained exposed to roadside traffic for a period of one month following which the samples were collected and the PAH profiles and concentrations were analysed. The deposition of inorganic and organic pollutants from road traffic was observed up to 60 m from the road. The prevailing winds had a significant effect on the dispersion of pollutants. Snow appears to be a good collector of inorganic pollutants from the atmosphere and can be used to monitor local airborne pollution from road traffic. Snow packs can also be used as passive collectors of organic pollutant loads from road traffic on a local scale. To monitor organic PAH deposition from the road traffic, moss bags appeared to be better indicators compared to snow sampling. The efficiency of moss bags in accumulating PAH compounds indicate that vegetation may be an important sink for traffic pollution.