Mercury pollution and macrophage centres in pike (Esox lucius) tissues

From June 1993 to October 1994, studies have been carried out on the effects of mercury in the Oder River and pike tissue contamination (muscle, kidney, liver). The mean mercury contents in the sediment range from 0.03 to 1.1 mg/kg dry weight. In the pike muscle, between 0.22 and 0.85 mg/kg, on a wet weight basis, were found. The measured mercury concentrations were analysed in relation to the number of macrophage centres of the liver, spleen and kidney of the pike. Positive correlations between mercury and MC response (0.54 ≤ r ≤ 0.79, p < 0.05) were found in all of these organs. The suitability of the macrophage-centre-response as a possible bioindicator for mercury pollution is discussed in the literature. In our study, the response of MCs was found to be suitable as a biomarker for the impairment of fish health.     

Identification of a multixenobiotic resistance mechanism in Xenopus laevis embryos

In the '90's a membrane-associated transport protein, discovered in aquatic organisms, was considered to be expressed in response to environmental xenobiotics. Like the multidrug resistance protein found in mammalian tumor cell lines, this protein confers resistance in organisms in polluted areas by binding xenobiotics and transporting them out of the cells in an energy-dependent manner.This study investigates the expression and the activity of a P-glycoprotein (Pgp) involved in a multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXRW) during the early developmental stages and in tissues of adult Xenopus laevis.     

Hydrological and geochemical factors affecting leachate composition in municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash: Part I: The hydrology of Landfill Lostorf, Switzerland

The objective of the investigation of the municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash landfill, Landfill Lostorf, was to determine the residence time of water in the landfill and the flow paths through the landfill. Over a period of 22 months, measurements of rainfall, landfill discharge and leachate electrical conductivity were recorded and tracer experiments made. Over the yearly period 1995, approximately 50% of the incident rainfall was measured in the discharge. An analysis of single rain events showed that in winter, 90–100% of rainfall was expressed in the landfill discharge, whereas in summer months, the value was between 9 and 40% depending on the intensity of the rain event. The response to rainfall was rapid. Within 30–100 h, approximately 50% of water discharged in response to a rain event had left the landfill. The discharge was less than 4 l/min for approximately 50% of the measurement periods. Qualitative tracer studies with fluorescein, pyranine and iodide clearly showed the existence of preferential flow paths. This was further substantiated by quantitative tracer studies of single rain events using / ratios and electrical conductivity measurements. The proportion of rainwater passing directly through the landfill was found to be between 20 and 80% in summer months and around 10% in winter months. The difference has been ascribed to the water content in the landfill. The average residence time of the water within the landfill has been estimated to be roughly 3 years and this water is the predominant component in the discharge over a yearly period.     

Chlorohydrocarbons, PCB congeners, polychlorodioxins, furans and dibenzothiophenes in pine needles in the vicinity of a metal reclamation plant

Chlorohydrocarbons, PCB congeners, polychlorodioxins, furans and dibenzothiophenes in pine needles in the vicinity of a metal reclamation plant were analyzed by GC/ECD and GC/MS. Wax and the rest of the needles were analyzed separately. As a rule the concentrations of -HCH (0.5–13.6 ng/g), γ-HCH (0.4–7.3 ng/g), HCB (0.2–3.4 ng/g), PCB congeners (0.2–67 ng/g), PCDDs and PCDFs were higher in the older needles. The ratio of the concentration in the wax to the concentration in the rest of the needles was higher in the younger needles. The concentrations of PCB congeners, TeCDDs and TeCDFs were higher in the needles collected in the area nearest to the plant. The samples, obviously, contained tri- and tetrachlorodibenzothiophenes but these were not determined quantitatively due to interfering peaks in GC/MS.     

Phytomonitoring and management of tar piles on the Qatari coastal marshes, Arabian Gulf

Most of the shores in Qatar and other oil producing countries have had a long history of crude oil pollution from different sources. This pilot study was to assess the problem and suggest a management programme for disposing of the collected tar or lessening the impact of tar accumulation. The vegetation on the sites used for dumping tar was used in a field survey to identify bioindicators of tar pollution and of the natural recovery of polluted sites. The phytomonitoring results indicate that recovery of polluted sites can be quite rapid after clean-up and restoration. To facilitate natural plant invasion and colonization, and the restoration of tar piles, the dumping sites must have plant communities with high species diversity and a high percentage of annual plants. Depending on the sand-tar ratio in the piles, artificial seeding of selected plant species (listed) can be applied by using species mixes or single species seeding. Management techniques are suggested to optimize the natural recovery and revegetation of tar-affected coastal marshes.     

The interactive effects of low pH, toxic metals, and DOC on a simulated temporary pond community

The effects of pH, potentially toxic metals, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on a freshwater, palustrine wetland assemblage (three amphibian species, one mosquito genus, and 18 genera of algae) were examined in 500 liter outdoor mesocosms. The design was fully factorial and exposure levels were set to represent concentrations that occur naturally in temporary ponds in central Pennsylvania, an acid-impacted region of the USA. Water chemistry was precisely regulated by use of an artificial pond water rather than using stream water or well water with partially unknown composition. Jefferson (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) and spotted salamanders (A. maculatum) were negatively impacted by low pH and high metal concentrations. Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) were negatively impacted by high DOC and low pH. These negative effects included increased time to metamorphosis and decreased survival and wet body mass at metamorphosis. Mosquito emergence was unaffected by pH, metals, or DOC. All three abiotic factors (metals, pH, and DOC) interacted to determine algal taxonomic composition. Hence, abiotic conditions may determine amphibian reproductive success both directly and indirectly, via effects on algae, since a primary food source of salamanders, zooplankton, are affected by changes in algal composition. These complex interactions should be considered in evaluating the possible toxicity of pond waters to fauna and flora. Until now, pH alone has been considered the primary limiting factor for amphibians breeding in temporary ponds.     

Linear least squares method for time series analysis with an application to a methane time series

A simple method of time series analysis, based upon linear least squares curve fitting, is developed. The method's advantages and disadvantages are discussed, and an example is presented using the Vostok Core methane record.     

Pharmacokinetic model of dioxin and furan levels in adipose tissue from Sawmill work involving chlorophenate fungicides

Sawmill workers in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, have been exposed to chlorophenate fungicides which are known to be contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Due to concern about the potential of these workers to have significant body burdens of PCDD/Fs, and the absence of measurements in these worker, a single-compartment pharmacokinetic model was developed to estimate the concentration of PCDD/Fs in the fat tissue of the sawmill workers. Data from a large cohort of B.C. sawmill workers and literature-based data on chlorophenate exposures and PCDD/F concentrations in chlorophenates were used in Monte Carlo simulations to predict a PCDD/F body burden distribution. The median concentrations of HxCDF and HpCDF predicted using the model for the B.C. sawmill worker population exceeded the range measured in unexposed populations. PeCDF and OCDF concentrations exceeded the range measured in unexposed populations at the 70th percentile of the model-predicted distribution, and PeCDD at the 90th percentile. The primary limitation of the model was the scarcity of input data about actual dermal and inhalation exposures to chlorophenates.     

Growth and nutrition of Quercus rubra L. seedlings and mature trees after three seasons of ozone exposure

Seedling growth and nutritional status have been shown to be sensitive to ozone, but the influence of multi-season ozone exposure on mature tree growth and nutrition has not been examined. To determine if seedlings and mature trees were similarly affected by ozone exposure, growth and nutrient concentrations in northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) 4-year-old seedlings and 32-year-old mature trees were examined after treatment with subambient, ambient and twice ambient concentrations of ozone for three growing seasons. SUM00 values summed over the three growing seasons were 147, 255 and 507 ppm-h, respectively, for the subambient, ambient and twice ambient exposures. For mature trees, no influence of ozone treatment on lower stem diameter growth, stem growth within the mid-canopy and foliar biomass was observed. Seedling height was increased by ozone, but biomass and diameter were unaffected. A reduction in the specific leaf weight of leaves in response to ozone coincident with the loss of recurrent flushing was observed in seedlings. Ozone exposure reduced foliar nitrogen concentrations and increased woody tissue nutrient concentrations in seedlings and mature trees at the end of the third growing season. These results suggest an influence of ozone on retranslocation processes in seedlings and mature trees.