Field comparison of manual and semi-automatic methods for the measurement of total gaseous mercury in ambient air and assessment of equivalence

The manual and semi-automatic methods for the measurement of total gaseous mercury in ambient air have been compared in a field trial for the first time. The comparison results have shown that whilst the expected random scatter is present, there was no significant systematic bias between the two methods, whose operational differences have also been outlined and analysed in this work. Furthermore it has been observed that because variation in instrument sensitivity is largely random in nature there is little effect on the results of the comparison if the period between instrument calibrations is altered. When the manual and semi-automatic methods are compared according to guidelines produced by the European Commission the results presented here, taken together with other supporting evidence, strongly suggest that the two methods are equivalent.     

Dispersal, pair formation and social structure in gibbons (Hylobates lar)

We report observations on reproduction, natal dispersal, pair formation, and group structure based on longitudinal observations of several white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) groups spanning 18 years. Our observations are at odds with the traditional view that gibbons live in nuclear family groups consisting of a pair of adults and their offspring, and that parents exclude young from the family territory when they reach adult size. In the relatively dense Khao Yai study population, dispersing young usually obtain mates by replacing adults in existing territories, which creates non-nuclear families. Six subadults, five males and one female, matured and dispersed at an average age of 10 years, or about 2 years after reaching adult size. Average natal dispersal distance was 710 m, or between one and two territories away. At least two dispersing males replaced adults in neighboring groups. In one case, forcible displacement of the resident male resulted in a group which included a young juvenile presumably fathered by the previous male, two younger juveniles (probably brothers) from the new male's original group, and (later) offspring of the new pair. Social relations within this heterogeneous group remained harmonious: the adults groomed all the young and play occurred between all preadult members. In only two out of a total of seven cases of dispersal seen did two subadults pair and disperse into new territorial space. Nonreproducing subadults which delay dispersal may be tolerated by the adults provided that they contribute benefits to the adults or their offspring. Possible benefits include behaviors such as grooming, social play with juveniles, and support of the adult male in defending the territory. Delayed dispersal is probably advantageous in a saturated environment where there is no room for floaters, but subadults may also gain indirect fitness benefits by aiding siblings and other relatives. Received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted after revision: 12 January 1998     

Human maternal and umbilical cord blood concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), widely used as flame retardants in commercial products, have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Although adult human exposure to PBDEs is well documented, developmental exposure is less well characterized. The objectives of this study were to measure maternal and fetal exposure to nine PBDE congeners and to investigate potential associations with birth weight. PBDE congeners were quantified in maternal serum at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery, and umbilical cord serum (UCS) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Complete blood sample sets were obtained from 97 pregnant women (mean age 33.1 ± 0.5 years). PBDE-28, -47 and -99 were quantified in all samples tested and PBDE-47 was the most abundant congener measured in both maternal (mid-pregnancy and delivery samples geometric mean = 26.9 and 26.9, respectively) and UCS (GM = 56.0 ng g⁻¹ lipid). The UCS concentration for all congeners with the exception of PBDE-153 was higher vs. maternal delivery samples (p < 0.001). Only the UCS concentration of PBDE-17 and -99 were significantly associated (β = −49.860, p = 0.032, and β = −3.645, p = 0.05) with birth weight. However, after adjustment for potential confounders only the association between PBDE-99 and birth weight remained significant (β = −3.951 and p = 0.016). We conclude that: the fetus is exposed to PBDEs from at least the second trimester of pregnancy onward; PBDE congeners are higher in UCS compared to maternal serum samples collected at delivery; and that developmental PBDE exposure is potentially associated with lower birth weight.     

Review of recent advances in research on the toxicity,detection, occurrence and fate of cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes in the environment

The fate and behavior of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) in the environment were reviewed. We evaluated their usage data and patterns, physico-chemical properties, toxicology, partitioning and degradation, methods of detection, and concentrations. The use of cVMS as an intermediate in the formation of silicone polymers, personal care and household products has resulted in their widespread environmental exposure; they have been detected in biogas, air, water, soil, biosolid, sediment, and biota samples. Modeled and experimental results suggest that cVMS may be subject to long-range atmospheric transport, but have low potential to contaminate the Arctic. For D4 and D5, there was no evidence of trophic biomagnification in aquatic food webs, while some aquatic organisms demonstrated a high degree of bioconcentration and bioaccumulation. High concentrations of cVMS observed in indoor air and biosolids resulted from point sources. Concentrations of cVMS in water, sediment, and soil were all below their no-observed-effect-concentrations.     

Lidar Applications in Air Pollution Research and Control

The fundamental capabilities and limitations of the lidar (laser radar) in observing particulate concentrations in the atmosphere are discussed. The advantages of the lidar technique stem from its ability to obtain measurements remotely and at a high density in space and time. The quantitative application of the technique is limited by the accuracies with which: (1) the separate effects upon the return signal of back-scatter and attenuation may be identified; and (2) the optical parameters may be related to the characteristics of the aerosol. The main areas of utility for lidar in air pollution research and control are: (1) to observe the structure and height of mixing layers; (2) to measure the transport and diffusion of plumes or clouds of particulates; and (3) to remotely determine smoke-plume opacity. These applications are briefly reviewed and exemplified.     

Effects of Operating Variables on PAH Emissions and Mutagenicity of Emissions from Woodstoves

As part of the Integrated Air Cancer Project, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted field emission measurement programs in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Boise, Idaho, to identify the potential mutagenic Impact of residential wood burning and motor vehicles on ambient and indoor air. These studies included the collection of emission samples from chimneys serving wood burning appliances. Parallel projects were undertaken in Instrumented woodstove test laboratories to quantify woodstove emissions during operations typical of in-house usage but under more controlled conditions.

Three woodstoves were operated In test laboratories over a range of burnrates, burning eastern oak, southern yellow pine, or western white pine. Two conventional stoves were tested at an altitude of 90 m. One of the conventional stoves and a catalytic stove were tested at an altitude of 825 m.

Decreasing burnrate increased total paniculate emissions from the conventional stoves while the catalytic stove's total particulate emissions were unaffected. There was no correlation of total particulate emissions with altitude whereas total polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions were higher at the lower altitude. Mutagenicity of the catalytic stove emissions was higher than emissions from the conventional stove. Emissions from burning pine were more mutagenic than emissions from oak.     

An Analysis of Regional Haze Using Tracers of Opportunity

A two-year record of hourly concentrations of halocarbon tracers (methylchloroform and perchloroethylene) and hourly averages of particle light scattering (B_sp) has been analyzed In an effort to understand the sources of haze In the U.S. southwestern deserts and mountains. Measurements were taken on top of Spirit Mountain in southern Nevada. In conjunction with photographs used to interpret visual quality, haze episodes at Spirit Mountain were usually coincident with elevated concentrations of tracers originating from urban sources. Haze obscured an 88-km-distant mountain 17 percent of the total observation time. Of those Incidents, 69 percent were associated with long-range transport of haze from the Los Angeles Basin.     

Microbial mineralization of organic nitrogen forms in poultry litters

Ammonia volatilization from the mineralization of uric acid and urea has a major impact on the poultry industry and the environment. Dry acids are commonly used to reduce ammonia emissions from poultry houses; however, little is known about how acidification affects the litter biologically. The goal of this laboratory incubation was to compare the microbiological and physiochemical effects of dry acid amendments (Al+Clear, Poultry Litter Treatment, Poultry Guard) on poultry litter to an untreated control litter and to specifically correlate uric acid and urea contents of these litters to the microbes responsible for their mineralization. Although all three acidifiers eventually produced similar effects within the litter, there was at least a 2-wk delay in the microbiological responses using Poultry Litter Treatment. Acidification of the poultry litter resulted in >3 log increases in total fungal concentrations, with both uricolytic (uric acid degrading) and ureolytic (urea degrading) fungi increasing by >2 logs within the first 2 to 4 wk of the incubation. Conversely, total, uricolytic, and ureolytic bacterial populations all significantly declined during this same time period. While uric acid and urea mineralization occurred within the first 2 wk in the untreated control litter, acidification resulted in delayed mineralization events for both uric acid and urea (2 and 4 wk delay, respectively) once fungal cell concentrations exceeded a threshold level. Therefore, fungi, and especially uricolytic fungi, appear to have a vital role in the mineralization of organic N in low-pH, high-N environments, and the activity of these fungi should be considered in best management practices to reduce ammonia volatilization from acidified poultry litter.