The environmental impact of shrimp aquaculture: a global perspective

A global perspective on the environmental impacts related to the establishment and operation of shrimp aquaculture is presented. Alternatives to reduce the impacts are considered and research priorities are recommended.     

A comparison of indigenous mosses and topsoils for use in monitoring atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Galicia (northwest Spain)

Samples of moss (Scleropodium purum or, in its absence, Hypnum cupressiforme) and of topsoil (0-5 cm) were collected in the spring of 1995, from 75 sites distributed throughout Galicia (northwest Spain) in order to compare the potential usefulness of each in evaluating the atmospheric deposition of contaminants. Analysis was made of the total content of various metals in the moss and of different soil metal fractions (including total metal content, labile metals and metals bound to organic material). We found that the labile fraction most closely resembled the metal content of the moss. Calculation of enrichment factors allowed us to show that the soil was not, except in the case of Cr, the main source of contamination in the moss. By comparing contamination factors of metals in moss and soil fraction samples we found that moss samples were more useful for evaluating the degree of contamination at different sites.     

Hydroxylated PCB metabolites in nonhatched fulmar eggs from the Faroe Islands

Thirty-six polychlorinated biphenylols (OH-PCBs) congeners were characterized in Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) eggs collected from the Faroe Islands. The seven most abundant congeners were quantified in 19 samples, and the sigmaOH-PCB concentrations ranged between 0.92 and 4.0 ng g(-1) fresh weight (f.w.). These eggs constitute a part of the traditional diet for at least a part of the population on the Faroe Islands and may contribute to the high levels of these contaminants found in the blood of pregnant Faroese women. Because the metabolites are present in the nonhatched fulmar egg, it is concluded that the OH-PCBs are transferred to the egg before laying. High levels, 3300-18,000 ng g(-1) l.w., of sigmapolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were determined in the fulmar eggs, which are a considerable source for human exposure. The high PCB levels are a source for metabolic formation of hydroxylated PCBs.     

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in serum samples of Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) from Spain

Concentrations of 23 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-DDT and two of its metabolites, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-TDE have been measured in serum samples of up to 1 ml of Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) gathered from five populations in Spain. SigmaPCB concentrations were found to be in the range 3.2-97 ng/ml, while those of SigmaDDTs ranged from 0.93 to 38 ng/ml. p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE ratios higher than one were only found in the Segovia population, which could be an indication of recent use of p,p'-DDT in the area. In all cases, PCB profiles were dominated by congeners 52, 132 + 105, 138, 153 and 180. However, some differences among the five populations studied became evident when their profiles were compared with those of technical PCB mixtures by principal components analysis. The DDT and PCB levels detected in the serums analysed were lower than those previously reported for similar avian species and those reported to have deleterious effects on survival or reproduction of birds.     

The tail feathers of osprey nestlings (Pandion haliaetus L.) as indicators of change in mercury load in the environment of southern Sweden (1969-1998): a case study with a note on the simultaneous intake of selenium

The tail feathers of 104 osprey nestlings (Pandion haliaetus) from Lake Asnen, southern Sweden, were analyzed for total mercury and selenium content. Concentrations of mercury in feathers from the western part of the lake fell during the period 1969-1998, when pollution from industrial mercury had decreased and a paper mill upstream of the lake was closed down in 1979. Nestlings from the eastern part of the lake had initially lower levels of mercury, predominantly from atmospheric fallout. The levels did not decrease during the period. The reason for the differences seems to be the limited water flow between the western and the eastern part of the lake. The selenium concentrations were constant over time and approximately the same in both parts of the lake. The total-Hg/Se ratio in the western part of the lake was 2.94, which is somewhat higher than the 1:1 molar ratio constant (2.54). This indicates that the bioaccumulated quantity of selenium which is thought to be protective for the organisms against the toxic effects of mercury, is somewhat insufficient to bind all body mercury.     

Prediction of ozone concentration in ambient air using multivariate methods

Multivariate statistical methods including pattern recognition (Principal Component Analysis--PCA) and modeling (Multiple Linear Regression--MLR, Partial Least Squares--PLS, as well as Principal Component Regression--PCR) methods were carried out to evaluate the state of ambient air in Miskolc (second largest city in Hungary). Samples were taken from near the ground at a place with an extremely heavy traffic. Although PCA is not able to determine the significance of variables, it can uncover their similarities and classify the cases. PCA revealed that it is worth to separate day and night data because different factors influence the ozone concentrations during all day. Ozone concentration was modeled by MLR and PCR with the same efficiency if the conditions of meteorological parameters were not changed (i.e. morning and afternoon). Without night data, PCR and PLS suggest that the main process is not a photochemical but a chemical one.     

A combination of ion exchange and electrochemical reduction for nitrate removal from drinking water. Part I: nitrate removal using a selective anion exchanger in the bicarbonate form with reuse of the regenerant solution.

The process of selective nitrate removal from drinking water by means of ion exchange was studied. A commercial strong base anion exchanger with triethylammonium (-N+Et3) functional groups was used in the bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO3(2-)) form. The aim of this study was to optimize ion-exchanger regeneration in view of the subsequent electrochemical reduction of nitrates in the spent regenerant solution. The effects of ion-exchanger form, concentration of regenerant solution, and presence of nitrates, chlorides, and sulphates in the regenerant solution were studied. The strong base anion exchanger in HCO3- form that was investigated was able to treat 270 bed volumes of model water solution containing 124 mg dm(-3) nitrates. To achieve adequate regeneration of the saturated anion exchanger, it is necessary to use approximately 30 bed volumes of fresh 1-M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) regenerant solution. The presence of residual 50-mg dm(-3) nitrates in the regenerant solution, treated by electrolysis, resulted in an increase in the dose of regenerant solution to 35 bed volumes and a decrease in the subsequent sorption run of approximately 13%. The volume of applied regenerant solution was high, but the consumption of NaHCO3 for regeneration was low.