Variations in pesticide leaching related to land use, pesticide properties, and unsaturated zone thickness

Pesticide leaching through variably thick soils beneath agricultural fields in Morgan Creek, Maryland was simulated for water years 1995 to 2004 using LEACHM (Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model). Fifteen individual models were constructed to simulate five depths and three crop rotations with associated pesticide applications. Unsaturated zone thickness averaged 4.7 m but reached a maximum of 18.7 m. Average annual recharge to ground water decreased from 15.9 to 11.1 cm as the unsaturated zone increased in thickness from 1 to 10 m. These point estimates of recharge are at the lower end of previously published values, which used methods that integrate over larger areas capturing focused recharge in the numerous detention ponds in the watershed. The total amount of applied and leached masses for five parent pesticide compounds and seven metabolites were estimated for the 32-km2 Morgan Creek watershed by associating each hectare to the closest one-dimensional model analog of model depth and crop rotation scenario as determined from land-use surveys. LEACHM parameters were set such that branched, serial, first-order decay of pesticides and metabolites was realistically simulated. Leaching is predicted to be greatest for shallow soils and for persistent compounds with low sorptivity. Based on simulation results, percent parent compounds leached within the watershed can be described by a regression model of the form e(-depth) (a ln t1/2-b ln K OC) where t1/2 is the degradation half-life in aerobic soils, K OC is the organic carbon normalized sorption coefficient, and a and b are fitted coefficients (R2 = 0.86, p value = 7 x 10(-9)).     

A fully reproductive fighting morph in a soldier clade of gall-inducing thrips (Oncothrips morrisi)

We present the first life history data for Oncothrips morrisi, a species in a clade of haplodiploid, Australian gall-inducing thrips that has a micropteran fighting morph in the first generation of the gall. Micropterans in other species in the clade have lower fecundity than their mother, and these species are considered eusocial. There is no such reproductive skew in O. morrisi, and the species is not eusocial by any definition. The volume of O. morrisi galls is between 4 and 20 times greater in than eusocial species in the clade and the dispersing-brood size varies between 5 and 15 times larger than that of other species. The lack of skew in O. morrisi could be associated with large gall volume, reducing competition between females for space and feeding sites for their offspring. As O. morrisi is in a lineage basal to eusocial Oncothrips, we also discuss selective factors for the evolution of a non-dispersing fighting morph in this clade. The costs involved in dispersal and latency to reproduction may have lowered the selective threshold for the evolution of a non-dispersing morph. Once non-dispersal evolved, selection to defend one's offspring may have promoted the evolution of soldier-like morphology and behaviour.     

Exploratory study of suspended sediment concentrations downstream of harvested peat bogs

Peat bog harvesting is an important industry in many countries, including Canada. To harvest peat, bogs are drained and drainage water is evacuated towards neighboring rivers, estuaries or coastal waters. High suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) were found in the drainage water at one particular site during the 2001–2002 spring seasons in New Brunswick (Canada). The main objective of this study was to verify this observation at other sites, compare SSC levels leaving harvested peat bogs with those leaving an unharvested bog, and to determine if high SSC events happen only in Spring or all year round. Suspended sediment concentrations were monitored downstream of three harvested peat bogs and an unharvested reference bog located in New Brunswick during the ice free seasons of 2003–2004. On average, SSC at the harvested sites exceeded 25 mg/l, which is the recommended daily maximum concentration, 72% of the time, while the same concentration was exceeded 30% of the time at the unharvested sites. SSC were found to be significantly higher at harvested sites than at the reference sites for all seasons. The highest SSC medians were recorded in the Fall but SSC was elevated in all seasons. High SSC levels in receiving waters may be caused by field ditching activities and insufficient sediment controls. Findings suggest the NB Peat Harvesting 25 mg/l SSC guideline should be reviewed.     

Sociological dimension in the handling habit and sanitary quality of hand-dug well water from oil-producing area of Nigeria

A previous report showed that the physical and sanitary quality of hand-dug wells from an oil-producing area of Nigeria was poor in spite of the presence of well protective features. The hypothesis that handling habits is associated with the well water quality was therefore, tested. A structured questionnaire with scales for measuring handling habits was administered to 60 female (>18 years) hand-dug well users/owners randomly selected from three towns in the oil-producing area. The respondents’ wells were analysed for coliform bacteria. The findings showed that poor handling habits were the trend (habit score: Mean, 9.23 vs. 20 total available points). Handling habit indicated by scores, significantly negatively correlated (−0.89; P < 0.01) with coliform counts (indicator of poor sanitary quality). While the data collected and discussions with respondents indicated awareness of the risk of drinking well water, widespread skepticism of the potential hazards of non-drinking domestic uses (e.g., cooking, washing of plates, cups, cutleries etc.) was evident. Discontent with some aspects of science was indicated. It is concluded that there is need for social discourse and more public health campaign aimed at transforming skepticism to consent.     

Tolerance of transgenic canola plants (Brassica napus) amended with plant growth-promoting bacteria to flooding stress at a metal-contaminated field site

The growth of transgenic canola (Brassica napus) expressing a gene for the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase was compared to non-transformed canola exposed to flooding and elevated soil Ni concentration, in situ. In addition, the ability of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Pseudomonas putida UW4, which also expresses ACC deaminase, to facilitate the growth of non-transformed and transgenic canola under the above mentioned conditions was examined. Transgenic canola and/or canola treated with P. putida UW4 had greater shoot biomass compared to non-transformed canola under low flood-stress conditions. Under high flood-stress conditions, shoot biomass was reduced and Ni accumulation was increased in all instances relative to low flood-stress conditions. This is the first field study to document the increase in plant tolerance utilizing transgenic plants and plant growth-promoting bacteria exposed to multiple stressors.     

Tire blow-outs and motorway accidents

During the period from 1996 to 2002, 60,397 vehicles were involved in crashes with property damage and/or injury on a French motorway network of 2000 km. It was observed that 6.7% of these accidents involved tire blow-outs. In 87% of cases, only one vehicle was involved in the accident. Tire blow-outs occurred in 6.5% of cars that represented more than 80% of the vehicles involved in crashes. The occurrence of this phenomenon is very high for vans (22%), though it concerns trucks less (2.5%). The proportion of tire blow-outs decreased from 1997, when it was 8.0%, to 5.9% in 2002. However, two main facts require examination: (1) On inter-urban motorways, crashes involving blow-outs of rear tires occur four times more frequently than for blow-outs of front tires. (2) The frequency of tire blow-outs is especially high for vans, and almost always involves rear tires. This higher frequency for rear tires is the result of two phenomena, which are indistinguishable given the data available: firstly, a four-wheel vehicle is more difficult to control if a blow-out occurs on a rear tire (confirmed experimentally); secondly, rear tires may be in poor condition more often than front tires, and so more prone to blow-outs. Consequently, users are strongly recommended to install the best tires on rear wheels. In practice, if only the front tires are replaced, which often occurs because they tend to be worn out more quickly than the rear ones (especially for front wheel drive vehicles), it is necessary to move the rear tires to the front and fit the new ones on the rear wheels. Very interesting technological developments are in progress that should reduce the number of tire blow-outs. However, considering the time necessary to renew the number of cars on the roads, this very simple and inexpensive recommendation should apply to all cars and especially to vans.     

Prenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus-stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius by ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy. Report of two cases

Hydrocephalus-stenosis of the acqueduct of Sylvius sequence (HSAS) is characterized by hydrocephalus, macrocephaly, adducted thumbs, spasticity, agenesis of the corpus callosum and mental retardation. X-linked hydrocephalus is known to be due to mutations in the gene coding for the neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1-CAM) and diagnosis is made by identification of a mutation in the L1-CAM gene. Prenatal diagnosis of HSAS is usually suggested on ultrasound examination showing hydrocephalus in a male fetus associated with bilateral adducted thumbs. Mutation screening of the L1-CAM gene is indicated when neuropathological examination shows hypoplasia of the corticospinal tract associated with aqueductal stenosis. We report here two cases of HSAS diagnosed within the same family by ultrasound examination in the first trimester of pregnancy when bilateral adducted thumbs were the only early ultrasound marker. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.