Clostridia dominate 16S rRNA gene libraries prepared from the hindgut of temperate marine herbivorous fishes

Bacterial diversity in the microbial communities of posterior gut sections of three temperate marine herbivorous fish species from New Zealand was characterised using Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis, and 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing methods. The fish were collected in 1999–2000 in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand (35°54’–36°24’S, 174°48’–175°25’E). The gastrointestinal bacterial communities of Kyphosus sydneyanus (Günther, 1886) (F. Kyphosidae), Odax pullus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (F. Labridae) and Aplodactylus arctidens Richardson, 1839 (F. Aplodactylidae) were dominated by five clades of bacteria, four of which belong to recognized clostridial clusters. The clone libraries of K. sydneyanus and O. pullus contained sequences from most of these clades, but were dominated by members of clostridial clusters XI and XIVa, respectively. The clone library of A. arctidens was dominated by members of clostridial cluster XIVb and an unassigned cluster containing Eubacterium desmolans and Papillibacter cinnaminovorans. The finding that strains of Firmicutes dominated the gastrointestinal microbial communities of all three fish species is consistent with the results of similar studies on terrestrial vertebrate herbivores. This work thus contributes to the view that gastrointestinal symbionts in some marine herbivorous fishes may play a similar role to those in terrestrial vertebrate herbivores studied to date.     

Vehicle Hydrocarbons’ Emission Characteristics Determined Using the Monte Carlo Method

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - Hydrocarbons (HCs) are products of incomplete combustion process which can occur during operation of the internal combustion engines (Flagan and Seinfeld...     

Errant corporations, diffuse responsibilities, and the environment: ethical issues in the Orica case study

The papers in this volume deal with various aspects of the HCB legacy at the Orica plant at Botany. Whether explicitly or implicitly, they are concerned with questions of ethics; with the just distribution of burdens and benefits; with just processes for disposing of dangerous industrial waste; and with a just custodianship of the Botany environment. These ethical issues illustrate the difficulty of securing corporate accountability, and the elusiveness of responsibility within organisations. This paper reflects on some of the issues for ethics raised by the Orica case and their significance for corporate ethics.     

LC-MS/MS method validation for determination of selected neonicotinoids in groundwater for the purpose of a column experiment

The work was carried out to develop and validate a method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous detection and quantification of five neonicotinoid insecticides: acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam in groundwater samples for the purpose of a further column experiment. This experiment will be used to analyze breakthrough curves of neonicotinoids under a saturated water flow to set transport parameters, where the reliability of the results of chemical analysis plays an important role. The validation was performed in a concentration range from 0.09?µg L^?1 to 100?µg L^?1 using an Infinity 1290 (Agilent, USA) chromatograph coupled with a QTrap 5500 mass spectrometer (Sciex, Canada). The calibration curves were obtained on the basis of the results of six standard solution analyses. Linearity was not lower than 0.998. The limit of detection was set at the lowest concentration which can be determined with an acceptable accuracy and precision. All pesticides had recoveries in the range 85–109% with relative standard deviation values less than 8.1%. The estimated measurement uncertainty did not exceed 30%, so the LC-MS/MS method fits for the intended purpose.     

Post-rehabilitation environmental hazard of Cu, Zn, As and Pb at the derelict Conrad Mine, eastern Australia

A post-rehabilitation audit of the derelict Conrad base metal mine, eastern Australia, indicates ongoing environmental hazard regarding acid mine drainage and concentrations of arsenic and lead to 3 wt% in the soil and sediment. In order to rehabilitate remote contaminated sites effectively, on-site analyses should be carried out to ensure that the materials used to rehabilitate the site are not contaminant-bearing. Understanding the geomorphic setting of the rehabilitated areas is also important in understanding where, and for what period, contaminated materials might be stored in fluvial systems downstream of mine workings. Chemical and geomorphic audits should form a fundamental part of all rehabilitation works to ensure favourable environmental outcomes.     

The use of virtual environments for percentage view analysis

It is recognised that Visual Impact Assessment (VIA), unlike many other aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), relies less upon measurement than upon experience and judgement. Hence, it is necessary for a more structured and consistent approach towards VIA, reducing the amount of bias and subjectivity. For proposed developments, there are very few quantitative techniques for the evaluation of visibility, and these existing methods can be highly inaccurate and time consuming. Percentage view changes are one of the few quantitative techniques, and the use of computer technology can reduce the inaccuracy and the time spent evaluating the visibility of either existing or proposed developments. For over 10 years, research work undertaken by the authors at the University of Nottingham has employed Computer Graphics (CG) and Virtual Reality (VR) in civilian and industrial contexts for environmental planning, design visualisation, accident reconstruction, risk analysis, data visualisation and training simulators. This paper describes a method to quantitatively assess the visual impact of proposed developments on the landscape using CG techniques. This method allows the determination of accurate percentage view changes with the use of a computer-generated model of the environment and the application of specialist software that has been developed at the University of Nottingham. The principles are easy to understand and therefore planners, authorisation agencies and members of the public can use and understand the results. A case study is shown to demonstrate the application and the capabilities of the technology.     

Developing the understanding of underlying causes of construction fatal accidents

A study of a small sample of construction fatal accidents was used to pilot a potential method of analysis for the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Division. The work was conducted in the context of a Governmental Inquiry into construction fatalities in 2009, but has been developed further since. The sample of 26 accidents (28 fatalities) was drawn from the 211 fatal accidents in the years ending 2006–2008, to be broadly illustrative of the range of accident characteristics. The accidents were analysed on the basis of available inspectorate reports and structured interviews with the investigating inspectors. A standard method of classification on four levels was developed, based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) classification of errors and task level factors, with additional categories covering the organisational and regulatory/market levels of the system. The results showed a concentration of underlying factors associated with inadequacies in planning and risk assessment, competence assurance, hardware design, purchase and installation, and contracting strategy. These findings were partially validated by comparing them with another sample of 50 accidents analysed earlier by the HSE. This paper describes the development and testing of the investigation and classification method and how it is being further developed since the initial study. It also provides a summary of the findings relating to underlying causes.     

Benzene, toluene and xylenes levels in new and used vehicles of the same model

The aim of this work was to determine the level of benzene, toluene, o-xylene and m, p-xylene （BTX） in air samples collected from the cabins of new and used vehicles of the same model. Ten new vehicles were examined in order to check interior emission from materials used to equip the passenger compartment. In order to compare and define the impact of exhaust gases, air samples were also collected from two used cars, at different mileages （up to 20,000 kin）. All vehicles tested were of the same type. Samples were collected onto Carbograph 1TD sorbent, thermally desorbed and examined with the use of gas chromatography with flame ionisation and mass spectrometry detectors. All results obtained were referred to Polish and German requirements for indoor air quality （both in public buildings and in workspace environments）. Average benzene, toluene, o-xylene and m, p-xylene concentrations in new cars were determined at the level of 11.8 μg/m^3, 82.7 μg/m^3, 21.2 μg/m^3 and 89.5 μg/m^3, respectively. In the used cars, BTX concentration increased with increasing vehicle mileage. The most significant increase of BTX concentration was observed above 11,000 km mileage.     

Regression method of the hydrophobicity ruler approach for determining octanol/water partition coefficients of very hydrophobic compounds

A regression method was developed for the hydrophobicity ruler approach, which is an indirect method for determining the octanol/water partition coefficients of very hydrophobic compounds. Two constants introduced into the mathematical model were obtained by regression of the absorption data sampled before the partition equilibrium. A water miscible organic solvent was used to increase the solubility of the very hydrophobic compounds in the aqueous solution so that the hydrophobicity scale was reduced and the equilibration was accelerated. Polydimethylsiloxane/methanol aqueous solution and a series of 21 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used to demonstrate the regression method. The PCB compounds with known experimental logK(o/w) values served as reference compounds, while the PCB compounds without known logK(o/w) values were determined. The distribution coefficients (logK(p/s)), uptake and elimination rate constants were obtained from the two regression constants for each compound (reference or unknown). The correlation of the logK(p/s) values of the reference PCB compounds with their logK(o/w) values was linear (logK(o/w)=2.69logK(p/s)+0.76, R(2)=0.97). The logK(o/w) values were compared with literature values and suggested that some values from the literature far off the calibration line could be inaccurate. The critical experimental factors, the merits of the regression method were discussed.