Growth and DNA damage in young Laminaria sporophytes exposed to ultraviolet radiation: implication for depth zonation of kelps on Helgoland (North Sea)

Growth as an integrative parameter of all physiological processes was measured in young sporophytes of temperate Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria hyperborea exposed in the laboratory to irradiance consisting of either only photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) or to a spectrum including ultraviolet radiation (UVR) (PAR+UVA+UVB) by use of cut-off glass filters. Size increment was measured every 10 min over a period of 18–21 days using growth chambers with on-line video measuring technique. In the chamber, plants were grown at 10±2°C and 16:8 h light–dark cycles with 6 h additional UVR exposure in the middle of the light period. Tissue morphology and absorption spectra were measured in untreated young sporophytes while chlorophyll a content and DNA damage were measured in treated thalli at the end of the experiment. Sensitivity of growth under UVR was found to be related to the observed upper depth distribution limit of the upper sublittoral L. digitata, upper to mid sublittoral L. saccharina and lower sublittoral L. hyperborea. Tissue DNA damage is, however, dependent on thallus thickness which minimizes UVR effect where outer cell layers shade inner cells and provide longer pathlength for UVR. Exposure to UVR causes cellular, enzymatic and molecular damage. Presence of UV-absorbing compounds further reduces effective UVR from reaching physiological targets. The cost of producing higher amount of UV-absorbing compounds and effective DNA repair mechanism can, however, divert photosynthate at the expense of growth. Tissue chlorophyll a content was not significantly different between treatments suggesting a capacity for acclimation to moderate UVR fluence. Growth acclimation to repeated UVR exposure was observed within a period of 12 days while growth inhibition was observed after a longer UVR exposure period of 21 days. The results give further insight into the effects of UVR on the cellular level and show how ecological parameters such as the upper depth distribution limit are dependent on cellular processes.     

Ein Indikator für den Einsatz gef?hrlicher Stoffe in Produkten und Prozessen: Monoethylenglykol-?quivalente

Zusammenfassung  Zur Quantifizierung des Gefahrstoffeinsatzes in der Produktion ist im Rahmen der integrierten ?kologischen Bewertung des ?ko-Institutes (EcoGrade) eine eigene Methodik entwickelt worden. Indikator für den Gefahrstoffeinsatz sind Monoethylenglykol (‘MEG’)-?quivalente. Sie erm?glichen einen direkten, schadstoffbezogenen Prozess- und Produktvergleich (Bunke 2001). Die Bewertung basiert auf den R-S?tzen (Gefahrenhinweise) der Inhaltsstoffe. Die Methodik der MEG-?quivalente stellt eine Weiterentwicklung und Anwendung des Wirkfaktorenmodells der Technischen Regel für Gefahrstoffe (TRGS) 440 dar (AGS 2001). Die zur Bewertung erforderlichen Daten sind im Unternehmen vorhanden (Sicherheitsdatenbl?tter) bzw. ?ffentlich leicht zug?nglich (Gefahrstoffdatenbanken). Die Bilanzierung von Gefahrstoffen mit Hilfe der hier vorgestellten Methode erm?glicht es auch, in ?kobilanziellen Untersuchungen systematisch den Gefahrstoffeinsatz zu berücksichtigen. Die Methodik ist am Beispiel von Wohngeb?uden erprobt worden. Anmerkung: Als Gefahrstoffe, Schadstoffe, gef?hrliche Inhaltsstoffe bzw. gef?hrliche Stoffe werden in dieser Arbeit solche Stoffe definiert, die eines der Gef?hrlichkeitsmerkmale nach § 3 Chemikaliengesetz besitzen. OnlineFirst: 19. 12. 2001     

The ocean as part of the global carbon cycle

The ocean plays a central role in the global carbon cycle being by far the largest active reservoir. Atmospheric CO₂ level depends on the CO₂concentration in the ocean surface layer, which is relatively low compared to mean oceanic values due to biological and physical carbon pumps. Although the ocean may take up much of the carbon released by the increased burning of fossil fuels, this capacity is limited because of the chemical buffering and a mismatch in time scales (oceanic mixing is much slower than anthropogenic perturbations).     

German drinking water regulations,pesticides, and axiom of concern

The limit value of 0.1 μg/liter for “substances used in plant treatment and pest control including their main toxic degradation products” (PBSM) established in the German Drinking Water Regulations (Trinkwasserverordnung) serves comprehensively to protect drinking water from unexpected toxicological risks and thus corresponds to theaxiom of concern (Besorgnisgrundsatz) contained in §11,2 of the Federal Communicable Disease Control Act (Bundesseuchengesetz), which is an essential cornerstone of the Drinking Water Regulations. Furthermore, precautionary values that are specific to the particular substance and near the valid limit can be found for about 10% of all registered active substances. The goal of the PBSM Recommendations of the Federal Health Office (BGA) issued in July 1989 is to preserve and restore groundwater and drinking water through measures to be taken by the causal party, while reducing consumer health risks to the greatest extent possible. The EC commission's drawbacks on these recommendations and the imminent EC-wide directive for the uniform registration of pesticides being based solely on Article 43 of the European Treaty would seriously endanger this goal. Therefore, a situation threatens in Europe similar to that in the United States, where at least 18 active ingredients have been detected in groundwater in concentrations of up to 1000 times the toxicologically established limits for drinking water. This article appeared first in the German journal?ffentliches Gesundheitswesen 52(8–9); 372–379, 1990. We thank the editor (Georg Thieme Verlag, D-7000 Stuttgart) for the kind permission to publish this slightly revised English version inEnvironmental Management.