Glial fibrillary acidic protein in amniotic fluids from pregnancies with fetal neural tube defects

The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the subunit protein of intermediate filaments in astrocytes and closely related cell types. By means of an enzyme immunoassay we have determined the concentration of GFAP in amniotic fluids from normal pregnancies and from pregnancies complicated by various fetal malformations. The group of 20 cases of fetal anencephaly had a significantly higher mean amniotic fluid GFAP concentration (115 μg/1±133.6 (S.D.), range 6–378 μg/1) than the control group of 117 normal pregnancies (13 μg/1k±5.5 (S.D.), range 0–31 μg/1), (P<0.001). Two cases of fetal encephalocele likewise had very high amniotic fluid GFAP concentrations. None of the other cases of fetal malformations investigated, including 12 cases of spina bifida, had increased amniotic fluid GFAP concentrations. We conclude that determination of the amniotic fluid GFAP concentration may give additional information in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal nervous system malformations.     

Biologische Sanierung von Rüstungsaltlasten

Many sites of former ammunition plants are contaminated with the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, its derivatives and reduction products. Such nitroaromatic compounds have a high human and ecotoxic potential. Plant uptake of these organic pollutants is known and could be confirmed under field conditions. In this paper rhizospheric soil was analyzed to characterize the effect of vegetation on TNT-contaminated soil. Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were used as test plants. The experiments were performed on two areas with different TNT concentrations. The data reveal a significant decrease of extractable TNT in rhizospheric soil by a factor of 5 to 6 during the vegetation period. On the area with high TNT concentration, an enrichment of nitroaromatic compounds in root tissue was found compared to the rhizospheric soil. Aminodinitrotoluene could be confirmed as the primary pollutant in the root. These results refer to a potential application of plants to biological remediation of soil contaminated with ammunition-specific pollutants.     

Aufnahme von 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluol in Pflanzen

Soil contaminations with the explosive 2,4,6-TNT are a major problem at many sites of former ammuniton plants in Germany. But only little is known about its environmental or metabolic fate in soil or plants. A field study was conducted on a former ammunition plant in Stadtallendorf/Hessen. Three areas with different TNT concentrations were planted with 8 different crops. After harvest plants were analyzed for TNT, ADNTs and DNTs. Soil contamination decreased in the rhizosphere compared to unplanted areas and there was a transfer of TNT from soil to the plants. Accumulation in plants was dependent on soil contamination and also specific for different plant parts or plant species. The contamination spectrum of TNT and derivatives was different in soil or plant tissue, respectively. After acid hydrolysis of bean roots, 2,6-DNT and 2,4-DNT could be identified in the extract.     

Mother’s choice of the oviposition site: balancing risk of egg parasitism and need of food supply for the progeny with an infochemical shelter?

Summary. Oviposition site selection of herbivorous insects depends primarily on host plant presence which is essential for offspring survival. However, parasitoids can exploit host plant cues for host location. In this study, we hypothesised that herbivores can solve this dilemma by ovipositing within high plant diversity. A diverse plant species composition might represent an ‘infochemical shelter’, as a potentially complex volatile blend can negatively affect the host location ability of parasitoids. We examined this exemplarily for the egg-laying response of the generalist leaf beetle, Galeruca tanaceti, in relation to (1) host plant availability and (2) plant species diversity in the field. Further, we investigated the effect of odours from mixed plant species compositions on (3) leaf beetle oviposition site selection and on (4) the orientation of its specialised egg parasitoid, Oomyzus galerucivorus. In the field, egg clutch occurrence was positively related to the presence and quantity of two major host plants, Achillea millefolium (yarrow) and Centaurea jacea, and to the number of herbaceous plant species. In two-choice bioassays, female beetles oviposited more frequently on sites surrounded by an odour blend from a diverse plant species composition (including yarrow) than on sites with a pure grass odour blend. In the presence of yarrow odour and an odour blend from a diverse plant mixture (including yarrow) no difference in the oviposition response was recorded. Experienced parasitoid females were attracted to yarrow odours, but showed no response when yarrow odours were offered simultaneously with odours of a non-host plant. In conclusion, it could be shown in laboratory bioassays that the parasitoid responds only to pure host plant odours but not to complex odour blends. In contrast, the herbivore prefers to oviposit within diverse vegetation in the field and in the laboratory. However, the laboratory results also point to a priority of host plant availability over the selection of a potential ‘infochemical shelter’ for oviposition due to high plant diversity.     

The cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of surface water and wastewater effluents as determined by bioluminescence, umu-assays and selected biomarkers

Two bacterial tests employing Photobacterieum phosphoreum (Microtox bioluminescence test) and Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 pSK1002 (umu-assay) were evaluated to estimate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of water samples from the selected rivers in Germany as well as the primary and secondary effluents of some sewage treatment plants. Rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss) were exposed to different concentrations (20-40%) of secondary effluent in the model online aquatic monitoring plant WaBoLu-Aquatox. The toxic potential of water samples from the exposure tanks was determined in two prokaryotic test systems and the biomarkers acethylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in muscle tissue and DNA unwinding assay in liver tissue of fish. Samples from the tested rivers showed no inhibition of the bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum or growth of umu-bacteria. Only primary effluent samples from the treatment plants at the Saale River inhibited the light emission or the growth of test bacteria by more than 20%. The induction ratio of umu-bacteria was in most of the river samples less than the threshold for genotoxicity (IR < 1.5). Only some samples from the Saale River, especially at sites downstream of secondary effluents caused genotoxic responses in the umu-assay. Samples of primary effluents contained the greatest genotoxic potential up to GEUI = 6 which was not detectable in samples of secondary effluents. A concentration range 20-40% secondary effluent inhibited AChE activity in muscle tissue and significantly increased DNA fragmentation in liver tissue of rainbow trout. In contrast, no cytotoxic or genotoxic responses in the umu-assay were caused by water samples. Both bacterial methods can be successfully used to analyse the cytotoxic and genotoxic response of industrial and domestic wastewater and to estimate the effectiveness of sewage treatment units. However, because of their low sensitivity and high susceptibility, they are not reliable as a single test for the detection of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in surface water. The application of prokaryotic tests systems with biomarkers such as AChE activity and DNA fragmentation in different tissues of test organisms seems to be a useful combination for the assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic potential in surface water and secondary effluent.     

Weighting and valuation in selected environmental systems analysis tools – suggestions for further developments

In environmental systems analysis tools like Life Cycle Assessment, strategic environmental assessment, cost–benefit analysis and environmental management systems, results need to be presented in a comprehensible way to make alternatives easily comparable. One way of doing this is to aggregate results to a manageable set by using weighting methods. In this paper, we explore how weighting methods are used in some selected Environmental Systems Analysis Tools (ESATs), and suggest possible developments of their use. We examine the differences in current use patterns, discuss the reasons for and implications of such differences, and investigate whether observed differences in use are necessary. The result of our survey shows that weighting and valuation is broadly used in the examined ESATs. The use of weighting/valuation methods is different in different tools, but these differences are not always related to the application; rather, they are related to traditions and views on valuation and weighting. Also, although the requirements on the weights/values may differ between tools, there are intersections where they coincide. Monetary weights, using either endpoint or midpoint methods, are found to be useful in all the selected tools. Furthermore, the inventory shows that that there is a common need for generic sets of weights. There is a need for further research focusing on the development of consistent value sets derived with a wide range of methods. In parallel to the development of weighting methods it is important with critical evaluations of the weighting sets with regard to scientific quality, consistency and data gaps.     

The impact of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on industrial facilities

This study describes the results of a field trip to the area affected by the 12 May, 2008, Wenchuan earthquake to analyse its impact on industrial facilities. The damage severity correlates well with the age of the plant, with older facilities having suffered more extensive and severe damage than those built more recently according to the latest design codes. The main cause of worker death and injury was the collapse of warehouses, office and manufacturing buildings. This concerned mostly concrete structures with insufficient confinement or poor reinforcement. The falling debris resulted in equipment damage and loss, as well as pipe severing and crushing. Pipes were also severed or bent when connected tanks were displaced or buildings collapsed. Numerous hazardous-materials releases occurred with spills being the dominant accident scenario. In some sites soil–liquefaction induced damage was evident, highlighting the need to consider potential site effects when selecting the location for a facility. The impact of the Wenchuan earthquake on chemical facilities confirms the findings from other earthquakes in terms of typical Natech damage and failure modes, as well as of hazardous-materials release potential and mechanisms.