MEASURING IMPACTS OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT1

The parameters and the measurement procedures described in this paper are seen as being part of the first stage in development of the human environment assessment process. Additional parameters need to be identified, and methods of measuring impacts reflected by the parameters must be developed and refined. Considerations of the human environment and those elements of the natural environment that are of importance to people must be included as an integral part of the environmental impact assessment process. Therefore, there is a need for continuing to identify parameters of the human environment and to develop methods of measuring impacts so that these considerations will become a well-integrated part of the environmental impact assessment process.     

A Comparative Study on the Archives of Xanthine Oxidase and Aldehyde Oxidase in Different Fish Species from Two Rivers in the Western Niger-Delta

Glycaemia, a classical indicator of stress, xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase which are involved in phase I detoxication were investigated in two different fish species from two rivers with different pollution levels in the Western Niger-Delta. Four sampling zones covering the entire lengths of Warri and Ethiope Rivers respectively were used in this study. For each species of fish five were obtained from a sampling zone in a river. Blood glucose was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in M. electricus from Warri River (82.13 +/- 5.50 mg cm(-3)) compared to the same species from Ethiope River (36.47 +/- 1.49 mg cm(-3)). With the same parameter a similar profile was observed for C. gariepinus; Warri River (56.92 +/- 10.31 mg cm(-3)); Ethiope River (37.65 +/- 0.90 mg cm(-3)) which was also significant (P < 0.01). The activity of xanthine oxidase in M. electricus from Warri River (255.80 +/- 41 it mol cm(-3)) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) compared to the value obtained for the same species (108 +/- 22.36 micro mol cm(-3)) from Ethiope River. Also the activity of xanthine oxidase in C. gariepinus from Warri River (197 +/- 34.65 micro mol cm(-3)) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) when matched with the value obtained for the same species (78.40 +/- 26.84 micro mol cm(-3)) from Ethiope River. That blood glucose level was related to xanthine oxidase activity in the two fish species from Warri River was supported by the high positive correlation between these two parameters (M. electricus. r = 1: C. gariepinus, r = 0.71). The activity of aldehyde oxidase in C. gariepinus from Warri River (143.80 +/- 28.45 micro mol cm(-3)) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) compared to the value obtained for the same species (61.20 +/- 15.21 micro mol cm(-3)) from Ethiope River. A similar profile in aldehyde oxidase activity observed for M. electricus; Warri River (130 +/- 28.39 micro mol cm(-3)); Ethiope River (89 +/- 19.70 micro mol cm(-3)) but an inferior statistical variation (P < 0.05) was obtained. The results obtained in this study indicate that the level of xanthine oxidase in M. electricus is a more specific marker and to a lesser extent its activity in C. gariepinus in monitoring environmental stress due to pollution.     

Formation of organic by-products during chlorination of natural waters

Natural water from six sources in Mytilene, Greece, was chlorinated in order to identify and quantify some of the organic by-products formed. The compounds examined were trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, chloral hydrate and chloropicrin. The factors tested were time and chlorine dose. The presence of bromide ion in some of the waters studied resulted in significant changes in the by-product speciation, with enhanced brominated species formation. In addition, UV absorbance, measured at three wavelengths, led to correlation of organic matter content with the concentrations of by-products produced. The species formed, varying among different water sources, increased with increasing chlorine dose. Most of the species also increased with increasing contact time, although there were some exceptions due to hydrolysis reactions.     

Mass Spectrometric Detection and Identification of Polar Pesticides and their Degradation Products - A Comparison of Different Ionization Methods

Due to increasing use of polar pesticides, they are found together with their degradation products in ground- and surface waters serving for drinking water treatment. The triazine derivatives acetamido-atrazine, ametryne, atrazine, cyanazine, deethylatrazine, deethyldeisopropyl-hydroxyatrazine, deethyl-hydroxyatrazine, deisopropyl-atrazin, deisopropyl-hydroxyatrazine, desmetryn, hydroxyatrazine, prometryne, propazine, simazine, terbumeton, terbutryne and terbutylazine, and the pesticides 2,4-D, dichlorprop, isoproturon, diuron, metolachlor, glyphosate, metsulfuronmethyl and dalapon, all of them belonging to this type of pesticides, have been studied. For determination of triazine derivatives UV detection by means of diode array detector (DAD) as well as mass spectrometric (MS) detection coupled by thermospray interface (TSP) have been used successfully after liquid chromatoraphic (LC) separation. Interfaces like thermospray (TSP), electrospray (ESP) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) were examined with regard to their suitability for substance-specific detection of polar pesticides by flow injection analysis (FIA) with MS- and tandem mass spectroscopic detection (MS/MS) without preceding LC separation. Optimised detection conditions for these pesticides using FIA are presented, and solutions for occurring problems are offered.     

Layer of organic pine forest soil on top of chlorophenol-contaminated mineral soil enhances contaminant degradation

Chlorophenols, like many other synthetic compounds, are persistent problem in industrial areas. These compounds are easily degraded in certain natural environments where the top soil is organic. Some studies suggest that mineral soil contaminated with organic compounds is rapidly remediated if it is mixed with organic soil. We hypothesized that organic soil with a high degradation capacity even on top of the contaminated mineral soil enhances degradation of recalcitrant chlorophenols in the mineral soil below. We first compared chlorophenol degradation in different soils by spiking pristine and pentachlorophenol-contaminated soils with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in 10-L buckets. In other experiments, we covered contaminated mineral soil with organic pine forest soil. We also monitored in situ degradation on an old sawmill site where mineral soil was either left intact or covered with organic pine forest soil. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol was rapidly degraded in organic pine forest soil, but the degradation was slower in other soils. If a thin layer of the pine forest humus was added on top of mineral sawmill soil, the original chlorophenol concentrations (high, ca. 70 μg g^?1, or moderate, ca. 20 μg g^?1) in sawmill soil decreased by >40 % in 24 days. No degradation was noticed if the mineral soil was kept bare or if the covering humus soil layer was sterilized beforehand. Our results suggest that covering mineral soil with an organic soil layer is an efficient way to remediate recalcitrant chlorophenol contamination in mineral soils. The results of the field experiment are promising.     

Ammonium,Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen and Nitrate Reductase Enzyme Activity in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Fields After Diazinon,Imidacloprid and Lindane Treatments

Impacts of diazinon (O,O-diethyl O-2-isopropyl-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl phosphorothioate), imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] and lindane (1,2,3,4,5.6-hexachlorocyclohexane) treatments on ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite nitrogen and nitrate reductase enzyme activities were determined in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) field for three consecutive years (1997 to 1999). Diazinon was applied for both seed- and soil-treatments but imidacloprid and lindane were used for seed treatments only at recommended rates. Diazinon residues persisted for 60 days in both the cases. Average half-lives (t_1/2) of diazinon were found 29.3 and 34.8 days respectively in seed and soil treatments. In diazinon seed treatment, NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, and NO₂ ^? nitrogen and nitrate reductase activity were not affected. Whereas, diazinon soil treatment indicated significant increase in NH₄ ⁺-N in a 1-day sample, which continued until 90 days. Some declines in NO₃ ^?N were found from 15 to 60 days. Along with this decline, significant increases in NO₂ ^?N and nitrate reductase activity were found between 1 and 30 days. Imidacloprid and lindane persisted for 90 and 120 days with average half-lives (t_1/2) of 40.9 and 53.3 days, respectively. Within 90 days, imidacloprid residues lost by 73.17% to 82.49% while such losses for lindane residues were found 78.19% to 79.86 % within 120 days. In imidacloprid seed-treated field, stimulation of NO₃ ^?N and the decline in NH₄ ⁺NO₂ ^?-N and nitrate reductase enzyme activity were observed between 15 to 90 days. However, lindane seed treatment indicated significant increases in NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₂ ^?-N and nitrate reductase activity and some adverse effects on NO₃ ^?N between 15 and 90 days.     

Disparity of a Seat Cushion and Its Influence on Postural Control

Properties of supporting surfaces of a seat have an influence on postural control. Centre of pressure (COP) displacement parameters reflect both the balance controlling process and movements of the centre of a mass of entire body. The subjects of the study were 9 healthy men. A seat cushion was examined with a 2-force platform setup. Force exertion at a seat pan and feet and COP displacement at a seat pan were measured to analyse postural control. Analysis of variance determined the differences in postural control depending on a cushion type among the subjects. Significant differences in COP displacement parameters were in COP trajectory length, medio-lateral COP displacement and COP velocity. The results of the study showed that foam cushion ensures better postural control.     

Integrating energy efficiency performance in production management – gap analysis between industrial needs and scientific literature

For governments and for manufacturing companies, global warming, rising energy prices, and customers’ increasing ecological awareness have pushed energy efficient manufacturing to the top of the agenda. Governments and companies are both striving to identify the most effective measures to increase energy efficiency in manufacturing processes. Based on results of a recent EU-funded roadmapping project, this paper highlights the needs of industrial companies for integrating energy efficiency performance in production management. First, it analyses concepts and tools for measurement, control and improvement of energy efficiency in production management proposed in literature. Second, the paper outlines that ICT tools and standardization are important enablers for energy efficient manufacturing. Third, industrial needs in these areas are presented based on expert interviews. The industrial needs thus identified are contrasted with concepts proposed in literature to point out the implementation gaps between practice and theory. The paper demonstrates that there exists a gap between the solutions available and the actual implementation in industrial companies. It concludes by deriving requirements for energy management in production that future collaborative research projects should address.     

Spore inhibition-based enzyme substrate assay for monitoring of aflatoxin M1 in milk

A spore germination-based concept and its transformation into a field level prototype for monitoring aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk was developed. Initially, 15 strains of Bacillus spp. procured from different culture collection were screened for AFM₁ sensitivity using spot assay and marker strain showing inhibition at 0.5 ppb was selected based upon maximum zone of inhibition. The selected strain B. megaterium 2949 was further screened for different enzymes activities and subsequently its spores were produced to an extent of 73.13% ± 3.197% in newly developed sporulation medium containing beef extract (0.0075% ± 0.0004%), yeast extract (0.015% ± 0.001%), peptone (0.0375% ± 0.0016%), and sodium chloride (0.0375% ± 0.0018%). A spore germination-based concept/ assay was optimized by immobilizing spores in eppendorf with pretreated milk (80°C/15 min) containing germinant and chromogenic substrate followed by incubation at 37°C. The appearance of sky blue color within real time of 45 min indicated spores germination and release of specific marker enzyme such as acetyl esterase and its specific action on chromogenic substrate which demonstrates absence of AFM₁ in milk. However, if there was no color change, presence of AFM₁ at 0.5 ppb MRL was denoted by Codex. The developed concept on AFM₁ detection was validated and a correlation of 0.97 was established with AOAC approved Charm 6602 and ELISA at Codex MRL with minimal false positive and negative results. The cost effective test has potential application in dairy farms, manufacturing, and R&D units for routine monitoring of AFM₁ in milk.