In vitro mass multiplication of screw pines (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pandanus</Emphasis> spp.) - an important costal bio- resource

An efficient in vitro mass multiplication protocol was developed for selected species of screw pine (Pandanus fascicularis Lam., P. furcatus Roxb.). The protocol could be successfully used for large scale production of planting materials leading to cultivation and making bio-fences or green belts in coastal areas, wetlands for protection and preventing soil erosion. This will facilitate the replenishment of the bio resource and also provide good breeding space for various fauna associated with it. For developing the tissue culture protocol, shoot tips and tillers from the mature plants were used as the explants. Surface sterilization with 0.1 % mercuric chloride for 1 min. Yielded good fraction (65 %) of contamination free explants. Explants inoculated in MS solid medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 2.5 mg/l) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 0.5 mg/l), induced 2–3 shoot buds in 5 weeks. These buds either individually or along with the explant portion, sub-cultured to fresh media containing the same hormonal combinations, resulted induction of 5–6 shoot buds in 4 weeks. Repeated subcultures of shoot buds in the same medium produced 8–10 shoot buds in every 4 weeks. Shoot elongation was achieved (~ 3 cm) by transferring the shoot clusters or individual shoots to basal medium, and the elongated shoots were rooted in vitro or ex vitro. Root induction in shoots (87.4 %) was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Rooted shoots were established in paper/polythene cups filled with fine sand, which subsequently recorded 85 % establishment under the shade-net house with proper irrigation. Plants grown in poly-bags were later successfully established in different field conditions and recorded 100 % survival.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkylphenols in sediments from the Odra River and its tributaries,Poland

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were measured in sediments collected during June–August 1998 along the Odra River and its tributaries (Warta, Obrzyca, Barycz, Kaczawa and Bóbr Rivers) in Poland. In addition, raw and treated sewage sludge collected from Gdańsk, Poland, were analyzed for the target compounds. Concentrations of PCBs in sediments varied widely, ranging from 2.7 to 412?ng/g, on a dry weight basis (dry wt). PAHs were the predominant compounds in sediments with concentrations ranging from 150 to 19?000?ng/g, dry wt. The distribution of concentrations of PAHs was more homogenous than that of PCBs. NP concentrations in sediments ranged from <1 to 762?ng/g, while that of OP from <1 to 9.8?ng/g, dry wt. Measured concentrations of target analytes in sediments of the Odra River and its tributaries were comparable to or greater than those reported for riverine sediments in other eastern European countries. Concentrations of total PCBs, PAHs and NP in raw and treated sewage sludge collected from a sewage treatment plant in Gdańsk, Poland, were in the ranges of 203–284, 11?720–13?880 and 6760–99?600?ng/g, dry wt, respectively. Primary treatment of sewage did not appear to reduce PCB or PAH concentrations, although NP and OP concentrations were much less in treated sludge than in raw sludge. This is one of a few studies that document concentrations of PCBs, PAHs and NP in sediments of the Odra River and its tributaries in Poland.     

Physico-chemical and microbial characteristics of the coral reef environment of the Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve, India

Investigation on physico-chemical parameters and bacteial characteristics of the coral reef environs of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve was studied. The study found the influence of different physico-chemical parameters on one another and also on the distribution of the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) in the coral reef areas. Nutrients exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial variations with influence on the bacterial population. Coral reef areas recorded higher bacterial population density both in water (3.5 to 18 x 10(5) CFU ml(-1)) and sediment (1 to 14 x 10(7) CFU g(-1)) samples than the non coral reef areas (3.4 to 10.5 x 10(4) CFU ml(-1) in water and 0.9 to 7 x 10(6) CFU g(-1)). The study also found the dominance of gram negative groups at all the three stations (64.73, 63,5 and 72.59%) with Pseudomonas contributing maximum number of strains in all the samples. In addition Vibrio, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Cytophaga, Enterobacter and Alcaligenes were also recorded. The gram positive group was represented by Bacillus, Micrococcus, Arthrobacter and Corynebacterium. The genetic composition of THB isolated from the coral mucus revealed the presence of Vibrio and Micrococcus in all the coral mucus.     

The Freshwater Mussel Parreysia Favidens (Benson) As A Biological Indicator of Polonium - 210 in A Riverine System

The concentration of ²¹⁰Po, an alpha emitter from the natural uranium series was measured in the soft tissues (total), shell, and different organs - digestive glands, gills, mantle and foot - of the freshwater mussel, Parreysia favidens (Benson), collected from the river Kaveri, at Tiruchirapalli in South India. the analyses were made in three size groups based on shell length (Group 1: 2-4 cm; Group 2: 4-5 cm; Group 3: 5-6 cm). the soft tissues of the mussel accumulated higher concentrations of ²¹⁰Po (74.0-125.5 Bq kg^-1 fresh) than the shell (2.9-3.9 Bq kg^-1 fresh). Further, younger mussels (1 group) showed higher concentrations (125.5+2.0 Bq kg^-1 fresh) in total soft tissues than older ones (III Group) (74.0+1.6 Bq kg^-1 fresh); concentration factors were 1.59x 10⁵ in I group and 9.37 × 10⁴ in III group. the ²¹⁰Po was observed to be non-uniformly distributed among the internal organs, which maintained the following descending order with reference to ²¹⁰Po accumulation: digestive glands, ranging from 286.2+3.5 Bq kg^-1 fresh to 43+1.3 Bq kg^-1 fresh. the concentration of ²¹⁰Po in the mussels was distinctly higher than that in the grass, Echinochloa colonum (J. Koenig), and carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosa (Bloch), from the same river. These data indicate that younger mussels could be used as an excellent biological indicator of ²¹⁰Po and among soft tissues, digestive glands are preferable to other tissues to monitor the distribution of ²¹⁰Po in the riverine system.     

Evaluation of soil-washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts from the palmerton zinc site

The Palmerton Zinc Site is a Superfund site in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Its former mineral processing operations have contaminated nearby wells and soils with zinc and cadmium. Preliminary analysis of soil and dust sampling conducted in May 1991 has revealed that the dust poses a potential threat to human health. Based on the results of a previous study, which showed a high percentage of silt and clay in soils from Palmerton residential properties, it was concluded that soil washing is not likely to be a viable method to treat the soil and dust contamination in Palmerton. However, since the completion of this study, a soil-washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts has been developed. A residential soil sample from Palmerton, which had low concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead, and a somewhat high concentration of zinc, was washed in a bench-scale version of this process. The results showed that the new soil-washing process for “unwashable” clays and silts may be a viable method to treat the soil and dust contamination in Palmerton, depending on the soil quality criteria concentrations selected for site cleanup.     

Autoradiographic studies on sugar transport in the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra

Studies on the nutritional transport of holothurians have failed to delineate the role of the amoebocytes as well as the haemal system in this function. Autoradiographic studies have been carried out on tissues of animals injected with ¹⁴C glucose in order to localise the incorporation of the labelled sugar in tissues such as the alimentary canal, haemal system, respiratory tree and the body wall. In all tissues the amoebocytes were clearly labelled, indicating a key role in the transportation of sugars. Furthermore, it has been shown that sugar also enters the tissues by diffusion. It is interesting that the haemal system appears to transport glucose more rapidly than other tissues as indicated by the heavy labelling.     

Occurrence,distribution and dynamics of perchlorate in soil,water, fertilizers,vegetables and fruits and associated human exposure in Chile

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Perchlorate (ClO4?) has been identified as a persistent environmental contaminant of concern. Perchlorate exposure is a potential health concern...     

A survey of polycyclic musks in selected household commodities from the United States

Occurrence of the polycyclic musks, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapthalene (AHTN), in wastewater influent and effluent, as well as in surface waters, has been reported. HHCB and AHTN were also reported to occur in human and wildlife tissues. The major sources for HHCB and AHTN to wastewater are thought to be consumer products such as shampoos, deodorants, laundry detergents, and household surface cleaners. However, the levels of HHCB and AHTN in consumer products are not known. For evaluation of the sources of human and environmental exposures, characterization of levels of HHCB and AHTN in consumer products is needed. In this study, we measured concentrations of HHCB (Galaxolide), AHTN (Tonalide), and HHCB-lactone (Galaxolidone) from a variety of consumer products, including perfumes, body lotions, and deodorants. Concentrations of HHCB, AHTN, and HHCB-lactone in consumer products ranged from <5 ng/g to over 4000 microg/g, <5 ng/g to 451 microg/g, and <5 ng/g to 217 microg/g, respectively. The highest concentrations were found in perfumes, body creams and lotions, and deodorants. The results suggest that a wide variety of source materials exist for HHCB and AHTN, and that these materials are used on a daily basis.     

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in biological samples from the north coast of Colombia

Perfluorinated compounds are widespread pollutants of toxicological importance that have been detected in environmental matrices. However, little is known on their distribution in South America. In this study, distribution of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) was determined in the bile of mullet, Mugil incilis, and in tissues of pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) collected from North Colombia. Analysis was performed by HPLC mass spectrometry after ion-pair extraction. PFOS was found in all bile samples and PFOA and PFHxS were detected at lower frequency. Average concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS in bile of fish from Cartagena Bay, an industrialized site, and Totumo marsh, a reference site, were 3673, 370, 489 and 713, 47.4, 1.27 ng/mL, respectively. PFOS concentrations in pelican organs decreased in the order of spleen>liver>lung>kidney>brain>heart>muscle. These results suggest, for the first time, that perfluorinated compounds are also found in wildlife from Latin American countries.