Temporal and spatial changes of PAH concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Ria de Vigo (NW Spain)

The aim of this study was to establish the temporal trends and spatial distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ria de Vigo by means of studying the PAH burden in wild mussels. The samples were collected in eight sites along the margins of the Ria de Vigo during November from 1998 to 2008 and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon contents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence derivatization (HPLC–FLD). Quality of chemical analysis was guaranteed by participation in QUASIMEME intercalibration exercises carried out during the period of analysis. The concentrations for the sum of 13 PAHs were in the range 24–480 μg/kg dw, typical of an urban and industrialized area (50–500 μg/kg dw) except for a punctual input in La Guía in 1998 that led to a concentration above 1,000 μg/kg dw. In general, the sites in the outermost section of the estuary (ría) showed the lowest values, with an increasing gradient in the medium and inner parts of the ría. Temporal patterns show, in general, a downward trend. The relative proportion of 3 and 4 ring PAHs also varies with the site, the former being predominant in the outermost area and the latter in the medium and inner parts of the ría. This is consistently related with the sources and processes taking place in different areas of the estuary.     

Assessment of oxidative stress and metabolic changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) acutely exposed to different concentrations of the fungicide tebuconazole

The aim of this research is to determine the lethal concentration (LC(50-96 h)) of fungicide tebuconazole for common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and to investigate the occurrence of oxidative stress and metabolic changes after acute exposure to different concentrations of tebuconazole. For this purpose, several parameters were assessed as whole-body levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), protein carbonyl, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, nonprotein thiols, ascorbic acid, glycogen, glucose, lactate, protein, amino acids and ammonia in tebuconazole-exposed fish. The calculated LC(50-96 h) was 2.37 mg L(-1). Fish exhibited significant increase in TBARS levels in all concentrations used while the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants were decreased. Among the metabolic parameters, glycogen and glucose increased at 1.19 mg L(-1) and protein levels decreased at 1.78 and 2.37 mg L(-1). In conclusion, the fish health was adversely affected by exposure to tebuconazole, and those changes can compromise animal survival in the natural environment. The results indicate that the some of the parameters measured like a possible biomarkers of exposure to tebuconazole for this species of fish.     

Environmental release and mass flux partitioning of PCDD/Fs during normal and transient operation of full scale waste to energy plants

The paper reports on global release and mass partitioning in the flux of residues of PCDD/Fs, evaluated with dedicated field campaigns at a municipal solid waste incineration plant during normal and transient operation. Results are compared with those obtained in other installations equipped with furnaces, energy recovery options and flue gas treatment technologies representative of most of the European incineration plants currently in operation. Levels of the pollutants of interest were determined in all the solid, liquid and gaseous residues produced by every single facility, and the results analysed in terms of the effects arising from the fed waste and the configuration of the plant. PCDD/Fs total release between 1.5 and 45 microg I-TEQ per ton of burned waste was evaluated, with lower values resulting from the adoption of catalytic conversion process for flue gas treatment. Most of the mass flux emitted is associated with solid residues deriving from activated carbon PCCD/F dry removal options, with significant contributions also from fly ash produced by particulate removal devices located immediately downstream the boiler and from scrubber blowdowns treatment sludge. During transient operating conditions the dioxin total release may increase by 50% with comparison to steady-state functioning.     

Stoichiometric controls of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in decomposing beech leaf litter

Resource stoichiometry (C:N:P) is an important determinant of litter decomposition. However, the effect of elemental stoichiometry on the gross rates of microbial N and P cycling processes during litter decomposition is unknown. In a mesocosm experiment, beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) litter with natural differences in elemental stoichiometry (C:N:P) was incubated under constant environmental conditions. After three and six months, we measured various aspects of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. We found that gross protein depolymerization, N mineralization (ammonification), and nitrification rates were negatively related to litter C:N. Rates of P mineralization were negatively correlated with litter C:P. The negative correlations with litter C:N were stronger for inorganic N cycling processes than for gross protein depolymerization, indicating that the effect of resource stoichiometry on intracellular processes was stronger than on processes catalyzed by extracellular enzymes. Consistent with this, extracellular protein depolymerization was mainly limited by substrate availability and less so by the amount of protease. Strong positive correlations between the interconnected N and P pools and the respective production and consumption processes pointed to feed-forward control of microbial litter N and P cycling. A negative relationship between litter C:N and phosphatase activity (and between litter C:P and protease activity) demonstrated that microbes tended to allocate carbon and nutrients in ample supply into the production of extracellular enzymes to mine for the nutrient that is more limiting. Overall, the study demonstrated a strong effect of litter stoichiometry (C:N:P) on gross processes of microbial N and P cycling in decomposing litter; mineralization of N and P were tightly coupled to assist in maintaining cellular homeostasis of litter microbial communities.     

The use of polymerase chain reaction for the identification of sciaenid eggs

Traditionally, sciaenid eggs have been identified based on morphological characteristics such as size, number of oil globules and/or pigmentation patterns. Identification of sciaenid eggs by these procedures is time consuming and often inaccurate due to considerable egg size overlap among species. The utilization of molecular techniques for the identification of economically important species has become a fundamental component in ecological studies involving fish eggs and larvae. This study reports the development of a series of both multiplex and individual polymerase chain reactions to identify the eggs of 11 sciaenid species commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and estuaries near Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, TX, USA. Following method development, the discriminatory power of the assay was first determined with samples from adult fish collected from Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays, Galveston Bay and the lower Laguna Madre in northern Mexico. Most (97%) of these fishes were correctly identified to the level of species. To demonstrate the applicability of the assay, wild fish eggs were collected and analyzed from the Aransas Pass tidal inlet from September through December 2005. During this period, the eggs of four target species were positively identified which was in keeping with current knowledge regarding the spawning areas and seasons of these sciaenids based on the presence of mature females, eggs and/or larvae. Future use of this method can provide valuable information to better discriminate spawning sites and seasons of these species.     

Terbuthylazine persistence in an organic amended soil

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the application of a solid waste from olive oil production (alperujo) on the movement and persistence of the herbicide terbuthylazine (N2-tert-butyl-6-chloro-N4-ethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine). An experimental olive grove was divided in two plots: (i) Plot without organic amendment (blank) and (ii) Plot treated with alperujo during 3 years at a rate of 17920 kg of alperujo ha(- 1). Terbuthylazine was applied to both plots at a rate of 2 kg ha(- 1) a.i. Triplicates from each plot were sampled at 3 depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm), air-dried, remains of olive leaves, grass roots, and stones removed and sieved through a 5 mm mesh sieve. Terbuthylazine was extracted with methanol 1:2 weight:volume ratio, the extracts were evaporated to dryness, resuspended in 2 mL of methanol, filtered and anylized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Higher amounts of terbuthylazine were detected at each sampling depth in plots treated with alperujo. The increase in soil organic matter content upon amendment with alperujo slightly increased sorption, suggesting that other factors beside sorption affect terbuthylazine degradation rate in organic amended soils.     

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in sewage effluents and correlation with microbial,chemical and physical water variables

Contaminated water are recognized as a potential source of Cryptosporidium oocysts. In Italy studies on the environmentalspread of the parasite are still scarce even if a high frequencyof serological responses could suggest high rates of endemic Cryptosporidium infections. In this investigation theoccurrence of the parasite in water samples from a municipalwastewater treatment plant was monitored with the aim to evaluatepossible correlation between oocysts and bacterial indicators,pathogens and physico-chemical parameters using a multivariateanalysis. Data collected showed high numbers of oocysts, with ahigh percentage of positive samples and a significant correlationwith pH, redox potential and total organic carbon. No correlationwas found between Cryptosporidium concentration and that of the other microrganisms. The results, through a probing statistical analysis, show that none of the selected microrganisms was a reliable predictor of the presence of theparasite.     

Assessment of potentially harmful elements pollution in the Calore River basin (Southern Italy)

The geographical distribution of concentration values for harmful elements was determined in the Campania region, Italy. The study area consists of the drainage basin of the River Calore, a tributary of the river Volturno, the largest Southern Italian river. The results provide reliable analytical data allowing a quantitative assessment of the trace element pollution threat to the ecosystem and human health. Altogether 562 stream sediment samples were collected at a sampling density of 1 site per 5 km². All samples were air-dried, sieved to <100 mesh fraction and analyzed for 37 elements after an aqua regia extraction by a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS. In addition to elemental analysis, gamma-ray spectrometry data were collected (a total of 562 measurements) using a hand-held Scintrex GRS-500 spectrometer. Statistical analyses were performed to show the single-element distribution and the distribution of elemental association factor scores resulting from R-mode factor analyses. Maps showing element distributions were made using GeoDAS and ArcGIS software. Our study showed that, despite evidence from concentrations of many elements for enrichment over natural background values, the spatial distribution of major and trace elements in Calore River basin is determined mostly by geogenic factors. The southwestern area of the basin highlighted an enrichment of many elements potentially harmful for human health and other living organisms (Al, Fe, K, Na, As, Cd, La, Pb, Th, Tl, U); however, these anomalies are due to the presence of pyroclastic and alkaline volcanic lithologies. Even where sedimentary lithologies occur, many harmful elements (Co, Cr, Mn, Ni) showed high concentration levels due to natural origins. Conversely, a strong heavy metal contamination (Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, Ag, Au, Hg), due to an anthropogenic contribution, is highlighted in many areas characterized by the presence of road junctions, urban settlements and industrial areas. The enrichment factor of these elements is 3–4 times higher than the background values. The southwestern area of the basin is characterized by a moderate/high degree of contamination, just where the two busiest roads of the area run and the highest concentration of industries occurs.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with an extra idic(X) (q27)

A fetus with an extra idic(X) (q27) was ascertained during prenatal diagnosis. The derived X and one normal X chromosome were late replicating. Due to lack of previous experience, genetic counselling presented obvious difficulties and the fetal phenotype could be only tentatively predicted.     

Seasonal changes of locomotor activity patterns in ruin lizards Podarcis sicula

The daily pattern of locomotor activity of the ruin lizard Podarcis sicula in its natural environment changes from unimodal in spring (with only one activity peak per day) to bimodal in summer (with two well-separated activity peaks per day) and it becomes unimodal again in autumn. In order to establish whether such seasonal changes in pattern might be at least in part controlled by endogenous temporal programs, lizards were collected at different times of the year and immediately after capture their locomotor behavior was tested in the laboratory under constant temperature (29°C) and in darkness. For some individuals tested in the laboratory the locomotor pattern previously expressed in the field was known. Seasonal differences in pattern have been unequivocally found to have an endogenous component, as most lizards in constant conditions retained the locomotor pattern shown in the field during the same season. Besides, in the bimodal lizards the freerunning period of locomotor rhythms () was significantly shorter and circadian activity time (a) longer than in the unimodal ones. Altogether the data are compatible with the idea that both the interdependent changes of and a and the changes in locomotor pattern occurring seasonally in the circadian activity rhythms of P. sicula would depend on changes in the phase relationship between mutually coupled oscillators which drive these rhythms. Correspondence to: A. Foà