Correction to: Role of casting and curing conditions on the strength and drying shrinkage of greener concrete

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Evaluation of a Daphnia magna renewal life‐cycle test method with diazinon

Abstract

Acute and chronic toxicity tests with diazinon (diethyl 2‐isopropyl‐6‐methyl‐4‐pyrimidinyl phosphorothionate) were conducted on Daphnia magna. The 24‐hr static LC50 was 0.86 μL.L^‐1. The sublethal effects of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 ngL^‐1 of diazinon concentrations on the survival, reproduction and growth of D. magna were monitored for 21 days. The algae Nannochloris oculata (5 x 10⁵ cellsmL^‐1) was used to feed the daphnids. The parameters used to determined the effect of the pesticide on D. magna were: mean total young per female; mean brood size; days to first brood; intrinsic rate of natural increase (r); growth; and survival. Reproduction as well as survival was significantly reduced at diazinon concentrations of 0.10 ngL^‐1 and higher. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) decreased with increasing concentrations of diazinon. Growth, as measured by body length, was depressed significantly at 0.05 ngL^‐1 of diazinon and higher concentrations. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) was calculated. The chronic data was used to formulate an acute/chronic ratio.     

Microplastics in urban waters and its effects on microbial communities: a critical review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microplastic (MP) pollution is one of the emerging threats to the water and terrestrial environment, forcing a new environmental challenge due to the...     

Biochemical studies on the terrestrial snail,Eubania vermiculata (müller)treated with some pesticides

Abstract

The in vivo effects of methomyl, thiodicarb and metaldehyde on total soluble proteins, total lipids and glycogen content, in addition, the activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, (GOT), (GPT) glutamic pyruvic transaminase and catalase (CAT) enzymes of terrestrial E. vermiculata snails was studied. The experimental snails were treated with low concentration of 0.2% bran bait w/w of the pesticides for a period of 1,3,5,7 and 10 days. The results showed that methomyl and thiodicarb lead to significant reduction in total soluble proteins, lipids, and glycogen content, while significant increases in the activity of all enzymes tested were noted. Metaldehyde treatment showed no significant effect on total soluble proteins, lipids and GOT level, whereas a significant increase in GPT and CAT enzymes was observed. Also, metaldehyde resulted a significant reduction in glycogen content of snails.     

Agricultural reuse of reclaimed water and uptake of organic compounds: pilot study at Mutah University wastewater treatment plant, Jordan

The residues of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated benzenes (CBs) and phenols were investigated for soil, wastewater, groundwater and plants. The uptake concentration of these compounds was comparatively determined using various plant types: Zea mays L., Helianthus annus L., Capsicum annum L., Abelmoschus esculentus L., Solanum melongena L. and Lycopersicon esculentum L. which were grown in a pilot site established at Mutah University wastewater treatment plant, Jordan. Soil, wastewater, groundwater and various plant parts (roots, leaves and fruits) samples were extracted in duplicate, cleaned up by open-column chromatography and analyzed by a multi-residue analytical methods using gas chromatography equipped with either mass selective detector (GC/MS), electron capture detector (GC/ECD), or flame ionization detector (FID). Environmentally relevant concentrations of targeted compounds were detected for wastewater much higher than for groundwater. The overall distribution profiles of PAHs and PCBs appeared similar for groundwater and wastewater indicating common potential pollution sources. The concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and phenols for different soils ranged from 169.34 to 673.20 microg kg(-1), 0.04 to 73.86 microg kg(-1) and 73.83 to 8724.42 microg kg(-1), respectively. However, much lower concentrations were detected for reference soil. CBs were detected in very low concentrations. Furthermore, it was found that different plants have different uptake and translocation behavior. As a consequence, there are some difficulties in evaluating the translocation of PAHs, CBs, PCBs and phenols from soil-roots-plant system. The uptake concentrations of various compounds from soil, in which plants grown, were dependent on plant variety and plant part, and they showed different uptake concentrations. Among the different plant parts, roots were found to be the most contaminated and fruits the least contaminated.     

A method for the determination of rhodamine b and brilliant sulfaflavine on cotton string collectors and in a spray tank solution mixture

Abstract

A fluorescent method for the determination of rhodamine B (RhB) and brilliant sulfaflavine (BSF) dual tracers on cotton string collectors and in spray tank solutions was developed for the evaluation of the effects of adjuvants on the atmospheric drift of agricultural sprays. Both tracers on collectors were extracted with deionized water simultaneously and measured directly with a Fluorescent Specrometer by switching the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths. The linear ranges of the RhB and BSF standard curves were 0–50 and 0–10 ppb respectively. Recoveries of tracers on cotton strings ranged from 92.9% ± 1.1% to 95.1% ± 1.0% for RhB and 91.9% ± 2.8% to 103% ± 0.6% for BSF when spiked levels ranged from 0.25 to 2.5 μg per collector. The detection limit of the instrument was approximately 0.1 ppb for both tracers. The detection limits of the analytical method were approximately 0.1 ppb for RhB and 0.3 ppb for BSF when the background levels of cotton strings were subtracted. The presence of one tracer in the solution did not significantly interfere with the detection of the other tracer in the same solution. The presence of adjuvants added to the spray tank solutions did not interfere with the detection of both tracers when the adjuvants were applied at the manufacturer's maximum recommendation rates.     

Performances of mesophilic anaerobic digestion systems treating poultry mortalities

Abstract

A closed‐loop anaerobic digestion system consisting of a leachbed (LB) and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was tested as an alternative for the disposal of poultry mortalities. This paper compares the performances of three LB‐UASB treatment systems with different initial moisture contents in the LBs. Each LB was loaded with one chicken and 5, 10 or 18 liters of water. The LBs initially carried out the hydrolysis/acidification phase while the UASBs the methanogenesis phase. Due to repeated inoculation by the UASBs, the LBs with 10 and 18 liters of water started producing methane on day 5, while the one with 5 liters of water on day 19. However, methane production rates were low before day 40 for the LB with 10 liters of water and day 60 for the other LBs. Methane production gradually improved as the LBs continued to receive ungranulated sludge from the UASBs. The LBs eventually became balanced methane reactors. Continued balanced fermentation in the LBs resulted in leachates with very low substrate concentrations that could no longer support high‐rate methanogenesis in the UASBs. Consequently, methane production rates from the UASBs decreased quickly while that from the LBs reached peak levels. Cumulative methane production from each LB eventually exceeded that from its connecting UASB. After 118 days of digestion, 414, 437 and 470 liters of methane were produced from the three systems, respectively. Cumulative methane production from the LBs with 5 and 18 liters of water accounted for 63% of the total methane produced from their respective systems. The LB with 10 liters of water produced 75% of the total methane from that system. Methane yields ranged from 0.485 to 0.554 m³ (Kg TS) ¹. About 86% of the initial dry weight was biodegraded. All three systems performed very well with little operational problems. Overall, the system that started with 10 liters of water in the LB performed the best. Strategy for enhancing system performances and implementing farm applications are discussed.     

Herbicide residues in grapes and wine

Abstract

The persistence of several common herbicides from grapes to wine has been studied. Shiraz, Tarrango and Doradillo grapes were separately sprayed with either norflurazon, oxyfluorfen, oxadiazon or trifluralin ‐ persistent herbicides commonly used for weed control in vineyards. The dissipation of the herbicides from the grapes was followed for 28 days following treatment. Results showed that norflurazon was the most persist herbicide although there were detectable residues of all the herbicides on both red and white grapes at the end of the study period. The penetration of herbicides into the flesh of the grapes was found to be significantly greater for white grapes than for red grapes. Small‐lot winemaking experiments showed that norflurazon persisted at levels close to the initial concentration through vinification and into the finished wine. The other herbicides degraded, essentially via first‐order kinetics, within the period of “ first fermentation”; and had largely disappeared after 28 days. The use of charcoal together with filter pads, or with diatomaceous earth was shown to be very effective in removing herbicide residues from the wine. A 5% charcoal filter removed more than 96% of the norflurazon persisting in the treated wine.     

Effects of lindane on Daphnia magna during chronic exposure

Abstract

Acute and chronic toxicity tests with lindane were conducted on Daphnia magna. The 24‐hr static LC50 was 1.64 mgL^‐1. The sublethal effects of 0.16, 0.25, 0.32, 0.60 and 0.80 mgL^‐1 lindane on the survival, reproduction and growth of D. magna were monitored for 21 days. The algae Nannochloris oculata (5 × 10⁵ cellsmL^‐1) was used to feed the daphnids. The parameters used to determined the effect of the pesticide on D. magna were:mean total young per female, mean brood size, days to first brood, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), growth, and survival. Reproduction as well as survival was significantly reduced at lindane concentrations of 0.25 mgL^‐1 and higher. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) decreased with increasing concentrations of lindane. Growth, as measured by body length, was depressed significantly at 0.25 mgL^‐1 lindane and higher. The chronic data was used to formulate an acute/chronic ratio.     

Variability in the content and composition of alkaloid found in Canadian ergot. iii. triticale and barley∗

Abstract

The total alkaloid content and individual alkaloid composition were determined by colorimetry and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively, for Canadian triticale and barley ergot (Claviceps purpurea). The total alkaloid content was highly variable between individual sclerotia from the same or different sources and ranged from 0.042 to 0.752% for triticale and from 0.082 to 1.04% for barley; average values were 0.239% for Ottawa triticale, 0.289% for Prairie triticale, and 0.264% for barley. Ergocristine and its isomer ergocristinine were the major constituents in both grains. On average, Canadian ergot pooled from rye, wheat, triticale, and barley consists of ergocristine (31%), ergocristinine (13%), ergocristinine (13%), ergotamine (17%), ergotaminine (8%), ergocryptine (5%), ergocryptinine (3%), ergo‐metrine (5%), ergometrinine (2%), ergosine (4%), ergosinine (2%), ergocornine (4%), ergocorninine (2%), and unidentified alkaloids (3%) and an average total alkaloid content of 0.236%. With the exception of rye and barley ergot from the maritime regions, Canadian rye, wheat, triticale, and barley ergot is fairly uniform in individual alkaloid composition.