Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in three fish species from an estuary in the southeastern coast of Brazil

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers (PBDEs) are two highly lipophilic classes of persistent organic pollutants able to resist degradation and with the ability to bioaccumulate through the food chain. In Brazil, there are still few studies on PCBs and PBDEs in aquatic organisms. In this study, we determined the levels of PBDEs and PCBs in three different fish species from the Ilha Grande Bay, located in the southern state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PBDEs levels were very low, with values below the limit of quantification. PCBs concentrations ranged from 2.29 to 27.60 ng g^?1 ww in muscle and from 3.41 to 34.22 ng g^?1 ww in liver of the three investigated fish species. Significant positive correlations were established between PCBs concentration and fish biometric variables in mullet (length and lipid content) and a statistically significant change between seasons in croaker was observed.     

Treatment of two insecticides in an electrochemical Fenton system

Abstract

The ability of an electrochemical Fenton system to degrade the organophosphorous insecticides malathion and methyl parathion was studied. A combination of hydrogen peroxide and electrochemically‐generated iron was found to be successful in degrading the two insecticides, and optimization of the system was pursued. Augmentation with near UV light at an intensity of 1.67xl0¹⁷ quanta/sec and centered at a wavelength of 370 nm improved the degradation of malathion at low iron concentrations but did not affect other treatments. Adding the hydrogen peroxide slowly over the course of treatment rather than all at once at the beginning of each treatment did, however, greatly improve the system. Removal efficiencies of 98.0% or greater were achieved for both pesticides.     

Indicators as a tool for the evaluation of effective national implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

This paper briefly outlines the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and what is meant by GHS implementation in terms of policy-related information for decision-makers plus a framework of actions to enable such policies to be effectively undertaken. The paper discusses the need for simple indicators to measure progress with GHS implementation. Two groups of indicators have been described that comprehensively reflect basic components of GHS implementation. The first group was presented as aggregated indicators or indices, for national capability evaluation. Indicators to evaluate management performance linked to stated objectives were presented as the second group. Information from an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published questionnaire on GHS implementation and a questionnaire by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) on chemical safety that included GHS have provided the basic information for applying the management capability indicators approach. Through the use of information in these two questionnaires, country-relevant and regional progress with GHS implementation was illustrated. Despite the GHS implementation target of 2008 set by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, very few countries have reported they have achieved this target. The simple management indicators proposed in this paper are based on adoption of a questionnaire and a numerical scoring system that could be used to chart progress towards GHS implementation. It was concluded, therefore, that the use of indicators as described in this paper does provide a quick survey of the overall situation in a country and facilitates comparison between countries across regions in terms of GHS implementation. Furthermore such results may indicate which countries require additional assistance with GHS implementation thus strengthening policies and actions across all sectors and involving governments, business, trade, and civil society.     

Life cycle assessment of nutrient remediation and bioenergy production potential from the harvest of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is one of the world’s most problematic invasive aquatic plants. Although management of hydrilla overgrowth has often been based on use of chemical herbicides, issues such as the emergence of herbicide-resistant hydrilla biotypes and the need for in situ nutrient remediation strategies have together raised interest in the use of harvester machines as an alternative management approach. Using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, we calculated a range of net energy and economic benefits associated with hydrilla harvests and the utilization of biomass for biogas and compost production. Base case scenarios that used moderate data assumptions showed net energy benefit ratios (NEBRs) of 1.54 for biogas production and 1.32 for compost production pathways. NEBRs for these respective pathways rose to 2.11 and 2.68 when labor was excluded as a fossil fuel input. Base case biogas and compost production scenarios respectively showed a monetary benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.79 and 1.83. Moreover, very high NEBRs (3.94 for biogas; 6.37 for compost) and BCRs (>11 for both biogas and compost) were found for optimistic scenarios in which waterways were assumed to have high hydrilla biomass density, high nutrient content in biomass, and high priority for nutrient remediation. Energy and economic returns were largely decoupled, with biogas and fertilizer providing the bulk of output energy, while nutrient remediation and herbicide avoidance dominated the economic output calculations. Based on these results, we conclude that hydrilla harvest is likely a suitable and cost-effective management program for many nutrient-impaired waters. Additional research is needed to determine how hydrilla harvesting programs may be most effectively implemented in conjunction with fish and wildlife enhancement objectives.     

Motor-vehicle boarding and alighting injury--how large a problem?

The Journal of Safety Research has partnered with the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, to briefly report on some of the latest findings in the research community. This report is the fifth in a series of CDC articles.     

Selection of a water-extractable phosphorus test for manures and biosolids as an indicator of runoff loss potential

The correlation of runoff phosphorus (P) with water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) in land-applied manures and biosolids has spurred wide use of WEP as a water quality indicator. Land managers, planners, and researchers need a common WEP protocol to consistently use WEP in nutrient management. Our objectives were to (i) identify a common WEP protocol with sufficient accuracy and precision to be adopted by commercial testing laboratories and (ii) confirm that the common protocol is a reliable index of runoff P. Ten laboratories across North America evaluated alternative protocols with an array of manure and biosolids samples. A single laboratory analyzed all samples and conducted a separate runoff study with the manures and biosolids. Extraction ratio (solution:solids) was the most important factor affecting WEP, with WEP increasing from 10:1 to 100:1 and increasing from 100:1 to 200:1. When WEP was measured by a single laboratory, correlations with runoff P from packed soil boxes amended with manure and biosolids ranged from 0.79 to 0.92 across all protocol combinations (extraction ratio, filtration method, and P determination method). Correlations with P in runoff were slightly lower but significant when WEP was measured by the 10 labs (r=0.56-0.86). Based on laboratory repeatability and water quality evaluation criteria, we recommend the following common protocol: 100:1 extraction ratio; 1-h shaking and centrifuge 10 min at 1500xg (filter with Whatman #1 paper if necessary); and determining P by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry or colorimetric methods.     

Interactions among plant defense compounds: a method for analysis

Summary. Plants contain an enormous diversity and quantity of secondary metabolites, some of which are toxic and deterrent to herbivores and pathogens. This impressive diversity of plant compounds suggests a high probability of interactions among them. Synergistic interactions are those in which the combined activity of two or more chemicals is greater than that expected given their individual activities. On the other hand, antagonistic interactions are those in which the combined activity of two or more chemicals is less than that expected given their individual activities. Synergistic interactions could increase plant fitness whereas antagonistic interactions could decrease plant fitness. Interactions are thus potentially very important, not only in explaining the diversity of defense compounds within individual plants, but also in providing insight into plant defense strategies. Although synergistic interactions have received increased attention in the ecological literature in the last decade, the number of documented cases of synergy remains small and antagonistic interactions are rarely considered. The primary reason for this scarcity may be the difficulty of detecting, analyzing and displaying such interactions. Analysis by ANOVA, though sometimes used, often is not appropriate. We introduce a simple technique, isobolographic analysis, that is used in pharmacology for detecting and rigorously quantifying synergy and antagonism and provide an example using the brine shrimp toxicity assay. More statistically sophisticated approaches, such as isobolographic analysis, will allow ecologists to effectively document the role of chemical synergy and antagonism in interactions between species. Such chemical interactions may ultimately provide insight into longstanding, ecological questions. Received 26 October 1998; accepted 24 March 1999.     

A rare case of isolated right atrial enlargement and TBX5 mutation associated with Holt–Oram syndrome

Holt–Oram syndrome or atriodigital dysplasia is commonly associated with cardiac malformations, most often with defects of the muscular septum. We describe the case of a fetus referred for fetal cardiology evaluation in the setting of right atrial enlargement without tricuspid valve abnormalities with small muscular VSDs, and without other significant cardiac lesions. On serial fetal echocardiograms, isolated right atrial enlargement was persistent as was relative fetal bradycardia without apparent AV block or other signs of abnormal conduction. Limb or other anatomic abnormalities were also not visualized on prenatal scans. A postnatal diagnosis of Holt–Oram Syndrome was made. In the setting of isolated right atrial enlargement, we suggest a comprehensive sonographic search for upper limb abnormalities as well as genetic evaluation.     

Mitigating GHG Emissions in the Humid Tropics: Case Studies from the Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn Program (ASB)

Tropical forest conversion contributes as much as 25% of the net annual CO₂ emissions and up to 10% of the N_2O emissions to the atmosphere. The net effect on global warming potential (GWP) also depends on the net fluxes of greenhouse gases from land-use systems following deforestation. Efforts to mitigate these effects must take into account not only the greenhouse gas fluxes of alternative land-use systems but also the social and economic consequences that influence their widespread adoption. The global alternatives to slash-and-burn program (ASB) investigated the net greenhouse gas emissions and profitability of a range of land-use alternatives in the humid tropics. The analysis showed that many tree-based systems reduced net GWP compared to annual cropping and pasture systems. Some of these systems are also profitable in terms of returns to land and labor. The widespread adoption of these systems, however, can be limited by start-up costs, credit limitations, and number of years to positive cash flow, in addition to the higher labor requirements. Projects that offset carbon emissions through carbon sinks in land use in the tropics might be a means of overcoming these limitations. A synthesis of the findings from this program can provide guidelines for the selection and promotion of land-use practices that minimize net global warming effects of slash-and-burn.