Metal availability and soil toxicity after repeated croppings of Thlaspi caerulescens in metal contaminated soils

Metal phytoextraction with hyperaccumulating plants could be a useful method to decontaminate soils, but it is not fully validated yet. In order to quantify the efficiency of Cd and Zn extraction from a calcareous soil with and without Fe amendment and an acidic soil, we performed a pot experiment with three successive croppings of Thlaspi caerulescens followed by 3 months without plant and 7 weeks with lettuce. We used a combined approach to assess total extraction efficiency (2 M HNO3-extractable metals), changes in metal bio/availability (0.1 M NaNO3-extractable metals and lettuce uptake) and toxicity (lettuce biomass and the BIOMET biosensor). The soil solution was monitored over the whole experiment. In the calcareous soil large Cu concentrations were probably responsible for chlorosis symptoms observed on T. caerulescens. When this soil was treated with Fe, the amount of extracted metal by T. caerulescens increased and metal availability and soil toxicity decreased when compared to the untreated soil. In the acidic soil, T. caerulescens was most efficient: Cd and Zn concentrations in plants were in the range of hyperaccumulation and HNO3-extractable Cd and Zn, metal bio/availability, soil toxicity, and Cd and Zn concentrations in the soil solution decreased significantly. However, a reduced Cd concentration measured in the third T. caerulescens cropping indicated a decrease in metal availability below a critical threshold, whereas the increase of dissolved Cd and Zn concentrations after the third cropping may be the early sign of soil re-equilibration. This indicates that phytoextraction efficiency must be assessed by different approaches in order not to overlook any potential hazard and that an efficient phytoextraction scheme will have to take into account the different dynamics of the soil-plant system.     

Effects on the function of Arctic ecosystems in the short- and long-term perspectives

Historically, the function of Arctic ecosystems in terms of cycles of nutrients and carbon has led to low levels of primary production and exchanges of energy, water and greenhouse gases have led to low local and regional cooling. Sequestration of carbon from atmospheric CO2, in extensive, cold organic soils and the high albedo from low, snow-covered vegetation have had impacts on regional climate. However, many aspects of the functioning of Arctic ecosystems are sensitive to changes in climate and its impacts on biodiversity. The current Arctic climate results in slow rates of organic matter decomposition. Arctic ecosystems therefore tend to accumulate organic matter and elements despite low inputs. As a result, soil-available elements like nitrogen and phosphorus are key limitations to increases in carbon fixation and further biomass and organic matter accumulation. Climate warming is expected to increase carbon and element turnover, particularly in soils, which may lead to initial losses of elements but eventual, slow recovery. Individual species and species diversity have clear impacts on element inputs and retention in Arctic ecosystems. Effects of increased CO2 and UV-B on whole ecosystems, on the other hand, are likely to be small although effects on plant tissue chemisty, decomposition and nitrogen fixation may become important in the long-term. Cycling of carbon in trace gas form is mainly as CO2 and CH4. Most carbon loss is in the form of CO2, produced by both plants and soil biota. Carbon emissions as methane from wet and moist tundra ecosystems are about 5% of emissions as CO2 and are responsive to warming in the absence of any other changes. Winter processes and vegetation type also affect CH4 emissions as well as exchanges of energy between biosphere and atmosphere. Arctic ecosystems exhibit the largest seasonal changes in energy exchange of any terrestrial ecosystem because of the large changes in albedo from late winter, when snow reflects most incoming radiation, to summer when the ecosystem absorbs most incoming radiation. Vegetation profoundly influences the water and energy exchange of Arctic ecosystems. Albedo during the period of snow cover declines from tundra to forest tundra to deciduous forest to evergreen forest. Shrubs and trees increase snow depth which in turn increases winter soil temperatures. Future changes in vegetation driven by climate change are therefore, very likely to profoundly alter regional climate.     

Evaluation of pesticides and metals in fish of the Dniester River, Moldova

The Dniester River is one of the largest rivers in Eastern Europe and receives input from numerous anthropogenic activities. In October 2001, fish samples (Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus heckeli, Perca fluviatilis, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) were collected and analyzed for metals and various pesticides. Maximum total DDT pesticide concentrations were between 27.7 and 34.2 ng/g wet weight in muscles and gonads, respectively. DDE isomers comprised up to 70% of total DDT measurement in fish tissues, indicating historical rather than recent DDT pollution. Chlordane and lindane were also detected in amounts up to 37 and 76 ng/g wet weight in gonads, respectively. Among organophosphorous pesticides, malathion showed extremely high concentrations--3 microg/g wet weight in muscles and 46 microg/g wet weight in gonads, indicating recent exposure. Copper concentrations in muscles (1.8-7.2 microg/g) exceeded Threshold Effect Concentrations for copper in fish. Detection of high concentrations of malathion and copper in fish tissues indicated potential anthropogenic stress for more sensitive aquatic biota, likely from agricultural sources in the Dniester River.     

Aromatic photonitration in homogeneous and heterogeneous aqueous systems

This work describes the nitration of aromatics upon near-UV photolysis of nitrate and nitrite in aqueous solution and upon photocatalytic oxidation of nitrite in TiO2 suspensions. Phenol is used in this work as a model aromatic molecule and as a probe for *NO2/N2O4. The photoinduced nitration of phenol in aqueous systems occurs upon the reaction between phenol and *NO2 or N2O4, and is enhanced by the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrite to *NO2 by TiO2. Aromatic photonitration in the liquid phase can play a relevant role in the formation of nitroaromatics in natural waters and atmospheric hydrometeors, thus being a potential pathway for the condensed-phase nitration of aromatics. Furthermore, the photoinduced oxidation of nitrite to nitrogen dioxide suggests a completely new role for nitrite in natural waters and atmospheric aerosols.     

Exposure to benzene,toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons among snowmobile drivers in Sweden

The exposure to benzene, toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons among 25 individuals exposed to exhaust from a snowmobile equipped with a two-stroke engine has been evaluated. Sampling was performed by pumped and diffusive sampling in parallel. There was a relatively bad agreement between the two air-sampling methods. The bad agreement can in part be explained by back diffusion of the substances from the samplers, a high face velocity, and deposition of droplets of unburned gasoline onto or in the vicinity of the samplers.

The levels of benzene ranged from not detectable (0.01 mg m⁻³) to 2.5 mg m⁻³. For toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons the exposure was 0.10–12.0, 0.05–13.0 and 0.90–273 mg m⁻³ respectively. The result from two measurements on individuals travelling on an open sleigh at the rear of the vehicle indicated higher levels of benzene, 0.7–0.8 mg m⁻³. Children are often riding as a passenger on a sledge and may thus have a higher exposure than their parents. This study indicates that spare time driving a snowmobile may cause a considerable exposure to benzene. Using a four-stroke engine equipped with a catalyst could reduce the exposure. To reduce the exposure for the passenger on a sleigh an extension of the exhaust pipe may be effective.     

Coping with uncertainty: a call for a new science-policy forum

The scientific and policy worlds have different goals, which can lead to different standards for what constitutes "proof" of a change or phenomena, and different approaches for characterizing and conveying uncertainty and risk. These differences can compromise effective communication among scientists, policymakers, and the public, and constrain the types of socially compelling questions scientists are willing to address. In this paper, we review a set of approaches for dealing with uncertainty, and illustrate some of the errors that arise when science and policy fail to coordinate correctly. We offer a set of recommendations, including restructuring of science curricula and establishment of science-policy forums populated by leaders in both arenas, and specifically constituted to address problems of uncertainty.     

Soot-water distribution coefficients for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polybrominated diphenylethers determined with the soot cosolvency-column method

For many types of hydrophobic compounds, sorption non-linearity and solid-water distributions in the field well above expectations from organic matter partitioning models have lead to the proposition that strong adsorption to soot surfaces may not be limited to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons but may extend as a significant process for many aromatic compound classes. Here, the soot-water distribution coefficients (Ksc) were determined with the soot cosolvency-column method for homolog series of five polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), five polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and for two polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). All compounds exhibited significantly stronger association with soot carbon than expected from estimates of their bulk organic-carbon normalized partition coefficients (Koc). The Ksc/Koc ratios (at aqueous concentrations of around 0.1-1 microg/l) were for PCDDs (up to tetrachlorination) 19-130 (median 25), for PCDFs (also up to tetrachlorination) 150-490 (median 300), and for both the tetra- and pentabrominated PBDEs a factor of 60. The particularly strong soot sorption for the PCDFs is of similar enhancement factors as previously elucidated for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Compound-class specific correlations between log Ksc and octanol-water partition coefficients (log Kow) were significant for both PCDDs and PCDFs (and with R2 > 98%). These may prove useful for anticipating variable fractions of dissolved exposures between different environmental regimes and putative remediation objects.     

Relating cadmium concentrations in three macrophyte-associated freshwater invertebrates to those in macrophytes,water and sediments

We found that Cd concentrations in three species of macrophyte-associated invertebrates (the gastropods Bithynia tentaculata and Physa gyrina, and the amphipod Gammarus fasciatus) collected at twenty sites along the St. Lawrence River were correlated with Cd concentrations in their main food source, i.e. macrophytes and associated periphyton. Cd in these invertebrates was not significantly correlated with Cd concentrations in the sediments (even when corrections for iron oxide or organic carbon content were applied) or to calculated free-cadmium concentrations in the water. Cd levels in juveniles of B. tentaculata were very tightly linked to Cd concentrations in macrophytes, which is consistent with the close relationship that these organisms have developed with macrophytes. Linear models predicting Cd levels in juveniles of B. tentaculata from Cd levels in different macrophyte species were strong (R2 = 0.69-0.90). Analysis of covariance on these models showed no statistical difference of slope or intercept for any of the macrophyte species, except Vallisneria americana. We suggest that the macrophyte-periphyton complex is a key link in the transfer of cadmium to some aquatic invertebrates in the littoral zone of the St. Lawrence River and that macrophytes and their associated epiphytes should also be used as biomonitors.     

Halogenated compounds and climate change: future emission levels and reduction costs

OBJECTIVES: This work assesses the contribution to climate change resulting from emissions of the group of halogenated greenhouse gases. METHODS: A bottom-up emission model covering 22 technological sectors in four major regions is described. Emission estimates for 1996 and projection for 2010 and 2020 are presented. The costs for deep cuts into projected emission levels are calculated. RESULTS: The substances covered by this study have contributed emissions of 1100 +/- 800 MT CO2 equivalents per year in 1996. In terms of their relative contribution to emissions of CO2 equivalents, this corresponds to 3 +/- 2% of global emissions of all anthropogenic greenhouse gases. The wide range of uncertainty is due to the poorly quantified net global warming potential of the ozone depleting substances, which have an indirect cooling effect on climate through the destruction of stratospheric ozone. For annual emissions of HFCs, PFCs and SF6 (which are regulated under the Kyoto Protocol and for which global warming potentials are well defined), the relative contribution is projected to increase to 2% (600 MT CO2 eq.) of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. This trend is expected to continue, emissions are projected to grow to a contribution of roughly 3% (870 MT CO2 eq.) in 2020 compared to 0.9% (300 MT CO2 eq.) in 1996. For HFCs, PFCs and SF6, this study identifies global emission reduction potentials of 260 MT CO2 eq. per year in 2010 and 640 MT CO2 eq. per year in 2020 at below US$ 50 per ton. These values correspond to roughly 40% and 75% of projected emissions in 2010 and 2020, respectively.     

Risk assessment of etofenprox (Vectron) on non-target aquatic fauna compared with other pesticides used as Simulium larvicide in a tropical environment

Within the rotational scheme developed by the Programme to fight the resistance of Simulium damnosum to chemical larvicides, there was an operational gap at discharges between 5 and 70 m³ s⁻¹ for the treatment of rivers where resistance to organophosphates was present. The use of permethrin and carbosulfan was precluded because of risk of environmental impact and, Bacillus thuringiensis ser. H-14 treatments were not envisageable due to cost and logistics constraints. Among the possible complementary groups of larvicides tested, the pseudo-pyrethroids, held promise, because of a mode of action similar to that of pyrethroids, but along with a usually lower toxicity for fish. Etofenprox, one of the pseudo-pyrethroids tested, shows a global detachment of non-target insects in 24 h close to that of pyraclofos, an organo-phosphorus compound (27 against 23%). In laboratory conditions, six times the operational dose which is 0.03 mg l⁻¹ 10 min, is needed to cause 50% mortality of Caridina sp. (a small shrimps species) and 30 times this same dose for 95% mortality. For fish species, a safety margin of 400–800 times the operational dose is observed for Oreochromis niloticus and 200–400 times for Tilapia zillii.