A comparison of metals in sediments and water in the River Nahr-Ibrahim,Lebanon: 1996 and 1999

Rivers whose basins are underlain by carbonate rocks exhibit high pH, lower desorption of metals and possess high buffering capacity against acidic inputs to the river. The catchment of River Nahr-Ibrahim, Lebanon, is largely underlain by limestone. Compared to neighbouring countries, Lebanon is relatively fortunate since precipitation is high. However, recently a warming in temperature and a drop in precipitation has occurred, thus causing low water levels in rivers. The objective of this study is to investigate the variation of the total metal content (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd) in bed sediments and water of River Nahr-Ibrahim between 1996 and 1999 (two years); and relate these variations to the effect of changes in human activities and/or due to the variations of precipitation rate, temperature and pH of water. Bed load sediments and stream water were collected simultaneously from five sampling sites. Water pH and temperature were determined in situ. Sediment samples were dried at room temperature and sieved; the sediment size <75 m size was retained. Water was analysed for major constituents and trace metals. Metals were extracted from sediments with aqua regia. Metal concentration in water and sediments were determined using ICP-MS technique. Data revealed a drop in metal concentrations (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) in sediments at quarry site after its closure. The decrease in precipitation rate, lowering the level of water and the dilution of industrial discharges and decrease in water pH led most probably to the desorption of metals from sediments into the water.     

Distribution of metals in mechanical fractions of soils from a lake catchment in Venezuela

Soil samples were collected from both the surface and at depth from the lowlands around Lake Valencia and from the adjacent mountains. This paper reports results for Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in mechanical fractions of the soils. Lowland soils, developed on lacustrine sediments, show a predominance of medium- to fine-grain size fractions whereas the shallow mountain soils show the highest percentage of particles in the coarse to medium fractions. Concentrations of most of the elements investigated increased toward finer particle sizes. The generally higher metal concentrations in lowland soils compared with mountain soils are consistent with release by weathering in the uplands and accumulation in the lowlands. The presence of carbonates derived from ubiquitous shelly material in the lowland soils may explain increases of Ca and Mg in labile fractions. In the lowland area, there is little evidence for the translocation of metals in the soil profiles, despite the high rainfall of a tropical climate, and the calcareous nature of these soils could account for the immobility of metals.     

Field and experimental studies on cadmium in the edible crab Cancer pagurus

The distribution of cadmium within captive crabs (Cancer pagurus) exposed experimentally to cadmium-contaminated food and water is described and illustrated by triangular diagrams. Crabs from the Orkney Islands (Scotland) are known to contain relatively high levels of cadmium (up to 62 g g^-1 wet wt) in the hepatopancreas. The distribution of cadmium between the hepatopancreas, gonad, gill, carapace, claw muscle, heart, and haemolymph, is described in crabs collected during 1978, and compared with similar data from crabs exposed to cadmium for ca. 300 d (September 1978 – June 1979) experimentally. It is concluded that the dominant uptake route of cadmium to Orkney crabs is through their diet.     

Early prenatal diagnosis of the fragile site AT Xq27.3 associated with Martin-Bell syndrome

Early prenatal diagnosis of the fragile X was attempted in 44 pregnancies, including one twin pregnancy at risk of Martin-Bell (MB) syndrome. The sex ratio was 24M:21F. The fragile site was reproducibly demonstrated in cultured chorionic villus (CV) cells in eight male and five female fetuses. Six of the male and three of the female fetuses were terminated. Simultaneous RFLP analysis provided confirmative data with flanking DNA markers in 3 of 13 analysed cases. Recombination and/or non-informativeness at available distal and/or proximal loci were found in nine cases. In one male fetus, discordance between the haplotype and cyto-genetics (fragile-X-negative) suggested the presence of a normal male transmitter, a double meiotic cross-over within the region, or a false-negative cytogenetic diagnosis. However, discordance between prenatal and post-termination/postnatal cytogenetic findings was not observed in this series. The use of excess thymidine for induction of the fragile X in cultured CV cells provided in the majority of cases a safe and rapid method for cytogenetic diagnosis, with options for early induced termination in fragile-X-positive pregnancies, for simultaneous RFLP analysis, and for subsequent second-trimester analysis of fetal blood in complicated cases.     

Lake sediments record sensitivity of two hydrologically closed upland lakes in Mexico to human impact

We provide evidence of rapid, recent environmental change in two lakes in the highlands of central Mexico. Multiple sediment cores were obtained from Lago de Zirahuén (Michoacán) and Laguna de Juanacatlán (Jalisco). Analysis of diatom assemblages, magnetic susceptibility, and metal concentrations was carried out, with the chronology provided by 210Pb dating, 14C dating, and tephrochronology. There is evidence of catchment disturbance during the colonial period in both basins, but the most striking feature at both sites is the rapid change in diatom assemblages during the last 20 y, indicating the onset of eutrophication. Limnological data from Lago de Zirahuén support this interpretation, although none are available from Laguna de Juanacatlán. Paleolimnology is a powerful tool in tracking recent change, particularly in the absence of regular limnological monitoring programs. These lakes appear to be highly sensitive to changes in catchment exploitation, which must be considered in future drainage basin management.     

The effects of a simulated acid precipitation on leaf litter quality and the growth of a detritivore in a buffered lotic system

The effects of a simulated acid rain on leaf litter quality and the growth of a detritivore in a buffered lotic system were investigated. Exposure of Populus balsamifera L. saplings to a simulated acid precipitation prior to leaf abscission resulted in significant decreases in foliar nitrogen content and increases in carbon: nitrogen ratios. During decomposition of the leaf litter in a buffered lotic system, microbial activity was significantly reduced. Growth of Tipula commiscibilis Diane (Diptera: Tipulidae) larvae decreased significantly when fed conditioned leaves exposed to a simulated acid precipitation prior to abscission. Reductions in detritivore growth were correlated with lower potential quality of the leaf litter resulting from increased carbon: nitrogen ratios and reduced levels of microbial activity. Thus, even in well buffered freshwater ecosystems, acid precipitation can have significant indirect effects on microbial activity and macroinvertebrate growth.     

Can adsorption isotherms predict sediment bioavailability?

The adsorption and desorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were studied for a range of synthetic particles, a dimethylditallowammonium exchanged clay and a natural sediment. The synthetic particles were Dowex 1X8400, Toyopearl Phenyl 650M and Toyopearl SP 650M. The bioaccumulation of the DCP and PCP from these particles was then studied using the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. There is a correlation between contaminant-particle interactions, as determined from adsorption and desorption isotherms, and bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation by L. variegatus was found to be highest from the systems where differences in the classification of adsorption and desorption isotherms were observed.     

Kinetics of the development of imposex in transplanted adult dogwhelks, Nucella lapillus

The degree of imposex in dogwhelks, Nucella lapillus (L.), is normally described in terms of a series of vas deferens development stages. The progression of adult female dogwhelks through vas deferens stages 0-5 in response to exposure to tributyltin at 2-128 ng/l has been modelled on the basis of first-order kinetics. Modelling indicated that the half-lives of stages 0, 1 and 2 were from 1-8 weeks and that the half-life of stage 3 was approximately twice as long. The half-life of stage 4 was 90-120 weeks. Half-lives decreased with increasing exposure concentration. The implications of these data for field surveys and transplantation experiments are discussed. Transplanted dogwhelks will not rapidly attain equilibrium with environmental conditions. Experiments will require careful control of exposure period, and preferable supporting chemical data.     

Environmental Geochemistry and Health

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Environmental Geochemistry and Health     

Constitutive or induced defences - how does <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> defend itself from larval feeding?

Summary. Following herbivory, induced responses involving plant secondary metabolites have been reported in a number of tree species. Although a wide range of plant secondary metabolites appear to operate as constitutive plant defences in trees belonging to the Eucalyptus genus, no induced responses have as yet been reported following foliar-chewing insect damage. We empirically tested whether branch defoliation (artificial and larval) of 2-year-old Eucalyptus globulus Labill. trees altered the abundance of specific plant secondary metabolites immediately (3 months after initial larval feeding) and 8 months after the cessation of larval feeding. Metabolites assayed, included essential oils, polyphenolic groups and foliar wax compounds and in all cases their abundance was not significantly altered by defoliation. However, the level of foliar tannins after 3 months of larval feeding did display a trend that suggested elevated levels as the result of defoliation, though this trend was not evident 8 months later, indicating that, if real, the response was a rapid and not a delayed induced response. The level of foliar tannins was also negatively correlated to both average larval survival and average percentage branch defoliation, suggesting that foliar tannins may operate as toxins and/or anti-feedants to M. privata larval feeding.