Formed-in-place Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes for Atrazine Recovery from Aqueous Media

A permeable system composed of a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane formed by alternated deposition of chitosan (CHI) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) onto a porous solid substrate was investigated. The films, with thicknesses not superior to 20 nm, were obtained by a self-assembly technique, i.e., by direct dipping of chemically cleaned porous glass membranes, into concentrated polymeric precursor solutions. The resulting depositions have irregular structures and reduce the initial membrane permeability, especially for higher flux velocities. Concerning filtration tests for herbicide removal in aqueous medium, the chitosan deposition attained better results. A tentative model of binding involving hydrogen bonding and/or charge-transfer to nonspecific sites available dynamically as a function of the conformational estate of the deposited polymers is proposed for polysaccharide-herbicide interactions.     

Correction to: Documenting lemming population change in the Arctic: Can we detect trends?

Ambio - In the original published article, some of the symbols in figure 1A were modified incorrectly during the typesetting and publication process. The correct version of the figure is provided...     

Fast extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran in sewage sludge and soil samples

The current environmental legislations recommend monitoring chemical contaminants such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans before the use of sewage sludge on the agricultural land. In this study, a solid–liquid extraction with low-temperature purification (SLE-LTP) was optimized and validated to determine 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran in sewage sludge and soil samples. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operating in the selective ion mode (GC-MS-SIM). Acetonitrile:ethyl acetate 6.5:1.5 (v/v) was the best extraction phase, and the recoveries percentages were close to 100%. The linearity was demonstrated in the range of 1.25–25 µg L^?1 of 1.25–20 µg L^?1 for sewage sludge and soil, respectively. Matrix effect was proved for the two compounds and in the two matrices studied. Extraction percentages were between 78 and 109% and relative standard deviations ≤ 19%. The proposed method is faster than methods described in the literature because showed a few steps. The quantification limits (LOQ) in sewage sludge were 6.4 and 32 ng TEQ kg^?1 for 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,7,8-TCDD, respectively. In soil, LOQs were 0.8 and 8.0 ng TEQ kg^?1 for 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,7,8-TCDD, respectively. These values are lower than the maximum residue limits established by European Legislation. The method was applied to 22 agricultural soil samples from different Brazilian cities and 2,3,7,8-TCDF was detected in one of these samples.     

Acute effects of removing large fish from a near-pristine coral reef

Large animals are severely depleted in many ecosystems, yet we are only beginning to understand the ecological implications of their loss. To empirically measure the short-term effects of removing large animals from an ocean ecosystem, we used exclosures to remove large fish from a near-pristine coral reef at Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific Ocean. We identified a range of effects that followed from the removal of these large fish. These effects were revealed within weeks of their removal. Removing large fish (1) altered the behavior of prey fish; (2) reduced rates of herbivory on certain species of reef algae; (3) had both direct positive (reduced mortality of coral recruits) and indirect negative (through reduced grazing pressure on competitive algae) impacts on recruiting corals; and (4) tended to decrease abundances of small mobile benthic invertebrates. Results of this kind help advance our understanding of the ecological importance of large animals in ecosystems.     

Unexpected toxicity decrease during photoelectrochemical degradation of atrazine with NaCl

This report shows an unexpected toxicity decrease during atrazine photoelectrodegradation in the presence of NaCl. Atrazine is a pesticide classified as endocrine disruptor occurring in industrial effluents and agricultural wastewaters. We therefore studied the effects of the degradation method, electrochemical and electrochemical photo-assisted, and of the supporting electrolyte, NaCl and Na₂SO₄, on the residual toxicity of treated atrazine solutions. We also studied the toxicity of treated atrazine solutions using Artemia nauplii. Results show that at initial concentration of 20 mg L⁻¹, atrazine was completely removed in up to 30 min using 10 mA cm⁻² electrolysis in NaCl medium, regardless of the electrochemical method used. The total organic carbon removal by the photo-assisted method was 82% with NaCl and 95% with Na₂SO₄. The solution toxicity increased during sole electrochemical treatment in NaCl, as expected. However, the toxicity unexpectedly decreased using the photo-assisted method. This finding is a major discovery because electrochemical treatment with NaCl usually leads to the formation of toxic chlorine-containing organic degradation by-products.     

Habitat patch shape, not corridors, determines herbivory and fruit production of an annual plant

Habitat corridors confer many conservation benefits by increasing movement of organisms between habitat patches, but the benefits for some species may exact costs for others. For example, corridors may increase the abundance of consumers in a habitat to the detriment of the species they consume. In this study we assessed the impact of corridors on insect herbivory of a native plant, Solanum americanum, in large-scale, experimentally fragmented landscapes. We quantified leaf herbivory and assessed fruit production as a proxy for plant fitness. We also conducted field surveys of grasshoppers (Orthoptera), a group of abundant, generalist herbivores that feed on S. americanum, and we used exclosure cages to explicitly link grasshopper herbivory to fruit production of individual S. americanum. The presence of corridors did not increase herbivory or decrease plant fruit production. Likewise, corridors did not increase grasshopper abundance. Instead, patches in our landscapes with the least amount of edge habitat and the greatest amount of warmer "core" area had the highest levels of herbivory, the largest cost to plant fruit production as a result of herbivory, and the most grasshoppers. Thus habitat quality, governed by patch shape, can be more important than connectivity for determining levels of herbivory and the impact of herbivory on plant fitness in fragmented landscapes.     

三峡库区支流澎溪河水华高发期环境因子和浮游藻类的时空特征及其关系

分别在2014年春季和夏季三峡库区水华高发期,在库区北岸最大支流澎溪河流域从其河口处逆流而上至回水末端共布置8个采样点,对浮游藻类和环境因子进行了监测,运用数理统计分析手段,对浮游藻类的群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了分析.结果表明在4月中旬,除河口样点外,其他采样点水体出现分层,但断面多只有温跃层和滞温层,而没有混合层;上游水体层次间温差高于下游水体;各采样点的水深以及表层水体(水面向下至0.5 m深的水层)的水温、浊度、p H、电导率、溶解氧、叶绿素a、总氮和总磷的空间分布差异显著(ANOVA,P0.05);共检测到浮游藻类25种(属),丰度在(2.76~145.8)×10~4cell·L~(-1)之间,以角甲藻(Ceratium hirundinella)为主要优势藻,鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)为次优势藻;上游接近支流来水的样点S7(63.4×10~4cell·L~(-1))和S8(145.8×10~4cell·L~(-1))水华最为严重;硝酸盐氮、水温、p H、电导率和溶解氧是藻类生长的决定因子.在7月下旬,水体分层,趋势与春季相似;各采样点深度和0~0.5 m水层的水温、浊度、氧化还原电位、p H、电导率、叶绿素a、氨氮、硝酸盐氮、总氮和总磷的空间分布仍然差异显著(ANOVA,P0.05);共检测到浮游藻类46种(属),丰度在(9.56~278.88)×10~4cell·L~(-1)之间,总体以席藻(Phormidium sp.)为主要优势藻,鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)为次优势藻;下游接近澎溪河河口的样点S2(216.44×10~4cell·L~(-1))、S3(278.88×10~4cell·L~(-1))和S4(108.12×10~4cell·L~(-1))水华严重;浊度、水深、总氮、氧化还原电位、电导率和溶解氧是藻类生长的决定因子.水体分层与水华形成有重要关系.     

Variation of mass scattering efficiencies in IMPROVE

The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) equation used to assess compliance under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Haze Rule assumes that dry mass scattering efficiencies for aerosol chemical components are constant. However, examination of aerosol size distributions and chemical composition during the Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational Study and the Southeastern Aerosol and Visibility Study suggests that volume and mass scattering efficiencies vary directly with increasing particle light scattering and aerosol mass concentration. This is consistent with the observation that particle distributions were shifted to larger sizes under more polluted conditions and appears to be related to aging of the aerosol during transport to remote locations.     

Decreasing phosphorus runoff losses from land-applied poultry litter with dietary modifications and alum addition

Phosphorus (P) losses from pastures fertilized with poultry litter contribute to the degradation of surface water quality in the United States. Dietary modification and manure amendments may reduce potential P runoff losses from pastures. In the current study, broilers were fed a normal diet, phytase diet, high available phosphorus (HAP) corn diet, or HAP corn + phytase diet. Litter treatments were untreated control and alum added at 10% by weight between flocks. Phytase and HAP corn diets reduced litter dissolved P content in poultry litter by 10 and 35%, respectively, compared with the normal diet (789 mg P kg(-1)). Alum treatment of poultry litter reduced the amount of dissolved P by 47%, while a 74% reduction was noted after alum treatment of litter from the HAP corn + phytase diet. The P concentrations in runoff water were highest from plots receiving poultry litter from the normal diet, whereas plots receiving poultry litter from phytase and HAP corn diets had reduced P concentrations. The addition of alum to the various poultry litters reduced P runoff by 52 to 69%; the greatest reduction occurred when alum was used in conjunction with HAP corn and phytase. This study demonstrates the potential added benefits of using dietary modification in conjunction with manure amendments in poultry operations. Integrators and producers should consider the use of phytase, HAP corn, and alum to reduce potential P losses associated with poultry litter application to pastures.