Residues of phosphamidon in rice fields

Thirty-day-old seedlings of rice plants (IR-20 variety) from the nursery were transplanted into experimental plots and after 52 days were sprayed with phosphamidon (Dimecron 85% EC) at two dose-rates (0.38 kg a.i. ha(-1) and 0.76 kg a.i. ha(-1)). Residues of phosphamidon in the plant, soil and water were analysed by GLC, at various time intervals, and were found to decrease steadily up to 15 days. A second application of the pesticide was made on day 113 and grains harvested on day 138. The residue level in the plants was 0.12 microg g(-1) and in the grains 0.04 microg g(-1) with the high dose. This is slightly below the EPA prescribed tolerance level of 0.05 microg g(-1). The residues in both soil and water were very low, 24 h after spraying.     

Ozone-induced changes in CO2 assimilation, O2 evolution and chlorophyll a fluorescence transients in barley

Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Klaxon) plants, 9 days old, were exposed to 0.05, 0.10 or 0.15 microl litre(-1) ozone (O3) for 12 days. Fumigation was administered for 7 h between 9.00 h and 16.00 h each day. Using conventional IRGA equipment, the carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER) was shown to decrease with increasing concentration of O3 during the exposure period, falling to 60% of the control value at the highest O3 concentration. Transpiration rates and stomatal conductance showed similar trends. Light saturation curves, obtained using a leaf disc oxygen electrode, demonstrated that O3-treated leaves had lower apparent quantum yields (QY) and generally lower rates of O2 evolution at saturating light and CO2 levels. Oscillations in chlorophyll a fluorescence, normally observed in control plants, could not be detected after O3 treatment and could only be restored to some extent by feeding the phosphate sequestering agent D-mannose to the leaves.     

Measurements of gaseous hydrogen peroxide in southern England during a photochemical episode

Simultaneous measurements of gaseous hydrogen peroxide and ozone made in southern England are reported. The hydrogen peroxide measurements are the first reported for the United Kingdom and show clear diurnal trends and correlate with ozone measurements. Measurements were made during a photochemical episode when a peak hydrogen peroxide concentration of 2.5 microg m(-3) was recorded with a simultaneous peak of 168 microg m(-3) in the ozone concentration. From observations on the rate of decay in the measured concentrations, an evening-time deposition velocity of 0.28 cm s(-1) was derived for hydrogen peroxide.     

Temporal and spatial variation of RNA content in nymphs of the mayfly, Stenonema femoratum (Say)

Temporal variation of RNA: weight, RNA: protein, RNA: DNA, and protein: DNA ratios in Stenonema femoratum (Say) was assessed by monitoring at the same site in a small midwestern stream over a two-year period. Variation components were estimated using a two-way mixed model analysis of variance with weight class and collection date as main effects. About 30% of the variation in RNA concentration was within-cell variation associated with differences among individuals and analytical error. Temporal variation accounted for about 50% of the total variability in RNA concentration data. RNA: weight had 11% and RNA: protein had 17% variation attributed to weight class effects indicating that these ratios were dependent on the size of the mayfly. RNA: DNA ratios were not influenced by mayfly weight, suggesting that this ratio would be the most appropriate for comparing populations based on means of mixed individual sizes. Comparison of mean RNA: DNA ratios among collection dates yielded significant increases in the ratio during late fall in two consecutive years. Spatial variations in RNA: DNA ratios of S. femoratum collected from sites of similar habitats were not significantly different. These data encourage the future development of RNA concentration as an in situ biochemical indicator of growth rate and possibly of stress related effects on growth rate.     

Oxidant air pollution effects on plants of Joshua Tree National Monument

Joshua Tree National Monument (JOTR) is located about 100 km east of the Los Angeles Basin, site of the heaviest concentration of photochemical oxidant (O(3)) air pollution in the US. This investigation was conducted to measure O(3) concentrations in JOTR and to determine the effects of O(3) on vegetation in the park. Potentially phytotoxic concentrations of O(3) were recorded in JOTR in 1984 and 1985, but peak concentration occurred at night, when most plant species would be less sensitive to O(3). No O(3) effects were observed on permanent vegetation observation plots in JOTR in 1984 or 1985. Controlled exposures of native summer annual and woody perennial species to O(3) showed that most did not develop visible O(3) injury symptoms except at concentrations higher than those expected in the park. However, Rhus trilobata Nutt. was injured at 0.10 ppm O(3), 4 h per day for 4 days. This species would be a useful bioindicator to assess the effects of O(3) on native desert plants.     

The asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea: An indicator of trace metal pollution in the Shatt al-Arab River, Iraq

The potential of Corbicula fluminea (Müller) as an indicator for trace metal pollution was investigated. Laboratory experiments show that Corbicula has the capability to accumulate and eliminate trace metals in relation to their concentrations in ambient water. However, an effect of individual size was observed. Seasonal variations in the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in Corbicula, water and particulate matter from the upper section of the Shatt al-Arab River were studied. Sediment samples were also analysed. Metal concentrations were determined by means of flameless AAS. It was found that Corbicula is a suitable bio-indicator for monitoring of trace metal pollution. Metal concentrations in Corbicula tissues correlated better with their corresponding concentrations in particulate matter than with the dissolved form. Temporal variations in metal concentrations were attributed to several factors, including fluctuations in metal inputs, and in geochemical and hydrological characteristics of the water. The obtained levels of trace metals were comparable to those reported for control sites, with the exception of Cd, Cu and Zn whose concentrations were higher in both Corbicula and particulate matter.     

Distribution of metals in grassland soils following surface applications of sewage sludge

In order to decide on a suitable sampling depth for grassland soil treated with sewage sludge and to assess implications for grazing animals, a field trial on two soils was designed to estimate the distribution of metals in grassland soil profiles following surface applications of sludge. Thus the sites represented permanent grassland where no form of cultivation had taken place. Soil cores were taken using specialised equipment to 30 cm depth and divided into seven sections. Movement from the soil surface to a depth of 10 cm was observed for all of the seven metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn, but most of the metal (60%-100%, mean 87%) remained in the upper 5 cm of soil. It was concluded that sampling to a depth of 5 or 7.5 cm would be most suitable for monitoring long-term grassland treated with surface applications of sludge.     

The effect of copper sulphate on some biochemical parameters of rainbow trout

Copper sulphate has an adverse effect on some biochemical parameters of trout Salmo gairdneri. The main targets of damage are: (a)Tissue necrosis as demonstrated by increased ASAT and ALAT levels in blood plasma. (b)Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. There is also a general stress effect as reflected by an elevated blood glucose level.     

Validation of the operational emergency response model at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute using data from etex and the chernobyl accident

The Eulerian atmospheric tracer transport model MATCH (Multiscale Atmospheric Transport and Chemistry model) has been extended with a Lagrangian particle model treating the initial dispersion of pollutants from point sources. The model has been implemented at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute in an emergency response system for nuclear accidents and can be activated on short notice to provide forecast concentration and deposition fields.The model has been used to simulate the transport of the inert tracer released during the ETEX experiment and the transport and deposition of ¹³⁷Cs from the Chernobyl accident. Visual inspection of the results as well as statistical analysis shows that the extent, time of arrival and duration of the tracer cloud, is in good agreement with the observations for both cases, with a tendency towards over-prediction for the first ETEX release. For the Chernobyl case the simulated deposition pattern over Scandinavia and over Europe as a whole agrees with observations when observed precipitation is used in the simulation. When model calculated precipitation is used, the quality of the simulation is reduced significantly and the model fails to predict major features of the observed deposition field.     

Stage dependent susceptibility to lead in Bufo arenarum embryos

The stage dependent susceptibility to lead in amphibian development was studied by exposing Bufo arenarum embryos during neurulae, neuromuscular activity and gill circulation stages for twenty hours to 1 ppm Pb(2+). Survival, malformations and behavioral disorders were evaluated. The embryonic susceptibility to lead was markedly stage dependent. The survival at the neuromuscular activity stage was approximately half that of the other two periods; concerning malformations, the gill circulation stage was the least sensitive. The observed malformations consisted of failed closure of neural tube, hydropsy, small and cylindrical tails, reduced body size and incurvations in the body axis. Some alterations occurred in all experimental groups and therefore were considered non-dependent on the period of treatment. In all experimental embryos, neurological disorders such as trembles and loss of equilibrium were observed.