Spatial heterogeneity of PM10 and O3 in São Paulo, Brazil, and implications for human health studies

Developing exposure estimates is a challenging aspect of investigating the health effects of air pollution. Pollutant levels recorded at centrally located ambient air quality monitors in a community are commonly used as proxies for population exposures. However, if ample intraurban spatial variation in pollutants exists, city-wide averages of concentrations may introduce exposure misclassification. We assessed spatial heterogeneity of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < or = 10 microm (PM10) and ozone (O3) and evaluated implications for epidemiological studies in S?o Paulo, Brazil, using daily (24-hr) and daytime (12-hr) averages and 1-hr daily maximums of pollutant levels recorded at the regulatory monitoring network. Monitor locations were also analyzed with respect to a socioeconomic status index developed by the municipal government. Hourly PM10 and O3 data for the Sāo Paulo Municipality and Metropolitan Region (1999-2006) were used to evaluate heterogeneity by comparing distance between monitors with pollutants' correlations and coefficients of divergence (CODs). Both pollutants showed high correlations across monitoring sites (median = 0.8 for daily averages). CODs across sites averaged 0.20. Distance was a good predictor of CODs for PM10 (p < 0.01) but not O3, whereas distance was a good predictor of correlations for O3 (p < 0.01) but not PM10. High COD values and low temporal correlation indicate a spatially heterogeneous distribution of PM10. Ozone levels were highly correlated (r > or = 0.75), but high CODs suggest that averaging over O3 levels may obscure important spatial variations. Of municipal districts in the highest of five socioeconomic groups, 40% have > or = 1 monitor, whereas districts in the lowest two groups, representing half the population, have no monitors. Results suggest that there is a potential for exposure misclassification based on the available monitoring network and that spatial heterogeneity depends on pollutant metric (e.g., daily average vs. daily 1-hr maximum). A denser monitoring network or alternative exposure methods may be needed for epidemiological research. Findings demonstrate the importance of considering spatial heterogeneity and differential exposure misclassification by subpopulation.     

Models for the field-based toxicity of copper and zinc salts to wheat in 11 Australian soils and comparison to laboratory-based models

Laboratory-based relationships that model the phytotoxicity of metals using soil properties have been developed. This paper presents the first field-based phytotoxicity relationships. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown at 11 Australian field sites at which soil was spiked with copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) salts. Toxicity was measured as inhibition of plant growth at 8 weeks and grain yield at harvest. The added Cu and Zn EC10 values for both endpoints ranged from approximately 3 to 4760 mg/kg. There were no relationships between field-based 8-week biomass and grain yield toxicity values for either metal. Cu toxicity was best modelled using pH and organic carbon content while Zn toxicity was best modelled using pH and the cation exchange capacity. The best relationships estimated toxicity within a factor of two of measured values. Laboratory-based phytotoxicity relationships could not accurately predict field-based phytotoxicity responses.     

Abundance,spatial distribution,and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds

Despite extensive research on microplastics (MP) in marine environments, little is known about MP abundance and transport in terrestrial systems. There is, therefore, still little understanding of the main mechanisms driving the substantial transport of MP across different environmental compartments. Storm events can transport MP beyond boundaries, such as from the land to groundwater or the ocean, as has already been discovered for organic carbon transport. Urban stormwater detention ponds are suitable environments to study the impact of stormwater on the environmental fate and transport of MP. Herein, we investigate the longitudinal and vertical distribution of MP within two detention ponds with different physical characteristics. Soil samples were collected at various locations and from multiple depths (surface and subsurface layers) for measuring MP concentrations using fluorescence microscopy. Our findings show that MP are retained more near the inlet of the ponds, and MP of larger sizes were found more abundantly near inlets than outlets. We also found that MP mass and sizes decrease from surface soil to subsurface soil. In the pond, where vegetation (grass root network) was more considerable, MP were found more evenly distributed along the depth. In terms of shape, the fragments were the most abundant MP shape.     

High incidence of deformity in aquatic turtles in the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is subject to pollution from multiple sources. We studied development of snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) embryos from the refuge from 2000 through 2003. Mean annual deformity rate of pooled painted turtle clutches over four years ranged from 45 to 71%, while that of snapping turtle clutches ranged from 13 to 19%. Lethal deformities were more common than minor or moderate deformities in embryos of both species. Adult painted turtles had a higher deformity rate than adult snapping turtles. Snapping turtles at JHNWR had high levels of PAH contamination in their fat. This suggests that PAHs are involved in the high level of deformities. Other contaminants may also play a role. Although the refuge offers many advantages to resident turtle populations, pollution appears to place a developmental burden on the life history of these turtles.     

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities

Long-term monitoring data show that hard coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) has reduced by >70 % over the past century. Although authorities and many marine scientists were in denial for many years, it is now widely accepted that this reduction is largely attributable to the chronic state of eutrophication that exists throughout most of the GBR. Some reefs in the far northern GBR where the annual mean chlorophyll a (Chl a) is in the lower range of the proposed Eutrophication Threshold Concentration for Chl a (~0.2–0.3 mg m⁻³) show little or no evidence of degradation over the past century. However, the available evidence suggests that coral diseases and the crown-of-thorns starfish will proliferate in such waters and hence the mandated eutrophication Trigger values for Chl a (~0.4–0.45 mg m⁻³) will need to be decreased to ~0.2 mg m⁻³ for sustaining coral reef communities.     

The Kinetics of Caesium absorption by roots of winter wheat and the possible consequences for the derivation of soil-to-plant transfer factors for radiocaesium

Caesium (Cs) uptake in roots of winter wheat was found to follow a dual pattern similar to that established for potassium uptake in barley roots. This suggests the operation of two discrete uptake systems for Cs, as for potassium. The ‘System 1’ (low concentration) uptake mechanism for caesium, however, can be resolved into two hyperbolic components which both obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten equation was used to derive a function which describes the variation in solution-to-root transfer factor for any element for which the appropriate root uptake constants (K_m andV_max) can be determined. This function successfully described available data for root uptake of caesium and potassium, predicting that the solution-to-root transfer factor decreases in relation to an increase in the substrate concentration of each respective element. At substrate concentrations equivalent to carrier-free radiocaesium concentrations, however, the solution-to-root transfer factor predicted by the function and by empirical data suggests that the relationship between root uptake and solution concentration of caesium is linear. These findings are discussed in relation to the comparative physiology of caesium and potassium uptake by plant roots and with respect to the application of the soil-to-plant transfer factor concept to radioecological studies.     

Reproductive biology of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria fuscogilva in the Solomon Islands

 Reproduction of Holothuria fuscogilva (Selenka, 1867) in the Solomon Islands was investigated over a 4 yr period (1994 to 1998) by macroscopic and microscopic examination of the gonad tubules, the gonad index (GI) method, histological examination of gametogenesis, and spawning-induction trials. The gonad consisted of numerous tubules that dominated the coelom of gravid specimens. New tubules appeared in March, and grew in size and extent of branching until they reached their maximum size and maturity in August. Spawning occurred from August to October, with the majority of gametes released during October, although it was only partial in many individuals. After spawning, the tubules appeared wrinkled and resorbed into the gonad basis. A five-stage gonad maturity scale based on the macroscopic appearance of the gonad tubules corresponded with discrete stages of gametogenesis identified by histology. Gametogenesis was initiated in mid-March, with oogenesis and spermatogenesis occurring in parallel, followed by the growing stage (May to July) which was marked by active gamete development. Successful induction of spawning during the breeding period corroborated the GI and histological data. The uniform growth of gonad tubules indicated that H. fuscogilva in the Solomon Islands does not conform to the progressive tubule recruitment model described for other holothurians. An important application of this study is that the appearance of gonad tubules, removed by biopsy, can be used to determine the gonad condition of wild adults or captive broodstock. Received: 28 June 1999 / Accepted: 8 March 2000     

Short-term temporal variation in population structure of two harpacticoid copepods,Zausodes arenicolus and Paradactylopodia brevicornis

Aspects of the population biology of two harpacticoid copepod species [Zausodes arenicolus Wilson and Paradactylopodia brevicornis (Claus)] living in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, were studied on time scales of hours to days during November 1983. Fluctuations in population agestructure, adult sex-ratio, and proportion of ovigerous females were determined for these two species in a control plot and in an experimental plot defaunated by raking. For both species, immigrants into the defaunated plot differed significantly from conspecifics in the control plot in all characteristics examined. The disturbed plot contained a larger proportion of young juveniles of both species compared to the unmanipulated site after 4 h but not after 8 h. In Z. arenicolus, adult males returned to the experimental plot more quickly than adult females. For both species, rapid and significant changes in population age-structure, adult sex-ratio, and the proportion of adult females with eggs occurred within the control plot. It is suggested that this variation was too large and occurred too rapidly to be accounted for solely by in situ processes in the absence of large-scale immigration and/or emigration of individuals. Potential implications of these results for population studies of harpacticoid copepods and other benthic invertebrates are discussed.     

Tidal events and salt-marsh structure influence black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) recruitment across an ecotone

Field experiments were conducted at a black mangrove-salt-marsh ecotone in southwest Florida (U.S.A.) to investigate retention of propagules of the black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, by salt-marsh plants as a mechanism of facilitation operating on recruitment success at landward boundaries. Buoyant A. germinans propagules are dispersed by tides, and stranding is required for establishment; therefore, processes that enable stranding should facilitate mangrove recruitment. We expected the physical structure of salt-marsh vegetation to define propagule retention capacity, and we predicted that salt-marsh plants with distinct growth forms would differentially retain propagules. Experimental monoculture plots (1 m2) of salt-marsh plants with different growth forms (Sporobolus virginicus [grass], Sesuvium portulacastrum [succulent forb], and Batis maritima [succulent scrub]) were created, and A. germinans propagules were emplaced into these plots and monitored over time. For comparison, propagules were also placed into natural polyculture plots (1 m2). Polyculture plots contained at least two of the salt-marsh plant taxa selected for monoculture treatments, and S. virginicus was always present within these polyculture plots. Natural polyculture plots retained 59.3% +/- 11.0% (mean +/- SE) of emplaced propagules. Monocultures varied in their propagule retention capacities with plots of S. virginicus retaining on average 65.7% +/- 11.5% of transplanted propagules compared to 7.2% +/- 1.8% by B. maritima and 5.0% +/- 1.9% by S. portulacastrum. Plots containing S. virginicus retained a significantly greater percentage of emplaced propagules relative to the two succulent salt-marsh taxa. Furthermore, propagule entrapment, across all treatments, was strongly correlated with salt-marsh structure (r2 = 0.6253, P = 0.00001), which was estimated using an indirect quantitative metric (lateral obstruction) calculated from digital images of plots. Overall, our findings imply that entrapment of propagules by salt-marsh plants may be facilitative if propagules are dispersed beyond the established tree line by spring or storm tides, and that facilitation may be sustained over time. We conclude that salt-marsh ecotone permeability may modulate landward encroachment by A. germinans, and that interactions among the early life history stages of black mangroves and neighboring plants may direct community responses to climate change.     

Logging injuries for a 10-year period in Jilin Province of the People's Republic of China

PROBLEM: Logging continues to be a major source of injuries in northeast China. This paper describes logging-related injuries in the Jilin Province of the People's Republic of China. METHODS: Logging fatalities and nonfatal injuries were summarized from 1981 to 1990 in Jilin. Injury data from 1991 for the entire forestry sector in China were also analyzed. RESULTS: Fatalities were mainly from of head injuries and were caused by being struck by an object. Nonfatal injuries were most often to the lower extremities and the head and were normally caused by being struck by an object or a fall or slip. The majority of both fatal and nonfatal logging injuries occurred to workers with less than 1 year of employment and those under 35 years old. Most injuries occurred November through March in Jilin. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Patterns of logging injury in Jilin of China were similar, but not identical, to those described in other studies of logging injuries worldwide. Methods found to be effective in reducing logging-related injuries in other parts of the world might be used in China to reduce the injuries associated with logging.