Heavy metal (As,Cd, Hg,Pb, Cu,Zn, Se) concentrations in muscle and bone of four commercial fish caught in the central Adriatic Sea,Italy

Heavy metal (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg and Se) concentrations in the muscle and bone of four fish species (Mullus barbatus, Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, and Scomber scombrus) from the central Adriatic Sea were measured and the relationships between fish size (length and weight) and metal concentrations in the tissues were investigated. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry with automatic dual viewing. In the muscle, results of linear regression analysis showed that, except for mercury, significant relationships between metal concentrations and fish size were negative. Only mercury levels were positively correlated with Atlantic mackerel size (p?<?0.05). No significant variations of heavy metal concentrations were observed in muscles of the examined species, but a significant difference (p?<?0.01) was found for As, Cd, Pb, and Se concentrations in bone. All the investigated metals showed higher values in the muscle than in bone, except for lead and zinc. Regarding cadmium, lead, and mercury maximum levels, set for the edible portion by European legislation, several samples exceeded these values, confirming the heavy metal presence in species caught near the Jabuka Pit.     

Long-term variability of metals from fungicides applied in amended young vineyard fields of La Rioja (Spain)

The long-term variability of total Cu content from fungicides applied in a certified wine region of Spain (La Rioja) and of other metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated in three young vineyard soils and subsoils unamended and amended with spent mushroom substrates (SMS) over a 3-year period (2006–2008). SMS is a promising agricultural residue as an amendment to increase the soil organic matter content but may modify the behaviour of metals from pesticide utilisation in vineyards. Fresh and composted SMS was applied each year at a rate of 25 t ha⁻¹ (dry-weight). Copper concentrations in the three unamended soils were 21.2–88.5, 25.5–77.1, and 29.4–78.4 mg kg⁻¹. They exceeded natural Cu concentrations of the region and reference sub-lethal hazardous concentration for soil organism. The concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn were largely below the sub-lethal limits. Thus, although Cu levels were lower than those of established vineyards, vine performance, and productivity might be affected. The variation in behaviour between different amendments for each soil was high, so a generic conclusion could not be drawn. The amendment practice seemed to have caused temporarily Cu mobilization respect to untreated soils. Total zinc concentrations fall within the range of the natural soil of La Rioja and were significantly affected (p < 0.05) especially by fresh state SMS addition, with increasing up to 75% respect to untreated specimen. The results indicated a build-up of fresh sites for metal retention at both surface and subsurface level, although no accumulation of metals was observed in the short-term period. However, the benefit for soils and the negative effects need to be monitored in the long run.     

Identifying fecal pollution sources using 3M™ Petrifilm™ count plates and antibiotic resistance analysis in the Horse Creek Watershed in Aiken County,SC (USA)

Sources of fecal coliform pollution in a small South Carolina (USA) watershed were identified using inexpensive methods and commonly available equipment. Samples from the upper reaches of the watershed were analyzed with 3M^? Petrifilm^? count plates. We were able to narrow down the study’s focus to one particular tributary, Sand River, that was the major contributor of the coliform pollution (both fecal and total) to a downstream reservoir that is heavily used for recreation purposes. Concentrations of total coliforms ranged from 2,400 to 120,333 cfu/100 mL, with sharp increases in coliform counts observed in samples taken after rain events. Positive correlations between turbidity and fecal coliform counts suggested a relationship between fecal pollution and stormwater runoff. Antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) compared antibiotic resistance profiles of fecal coliform isolates from the stream to those of a watershed-specific fecal source library (equine, waterfowl, canines, and untreated sewage). Known fecal source isolates and unknown isolates from the stream were exposed to six antibiotics at three concentrations each. Discriminant analysis grouped known isolates with an overall average rate of correct classification (ARCC) of 84.3 %. A total of 401 isolates from the first stream location were classified as equine (45.9 %), sewage (39.4 %), waterfowl (6.2 %), and feline (8.5 %). A similar pattern was observed at the second sampling location, with 42.6 % equine, 45.2 % sewage, 2.8 % waterfowl, 0.6 % canine, and 8.8 % feline. While there were slight weather-dependent differences, the vast majority of the coliform pollution in this stream appeared to be from two sources, equine and sewage. This information will contribute to better land use decisions and further justify implementation of low-impact development practices within this urban watershed.     

Understanding multiple ecological responses to anthropogenic disturbance: rivers and potential flow regime change

Human-induced alteration of the natural flow regime is a major threat to freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity. The effects of hydrological alteration on the structural and functional attributes of riverine communities are expected to be multiple and complex, and they may not be described easily by a single model. Based on existing knowledge of key hydrological and ecological attributes, we explored potential effects of a flow-regulation scenario on macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and diversity in two river systems in Australia's relatively undeveloped wet-dry tropics. We used a single Bayesian belief network (BBN) to model potential changes in multiple assemblage attributes within each river type during dry and wet seasons given two flow scenarios: the current, near-natural flow condition, and flow regulation. We then used multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination to visually summarize and compare the most probable attributes of assemblages and their environment under the different scenarios. The flow-regulation scenario provided less certainty in the ecological responses of one river type during the dry season, which reduced the ability to make predictions from the BBN outputs directly. However, visualizing the BBN results in an ordination highlighted similarities and differences between the scenarios that may have been otherwise difficult to ascertain. In particular, the MDS showed that flow regulation would reduce the seasonal differentiation in hydrology and assemblage characteristics that is expected under the current low level of development. Our approach may have wider application in understanding ecosystem responses to different river management practices and should be transferred easily to other ecosystems or biotic assemblages to provide researchers, managers, and decision makers an enhanced understanding of ecological responses to potential anthropogenic disturbance.     

瓦里关气相色谱法大气CO_2和CH_4在线观测数据处理分析

加强我国本底站温室气体数据资源的科学管理与共享,首先应保证观测全流程的标准化和规范化,确立数据处理和质量控制方法.我国青海瓦里关全球本底站自1994年开始了气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器法(GC-FID)大气CO2和CH4在线观测,本文详细讨论了该系统原始资料采集、数据信息合并、时间序列检查、观测员级质量控制和专家级质量控制等流程.利用局部近似回归法对大气CO2和CH4数据进行本底值筛分,获得CO2本底数据百分比约占有效数据的72%、CH4占44%.在线观测的CO2和CH4月平均浓度与同期瓶采样分析结果基本一致,相对偏差均在±0.5%以内.经流程化处理和质控的瓦里关大气CO2和CH4本底浓度变化资料已进入全球同化数据库(Globalview-CO2、Globalview-CH4),报送世界温室气体数据中心(WDCGG)并应用于世界气象组织(WMO)温室气体公报和联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)评估.     

Human influence over 150 years of coastal evolution in the Volturno delta system (southern Italy)

This paper focused on the past shoreline change rates along the coastal plain of the Volturno River, in southern Italy, western Mediterranean. A wide database comprising historical maps, aerial photographs, topographic sheets, bathymetric data was used to extract the spatial and temporal information of the coastlines at seven time points. Coastline displacement was calculated for two successive time points and relative surface variation (accretion and erosion) was estimated as well as minimum and maximum accretion/erosion linear values and rates. The surface variation analysis has revealed that the studied coast can be considered homogeneous since the 1970s, whereas it exhibits a variety of shoreline evolutionary trends after that time period. Timing and causes of trends and rates of variation were detected. Based on the estimated shoreline change rates, an appropriate morhodynamic one-line model was applied to predict evolutionary scenarios also in presence of port and defence works. The results obtained strongly emphasize that a successful coastal management requires a constant monitoring of the human-induced changes to account for the variability of rates over time.     

A design for EoL approach and metrics to favour closed-loop scenarios for products

Recently, environmentally conscious design and extended producer responsibility have become key aspects for companies that need to develop products that are sustainable along their whole life cycle. Design for End of Life (EoL) is a strategy that aims to reduce landfill waste through the implementation of closed-loop product life cycles. It is important to consider disassembly and EoL scenario management as early as the design phase. For these reasons, this paper presents an approach to help designers in the evaluation and subsequent improvement in product EoL performance. The method is based on four innovative EoL indices that compare different EoL scenarios for each product component. In this way, the designer can modify the product structure or the liaisons to maximise the reuse and remanufacture of components as well as material recycling. The presented case studies confirm the validity of the approach in helping designers during the redesign phase of goods and products to reduce the quantity of materials and industrial wastes sent to landfill.     

Government to Citizens (G2C) communication and use of social media in the post-disaster reconstruction phase

Post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) poses specific and complex challenges that government agencies have to deal with. Existing crisis management and communication models as well as literature on social media adoption by public organisations tend to focus on the critical stage, neglecting the issues that arise when the social, physical and cultural environments affected by a disaster have to be rebuilt. Conversely, this paper presents some preliminary findings on the Government to Citizen (G2C) communications and social media usage in PDR settings. The PDR process that followed the earthquakes in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy) in 2012 was used as a case study. Data derived from field notes and multiple-choice questionnaires revealed that government agencies provided information mainly about housing and infrastructure and financing and that they addressed this information to all citizens, although information was sometimes targeted specifically to business people, homeowners and members of community-based groups. Government officers gave preference to face-to-face contacts, Web portals and printed material. Social media were used predominantly as additional means of communication of PDR-related information, thus underrating their potential for community engagement and G2C bidirectional communication. In the discussions, findings are integrated into and validated against literature and communication theories.     

Bench‐ and pilot‐scale applications of electrochemical peroxidation: A new remedial concept

Electrochemical peroxidation (ECP) is a proprietary process that utilizes sacrificial iron electrodes and stochiometrically balanced applications of hydrogen peroxide to efficiently destroy aqueous phase contaminants. In laboratory trials it has been successful in reducing, often to non‐detectable levels, BTEX, fuel additives, chlorinated solvents, and polychlorinated biphenyls in ground waters. The process has also been found effective in reducing the chemical and biological oxygen demand of industrial waste water. Agency‐approved pilot tests will be conducted at two gasoline spill sites during 2000 where traditional pump and treat methods have proven ineffectual because of ground water chemistry or subsurface hydrologic conditions. The ECP process utilizes a tripartite treatment strategy consisting of 1) ex situ chemical oxidation; 2) in situ oxidation by reinjection of treated water with residual oxidants at the head of the plume; and 3) reestablishment of aerobic biodegradation by alteration of subsurface redox conditions. In contrast to other in situ oxidation treatment methods, dissolved iron is derived electrochemically, negating the need for ferrous salt addition. Dilute hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) is incrementally added to maximize oxidation efficiency and eliminate safety and environmental concerns accompanying the use of highly concentrated solutions. Results of laboratory trials and the geological and geochemical considerations of upcoming pilot‐scale applications are presented. Other potential applications currently under investigation include combination with other remedial processes (e.g. permeable barriers and hydrogen release compounds) to insure complete and rapid contaminant mineralization.     

Using optical remote sensing techniques to track the development of ozone-induced stress

In this paper, a literature review about optical remote sensing (RS) of O₃ stress is presented. Studies on O₃-induced effects on vegetation reflectance have been conducted since late ‘70s based on the analysis of optical RS data. Literature review reveals that traditional RS techniques were able to detect changes in leaf and canopy reflectance related to O₃-induced stress when visible symptoms already occurred. Only recently, advanced RS techniques using hyperspectral sensors, demonstrated the feasibility of detecting the stress in its early phase by monitoring excess energy dissipation pathways such as chlorophyll fluorescence and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Steady-state fluorescence (Fs), measured by exploiting the Fraunhofer line depth principle and NPQ related xanthophyll-cycle, estimated through the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) responded to O₃ fumigation before visible symptoms occurred. This opens up new possibilities for the early detection of vegetation O₃ stress by means of hyperspectral RS.