Degradation of 14C-carbofuran in soil using a continuous flow system

14C-carbofuran underwent considerable mineralization (approximately 30% of the applied activity) in Vertisol soil under moist and flooded conditions during 60 days incubation. Bound residues were formed under both the conditions, the extent being more in moist soils (approximately 55% of the applied activity) than under flooded conditions (approximately 41% of the applied activity). 3-Keto carbofuran was the only significant metabolite observed under flooded conditions.     

Immunotoxicity risks associated with land-treatment of petrochemical wastes revealed using an in situ rodent model

Land-treatment of petrochemical wastes is a widely used method to dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste by biodegradation. However, no comprehensive assessment of the impact of such disposal techniques on terrestrial ecosystems has been conducted. Despite the presence of suspected immunotoxicants in the soil, wild rodents frequently reside on these waste sites after closure or abandonment. We explored the seasonal sensitivity of the immune system of the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) to in situ exposures on sites land-treated with petrochemical wastes. Animals were monitored on five contaminated land-treatment sites and five ecologically matched-reference sites in Oklahoma, USA, over two seasons (summer and winter). Most hematological parameters were not adversely affected by land-treatment; however, platelet counts were 26% greater in cotton rats from land-treatment sites compared to reference sites in winter. Significant treatment-related differences were observed in total serum protein concentrations, organ mass and organ cellularity, but these differences were not consistent across the five land-treatment units. Lymphoproliferative responses of cotton rat splenocytes stimulated in vitro were elevated for a T-cell mitogen and depressed for a B-cell mitogen in animals from land-treatment compared to reference sites. The ability of splenocytes to proliferate in response to interleukin-2 receptor-binding was not influenced by treatment. Total yields of peritoneal cells, yield of peritoneal macrophages, and yield of peritoneal lymphocytes were influenced to varying degrees by land-treatment. Functionally, in vitro metabolic activity of peritoneal macrophages was 114% greater in cotton rats from land-treatment sites compared to reference sites during summer. These results indicate that petrochemical wastes applied to soils on these five land-treatment sites had variable immunomodulatory effects in resident cotton rats. Immune alterations for some assays were indicative of enhancement on some land-treatment sites while suppressive on other land-treatment sites, which could have been a function of type and concentration of immunotoxicants present on each site and highlights the uniqueness of each land-treatment site.     

Predicting logP of pesticides using different software

We compared experimental and calculated logP values using a data set of 235 pesticides and experimental values from four different sources: The Pesticide Manual, Hansch Manual, ANPA and KowWin databases. LogP were calculated with four softwares: HyperChem, Pallas, KowWin and TOPKAT. Crossed comparison of the experimental and calculated values proved useful, especially for pesticides. These are harder to study than simpler organic compounds. Structurally they are complex, heterogeneous and similar to drugs from a chemical point of view. They offer an interesting way to verify the goodness of the different methods. Other studies compared several logP predictors using a single set of experimental values taken as a reference. Here we discuss the utility of the different logP predictors, with reference to experimental data found in different databases. This offers three advantages: (1) it avoids bias due to the assumption that one single data set is correct; (2) a given predictor can be developed on the same data set used for evaluation; (3) it takes account of experimental variability and can compare it with the predictor's variability. In our study Pallas and KowWin gave the best results for prediction, followed by TOPKAT.     

Particulate and dissolved elemental loads in the Kuji River related to discharge rate

In order to investigate influences of discharge rates on fluvial transport behavior of elements in the Kuji River, Japan, suspended and dissolved phase concentrations in the river water were measured together with the water flow rates. The concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) increased by two or three orders of magnitude with the water discharge, and also had seasonal variations. Adsorptive elements or heavy metal elements, which tend to form insoluble compounds, were present generally as suspended forms in the river waters, and their dissolved form concentrations tended to increase with the water discharge. On the other hand, non-adsorptive elements such as alkali and alkaline-earth elements were present as dissolved forms under a normal flow rate condition, but equivalent quantity of suspended species also occurred under a high flow condition. In this case, the dissolved form concentrations decreased with the water discharge. Characterization of SPM with analyses of chemical compositions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) indicated that clay mineral such as montmorillonite would be the main carrier material of trace and major elements during the fluvial transport in the Kuji River. Variations of contents of selected elements in SPM with the water discharge indicated that river bottom sediments, which are probably potential sources of SPM added due to high water flow rates, would be different in chemical compositions from SPM floating under a normal flow condition. Variations of chemical compositions of SPM as well as of suspended or dissolved form concentrations of elements in the river waters were formulated as a function of the water discharge rates.     

Anthropogenic radionuclides in the Japan Sea: their distributions and transport processes

The anthropogenic radionuclides, (90)Sr, (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu, were measured in the water column of the Japan Sea/East Sea during 1997-2000. The vertical profiles of radionuclide concentrations showed: exponential decrease with depth for (90)Sr and (137)Cs, and surface minimum/subsurface maximum for (239+240)Pu. These results do not differ substantially from results reported previously. The area-averaged concentrations of radionuclides in the Japan Sea are higher than those found in the Northwest Pacific Ocean below surface layer showing the accumulation of the radionuclides in the deep waters in the Japan Sea. Concerning spatial distributions, the area of high (137)Cs inventory extends from the Japan Basin into the Yamato Basin. It is suggested that wintertime convection of water, occurring mainly in the Japan Basin, causes the radionuclides to sink. The nuclides then advect into the Yamato Basin after detouring around the Yamato Rise.     

226Ra, 40K and 7Be activity concentrations in plants in the environment of Kaiga,India

Leaves, stem and bark samples from several plant species were collected from tropical forest of Kaiga, in the west coast of India where two nuclear power reactors of 220 MW each have just been commissioned and another two are under construction, and analysed for their (226)Ra, (40)K and (7)Be concentrations. The activities of (226)Ra and (40)K in plants were found to vary in the range BDL-13.2 and 12.0-797.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Plants show significant (7)Be activity in leaves, the activity varies in 72.5-1,060.8 Bq kg(-1). Stem and bark of plants show higher levels of (226)Ra and (40)K when compared to leaves. Soil-to-plant transfer factor for (226)Ra and (40)K were found to vary in the range BDL-0.37 and 0.09-5.61, respectively for different plants. The concentration of (226)Ra and (40)K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves.     

A model testing study for the transfer of radioactivity to fruit

This paper compares predictions of the foodchain model SPADE with experimental data for the transfer of (134)Cs and (85)Sr to strawberry plants following acute foliar and soil contamination. The transfer pathways considered in this exercise included direct deposition to fruit, leaf-to-fruit, soil-to-leaf and soil-to-fruit transfers. Following foliar contamination, the difference between predicted and measured radionuclide activity values varied between a factor of 0.5-10 for fruit and 4.5-7 for leaf. Following soil contamination, the difference between predicted and measured values varied between a factor of 3-74 for fruit and 32-44 for leaf. In all cases the difference between measured and predicted values was smaller for (85)Sr than (134)Cs. Measured and predicted activities were higher for leaf than fruit. Both measured and predicted (134)Cs concentrations in fruit and leaf are higher when deposition occurs at ripening than at anthesis. These results confirm the need for more data on fruit, even for Cs and Sr, to support models in predicting the transfer of radionuclides to fruit crops. Ongoing research projects funded by the UK Food Standards Agency aim to provide some data on radionuclide transfer to herbaceous, shrub and tree fruits, which will help improve radiological assessment models in order to provide better protection for consumers.     

Use of HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to assess the isotopic compositiion of uranium in soils

Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine uranium activity and investigate the presence of depleted uranium in soil samples collected from camping sites of the Greek expeditionary force in Kosovo. Assessment of 238U concentrations was based on measurements of the 63.3 keV and 92.38 keV emissions of its first daughter nuclide, 234Th. To determine the isotopic ratio of 238U/235U, secular equilibrium along the two radioactive series was first ensured and thereby the contribution of 235U under the 186 keV peak was deduced. The uranium activity in the samples varied from 48 to 112 Bq kg(-1), whereas the activity ratio of 238U/235U averaged 23.1+/-4.3.     

Risk assessment and pathway study of arsenic in industrially contaminated sites of Hyderabad: a case study

Different areas in the industrial region of Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (A.P), India are contaminated with high concentration of arsenic, which is attributed to industrial source like veterinary chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticide industries, etc. Fourteen villages of this area of Patancheru were assessed for arsenic contamination by collecting samples of water (surface and ground), soil, fodder, milk, and vegetables. The total arsenic content in the whole blood, urine, hair, and nails of the residents showing arsenical skin lesions and other clinical manifestations were also studied. To understand the bioavailability of arsenic in this environment and its possible entry into human food chain, speciation studies of arsenic was carried out and the results are presented in this paper.     

Monitoring and modelling of indoor radon concentrations in a multi-storey building at Mumbai,India

Radon (Rn(222)) levels in an indoor atmosphere of a multi-storey building at Mumbai have been measured for one year covering all the four seasons. Monitoring was carried out using the time-integrated passive detector technique, using Kodak-115 type Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) films of 2.5x2.5 cm size. Measured indoor radon levels showed a decreasing trend with height with concentration ranging from 41 Bq m(-3) at ground floor level to 15 Bq m(-3) at 19th floor level. Using the dose conversion factors, the inhalation dose due to breathing of radon gas is estimated to be 1.03 mSv y(-1) at the ground floor to 0.38 mSv y(-1) at the 19th floor level. Measured indoor radon concentrations on each floor were compared with the computed values using a mathematical model. The agreement between measured values and calculated values of indoor concentrations at different floors was very good within the limitations of various field parameter values.