Persistent Organochlorine Residues in Livers of Six Species of Ciconiiformes (Aves) from Spain

Liver samples of 42 birds belonging to 6 species of Ciconiiformes (grey heron (n = 17), little egret (n = 12), cattle egret (n = 1), glossy ibis (n = 1), little bittern (n = 1), and white stork (n = 10)), collected from two different zones of Spain (Ebro Delta and Madrid) in 1992–1997, were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides and PCBs. ΣPCBs (sum of concentrations of individual congeners), p,p′-DDE, HCB, γ-HCH, and heptachlor epoxide were the most prevalent residues detected in all samples (occurrence > 95%). There were no statistically significant differences in organochlorine levels between grey herons and little egrets, while levels of ΣPCBs, p,p′-DDE, HCB, γ-HCH, and heptachlor were significantly lower for white storks. These results could be explained by the different habitat of these species, aquatic in the Ebro Delta (grey herons, little egrets) and dry in Madrid (white stork), and their diverse feeding habits.     

Assessing the effects of heavy metal contamination on the proteome of the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum cross-transplanted between different areas

Protein expression was assessed in samples of Pseudoscleropodium purum cross-transplanted between one unpolluted (UNP) and two polluted (POLL) sites. Firstly, the level of expression (LE) of 17 proteins differed between native mosses from both types of sites, but differences were only maintained throughout the experiment for 5 of them. The LE of these five proteins changed over time in mosses transplanted from UNP to POLL and vice versa, becoming similar to that in autotransplants. However, these changes occurred slower than changes in the heavy metal concentrations measured in the same samples, and therefore they were not related to atmospheric pollution. Although the proteins identified were associated with moss metabolism, the expected growth reduction in samples autotransplanted within POLL (as a result of the down-regulation of photosynthesis-related proteins), did not occur. This supports the hypothesis that mosses growing in polluted areas adapt to heavy metal pollution and are able to reduce/overcome their toxic effects (i.e., reduced growth). Nevertheless, further specific research must be carried out to identify the proteins involved in this type of response, as lack of information on the bryophyte genome precludes us from reaching further conclusions.     

Human exposure to heavy metals and possible public health risks via consumption of wild edible mushrooms from Slovak Paradise National Park,Slovakia

The contamination level of 92 samples (12 species) of wild edible mushrooms and underlying substrates with heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in the Slovak Paradise National Park that borders with a region of historical mining and processing of polymetallic ores, were determined. The collected samples were analyzed using of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metals were determined separately in hymenophore (H) and rest of fruit bodies (RFB). Bioaccumulation factor as well as ratio of metal content in H and RFB were calculated. Cadmium and lead contents in hymenophore exceeded statutory limits of the EU (Cd: 0.5 mg/kg dry weight (dw), Pb: 1.0 mg/kg dw) for edible mushrooms in 96% and 83% of the samples, respectively. The risk from the consumption of the collected mushroom species was calculated based on the provisionally tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values, and the highest health risk arising with consumption of particularly Macrolepiota procera, Marasmius oreades and Russula vesca from the observed area was demonstrated. It was shown that average weekly consumption of tested mushrooms species results the threat of exceeding of PTWI limits in the case of cadmium values (by 164%, 86% and 4% of PTWI for M. oreades, R. vesca and R. puellaris, respectively) and of mercury (by 96% of PTWI for M. procera) but not lead.     

Arsenic, chromium and mercury removal using mussel shell ash or a sludge/ashes waste mixture

Different batches of valued mussel shell and waste mussel shell ash are characterised. Shell ash has pH?>?12 and high electrical conductivities (between 16.01 and 27.27 dS?m^?1), while calcined shell shows pH values up to 10.7 and electrical conductivities between 1.19 and 3.55 dS?m^?1. X-ray fluorescence, nitric acid digestion and water extractions show higher concentrations in shell ash for most parameters. Calcite is the dominant crystalline compound in this ash (95.6 %), followed by aragonite. Adsorption/desorption trials were performed for mussel shell ash and for a waste mixture including shell ash, sewage sludge and wood ash, showing the following percentage adsorptions: Hg(II) >94 %, As(V) >96 % and Cr(VI) between 11 and 30 % for shell ash; Hg(II) >98 %, As(V) >88 % and Cr(VI) between 30 and 88 % for the waste mixture. Hg and As desorption was <5 % for both shell ash and the waste mixture, while Cr desorption was between 92 and 45 % for shell ash, and between 19 and 0 % for the mixture. In view of that, mussel shell ash and the mixture including shell ash, sewage sludge and wood ash could be useful for Hg(II) and As(V) removal.     

Nature of the field-to-field distribution of pesticide residues

The supervised trial datasets (1950), consisting of a minimum of five residue values and selected by the experts of FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues for recommending maximum residue levels between 1997 and 2011, were evaluated to obtain information on the typical spread of residue values in individual datasets. The typical relative standard deviation, CV, of field-to-field variation of pesticide residues was about 80%. The spread of residues in datasets is independent from the chemical structure of pesticides, residue level, pre-harvest interval and number of values in the datasets. The CV ranges within the Codex commodity groups and between groups overlapped and their difference were not statistically significant. The number of residues below the limit of quantification (LOQ) affects the CV at various extents depending on the ratio of LOQ/R _mean. The combined uncertainty of the highest residue in a dataset significantly affects the CV of the dataset. The lowest and intermediate ones have less influence. The residues in different fields receiving the same treatment vary within large range: 55%, 72%, 78%, 86% and 89% of the 25,766 residues values were, respectively, within 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 times the median value of the corresponding dataset.     

As(V) retention on soils and forest by-products and other waste materials

As(V) retention capacity is determined by means of adsorption/desorption trials performed for coarse and fine ground mussel shell, forest and vineyard soils with or without fine shell, pine wood ash, oak wood ash, pine sawdust and slate-processing fines. Pine ash shows the highest arsenic retention potential (with >97 % adsorption and ≤1 % desorption), followed by shell-amended forest soil (adsorption between 96 and 92 %), by un-amended forest soil (adsorption between 98 and 86 %) and by the amended vineyard soil (adsorption between 92 and 75 %). Sawdust is the material with the lowest arsenic retention capacity in most cases, with un-amended vineyard soil also showing poor results. In the case of oak ash, As(V) percentage adsorption becomes higher with increasing added arsenic concentrations, while this increase in added arsenic causes lower percentage adsorption in the case of slate fines. Regarding adsorption ability, As(V) adsorption data were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir models, showing good fitting, with pine ash and shell-amended forest soil having the highest K _F values. In view of that, mussel shell amendment would be useful to increase arsenic retention on forest and vineyard soils, while pine ash could be used to retain arsenic even from wastewaters.     

Simulation of the influence of industrial wastewater on a municipal sewage treatment plant—a case study

Purpose  

Industrial wastewater flow caused operational difficulties in the wastewater treatment plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Bioaugmentation was successfully applied to maintain effluent quality in the periods when wastewater of high starch content was accepted, but, at the end of 2008, the nitrification capacity of the plant decreased considerably due to improperly pre-treated pharmaceutical wastewater.     

Heavy metal concentrations in particle size fractions from street dust of Murcia (Spain) as the basis for risk assessment

Street dust has been sampled from six different types of land use of the city of Murcia (Spain). The samples were fractionated into eleven particle size fractions (<2, 2-10, 10-20, 20-50, 50-75, 75-106, 106-150, 150-180, 180-425, 425-850 μm and 850-2000 μm) and analyzed for Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd. The concentrations of these four potentially toxic metals were assessed, as well as the effect of particle size on their distribution. A severe enrichment of all metals was observed for all land-uses (industrial, suburban, urban and highways), with the concentration of all metals affected by the type of land-use. Coarse and fine particles in all cases showed concentrations of metals higher than those found in undisturbed areas. However, the results indicated a preferential partitioning of metals in fine particle size fractions in all cases, following a logarithmic distribution. The accumulation in the fine fractions was higher when the metals had an anthropogenic origin. The strong overrepresentation of metals in particles <10 μm indicates that if the finest fractions are removed by a vacuum-assisted dry sweeper or a regenerative-air sweeper the risk of metal dispersion and its consequent risk for humans will be highly reduced. Therefore, we recommend that risk assessment programs include monitoring of metal concentrations in dust where each land-use is separately evaluated. The finest particle fractions should be examined explicitly in order to apply the most efficient measures for reducing the risk of inhalation and ingestion of dust for humans and risk for the environment.     

Preen gland removal increases plumage bacterial load but not that of feather-degrading bacteria

The preen gland is a holocrine sebaceous gland of the avian integument which produces an oily secretion that is spread on the plumage during preening. It has been suggested that birds may defend themselves against feather-degrading bacteria (FDB) and other potential pathogens using preen gland secretions. However, besides some in vitro studies, the in vivo bacterial inhibitory effects of the preen oil on the abundance of feather-associated bacterial species has not yet been studied in passerines. Here we tested the effect of gland removal on the abundance of FDB and other-cultivable bacterial loads (OCB) of male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Our results did not support earlier results on in vitro antibacterial activity of preen oil against FDB since the absence of the preen gland did not significantly affect their loads related to the control birds. In contrast, we found that preen gland removal led to higher loads of OCB. This result suggests that the antimicrobial spectrum of the preen oil is broader than previously thought and that, by reducing the overall feather bacterial loads, the preen gland could help birds to protect themselves against a variety of potentially harmful bacteria.