Long-term disruption of growth,reproduction, and behavior after embryonic exposure of zebrafish to PAH-spiked sediment

A natural sediment spiked with three individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; pyrene, phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene) was used to expose zebrafish embryos and larvae during 4 days. The total PAH concentration was 4.4 μg g^?1 which is in the range found in sediment from contaminated areas. Quantification of metabolites in the larvae after exposure confirmed the actual contamination of the larvae and indicated an active metabolism especially for pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. After a transfer in a clean medium, the larvae were reared to adulthood and evaluated for survival, growth, reproduction, and behavior. Measured endpoints revealed a late disruption of growth (appearing at 5 months) and a trend toward a lower reproductive ability. Adults of embryos exposed to sediment spiked with PAHs displayed lethargic and/or anxiety-like behaviors. This latter behavior was also identified in offspring at larval stage. All together, these effects could have detrimental consequences on fish performances and contribution to recruitment.     

Chronic dietary exposure to pyrolytic and petrogenic mixtures of PAHs causes physiological disruption in zebrafish - part I: Survival and growth

The release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment has increased very substantially over the last decades leading to high concentrations in sediments of contaminated areas. To evaluate the consequences of long-term chronic exposure to PAHs, zebrafish were exposed, from their first meal at 5 days post fertilisation until they became reproducing adults, to diets spiked with three PAH fractions at three environmentally relevant concentrations with the medium concentration being in the range of 4.6–6.7 μg g^?1 for total quantified PAHs including the 16 US-EPA indicator PAHs and alkylated derivatives. The fractions used were representative of PAHs of pyrolytic (PY) origin or of two different oils of differing compositions, a heavy fuel (HO) and a light crude oil (LO). Fish growth was inhibited by all PAH fractions and the effects were sex specific: as determined with 9-month-old adults, exposure to the highest PY inhibited growth of females; exposure to the highest HO and LO inhibited growth of males; also, the highest HO dramatically reduced survival. Morphological analysis indicated a disruption of jaw growth in larvae and malformations in adults. Intestinal and pancreatic enzyme activities were abnormal in 2-month-old exposed fish. These effects may contribute to poor growth. Finally, our results indicate that PAH mixtures of different compositions, representative of situations encountered in the wild, can promote lethal and sublethal effects which are likely to be detrimental for fish recruitment.     

Chromium (VI) remediation in aqueous solution by waste products (peel and seed) of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars

The surface group characteristics of mango cultivar peels and seeds were evaluated by infrared spectra, PZC, and functional group composition. The adsorption/reduction of chromium (VI) in aqueous solutions was investigated by varying pH, contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and adsorbent amount. The results show that both peel and seed powders of the mango cultivars showed significant adsorption/reduction capacity for Cr(VI) and that the desorption process obeys pseudo-second-order kinetics. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 1.0, using a Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L. On average, at pH 1.0, and a concentration of 3 g/L, the maximum adsorption/reduction capacity of Cr(VI) was 83% (peels 76%, seeds 90%). Of the mango powders tested, the most efficient were Tommy seed (100%) and Coite peel (98%) followed by Coite seed (96%) and Tommy peel powders (95%). The adsorption/reduction of Cr(VI) was complete (100%) by the mango seed, in comparison to the peel powders (97%) after 180 min. The data indicates that mango waste products, such as seed and peel powders, are both excellent candidates for the remediation of Cr(VI) from aqueous systems and due to the higher concentration of gallates and galloyl glucosides, the mango seed powders should be the powders of choice for future remediation projects.

     

Direct and indirect impact of sewage sludge compost spreading on Quercus coccifera monoterpene emissions in a Mediterranean shrubland

Monoterpene emissions of Quercus coccifera L. were repeatedly measured during the two years following the spreading of a sewage sludge compost at rates of 50 Mg ha⁻¹ and 100 Mg ha⁻¹, in a twelve-year-old post-fire Mediterranean shrubland. We also monitored the patterns of change in soil and leaf nutrient content, plant water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence, and plant growth. Compost spreading resulted in weak changes in leaf nutrient content and plant water status, and therefore no significant effect on monoterpene emissions at leaf scale, except during one summer sampling, probably related to advanced leaf maturity with the highest compost rate. However, compost increased plant growth, particularly the leaf biomass. The results suggest that compost spreading in Mediterranean shrublands has no strong short-term effect on Q. coccifera monoterpene emissions at leaf level, but may indirectly increase volatile organic compound fluxes at the stand scale, which may contribute to regional ozone pollution.     

Assessing the Impacts of Establishing MPAs on Fishermen and Fish Merchants: The Case of Lyme Bay,UK

Shortly after the implementation of a marine protected area (MPA) in Lyme Bay in 2008, inside which scallop dredging and bottom trawling is prohibited, a socio-economic impact assessment was initiated. This article presents the initial findings from this study. The aim was to understand the costs and benefits to fishermen and fish merchants of establishing the MPA. These were assessed using a combination of primary and secondary data. The results indicate that the impacts of the closure differ according to the gear type and the fishing location used by the fishermen. Static gear fishermen who fish inside the closed area have seen changes in terms of increased fishing effort, mostly because they have been able to increase the number of crab and whelk pots they deploy. The effects of the closure on static gear fishermen who fish outside the closed area has been reported in terms of increased conflicts with towed gear fishermen who now fish regularly in their traditional grounds. Fishermen using towed gear on the other hand have been impacted through displacement effects as they have been forced to look for other fishing grounds outside the closed area. Most fish merchants and processors initially claimed that they were heavily impacted by the closure but when they were interviewed 1 year after the closure they suggested a more stable picture. Preliminary analyses of landings data indicate that the introduction of the MPA has so far had minimal impacts on the average incomes and financial profits of fishermen and fish merchants. This conclusion, however, reflects a short-term view as the impacts of the closure of Lyme Bay are likely to be felt for a long time to come.     

Mainstreaming climate adaptation: taking stock about “what works” from empirical research worldwide

Adaptation to a changing climate is unavoidable. Mainstreaming climate adaptation objectives into existing policies, as opposed to developing dedicated adaptation policy, is widely advocated for public action. However, knowledge on what makes mainstreaming effective is scarce and fragmented. Against this background, this paper takes stock of peer-reviewed empirical analyses of climate adaptation mainstreaming, in order to assess current achievements and identify the critical factors that render mainstreaming effective. The results show that although in most cases adaptation policy outputs are identified, only in a minority of cases this translates into policy outcomes. This “implementation gap” is most strongly seen in developing countries. However, when it comes to the effectiveness of outcomes, we found no difference across countries. We conclude that more explicit definitions and unified frameworks for adaptation mainstreaming research are required to allow for future research syntheses and well-informed policy recommendations.

     

Recycling of wastes from fish beneficiation by composting: chemical characteristics of the compost and efficiency of their humic acids in stimulating the growth of lettuce

Waste from the beneficiation of fish was composted with crushed grass aiming to characterize their chemical composition and investigate the possibility of the use of the final compost as source of humic acids (HA) able to stimulate the growth of lettuce. Compost presented pH value, C/N ratio, and electrical conductivity that allow its use as an organic fertilizer. The element content was present in the following order of abundance in the compost: P?>?Ca?>?N?>?Mg?>?K?>?Fe?>?Zn?>?Mn?>?Mo?>?Cu, and the humus composition was similar to that observed in others kind of organic residues composted. The high content of oxygen pointed out a high level of oxidation of HA, in line with the predominance of phenolic acidity in the functional groups. The ¹³C-NMR spectra showed marked resonances due to the presence of lipids and other materials resistant to degradation as methoxy substituent and N-alkyl groups. A concentration of 20 mg L^?1 HA increased significantly both dry and wet root matter in lettuce but the CO₂ assimilation, stomatal conductance, and number of lateral roots of the plants were not affected. However, increases of 64% in the water-use efficiency was observed due to the HA addition, probably related to the root morphology alteration which resulted in 1.6-fold increase of lateral root average length and due to the higher H⁺ extrusion activity. Reuse of residues from the fish beneficiation activity by composting may represent a safe tool to increase the value of recycled organic residues and generate HA with potential use as plant growth stimulants.     

Navigating Institutional Challenges: Design to Enable Community Participation in Social Learning for Freshwater Planning

Social learning is a process suited to developing understanding and concerted action to tackle complex resource dilemmas, such as freshwater management. Research has begun to recognise that in practice social learning encounters a variety of institutional challenges from the shared habits and routines of stakeholders (organised by rules, norms and strategies) that are embedded in organisational structures and norms of professional behaviour. These institutional habits and routines influence the degree of willingness to engage with stakeholders, and expectations of behaviours in social learning processes. Considering this, there has been a call to understand how institutions influence social learning and emergent outcomes. We addresses this by presenting a heuristic for implementing social learning cognisant of institutional context to answer three questions: (i) How institutional influences impact implementation of social learning design; (ii) how implementation of social learning design modifies institutions influencing social learning; and (iii) how these changes in design and institutions together shape social learning outcomes? To answer these questions a freshwater planning exercise was designed, implemented and evaluated as a social learning process with community groups in two New Zealand catchments. Incorporating participatory reflection enabled the project team to modify social learning design to manage institutional influences hindering progress toward outcomes. Findings emphasise that social learning is underpinned by participants’ changing assumptions about what constitutes the institution of learning itself—from instruction to a dynamic, collective and emergent process. Reflecting on these assumptions also challenged participants’ expectations about their own and others’ behaviours and roles in freshwater planning.     

Identification and quantification of new polybrominated dimethoxybiphenyls (PBDMBs) in marine mammals from Australia

Marine mammals from Queensland, Australia, are bioaccumulating elevated concentrations of a range of polybrominated natural products. In this study, we detected three new polybrominated dimethoxybiphenyls (PBDMBs) in the blubber of selected marine mammal samples which were identified as 2,6'-dimethoxy-3,3',5-tribromobiphenyl (2,6'-diMeO-BB 36), 2,2'-dimethoxy-3,3'-dibromobiphenyl (2,2'-diMeO-BB 36), and 6,6'-dimethoxy-3,3'-dibromobiphenyl (6,6'-diMeO-BB 11). These three PBDMBs are structurally related to the known natural product 2,2'-dimethoxy-3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobiphenyl (2,2'-diMeO-BB 80). In the first part of this study, 2,2'-diMeO-BB 80 was photochemically debrominated under UV irradiation. This resulted in seven of eight possible mono- to triBDMBs as debromination products. In the second part of this study, the structure of all PBDMBs debromination products was investigated. This was supported by synthesis of two diBDMB and one triBDMB via bromination and subsequent methylation of 2,2'-biphenyldiol. Structures of the remaining PBDMBs were tentatively assigned by considering the retention times, mass spectra and amounts formed during UV irradiation of 2,2'-diMeO-BB 80 . In the third part of this study, blubber of marine mammals from Australia was analysed for PBDMBs using gas chromatography in combination with electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode. In these samples, 2,2'-diMeO-BB 80 was found at concentrations of 200-1800ngg(-1) lipid weight (lw). The latter represents the highest concentration reported for this compound in environmental samples. 6,6'-diMeO BB 11, 2,2'-diMeO BB 36, and 2,6'-diMeO BB 36 were present at approximately 7ngg(-1) lipids, or 0.43-1.5% of diMeO-BB 80. No further PBDMBs were detected in the samples. The di- and triBDMBs identified in marine mammal blubber have not been reported as natural products. They may represent either new natural products or transformation products of 2,2'-diMeO-BB 80.     

The impact of environmental, vehicle and driver characteristics on injury severity in older drivers hospitalized as a result of a traffic crash

INTRODUCTION: Compared to younger age groups, older people are more likely to be seriously injured or to die as a result of a traffic crash. METHOD: The aim of the study is to examine the impact of environmental, vehicle, crash, and driver characteristics on injury severity in older drivers involved in traffic crashes by using recently linked police crash records and hospitalization data from New South Wales, Australia. The severity of injury resulting from traffic crashes was measured using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) Injury Severity Score (ICISS). RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified rurality, presence of complex intersections, road speed limit, driver error, speeding, and seat belt use as independent predictors of injury severity in older people. The type of intersection configuration explained over half of the observed variations in injury severity. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Environmental modification such as intersection treatments might contribute to a decrease in the severity of injury in older people involved in road crashes.