Globalization and multi-spatial trends in the coverage of protected-area conservation (1980-2000)

This study is focused on the global expansion of protected-area coverage that occurred during the 1980--2000 period. We examine the multi-scale patterning of four of the basic facets of this expansion: i) estimated increases at the world-regional and country-level scales of total protected-area coverage; ii) transboundary protected areas; iii) conservation corridor projects; and iv) type of conservation management. Geospatial patterning of protected-area designations is a reflection of the priorities of global conservation organizations and the globalization of post-Cold War political and economic arrangements. Local and national-level factors (political leadership and infrastructure) as well as international relations such as multilateral and bilateral aid combine with these globalization processes to impact the extent, type, and location of protected-area designations. We conclude that the interaction of these factors led to the creation and reinforcement of marked spatial differences (rather than tendencies toward worldwide evenness or homogenization) in the course of protected-area expansion during the 1980--2000 period.     

Heavy and toxic metals in staple foodstuffs and agriproduct from contaminated soils

This article presents basic data on the content of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, and Pb in staple foodstuffs and agriproduct grown in Russia (Astrakhan region and the town of Belovo) and Egypt (Helwan region). The dependence of the concentration of metals in agriproducts on the content and chemical form of existence in irrigation water and soils is indicated.     

Rodent sperm analysis in field-based ecological risk assessment: pilot study at Ravenna army ammunition plant,Ravenna, Ohio

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) guidance recommends that field-truthing efforts proceed when modeled hazard quotients (HQs) suggest that toxicological effects are occurring to site receptors. To date, no field methods have been proposed by the regulatory community that can lead to definitive determinations of acceptable or unacceptable risk for birds and mammals, the two terrestrial classes of receptors that are commonly assessed using the HQ method. This paper describes rodent sperm analysis (RSA) as a viable method to be applied in the field at sites with historical contamination. RSA is capable of detecting biological differences that bear on reproduction, a highly regarded toxicological endpoint of concern in USEPA Superfund-type ERAs. The results of RSA's first application at a study site are reported and discussed. The paper also provides the rationale for RSA's efficacy in the context of Superfund and other environmental cleanup programs, where limited time and money are available to determine and evaluate the field condition.     

Wastewater disinfection alternatives: chlorine, ozone, peracetic acid, and UV light.

Disinfection tests were carried out at pilot scale to compare the disinfection efficiency of ozone, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), peracetic acid (PAA), and UV irradiation. Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli were monitored as reference microorganisms. Total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) were also enumerated by cytometry. At similar doses, NaOCl was more effective than PAA, and its action was less affected by contact time. The results obtained by ozonation were comparable for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli. On the contrary, some differences among the three indicators were observed for NaOCl, PAA, and UV. Differences increased with increasing values of the disinfectant concentration times contact time (C x t) and were probably the result of different initial counts, as total coliforms include fecal coliforms, which include E. coli. The UV irradiation lead to complete E. coli removals, even at low doses (10 to 20 mJ/cm2). Total heterotrophic bacteria appeared to be too wide a group to be a good disinfection indicator; no correlation was found among THB inactivation, dose, and contact time.     

Leaching and degradation of corn and soybean pesticides in an Oxisol of the Brazilian Cerrados

Pesticide pollution of ground and surface water is of growing concern in tropical countries. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the leaching potential of eight pesticides in a Brazilian Oxisol. In a field experiment near Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, atrazine, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin, endosulfane alpha, metolachlor, monocrotofos, simazine, and trifluraline were applied onto a Typic Haplustox. Dissipation in the topsoil, mobility within the soil profile and leaching of pesticides were studied for a period of 28 days after application. The dissipation half-life of pesticides in the topsoil ranged from 0.9 to 14 d for trifluraline and metolachlor, respectively. Dissipation curves were described by exponential functions for polar pesticides (atrazine, metolachlor, monocrotofos, simazine) and bi-exponential ones for apolar substances (chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin, endosulfane alpha, trifluraline). Atrazine, simazine and metolachlor were moderately leached beyond 15 cm soil depth, whereas all other compounds remained within the top 15 cm of the soil. In lysimeter percolates (at 35 cm soil depth), 0.8-2.0% of the applied amounts of atrazine, simazine, and metolachlor were measured within 28 days after application. Of the other compounds less than 0.03% of the applied amounts was detected in the soil water percolates. The relative contamination potentials of pesticides, according to the lysimeter study, were ranked as follows: metolachlor > atrazine = simazine > monocrotofos > endsulfane alpha > chlorpyrifos > trifluraline > lambda-cyhalothrin. This order of the pesticides was also achieved by ranking them according to their effective sorption coefficient Ke, which is the ratio of Koc to field-dissipation half-life.     

Dynamic-chemical coupling of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region

The importance of the interaction between chemistry and dynamics in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere for chemical species like ozone is investigated using two chemistry-climate models and a Lagrangian trajectory model. Air parcels from the upper troposphere, i.e. regions of lightning and aircraft emissions, are able to be transported into the lowermost stratosphere (LMS). Trajectory calculations suggest that the main transport pathway runs via the inter tropical convergence zone, across the tropical tropopause and then to higher latitudes, i.e. into the LMS. NOx from aircraft emissions at mid-latitudes are unlikely to perturb the LMS since they are washed-out while still in the troposphere. In contrast, NOx from tropical lightning has the chance to accumulate in the LMS. Because of the longer residence times of NOx in the LMS, compared to the upper troposphere, this excess NOx from lightning has the potential to form ozone in the LMS, which then is transported back to the troposphere at mid-latitudes. In the models, around 10% of the ozone concentration and 50% of the NOx concentration in the northern hemisphere LMS is produced by lightning NOx At least 5% of the ozone concentration and 35% the NOx concentration at 150 hPa at mid-latitudes originates from tropical lightning in the climate-chemistry simulations.     

Heavy metals in birch leaves around a nickel-copper smelter at Monchegorsk, northwestern Russia

Concentrations of metals in birch leaves were measured around the Severonikel smelter at Monchegorsk, Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia, between 1991 and 1994. Concentrations of Ni, Cu and Fe near the smelter were 6-12 times higher than the recent regional background concentrations, while concentrations of Mn and Zn were 5-10 and 1.5-2 times lower, respectively. The regional background concentrations of Ni and Cu have increased 3-5 times during the last 20 years. Foliage concentrations of micronutrients (Zn and Mn) showed less annual variation than Ni and Cu. Contamination changed more sharply along the northeastern gradient than along the southern one. Subalpine birch forests were significantly less affected by Ni and Cu than lowland forests, but the lower concentration of Mn indicated a greater impact of SO(2) in mountainous regions. Although birch accumulated relatively less pollutants than conifers, birch resistance to pollution makes it a possible indicator in environmental studies since it survives even within the wastelands where conifers have vanished.     

Soil contamination at abandoned sawmill areas

Contamination of soil by technical chlorophenol formulation at wood preserving sites was studied. The examined soils contained 50 to 1000 mg of polychlorinated phenols (CPs), 1 to 50 mg of polychlorinated phenoxyphenols (“pre-dioxins”, PCPPs) and 0.1 to 5 mg of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) per kg of dry soil. CPs were found to be mobile, leaching deep into the soil, while PCPPs and PCDFs accumulated in the top soil. All three classes of contaminants were stable in soil.     

Plasma ALP activity and blood PCV value changes in chick fetuses due to exposure of the egg to different xenobiotics

The effects of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds (benz(k)fluoranthene and fluoranthene) and two heavy metals (cadmium and lead) were studied on the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity and hematocrit (PCV) values in chick fetuses. Eggs were exposed to one of the four compounds before incubation, by applying two exposure methods: injection (into the air cell) or immersion. Fluoranthene, cadmium and lead injection significantly decreased ALP activity compared to the control, while none of the compounds caused significant reduction in ALP activity in the immersion groups; however, a decreasing tendency was seen in these groups as well. Hematocrit values were increased after benz(k)fluoranthene immersion, fluoranthene immersion and cadmium injection. However, the doses in this study are relatively low (compared to other ecotoxicological studies in birds), the alteration in ALP enzyme activity and PCV values was apparent in each treatment group and is indicative of the high sensitivity of chick fetuses.