The occurrence of xenoestrogens in the Elbe river and the North Sea

The xenoestrogens Bisphenol A (BPA), p-alkylphenols and p-alkylphenol ethoxylates were determined in water samples of the North Sea, the Elbe river, and its tributaries Schwarze Elster, Mulde, Saale and the Weisse Elster. The sampling sites of the Elbe river reached from Schmilka at the German-Czech border to Cuxhaven at the estuary. Samples of the North Sea were taken in the German Bight. Additionally, freshly deposed sediments of the River Elbe and its tributaries were analyzed. Partitioning coefficients of these compounds for the distribution between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the aqueous phase were calculated for samples of the River Elbe at sampling site Geesthacht. The analytical procedure consisted of liquid-liquid extractions of the acidified water samples using dichloromethane. Sediments and SPM samples were extracted by Accelerated Solvent Extraction with n-hexane/acetone. Following a clean-up by HPLC, the analytes were derivatized with heptafluorobutyric acid anhydride and quantified using GC-MSD. The concentration ranges of the compounds analyzed in water samples of the Elbe river were as follows (in ng l(-1)): BPA 9-776, alkylphenols 10-221 and alkylphenol ethoxylates 18-302. In sediment samples the concentrations were (in microg kg(-1) dry mass): BPA 66-343, alkylphenols 17-1378 and alkylphenol ethoxylates 30-1797. In samples of the North Sea the concentrations were generally about 1 order of magnitude lower. As shown by the concentration profiles following the River Elbe into the North Sea, the Elbe river must be considered as a major pollution source for the North Sea concerning the compounds analyzed. The SPM/water-partitioning coefficients calculated (mean values) amounted to: BPA 4.50, alkylphenols 5.52-5.58 and alkylphenol ethoxylates 5.60-6.38. A comparison of the results with data from other surface waters showed that concentrations of these xenoestrogens in the River Elbe and its tributaries were relatively low. The evaluation of the data based on the lowest observable effect concentration (LOEC) for alkylphenols (endpoint: vitellogenin synthesis in male trout) indicated that the concentrations were well below the effectivity threshold.     

Metals in sediments and the edible cockle Cerastoderma edule from two Moroccan Atlantic lagoons: Moulay Bou Selham and Sidi Moussa.

Metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were determined over a 3-year period in sediments and bivales Cerastoderma edule from two lagoon ecosystems on the Moroccan Atlantic coastline, Moulay Bou Selham and Sidi Moussa. Sediment metal concentrations were seasonally influenced, and were highest, generally, in winter--possibly signifying an increased contribution from run-off from adjacent arable land and roads. Neither site can be considered highly contaminated; however, Cd was enriched at Sidi Moussa, probably as a result of waste discharge from phosphate industries 20 km along the coast to the northeast. This ability to act as a sink for metals at distance from sources demonstrates the need for surveillance in these sensitive environments. Copper and Zn concentrations in edible cockles C. edule appear to be regulated over the concentration ranges currently found in lagoon sediments. In contrast, body burdens of Pb and, to a lesser extent Cd, reflect sediment levels and might be useful in future risk assessments. Metal concentrations Cerastoderma edule are seasonally related to the reproductive cycle, however, and sample timing will need to be standardised in future monitoring exercises.     

Sediment evidence of early eutrophication and heavy metal pollution of Lake Mälaren, central Sweden

Lake M?laren is the water supply and recreation area for more than 1 million people in central Sweden and subject to considerable environmental concern. To establish background data for assessments of contemporary levels of trophy and heavy metal pollution, sediment cores from the lake were analyzed. Diatom-inferred lake-water phosphorus concentrations suggest that pre-20th century nutrient levels in S?dra Bj?rkfj?rden, a basin in the eastern part of M?laren, were higher (c. 10-20 micrograms TP L-1) than previously assumed (c. 6 micrograms TP L-1). Stable lead isotope and lead concentration analyses from 3 basins (S. Bj?rkfj?rden, Gisselfj?rden and Ask?fj?rden) show that the lake was polluted in the 19th century and earlier from extensive metal production and processing in the catchment, particularly in the Bergslagen region. The lake has experienced a substantial improvement of the lead pollution situation in the 20th century following closure of the mining and metal industry. The lead pollution from the old mining industry was large compared to late-20th century pollution from car emissions, burning of fossil fuels and modern industries.     

Methodology for estimating soil carbon for the forest carbon budget model of the United States, 2001

The largest carbon (C) pool in United States forests is the soil C pool. We present methodology and soil C pool estimates used in the FORCARB model, which estimates and projects forest carbon budgets for the United States. The methodology balances knowledge, uncertainties, and ease of use. The estimates are calculated using the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service STATSGO database, with soil dynamics following assumptions based on results of site-specific studies, and area estimates from the USDA Forest Service. Forest Inventory and Analysis data and national-level land cover data sets. Harvesting is assumed to have no effect on soil C. Land use change and forest type transitions affect soil C. We apply the methodology to the southeastern region of the United States as a case study.     

Application of the Microtox test and pollution indices to the study of water toxicity in the Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain)

The toxic effects of waters collected from irrigation channels in a Mediterranean wetland (Albufera Natural Park, Valencia, Spain) were tested with the Microtox assay and compared with six pollution indices (PIs) defined from analytical parameters. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients, heavy metals and pesticides were measured. The bioassay result (concentrations of the water sample (% V/V) that reduced light emission to 10%, 20% and 50%, EC10, EC20 and EC50, respectively (ECs)) was compared with the PIs. This comparison has demonstrated a general agreement between ECs and PIs, except in the case of irrigation channels affected by herbicides used in rice farming (molinate and thiobencarb). No pronounced inhibition was detected in the bioluminescence in relation to the eutrophic parameters in the irrigation waters for EC50 values, indicating that this parameter does not suffice to detect eutrophic waters. Data derived from irrigation water pollution and bioassay were assembled by multivariate statistical techniques (principal component analysis). These components were associated with various contamination sources.     

Partitioning of polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene into human faeces

The dietary absorption of persistent lipophilic organic pollutants (PLOPs) in humans is believed to occur via partitioning of the chemical between the lumen and the wall of the digestive tract. As such, the partitioning properties of the lumen contents are a key factor governing absorption. In this study, the partitioning properties of faeces were measured for 11 polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Four volunteers participated in the study, each of them providing faeces from a normal diet and a vegetarian diet. The faeces/gas equilibrium partition coefficient K(FG) varied by over three orders of magnitude between the different compounds. A linear relationship between log K(FG) and log KOA, the octanol/air partition coefficient, was observed. The slope of the relationship was > 1, indicating that the solvent properties of faeces were less polar than those of octanol. For a given compound, KFG varied up to a factor of 2.8 between the individuals on a normal diet. The influence of the vegetarian diet on K(FG) was negligible for the two volunteers who simply deleted fish and animal products from their normal diet, but K(FG) increased on average by a factor of 2 in the two individuals who increased their consumption of less readily digestible whole grains and vegetables in their vegetarian diet. On the basis of K(FG), the fugacities in the faeces were calculated. They were found to be much lower than the fugacities in blood. It is hypothesised that this is due to a temporary decrease in the fugacity in the wall of the jejunum caused by absorption of dietary lipids that results in equilibration between the lumen contents and the wall of the digestive tract at a fugacity below that present in the blood and the rest of the body.     

Bioavailability and biodegradation of prosulfocarb in soil

Active microbial degraders of the herbicide prosulfocarb (PSC) were isolated to evaluate their performance in soil with a view to their use for bioremediation. The isolated cultures (a microbial consortium and a Pseudomonas sp. strain) were active when tested in mineral medium with PSC as the only carbon source, but had an adverse effect on the soil indigenous microflora. Biodegradation in the inoculated soils was thus lower than in the uninoculated soil when only the indigenous microflora was present. Further tests showed that the strong affinity of PSC for soil organic matter affected its bioavailability and hence its biodegradation by the inocula. Bioremediation of PSC contaminated soils could thus be undertaken by biostimulation of indigenous microflora.     

EuroBionet: a pan-European biomonitoring network for urban air quality assessment

EuroBionet, the 'European Network for the Assessment of Air Quality by the Use of Bioindicator Plants', is an EU-funded cooperative project currently consisting of public authorities and scientific institutes from 12 cities in 8 countries. In 2000, the bioindicator plants tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Bel W3), poplar (Populus nigra 'Brandaris'), spiderwort (Tradescantia sp. clone 4430), Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum italicum) and curly kale (Brassica oleracea acephala) were exposed to ambient air at 90 monitoring sites according to standardised methods. Visible injuries and growth parameters were assessed and the accumulation of toxic substances in leaves determined. The exposure of tobacco resulted in a gradient with low levels of ozone-induced foliar injury in N and NW Europe, and medium to high values in the southern and central regions. The results of heavy metal and sulphur analyses in rye grass samples generally showed low to very low sulphur and low to medium heavy metal concentrations in leaves. In some cities, however, local hot spots of heavy metal contamination were detected. Analyses of the PAH contents in curly kale leaves gave low to medium values, with locally elevated levels at traffic-exposed sites.     

Kinetics of chemical decolorization of the azo dye C.I. Reactive Orange 96 by sulfide

The mechanism of decolorization of azo dyes based on the extracellular chemical reduction with sulfide (H2S, HS-, S2-) was postulated for sulfate reducing environments. To design technical decolorization processes of textile wastewater treatment with sulfide produced by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), kinetics is of great significance. Batch experiments were made in order to investigate the kinetics of abiotic decolorization of the reactive mono-azo dye C.I. Reactive Orange 96 (RO 96) with sulfide, with varying pH. The decolorization of RO 96 by sulfide under the exclusion of O2 corresponded to first-order kinetics with respect to both dye and sulfide concentration. The decolorization of RO 96 with sulfide at neutral pH (7.1) was advantageous compared with that at pH for 4.1, 6.3, and 6.5. This is attributed to an increase in the fraction of HS- of total sulfide species at neutral pH. The rate constants k for the decolorization at 37 degrees C were obtained as 0.01 for pH = 4.1, 0.06 for pH = 6.3, 0.08 for pH = 6.5, and 0.09 for pH = 7.1 in mM(-1) min(-1). The high rate constants for sulfide at pH 6.5-7.1 support that the decolorization through SRB (i.e. by bio-sulfide) can be effective in anaerobic bacterial systems with sulfate.     

Comparative study of the suitability of three lichen species to trace-element air monitoring

To investigate the suitability of three lichen species (Cetraria islandica, Evernia prunastri, and Ramalina farinacea) as transplants to trace-element air biomonitoring, they were exposed on substratum-free supports, from July 1996 until July 1997, in three European countries with different climates (Germany, Italy, Romania), at six sites with different types of air pollutants (two in each country). After 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of exposure, some portions of thallus were collected, prepared, and measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) at the Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering in Bucharest and by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRFA) at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. Fifteen environmentally relevant elements: As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, V, and Zn were determined. The analytical results were compared statistically. To study the distribution of the trace-elements between the lichens and the lichen throughfall water inside a virtual column, the throughfall water was collected under the lichen transplants during 6 and 12 months. The dried residues were analysed by INAA at Bucharest. The accumulating capacity for all investigated species is evident. For a comparative evaluation, the initial element contents, the "accumulation factors" relative to the bulk deposition, the interspecies "calibration factors", and the "retention efficiencies", defined as ratios of the lichen enrichment to the sum of this enrichment and the content in the lichen throughfall water, were considered. These criteria attest the best suitability for Evernia prunastri, followed by Ramalina farinacea and Cetraria islandica.