Monitoring of glyphosate and AMPA in soil samples from two olive cultivation areas in Greece: aspects related to spray operators activities

The persistence of glyphosate and its primary metabolite AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) was monitored in two areas in Southern Greece (Peza, Crete and Chora Trifilias, Peloponnese) with a known history of glyphosate use, and the levels of residues were linked to spray operators’ activities in the respective areas. A total of 170 samples were collected and analysed from both areas during a 3-year monitoring study. A new method (Impact Assessment Procedure - IAP) designed to assess potential impacts to the environment caused by growers’ activities, was utilised in the explanation of the results. The level of residues was compared to the predicted environmental concentrations in soil. The ratio of the measured concentrations to the predicted environmental concentrations (MCs/PECs) was >?1 in Chora the first 2 years of sampling and <?1 in the third year, whilst the MCs/PECs ratio was <?1 in Peza, throughout the whole monitoring period. The compliance to the instructions for best handling practices, which operators received during the monitoring period, was reflected in the amount of residues and the MCs/PECs ratio in the second and especially the third sampling year. Differences in the level of residues between areas as well as sampling sites of the same area were identified. AMPA persisted longer than the parent compound glyphosate in both areas.     

Phytotoxicity and antioxidative enzymes of green microalga (Desmodesmus subspicatus) and duckweed (Lemna minor) exposed to herbicides MCPA, chloridazon and their mixtures

In this study, we evaluate the toxicity of MCPA (auxin-like growth inhibitor), chloridazon (CHD) (PSII-inhibitor) and their mixtures to floating plants and planktonic algae. Toxicity of MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid) and CHD (5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone) was first assessed in two growth inhibition tests with Lemna minor (ISO/DIS 20079) and Desmodesmus subspicatus (ISO 8692). Next, herbicide mixtures at concentrations corresponding to the EC values were used to assess their interactive effects, and the biomarkers were: for duckweed fresh weight, frond area, chlorophyll content and number of fronds, and for algae cell count and cell volume. The 3d EC?? and EC?? values using cell counts of D. subspicatus were 142.7 and 529.1 mg/L for MCPA and 1.7 and 5.1 mg/L for CHD. The 7d EC?? and EC?? values using frond number of L. minor amounted to 0.8 and 5.4 mg/L for MCPA and 0.7 and 10.4 mg/L for CHD. Higher sensitivity of reproductive (number of cells/fronds) than growth processes (cell volume/frond area) to herbicides applied individually and in mixtures was especially pronounced in the responses of Desmodesmus. Herbicide interactions were assessed by the two-way ANOVA and Abbott's formula. Generally, an antagonistic interaction with Lemna was revealed by MCPA and chloridazon, whereas additive effect of both herbicides was observed for Desmodesmus. A significant stimulation of SOD and APX activity by binary mixtures was noted in algal cells mainly after 24 and 48 hours of exposure. The extremely high stimulation of the activity of both enzymes was induced by the combination EC??CHD + EC??MCPA (48 h). Presumably due to oxidative stress, the treatment with CHD at concentration EC?? after 72 h was lethal for algae grown in aerated cultures, in contrast to standardized test conditions. Taking into account the consequences of risk assessment for herbicide mixtures we can state that a relatively low toxicity, as well as the lack of significant synergy between MCPA and CHD to non-target plants appears to be the most important result.     

Heavy metals contamination of soils under oak ecosystems in the Sofia region

We studied the contamination of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in soils under oak ecosystems of urban (U), suburban (SU), and rural (R) regions in Sofia, Bulgaria. The urban sampling sites are located in the large forest parks of Sofia under oak ecosystems, while the others are located between the centre of the town and the surrounding mountains and are also from oak ecosystems. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in soils were measured for identifying the sources and degree of contamination, and calculating the concentration coefficients (Hc) and enrichment factors (EF). The result of applying principal component analysis (PCA), showed that Cd and Pb accounted for the anthropogenic pollution and could be inferred as its tracers, whereas Cu is located mainly in the parent material. The Zn concentration levels were controlled both by its original content in the parent material as well as by anthropogenic pollution. The results obtained for the city forest parks allow for their successful use for recreation purposes.     

Incipient Forest Decline in the Province of Trento (Northern Italy). Preliminary Sem Observations and Consideration of Inorganic Components of Leaves and Roots

One year old needles of both healthy and damaged silver fir and Norway spruce from the area of Trento (Northern Italy) were observed by SEM. Needles of damaged trees show quite evident structural alterations of epidermis, expecially epicuticular waxes. Roots and needles of both fir and spruce are also tested for their metal content. Evidence is reported of an increasing concentration of Fe, Mg and Ca in roots of plants grown on alkali soil. Ca, and to a lesser extent Fe, Al and Pb, appears to be more present in old needles, whereas K and Mg exhibit higher amounts in young needles. Some indications are found between damage and the content of some metals such as Mg and Mn in needles.     

Preconceptions of students about the natural urban environment in a small Spanish city

Summary The preconceptions of secondary students from a small Spanish city, mainly about natural aspects, have been studied. The main characteristic of their conceptions about the urban natural environment was that it was always linked to negative aspects and was generally seen as something essentially problematic. Moreover, it seems that their knowledge of smaller living beings, of wild animals, plants and fungi, was worse than for other urban living beings. The analysis of these alternative conceptions has led the authors to propose some recommendations for curricular design and development for schools in urban environments.Dr Mercedes Suárez is an educationalist and Professor of Curriculum in the Faculty of Humanities in the University. Emilia Nogueiras has a degree in Biology and Education and is a science teacher in the High School in Orense.     

Intergrated approach for microbiological impact assessment of public wastewater treatment plants

Wastewaters are a source of pathogenic micro-organisms in the environment. The microbial load and residues found in the final effluents of wastewater-treatment plants (WWTPs) depend on the WWTPs' abatement capacity and the final disinfection treatment systems applied to wastewaters before discharge into water. A historical database with data on surface and marine-coastal water quality and on the characterization of WWTP effluents was made using data from 1997 to 2004 to assess the microbiologic impact along the coast of the Venice province (Italy, northern Adriatic sea). The monitoring of river and sea discharges along the coast is integrated with the application of the Synthetic Pluriennal Faecalization Index (ISPF). The experimental study was conducted in the period from November 2002 to April 2004 by the Veneto Regional Environmental Prevention and Protection Agency. The results of this investigation on faecal contamination together with previous data are presented with a preliminary performance characterization of the WWTPs' disinfection technologies (sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, UV rays, and ozone).     

Geochemical provenance and spatial distribution of fluoride in groundwater of Mayo Tsanaga River Basin, Far North Region, Cameroon: implications for incidence of fluorosis and optimal consumption dose

The 500,000 inhabitants of Mayo Tsanaga River Basin are vulnerable to a “silent” fluorosis from groundwater consumption. For the first time, the groundwater is investigated for the purpose of identifying the provenance of fluoride and estimating an optimal dose of fluoride in the study area. Based on the fluoride content of groundwater, fluorine and major oxides abundances in rocks from the study area, mean annual atmospheric temperature, and on-site diagnosis of fluorosis in children, the following results and conclusions are obtained: Fluoride concentration in groundwater ranges from 0.19 to 15.2 mg/l. Samples with fluoride content of <1.5 mg/l show Ca–HCO₃ signatures, while those with fluoride >1.5 mg/l show a tendency towards Na-HCO₃ type. Fluor-apatite and micas in the granites were identified as the main provenance of fluoride in the groundwater through water-rock interactions in an alkaline medium. The optimal fluoride dose in drinking water of the study area should be 0.7 mg/l, and could be adjusted downward to a level of 0.6 mg/l due to the high consumption rate of groundwater, especially during drier periods.     

Solar photocatalytic treatment of landfill leachate using a solid mineral by-product as a catalyst

The treatment of municipal solid waste landfill leachate in a pilot plant made up of solar compound parabolic collectors, using a solid industrial titanium by-product (WTiO₂) containing TiO₂ and Fe(III) as a photocatalyst, was investigated. In the study evidence was found showing that the degradation performed with WTiO₂ was mainly due to the Fe provided by this by-product, instead of TiO₂. However, although TiO₂ had very little effect by itself, a synergistic effect was observed between Fe and TiO₂. The application of WTiO₂, which produced coupled photo-Fenton and heterogeneous catalysis reactions, achieved a surprisingly high depuration level (86% of COD removal), higher than that reached by photo-Fenton using commercial FeSO₄ (43%) in the same conditions. After the oxidation process the biodegradability and toxicity of the landfill leachate were studied. The results showed that the leachate biodegradability was substantially increased, at least in the first stages of the process, and again that WTiO₂ was more efficient than FeSO₄ in terms of increasing biodegradability.     

Community-Based Technology Transfer in Rural Aquaculture: The Case of Mudcrab Scylla serrata Nursery in Ponds in Northern Samar,Central Philippines

Finding aquaculture development approaches to open up livelihood opportunities for the rural poor and in mainstreaming smallholder fish farmers to reduce poverty remain a challenge. This paper examines the community-based technology transfer mechanism of mudcrab nursery in ponds and its socioeconomic impacts on smallholder mudcrab growers in Northern Samar, Philippines. Results indicated that the technology is a viable enterprise done by a straight culture system method, which is the rearing of crablets from <1.0 to 4.0 cm for 42 days, or by-phases. However, technology adoption hinges on many factors like area ownership, farm distance from household, and market including the type of strategy needed to enhance technology uptake. Collaboration among research and development institutions and local partners is critical in training and empowering rural communities to adopt aquaculture technologies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0528-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.