Monitoring the Multi-Year Carbon Balance of a Subarctic Palsa Mire with Micrometeorological Techniques

This article reports a dataset on 8 years of monitoring carbon fluxes in a subarctic palsa mire based on micrometeorological eddy covariance measurements. The mire is a complex with wet minerotrophic areas and elevated dry palsa as well as intermediate sub-ecosystems. The measurements document primarily the emission originating from the wet parts of the mire dominated by a rather homogenous cover of Eriophorum angustifolium. The CO₂/CH₄ flux measurements performed during the years 2001–2008 showed that the areas represented in the measurements were a relatively stable sink of carbon with an average annual rate of uptake amounting to on average ?46 g C m^?2 y^?1 including an equally stable loss through CH₄ emissions (18–22 g CH₄–C m^?2 y^?1). This consistent carbon sink combined with substantial CH₄ emissions is most likely what is to be expected as the permafrost under palsa mires degrades in response to climate warming.     

Bacterial community profiles from sediments of the Anacostia River using metabolic and molecular analyses

Background aim and scope  

Though the tidal Anacostia River, a highly polluted riverine system, has been well characterized with regard to contaminants, its overall resident bacterial populations have remained largely unknown. Improving the health of this system will rely upon enhanced understanding of the diversity and functions of these communities. Bacterial DNA was extracted from archived (AR, year 2000) and fresh sediments (RE, year 2006) collected from various locations within the Anacostia River. Using a combination of metabolic and molecular techniques, community snapshots of sediment bacterial diversity and activity were produced.     

Simultaneous immobilization of metals and arsenic in acidic polluted soils near a copper smelter in central Chile

Introduction  

Acidic and metal(oid)-rich topsoils resulted after 34 years of continuous operations of a copper smelter in the Puchuncaví valley, central Chile. Currently, large-scale remediation actions for simultaneous in situ immobilization of metals and As are needed to reduce environmental risks of polluted soils. Aided phytostabilization is a cost-effective alternative, but adequate local available soil amendments have to be identified and management options have to be defined.     

Monitoring of hexabromocyclododecane diastereomers in fish from European freshwaters and estuaries

Background and aims  

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant used mainly in polystyrene foam as well as in textile applications. In recent years, measures were taken to reduce HBCD emissions during its production and use. To evaluate the efficacy of these measures, a monitoring project was initiated with fish as bioaccumulation indicators.     

Assessment of exposure to DDT and metabolites after indoor residual spraying through the analysis of thatch material from rural African dwellings

Introduction  

We report on the analysis of 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4′-DDT) and its metabolites in thatch and branch samples constituting the wall materials of dwellings from South African subtropical areas. This approach was used to assess the exposure to DDT in the residents of the dwellings after indoor residual spraying (IRS) following recommended sanitation practices against malaria vectors.     

An observational study on changes in biometry and generation time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Odontophora villoti</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Axonolaimidae) related to petroleum pollution in Bizerte bay,Tunisia

Introduction  

We conducted a yearly polluted-reference sampling to assess the effects of petroleum pollution on life cycle characteristics of the meiobenthic nematode Odontophora villoti. Samples were taken every 15 days between 26 November 2004 and 25 November 2005 from two beaches of Bizerte bay (Tunisia), Rimel and Tunisian Refining Industries Company (TRIC). The latter site is located in front of the “Tunisian Refining Industries Company” runoff.     

Pesticide removal from waste spray-tank water by organoclay adsorption after field application: an approach for a formulation of cyprodinil containing antifoaming/defoaming agents

Purpose  

Many reports on purification of water containing pesticides are based on studies using unformulated active ingredients. However, most commercial formulations contain additives/adjuvants or are manufactured using microencapsulation which may influence the purification process. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop and test a pilot scheme for decontaminating water containing pesticides formulated with antifoaming/defoaming agents.     

Growth,photosynthesis and removal responses of the cyanobacteria Chroococcus sp. to malathion and malaoxon

Abstract

Malathion is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in agricultural crops, despite its toxicity. In addition, malaoxon occurs by oxidation of malathion being more toxic. The toxic effects of malathion and malaoxon in humans include hepatoxicity, breast cancer, genetic damage and endocrine disruption. The aim of this study involved assessing the effect of malathion commercial grade on Chroococcus sp., and its potential as an alternative to the removal of this pesticide and its transformation product such as malaoxon. We evaluated the effect of malathion at different concentrations (1, 25, 50, 75 and 100?ppm) on the biomass of the cyanobacteria Chroococcus sp. grown in medium BG-11; also, we analyse its ability to degrade both malathion and malaoxon into a temperature of 28?±?2?°C and at pH 6. The results showed that 50?ppm of malathion the cyanobacteria Chroococcus sp. reached the highest removal efficiency of malathion and malaoxon (69 and 65%, respectively); also, the growth rate of Chroococcus sp. increased without inhibiting the production of chlorophyll “a”, this can be explained by the hormesis phenomenon. Therefore, we consider that the cyanobacteria Chroococcus sp. may be a good candidate for bioremediation of aquatic systems contaminated with organophosphorus pesticides such as malathion and its transformation product such as malaoxon.