Diflubenzuron residue and persistence on an oak forest after aerial application

Abstract

A twenty hectare forest block in central Pennsylvania was aerially sprayed with diflubenzuron (Dimilin 25W®) at the dose of 33.23g A.I./ha in 9.4 litres/ha. Leaf samples were collected from the upper and lower canopies of 27 oaks and understory within this block on the day of spray, May 29, 1991. Canopy leaves were also collected on May 31, June 10, July 29 and September 26, 1991.

Recovery of diflubenzuron residues on fortified canopy‐leaf and litter‐leaf samples using analytical techniques employed in this study averaged 87.4% (SE = 7.5%) and 66.2% (SE = 8.2%), respectively.

On the day of spray, diflubenzuron residues on the upper canopy, lower canopy and understory averaged 81.18, 39.65 and 8.35 ng/cm², respectively. Diflubenzuron residues on canopy‐leaf samples collected 2, 12, 61 and 120 days post‐spray averaged 14.83 (SE = 10.19), 16.75 (SE = 9.95), 12.84 (SE = 8.25) and 11.20 (SE = 7.52) ng/cm², respectively. Diflubenzuron residues on litter‐leaf samples collected after leaf senescence ‐ 169 and 323 days post spray contained measurable amounts of diflubenzuron in 51 and 59% of the samples, respectively. Of the samples with measurable amounts of diflubenzuron, residues averaged 1.36 (SE = 2.44) and 0.65 ng/cm² (SE = 0.73) respectively.     

Aquatic fate assessment of the polycyclic musk fragrance HHCB. Scenario and variability analysis in accordance with the EU risk assessment guidelines

By means of the environmental fate and distribution models laid down in the Technical Guidance Documents (TGD) and implemented in the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances (EUSES) environmental concentrations of the polycyclic musk fragrance HHCB (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-[g]-2- benzopyrane; trade name: e.g. Galaxolide) were calculated for the aquatic environment under consideration of various scenarios. The results were then compared to monitoring data from the region of North Rhine-Westphalia (River Ruhr). An uncertainty analysis was carried out to determine sensitive parameters, to integrate environmental variability and to confirm the model's calculations. The standard scenario of EUSES overestimates the measured concentrations, which confirms the conservative nature of the calculations. The regional-specific scenarios lead to lower deviations from the measured values than the standard scenario. Deviations range from one to two orders of magnitude in the effluent of sewage treatment plants; they amount to one order of magnitude for surface water concentrations on a local scale and conform to monitoring data on a regional scale. The use of measured bioconcentration factors for fish instead of estimated ones reduces deviations remarkably. The investigation reveals that unrealistic worst-case calculations of HHCB can at best be ameliorated by the application of more realistic emission rates and measured bioconcentration factors. The use of regional-specific parameters also diminishes the deviations of the calculations from the measured concentrations.     

Reactions of compost-derived humic substances with lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc

Thermodynamic stability constants of the formation of complexes from the reactions of humic substances with various metals are usually used as parameters to judge the reactivities of both humic substances and metals. However, in calculating the thermodynamic stability constants, complicated processes for the acquisition of activities of components in reactions are absolutely inevitable. In this study, we investigated the average conditional concentration quotients of the complexes formed from the reaction of metals with humic substances and the relations of these quotients to thermodynamic stability constants. The characterized humic substances including HA (MW>1,000), FA (MW>1,000), and FA (MW<1,000) extracted from a swine compost were prepared to react with Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn at 25 degrees C and at pH 4.00 and 6.50. Reactions of HA (MW>1,000), FA (MW>1,000), and FA (MW<1,000) with the four metals were carried out at 1:0.1, 1:0.5, 1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 ligand:metal stoichiometry. The concentrations of the free ions of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn in the reaction systems of metal-HA suspensions and metal-FA solutions were measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The sequence of the average conditional concentration quotients of the formed complexes from the reaction of humic substances with metals was FA(MW<1,000)>FA(MW>1,000)>HA(MW>1,000), showing the relative reactivities of the fractions of swine compost-derived humic substances. The sequence of reacting metals with humic substances was Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn, which is in good agreement with the sequence reported by judging the thermodynamic stability constants. The average conditional concentration quotients of the formed complexes from the reaction of humic substances with metals were thus useful parameters that can be directly related to thermodynamic stability constants and other parameters.     

Interactions between copper and cadmium modify metal organ distribution in mature tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Sexually mature female tilapia were exposed to sublethal concentrations of waterborne Cu and/or Cd over 6 days, and subsequent body concentrations of these metals were determined in several organs. The results show that the distribution of Cu and Cd was metal and organ specific. This is demonstrated, for example, by the observation that in tilapia, Cu exposure did not result in Cu accumulation in the liver, whereas in the intestinal wall, notably high concentrations of Cu and Cd were measured in metal exposed fish. In addition to single metal exposed fish, we also determined Cu and Cd body distribution in Cu?Cd co-exposed fish. The observed interactions in metal accumulation were most pronounced in the organs of fish exposed to low, environmentally realistic, metal concentrations.     

The joint action of sulphur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride on the yield and quality of wheat and barley

The effects of joint action of SO(2) and HF on the yield and quality of wheat and barley were studied by exposing them to combinations of <13,130 or 267 microg m(-3) SO(2) and 0.03 or 0.38 microg m(-3) HF in open top chambers for 90 days. At the concentrations used, SO(2) had greater effects than HF. All responses were marked by compensatory changes. The treatments had no effect on wheat yield, although SO(2) reduced shoot weight. SO(2) increased the growth and yield of barley, and HF or SO(2) increased the grain protein concentration of barley and wheat. The effects of mixtures of SO(2) and HF were complex, but often antagonistic, as the addition of HF counteracted the effect of SO(2) alone.     

Response of lake sediments to changes in trace metal emission from the smelters at Sudbury, Ontario

Historical records preserved in sediments show that the lakes are extremely sensitive to metal emissions from the smelters in the Sudbury basin. From the observed quick response, a strong capacity for rapid recovery (deacidification) of acid-stressed lakes in the area is deduced. The study thus emphasises the need for curtailing the emissions of acidic and acidifying substances as a critical step in reducing lake acidification as well as in rehabilitating many of the afflicted lakes.     

Treatment of a clinical analysis laboratory wastewater from a hospital by photo-Fenton process at four radiation settings and toxicity response

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The photo-Fenton process was performed with four radiation settings to treat clinical analysis laboratory wastewater (CALWW) from a hospital, with the...     

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 films grown on different substrates

Titanium dioxide films were prepared on glass, indium-tin oxide (ITO) glass and p-type monocrystalline silicon and studied for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B in an aqueous medium. Raman, AFM, and XPS spectroscopic investigations of these films indicated that microstructure of titanium oxide films were greatly affected by the substrate materials. Rutile was confirmed to be easily formed on the surface of ITO glass, and TiO2 tended to grow as closely packed particles that were elongated strips with an average size of 20 nm, and had lovely contrast with the perfectly round particles grown on p-type monocrystalline silicon. Charge transfer between the film and silicon substrate was verified by surface photovoltage spectra. This may be the real reason why the films grown on ITO glass and silicon substrates exhibit higher photocatalytic reactivity than the film on glass substrate. Moreover, the different surface properties also seem to be responsible for the different activity.     

A comparison of the environmental impact of pesticide multiresidues and their occurrence in river waters surveyed by liquid chromatography coupled in tandem with UV diode array detection and mass spectrometry

Twenty-two pesticides and metabolites selected on the basis of a regional priority list, were surveyed in surface river waters by high performance liquid chromatography coupled in tandem with UV diode array detection and mass spectrometry, after an off-line pre-concentration step. Pesticide concentrations ranged between 0.07 and 4.8 microg/l according to the compound and sampling period. Analytical results were linked to the environmental risk of pesticides, evaluated by their system investigation of risk by integration of score (SIRIS) rank.