REP-LECOTOX: an example of FP 6 INCO project to strengthen ecotoxicological research in WBC (Western Balkan countries)

Background

In order to map exceedances of critical atmospheric deposition loads for nitrogen (N) surface data on the atmospheric deposition of N compounds to terrestrial ecosystems are needed. Across Europe such information is provided by the international European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) in a resolution of 50 km by 50 km, relying on both emission data and measurement data on atmospheric depositions. The objective of the article at hand is on the improvement of the spatial resolution of the EMEP maps by combining them with data on the N concentration in mosses provided by the International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LTRAP) Convention.

Methods

The map on atmospheric depositions of total N as modelled by EMEP was intersected with geostatistical surface estimations on the N concentration in mosses at a resolution of 5 km by 5 km. The medians of the N estimations in mosses were then calculated for each 50 km by 50 km grid cell. Both medians of moss estimations and corresponding modelled deposition values were ln-transformed and their relationship investigated and modelled by linear regression analysis. The regression equations were applied on the moss kriging estimates of the N concentration in mosses. The respective residuals were projected onto the centres of the EMEP grid cells and were mapped using variogram analysis and kriging procedures. Finally, the residual and the regression map were summed up to the map of total N deposition in terrestrial ecosystems throughout Europe.

Results and discussion

The regression analysis of the estimated N concentrations in mosses and the modelled EMEP depositions resulted in clear linear regression patterns with coefficients of determination of r ² = 0.62 and Pearson correlations of r _p = 0.79 and Spearman correlations of r _s = 0.70, respectively. Regarding the German territory a nationwide mean of 18.1 kg/ha/a (standard deviation: 3.49 kg/ha/a) could be derived from the resulting map on total N deposition in a resolution of 5 km by 5 km. Recent updates of the modelled atmospheric deposition of N provided a similar estimate for Germany.

Conclusions

The linking of modelled EMEP data on the atmospheric depositions of total N and the accumulation of N in mosses allows to map the deposition of total N in a high resolution of 5 km by 5 km using empirical moss data. The mapping relies on the strong statistical relationship between both processes that are physically and chemically related to each other. The mapping approach thereby relies on available data that are both based on European wide harmonized methodologies. From an ecotoxicological point of view the linking of data on N depositions and those on N bioaccumulation can be considered a substantial progress.     

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Comparison of concentrations of toxic elements in the hair of first-year students of RUDN University from different regions of the world: a cross-sectional study

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Cytogenotoxic activity of herbicidal and fungicidal pesticides on Triticum aestivum root meristem

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Removal mechanisms and fate of insecticides in constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands (CWs), along with other vegetative systems, are increasingly being promoted as a mitigation practice to treat non-point source runoff to reduce contaminants such as pesticides. However, studies so far have mostly focused on demonstrating contaminant removal efficiency. In this study, using two operational CWs located in the Central Valley of California, we explored the mechanisms underlying the removal of pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos from agricultural runoff water, and further evaluated the likelihood for the retained pesticides to accumulate within the CWs over time.In the runoff water passing through the CWs, pyrethroids were associated overwhelmingly with suspended solids >0.7 μm, and the sorbed fraction accounted for 38-100% of the total concentrations. The derived K_d values for the suspended solids were in the order of 10⁴-10⁵, substantially greater than those reported for bulk soils and sediments. Distribution of pyrethroids in the wetland sediments was found to mimic organic carbon distribution, and was enriched in large particles that were partially decomposed plant materials, and clay-size particles (<2 μm). Retention of suspended particles, especially the very large particles (>250 μm) and the very fine particles, is thus essential in removing pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos in CWs. Under flooded and anaerobic conditions, most pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos showed moderate persistence, with DT₅₀ values between 106-353 d. However, the retained pyrethroids were very stable in dry and aerobic sediments between irrigation seasons, suggesting a possibility for accumulation over time. Therefore, the long-term ecological risks of CWs should be further understood before their wide adoption.     

Utilization of waste glass in ECO-cement: strength properties and microstructural observations

Waste glass creates a serious environmental problem, mainly because of the inconsistency of the waste glass streams. The use of waste glass as a finely ground mineral additive (FGMA) in cement is a promising direction for recycling. Based on the method of mechano-chemical activation, a new group of ECO-cements was developed. In ECO-cement, relatively large amounts (up to 70%) of portland cement clinker can be replaced with waste glass. This report examines the effect of waste glass on the microstructure and strength of ECO-cement based materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations were used to observe the changes in the cement hydrates and interface between the cement matrix and waste glass particles. According to the research results, the developed ECO-cement with 50% of waste glass possessed compressive strength properties at a level similar to normal portland cement.     

Status and trends of circumpolar peregrine falcon and gyrfalcon populations

Ambio - The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) are top avian predators of Arctic ecosystems. Although existing monitoring efforts are well established for both...     

Selective metal removal from chromium-containing synthetic effluents using Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm supported on zeolite

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A scheme of selective removal of metal ions from chromium-containing synthetic solutions with the following chemical composition, Cr (VI)-Fe (III), Cr...