Distribution and inventories of fallout radionuclides (239+240Pu, 137Cs) and 210Pb to study the filling velocity of salt marshes in Doñana National Park (Spain)

Within an extensive multinational and multidisciplinary project carried out in Do?ana National Park (Spain) to investigate its preservation and regeneration, the filling velocity of the salt marshes has been evaluated through the calculation of their average sediment accumulation rates. (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs from weapons testing fallout and total (210)Pb distribution profiles and inventories have been determined in some of the most characteristic zones of the park, namely, the ponds (or "lucios") and the waterjets (or "ca?os"). Plutonium inventories range from 16 to 101 Bq m(-2), (137)Cs values fluctuate between 514 and 3,758 Bq m(-2) and unsupported (210)Pb values comprise between 124 and 9398 Bq m(-2). Average sedimentation rates range from 3 to 5 mm y(-1) (1952-2002). These data are higher than those obtained by carbon dating for the period 6,500 AD-present, estimated as 1.5-2 mm y(-1), suggesting an increase in the accumulation of sediments and the alteration of the park's hydrodynamics caused by the re-channeling of the major rivers feeding the salt marshes.     

Primary organic pollutants in New Zealand urban aerosol in winter during high PM10 episodes

In the two biggest New Zealand cities, Auckland and Christchurch, the mass concentration of the PM10 atmospheric aerosol can exceed the 50 microg m(-3) 24 h health guideline in winter. This high pollution level is thought to be caused mainly by old-fashioned domestic heating systems based on wood combustion. Therefore the chemistry of the carbonaceous aerosol has been investigated in several high-pollution level urban situations in order to assess the origin of the pollution. All the high concentration organic tracers, including levoglucosan and dehydroabietic acid, were characteristic for biomass burning. The findings have confirmed via advanced chemical analytical methods that domestic heating can be the main contributor to the high level of wintertime pollution, especially in Christchurch. The results are of great importance in supporting the ambition of authorities and environmental associations to change the domestic heating regimes.     

The occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in river and coastal biota from Portugal

Throughout this work PBDEs level determination in biota was developed for the first time in Portugal. The data obtained was important to provide a global perspective of Portugal contamination by PBDEs and allows the comparison with studies made in other countries. Environmental levels of fourteen polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analysed in a number of biota samples (Barbus sp. and Mytilus galloprovincialis) taken over a large geographic range covering five rivers and coastal areas of Portugal. Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 47) was found in almost all samples ranging from not detected (nd) to 30ngg(-1) dry weight (dw). BDE 47 concentration is correlated with mussels weight indicating the bioaccumulation of this compound. Pentabromodiphenyl ethers (BDE 99 and BDE 100) were detected in several samples, but in lower concentrations.     

Biomineralisation during operculum regeneration in the polychaete Spirobranchus lamarcki

Formation of calcified biominerals is widespread in marine animals and is often associated with important elements of their biology, such as support and protection. Serpulid polychaetes are relatively understudied examples of biomineralisation despite their prominence in many marine ecosystems. An investigation of calcification in the regenerating opercular plate of the serpulid polychaete Spirobranchus (formerly Pomatoceros) lamarcki was performed using optical microscopy, calcein labelling and powder diffraction analysis. Worms were collected between January 2012 and June 2013 from East Sands beach, St Andrews, Scotland (56.33°N, 2.78°W). The earliest visible signs of calcification were birefringent grains. Later-stage regenerates displayed a complex mixture of calcified structures including grains, round, smooth tiles, and larger tiles with a rugged appearance. The plate matures by the growth and eventual merging of tiles into a contiguous crust. Calcein pulse-chase experiments showed the progression of calcification from the centre towards the edge of the plate, and powder diffraction analysis of three regenerative stages revealed a major shift in mineralogy from a predominantly calcitic to a predominantly aragonitic composition. The mechanisms underlying the shift are currently unknown. These are the first mineralogical data comparing different developmental stages in a serpulid operculum and contribute to the understanding of biomineralisation in this group.     

Investigation of the antibacterial effects of silver-modified TiO2 and ZnO plasmonic photocatalysts embedded in polymer thin films

Nanosilver-modified TiO₂ and ZnO photocatalysts were studied against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the surface and against naturally occurring airborne microorganisms. The photocatalysts/polymer nanohybrid films were prepared by spray coating technique on the surface of glass plates and on the inner surface of the reactive light source. The photoreactive surfaces were activated with visible light emitting LED light at λ?=?405 nm. The optical properties of the prepared photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films were characterized by diffuse reflectance measurements. The photocatalytic properties were verified with the degradation of ethanol by gas chromatography measurements. The destruction of the bacterial cell wall component was examined with transmission electron microscope. The antibacterial effect of the photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films was tested with different methods and with the associated standard ISO 27447:2009. With the photoreactive coatings, an extensive disinfectant film was developed and successfully prepared. The cell wall component of S. aureus was degraded after 1 h of illumination. The antibacterial effect of the nanohybrid films has been proven by measuring the decrease of the number of methicillin-resistant S. aureus on the surface and in the air as the function of illumination time. The photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films could inactivate 99.9 % of the investigated bacteria on different thin films after 2 h of illumination with visible light source. The reactive light source with the inner-coated photocatalyst could kill 96 % of naturally occurring airborne microorganisms after 48 h of visible light illumination in indoor air sample. The TEM results and the microbiological measurements were completed with toxicity tests carried out with Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence bacterium.     

Degradation of industrial surfactants by photocatalysis combined with ozonation

The efficiency of titanium dioxide-mediated photocatalytic degradation of pollutants can be enhanced by combination with another advanced oxidation procedure such as ozonation. Mineralization of hydroxy- and dihydroxybenzenesulfonate based on these methods, both individually and combined, was investigated by monitoring the total organic carbon content, sulfate concentration, pH, high-performance liquid chromatography as well as the absorption spectral changes. The mineralization efficiency of the combined procedure significantly exceeded the sum of those of the individual techniques. The comparison of the disappearance of the starting material and the formation of the sulfate ions indicates that desulfonation is not the primary step of the degradation. Moreover, in the case of the combined method, ring cleavage, and thus, partial mineralization can occur without desulfonation. Efficient degradation of other, widely used industrial surfactants, such as alkylbenzene sulfonates and alkyl ether sulfates, was also achieved by heterogeneous photocatalysis combined with ozonation, offering an applicable method for the removal of these pollutants.     

Preen gland removal increases plumage bacterial load but not that of feather-degrading bacteria

The preen gland is a holocrine sebaceous gland of the avian integument which produces an oily secretion that is spread on the plumage during preening. It has been suggested that birds may defend themselves against feather-degrading bacteria (FDB) and other potential pathogens using preen gland secretions. However, besides some in vitro studies, the in vivo bacterial inhibitory effects of the preen oil on the abundance of feather-associated bacterial species has not yet been studied in passerines. Here we tested the effect of gland removal on the abundance of FDB and other-cultivable bacterial loads (OCB) of male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Our results did not support earlier results on in vitro antibacterial activity of preen oil against FDB since the absence of the preen gland did not significantly affect their loads related to the control birds. In contrast, we found that preen gland removal led to higher loads of OCB. This result suggests that the antimicrobial spectrum of the preen oil is broader than previously thought and that, by reducing the overall feather bacterial loads, the preen gland could help birds to protect themselves against a variety of potentially harmful bacteria.     

Yttrium Normalisation: a New Tool for Detection of Chromium Contamination in Soil Samples

The measurement of chromium and yttrium concentration could give a chance to detect 5–10 times less chromium contamination in soil by using the yttrium normalisation method. The principle of the method is the following: elements such as chromium and yttrium exist naturally in the soil in a strongly bonded form. Therefore, in a noncontaminated area there should be a close correlation between the yttrium and chromium concentrations. If the measured Cr concentration in a sample is not on the Cr–Y trend line then the distance of plotted point from the line indicates the amount of anthropogenic chromium. Anthropogenic chromium can be detected only in the case when the contamination does not contain yttrium. This theory was tested in an agricultural–toxicological field experiment where Cr(VI) was added to the soil. Applying the yttrium normalisation method a much smaller anthropogenic effect was detected than by other evaluation methods.     

A world model of the pulp and paper industry: Demand,energy consumption and emission scenarios to 2030

This article introduces a bottom-up global model of the pulp and paper sector (PULPSIM) with a focus on energy consumption and carbon emissions. It is an annual recursive simulation behavioural model with a 2030 time horizon incorporating several technological details of the industry for 47 world regions. The long time horizon and the modular structure allow the model users to assess the effects of different environmental, energy and climate policies in a scenario comparison setup. In addition to the business as usual developments of the sector, a climate commitment scenario has been analysed, in which the impacts of changing forest management practices are also included. The climate scenario results reveal that there is a significant carbon reduction potential in the pulp and paper making, showing a number of specific features: the central role of the fibrous resource inputs and the potential impact of increased waste wood and black liquor based heat generation.     

Chemical evaluation of SZI‐121, a tetrazine type miticide

Abstract

SZI‐121, a tetrazine type acaricide, has been improved by Chinoin. The compound is very active against phytophagous mites and has good toxicological and environmental properties. The chemical structure was designed to get improvements in mode of action and efficacy simultaneously. SZI‐121 acts not only as a contact ovicide but due to very good translaminar activity it can enter mites via ingestion. SZI‐121 possesses transovarian activity and it also able to stop the development of mites at chrysalis stages.