Response of two cultivars of Triticum aestivum L. to simulated acid rain

The present experiment was aimed at assessing the impact of simulated acidic precipitation (SAR) on growth, biomass accumulation and yield of two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Malviya 206 and 234, varying in cuticular thickness and leaf area. Wheat cultivars were exposed to simulated rain acidified to pH 5.6 (control), 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 3.0 from 30 days of age, twice a week for five weeks. The plants received ambient precipitation of unknown acidity, as well as the acid rain treatments. Growth parameters such as shoot height, root length, and leaf area were reduced significantly in treated plants at different growth stages. Above and below-ground biomass also decreased significantly in the plants treated with acidic precipitation. Relative to control, the number of grains per plant and yield per m(2) declined significantly at all SAR treatments. The hypothesis that the variety with thinner cuticle and greater leaf area would be more susceptible to acidic precipitation was not supported by the present study.     

Radium-226 in cattails, Typha latifolia, and bone of muskrat, Ondatra zibethica (L.), from a watershed with uranium tailings near the city of Elliot Lake, Canada

Radium-226 concentrations were measured in the main food plants (cattails, Typha latifolia) and bone of adult muskrats (Ondatra zibethica (L.)), taken from a study area near Quirke Lake in the Serpent River drainage basin. This watershed receives drainage containing radionuclides from the U tailings near the City of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada. Two control sites (one local, one 130 km distant) were also sampled. Radium-226 levels in cattails varied by plant part and place of collection. Roots sampled in the study area had the highest mean (226)Ra level (1135.0 mBq g(-1)), stems and leaves had 284.2 and 275.9 mBq g(-1), respectively (dry-weight basis, n = 6 in all cases). Local and distant control cattails carried much lower (226)Ra levels (20.2 and 15.2 mBq g(-1) dry weight, respectively, using pooled equal portions of all plant parts, n = 3 in both cases). Muskrats from waters with mean total (226)Ra levels in the period, 1984-1987 greater than 75.0 mBq litre(-1) ('study-high' sites), near U tailings within 10 km of Quirke Lake, had a mean (geometric) bone level of (226)Ra of 344.9 mBq g(-1) (dry-weight basis, n = 36); those from nearby waters, containing < 75.0 mBq litre(-1) of (226)Ra ('study-low' sites), had a mean bone level (80.3 mBq g(-1), n = 9) similar to animals taken in unaffected local control areas 20 km from the tailings (79.1 mBq g(-1), n = 12); animals from the distant control area, near Sudbury, Ontario, had the lowest mean burden (11.5 mBq g(-1), n = 24). Levels were unrelated to age or sex of the animals. Dry-weight based (226)Ra concentration ratios (bone concentration/plant tissue concentration) were calculated to range from 0.3-1.4 in the study-high area to 2.4-6.3 in the local control area. Wet-weight based concentration ratios were about 4.3 times higher. Concentration ratios were similar to values calculated for other species and in general agreement with values calculated for humans. The muskrat is judged to be a useful indicator (biomonitor) of environmental (226)Ra levels as there is a highly significant positive correlation coefficient (r = 0.74) between bone and ambient (water) concentrations of the radionuclide (F79 = 95.04, P < 0.0001) Estimated yearly (226)Ra intake by people eating muskrats was calculated to be below the current allowable level set by Canadian regulatory authorities.     

U- and Th-series radionuclides in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) taken near U mill tailings close to Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada

Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) trapped near U tailings had higher concentrations of (226)Ra in their bones (250 +/- 94 mBq g(-1) dry wt) than those from local control sites 3-15 km from the tailings (20-30 mBq g(-1) dry wt) and those from a distant control site 880 km away from the U mining area, which were below the detection limit (DL) (3.7 mBq g(-1) dry wt). Most chyme (stomach content) samples contained 226Ra below DL. Concentration ratios of 226Ra from tissues of local plants, considered important in the hare's diet, to bone ranged from 0.22 to 8.60. Concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po (95-245 mBq g(-1) dry wt) were not significantly different among tailings and control site populations. Disequilibrium between these isotopes and their precursors was noted. No significant accumulation of U and Th was noted at any site. Higher concentrations of 228Th compared to 232Th are attributed to accumulation of 228Ra in a manner similar to that of 226Ra. Based on bone 226Ra and 210Po contents, the maximum internal dose rates to the skeleton and the maximum life-time dose of hare living near tailings were 3.9 x 10(-5) Gy d(-1) and 4.2 x 10(-2) Gy, respectively. These rates were below the threshold required to produce osteosarcoma in other mammals and were considered unlikely to adversely affect hare during their lifetime. Radionuclide uptake by the animals was concluded to have no environmental significance in the transport of radionuclides from tailings to other locations.     

Persistent organochlorines in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St Lawrence River estuary--I. Concentrations and patterns of specific PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans

Blubber samples from beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the St Lawrence River estuary were analysed for PCB congeners (ortho- and non-ortho-substituted) and other persistent organochlorines as well as chlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs). Major individual components (mean concentrations > 1 microg g(-1)) were 4,4'-DDE, -DDD and -DDT, T12 (a toxaphene-related compound), trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, mirex, HCB, tris(p-chlorophenyl) methane and dieldrin. Concentrations of SigmaPCBs (8.3-412 microg g(-1)), SigmaDDT (3.36-389 microg g(-1)) and mirex (0.18-6.8 microg g(-1)) were particularly elevated relative to other odontocetes in Canadian waters. SigmaDDT, PCBs (as Aroclor), mirex and T12 concentrations were positively correlated with age of adult females (> 10 years) but only weakly, or not significantly, correlated with age of adult males. PCDD/Fs were present at low ng kg(-1) levels and consisted mainly of penta- and hexachlorofurans, and hepta- and octachlorodioxin. CB126 (3,3',4,4',5-PCB) was the most prominent non-ortho-substituted PCB congener in beluga blubber. Total TCDD toxic equivalents averaged 330 ng kg(-1) in females and 1400 ng kg(-1) in males and were dominated by CB126, and the mono-ortho-substituted congeners CB105 and CB118. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for mirex and SigmaPCB from fish to beluga ranged from 11 to 16, and were similar to BMFs in Arctic animals, indicating that elevated levels in St Lawrence animals are a consequence of relatively high levels of recalcitrant organochlorines in prey of the beluga in the St Lawrence river system.     

Effects of the phenylurea herbicide isoproturon on periphytic diatom communities in freshwater indoor microcosms

The toxic effects of the phenylurea herbicide Isoproturon -IPU: (3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea)-were studied on the colonization of periphytic diatom communities, within indoor microcosms consisting of a mixed biotope (water column and natural sediment) and two biological species-rooted macrophyte cuttings (Elodea densa) and benthic bivalve molluscs (Corbicula fluminea). The periphyton, essentially composed of diatoms, was collected on artificial substrata (glass slides) in the upper layers of the water column, after two periods of exposure (34 and 71 days). IPU was initially added in the water or in the sediment compartment, at two nominal concentrations (L1 and L2 levels) for each contamination source-5 and 20 microg litre(-1) and 100 and 400 microg kg(-1) in sediment (w/w) respectively. The effects of IPU on the density and community structure of periphytic diatoms are described. A marked reduction in the diatom density was observed after 34 days exposure to the lower concentration of IPU in the water (5 microg litre(-1)). For the L2 levels, the very small number of live cells present did not permit quantification of the diatom density. After 71 days, recovery in community parameters occurred for the two contamination levels of the sediment and water column sources. Samples collected in the experimental units contaminated with the L2 levels were dominated by heterotrophic and smaller diatom species, such as Sellaphora seminulum. Data treatment based on factorial discriminant analysis enabled us to distinguish the different contamination conditions, with only 11 species from the 130 taxa identified.     

Effects of ethylenediurea (EDU) on ozone-induced acceleration of foliar senescence in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the anti-ozonant ethylenediurea (EDU) and chronic ozone (O3) exposure on leaf physiology and senescence in an O3-sensitive potato cultivar (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Norland). A dose-response experiment showed that an EDU concentration of 15 mg l(-1) soil (given as a soil drench) provided complete protection from accelerated foliar senescence induced by exposure to 0.1 microl l(-1) O3 for 5 h day(-1) for 11 days. EDU doses of 45 and 75 mg active ingredient l(-1) soil also gave protection but were associated with symptoms of toxicity and delayed senescence. In further experiments, plants were given 0 or 15 mg EDU l(-1) soil and exposed to clean air or 0.1 microl l(-1) O3 for 5 h day(-1) for 14 days. Chronic O3 exposure in the absence of EDU resulted in accelerated foliar senescence, characterized by early declines in net photosynthesis and Rubisco quantity in O3-treated plants relative to controls. EDU in the presence of O3 gave complete protection against symptoms of accelerated senescence. Senescence was not delayed in plants that received EDU in the absence of O3, and no symptoms of EDU toxicity were evident. The results suggest that EDU-induced tolerance to O3 was not based on 'anti-senescent' properties of this anti-ozonant.     

Effect of ozone on net photosynthesis in oat (Avena sativa) and duckweed (Lemna gibba)

Short exposure to ozone depressed photosynthesis in both oat and duckweed at concentrations above 140 microg m(-3) and 300 microg m(-3), respectively. The effect on exposed oat flag leaves was age-dependent, with maximum susceptibility to ozone 10-20 days after emergence of the panicle. In duckweed, photosynthesis was more sensitive to differences in ozone concentration than to differences in duration of exposure.     

Response of thermal stressed bobwhite to organophosphorus exposure

Constant and intermittent cold stressed juvenile northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) were exposed to chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus insecticide, following avian dietary LC(50) test procedures. Chlorpyrifos concentrations ranged from 100 to 1000 ppm; ambient temperatures (T(a)) included 35.0 (control), 32.5, 30.0 and 27.5 degrees C. Survival decreased significantly under constant cold conditions. Non-survivors averaged 33% weight loss, but survivor weight dropped with increasing dose and decreasing T(a). Control quail at all temperatures maintained a constant body temperature (T(b)); however, T(b) of dosed quail fell with increasing dose and decreasing T(a). Non-surviving cold stressed quail had higher cholinesterase (ChE) activity that non-survivors at 35 degrees C; in addition, dead quail failed to average the 50% inhibition of ChE used to implicate a ChE depressant in death. Daily exposure of quail to 12 h of warmth increased survival. Survivors of intermittent cold stress experienced less weight loss than constant cold survivors due to reduced metabolic costs. Synergistic effects were evident in juvenile northern bobwhite exposed simultaneously to chlorpyrifos and cold stress; however, mortality and certain sublethal effects were mitigated when cold exposure was intermittent.