Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,polychlorinated dibenzofurans and non-ortho,mono-ortho chlorine substituted biphenyls in Japanese human liver and adipose tissue

We measured PCDDs/DFs levels in Japanese human livers and adipose tissues in 1999, and TEQ were calculated with WHO TEF. The mean total levels of PCDDs/DFs in livers and adipose tissues were 57 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis and 49 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis, respectively. 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF, 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF, 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF concentrations in livers considerably differed from those in 1989 (p < 0.05). The mean non-ortho-chlorine substituted biphenyls levels showed 20 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis and 17 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis in livers and adipose tissues, respectively. In livers, the mean of 3,3',4,4'-TCB concentrations was 131 pg/g on a lipid basis, and 7.7-fold higher than that in 1989. The mean total mono-ortho-chlorine substituted biphenyls level was 13.0 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis in livers and 21.6 pg TEQ/g on a lipid basis in adipose tissues. 3,3',4,4',5-PeCB and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HxCB levels decreased in adipose tissues, and 3,3',4,4',5-PeCB level only decreased in livers. PCDDs, PCDFs, and mono- and non-ortho-chlorine substituted biphenyls levels may have decreased in livers and adipose tissues because of a governmental policy on dioxins discharge for the decade. Then, we estimated the correlations of PCDDs, PCDFs and the related compound levels between livers and adipose tissues. The correlative PCDDs congeners may have had a similar behavior to that between liver and adipose tissue. On the contrary, most PCDFs isomers may have different behavior between liver and adipose tissue, while 2',3,4,4',5-PeCB (IUPAC No. 123) may also have a different behavior between liver and adipose tissue.     

SUSPENDED SEDIMENT DYNAMICS IN SMALL FOREST STREAMS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST1

This paper reviews suspended sediment sources and transport in small forest streams in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, particularly in relation to riparian management. Mass movements, reading and yarding practices, and burning can increase the supply of suspended sediment. Sediment yields recovered to pre‐harvest levels within one to six years in several paired catchment studies. However, delayed mass movements related to roads and harvesting may produce elevated suspended sediment yield one or more decades after logging. There is mixed evidence for the role of streamside tree throw in riparian buffers in supplying sediment to streams. Harvesting within the riparian zone may not increase suspended sediment yield if near stream soils are not disturbed. Key knowledge gaps relate to the relative roles of increased transport capacity versus sediment supply, the dynamics of fine sediment penetration into bed sediments, and the effects of forest harvesting on suspended sediment at different scales. Future research should involve nested catchments to examine suspended sediment response to forest practices at multiple spatial scales, in combination with process‐based field studies.     

意大利的金枪鱼、箭鱼、鸬鹚以及家燕等体内的多氯萘、多氯联苯、多氯二苯-p-二恶英、多氯二苯并呋喃以及p,p''''-DDE

我们曾对从意大利收集的金枪鱼、箭鱼、普通鸬鹚以及家燕体内的p,p'-DDE、多氯联苯同类物(PCBs)、多氯二苯-p-二恶英(PCDDs)、多氯二苯并呋喃(PCDFs)以及多氯萘(PCNs)浓度进行过测量.     

Does interaction between bumblebees (Bombus ignitus) reduce their foraging area?: bee-removal experiments in a net cage

To examine whether the interaction between bumblebees, Bombus ignitus, reduces their foraging area, we conducted bee-removal experiments in a net cage. In the cage, we set potted Salvia farinacea plants, allowed bumblebees to forage freely on those plants, and followed their plant-to-plant movements to identify a bee with a relatively small foraging area. We then removed all the other foraging bees, except for the bee with a small foraging area, and observed the change of the foraging area of the focal bee under conditions of no interaction with other bees. After the removal of the other bees, all five bees tested enlarged their foraging areas, suggesting that the interaction between bees is an important determinant of their foraging areas. The result also means that bumblebees are able to adjust their foraging areas in response to other foragers, indicating the necessity for future studies to clarify what cues bees use to interact with other bees. Moreover, after the removal treatments, all five bees showed temporary increases in the number of flower probes per plant. This can be explained by their optimal foraging according to the old average intake rate for the plant population and by the delayed changes in response to the new high average energy intake rate after the bee-removal treatments.Communicated by M. Giurfa     

Microbial degradation of arsenobetaine, the major water soluble organoarsenic compound occurring in marine animals

The conversion of arsenobetaine into other arsenic compounds by microorganisms occurring in the bottom sediments from coastal waters was demonstrated for the first time. Three arsenic metabolites were observed on high performance liquid chromatogram during incubation at 25 °C for 80 days in 2 kinds of media, 1/5 ZoBell 2216E and a medium composed of inorganic salts. The time course pattern of arsenic metabolites during incubation was fairly different between these 2 media.     

Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution in Chinese and Japanese residential air

Comparative studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in residential air of Hangzhou (China) and Shizuoka (Japan) were conducted in summer (August, 2006) and winter (January, 2007). Total concentrations of 8 PAHs ranged from 7.1 to 320 ng/m³ and 0.15 to 35 ng/m³ in residential air of Hangzhou and Shizuoka, respectively. Air PAH concentrations in smoking houses were higher than that in nonsmoking houses. In nonsmoking houses, mothball emission and cooking practice were the emission sources of 2- and 3-ring PAHs in Hangzhou, respectively. The 2- and 3-ring PAHs were from use of insect repellent, kerosene heating and outdoor environment in nonsmoking houses in Shizuoka. The 5- and 6-ring PAHs in residential air were mainly from outdoor environment in both cities. Toxicity potencies of PAHs in residential air of Hangzhou were much higher than that in Shizuoka.     

Production of surfactin using pentose carbohydrate by Bacillus subtilis

Interest in microbial surfactants has been steadily increasing in recent years due to their diversity, mass production possibility, selectivity, performance under extreme conditions and potential applications in environmental protection. In this study two pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose) were investigated for the submerged fermentation (SmF) of Bacillus subtilis in surfactant production medium for bio-surfactant surfactin production. An excellent vegetative growth of B. subtilis (× 10¹⁰ CFU/mL) was observed for xylose and arabinose containing medium which were comparable to glucose supplemented medium. Low growth (× 10⁸ CFU/mL) was found when medium was not supplemented with any of the sugars. Surfactin production in xylose, arabinose and glucose containing medium was 2700, 2600 and 2000 mg/L, respectively, whereas, medium without any sugar showed low surfactin (700 mg/L) production. These results clearly indicate the effect of pentose sugars on production of surfactin. Gradual depletion of the xylose and arabinose were confirmed by HPLC analysis during the growth phase of the strain that ultimately produced the surfactin.     

Production of iturin A homologues under different culture conditions

Iturin A is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic and eight different kinds of iturin A have been reported based on its alkyl side chains. As iturin A is a promising biocontrol agent, total production of iturin A was tried to enhance and comparative production of its homologues was investigated by using different nitrogen and carbon sources. When Polypepton S and defatted soybean meal were used, total production as well as the ratio of the iturin A homologues were similar. However, production of iturin A was relatively lower and also the ratio of the iturin A homologues was different when Polypepton was used, where A2 was decreased and A4 was increased. Production ratio of the iturin A homologues was similar for the carbon sources like maltose, mannitol, sucrose and starch but relative production of iturin A2 was much enhanced compared to A3 when lactose or galactose was used. Interestingly production ratio of A4 was increased and A2 and A3 were decreased when no additional carbon source was used, and similar tendency was observed in the homologue ratio with glucose and fructose. Production of iturin A homologue A6 was significantly increased whereas A2 and A3 were decreased when defatted rapeseed cake was used. Utilization of different amino acids did not show significant differences in their production of the iturin A homologues. Oxygen supply found to be the factor affecting the production of iturin A homologues when it was investigated in a varied culture volume size and shaking speed. A2 found to be increased with increased oxygen supply where the production of A3 was affected inversely.     

Nitrate levels in fresh vegetables and berries from central Japan

Nitrate concentrations in 326 recent vegetables and berries sold in Niigata, located in central Japan, were investigated. Maximum nitrate concentrations of 6600 mg kg^?1 were detected in samples of komatsuna (Brassica campestris var. perviridis) and mizuna (B. campestris L.). Mean concentrations ranged from 4 mg kg^?1(blueberry) to 3500 mg kg^?1 (mizuna). Concentrations in spinach ranged from 10 to 6000 mg kg^?1 (mean 1500 mg kg^?1). Nitrate intake from spinach and Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus) were estimated to be 0.7 and 0.8 mg kg^?1 day^?1, respectively. These values are equivalent to 19% and 23% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Nitrate intake at the 90th percentile was estimated to be 1.3 mg kg^?1 day^?1 (35% of the ADI) from spinach and 1.6 mg kg^?1 day^?1 (43% of the ADI) from Japanese radish.