Modeling the effects of concentration history on the slow desorption of trichloroethene from a soil at 100% relative humidity

To determine the effects of concentration history on slow sorption processes, desorption kinetic profiles for trichloroethene (TCE) were measured for a soil at 100% relative humidity subject to different exposure concentrations and exposure times. Exposure concentrations ranged from 1% to 80% of the saturation vapor pressure (Ps) for TCE, and exposure times (i.e., time allowed for sorption before desorption begins) ranged from 1 to 96 days. A spherical diffusion model based on a gamma distribution of sorption rates and a gamma distribution of desorption rates was developed and applied to the data. At 80% P/Ps, the entire gamma distributions of sorption and desorption rates were available for TCE. In accordance with a micropore filling mechanism, the fraction of these distributions available for TCE sorption decreased with decreasing P/Ps. Experimental results are consistent with a micropore-filling mechanism, where the amount of slow desorbing mass decreased with decreasing exposure time, and the fraction of slow desorbing sites filled decreased with decreasing exposure concentration. Simulation results suggest that diffusion limits the rates that micropores fill, and that rates of sorption and desorption for soil contaminated at smaller values of P/Ps are, on average, less than those at larger values of P/Ps (i.e., slow desorption rates are a function of exposure concentration). Simulation results also suggest that the model adequately describes the effects of exposure concentration and exposure time on the rates of sorption and desorption, but not on the capacity of the slow sites for TCE. This work is important because contaminant concentrations in the subsurface vary in space and time, and the proposed model represents a new and mechanistically based approach to capture the effects of this heterogeneity on slow desorption.     

PCB disposition and different biological effects in rats following direct soil exposure vs. PCBs off-gassed from the soil

A comparison of PCB congener profiles and limited biological effects was made between direct exposure to PCB-contaminated soil and vapor phase PCBs from that soil to determine congener patterns useful for identifying exposure sources in humans and wildlife. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to either control or PCB-contaminated soil (from a landfill in Southern Illinois) for 1 and 2 weeks. The exposures were via direct contact with the soil or via airborne exposure with the rats isolated from the soil by a wire screen. Total PCB of 25% contaminated soil used in the study was 13?500?ppm. No PCBs were detectable in control rats. In direct-exposed rats, total PCB residues in fat pad, ear skin, serum, liver, and inguinal lymph nodes after the 1-week exposure were 6256, 185, 3.2, 149, and 41?ppm, respectively, but decreased to 465, 72, 1.7, 106, and 32.4?ppm after the 2-week exposure. In airborne-exposed rats, total PCB residues were 7.8, 1.6, 0.03, 0.2, and 0.6 in the same manner and slightly increased in fat pad and ear skin to 11.6 and 2.14, respectively. Decreases in both the concentrations and percentages of “episodic” PCBs (those congeners rapidly metabolized) in the fat pad were apparent following the 2-week exposure compared to the 1-week exposure by both routes. Both EROD and BROD activities were significantly increased in the direct-exposed rats, whereas only BROD activity increased in airborne-exposed rats. Serum T ₄ levels were depleted in the direct-exposed rats regardless of time of exposure but were increased insignificantly after 1-week and significantly after 2 weeks in the airborne-exposed rats. No significant changes in serum insulin levels were apparent in any of the treated groups. The results suggested that exposure of animals to PCBs via different routes could result in different PCB profiles, which could cause different biological effects.     

Sharing and preparing: cross-institutional,food security-based knowledge in Canada

This study proposes a framework for the collection and management of knowledge related to food security in Canada. This paper has several goals. First, the paper summarizes the current state of food security knowledge in Canada. Second, the paper presents data from an experiment where food security issues were discussed by stakeholders at two fora, the first of which was held in western Canada and the second held in eastern Canada. Finally, based on the notes taken during and feedback received after the fora, this paper suggests a framework for organizing and managing the multiple perspectives and complex types of knowledge about food security and sustainable development from a Canadian context. Two fora were held in Canada where food security issues were presented and discussed by multiple stakeholders. Most provinces in Canada were represented in at least one of the two sessions. Sessions were designed to be informative and interactive; agenda were designed to take advantage of the needs and experiences of multiple stakeholders in both western and eastern regions of Canada. To develop the framework, the sessions were also designed to assess the types of issues and knowledge about food security in Canada. Evidence presented from this experiment supports arguments that food security work must be approached in a collaborative manner, no matter the approach or discipline. Data from fora held in western and eastern regions of Canada indicate a number of specific ways in which those along the food continuum have the desire to share knowledge and enter into partnerships to work toward secure and sustainable food systems. Data also indicate how academia and institutions of higher learning might play a key role in sharing food security-based knowledge. The data from this study suggest that academia could play a leadership role in collecting and sharing information about food security-based knowledge from all disciplinary approaches that could help collaborative in addressing the complexity of food security challenges. The framework developed in this paper could provide the guide for organizing knowledge about food security and sustainable development. The framework could be used as a map to guide understanding about the different ways in which food security can be approached and understood; this could help reduce tensions among partners in projects where a wide variety of experiences are attempting to work collaboratively. The two food security fora brought together stakeholders with specialized knowledge about food security in a Canadian context. The analysis of data arising from the fora permitted unique insights to arise about the nature of knowledge by region. The data in this study also allowed us to build a framework for food security knowledge from these regional knowledge bases. This paper suggests that academia actively take a leadership role and openly share knowledge about food security. Open sharing of knowledge will help collaborates in dealing with complex food security issues understand in-depth other approaches; this sharing may help to make explicit the tensions that arise during collaborative work.     

Effects of plant morphology on small-scale distribution of invertebrates

Habitat structure influences organism communities by mediating interactions between individuals and species, affecting abundance and species richness. We examined whether variations in the morphology of soft-bottom plants affect their function as habitat and whether complex structured plants support higher macroinvertebrate abundance and species richness. Three Baltic Sea plant species were studied, together with artificial plants resembling each species. In a field collection, we found higher invertebrate abundance on the morphologically more complex plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Chara baltica than on the structurally simpler plant Potamogeton perfoliatus. In a colonization experiment, we found the highest invertebrate abundance on artificial M. spicatum but found no difference between natural plants. Invertebrate taxon richness displayed no consistent relationship with plant structural complexity. The results imply that plant morphology influences small-scale invertebrate distribution, partly supporting the hypothesis that structurally complex plants harbour higher invertebrate abundance.     

Chaotic genetic patchiness and high relatedness of a poecilogonous polychaete in a heterogeneous estuarine landscape

The genetic structure of benthic marine invertebrates is often described as “chaotic” when genetic structure cannot be explained and barriers to dispersal and gene flow cannot be identified. Here, chaotic patterns of genetic structure for the polychaete Pygospio elegans (Claparède) sampled at 16 locations from the heterogeneous Isefjord–Roskilde Fjord estuary complex in Denmark were found. There was no isolation by distance, and the geography of the estuary complex did not seem to pose a barrier to dispersal and gene flow in this species. We investigated whether characteristics of the environment could be related to the genetic structure and possibly restrict gene flow in this species. Additionally, since P. elegans is poecilogonous, producing larvae with different pelagic developmental periods, we investigated whether observed developmental modes in the samples might clarify the genetic patterns. None of the tested factors explained the population genetic structure. However, a high degree of relatedness among individuals in almost all samples was found. Samples with a larger percentage of young individuals had more related individuals, suggesting that different cohorts could be comprised of individuals with different degrees of relatedness. Relatedness within a site could be increased by limited larval dispersal, collective dispersal of related larvae, sweepstakes reproductive success, or asexual reproduction, but distinguishing between these requires further study. Using a “seascape genetics” approach allowed us to investigate some of the numerous potential factors that could influence population genetic structure in a poecilogonous species.     

Marine Organisms as Indicators of Heavy Metal Pollution-Experience from 16 Years of Monitoring at a Lead Zinc Mine in Greenland

In monitoring the impact of a lead-zinc mine in Greenland, species of fish, prawns, seaweed and mussels have been analysed for cadmium, copper, lead and zinc for several years. These metals have been released to the marine environment in significant amounts from the mining operation.     

Biodiversity consequences of alternative future land use scenarios in Greater Yellowstone.

Land use is rapidly expanding in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, primarily from growth in the number of rural homes. There is a need to project possible future land use and assess impacts on nature reserves as a guide to future management. We assessed the potential biodiversity impacts of alternative future land use scenarios in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. An existing regression-based simulation model was used to project three alternative scenarios of future rural home development. The spatial patterns of forecasted development were then compared to several biodiversity response variables that included cover types, species habitats, and biodiversity indices. We identified the four biodiversity responses most at risk of exurban development, designed growth management policies to protect these areas, and tested their effectiveness in two alternative future scenarios. We found that the measured biodiversity responses, including riparian habitat, elk winter range, migration corridors, and eight other land cover, habitat, and biodiversity indices, are likely to undergo substantial conversion (between 5% and 40%) to exurban development by 2020. Future habitat conversion to exurban development outside the region's nature reserves is likely to impact wildlife populations within the reserves. Existing growth management policies will provide minimal protection to biodiversity in this region. We identified specific growth management policies, including incentives to cluster future growth near towns, that can protect "at risk" habitat types without limiting overall growth in housing.     

The continuous monitoring of field water samples with a novel multi-channel two-stage mini-bioreactor system

Toxicity monitoring of field water samples was performed using a novel multi-channel two-stage mini-bioreactor system and genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria for the continuous monitoring and classification of the toxicity present in the samples. The toxicity of various samples spiked with known endocrine disrupting chemicals and phenol was also investigated for system characterization. The field samples used in this study were obtained from two different sites on a monthly basis--from a drinking water treatment plant, referred to as site N, and from a stream near a dam which is currently being constructed, referred to as site T. These samples were either pumped or injected into the second mini-bioreactors to initiate the toxicity test. Most of the samples did not show any specific toxicity. However, one sample showed to have, based upon the detection results, and was deemed toxic. The samples spiked with phenol showed possible responses in the DPD2540 and TV1061 channels, indicating the occurrence of both membrane and protein damage due to phenol. In the tests using an endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A, DNA damage was detected in the DPD2794 channel with a concentration of 2 ppm. Finally, a simple but novel early warning protocol that can be used in a drinking water reservoir and a suspected place where effluents of toxic materials enter the water sourse was suggested with a schematic diagram. In conclusion, this system showed good feasibility for use as a toxicity monitoring system in the field and as an early warning system, indicating if effluents are toxic.     

Integral assessment of estrogenic potentials of sediment-associated samples

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Exogenic endocrine-active substances are also called 'Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals' (EDC). They imitate or hinder the function of natural endogenic hormones or disturb the synthesis or the metabolism of hormones or of hormone receptors. The Enzyme-Linked Receptor Assay (ELRA) can detect estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects at the level of receptor binding and is a useful tool for the integrative detection of contaminant effects. Although the test system has been used repeatedly in sediment assessments, the questions have remained concerning how it responds to variations in the physico-chemical matrix. For some bioassays, the salinity of the sample is a critical factor. This is especially relevant when testing wastewater samples or when sediment-associated samples in the tidal reaches of rivers are tested. Sediments in the tidal reaches of rivers change their salinity several times a day. Against this background, it would be beneficial to have a test procedure of known salinity tolerance. On account of this, the salinity tolerance of the ELRA was tested, assessed with reference substances at several salinity levels, and compared with the E-Screen method and a Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES), which are also frequently applied in environmental testing. The aim of this paper was to explore when the salinity limits within these test procedures are applicable. The trials should reveal the working range to be expected, characterize the salinity-dependent variations in sensitivity of the test, and provide options for methodological adjustments to improve the stability against increased salinity. METHODS: The ELRA was carried out with the human Estrogen Receptor alpha. (ER) using the same principle like a competitive immunoassay based on ligand-protein interaction. However, an essential difference is the use of a physiologically relevant receptor instead of an antibody as a linking protein. The ELRA measures the competition of sample estrogens and anti-estrogens against estradiol supplied as a BSA-coating conjugate for the binding site of dissolved ER. Estradiol or xeno-estrogen binding is quantified by a biotynilated anti-ER antibody and the subsequent measurement of peroxidase activity by a streptavidin-POD-biotin complex. The E-Screen was performed with the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, which expresses the estrogen receptor constitutively. Cell proliferation depends on binding of estrogens or xeno-estrogens with the receptor. After incubation, estrogen-dependent cell growth was measured by sulforhodamin B staining. The YES was performed with a recombinant yeast strain, transfected with a receptor and a reporter plasmid bearing the estrogen receptor and a vitellogenin gene fused with the reporter gene lacZ. Estrogen or xeno-estrogen-dependent gene induction was measured indirectly by LacZ activity. The salinity levels were simulated in varying concentrations with NaCl from 0 to 40 per thousand or Artificial Sea Water (ASW) from 0 to 32 per thousand. RESULTS: The study characterized the factor 'salinity' for the prospective application fields of the ELRA. With reference substances such as 17-beta-estradiol, the ELRA showed classical sigmoidal concentration-effect relations in a range from 0.05 to 100 microg/l under physiological conditions. After a methodological adjustment to compensate decreasing receptor-binding affinity of estrogens and xeno-estrogens at higher salinity levels, the ELRA became applicable under salinity conditions up to concentrations of 20.5 per thousand. In tests, the ELRA reached under the influence of salinity a mean limit of detection of 0.062 microg/l 17-beta-estradiol. The mean relative inter-test error was around 11%. Above concentrations of 20.5 per thousand there is a risk of false negative assessment. Compared with the E-Screen method using the MCF7 cell line and the yeast estrogen test system (YES), the ELRA shows a lower sensitivity to 17-beta-estradiol. In the E-Screen, the cell proliferation was strongly reduced by sodium chloride induced cytotoxicity. In comparison with the E-Screen, the salinity tolerance of the YES and YAS methods is significantly higher. DISCUSSION: Despite adaption, total salinity tolerance could not be achieved with the ELRA. Freshwater samples were generally appraisable. Higher salinity levels above 20.5 per thousand would tend towards false negative results. The low inter-test error of 11% makes the ELRA suitable for the detection of estrogenic and anti-estrogenic potentials of single substances, substance mixtures, and of environmental samples. CONCLUSIONS: The ELRA is very fast and reproducible, it can be used for high-throughput screening in a microplate format at low cost, it is robust to microbial contamination, and is less susceptible to cytotoxic interferences than cell culture methods. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In their established form, the YES and the E-Screen methods are not applicable for liquid phase testing at higher salinity conditions. The salinity-adapted test version of the ELRA described here shows a broader working range for samples. Native water samples of more or less brackish origin or high-salinity effluent samples are testable. Results of tests with sediment associated samples of different salinity will be subject of a forthcoming publication.