Translocation trisomy 21 in CVS not found in embryoblast: Three different cell lines in CVS,amnion- and placental culture

Chorionic villus samples from a healthy pregnant female were obtained for first-trimester prenatal diagnosis. A translocation trisomy 21 was diagnosed. A consecutive amniocentesis revealed a normal male karyotype. At term a healthy boy was born. Cytogenetic analysis from cord blood showed a regular karyotype of 46,XY, whereas in term placenta a pathological karyotype of 47,XY,+mar was found.     

Ecophysiological responses of Empetrum nigrum to heavy metal pollution

Chlorophyll, organic (citric and malic acids) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents and stem water potential were measured to indicate possible physiological effects of heavy metal deposition on Empetrum nigrum L. (crowberry). The leaves and stems of E. nigrum were collected at distances of 0.5 and 8 km from the Cu-Ni smelter at Harjavalta, south-west Finland. All the investigated parameters were clearly affected by heavy metal emissions. Chlorophyll contents in the leaves and organic acid contents in the leaves and stems were lower close to the emission source. Generally found increase in organic acid contents with increasing Ni concentrations was not found, which might be due to the lower production of organic acids measured by decreased photosynthesis near the smelter. In contrast, ABA contents in stems and leaves in general, were higher in plants growing 0.5 km from the pollution source. Close to the smelter the stem water potential of E. nigrum was less negative during the day but more negative during the night. These results suggest that smelter emissions have a negative effect on the ecophysiology of E. nigrum even though it is considered to be a tolerant species to heavy metals.     

Speciation and leachability of copper in mine tailings from porphyry copper mining: influence of particle size

Mine tailing from the El Teniente-Codelco copper mine situated in VI Region of Chile was analysed in order to evaluate the mobility and speciation of copper in the solid material. Mine tailing was sampled after the rougher flotation circuits, and the copper content was measured to 1150 mg kg (-1) dry matter. This tailing was segmented into fractions of different size intervals: 0-38, 38-45, 45-53, 53-75, 75-106, 106-150, 150-212, and >212 microm, respectively. Copper content determination, sequential chemical extraction, and desorption experiments were carried out for each size interval in order to evaluate the speciation of copper. It was found that the particles of smallest size contained 50-60% weak acid leachable copper, whereas only 32% of the copper found in largest particles could be leached in weak acid. Copper oxides and carbonates were the dominating species in the smaller particles, and the larger particles contained considerable amounts of sulphides.     

Survey of dioxin sources in the Baltic Region (extended summary)

The present paper summarises the results of the project: 'Survey of Anthropogenic Sources of Dioxins and Furans in the Baltic Region'. As a part of the project, inventories have been carried out in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland by applying the toolkit for quantification of dioxin and furan releases developed by UNEP Chemicals. The main route of direct releases to the environment is emission to air. Total emission to air from Poland was estimated at 490 (88-1,300) g I-TEQ/year, whereas the emissions from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were estimated as being 14 (2.4-54), 23 (2.6-63) and 17 (2.6-38) g I-TEQ, respectively. In general, the uncertainty on the estimates is very high, and recommendations regarding further development of the inventories have been made, and measures for reducing the releases have been provided.     

Mechanisms of copper toxicity in the shore crab,Carcinus maenas

The influence of copper(II)chloride on selected key enzymes and metabolites in intermediary metabolism and the energy charge potential of the hyperregulating shore crab, Carcinus maenas (L.) were investigated. Crabs, collected in Odense Fjord, Denmark between September 1989 and May 1990, were exposed to 10 ppm copper(II)chloride, in 10 ppt salinity seawater at 15°C for up to 1 wk. Hexokinase activity was 77% lower in the posterior gills and 60% lower in the midgut gland than in control crabs. Phosphofructokinase activity was reduced in the midgut gland by 82% but was unaffected in the gills. Pyruvate kinase activity was undetectable in the gills of exposed crabs and reduced by 47% in the midgut gland. Citrate synthase activity was depressed by 30% in the posterior gills and unaffected in other tissues. Copper exposure had no apparent effect on tissue cytochrome c oxidase activity. Chela muscle was the only tissue in which copper exposure did not bring about reductions in the enzyme activities tested. As a result of 1 wk of copper exposure the average lactate level increased by 3.5-fold in haemolymph, 9.3-fold in posterior gills and 6.5-fold in midgut gland. The average glucose level was raised by a factor of 6 in the haemolymph, 3.4 in the posterior gills and 1.2 in the midgut gland. Energy charge potential was at a very high level (ca. 0.9) and was unaffected by copper exposure.     

Chromatographic measurement of molecular markers of sources of atmospheric aerosol particles

Various organic compounds in aerosol particles in ambient air near a coniferous forest fire in Boulder, Colorado were identified as molecular markers of wood burning and forest fires. Particle samples were collected by filtering small volumes of air. The samples were analysed using thermal desorption followed by gas chromatographic separation and detection, a highly sensitive analytical method. Several compounds unique to softwood combustion were identified in the samples. Additionally, a predominance of odd-carbon-numbered n-alkanes over the corresponding even-carbon-numbered n-alkanes was observed. This predominance is a well-documented molecular pattern indicative of epicutical waxes in plants.     

Physiological effects of the detergent linear alkylbenzene sulphonate on blue mussel larvae (Mytilus edulis) in laboratory and mesocosm experiments

A series of laboratory (short-term exposure in small beakers) studies and a 19 d mesocosm (6 m³ polyethylene bags filled with fjord water) study were conducted on blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, larvae and plantigrades exposed to a concentration gradient of the detergent linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS, 0 to 39 mg l⁻¹). LAS is increasingly found in nearshore environments receiving wastewater from urban treatment plants. The aims were to observe physiological effects on swimming, grazing and growth in the laboratory and effects on settling and population development at in situ conditions (in field mesocosms) in order to evaluate the damages on ciliated meroplankton caused by LAS. In the laboratory the larvae showed a 50% mortality at 3.8 mg LAS l⁻¹ after 96 h exposure whether or not food was provided. Additionally the swimming behaviour was affected at 0.8 mg LAS l⁻¹ (i.e. a more compact swimming track, a smaller diameter of the swimming tracks, and reduced swimming speed). The larval particle grazing was reduced 50% at 1.4 mg LAS l⁻¹. The specific growth rate of the larvae was reduced to half at 0.82 mg LAS l⁻¹ over 9 d. During the mesocosm experiment, the larval population showed a dramatic decrease in abundance within 2 d at concentrations as low as 0.08 mg LAS l⁻¹, both due to a significantly increased mortality, but also due to settling. The settling success was reduced at the same LAS concentration as that at which mortality was observed to increase significantly. In addition to reduced settling rate, the larvae showed delayed metamorphosis and reduced shell growth as a response to LAS. Our hypothesis that the larval ciliary apparatus, crucial for normal swimming, orientation, and settling behaviours and for particle uptake, was damaged due to LAS exposure is supported by our results. This is confirmed by the physiological data (grazing, growth) and in the direct video-based observations of larval performance (swimming) and provides a reasonable explanation for what was observed in the bags (abundance, settling, mortality). These physiological effects on blue mussel larvae/plantigrades occurred at LAS concentrations reported to occur in estuarine waters. Received: 15 January 1997 / Accepted: 12 February 1997