Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls from an overheated transformer

A Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) containing transformer released approximately 50 gallons of askarel oil. No polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) or polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) were detected in a sample of the askarel (analytical limit of detection of 40 parts per billion per isomer group). Skin irritation, unusual tiredness, and headaches occurred in approximately 20% of the individuals at the scene of the incident. Serum PCB levels, and mean values for blood and urine tests were within normal ranges.     

Effect of methyl mercuric chloride treatment on haematological characteristics and erythrocyte morphology of Swiss mice

Effects of methyl mercuric chloride (MMC) on the blood parameters of Swiss mice (Mus musculus) were studied. The mice received an initial dose of MMC (24 mg kg(-1) body wt) as intraperitoneal injection followed by a second similar dose on the 14th day of the first dose administration. Significant (p < or = 0.001) decreases in haemoglobin content, red blood cell (RBC) count and haematocrit value were observed in the MMC injected mice when compared to the control mice. The effect of the second dose was severe, after which no significant recovery in the values of these parameters was observed. The result also showed a high degree of mercury accumulation in the blood of the MMC exposed mice. Interesting features were marked in the erythrocyte morphology of the exposed mice. An initial shrinkage followed by swelling of the cells was observed after each injection. The outline of the exposed cells was irregular with beak like or small finger like projections. Rupturing and disintegration of the erythrocyte membrane, leading to erythrolysis, were also noticed.     

The effect of chronic toxicity of copper on the activity of Balbiani rings and nucleolar organizing region in the salivary gland chromosomes of Chironomus ninevah larvae

The effect of copper on the activity of Balbiani rings (BR1 and BR2) and nucleolar organizing region (NOR) in chromosome IV of the salivary gland of the 4th instar larvae of Chironomus ninevah has been investigated. Sublethal concentrations, i.e. 0.02, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 mg litre(-1) suppress the activity of BR1, and are statistically significant. The same concentrations reduced the activity of BR2 and NOR, but without significant differences, except 0.1 mg litre(-1) which was significant. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of chronic toxicity of Cu(2+) on the expression of gene activity of midge salivary gland chromosomes Although there may be many more aquatic organisms that are more sensitive to copper, this midge was selected as a biological indicator species because of its association with benthic sediments.     

Field studies of ethoprop movement and degradation in two Florida soils

Unsaturated- and saturated-zone field studies were conducted under two different agricultural conditions in Florida, U.S.A., to measure the movement and degradation of ethoprop.When ethoprop was applied to a sand soil in an orange grove located on the Florida central ridge, soil residues declined with a half-life of 13 days to near the limit of detection (0.01 μg g⁻¹ within 2 months. Ethoprop residues were generally contained in the upper 2 m of soil. Although low levels of ethoprop were found in four groundwater samples within the first 3 months after application, the cause of these isolated and transient residues could not be determined. The data show that there was no widespread plume of ethoprop residues beneath or downgradient from the treated area.On a flatwood soil on the west coast of Florida, ethoprop was incorporated into raised beds and protected by a plastic mulch in which tomatoes were grown. When the plastic mulch was present, ethoprop soil residues declined with a half-life of 40 days and were confined to the upper 0.3 m of soil. After the mulch was removed at crop harvest, the remaining ethoprop dissipated with a half-life of 12 days. Groundwater residues in excess of 1 μg L⁻¹ were confined to a single sample collected after the well had been damaged during a rototilling operation. Resides of < 1 μg L⁻¹ were present in three later samples from this well. At the sampling interval where the highest residues were detected in the damaged well, ethoprop residues of < 1 μg L⁻¹ were also found in three other wells but no residues were detected in these wells in later samples.     

Surfactant solubilization of hydrophobic compounds in soil and water

The soil/water partition coefficient (K_d) of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) ranged from 220 1/kg to 1800 1/kg for eight soils having a wide range of physico-chemical properties. K_d normalised to soil organic carbon (K_oc) was found to be 28000 ± 4800 1/kg. Anionic surfactant dodecylsulphate (DS) present at concentrations above the critical micellar concentration (CMC) caused reductions in the apparent soil/water partition coefficient (K_d ^*) in the range of 3–26 times for most soils and up to 36–91 times for sandy soils. Below CMC, at environmentally relevant surfactant concentrations, K_d ^* was reduced by a factor of 1–13. For clay and calcareous soils significant adsorption/complexation/precipitation of DS occurred. At the lowest DS concentration this produced a two-fold increase in K_d ^*. At increasing DS concentrations this effect was shielded by the solubihzing effect from DS. Monomer (K_mn) and micellar (K_mc) surfactant/water partition coefficients for HCB were determined to be, 980 ± 190 1/kg and 21000 ± 1600 1/kg, respectively.     

Relationship between toxicity of certain organic compounds and their concentrations in tissues of aquatic organisms: A perspective

This paper explores the relationship between the toxicity of certain organic pollutants and their tissue concentration and suggests that the latter may be a more accurate predictor of toxicity than exposure concentration.