Environmental Bioindication Studies by Bayesian Network with Use of Grey Heron as Model Species

The article presents a procedure for assessing the quality of the environment, using eggshells of birds as a biomarker implemented into a Bayesian network. An environmental quality index (EQI) was proposed and calculated on the basis of local quality indicators. Experimental data on concentrations of toxic elements in grey heron (Ardea cinerea) eggshells (biomarker of river valleys) were used to determine the empirical variables (nodes) and the probability distributions on the set of these variables. A probabilistic graphical model represents a multitude of relationships between variables in a system that enables the prediction of EQI. The model presented is a useful tool for environmental quality management.     

Mercury concentration in lichen, moss and soil samples collected from the forest areas of Praded and Glacensis Euroregions (Poland and Czech Republic)

The concentration of mercury was determined in samples of the lichen Hypogymnia physodes, the moss Pleurozium schreberi, and the soil humus collected in Polish and Czech Euroregions Praded and Glacensis. The sampling sites were located in Bory Stobrawskie, Bory Niemodlińskie and Kotlina K?odzka in Poland, and in Jeseniki and Gory Orlickie in the Czech Republic. The mean concentrations of mercury accumulated in the lichen (0.129?mg?g(-1)), in the moss (0.094?mg?g(-1)) and in soil (0.286?mg?g(-1)) were fairly close to the corresponding concentrations in other low-industrialized regions. The highest concentrations of mercury were observed in the lichen and the moss samples from Kotlina K?odzka. The primary deposition of mercury was evaluated using the comparison factor, defined as the ratio of a difference between the concentrations of a bioavailable analyte in lichens and in mosses, to the arithmetic mean of these concentrations.     

Physicochemical characteristics of the Dombrovska pit lake (Ukraine) formed in an opencast potassium salt mine and the genome response of Chironomus salinarius Kieffer (Chironomidae,Diptera) to these conditions

This study focuses on the Dombrovska pit lake, near the city of Kalush in Ukraine, which is a former potassium salt mine filled with brine and freshwater. The water level is still increasing and as a result the salinity is decreasing. We analyzed the benthic fauna communities and the genome instability by assessing the rearrangements in the polytene chromosomes of Chironomus salinarius and the physicochemical parameters of the near-bottom water (pH, conductivity, mineralization, major ions, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, metals Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe) and sediment (pH, organic matter and metals Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) at four sites. The water mineralization ranged from 17.3 to 26.2 g dm⁻³ which are classified as mesohaline and polyhaline waters, respectively. The biodiversity of the benthic fauna was low, and the dominant species was C. salinarius. The density of C. salinarius varied spatially and changed from 637 ind./m² at a depth of 5 m to 8167 ind./m² at a depth of 2.5 m. The genome instability was analyzed by examining the structural and functional changes in the salivary gland chromosomes of C. salinarius. The exposure of C. salinarius damaged the chromosomes and the activities of key structures, such as the Balbiani ring and nucleolar organizer, were partially or completely suppressed.

     

The Relationship Between Workers’ Safety Culture and Accidents,Near Accidents and Health Problems

One of the dimensions treated as part of a company’s safety culture or climate is workers’ attitudes towards risk and safety. In the present study these personal aspects are defined as workers’ safety culture, which is understood as a way of acting focused on life and taking care of one’s health. A questionnaire on safety culture was filled out by 200 employees of a metallurgical enterprise. Factor analysis was used to determine empirical scales of the questionnaire, whereas variance analysis was used to test hypotheses. The results confirmed the hypotheses that people who experienced accidents, dangerous situations, and—to a lesser extent—health problems had a lower level of safety culture. Nevertheless not all of the scales determined during factor analysis turned out to be significant as far as all kinds of those undesirable situations are concerned. Proposals for future studies are formulated in the conclusion.     

Toxic effect assessment of aminotetrazoles and high-energetic azotetrazole salts on soil microbial respiration

The influence of energetic heterocyclic high-nitrogen salts on microbial activity in soil enrichment was investigated. 5-Aminotetrazole, a sodium salt of 5-aminotetrazole, ammonium azotetrazolate, sodium azotetrazolate, guanidinium azotetrazolate, triaminoguanidine azotetrazolate and triaminoguanidine hydrochloride were examined. Respiration tests determined the amount and rate of production of CO₂, H₂ and H₂S from microbial activity. Aminotetrazoles, triaminoguanidine azotetrazolate and triaminoguanidine hydrochloride substantially reduced the amount and rate of microbial CO₂ production. The total amount of CO₂ produced in the soil enrichments was affected by the cation from the azotetrazole salt, whereas the azotetrazolate anion did not seem to inhibit microbial CO₂ production. In contrast, all applied compounds stopped the production of H₂S completely and modified the rate of H₂ production in the cultures compared with the control. The influence of ammonium azotetrazolate and sodium azotetrazolate on the activity of isolated sulfate-reducing bacteria was also determined. The compounds did not have bactericidal activity towards sulfate-reducing bacteria, but the compounds decreased the amount of H₂S produced or slowed the growth of these bacteria in comparison with the control.     

Differential shell strength of Cepaea nemoralis colour morphs—implications for their anti-predator defence

The Science of Nature - One of the most spectacular evolutionary forces is predation, evidenced to stimulate polymorphism in many prey species. Shell colour polymorphism of the land snail Cepaea...     

Concentration of heavy metals in hair and skin of silver and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

The structure of hair and levels of main chemical elements (C, N, O, S, Cl, Ca, P, Al, Na) in the external layer of hair of silver and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in a non-industrialised, typically agricultural region of middle-west Poland was assessed using a scanning microscope. Additionally, analysis of the accumulation of certain heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in hair (washed) and skin (non-tanned) of those foxes was conducted. Heavy metal levels were determined using a spectrophotometric method (ICP-OES), and correlations between these levels in hair and skin were calculated. The microscopic external (morphological) and internal structures (histological) of the hair of farm and wild foxes were not differentiated; however, the hair of farm foxes (external layer) contained higher amounts of C, Na, Al and P. A significantly higher Pb content was noted in non-tanned skin of wild foxes in comparison to farm ones. In the case of farm foxes, a significantly higher Zn content in hair and Zn and Cu in skin was observed in comparison to wild ones. Positive significant correlations between Cr and Ni content (r = 0.622) and Zn and Cu (r = 0.721) in fox skin were noted. A similar relationship between Cr content in hair and Ni in skin (r = 0.643) and between Zn in hair and skin (r = 0.595) was also observed.     

Long-term (1992-2004) record of lead, cadmium, and zinc air contamination in Warsaw, Poland: Determination by chemical analysis of moss bags and leaves of Crimean linden

Between 1992 and 2004, air contamination with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in Warsaw, Poland, was monitored annually with moss (Sphagnum fallax) bags on a network of 230 sites covering the entire city. During the study the highest contamination was near the Warszawa Steel Mill, northwestern Warsaw. Lead concentrations in moss bags decreased in time, while those of Cd and Zn did not show clear trends. Between 1994 and 2004, Pb, Cd, and Zn were also monitored in the Crimean linden (Tilia Euchlora) foliage along the main city avenue and in a northwestern warsaw park. Lead concentrations decreased more near the avenue than in the park, indicating that the phasing-out of leaded gasoline had a major effect on reduced Pb contamination in Warsaw. At the same time, foliar concentrations of Cd and Zn in both areas decreased much less.