Characterisation of individual aerosol particles on moss surfaces: implications for source apportionment

The size, morphology and chemical composition of 8405 particles on moss surfaces (Hylocomium splendens) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Two moss samples from three locations in Southern Norway (Alg?rd, Birkeland, Neslandsvatn) and two sampling years (1977 and 2005) each were selected leading to a total of 12 samples investigated. At all three locations, particle deposition decreased substantially with time. The major particle groups encountered include silicates, iron-rich silicates, metal oxides/hydroxides, iron oxides/hydroxides, carbonates, carbon-rich particles, silicate fly ashes, iron-rich silicate fly ashes, and iron oxide fly ashes. Between 1977 and 2005, the relative number abundance of the three fly ash groups decreased substantially from approximately 30-60% to 10-18% for the small particles (equivalent projected area diameter <1 microm), and from 10-35% to 2-9% for large particles with diameters ≥1 microm. This decrease of fly ash particles with time was overlooked in previous papers on atmospheric input of pollutants into ecosystems in Southern Norway. In general, the presence of fly ash particles is ignored in most source apportionment studies based on bulk chemical analysis. Consequently, the geogenic component (crustal component) derived from principal component analysis is overestimated systematically, as it has a similar chemical composition as the fly ash particles. The high abundance of fly ashes demonstrates the need to complement source apportionment based on bulk chemistry by scanning electron microscopy in order to avoid misclassification of this important anthropogenic aerosol component.     

Status of feral oilseed rape in Europe: its minor role as a GM impurity and its potential as a reservoir of transgene persistence

Purpose  

Feral oilseed rape has become widespread in Europe on waysides and waste ground. Its potential as a source of GM impurity in oilseed rape harvests is quantified, for the first time, by a consistent analysis applied over a wide range of study areas in Europe.     

Dispersal networks for enhancing bacterial degradation in heterogeneous environments

Successful biodegradation of organic soil pollutants depends on their bioavailability to catabolically active microorganisms. In particular, environmental heterogeneities often limit bacterial access to pollutants. Experimental and modelling studies revealed that fungal networks can facilitate bacterial dispersal and may thereby improve pollutant bioavailability. Here, we investigate the influence of such bacterial dispersal networks on biodegradation performance under spatially heterogeneous abiotic conditions using a process-based simulation model. To match typical situations in polluted soils, two types of abiotic conditions are studied: heterogeneous bacterial dispersal conditions and heterogeneous initial resource distributions. The model predicts that networks facilitating bacterial dispersal can enhance biodegradation performance for a wide range of these conditions. Additionally, the time horizon over which this performance is assessed and the network’s spatial configuration are key factors determining the degree of biodegradation improvement. Our results support the idea of stimulating the establishment of fungal mycelia for enhanced bioremediation of polluted soils.     

Total Factor Productivity Change in the New England Groundfish Fishery: 1964–1993

We develop estimates of total factor productivity (TFP) change in the New England groundfish fishery from 1964 to 1993, using a procedure similar to Squires' (1992, Rand J. Econom.23(2), 221–236) method, which extends standard TFP measurement by including the effect of fluctuations in stock abundance. The results indicate that TFP increased on average by 4.4% per year from 1964 to 1993. A higher average rate of increase occurred between 1964 and 1982, possibly due to new technologies (e.g., fishfinders). TFP declined at 0.33% annually from 1983 to 1993 due to stringent output and effort control measures.     

Microbial growth with vapor-phase substrate

Limited information exists on influences of the diffusive transport of volatile organic contaminants (VOC) on bacterial activity in the unsaturated zone of the terrestrial subsurface. Diffusion of VOC in the vapor-phase is much more efficient than in water and results in effective VOC transport and high bioavailability despite restricted mobility of bacteria in the vadose zone. Since many bacteria tend to accumulate at solid-water, solid-air and air-water interfaces, such phase boundaries are of a special interest for VOC-biodegradation. In an attempt to evaluate microbial activity toward air-borne substrates, this study investigated the spatio-temporal interplay between growth of Pseudomonas putida (NAH7) on vapor-phase naphthalene (NAPH) and its repercussion on vapor-phase NAPH concentrations. Our data demonstrate that growth rates of strain PpG7 were inversely correlated to the distance from the source of vapor-phase NAPH. Despite the high gas phase diffusivity of NAPH, microbial growth was absent at distances above 5 cm from the source when sufficient biomass was located in between. This indicates a high efficiency of suspended bacteria to acquire vapor-phase compounds and influence headspace concentration gradients at the centimeter-scale. It further suggests a crucial role of microorganisms as biofilters for gas-phase VOC emanating from contaminated groundwater or soil.     

Neural stem cell-based in vitro bioassay for the assessment of neurotoxic potential of water samples

Intensive agriculture activities, industrialization and growing numbers of wastewater treatment plants along river banks collectively contribute to the elevated levels of neurotoxic pollutants in natural water reservoirs across Europe. We established an in vitro bioassay based upon neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone of the postnatal mouse to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of raw wastewater, treated sewage effluent, groundwater and drinking water. The toxic potential of water samples was evaluated employing viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration assays. We found that raw wastewater could reduce the viability and proliferation of neural stem cells, and decreased the neuronal and astrocyte differentiation, neuronal neurite growth, astrocyte growth and cell migration. Treated sewage water also showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration. Our results indicated that relatively high concentrations of nitrogenous substances, pesticides, mercuric compounds, bisphenol-A, and phthalates, along with some other pollutants in raw wastewater and treated sewage water, might be the reason for the neuroinhibitory effects of these water samples. Our model successfully predicted the neurotoxicity of water samples collected from different sources and also revealed that the incomplete removal of contaminants from wastewater can be problematic for the developing nervous system. The presented data also provides strong evidence that more effective treatments should be used to minimize the contamination of water before release into major water bodies which may be considered as water reservoirs for human usage in the future.     

Comparison of naphthalene bioavailability determined by whole-cell biosensing and availability determined by extraction with Tenax

A rapid biological method for the determination of the bioavailability of naphthalene was developed and its value as an alternative to extraction-based chemical approaches demonstrated. Genetically engineered whole-cell biosensors are used to determine bioavailable naphthalene and their responses compared with results from Tenax extraction and chemical analysis. Results show a 1:1 correlation between biosensor results and chemical analyses for naphthalene-contaminated model materials and sediments, but the biosensor assay is much faster. This work demonstrates that biosensor technology can perform as well as standard chemical methods, though with some advantages including the inherent biological relevance of the response, rapid response time, and potential for field deployment. A survey of results from this work and the literature shows that bioavailability under non-equilibrium conditions nonetheless correlates well with K_oc or K_d. A rationale is provided wherein chemical resistance is speculated to be operative.     

Hazard mitigation or mitigation hazard?

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: Transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.; OSR) is estimated to be environmentally and economically problematic because volunteers and ferals occur frequently and because of its hybridisation potential with several wild and weedy species. A proposed mitigation strategy aims to reduce survival, in particular in conventional OSR crops, by coupling the transgenic target modification with a dwarfing gene to reduce competitive fitness. Our study allowed us to access potential ecological implications of this strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On a large scale (>500 km(2)), we recorded phenological and population parameters of oilseed rape plants for several years in rural and urban areas of Northern Germany (Bremen and surroundings). The characterising parameter were analysed for differences between wild and cultivated plants. RESULTS: In rural areas, occurrences of feral and volunteer OSR together had an average density of 1.19 populations per square kilometre, in contrast to urban areas where we found 1.68 feral populations per square kilometre on average. Throughout the survey, the vegetation cover at the locations with feral OSR ranged from less than 10% to 100%. Our investigations gave clear empirical evidence that feral OSR was, on average, at least 41% smaller than cultivated OSR, independent of phenological state after onset of flowering. DISCUSSION: The findings can be interpreted as phenotypic adaptation of feral OSR plants. Therefore, it must be asked whether dwarfing could be interpreted as an improvement of pre-adaptation to feral environments. In most of the sites where feral plants occurred, germination and establishment were in locations with disturbed vegetation cover, allowing initial growth without competition. Unless feral establishment of genetically modified dwarfed traits are specifically studied, it would not be safe to assume that the mitigation strategy of dwarfing also reduces dispersal in feral environments. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: With respect to OSR, we argue that the proposed mitigation approach could increase escape and persistence of transgene varieties rather than reducing them. We conclude that the development of effective hazard mitigation measures in the risk evaluation of genetically modified organisms requires thorough theoretical and empirical ecological analyses rather than assumptions about abstract fitness categories that apply only in parts of the environment where the plant can occur.