Excess plutonium in soil near the Nevada Test Site,USA

Two soil profiles were collected from undisturbed areas near the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The activity of 137Cs in the surface layer of the downwind Queen City Summit profile is three times higher than at the upwind site at Searchlight, NV (41.1+/-0.6 mBq/g vs. 13.0+/-0.4 mBq/g), and the 239,240Pu activity is 100 times greater (51+/-2 mBq/g vs. 0.52+/-0.03 mBq/g). An examination of the literature suggests that the 137Cs/239,240Pu and the 239,240Pu/238Pu activity ratios in soils and sediments from the northern hemisphere, due to fallout from atmospheric atomic weapons testing, have generalized values of 36+/-4 and 30+/-4, respectively (as of 1 July 1995). Deviations from these values may indicate possible contamination by sources other than fallout. Data from the surface soil of the downwind Queen City Summit profile yield a 137Cs/239,240Pu ratio of 0.81+/-0.02 and a 239,240Pu/238Pu ratio of 78+/-6. Clearly, an increase in 239,240Pu relative to 137Cs or 238Pu can account for these observations. There is compelling evidence that this "excess" 239,240Pu came from activities at the NTS during the aboveground testing of nuclear devices, more than likely from safety tests, some 40 years ago, and/or during the interim by the wind-driven resuspension of contaminated surface soil on the NTS and its transport off-site. Moreover, the two concentration profiles show that high percentages of both of these elements are retained for decades in the upper few centimeters of soil in Nevada's desert environment.     

Making chlorine greener: performance of alternative dechlorination agents in wastewater

The residual chlorine in chlorine-disinfected and dechlorinated wastewater was characterized using a liquid chromatograph that was switched between reversed-phase separation and flow injection analysis modes, permitting measurement of fractionated and total residual chlorine, respectively. Residuals were detected in the effluent of an operating wastewater treatment plant employing chlorine disinfection and sulfite dechlorination. Despite dechlorination, an estimated total residual chlorine of 3 microM (0.2 ppm as Cl2) was detected in the effluent. To improve dechlorination effectiveness, four alternative agents (ascorbic acid, iron, sulfite plus iodide mediator, thiosulfate) were compared to sulfite on laboratory-chlorinated wastewater. Listed in order of decreasing relative effectiveness, we found: iron metal > sulfite plus iodide approximately = thiosulfate > sulfite > ascorbic acid. Only the iron metal column was completely effective at rapidly removing all traces of residual chlorine.     

Effects of Slash Pine Silviculture on a Florida Population of Flatwoods Salamander

The largest known breeding migration of the flatwoods salamander ( Ambystoma cingulatum ) was monitored over a 22-year period following its discovery in 1970 in Liberty County, Florida (U.S.A.). Nightly migrations of 200–300 adults across a 4.3-km stretch of paved highway in 1970–1972 had dwindled to less than one individual per night in 1990–1992; the decline apparently was already underway in the 1980s. We discuss possible natural and anthropogenic causes of the decline. The silvicultural practice of converting native longleaf pine savanna to bedded slash pine plantation, implemented on our study site about 1968, may have interfered with migration, successful hatching, larval life, feeding, and finding suitable cover post-metamorphosis. Longleaf pine-wiregrass flatwoods inhabited by adults have been drastically reduced and severely degraded throughout the coastal plain and may explain why the species is rare and deserving of threatened status.     

Beryllium-7 measurements in the Houston and Phoenix urban areas: an estimation of upper atmospheric ozone contributions

Natural radionuclides have been proposed as a means of assessing the transport of ozone (O3) and aerosols in the troposphere. Beryllium-7 (7Be) is produced in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere by the interaction of cosmogenic particles with atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen. 7Be has a 53.29-day half-life (478 keV gamma) and is known to attach to fine particles in the atmosphere once it is formed. It has been suggested that O3 from aloft can be transported into rural and urban regions during stratospheric-tropospheric folding events leading to increased background levels of O3 at the surface. 7Be can be used as a tracer of upper atmospheric air parcels and the O3 associated with them. Aerosol samples with a 2.5-microm cutoff were collected during 12-hr cycles (day/night) for a 30-day period at Deer Park, TX, near Houston, in August-September of 2000, and at Waddell, AZ, near Phoenix, in June-July of 2001. A comparison of 7Be levels with 12-hr O3 averages and maxima shows little correlation. Comparison of nighttime and daytime O3 levels indicate that during the day, when mixing is anticipated to be higher, the correlation of 7Be with O3 in Houston is approximately twice that observed at night. This is consistent with mixing and with the anticipated loss of O3 by reaction with nitric oxide (NO) and dry deposition. At best, 30% of the O3 variance can be explained by the correlation with 7Be for Houston, less than that for Phoenix where no significant correlation was seen. This result is consistent with the intercept values obtained for 7Be correlations with either O3 24-hr averages or O3 12-hr maxima and is also in the range of the low O3 levels (25 ppb) observed at Deer Park during a tropical storm event where the O3 is attributable primarily to background air masses. That is, maximum background O3 level contributions from stratospheric sources aloft are estimated to be in the range of 15-30 ppb in the Houston, TX, and Phoenix, AZ, area, and levels above these are because of local tropospheric photochemical production.     

Response of territorial male song sparrows to song types and variations

Summary The song repertoires of male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) are comprised of distinct song types and many overlapping variations within each type. This study examines the sensitivity of territorial male song sparrows to both multiple song types and variation within types. A playback experiment was conducted using stimulus tapes that had either single songs (but not variations), song variations (but not types) or a single song. Response during playback was similar for all three stimulus groups, but diminished sooner after playback for the single-song tape. Thus our results indicate that male song sparrows are sensitive to song variability both within and among song types.     

Group-living in cliff swallows as an advantage in avoiding predators

Summary Cliff swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) in SW Nebraska, USA, nest in colonies and associate in groups away from their colonies. The degree to which group-living in this species affords advantages in the avoiding of predators was examined. The distance from the colony at which a snake predator was detected increased with colony size. In flocks away from the colonies, group vigilance increased, but the time that each individual spent vigilant decreased, with flock size. As a result, birds in large flocks had more time for preening and mud-gathering. Cliff swallows did not effectively mob predators and thus were unable to deter predators regardless of group size. Nesting within each colony was highly synchronous, but when the effects of ectoparasites on nesting success were removed, individuals nesting during the peak breeding period were no more successful than those nesting before or after the peak. This suggests that swamping of predators is unlikely in cliff swallow colonies. Nests at the edges of colonies were more likely to be preyed upon than nests nearer the center, suggesting that colonial nesting conferred some selfish herd benefits. Overall reproductive success did not vary with colony size. While cliff swallows receive some anti-predator benefits by living in groups, the avoidance of predators is probably not a major selective force for the evolution of coloniality in this species.     

Changes in blood lead and water lead in Edinburgh. An eight year follow-up to the Edinburgh lead study

This study aimed to measure changes in household water lead and blood lead in young people living in Edinburgh over a period of 8 years. Two hundred and twenty-three families were eligible and 207 (93%) agreed to participate. A half-hour stagnation sample of kitchen cold water was taken from each household, and 171 young people (aged 14–17 years) provided a blood sample for lead analysis. Information on plumbing changes, exposure to other sources of lead and factors which might influence blood lead was collected by questionnaire. Edinburgh is supplied with water treated in one of two treatment plants. There was a different programme of water treatment in each plant. In one (A) lime and orthophosphate was introduced in the interval between the original and follow-up studies. In the other (F) lime treatment began before the original study and orthophosphate was introduced subsequently. In water from treatment plant A, mean water lead levels fell from 34 to 4.3 gL-1 (87%). In water supplied from treatment plant F the corresponding values were 9.3 to 3.6 gL-1 (61%). These reductions were due to both water treatment and removal of lead plumbing. Houses with no lead plumbing have water lead levels 89% lower than houses with lead tanks, and 47% lower than houses with lead pipes. About one-third of households with lead tanks are predicted to have water lead levels above the current EC limit of 50 gL- 1, though only 3% or less of the remaining households would exceed this limit. If the proposed 10 gL-1 limit were introduced, 34% of households supplied from plant A and 25% from plant F would breach the limit. Blood lead levels fell from an average of 11.0 gdL-1 to 4.0 gdL-1. Males had higher values than females and the main factors influencing levels were water lead and age of house. Our results show substantial reductions in household water lead and blood lead in our sample over a period of 8 years and represent an important achievement in public health. However, more progress will be required if the proposed new limit of 10 gL-1 for water lead is to be met. There is a need for the continuing surveillance of household water lead and blood lead levels in representative samples of the population.     

Using GIS to Identify Functionally Significant Wetlands in the Northeastern United States

/ Of the several automated wetland assessment methods currently available, none are comprehensive in considering all of the primary functions a wetland can perform. We developed a methodology particularly suited to the Northeastern United States that enumerates spatial predictors of wetland function for three primary wetland functions: flood flow alteration, surface water quality improvement, andwildlife habitat. Predictors were derived from several wetland assessment techniques and directly from the literature on wetland structure and function. The methodology was then automated using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The resulting Automated Assessment Method for Northeastern Wetlands (AMNEW) consists of a suite of eight Arc Macro Language (AML) programs that run in the ARC/INFO GRID module. Using remotely sensed land use information and digital elevation models (DEMs), AMNEW produces three separate grids of wetlands that perform each function. The method was tested on four watersheds in Vermont's Lake Champlain Basin. Results and preliminary verification indicate that the method can successfully identify those wetlands in the Northeastern region that have the potential to be functionally important.     

Adverse effects of chromium on amino acid levels in freshwater fish Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

Various heavy metals released into the rivers and lakes affect aquatic fauna including Clarias batrachus. Elevated levels of chromium (Cr) in aquatic organisms, especially fish, represent an ecological and human concern. Amino acid levels were estimated in five tissues (gills, liver, kidneys, muscle, and brain) of C. batrachus after 28 days of exposure to Cr. This study showed that Cr elevated levels of free amino acids in organs of fish C. batrachus, indicating a compensatory mechanism to counter sublethal metallic stress. Data suggest that the measurement of amino acids may serve as a biomarker for Cr toxicity in fish.     

Mercury source zone identification using soil vapor sampling and analysis

Development and demonstration of reliable measurement techniques that can detect and help quantify the nature and extent of elemental mercury (Hg(0)) in the subsurface are needed to reduce uncertainties in the decision-making process and increase the effectiveness of remedial actions. We conducted field tests at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, to determine if sampling and analysis of Hg(0) vapors in the shallow subsurface (<0.3 m depth) can be used to as an indicator of the location and extent of Hg(0) releases in the subsurface. We constructed a rigid polyvinyl chloride push probe assembly, which was driven into the ground. Soil gas samples were collected through a sealed inner tube of the assembly and were analyzed immediately in the field with a Lumex and/or Jerome Hg(0) analyzer. Time-series sampling showed that Hg vapor concentrations were fairly stable over time, suggesting that the vapor phase Hg(0) was not being depleted and that sampling results were not sensitive to the soil gas purge volume. Hg(0) vapor data collected at over 200 push probe locations at 3 different release sites correlated very well to areas of known Hg(0) contamination. Vertical profiling of Hg(0) vapor concentrations conducted at two locations provided information on the vertical distribution of Hg(0) contamination in the subsurface. We conclude from our studies that soil gas sampling and analysis can be conducted rapidly and inexpensively at large scales to help identify areas contaminated with Hg(0).