Mercury Concentrations in Lentic Fish Populations Related to Ecosystem and Watershed Characteristics

Predicting mercury (Hg) concentrations of fishes at large spatial scales is a fundamental environmental challenge with the potential to improve human health. In this study, mercury concentrations were examined for five species across 161 lakes and ecosystem, and watershed parameters were investigated as explanatory variables in statistical models. For all species, Hg concentrations were significantly, positively related to wetland coverage. For three species (largemouth bass, pike, and walleye), Hg concentrations were significantly, negatively related to lake trophic state index (TSI), suggestive of growth biodilution. There were no significant relationships between ecosystem size and mercury concentrations. However, Hg concentrations were strongly, positively related to ecosystem size across species. Scores of small or remote lakes that have never been tested could be prioritized for testing using models akin to those presented in this article. Such an approach could also be useful for exploring how Hg concentrations of fishes might respond to natural or anthropogenic changes to ecosystems over time.     

Residues of chlorpyrifos‐methyl in balsam fir foliage,forest litter,soil, stream water,sediment and fish tissue after double aerial applications of Reldan®

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos‐methyl was applied twice at 70 g A.I./ha by means of a fixed‐wing aircraft to a mixed coniferous forest near Allardville, New Brunswick. Residue in balsam fir foliage was highest (1 ppm wet wt) 1 hr after spraying and rapidly declined to about 30% within 1 day, but persisted at a very low level (0.03 ppm wet wt) for 125 days. Current year's foliage contained a higher level of residue than old foliage. Chlorpyrifos‐methyl persisted longer in forest litter than in soil. After 125 days, trace amounts (< 6 ppb wet wt) were still found in litter but were not detected in soil. In stream water the residue dissipated very rapidly; more than 90% disappeared 3 hours after the second application and were not detected after 4 days. Low‐level residue (< 0.1 ppm wet wt) was present in the sediment and persisted for 10 days. Although brook trout and slimy sculpin captured in the stream within 3 days of the second application contained residues (< 0.05 ppm fresh wt) none were detected in any fish captured, 9 and 47 days later.     

Accumulation of Endosulfan in Wild Rat, Rattus norvegious as a Result of Application to Soya Bean in Mazoe (Zimbabwe)

An assessment of levels of endosulfan and endosulfan sulphate in rats collected from a plot sprayed with endosulfan was carried out for a period of four months. The analysis was carried out in the livers, muscles and fatty tissues of the rats using Gas Chromatography. Samples were ground with sodium sulphate and aluminium oxide and the analyte soxhlet extracted with hexane. The extract was then cleaned by florisil column chromatography. Levels of endosulfan in rats were found to range in livers from 0.356 to 5.807 ppb, in muscles from 0.089 to 5.167 ppb and in fatty tissues from 0.083 to 4.785 ppb. Levels of endosulfan sulphate correlated well with those of endosulfan and ranged in livers from 0.00 to 3.96 ppb, in muscles from 0.00 to 3.37 ppb and in fatty tissue from 0.00 to 2.93 ppb. In the control rats samples, collected from an unsprayed area in the city of Harare (University of Zimbabwe), no endosulfan could be detected.     

15N Metabolic test for the determination of phytotoxic effects of chemicals and contaminated environmental samples

A stable isotope¹⁵N-nitrogen test (ESIMA = Ecotoxicological Stable Isotope Metabolic Assay) was developed to assess biological effects and the potential toxicological hazard of chemicals and contaminated environmental samples on plant metabolism. The assay measures the effect of toxicants on the incorporation of a¹⁵N labelled tracer into the total nitrogen fraction (both the nonprotein and protein fraction) of plants. Segments ofPisum arvense epicotyls are used as test substrates because of their high metabolic activity. The plant material is incubated under standardised conditions for two hours; subsequently¹⁵N incorporation is analysed by determining the¹⁵N abundance (¹⁵N atom-%) in the epicotyl segments. The effects of toxicants are evaluated by comparing the¹⁵N incorporation rates of control tissue and epicotyl segments exposed to individual chemicals or complex environmental samples. The specificity and sensitivity of effects as indicated by ESIMA were compared with effects as measured by two established ecotoxicological bioassays, the pollen tube growth test using pollen ofNicotiana sylvestris and the bacterial luminescence inhibition test using pollen ofPhotobacterium phosphoreum. The results of the study clearly indicate the suitability of ESIMA for assessing toxic impacts on plant nitrogen metabolism. Prof. Dr. habil. Hans Faust dedicated to his 70^th birthday.     

Development,validation and matrix effect of a QuEChERS method for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides in fish tissue

This study aims to develop and validate a method to determine OCPs in fish tissues, minimizing the consumption of sample and reagents, by using a modified QuEChERS along with ultrasound, d-SPE and gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD), refraining the pooling. Different factorial designs were employed to optimize the sample preparation phase. The validation method presented a recovery of around 77.3% and 110.8%, with RSD lower than 13% and the detection limits were between 0.24 and 2.88 μgkg^?1, revealing good sensitiveness and accuracy. The method was satisfactorily applied to the analysis of tissues from different species of fish and OCPs residues were detected. The proposed method was shown effective to determine OCPs low concentrations in fish tissues, using small sample mass (0.5 g), making the sample analyses viable without the need for grouping (pool).     

Contaminant concentrations in whole-body fish and shellfish from US estuaries

Persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) pollutants are chemical contaminants that pose risks to ecosystems and human health. For these reasons, available tissue contaminant data from the US EPA Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program’s National Coastal Assessment were examined to estimate to what areal extent PBTs are found in US estuarine resources. The data document composite, whole-body tissue chemical concentrations for 736 sampling sites across Northeast, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, and West Coast estuaries. Tissue chemical concentrations were compared to US EPA non-cancer risk guidelines for recreational fishers, because of a lack of ecological guidelines for these chemical concentrations. Samples were analyzed for 23 PAH compounds, 21 PCB congeners, 6 DDT derivatives and metabolites, 14 chlorinated pesticides (other than DDT) and 13 metals, including mercury. Total PCBs were found to exceed recreational fisher guidelines most frequently (31% of samples evaluated), followed by mercury (29%), total PAHs (21%), and DDT and its metabolites, DDD and DDE (11%). Toxaphene, cadmium and dieldrin were found but in fewer than 1% of the samples.     

生物生态耦合技术处理农村生活污水的应用研究

在对“厌氧池+跌水充氧接触氧化池+水耕蔬菜型人工湿地”生物生态耦合技术应用于农村生活污水处理进行实证研究的基础上,进一步探讨了生物与生态处理单元各自的主要去除对象和效率,为生物生态技术的合理耦合提供了依据。结果表明：在进水COD、TN、TP质量浓度波动范围为51.20~211.12,28.29~122.12,1.26~5.97mg/L时,出水平均质量浓度为15.80,5.51,0.34mg/L,出水水质达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准（GB 18918—2002）》一级A标准。污水中COD、TN、TP的78%,85%,50%的去除是在生物处理单元完成的,而TP的达标排放还必需生态处理单元的参与。整个处理技术处理效果良好,运行费用低,适合在条件允许的农村地区推广使用。     

Tissue distribution of organochlorine pesticides in fish collected from the Pearl River Delta, China: implications for fishery input source and bioaccumulation

Fish tissues from different fishery types (freshwater farmed, seawater farmed and seawater wild) were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), with the aim to further our understanding of bioaccumulation, and reflect the state of different fishery environments. Significantly higher SigmaOCP levels were found in seawater farmed fish than others, and among three freshwater farmed species, the lowest levels occurred in filter-feeding fish (bighead carp). Liver contained the highest SigmaOCP levels, while no significant differences were found among other tissues. Among DDT components, p,p'-DDT was abundant in seawater fish, while for freshwater fish, p,p'-DDE was the predominant congeners, except for northern snakehead (34% for p,p'-DDE and 30% for p,p'-DDT). The new source of DDTs to freshwater fish ponds was partly attributed to dicofol, whereas sewage discharged from the Pearl River Delta and anti-fouling paint were likely the DDTs sources to seawater farmed fish.     

底泥不同预处理对潜在活性磷形成及释放的抑制作用

以校园河流底泥为材料,研究了不同预处理(底泥曝气、水曝气)对底泥中潜在活性磷的形成及释放的抑制作用.结果表明,底泥曝气对上覆水中的磷向底泥迁移的促进作用明显优于水曝气.底泥经不同预处理后,磷的释放量明显降低.与未处理底泥相比,经底泥曝气和水曝气预处理底泥,溶解性磷酸盐释放量分别下降了193.6 mg·kg^-1和44.7 mg·kg^-1,总磷释放量分别下降了334.0 mg·kg^-1和163.8 mg·kg^-1;而对于潜在活性磷而言,前者降低了58.6 mg·kg^-1,后者则增加了167.4 mg·kg^-1.其原因可能是,上覆水中的磷向底泥迁移时,首先形成潜在活性磷,而通过不同的预处理,潜在活性磷向难释放态磷的转化得到了强化.底泥曝气的这种强化作用比水曝气更为明显.     

红壤模拟铜污染下紫云英根表形态及其组织和细胞结构变化

采用根形态研究、显微镜观察和透射电子显微镜观察,研究了红壤模拟铜污染下紫云英根表形态及其组织、细胞结构变化.结果表明:当污染铜为0～40mg·kg^-1时,紫云英生长发育正常,根形态完好,功能正常.当污染铜水平在50 mg·kg^-1以上时,紫云英根开始出现受害症状:表现在根粗短呈淡褐色,根毛少且短,主根弯曲,并分出较短的叉根;表皮层出现皱缩;细胞壁略呈波浪形,厚薄不均,质膜界线不明显.紫云英地上部分生长发育受影响,产量开始下降.铜污染水平达到200mg·kg^-1时,根腐烂、组织黑色化、细胞壁断裂,胞质严重收缩解离,紫云英死亡,表明供试红壤临界铜污染浓度为50mg·kg^-1,并且紫云英根对土壤铜污染的耐性随生育期延长而增强,根细胞壁是根耐毒的主要部位.