Potential Methods for Managing Prymnesium parvum Blooms and Toxicity,With Emphasis on Clay and Barley Straw: A Review1

Hagström, Johannes A., Mario R. Sengco, and Tracy A. Villareal, 2010. Potential Methods for Managing Prymnesium parvum Blooms and Toxicity, With Emphasis on Clay and Barley Straw: A Review. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(1):187-198. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00402.x Abstract: Harmful algal bloom (HAB) control and mitigation is a complex problem in ecosystem management. Phytoplankton play an important role in aquatic ecosystems as primary producers and food sources for many commercially important shellfish and there are limited options for targeting just a single species within the community. Chemical treatments (e.g., algaecides), rotting barley straw, nitrogen and phosphorus manipulation, and clay and/or flocculants are but a few techniques tested or used to reduce fish kills or shellfish contamination during a HAB event. Prymnesium parvum control has focused on the use of chemicals, nutrient manipulation, and clay flocculation. However, many HAB control methods have been rejected due to their effects on ecosystems, high costs, or limited effects on target organisms. For example, rotting barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) is considered to be an environmentally friendly alternative, but has been found to have very different results on the phytoplankton community depending on the dominating taxa and is ineffective against P. parvum and dinoflagellate blooms. Clay flocculation is a useful control/mitigation technique during fish kills in marine aquaculture sites in South Korea and can be effective in freshwater if the correct combination of clay and flocculent is used. Toxins produced by P. parvum and Karenia brevis also bind to phosphatic clay, thereby removing and/or neutralizing the toxins, but there is concern that the clay will have a negative effect on sessile organisms. Some shellfish suffer high mortalities and significant impacts on somatic and reproductive tissue growth at high clay loads; however, benthic communities appear to be unchanged after five years of clay treatment in South Korea. There are likely site-specific and ecosystem-specific characteristics that make generalizations about control options difficult and require careful assessment of options at each location.     

'It'll never happen to me': understanding public awareness of local flood risk

Following the severe flood events of 1998 and 2000, the United Kingdom's Environment Agency prioritised the need to increase public flood risk awareness. Drawing on data collected during research undertaken for the Environment Agency, this paper contributes to understanding of one aspect of flood awareness: people's recognition that their property is in an area that is potentially at risk of flooding. Quantitative analyses indicate that class is the most influential factor in predicting flood risk awareness, followed by flood experience and length of time in residence. There are also significant area differences. Our qualitative work explores how those defined as 'at risk' account for their lack of awareness or concern about their risk status. We conclude that the problem is often not simply a lack of awareness, but rather, assessments of local risk based on experience that underestimate the impact of rare or extreme events. We underline the importance of engaging with local perspectives on risk and making local people part of 'awareness-raising' processes.     

Antioxidant responses of the earthworm Lampito mauritii exposed to Pb and Zn contaminated soil

The aim of this study was to provide fundamental data on the biochemical analysis of antioxidant defences in the earthworm exposed to low levels (75, 150, 300 mg kg(-1) soil) of Pb and Zn. In order to attain this objective, adult Lampito mauritii were exposed to different doses of Pb and Zn separately for 28 days and the concentrations of oxidized and reduced glutathione, activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were assessed. Dose-dependent perturbations were observed in the glutathione-glutathione-S-transferase system and other antioxidant enzymes during the early phase of the exposure to Pb. In the Zn exposed earthworm, the glutathione-glutathione-S-transferase system remained stable and the stimulation of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities occurred significantly only on day 14 at 300 mg Zn kg(-1). It is concluded that the antioxidants are directly involved in the adaptive response of Lampito mauritii for survival in metal contaminated soil.     

Promising role of plant hormones in translocation of lead in Sesbania drummondii shoots

Lead (Pb) accumulation in Sesbania drummondii shoots was enhanced by 654 and 415% in the presence of 100 microM IAA and 100 microM NAA, respectively, compared to control plants (Pb alone). However, when IAA or NAA was added along with EDTA, Pb accumulation further increased in shoots by 1349% and 1252%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that Pb particles in both leaf and stem of Pb+EDTA+IAA and Pb+EDTA+NAA treated plants were concentrated in the region of vascular bundles. In root tissue, Pb particles were present between epidermis to stele region. Plant growth in both treatments (Pb+100 microM IAA and Pb+100 microM NAA) was comparable to control plants; however, it was significantly inhibited in the treatments containing Pb+EDTA and EDTA at concentrations of 10 microM of IAA or NAA. Moreover, the photosynthetic efficiency and strength of the treated plants were not affected in the presence of IAA or NAA and EDTA.     

Use of Co speciation and soil properties to explain variation in Co toxicity to root growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in different soils

The influence of soil properties on the bioavailability and toxicity of Co to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) root elongation was investigated. Ten soils varying widely in soil properties were amended with seven doses of CoCl₂. Soil properties greatly influenced the expression of Co toxicity. The effective concentration of added Co causing 50% inhibition (EC₅₀) ranged from 45 to 863 mg kg⁻¹, representing almost 20-fold variation among soils. Furthermore, we investigated Co toxicity in relation to Co concentrations and free Co²⁺ activity in soil solution. The EC₅₀ values showed variation among soils of 17- and 29-fold, based on the Co concentration in soil solution and free Co²⁺ activity, respectively. Single regressions were carried out between Co toxicity threshold values and selected soil properties. Models obtained showed that soil effective cation exchange capacity (eCEC) and exchangeable calcium were the most consistent single predictors of the EC₅₀ values based on soil added Co.     

Relationship between chromium(VI) resistance and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) concentration by some cyanobacterial isolates

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Chromium(VI) resistance and its association with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration in cyanobacteria was investigated. Increased EPS concentration was associated with Cr(VI) resistance. The most resistant isolate, Chroococcus sp. H(4), secreted the most EPS (427 mg/L). MATERIALS AND METHODS: EPS concentration of the two most resistant isolates (Chroococcus sp. H(4) and Synechocystis sp. S(63)) was investigated following exposure to 15 and 35 ppm Cr(VI). The composition of EPS produced by Chroococcus sp. H(4) following exposure to 10 ppm Cr(VI) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Control EPS was composed of glucose (99%) and galactronic acid (1%); in the presence of 10 ppm Cr(VI), EPS composition changed to glucose (9%), xylose (75%), rhamnose (14%), and galacturonic acid (2%). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results indicated that (1) exposure to elevated concentrations of Cr(VI) affected the composition of EPS produced by Chroococcus sp. H(4), and (2) there was a correlation between Cr(VI) resistance and EPS concentration in some cyanobacteria.     

现代企业安全管理信息系统的构建

论述现代企业安全管理信息系统的功能需求、基本框架、核心功能和系统特点。该系统把信息技术、网络技术及GIS应用到企业安全管理中,并融入安全学习志的管理理念,同时对基于联动机制的企业安全应急决策系统综合理论及其应用进行了研究。通过该系统的建立,使安全管理工作逐步走向科学化、系统化和规范化,对提高目前安全管理水平具有实际意义。     

化学工业园区重大事故场外应急预案编制技术研究

阐述化学工业园区重大事故场外应急预案编制的技术路线;把编制过程分为调查评估、制度设计、预案编写3阶段,其中调查评估是基础,制度设计是关键;指出危险源辨识、脆弱性分析、应急资源评估、应急组织架构及其职责确定、应急救援运行机制设计等是化学工业园区重大事故场外应急预案编制的工作要点;提出"基本预案+应急功能程序+支持附件"的化学工业园区重大事故场外应急预案结构模式。该编制技术对促进化学工业园区重大事故场外应急预案的科学化、规范化和可操作性具有指导意义。     

矿难救生球系统在瓦斯爆炸冲击波作用下的动态响应

介绍矿难救生球系统(简称球)的原理及结构,构建巷道空间和球的分析模型,运用数值分析的方法,分别选择3种球体材料和3种球体厚度进行计算,对该系统在瓦斯爆炸冲击波作用下的动态响应进行研讨,分析冲击波作用下球表面的变形、等效应力、等效塑性应变以及球体材料、厚度等因素对球动态响应的影响。结果表明:运用数值分析的方法,可以为救生球系统设计建立一个仿真的实验环境,为优化系统设计、提高设计效率提供参考数据。     

我国自然灾害类应急预案评价方法研究(Ⅲ):可操作性评价

从预案执行人员的角度出发,将可操作性评价转化为复杂性评价,并以国家地震应急预案为例,构建针对应急预案结构的可操作性评价方法。该方法由3步完成:首先,应急预案具有由描述性语言组成的特点,分析国内现有应急预案的组织结构,采用语句成分分析的方法对预案中的关键信息和行动进行提取与处置;然后,引入软件工程中的程序流转图,将描述性的预案文本转换为包含行动以及它们之间逻辑与层次关系的结构控制图;最后,借鉴度量软件复杂性的方法,定义了结构控制图的内部复杂度和综合复杂度等一系列指标,用于应急预案的复杂性即可操作性评价。评价结果可为完善和修订应急预案提供科学依据。