Effects of temperature and food availability on growth and reproduction in the neustonic pedunculate barnacle Lepas anserifera

To elucidate the life history of neustonic animals, growth and reproductive patterns were investigated in the hermaphroditic pedunculate barnacle Lepas anserifera in field and laboratory experiments in Wakayama, western Japan from 2006 to 2008. The effects of temperature (19, 24 or 29°C) and food availability (once or twice a week) on growth and reproduction were also studied in the laboratory. The barnacles grew and matured rapidly, especially in the field: individuals on the average grew from 3 mm to more than 12 mm in capitulum length within 15 days and some were brooding. High temperature and high food availability resulted in greater growth. High temperature also resulted in earlier maturation of both testes and ovaries, whereas the effect of food availability was less clear. The rapid growth and maturation, together with earlier maturation at higher temperatures, may be an adaptation to ephemeral floating objects to which they attach.     

Genotoxicity of substances extracted from construction materials

Construction waste such as road pavement and concrete is estimated to constitute about 50% of the total industrial waste in Japan, and the recycling of such material has recently become a prominent topic among construction engineers. It has also been suggested that various types of industrial waste be utilized as components of construction materials. This paper investigates the environmental safety of certain materials in terms of the elutions and genotoxicities of these substances. The substances extracted from some materials, such as emulsifier, ash, and sediment, were found to have genotoxic characteristics. The dose-related responses of the various materials and their genotoxic strengths are shown. Received: June 16, 1998 / Accepted: September 7, 1999     

Seasonal variation in the acute effects of ozone on premature mortality among elderly Japanese

We conducted a multicity time-series study using monitoring data to assess seasonal patterns of short-term ozone–mortality association among elderly aged 65 years and over in Japan. Daily exposure to ambient ozone was computed using hourly measurements of photochemical oxidants available at multiple monitoring stations in each city. Effects of ozone on daily all-cause non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality were estimated using distributed lag linear models, controlling for confounding by temporal, day of the week, temperature, and flu epidemics. City-level effect estimates were combined using inverse variance meta-analysis. In spring and autumn, a 10-ppbv increase of daily maximum 8-h average ozone concentration in the previous 3 days was associated with 0.69 % (95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.27–1.10), 1.07 % (0.34–1.82), and 1.77 % (0.78–2.77) increases in daily all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, respectively. Forward displacement of respiratory mortality was large during the cold season despite lower ozone concentration. Results were generally independent of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. Findings suggest significant mortality effects of short-term ozone exposure among the elderly during the moderate season. Those with underlying respiratory diseases were susceptible, even during winter.     

Organochlorine pesticide in water and bottom sediment from Aiba Reservoir (Southwestern Nigeria)

Levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water and sediment from Aiba reservoir (Southwestern Nigeria) have been assessed. The aim of the study was to investigate the pollution status of the reservoir water and the bottom sediment. Analytical measurements were carried out for 20 OCPs using standard literature methods. The results showed higher levels of OCPs in the bottom sediment than the water. Significant positive correlations at p<0.05 level were observed for OCPs compounds in water except γ-BHC and endosulfan III, whereas in sediments α-chlordane, dieldrin, endosulfan II, pp-DDT, endrin ketone and methoxychlor did not show any correlation, and aldrin was negatively correlated with pp-DDD. The mean levels of OCPs in both water and sediments were higher, in most cases, than recommended levels for drinking water. Owing to possible toxicity and bioaccumulation tendency of OCPs by the aquatic habitats, the levels of OCPs detected in water and sediment samples could be a source of future health problems. Environmental monitoring of the reservoir is highly recommended.