Variability of cadmium, copper and zinc levels in molluscs and associated sediments from Chile

The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in mussel and sediment samples collected together from eight different geographical coastal areas of Chile were determined. The mussels studied were 'Chorito Maico', 'Almejas' and 'Navajuelas Chilenas' (Perumytilus purpuratus, Semelle solida and Tagellus dombeii, respectively). Sampling was carried out in July and September 1992 and January and April 1993 (winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons in Chile, respectively). The metal levels in these mussels varied among species; there were several sites where the metal concentrations in molluscs approached or exceeded the criteria levels for Cd, Cu and Zn in shellfish products: 1, 10 and 50 ppm ww respectively, which are regarded as safe levels for human consumption. The results of metal levels in sediments showed two areas clearly polluted with Cu. Strong relationships between Cu concentrations in the three molluscs and sediments were found; weak correlations were observed for Zn in S. solida.     

Gehalte an polycyclischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (PAK) in Oberböden Hamburgs

The contents of 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in topsoil samples from 108 sites within the territory of the federal state of Hamburg were analyzed. The investigation was performed to provide a view on background values in the metropolitan area and the influence of land use on PAH in soils. Known contaminated sites were not included in the investigation. Values in the area ranged from 0.1 to 44.3 mg/kg d.m. with a median of 3.6. 80% of the measurements were below 10 mg/kg d.m. Contents decreased strongly with a growing distance from the city’s center. The median is 4.4 mg/kg d.m. in the center, 1.3 in the rural periphery (marsh) and 0.4 mg/kg d.m. in preweichselian uplands (“geest”). PAH contaminations originate from diffuse atmospheric emissions caused by car traffic and room heating, but also by war damages which lead to widespread burnings and consequently to the widespread dispersion of remains. The contents measured are in the range of published values from other densely populated areas, although a comparatively comprehensive investigation from another region does not exist.     

Individual-based modelling of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in soils: Parameterization and sensitivity analysis of microbial components

The fate of soil carbon and nitrogen compounds in soils in response to climate change is currently the object of significant research. In particular, there is much interest in the development of a new generation of micro-scale models of soil ecosystems processes. Crucial to the elaboration of such models is the ability to describe the growth and metabolism of small numbers of individual microorganisms, distributed in a highly heterogeneous environment. In this context, the key objective of the research described in this article was to further develop an individual-based soil organic matter model, INDISIM-SOM, first proposed a few years ago, and to assess its performance with a broader experimental data set than previously considered. INDISIM-SOM models the dynamics and evolution of carbon and nitrogen associated with organic matter in soils. The model involves a number of state variables and parameters related to soil organic matter and microbial activity, including growth and decay of microbial biomass, temporal evolutions of easily hydrolysable N, mineral N in ammonium and nitrate, CO₂ and O₂. The present article concentrates on the biotic components of the model. Simulation results demonstrate that the model can be calibrated to provide good fit to experimental data from laboratory incubation experiments performed on three different types of Mediterranean soils. In addition, analysis of the sensitivity toward its biotic parameters shows that the model is far more sensitive to some parameters, i.e., the microbial maintenance energy and the probability of random microbial death, than to others. These results suggest that, in the future, research should focus on securing better measurements of these parameters, on environmental determinants of the switch from active to dormant states, and on the causes of random cell death in soil ecosystems.     

Dioxinbilanz für Hamburg

The sources and reservoirs of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) in the city of Hamburg, Germany, in the year 1992 were identified and quantified combining analytical data of PCDD/PCDF with statistical data on annual fluxes of materials and products. Fluxes and amounts of PCDD/PCDF were estimated for the environmental compartments water, air, and soil. Dioxin emissions originating from industrial, commercial or private activities were also calculated. Together with the analysis of the specific regional nutrition data, the human exposurevia the various pathways could be determined. It could be shown that the total PCDD/PCDF intake of individuals in Hamburg was about the same as the national average. High annual fluxes of PCDD/PCDF connected with the trade of industrial products and the waste management and disposal: system in Hamburg obviously had no influence on the human intake of PCDD/PCDF.     

Physiological properties of some descending neurons in the cricket brain

The Science of Nature -     

Effects of Spontaneous Locomotion on the Cricket's Walking Response to a Wind Stimulus

Tethered walking crickets often respond to single wind puffs (50 ms duration) directed from 45° left or right to the abdominal cerci with a short running bout of about 300 ms, followed by normal locomotion. To test for an effect of the current behavioral state on the running response, we applied wind stimuli when the insect attained a predefined translatorial and/or rotatorial velocity during spontaneous walking. The latency, duration, and velocity profile of the running bout always proved to be constant, representing a reflexlike all-or-nothing reaction, while the probability of this response was low after even brief standing and increased with the forward speed of spontaneous walking at the moment of stimulation. In contrast, the current rotatorial speed did not affect the stimulus response. Received: 26 August 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 2 December 1998     

Size Distribution and Sources of Aerosol in Launceston,Australia, during Winter 1997

ABSTRACT

As part of a pilot study into the chemical and physical properties of Australian fine particles, a suite of aerosol samples was collected at Ti Tree Bend in Launceston, Tasmania, during June and July 1997. This period represents midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere, a period when aerosol sources in Launceston are dominated by smoke from domestic wood burning. This paper describes the results from this measurement campaign, with the aim of assessing the effect of wood smoke on the chemical and physical characteristics of ambient aerosol. A micro orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) was used to measure the size distributions of the aerosol from 0.05 to 20 n m aerodynamic diameter. Continuous measurements of fine particle mass were made using a PM_2.5 tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) and light scattering coefficients at 530 nm were measured with nephelometers.

Mass size distributions tended to be bimodal, with the diameter of the dominant mode tending to smaller sizes with increases in total mass. Non-sea salt potassium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were used as chemical tracers for wood smoke. Wood smoke was found to increase absolute particle mass (enough to regularly exceed air quality standards), and to concentrate mass in a single mode below 1 μm aerodynamic diameter. The acid-base equilibrium of the aerosol was altered by the wood smoke source, with free acidity hydrogen ion, non-sea salt sulfate, and ammonium concentrations being higher and the concentration of all species, including nitrate (to differing extents), focused in the fine particle size ranges. The wood smoke source also heavily influenced the aerosol scattering efficiency, adding to a strong diurnal cycle in both mass concentration and light scattering.     

Size distribution and sources of aerosol in Launceston, Australia, during winter 1997

As part of a pilot study into the chemical and physical properties of Australian fine particles, a suite of aerosol samples was collected at Ti Tree Bend in Launceston, Tasmania, during June and July 1997. This period represents midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere, a period when aerosol sources in Launceston are dominated by smoke from domestic wood burning. This paper describes the results from this measurement campaign, with the aim of assessing the effect of wood smoke on the chemical and physical characteristics of ambient aerosol. A micro orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) was used to measure the size distributions of the aerosol from 0.05 to 20 microns aerodynamic diameter. Continuous measurements of fine particle mass were made using a PM2.5 tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) and light scattering coefficients at 530 nm were measured with nephelometers. Mass size distributions tended to be bimodal, with the diameter of the dominant mode tending to smaller sizes with increases in total mass. Non-sea salt potassium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were used as chemical tracers for wood smoke. Wood smoke was found to increase absolute particle mass (enough to regularly exceed air quality standards), and to concentrate mass in a single mode below 1 micron aerodynamic diameter. The acid-base equilibrium of the aerosol was altered by the wood smoke source, with free acidity hydrogen ion, non-sea salt sulfate, and ammonium concentrations being higher and the concentration of all species, including nitrate (to differing extents), focused in the fine particle size ranges. The wood smoke source also heavily influenced the aerosol scattering efficiency, adding to a strong diurnal cycle in both mass concentration and light scattering.