Analysis of coordinated circling and linear flights of a lycaenid butterfly species

Circling and linear flights of a hairstreak Chrysozephyrus smaragdinus were recorded in natural habitat with a high-speed video camera. Circling flight paths were resolved into rotation and shift components; values on X- and Y-coordinates of the butterfly position were separately extracted against time and fitted with a regression line composed of a sinusoidal curve and a linear line. From the obtained parameters, diameter, rotation number, and flight velocity were calculated. Flapping movements were also analyzed. Two types of circling flights, horizontal and vertical, were discriminated. In both flights, the rotation diameter was about 10 cm, rotation number of 3/s, flight velocity of 0.9 m/s, and wing-beat frequency of 20/s. The coordination of paired butterflies in circling flight showed a higher correlation in the horizontal circling flight. In the vertical circling flight, butterflies accelerated the downstroke speed of the wing in the ascending phase. They flew about four times faster in linear flights than in circling flights due to the higher frequency of wing beats.     

Effect of transition metal doping under reducing calcination atmosphere on photocatalytic property of TiO2 immobilized on SiO2 beads

TiO₂ immobilized on SiO₂ (TiO₂/SiO₂) have been prepared by sol-gel method and various ions of transition metals (Cr³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) were doped on the photocatalyst using wet impregnation method under reducing calcination atmosphere. The photocatalytic activity of metal doped TiO₂/SiO₂ towards phenol degradation under black light irradiation were investigated and compared with undoped TiO₂/SiO₂. The results showed that the photoresponse of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ doped TiO₂/SiO₂ were larger than undoped TiO₂/SiO₂, indicating that the photogenerated carriers were separated more efficiently in Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ doped TiO₂/SiO₂. The reactivity was in the order of Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Co²⁺. The different photoreactivity was ascribed to combine effect of the different ionic radii and photocorrison tendency of the dopants. The sample was also characterized by surface analytical methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph/electron dispersive X-ray analyzer and UV-Vis absorption spectrum.     

Recycling of biodiesel fuel wastewater for use as a liquid fertilizer for hydroponics

Wastewater is discharged during washing processes in the production of biodiesel fuel (BDF) using alkaline catalysts. It can be recycled as a liquid fertilizer for hydroponics by adding essential components for plant growth. The effects of the liquid fertilizer on plant growth were investigated. Liquid fertilizer containing a smaller amount of the BDF wastewater had a similar effect on plant growth as the standard nutrient solutions. This result reveals that BDF wastewater can be recycled for use as a liquid fertilizer for hydroponics. However, fertilizer with a larger amount of the BDF wastewater showed poor and varied plant growth due to the growth of microorganisms in the contaminated wastewater. Hence, when BDF wastewater becomes contaminated during storage, sterilization is necessary to recycle it as a liquid fertilizer. Moreover, contamination during storage should be avoided for successful recycling.     

Relevance of coplanar PCBs for TEQ emission of fluidized bed incineration and impact of emission control devices

Five fluidized bed incinerators combusting municipal solid waste were assessed for the impact of coplanar PCBs on total TEQ emission. In 17 stack measurements, the coplanar PCBs contributed on average less than 3% to total TEQ with a maximum contribution of 7.5% to total TEQ in one measurement. Differences in the design of the flue gas cooling section did not show an effect on the impact of coplanar PCBs on total TEQ. The effect of emission control devices on the impact of coplanar PCBs on the total TEQ was studied in more detail at one incinerator. The relative contribution of PCBs to total TEQ increased along the flue gas line. This was caused by a slightly higher removal efficiency for TEQ relevant PCDDs/PCDFs compared to coplanar PCBs by the bag filters and a higher destruction efficiency for PCDDs/PCDFs compared to PCBs by the SCR catalyst. Additionally, the removal efficiencies of the emission control devices (bag filters and catalyst) for other chlorinated aromatic compounds which have been proposed as TEQ indicator compounds (polychlorinated benzenes and polychlorinated phenols) were compared with those for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs. Removal efficiencies for polychlorinated benzenes or polychlorinated phenols considerably differed from those of PCDD/PCDF and coplanar PCBs. Implications for TEQ assessments using indicator compounds as proposed in the literature are discussed.     

Bioaccumulation of mercury in a vestimentiferan worm living in Kagoshima Bay,Japan

The present study reports on the mercury concentrations of the vestimentiferan worm, Lamellibrachia satsuma, (Annelida: Pogonophora) found near hydrothermal vents at a depth of 80-100 m in the northern parts of Kagoshima Bay. The vestimentiferan worms had total mercury concentrations of 238 ng/g in the anterior muscle of the body and 164 ng/g in the posterior trophosome. Methylmercury constituted only 7.6% of total mercury detected anteriorly and 16.3% posteriorly. The mean total mercury concentration in filtrated ambient seawater of the worm habitat was 1.1 ng/l. The worm should accumulate mercury in seawater by a one-step into the anterior and posterior parts as 2.2 x 10(%) and 1.5 x 10(5) times those of the filtered ambient seawater, respectively. The bioaccumulation factor of mercury by the worms with only their respiration would be actually larger than that by other marine animals through food webs. The high bioaccumulation factor of mercury in the worms suggest the following two possibilities: (i) the biological half-life of organomercury in the worm could be exceptionally long; or (ii) the lifetime of vestimentiferan worms examined in the present study could be extremely long. Various metals in one specimen of the worm were analyzed by using ICP-MS, and then gold as well as silver were detected in the worm. Gold was detected for the first time from marine animals.     

Removal of aqueous lead by poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites

The use of a phosphorus amendment in altering Pb to a chemically less mobile phase is a promising strategy based on minimizing ecotoxicological risk and improving time and cost efficiency. This study evaluated crystalline and poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatite sorbents on removal of aqueous Pb in response to reaction time, solution pH, and Pb concentration. Batch experiments were conducted using a commercially-available crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA), and two poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites synthesized from gypsum waste (CHA) and incinerated ash of poultry waste (MHA). Poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites had greater capacity for Pb removal from a solution with a wider pH range as compared to a crystalline hydroxyapatite. The maximum sorption capacity of Pb determined by the Langmuir model was 500 mg g⁻¹ for CHA, 277 mg g⁻¹ for MHA and 145 mg g⁻¹ for HA. Removal of aqueous Pb by CHA was not dependent on solution pH, with a 98.8% reduction throughout the solution pH range of 2–9, whereas aqueous Pb removal by HA and MHA was pH-dependent with less removal in the neutral solution pH. Poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites may provide an effective alternative to existing remediation technologies for Pb-contaminated sites.     

Evaluating the fish safety level of river water and wastewater with a larval medaka assay

A larval medaka (Oryzias latipes) assay was proposed to evaluate the fish safety level of river waters and wastewaters. Organic toxicants were 10-100 times concentrated with adsorption cartridges from 4 l of river water or 1-10 times concentrated from 400 ml of wastewater. Toxicity of these concentrated solutions was determined by exposing 48-72 h post-hatch age larvae for 48 h. The method effectively revealed a variation of the median lethal concentration ratio (LCR50) from 13 to >100 in 125 river water samples, and from <1 to >10 in five typical wastewater samples. Ayase River, which takes water mostly from agricultural or household discharge, showed significantly (P<0.001) lower LCR50 than Sagami River that takes natural water as the source. Safety Levels in both Sagami River and Ayase River were influenced by the irrigation activity, LCR50 at some sites showing a seasonal-specific decrease in winter. Pollution from pulp and paper industries contributed to the low LCR50 in several tributaries of Ayase River. Required little manpower in sampling, pretreatment and testing, the proposed larval medaka assay was proved as an efficient tool for screening those high risk sites for priority management.     

Field monitoring of volatile organic compounds using passive air samplers in an industrial city in Japan

Highly portable, sensitive, and selective passive air samplers were used to investigate ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) levels at multiple sampling sites in an industrial city, Fuji, Japan. We determined the spatial distributions of 27 species of VOCs in three campaigns: Mar (cold season), May (warm season), and Nov (mild season) of 2004. In all campaigns, toluene (geometric mean concentration, 14.0microg/m3) was the most abundant VOC, followed by acetaldehyde (4.76microg/m3), and formaldehyde (2.58microg/m3). The spatial distributions for certain VOCs showed characteristic patterns: high concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde were typically found along major roads, whereas high concentrations of toluene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were usually found near factories. The spatial distribution of PCE observed was extremely consistent with the diffusion pattern calculated from Pollutant Release and Transfer Register data and meteorological data, indicated that passive air samplers are useful for determining the sources and distributions of ambient VOCs.     

Inorganic iodine incorporation into soil organic matter: evidence from iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure

The transformation of inorganic iodine (I⁻ and IO₃⁻) incubated in soils with varying amounts of organic matter (Andosols from the surface layer of an upland field and forest, as well as Acrisols from surface and subsurface layers of an upland field) was investigated by using the iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). After 60 d of reaction, both I⁻ and IO₃⁻ were transformed into organoiodine in surface soils containing sufficient amounts of organic matter, whereas IO₃⁻ remained unchanged in the subsurface soil of Acrisols with low organic matter contents. Transformation of IO₃⁻ into organoiodine was not retarded when the microbial activity in soil was reduced by γ-ray irradiation, suggesting that microbial activity was not essential for the transformation of inorganic iodine into organoiodine. Soil organic matter has the ability to transform inorganic iodine into organoiodine.     

Seasonal variability of 1-chloropyrene on atmospheric particles and photostability in toluene

The occurrence of a mutagenic compound, 1-chloropyrene (Cl-Py), in extracts of ambient particulate matter at an urban site in Japan has been investigated. Samples were collected with a high-volume air sampler for 24 h periods over the course of 1 week in winter (February), spring (May), summer (August), and autumn (November) 2002. The Cl-Py levels showed seasonal variation, ranging from 2.4 pg/m(3) (summer) to 18.9 pg/m(3) (winter). This variation would indicate that the lower temperatures in winter results in an increased distribution of Cl-Py from vapor phase to the particle phase. In addition, there is also the possibility that ambient Cl-Py is emitted from seasonal sources or is susceptible to photodegradation by sunlight, or both. The photodegradation of Cl-Py in a laboratory experiment was conducted to simulate the compound's fate on airborne particle surfaces. The degradation of Cl-Py proceeded by a first-order reaction with a rate constant of 0.72 h(-1). In the presence of a radical sensitizer, 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), the photodegradation rate of Cl-Py was elevated in comparison with the rate in the absence of AQ. In addition, the dechlorination of Cl-Py (i.e., the formation of Py) occurred in the presence of AQ.