Untersuchungen zur Bioverfügbarkeit Kfz-emittierter Platingruppenelemente (PGE) für die aquatische Fauna unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Palladium

The uptake and accumulation of the traffic-related platinum group elements (PGE) Pt, Pd and Rh by the aquatic fauna was investigated. Zebra mussels, eels and barbels were maintained in water containing either road dust or ground catalytic converter material. Following the exposure, samples of fish liver and kidney, as well as the soft tissues of the mussels, were analysed. Our results revealed that all three catalytic noble metals were accumulated by aquatic organisms. The highest bioavailability was found for Pd, followed by Pt and Rh. The concentration factor of Pd forDreissena polymorpha was 5 times higher compared with Pd and only 6 times lower than the essential element Cu. With regard to the increasing emission of Pd the level of this metal has to be monitored very carefully in the environment.     

An evaluation of factors affecting alumina selectivity for the isomer specific determination of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin

Fully activated basic alumina has previously been shown to have the ability to give quantitative separation of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using a 12% chloroform in hexane solution. Further separation of 2,3,7,8-TCDD from other tetra isomers can be accomplished by use of 100% n-butyl chloride, 15% methylene chloride in hexane or 40% chloroform in hexane. A more complete comparison of basic alumina with acidic and neutral alumina has now been carried out. Additionally, an evaluation of this procedure for use with the other 2,3,7,8- substituted furans and dioxins has been made. Lewis base oxygen sites of the dioxin and furan molecules were used to explain the interactions observed. The alumina surface is believed to provide randomly spaced aluminum sites which act as Lewis acids in the adsorption process.     

Levels and profiles of PCDDs,PCDFs and cPCBs in Belgian breast milk. Estimation of infant intake

Congener-specific analyses of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho (coplanar) polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs) were performed on 20 non-pooled breast milk samples collected in or close to an industrial area of Wallonia (Belgium). PCDD/F concentrations ranged between 16.0 and 52.1 pg TEQ/g fat, with a mean value of 29.4 pg TEQ/g fat. If coplanar PCBs (77, 126, 169) are included in TEQ calculations, levels ranged between 22.2 and 100.2 pg TEQ/g fat, with a mean value of 40.8 pg TEQ/g fat. It appears that 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and PCB-126 account for more than 90% of the TEQ. Estimated PCDD/F dietary intake is 76 pg TEQ/kg body weight (bw)/day. This value is almost 20 times higher than the World Health Organization tolerable daily intake. A value of 103 pg TEQ/kg bw/day represents the intake of PCDDs, PCDFs and cPCBs (no mono-ortho PCBs included).     

Method verification for determination of tetrachlorodibenzodioxin in soil

Methods for the determination of tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) in surface and subsurface soil have been verified by spiking experiments conducted at a nominal level of twice the limit of detection. The methods involve Soxhlet extraction, silica and alumina clean-up and analysis by high resolution gas chromatography/ high resolution mass spectrometry. Mass Spectrometry done under profile data control is described. The precision (accuracy) found for surface and subsurface soils were 10.8% (85%) and 10.8% (95%) respectively. Application of the surface soil procedure is illustrated by analysis of soils from the Northeast United States.     

Book reviews

ANALYTICAL PLANNING: THE ORGANISATION OF SYSTEMS

Thomas L. Saaty and Kevin P. Kearns

Pergamon Press, 1985. Price: U.S. $40.00, U.K. £29.50.

THE GEOGRAPHER AT WORK

Peter Gould

Routledge and Kegan Paul, London 1985’ Price: £8.95.

UTOPIA ON TRIAL

Alice Colman

Hilary Shipman Ltd., 19 Framfield Road, Highbury, London. May 1985 (reprinted August, 1985). Price: £7.95.

SIR RAYMOND UNWIN: ARCHITECT, PLANNER AND VISIONARY

Frank Jackson

A. Zwemmer Ltd., London 1985. 187 pp. with maps and illustrations.

STRATEGIC PLANNING IN ACTION: THE IMPACT OF THE CLYDE VALLEY REGIONAL PLAN 1946–1982

R. Smith and U. Wannop (eds)

Gower, 1985, 272 pp. Price: £16.50.

LOCALITIES, CLASS AND GENDER

The Lancaster Regionalism Group (Linda Murgatroyd, Mike Savage, Dan Shapiro, John Urry, Sylvia Walby, Alan Warde, with Jane Mark‐Lawson)

Pion Ltd., 1985. Price: £12.00.     

A roadmap for the conservation of freshwater mussels in Europe

Europe has a long history of human pressure on freshwater ecosystems. As pressure continues to grow and new threats emerge, there is an urgent need for conservation of freshwater biodiversity and its ecosystem services. However, whilst some taxonomic groups, mainly vertebrates, have received a disproportionate amount of attention and funds, other groups remain largely off the public and scientific radar. Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida) are an alarming example of this conservation bias and here we point out six conceptual areas that need immediate and long-term attention: knowledge, threats, socioeconomics, conservation, governance and education. The proposed roadmap aims to advance research, policy and education by identifying the most pressing priorities for the short- and long-term conservation of freshwater mussels across Europe.     

The intestinal parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) from barbel as a bioindicator for metal pollution in the Danube River near Budapest, Hungary

Concentrations of As, Al, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Tl, V and Zn were analyzed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the intestinal helminth Pomphorhynchus laevis and its host Barbus barbus. The fish were caught in the Danube river downstream of the city of Budapest (Hungary). Ten out of twenty one elements analyzed were found at higher concentrations in the acanthocephalan than in different tissues (muscle, intestine, liver and kidney) of barbel. Considering the fish tissues, most of the elements were present at highest concentrations in liver, followed by kidney, intestine and muscle. Spearman correlation analyses indicate that there is competition for metals between the parasites and the host. The negative relationships between parasite number and metal levels in organs of the barbel support this hypothesis. The bioconcentration factors for Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cu, Ga, Mn, Pb, Sr, Tl, and Zn showed that the parasites concentrated metals to a higher degree than the fish tissues. They accumulated the metals As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn even better than established bioindicators such as the mussel Dreissena polymorpha as revealed by data from the literature. The results presented here emphasize that acanthocephalans of fish are very useful as sentinels for metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Ratio of metal concentrations in the parasites and the host tissues provide additional information. Not including acanthocephalans in accumulation bioindication studies with fishes (as still customarily done) may lead to false results.     

Atmospheric Emissions from Oxidation Ponds

The electrodes in industrial precipitators collect many tons of dust daily, and the efficient transfer of this dust burden to the hoppers is a challenging problem in mechanical engineering. Many varieties of devices have been tried; hammers, vibrators, scrapers, water flushing, gas blasting, etc. Impact devices for this purpose are usually called “rappers.” Laboratory experiments described in this paper show that normal (perpendicular) rapping is more effective than shear rapping; that thick dust layers are more easily removed by rapping than thin ones; that rapping becomes easier with increasing temperature, within limits; and that the electrostatic forces acting upon the precipitated dust layer play an important role. Quantitative data are shown graphically. The relation of these results to previous studies by other investigators is discussed.