Showing papers in "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 1979"
TL;DR: The objective of this paper is to determine the relative volatility of two to five ring PAH structures in water, and estimate the importance of the volatilization process in removing PAH from aquatic environments.
Abstract: The movement of organic contaminants from water to the atmosphere can be important in reducing concentrations of foreign substances in aquatic ecosystems (HILL et al. 1976, DILLING 1977, MACKAY and LEINONEN 1975). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a class of chemical produced in the combustion and pyrolysis of organic fuels, possess properties which suggest that their volatility in solution may be significant (MACKAY and WOLKOFF 1973). Since many PAH are potent carcinogens, a knowledge of their persistence, transport, and fate in aquatic environments is critical. The objective of this paper is to determine the relative volatility of two to five ring PAH structures in water, and estimate the importance of the volatilization process in removing PAH from aquatic environments. The theoretical basis for describing the transfer of vola: tile substances across an air-water interface has been succinctc}y detailed (LISS 1973, LISS and SLATER 1974). The rate of the process under a given set of conditions is described as a simple first order exponential decay with rate constant KL/depth. K L, the overall mass transfer coefficient, has units of distance time (such as cm/hr) and three components: kg, k I and H, related by the expression
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TL;DR: The isolation and characterization of TNT (trinitrotoluene) and its metabolites in ground water by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer computer techniques in which the water was contaminated by percolating wastes from explosives at an ammunition depot in Nevada, U.S., showed that TNT is subject to fungal and bacterial degradation by reduction in both aerobic and anaerobic systems.
Abstract: The isolation and characterization of TNT (trinitrotoluene) and its metabolites in ground water by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer computer techniques in which the water was contaminated by percolating wastes from explosives at an ammunition depot in Nevada, U.S., showed that TNT is subject to fungal and bacterial degradation by reduction in both aerobic and anaerobic systems.
78 citations
TL;DR: Calcium ion, introduced either as sulfate or carbonate, is the major source of protection against cadmium toxicity, observed in the absence of significant Cadmium precipitation.
Abstract: These data show that of the three major constituents characteristic of most hard waters (i.e., Ca2+, Mg2+, and the CO2 system) calcium ion, introduced either as sulfate or carbonate, is the major source of protection against cadmium toxicity. This protective effect is observed in the absence of significant cadmium precipitation. Magnesium ion, sulfate ion, sodium ion and the carbonate system provide little or no protection.
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TL;DR: Decreased microbial activity and biomass in a Norwegian forest soil treated with artificially acidified rain is reported here, which is hardly to be expected in a Scandinavian coniferous forests.
Abstract: The emission of air pollutants which form acid components in rain and snow represents a threat to natural ecosystems. Increased leaching of nutrients from soils (ABRAHAMSEN et al. 1976b), decreased pHvalues in lakes and changes in fish populations (SCHOFIELD 1976) have been suggested as some of the consequences of the increased acidity of rain. Scandinavian coniferous forests are very stable ecosystems, and dramatic short-term effects due to acid rain are hardly to be expected. To simulate long-term effects, artificially acidified rain may be used. We report here decreased microbial activity and biomass in a Norwegian forest soil treated with artificially acidified rain. (Less)
68 citations
TL;DR: Little has been done to determine the effects of foreign chemicals on aquatic organisms and the role of mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals released into marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Abstract: Recent interest in and concern for the quality of the environment has prompted a great deal of research into methods of measuring and assessing changes in it. One problem of major interest is that of increasing amounts of mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals generated by modern society and released into marine and freshwater ecosystems (KRAYBILL et ai. 1977). Numerous techniques involving whole animal testing for cancer, cell culture for mutation and cytogenetic changes and bacterial mutagenicity have been devised to assay specific chemicals and inspect unknown mixtures (KILBEY et ai. 1977). Little, however, has been done to determine the effects of foreign chemicals on aquatic organisms (DIAMOND AND CLARK 1970).
TL;DR: Considering the induction of BPMO as a means of detoxification in fish, the consequences of i/p application of polluted water extracts from different marine sites to young carp are studied.
Abstract: From the ecological point of view and on account of the interest in the environmental assessment of biological effects of xenobiotics on water organisms, it would be highly desirable to detect their presence by an equally revealing biochemical method in water samples. Considering the induction of BPMO as a means of detoxification in fish, we studied the consequences of i/p application of polluted water extracts from different marine sites to young carp. Aliquots of these extracts served in Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity tests using liver homogenates of pollution-induced fish as activating systems. The results we obtained so far are presented in this paper.
TL;DR: The octanol/water partition coefficient alone is not sufficient for predicting the lethality of pyrethroids to salmon or lobster.
Abstract: (IR)-cis-permethrin, decamethrin, and NRDC 168S are extremely lethal to salmon and lobster. The increase in lethality relative to that of permethrin follows qualitatively the patterns established in toxicity studies with insects: (IR)-cis isomers are more lethal than (IR)-trans, and the presence of an αcyano group in the phenoxybenzyl moiety increases the lethality. The latter effect is very pronounced for lobsters. The octanol/water partition coefficient alone is not sufficient for predicting the lethality of pyrethroids to salmon or lobster.
TL;DR: This study reports the lethal concentrations of cadmium and chromium to juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, in acute toxicity tests at three different salinities.
Abstract: This study reports the lethal concentrations of cadmium and chromium to juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, in acute toxicity tests at three different salinities. This economically important crustacean ranges throughout estuaries from fresh water to marine salinities, and may be subject to heavy metal pollution in industrial areas.
TL;DR: Data are obtained which support a hypothesis that the primary source of mercury in fish flesh in new impoundments may often be natural rather than anthropogenic, and a subsequent conclusion is that the problem will be short-term.
Abstract: That high levels of mercury are often found in fish flesh in new impoundments is well-known; however, the source(s) of the mercury is typically not identified. From the present study, data are obtained which support a hypothesis that the primary source may often be natural rather than anthropogenic. A subsequent conclusion is that the problem will be short-term; within ca. 5 years the mercury levels in fish in such systems should be normal.
TL;DR: The effects of an evaporated whole milk diet, a chemically defined liquid diet, and a pelleted rodent diet on Hg retention in mice after administration of an apparently non-toxic dose of methylmercury (MeHg) are examined.
Abstract: In contrast to adults, suckling mice excrete minimal amounts of their mercury body burdens until the approximate time of weaning to a solid diet, when there is an abrupt increase in mercury elimination. Increased gut absorption of inorganic Hg in rats fed a milk diet has been reported. These observations suggest that dietary components may influence absorption and excretion of Hg compounds. This possibility was examined by determining the effects of (1) an evaporated whole milk diet, (2) a chemically defined liquid diet, and (3) a pelleted rodent diet on Hg retention in mice after administration of an apparently non-toxic dose of methylmercury (MeHg). Whole body Hg elimination and fecal and urinary Hg excretion were measured daily for two weeks. Two weeks after MeHg administration, Hg concentrations in whole body, brain, liver, kidney and whole blood were determined. The diet groups showed differences in whole body Hg retention and fecal Hg excretion.
TL;DR: Brown Pelican: Population Status, Reproductive Success, and Organochlorine Residues in Louisiana, 1971-1976 L. Blus, E. Cromart, and T. Joanen.
Abstract: Brown Pelican: Population Status, Reproductive Success, and Organochlorine Residues in Louisiana, 1971-1976 L. Blus ~, E. Cromart ie 2, L. McNease 3, and T. Joanen 4 t2U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxenf Wildlife Research Center, 480 SW Airport Road, Corvallis, Ore. 97330, and 3,4Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Route 1, Box 20-B, Grand Chenier, La. 70643
TL;DR: Elodea nuttallii, an aquathic plant prolific in polluted urban rivers in Japan and one which accumulates heavy metals easily was chosen, and changes of enrichment factor when heavy metals coexist with phosphoric acid ion are investigated.
Abstract: Several species of submerged plants grow in flowing water of polluted urban rivers in Japan. The measurement of heavy metals content in the submerged plants is suitable for a criterion to estimate the average heavy metals concentration in water. Changes of enrichment factor when heavy metals coexist with phosphoric acid ion are investigated. For this purpose, Elodea nuttallii, an aquathic plant prolific in polluted urban rivers in Japan and one which accumulates heavy metals easily was chosen.
TL;DR: Results of experiments on the effects of aromatic compounds on photosynthesis by a freshwater alga are presented to determine ranges of toxic concentrations for the compounds tested, to facilitate further toxicological studies.
Abstract: This paper presents results of experiments on the effects of aromatic compounds on photosynthesis by a freshwater alga. The first objective of these experiments was to screen rapidly several classes of common aromatic compound, to identify those which are most toxic to the alga. The classes tested were unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic quinones, aromatic amines, methylated aromatics, phenols, azaarenes, and thiophenes. Because aromatics containing 4 or more rings are practically insoluble in water, even solutions saturated with such aromatics are generally not acutely toxic to aquatic organisms. For this reason, only 1-, 2-, and 3-ring compounds were tested. The second objective was to determine ranges of toxic concentrations for the compounds tested, to facilitate further toxicological studies. Each compound was therefore tested over 3 to 5 orders of magnitude of concentration.
TL;DR: A systematic evaluation of the potential acute toxicity to aquatic organisms of aqueous wastes from a coal conversion process is described and how the information gained can be used to anticipate evnironmental problems arising from this new technology before it is implemented on a large commercial scale is discussed.
Abstract: This paper describes a systematic evaluation of the potential acute toxicity to aquatic organisms of aqueous wastes from a coal conversion process. We discuss how the information gained can be used to anticipate evnironmental problems arising from this new technology before it is implemented on a large commercial scale.
TL;DR: It was shown that the presence of lead ions in distilled water induced epithelioma and that copper ions caused spirality of the nervous system and lead ions antagonised the effect due to Copper by suppressing abnormality and inhibitory tendency due to copper.
Abstract: In this paper it was shown that the presence of lead ions in distilled water induced epithelioma and that copper ions caused spirality of the nervous system. Lead ions antagonised the effect due to copper by suppressing abnormality and inhibitory tendency due to copper.