Search results for "Environmental Monitoring"
showing 10 items of 609 documents
Effects of ozone on the foliar histology of the mastic plant (Pistacia lentiscus L.)
2004
[EN] An open-top chamber study was conducted to investigate the tissue and cellular-level foliar effects of ozone (O-3) on a Mediterranean evergreen species, the mastic plant (Pistacia lentiscus L.). Plants were exposed at three different O-3 levels, and leaf samples were collected periodically from the beginning of the exposure. Although no visible foliar injury was evident, alterations of the plastids and vacuoles in the mesophyll were observed. Senescence processes were accelerated with an anomalous stacking of tannin vacuoles, and a reduction in the size and number of the chloroplasts. Overall, most of the modifications induced by O-3 were consistent with previously reported observation…
Spectrum of styrene-induced DNA adducts: the relationship to other biomarkers and prospects in human biomonitoring.
2002
Styrene is an important industrial chemical that has shown genotoxicity in many toxicology assays. This is believed to be related to the DNA-binding properties of styrene-7,8-oxide (SO), a major metabolite of styrene. In this review, we have summarized knowledge on various aspects of styrene genotoxicity, especially in order to understand the formation and removal of primary DNA lesions, and the usefulness of biomarkers for risk assessment. Biological significances of specific DNA adducts and their role in the cascade of genotoxic events are discussed. Links between markers of external and internal exposure are evaluated, as well as metabolic aspects leading to the formation of DNA adducts …
The use of tree-rings and foliage as an archive of volcanogenic cation deposition.
2007
Tree cores (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio) and leaves (Castanea sativa) from the flanks of Mount Etna, Sicily were analysed by ICP-MS to investigate whether volcanogenic cations within plant material provide an archive of a volcano's temporal and spatial depositional influence. There is significant compositional variability both within and between trees, but no systematic dendrochemical correlation with periods of effusive, explosive or increased degassing activity. Dendrochemistry does not provide a record of persistent but fluctuating volcanic activity. Foliar levels of bioaccumulated cations correspond to modelled plume transport patterns, and map short-term volcanic fumigation. Around the fl…
Acute toxicity of toluene, hexane, xylene, and benzene to the rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus plicatilis.
1992
A large number of studies on the biological effects of oil pollution in the aquatic environment deal with the effects of whole crude or refined oils or their water-soluble fractions. However, low boiling, aromatic hydrocarbons, which are probably the most toxic constituents of oil, have until now not been examined in sufficient detail. Toluene, benzene and xylene, constitute a major component of various oils. They may be readily lost by weathering but are toxic in waters that are relatively stagnant and are chronically polluted. Korn et al. have stated that toluene is more toxic than many other hydrocarbons such as benzene, though the latter are more water-soluble. Report of the effects of …
Assessment of quality of air in Palermo by chemical (ICP-OES) and cytological analyses on leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis
2013
In this work, we studied the influence of air pollution on the morpho-structural, biochemical and chemical composition of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves. Analyses were carried out on 22 samples collected in Palermo (Italy) area. Considering the mean concentrations (in unwashed leaves) of investigated metals, nutrient elements as Fe (214 mg kg(-1) dry weight (d.w.)), Mn (160 mg kg(-1) d.w.) and Zn (39 mg kg(-1) d.w.) were the most abundant, whereas Pb (5.6 mg kg(-1) d.w.) and Cd (0.072 mg kg(-1) d.w.) showed the lowest concentrations. The values of metal pollution index (MPI) ranged from 6.0 (station no. 15) to 25 (station no. 8) and from 4.0 (station no. 16) to 17 (stations no. 7 and no. 1…
Metabolism of chlorobenzene and hexachlorobenzene by the zebra fish, Brachydanio rerio.
1989
It is now becoming evident that in many cases metabolites have a greater toxic potential than the parent xenobiotic exposed. For this reason, the knowledge of biotransformation pathways of xenobiotics plays a substantial role in environmental monitoring programs. The zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio, Hamilton-Buchanan) has received increased attention as a model species for freshwater fish in environmental surveillance programs to evaluate potential health and impacts of anthropogenic chemicals. The metabolism of phenol and various substituted phenols in zebra fish has recently been studied. The purpose of the present study was to examine the metabolism of chlorobenzene and hexachlorobenzene (…
Study on Trichothecene and Zearalenone Presence in Romanian Wheat Relative to Weather Conditions
2019
To evaluate the influence of weather conditions on mycotoxin presence in wheat, deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15AcDON), fusarenon-X (FUS-X), nivalenol (NIV), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), T-2 toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), neosolaniol (NEO) and zearalenone (ZEN) were evaluated in 102 Romanian wheat samples coming from five wheat growing areas during 2015. Only six mycotoxins were detected, while FUS-X, DAS, NEO and NIV were not present in the wheat samples. Mycotoxin concentrations were correlated with precipitation and temperature values during anthesis and the preharvest period. Overall, the highest frequency was registered for DON, while the…
Occurrence and removal of drugs of abuse in Wastewater Treatment Plants of Valencia (Spain)
2014
The occurrence of 8 drugs of abuse and metabolites in the influent and effluent of the 3 Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) that treat wastewater from Valencia was studied in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Target drugs except 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-ACMOR) were detected in 100% of the influents. The WWTPs eliminate cocaine (COC), amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). Benzoylecgonine (BECG) was also efficiently eliminated (93-98%), whereas 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) presented removal rates of 32-57% and ketamine (KET) was not eliminated. The most consumed illicit drugs, according to the estimated concentrations of each compound…
Assessment of the Microbiological Quality of Groundwater in Three Regions of the Valencian Community (Spain)
2014
Urban groundwater development was traditionally constrained by concerns about its quality. This study was conducted in the regions of La Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja and La Plana de Requena-Utiel of the Valencian Community (Valencia, Spain) where population density, demand for drinking water and agricultural activities are high. Groundwater bodies (GWBs) are regarded as management areas within each territory, and were used to establish protection policies. This study analyzed eleven GWBs. We used two databases with microbiological measurements from 154 wells over a 7-year period (2004–2011), risk factors and groundwater information. Wells were grouped according to frequency of microbiologica…
Speciation of methylmercury in market seafood by thermal degradation, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectroscopy
2014
Sample thermal decomposition followed by mercury amalgamation and atomic absorption has been employed for the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish. The method involves HBr leaching of MeHg, extraction into toluene, and back-extraction into an aqueous l-cysteine solution. Preliminary studies were focused on the extraction efficiency, losses, contaminations, and species interconversion prevention. The limit of detection was 0.018µgg(-1) (dry weight). The intraday precision for three replicate analysis at a concentration of 4.2µgg(-1) (dry weight) was 3.5 percent, similar to the interday precision according to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The accuracy was guaranteed by the use of for…