Search results for "Pollution"

Levels of heavy metals in some marine organisms from the western Mediterranean area (Spain)

1994

Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent (BKME) on Physiology and Biochemistry of the Roach (Rutilus rutilus L.)

1996

The effects of bleached kraft pulp and paper mill effluent (BKME) on the roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) were studied under experimental and natural field conditions. In the acute experiment (72 h exposure to the concentrated BKME), the roach suffered from a general stress syndrome, characterized by a significant increase of cortisol and blood glucose, as well as a significant decrease of leucocrit and total plasma protein. In three weeks' exposure in a polluted and an unpolluted lake and in fish caught from the same lakes, the more specific effects of BKME treatments appeared. During the three weeks' exposure, slight hyperglycaemia as well as a decrease in a transaminase activity (GPT) and incr…

Inorganic polyphosphates in the developing freshwater spongeEphydatia muelleri: Effect of stress by polluted waters

1996

Relatively high amounts of inorganic polyphosphates (approximately 55 μg of polyphosphate/g of wet weight) were found in the freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri, particularly in the gemmules (260 μg/g). Here we report that the polyphosphate content of this sponge changes during development and in response to adverse environmental conditions. Germination and hatching of gemmules of E. muelleri is accompanied by a strong decrease (by 94% at day 2) in polyphosphate level and a rise in exopolyphosphatase activity. On the other hand, induction of gemmulogenesis by theophylline results in an increase (by 61%) in polyphosphate content of sponge tissue. An increase in polyphosphate content and a d…

Effect of substituted phenols on transaminase activity in the fish,Leuciscus idus melanotus L.

1986

Elimination and distribution of different substituted phenols by frog (Rana temporaria) and crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus)

1981

Acute toxicity of several pesticides to rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus).

1992

Radon levels in the Valencian community (Spain). I. Results in the province of Valencia (1990–1991)

1995

Abstract Two-day radon screening measurements with charcoal canisters were made in buildings in the province of Valencia throughout the years 1990 and 1991. An average indoor concentration of 34 Bq m −3 was found, and 9% of all measurements exceeded the recommended EPA limit of 148 Bq m −3 .

Bacterial Bioconversion of Primary Aliphatic and Aromatic Alcohols into Acids: Effects of Molecular Structure and Physico-chemical Conditions

1997

The biotransformation of four alcohol substrates (butanol, 2-methylbutanol, 3-methylbutanol and 2-phenylethanol) into their acids was studied using a strain of Acetobacter aceti. Bioconversion yields depended on the molecular structure of the alcohol. Biotransformation of high concentrations of alcohols was possible until the precursor reached an inhibiting concentration (3.8 g dm -3 for butanol and 3-methylbutanol, 4.2 g dm -3 for 2-methylbutanol). In contrast, biotransformation of 2-phenylethanol decreased when alcohol concentration was higher than 0.3 g dm -3 . Dissolved oxygen concentrations and pH conditions of the medium were important factors in improving bioconversion. Transformatio…

Effects of heavy metals on earthworms along contamination gradients in organic rich soils.

2003

Earthworm communities and metal (bio)availability to earthworms along contamination gradients was studied in order to support chemical analyses in risk assessment of metal contaminated soils. Earthworms were sampled in three metal contaminated areas with different habitat and soil properties in Finland. Earthworm and soil samples were collected at three distances (1, 2, and 4 km) from the emission sources. Earthworms were identified as to species and analyzed for heavy metals. Total soil metal concentrations were analyzed using an ultrasound-assisted extraction method and bioavailable metal fraction was estimated by acetic acid extraction. In two of the three areas studied, heavy metal conc…

Trophic Transfer of Trace Elements in an Isotopically Constructed Food Chain From a Semi-enclosed Marine Coastal Area (Stagnone di Marsala, Sicily, M…

2012

Trace element accumulation is particularly important in coastal and transitional environments, which act as contaminant buffers between the continental and marine systems. We compared trace element transfer to the biota in two locations with different open-sea exposures in a semi-enclosed marine coastal area (Stagnone di Marsala, Sicily, Italy) using isotopically reconstructed food chains. Samples of sediment, macroalgae, seagrasses, invertebrates, fish, and bird feathers were sampled in July 2006 and analysed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ(13)C, δ(15)N) and trace elements (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], total mercury [THg], and lead [Pb]). Trophic magnification factors were calcul…