Concentrations and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the granulodensimetric fractions of soils in Moscow parks

A comprehensive study of the contents and composition of 15 compounds from the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in granulodensimetric fractions of soddy-podzolic soils was performed. The specificity of the accumulation of these substances in the clay (heavy-weight) and light-weight soil fractions was investigated. The levels of the soil contamination in Moscow parks with polyarenes were determined, and the assessment of changes in the degree of the soil contamination over a long period of time was made.     

Runoff-Related Pesticide Input into the Lourens River,South Africa: Basic Data for Exposure Assessment and Risk Mitigation at the Catchment Scale

The characterization of runoff-related pesticide input and the identification of areas of concern in the field are essential for a comprehensive assessment of risk and the planning of mitigation measures. To this end, the agriculturally-derived aqueous and particle-associated pesticide contamination of the Lourens River and its tributaries was measured in a comprehensive design. Sampling was performed in the beginning of April prior to the first rainfall of the wet season and in the middle of April during high water conditions following the first rainfall of 9.6 mm d^-1. Pre-runoff samples indicated contamination with endosulfan at levels up to 0.06 μg L^-1, while no other pesticides were detectable. Rainfall-induced runoff resulted in an increase in the levels of the pesticides endosulfan, deltamethrin, azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, and procymidone up to levels of 0.35, 1.4, 0.6, 0.19 and 9 μg L^-1, respectively in water samples. Endosulfan, azinphos-methyl, and chlorpyrifos were detected at maximum concentrations of 273, 152, and 245 μg kg^-1 in suspended sediments. No increased pesticide levels were detected at a control site upstream of the agricultural area. The Lourens River received its contamination via the tributaries discharging the surrounding farming area. Contamination of the six tributaries depended on landuse and slope characteristics and enabled the identification of target sites for risk reduction approaches. Transient pesticide levels exceeded the target water quality limit proposed by the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The Lourens River site downstream of the farming area has been identified as a site where potential toxic conditions could arise.     

Effects of insecticides on acetylene reduction by alfalfa, red clover and sweetclover

Seven organophosphate and carbanate insecticides were tested for their effects on C₂H₂-reduction by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sweetclovcr (Melilotus alba L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Plants were grown in vitro for 21 days on nonstcrile vermiculite or soil substrates. Oftanol^® was inhibitory to most plants on both soil and vermiculite. Carbofuran's inhibitory effect was almost entirely limited to soil-grown plants. Carbaryl, aldicarb, chlorpyrifos, and terbufos were inhibitory to certain plants under some conditions. Phosmet was the least toxic. Significant differences were observed in toxicity which were dependent on the growth substrate used. The effects of carbamates tended to be restricted to plants grown on soil substrates rather than on vermiculite. Loss of C₂H₂-reducing ability was usually correlated with inhibition of nodule formation. The insecticides did not inhibit growth of Rhizobium meliloti or R. trifolii in broth culture.     

Simplified N fertilization strategies for winter wheat. Part 1: plants: compensation capacity of modern wheat varieties

ABSTRACT

Winter wheat in northwestern Europe is often fertilized with several doses of calcium-ammonium-nitrate (CAN). For economy, farmers fertilize using a combination of N-doses. Here, we examined the necessity of N splitting (1–3) and application timing in experiments conducted in 2010 using a one-factorial fully randomized block design, and in 2011–2012 using a two-factorial split-plot design (four replicates). The study site, in southwestern Germany, had silty loam soil, and modern cultivars (2010: one cultivar, 2011–2012: three cultivars) with different genetic abilities to develop the yield components of interest were tested. A late first or single N application at stage BBCH 29/31 did not lead to differences in grain yields or protein contents compared to three N applications. However, a single N application at stage BBCH 25/27 resulted in a reduced protein content. Yield component development did not significantly differ among the cultivars. Early N application increased plant density but not yield. In two years, low plant densities were compensated by higher numbers of kernels per spike. Hence, under the tested conditions, the number of N applications could be reduced, as the high compensation ability of modern cultivars allows N fertilization consisting of two or even one application.     

Xenon: effect on radiation sensitivity of HeLa cells

HeLa cells, plated onto plastic petri dishes, were exposed to various atmospheres composed of air and carbon dioxide; helium, oxygen, and carbon dioxide; and xenon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in a pressure vessel. Survival curves with x-rays, 280 kilovolts (peak), show that air and helium have the same effect, but that xenon potentiates x-irradiation to the extent that the dose to produce a given level of survival with xenon is 0.58 of the dose required with air.