ALBERT

Description:    The purpose of this article was to establish a simple residue analysis method for mesotrione in maize using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The method was then used to study the dissipation and residues in maize seedling and soil. The half-lives of mesotrione in maize plants and soil were 1.37, 4.31 days in Beijing, and 0.97, 1.80 days in Shandong, respectively. The ultimate residues of mesotrione were undetected in soil, maize grain and stem at the harvest time, suggesting that mesotrione could be safely used in maize crops with an appropriate dosage and application. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0573-3 Authors Xiaoxu Chen, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China Wenming Li, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China Qiong Wu, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China Weitao Chen, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China Lijun Han, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of this work was to estimate the quantity of mercury residue present in dental amalgam that is generated and discarded in the city of Manaus (Amazon-Brazil). For this purpose, the locations of amalgam usage (10 public and 31 private dental clinics), the method by which the residue is discarded (14 clinics improper disposal), and the analysis of total mercury in the sediment of the controlled landfill (2.68–3 μgHg/g), were described. It was concluded that: there are dental clinics in the city that discard mercury residue into the common waste disposal system, which contravenes health safety standards. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0554-6 Authors J. P. B. Lollobrigida de Souza, Centro Universitário Nilton Lins—CUNL, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Av. Prof. Nilton Lins 3259, Parque das Laranjeiras, Manaus, AM 69058-040, Brazil S. R. Nozawa, Centro Universitário Nilton Lins—CUNL, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Av. Prof. Nilton Lins 3259, Parque das Laranjeiras, Manaus, AM 69058-040, Brazil R. T. Honda, Centro Universitário Nilton Lins—CUNL, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Av. Prof. Nilton Lins 3259, Parque das Laranjeiras, Manaus, AM 69058-040, Brazil Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    We examined the effects of carbaryl in the digestive system of Ophisops elegans . Lizards were exposed once to different concentrations of carbaryl (2.5, 25 and 250 μg/g). After 96 h, findings related to the esophagus in all treatment groups were not conspicuous. The most important histological defects were observed in the stomach. In the small intestine, collapse of villi was prominent at high-dose. In the large intestine, disintegration in epithelial cells and scattered secretory granules of goblet cells were observed at high dose. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0571-5 Authors Ozlem Cakici, Zoology Section, Biology Department, Science Faculty, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Esra Akat, Zoology Section, Biology Department, Science Faculty, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Residues of metalaxyl were estimated in cucumber fruits using Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC) with Nitrogen phosphorus detector (NPD). Following three applications of Ridomil-MZ @ 0.3% and 0.6%, the average initial deposits of metalaxyl were observed to be 0.19 and 0.24 mg kg −1 , respectively. The residues dissipated below the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.02 mg kg −1 after 10 days at both the dosages. The half-life values (T 1/2 ) of metalaxyl was worked out to be 3.5 and 3.0 days, respectively at 0.3% and 0.6% concentration. Thus, a waiting period of 1 day was suggested for the safe consumption of metalaxyl treated cucumber. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0577-z Authors G. S. Rattan, Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 India Neeraj Sharma, Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Imidacloprid is a nicotine-based, systemic, widely used insecticide. In order to investigate the effects of imidacloprid on the spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae), specimens were exposed to different concentrations of imidacloprid (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/L) by the dipping method. Surviving spiders were used to determine the fecundity, development time of unexposed offspring, predation, and the activities of detoxification enzymes. Significant reductions were observed in survival rate and fecundity of spiders exposed to imidacloprid. The development times of unexposed offspring (F 1 ) were prolonged significantly with increased concentrations of imidacloprid. Spiders exposed to concentrations of imidacloprid above 25 mg/L showed significantly weaker predation on Drosophila melanogaster than the control group, but a low dose of imidacloprid (12.5 mg/L) increased predation ability. The activities of carboxyl esterase, acetyl cholinesterase, and the mixed-function oxidase were significantly inhibited by imidacloprid. With increasing concentrations of imidacloprid, the activities of all three kinds of enzymes were decreased significantly. These results suggest that imidacloprid can stimulate the performance of spiders (in low concentration) and has chronic toxicity to the spiders. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0584-0 Authors Xiao-qiong Chen, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 People’s Republic of China You Xiao, No. 1 Middle School Affiliated with Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430223 People’s Republic of China Ling-bing Wu, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 People’s Republic of China Yifeng Chen, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 People’s Republic of China Yu Peng, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The distribution of total petrogenic hydrocarbon was investigated in the subsurface water of Setiu Wetland from July to October 2008. The concentration was quantified by UV-fluorescence spectroscopy and ranged from 4 to 121 μg/L (mean 60 ± 41 μg/L). Higher total petrogenic hydrocarbon concentrations were found in area with high boating activities suggesting that the contribution is likely related to fossil fuel combustion. The present study also revealed that the total petrogenic hydrocarbon values are still lower that those reported in Malaysian coastal waters. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0574-2 Authors S. Suratman, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia N. Mohd Tahir, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia M. T. Latif, Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Arsenic contaminated groundwater uses for irrigation potentially lead the incidence of arsenic into food chain. In present study we examined total arsenic concentrations in 32 types of vegetables and 7 types of pulses. Range of total arsenic concentration in edible parts of vegetables collected from grown fields was 0.114–0.910 mg/kg. Highest arsenic values were in spinach 0.910 mg/kg. Vegetable samples were grouped into leafy, non-leafy-fruity, root-tubers. 18 common types of vegetables and pulses were collected through market basket survey, total arsenic were approximately 100 mg lower than those observed for the vegetables collected from the fields. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0569-z Authors Anirban Biswas, Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235 West Bengal, India Saroni Biswas, Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235 West Bengal, India Subhas Chandra Santra, Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study effects of herbicides glyphosate (GP), alachlor (AL) and maleic hydrazide (MH) is studied on mitotic cells of Trigonella foenum - graecum L. Seeds of T. foenum - graecum L. treated with a series of concentrations ranging from 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% for 1, 2 and 6 h and their effect on mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations was studied. The results indicate that these herbicides reduced mitotic index in dose-dependent manner. In addition, increase in the percentage of abnormal mitotic plates was observed in herbicide treated groups which was both concentration and time dependent. Commonly observed abnormalities were c-mitosis, laggards, bridges, stickiness, c-anaphase, precocious separation, un-equal distribution and fragments. The result of the present investigation indicates that commonly used herbicides GP, AL and MH have significant genotoxic effect on T. foenum - graecum plant. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0570-6 Authors Sazada Siddiqui, Department of Botany, Saifia Sciences Postgraduate College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Mukesh K. Meghvansi, Defence Research and Development Organization, Government of India, Ministry of Defence, Tezpur, Assam, India Shoukat Saeed Khan, Department of Botany, Saifia Sciences Postgraduate College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Twenty-two surface sediment samples were collected from Visakhapatnam harbour, east coast of India, and analysed for monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT), triphenyltin (TPT), total bacteria, and TPT tolerant bacteria. Concentrations of MPT, DPT and TPT varied between 1–26, 3–28, and 0.31–145 ng Sn g −1  dry wt, respectively. Phenyltin concentrations were influenced by ship related activities, agricultural waste and sewage. These phenyltin concentrations indicate sediments are contaminated. Abundance of TPT tolerant bacteria was strongly influenced by the levels of phenyltins. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0576-0 Authors Sangeeta S. Jadhav, Marine Corrosion and Material Research Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403004 Goa, India Saroj N. Bhosle, Department of Microbiology, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403206 Goa, India Venkat Krishnamurthy, Marine Corrosion and Material Research Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403004 Goa, India Subhash Sawant, Marine Corrosion and Material Research Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403004 Goa, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A modified QuEChERS and LC–MS/MS method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of residues of six neonicotinoids in various crops, including spinach, cucumber, apple and pomelo. The method showed good linearity (R 2  ≥ 0.9995) and precision (RSD ≤ 14.0%). Average recoveries of the six neonicotinoids ranged between 73.7% and 103.8% at spiking levels 0.005, 0.1 and 1 mg kg −1 . The LODs and LOQs were in the ranges of 0.20–0.85 μg kg −1 and 0.66–2.84 μg kg −1 , respectively. The method was satisfactorily validated for the analysis of 50 agricultural samples. Imidacloprid and imidaclothiz were detected at concentration levels ranging from 7 to 5.3 μg kg −1 . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0579-x Authors Fengzu Zhang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Yanjie Li, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Chuanshan Yu, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Canping Pan, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Arsenic (As) contamination is an important environmental consequence in some parts of salinity-affected South (S) and South-East (SE) Asia. In this study, we investigated the individual and combined phytotoxicity of arsenic (As) [arsenate; As(V)] and salinity (NaCl) on early seedling growth (ESG) of saline-tolerant and non-tolerant rice varieties. Germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS) and vigor index (VI) of both saline-tolerant and non-tolerant rice varieties decreased significantly ( p  〉 0.01) with increasing As(V) and NaCl concentrations. The highest GP (91%) was observed for saline non-tolerant BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan49, while the lowest (62%) was for saline-tolerant BRRI dhan47. The ESG parameters, such as weights and relative lengths of plumule and radicle, also decreased significantly ( p  〈 0.01) with increasing As(V) and NaCl concentrations. Relative radicle length was more affected than plumule length by As(V) and NaCl. Although VI of saline-tolerant and non-tolerant rice seedlings showed significant variation ( p  〈 0.05), weights and lengths of plumule and radicle of different rice varieties did not show significant variation for As(V) and NaCl treatments. Results reveal that the combined phytotoxicity of As(V) and NaCl on rice seed germination and ESG are greater than their individual toxicities, and some saline-tolerant rice varieties are more resistant to the combined phytotoxicity of As(V) and NaCl than the saline non-tolerant varieties. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0580-4 Authors M. Mamunur Rahman, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan M. Azizur Rahman, Faculty of Science, School of the Environment, Centre for Environmental Sustainability, University of Technology, Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia T. Maki, Institute of Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan H. Hasegawa, Institute of Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A total of 48 water samples and 24 sediment samples were collected at four sampling stations along the wetland during four seasons from 2009 to 2010 and analyzed by gas chromatograph–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). In water the total concentration of OCPs was 0.33, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.07 mg/L in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively. The most frequent OCP compounds detected were endrin and chlordane (0.08 and 0.07 mg/L), heaxachlorobenzene and chlordane (0.06, 0.02 mg/L), and chlordane (0.07 mg/L) in summer, winter and spring, respectively. The maximum concentration of ΣOCPs was found in samples collected from station 1 in summer (0.26 mg/L). In sediments the total concentrations of OCPs were 15.84 and 2.62 mg/g-dry weight (dw) in summer and winter, respectively. Chlordane was the most frequently found OCP compound, followed by lindane, 9.92 and 2.47 mg/g-dry weight (dw), respectively, in summer. While, lindane (2.52 mg/g-dw) and endosulfan I (0.1 mg/g-dw) were the highest OCP compounds detected in winter. The results obtained in this study show that there still exist a variety of organochlorine pesticide residues in the water and sediments from the Amir-kalaye wetland in Iran. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0557-3 Authors Azadeh Nekouei Esfahani, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Amir Hessam Hassani, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Parvin Farshchi, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Mohssen Morowati, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran Faramarz Moatar, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Abdolreza Karbassi, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lates niloticus , Oreochromis niloticus and Rastrineobola argentea from three beaches were assessed to establish whether they are sources of human exposure in Kisumu Bay, Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya. O. niloticus had 12 PAHs detected (TPAH 3.93 μg/kg); L. niloticus had 11 (TPAH 3.17 μg/kg). In both cases, the highest and lowest concentrations were Pyrene and Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, respectively, and the TPAHs were greater than the 2 μg/kg limit allowed by the European Commission although individually they were lower. R. argentea had 2 PAHs (TPAH 0.035 μg/kg). PAH pollution in the Winam Gulf, a potential source of exposure to human through contaminated fish, should be mitigated and safe management practices that reduce PAH levels should be adopted. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0567-1 Authors Alice A. Onyango, Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, 40105 Kenya Joseph O. Lalah, Department of Chemical Sciences and Technology, Kenya Polytechnic University College, P.O. Box 52428, City Square, Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Shem O. Wandiga, Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya John Gichuki, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Diurnal samples of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5–10 were taken in an urban background area in Zabrze (Upper Silesia in southern Poland) in the winter (January–March) and summer (July–September) of 2009. The samples were analyzed for carbon (organic and elemental), water soluble ions (Na + , NH 4 + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , F − , Cl − , NO 3 − , PO 4 3− , SO 4 2− ) and concentrations of 27 elements by using, respectively, a Behr C50 IRF carbon analyzer, a Herisau Metrohm AG ion chromatograph, and a PANalitycal EPSILON 5 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. To perform the mass closure calculations for both dust fractions in the two periods, the particulate matter (PM) chemical components were categorized into organic matter, elemental carbon, secondary inorganic aerosol, crustal matter, marine components and unidentified matter. The chemical composition of the two dust fractions and the element enrichment coefficients in the two seasons, referred to proper emission profiles, proved about 80% of PM 2.5 and more than 50% (in winter 65%) of PM 2.5–10 mass coming from anthropogenic sources, mainly from fuel combustion and specific municipal emission shaping the winter emission of ambient dust in the area. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0533-y Authors Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland Krzysztof Klejnowski, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland Barbara Mathews, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland Sebastian Szopa, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This research aims to evaluate the presence and distribution of pesticides in Babolrood River of Mazandaran Province in Iran. Mean diazinon levels in surface water ranged from 77.6 to 101.6 μg L −1 with maximum level of 768.9 μg L −1 and mean malathion levels ranged from 55.7 to 75.9 μg L −1 with maximum level of 506.6 μg L −1 . The residues of malathion and diazinon pesticides in all of the stations, 2 weeks after spraying, were more than allowed limits. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0568-0 Authors Abdolmajid Fadaei, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Hadi Dehghani, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Simin Nasseri, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Hossein Mahvi, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Noushin Rastkari, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mansoreh Shayeghi, Department of Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Degradation of imidacloprid in chrysanthemi flos and cultivated soil was studied. The half-lives of imidacloprid were 3.55–5.17 days (soil), 2.10–3.98 days (fresh buds and flowers), 22.14 days (dry flowers, 5°C) and 13.08 days (dry flower, 20°C), separately. The temperature can affect imidacloprid degradation in soil and dry chrysanthemum buds and flowers. Imidacloprid residues in chrysanthemum flowers were more stable during store stage than growing one. Few imidacloprid residues would be dissolved into chrysanthemum tea liquor when the residue in dry buds or dry flowers was below 0.8 mg/kg. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0547-5 Authors Jialun Wu, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029 China Houdao Wei, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029 China Jian Xue, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Beijing, 100193 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Multi-location supervised field trials were conducted at four different agro climatic locations in India to evaluate the dissipation pattern of deltamethrin on chili. Deltamethrin 10 EC was applied on chili @17.5 and 35 g a.i. ha −1 , samples of green chili were drawn at different time intervals and that of red chili and soil at harvest time and quantified by gas liquid chromatography equipped with electron capture detector. The identity of residues were confirmed by Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectrophotometer in selective ion monitoring mode in mass range 181, 253 m/z. Limit of quantification of the method was found to be 0.01 mg kg −1 . Half-life of deltamethrin at application rate of 17.5 g a.i. ha −1 varied from 0.36 to 1.99 days and at double the application rate was found to range from 0.38 to 2.06 days. Residues of deltamethrin were found below its determination limit of 0.01 mg kg −1 in red chili and soil. On the basis of the data generated, Deltamethrin 10 EC has been registered for use on chili in India and its Maximum Residue Limit has been fixed as 0.05 μg/g. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0588-9 Authors Suneet Pandher, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India S. K. Sahoo, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India R. S. Battu, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Balwinder Singh, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India M. S. Saiyad, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India A. R. Patel, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India P. G. Shah, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India C. Narendra Reddy, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, AP, India D. Jagdishwar Reddy, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, AP, India K. Narasimha Reddy, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, AP, India Ch. Sreenivasa Rao, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, AP, India Tirthankar Banerjee, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India Devottam Banerjee, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India Ramkumar Hudait, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India Hemanta Banerjee, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India Vandana Tripathy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India K. K. Sharma, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The evaporation characteristics (evaporation rates and process) of a sessile drop of sulfur mustard on glass has been studied using a laboratory-sized wind tunnel, gas chromatograph mass spectrometry, and drop shape analysis. It showed that the evaporation rates of the droplet increased with temperature and air flow. The effect of temperature on the rates was more pronounced at lower air flow. Air flow was less effective at lower temperature. The contact angle of the droplet was initially observed as θ = 19.5° ± 0.7 and decreased linearly with time until it switched to a constant mode. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0583-1 Authors Hyunsook Jung, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-Gu, PO Box 35-5, Daejeon, 305-600 Korea Sung Min Myung, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-Gu, PO Box 35-5, Daejeon, 305-600 Korea Myung Kyu Park, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-Gu, PO Box 35-5, Daejeon, 305-600 Korea Hae Wan Lee, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-Gu, PO Box 35-5, Daejeon, 305-600 Korea Sam Gon Ryu, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-Gu, PO Box 35-5, Daejeon, 305-600 Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Aerosol samples of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were collected from 38 sampling locations in and around the industrial area. The 24 h average mass concentration of PM 10 and PM 2.5 was 137.5 and 61.5 μg/m 3 respectively during summer, 122 and 97.5 μg/m 3 respectively in winter and 70 and 54 μg/m 3 respectively during post monsoon season. The relative contribution of coarse, fine and ultrafine particle to ambient air was analyzed for its temporal and seasonal variability in an industrialized area. This paper aims to establish baseline between PM 10 and PM 2.5 mass concentration levels. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-011-0518-2 Authors B. Padma Rao, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India A. Srivastava, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India F. Yasmin, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India S. Ray, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India N. Gupta, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India C. Chauhan, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India C. V. C. Rao, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India S. R. Wate, Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI Kolkata Zonal Lab, Kolkata, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A supervised field trial was conducted to study the residues of chlorantraniliprole on cabbage and cauliflower. Three applications of chlorantraniliprole at 10 days interval were made @ 9.25 and 18.50 g a.i. ha −1 . The samples of marketable size heads and curds of cabbage and cauliflower were collected at 0 and 1 day after the last application. QuEChERS sample preparation was used for the determination of chlorantraniliprole residues on cabbage heads and cauliflower curds. The residues of chlorantraniliprole were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photo diode array (PDA) detector and confirmed by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Washing of cabbage and cauliflower with tap water removed about 17%–40% of chlorantraniliprole residues. However, boiling removed 100% of chlorantraniliprole residues on cabbage and cauliflower in both the cases. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0534-x Authors Abhijit Kar, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Kousik Mandal, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Balwinder Singh, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A total of 114 surface sediment samples was equidistantly collected in the western part of the Jade Bay, southern North Sea, to analyse total mercury contents as well as grain size distribution and total organic carbon (TOC) contents. Total mercury was determined by oxygen combustion-gold amalgamation. Validation, precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated and controlled with two certified reference materials (HISS-1 and MESS-3). Total mercury contents varied between 8 and 243 ng/g dry sediment with a mean value of 103 ng/g dw. The mercury levels in surface sediments showed an inhomogeneous spatial distribution with higher contents in near-dike areas. The values are mostly in the range of natural background values (50–100 ng/g dw) and positively related to TOC and clay/silt contents (〈63 μm). The present total mercury contents are compared to those of previous studies, in order to estimate possible temporal trends of mercury contents in the study area over the last decades. Moreover, the comparison to sediment quality guidelines indicated that the surface sediments of the Jade Bay are not mercury contaminated. These results also suggested that the current mercury contents of Jade Bay surficial sediments are mostly affected by atmospheric deposition and re-emission. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0530-1 Authors Huafang Jin, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany Gerd Liebezeit, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany Daniel Ziehe, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei, Institut für Agrarrelevante Klimaforschung, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In this study, Arsenic (As) was measured in several varieties of imported and local cultivated rice. Soil samples collected from rice farms situated in south Caspian Sea (Iran) were also studied. The mean concentration of As in imported rice, local farmed rice and soil, were determined as 0.28, 0.39 and 3.80 μg g −1 dry weight, respectively. Estimated daily intake of As through human consumption of imported and local produced rice was 0.77 and 1.074 μg day −1 kg −1 B.W., respectively. These values are much lower than the tolerable daily intakes estimated by JECFA. The As concentration in the soil (3.80 μg g −1 dry) was below acceptable limit for agricultural soil of 20.0 mg kg −1 as recommended by the European Community (EC). No correlation between the As concentrations in rice and soil samples was found ( p  〉 0.05). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0537-7 Authors Soheila Rezaitabar, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Abbas Esmaili-Sari, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Nader Bahramifar, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations and degree of metals contamination (Chromium, Cadmium, Nickel and Lead) and Arsenic in the soils of the three Industrial Estates in Arak city, Iran. The average concentrations of Arsenic, Chromium, Cadmium, Nickel and Lead were 5.06, 1.26, 37.13, 67.84 and 60.22 mg kg −1 , respectively. Pearson correlation indicated that Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead were mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, and Chromium and Nickel were controlled by natural source, whereas Nickel appeared to be affected by both anthropogenic and natural sources. The geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) calculated in three industrial estates gave values indicating unpolluted to strongly polluted. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0553-7 Authors Eisa Solgi, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran Abbas Esmaili-Sari, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran Alireza Riyahi-Bakhtiari, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran Mehrdad Hadipour, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Maize ( Zea mays ) considered to be one of the most frequent crops in Croatia, is often contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contamination of maize with T-2 toxin and fumonisins on 46 samples from different regions of Croatia. The highest concentrations of T-2 toxin and fumonisins were 210 and 25,200 ng/g, with mean values of 110 and 4,509 ng/g, respectively, pointing to maize contamination with these mycotoxins after the period of the year with extremely high rainfall. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0559-1 Authors Jelka Pleadin, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Nina Perši, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Mario Mitak, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Manuela Zadravec, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Marijana Sokolović, Poultry Centre, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Ana Vulić, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Vesna Jaki, Veterinary Centre Križevci, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Ivana Z. Dijankovečkog 10, 48260 Križevci, Croatia Mate Brstilo, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Bioaccumulation of herbicides in plant produce may cause ailing effect on animals and human beings through food chain contamination. Thus oblige the investigation of newer herbicide metamitron for its persistence and degradation in sugar beet crop and soil. Metamitron persist in plant up to 15 days while up to 30 days in soil. Its dissipation followed first order reaction kinetics. On day 90, metamitron was detected in the soil at 7.0 kg a.i. ha −1 treated plot only. It would be concluded that metamitron at 3.5 kg a.i. ha −1 can be safely applied to the sugar beet crop for weed control. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0878-2 Authors P. Janaki, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003 Tamil Nadu, India S. Rathika, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003 Tamil Nadu, India C. Chinnusamy, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003 Tamil Nadu, India N. K. Prabhakaran, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003 Tamil Nadu, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This work investigated the contamination status of selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs: p,p ′-DDT, p,p ′-DDE, p,p ′-DDD, α, β, γ, δ-HCH) in sediment of the CauBay river. Wide occurrence and remarkable residue levels of these two OCPs have been found in the study areas. ΣDDT concentrations ranged from 51.84 to 92.76 ng.g −1 dry weight, whereas ΣHCH concentrations ranged from 4.56 to 11.39 ng g −1 dry weight. All of the sampling sites exceeded the effects range median levels for DDT (〉46.1 ng g −1 ). The analyzed results show that ΣDDT and ΣHCH displayed uniform high and low distribution, respectively. There is no recent input of DDT and HCH in the study area. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0877-3 Authors Vu Duc Toan, Vietnam Water Resources University, 175 Tay Son Street, Hanoi, Vietnam Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A questionnaire study and field visit showed that diazinon and malathion were the most commonly used pesticides in Qazvin province, Iran. Concentrations of these pesticides were determined in water sources; include springs, wells and Shahrood River. Springs water samples had the best water quality; but deep wells were the most polluted water samples. Diazinon was detected in 46.6 % of the samples, while malathion occurrences frequency was in 13.3 % of the samples. Diazinon and malathion were detected in maximum concentration of 19.44 and 18.12 μg L −1 , respectively. The obtained results showed that diazinon was detected in higher than life-time health advisories in wells and in Shahrood River samples; so, it can bring up threats to human health. Interpolation of diazinon and malathion in water sources showed that diazinon had the most widely scattering condition in deep wells. Also, cross validation with the root mean square error (RMSE) indicated that the natural neighbor interpolation of malathion has the minimum RMSE. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0880-8 Authors Hamid Karyab, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Hossein Mahvi, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shahrokh Nazmara, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Akram Bahojb, Qazvin Health Centre, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study focused on bioconcentrations of arsenic in Hediste diversicolor (Müller 1776) after exposure to three different molecule solutions: arsenate, dimethyl-arsinate and arsenobetaine. Speciation analysis was carried out after exposing the organisms to these solutions in order to investigate their arsenic biotransformation capacity. Arsenic reached to the maximum level in these tissues after 15 days’ exposure to a solution of 100 μg L −1 of arsenobetaine, although a significant increase was obtained in worms exposed to arsenate. Speciation analysis shows that trimethyl-arsine oxide is the slowest detoxification phase recorded in experiment. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0875-5 Authors Andrea Gaion, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy Alice Scuderi, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy David Pellegrini, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Livorno, Italy Davide Sartori, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of 9 organochlorine compounds (aldrin, hexachlorobenzene, 2,4-DDE, 4,4-DDE, 2,4-DDT, 4,4-DDT, and α-, β-, and γ-HCH) in butter samples collected in the Eastern, Middle and Western Black Sea Regions of Turkey between October 2009 and June 2010. The liquid–liquid extraction method was used to extract the organochlorine compounds from the samples and the measurements were performed by using a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector system. DDT metabolites, aldrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and α-, and γ-HCH were not detected in the samples but β-HCH was detected in 3 of a total of 88 samples. In the first period, only one sample from the West Black Sea Region was β-HCH positive (0.014 mg kg −1 ). The other β-HCH positive samples collected in Middle and West Black Sea Regions in the second period had a concentration of 0.066 and 0.019 mg kg −1 , respectively. All concentrations of the detected compounds exceeded the legal limits of 0.003 mg kg −1 for β-HCH, as prescribed by the Turkish Food Codex, and therefore pose a potential health risk for consumers. The contamination detected is most likely due to the past usage of β-HCH in agriculture and its long term persistence in the environment. These results strongly suggest that further research should be focused on the detection of pesticide residues in agricultural areas across the nation. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0872-8 Authors Abdurrahman Aksoy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Muhammed Dervisoglu, Department of Food Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Dilek Guvenc, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Osman Gul, Program of Food Technology, Terme Vocational School, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Fehmi Yazici, Department of Food Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Enes Atmaca, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Amaranth (E123) and Allura red (E129), very important food azo dyes used in food, drug, paper, cosmetic and textile industries, were assessed for their genotoxic potential through comet assay in yeast cells. Comet assay was standardized by with different concentration of H 2 O 2 . Concentrations of Amaranth and Allura red were maintained in sorbitol buffer starting from 9.76 to 5,000 μg/mL and 1 × 10 4 cells were incubated at two different incubation temperatures 28 and 37°C. Amaranth (E123) and Allura red (E129) were found to exhibit their genotoxic effect directly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. No significant genotoxic activity was observed for Amaranth and Allura red at 28°C but at 37°C direct relation of Amaranth concentration with comet tail was significant and no positive relation was seen with time exposure factor. At 37°C the minimum concentration of Amaranth and Allura red at which significant DNA damage observed through comet assay was 1,250 μg/mL in 2nd h post exposure time. The results indicated that food colors should be carefully used in baking products as heavy concentration of food colors could affect the fermentation process of baking. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0870-x Authors Hafiza Sumara Jabeen, Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan Sajjad ur Rahman, Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan Shahid Mahmood, Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan Sadaf Anwer, Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Podisus distinctus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is an important predator used in biological control of eucalypt defoliating caterpillars, exposed the insecticides. Lower doses of permethrin not affect the values of generation time ( T ), time necessary to double the population in number of individuals ( DT ) and intrinsic rate of population increase ( r m ). Moreover, females of P. distinctus derived from nymphs treated with lower doses of permethrin were more fertile, triggering the effect hormetic in net reproductive rates ( Ro ). Results showed that low permethrin doses can be used alongside the predatory stinkbug in Integrated Pest Management programs. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0883-5 Authors José C. Zanuncio, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 35670-000, Brazil Pedro Jusselino-Filho, Centro de educação, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba 58051-900, Brazil Rafael C. Ribeiro, Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 35670-000, Brazil Ancidériton A. Castro, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 35670-000, Brazil Teresinha V. Zanuncio, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 35670-000, Brazil José E. Serrão, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36571-000, Brazil Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The present study aimed to identify the effect of heavy metal concentration and soil pH on the abundance of the selected soil microorganisms within ArcelorMittal Poland steelworks, Cracow. The analysis included 20 soil samples, where the concentration of Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cr and soil pH were evaluated together with the number of mesophilic bacteria, fungi, Actinomycetes and Azotobacter spp. In the majority of samples soil pH was alkaline. The limits of heavy metals exceeded in eight samples and in one sample, the concentration of Zn exceeded 31-fold. Chromium was the element which most significantly limited the number of bacteria and Actinomycetes. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0869-3 Authors Anna Lenart, Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture in Cracow, Mickiewicza Ave. 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland Katarzyna Wolny-Koładka, Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture in Cracow, Mickiewicza Ave. 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study investigated the toxic effects of cadmium on viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and non-specific esterase activity of Penaeus monodon haemocytes in vitro, using a flow cytometric assay. After 6 h in vitro exposure with 10 −9 –10 −3  M Cd 2+ , cell viability, ROS production and esterase activity of haemocytes from P. monodon were determined. Results showed that at the lowest exposures (10 −9 –10 −6  M), Cd 2+ induced no effect on cell viability, ROS production and esterase activity. At a higher level (10 −5  M) of exposure, production of ROS was stimulated while Cd 2+ had no effect on cell viability and esterase activity. At the two highest concentrations (10 −4 and 10 −3  M), Cd 2+ caused increased ROS production, cell death and inhibited esterase activity. These results showed a relationship between Cd 2+ exposure dose and its cytotoxicity on shrimp haemocytes. Cadmium was cytotoxic and immunotoxic for P. monodon haemocytes in vitro when the dose reached 10 −4  M. The study also suggested that flow cytometry could be used as a tool for cytotoxic research of aquatic contamination on shrimp. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0839-9 Authors Jian-An Xian, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631 People’s Republic of China An-Li Wang, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631 People’s Republic of China Yu-Tao Miao, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631 People’s Republic of China Bin Li, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study was carried out in order to assess potential toxicity of hazardous pollutants (8 trace elements and 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in 20 sediment samples of the Ebro River basin (Spain) sampled in 2009. Mean-probable effect concentration quotient (m-PECQ) was found to range from 0.03 to 0.79. Two sites were classified as high priority sites in order to take future remediation actions due to their high m-PECQ value (〉0.5). Worst-case scenario in equilibrium partitioning approach showed that acid volatile sulfide (AVS) content was greater than total trace element concentration in all samples. However, 4 sediments were classified as degraded due to the high AVS content measured (〉50 mmol/kg). Principal component analysis classified the samples according to similar chemical characteristics and revealed that industrial activities are the main source of pollution of the basin. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0884-4 Authors Oscar Veses, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Rosa Mosteo, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Maria P. Ormad, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Jose L. Ovelleiro, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Investigations on periphyton along an eutrophication gradient (NO 3 −  = 0.23−0.96 mg L −1 ; PO 4 −3  = 0.16−0.86 mg L −1 ) of Ganga River indicated that benthic algal biomass decreased with increasing concentrations of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Periphyton biomass showed negative relationship ( R 2  = 0.98; p  〈 0.0001) with DOC and positive relationship ( R 2  = 0.96; p  〈 0.0001) with Secchi depth. Sites with high DOC showed dominance of cyanophycean Phormidium uncinatum . The study shows that the rising concentration of DOC over time may alter the light climate and consequently the fate of benthic primary producers in Ganga River. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0879-1 Authors Usha Pandey, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mahatma Gandhi Kashividyapith University, Varanasi, 221002 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Soil is the major sink for majority of pesticides applied on agricultural crops and its fate depends on variety of factors. There is little research on fate of pesticide in field soil under different climatic conditions and there is a need of study on the influence of climate on pesticide degradation and persistence in soil. In the present study, the persistence and distribution of tricyclazole was investigated in rice field soil under the influence of cold winter condition. Field experiment was carried at 35 different field sites from 6 provinces in Republic of Korea. Limit of detection and limit of quantification of tricyclazole were found to be 0.005 and 0.0165 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of tricyclazole in soil samples ranged from 0.387 mg/kg in sites in Gyeongsangbuk-do areas and lowest 0.021 mg/kg in sites from Chuncheongnam-do areas. In natural environmental conditions, tricyclazole persisted longer than 11 months post application in agricultural field soils. Our result indicates the influence of cold climatic condition on the persistence of tricyclazole. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0800-y Authors Seul Ah Jeong, Department of Biological Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701 Korea Shree Prasad Thapa, Department of Biological Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701 Korea Hong Ryeol Park, EFAP Safety Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701 Korea Nam Geon Choi, Consumer Information and Food Safety Division, National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, Anyang, 433-2 Korea Jang Hyun Hur, Department of Biological Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701 Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Effects of artemisinin (derived from Artemisia annua ) on the photosynthetic activity of Microcystis aeruginosa was investigated by using chlorophyll a (Chl a ) fluorescence transient O-J-I–P and JIP-test after exposure to elevated artemisinin concentration. High artemisinin concentration resulted in a significant suppression in photosynthesis and respiration. Results showed that the OJIP curves flattened and the maximal fluorescence yield reached at the J step under artemisinin stress. The decreased values of the energy needed for the RCs’ closure (Sm) and the number of oxidation and reduction (N) suggested that the reduction times of primary bound plastoquinone (Q A ) was also decreased. The absorption flux (ABS/RC) per photosystem II (PSII) reaction center and the electron transport flux (ET 0 /RC) decreased with increasing artemisinin concentration. Excess artemisinin had little effect on the trapping flux (TR 0 /RC). The results showed that the decrease of photosynthesis in exposure to excess artemisinin may be a result of the inactivation of PSII reaction centers and the inhibition of electron transport in the acceptor side. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0843-0 Authors Lixiao Ni, Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, MOE, School of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098 China Kumud Acharya, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA Xiangyang Hao, Shanxi Lu’an Engineering Investigation and Design Co. Ltd., Changzhi, 046204 China Shiyin Li, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210097 China Yong Li, Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, MOE, School of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098 China Yiping Li, Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, MOE, School of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The biochemical responses of the earthworms, Eisenia fetida , exposed to a series of Cd concentrations (0.00, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00 and 10.00 mg Cd 2+  kg −1 soil) for up to 8 weeks were investigated, aiming to evaluate the sublethal effects of Cd with long exposure and to explore the potential for applying these responses as biomarkers to indicate the Cd-contaminated soil. The following biochemical parameters were determined: cytochrome P450 (CYP) contents and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST). Cadmium concentrations in all earthworms were apparently accumulated in 4 weeks, and showed minor changes in weeks 6–8 compared to the first 4 weeks. CYP presented a significant elevation in 2–4 weeks and a decline in 6–8 weeks in each treated group. The activities of SOD and CAT showed an obvious increase with exposure of 6–8 weeks while their levels were not affected in 4 weeks in each treated group. GST activity revealed significant activation starting from week 4. This study confirmed the significance of applying a suite of biomarkers rather than a selective choice to assess the impact of pollutants on organisms. It also indicated that the observed effects were more dependent upon exposure duration than dose. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0837-y Authors Xiaoxia Yang, Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Yufang Song, Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China M. Leigh Ackland, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, 3125 Australia Yang Liu, Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Xiufeng Cao, Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Benalaxyl-M [methyl N-phenylacetyl-N-2, 6-xylyl- dl -alaninate] is a newly introduced phenyl-amide fungicide whereas Mancozeb is one of the member of ethylenebisdiothiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicide. Benalaxyl-M in combination with Mancozeb effectively controls downy mildew of grapes. A two season field trial was conducted under West Bengal climatic condition during 2009–2010 to evaluate the dissipation pattern of fungicide mixture (Benalaxyl-M 4 % + Mancozeb 65 %) WP in grapes at two application rates (2,750 g and 5,500 g ha −1 ). The quantitative analysis was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and UV–Vis spectrophotometer for Benalaxyl-M and Mancozeb residues respectively. Following the first order kinetics the fungicide Benalaxyl-M dissipates in grapes with half-life (T 1/2 ) value ranges between 2.59 and 2.79 days irrespective of seasons and doses. The dissipation pattern of Mancozeb also follows first order kinetics with half-life (T 1/2 ) value ranges between 3.86 and 4.93 days irrespective of seasons and doses. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0847-9 Authors Chiranjit Kundu, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur Nadia, 741252 West Bengal, India Arnab Goon, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur Nadia, 741252 West Bengal, India Anjan Bhattacharyya, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur Nadia, 741252 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of anesthetics as operating room contaminants on tetrahydrobiopterin pathway in 40 operating room personnel and 30 healthy controls by measuring biopterin, dihydrobiopterin reductase, tryptophan, kynurenine and serotonin. Biopterin concentrations were 124 ± 12.3 µmol/mol creatinine in workers and 88 ± 5.7 µmol/mol creatinine in controls whereas kynurenine concentrations were 1.75 ± 0.09 µM and 1.95 ± 0.06 µM, respectively (both, p  〈 0.05). It can be claimed that enhanced biopterin and diminished kynurenine levels may play a triggering role in disruption of metabolic events in operating room personnel. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0845-y Authors Mustafa Baydar, Clinic of Anesthesiology, Numune Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Zeynep Capan, Clinic of Anesthesiology, Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Gozde Girgin, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 90-06100 Ankara, Turkey S. Sezin Palabiyik, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 90-06100 Ankara, Turkey Gonul Sahin, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 90-06100 Ankara, Turkey Dietmar Fuchs, Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria Terken Baydar, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 90-06100 Ankara, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Thiacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid. The study hypothesized that difference may be seen in the rate of dissipation of thiacloprid when applied on non-transgenic and transgenic cabbage. Thiacloprid was estimated by HPLC. Half life of thiacloprid in transgenic as well as in normal cabbage ranged between 12.3–13.1 days in two doses of application. Under field condition, after 15 days, 59.2 % and 54.3 % dissipation was recorded at lower and higher rates of application in transgenic cabbage, where as the insecticide dissipated 57.5 % and 59.1 % for single dose and double dose application, respectively in non-transgenic cabbage. The study establishes that there is no significant difference in dissipation of a systemic pesticide in transgenic versus non-transgenic cabbage. Decontamination of thiacloprid contaminated cabbage was carried out by different chemical treatments. The application of 0.5 % NaHCO 3 (an edible alkali) may be recommended for decontamination. Thiacloprid residues in the day-3 field samples of cabbage could be reduced below Japanese MRL (1.0 mg kg −1 ) by treating with 0.5 % NaHCO 3 solution for 1 h. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1027-1031 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0785-6 Authors Debashis Dutta, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Ram Niwas, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Madhuban Gopal, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861 Journal Volume Volume 89 Journal Issue Volume 89, Number 5

Description:    To study the size distribution and seasonal variations of atmospheric aerosols, size-segregated aerosol samples were collected from July 2009 to June 2010 using the nine-stage cascade impactor aerosol sampler in Durg City, India. The aerosol particles exhibited bimodal size distribution on mass concentration with a peak at 2.5–4.4 μm size ranges in the coarse mode and 2.1–2.5 μm size ranges in the fine mode. The aerosol mass and size distribution during monsoon were found unimodal distribution with a peak in the coarse mode, while they showed trimodal distributions during winter with all three peaks appearing in the fine mode. The annual mean concentration of PM 10 aerosol was found to be 253.5 ± 99.4 μg/m 3 , which is four times higher as compared to the annual guideline of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of India prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India. The highest aerosol mass concentrations were found during winter due to enormous biomass burning, while the lowest concentrations were observed during monsoon due to heavy rainfall. Air quality index values calculated in this study showed that 35 % of the days were unhealthy for sensitive people, 35 % were unhealthy or very unhealthy, while 3.3 % were found as hazardous in Durg City, India. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0834-1 Authors Dhananjay K. Deshmukh, School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, 492010 Chhattisgarh, India Manas K. Deb, School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, 492010 Chhattisgarh, India Devsharan Verma, School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, 492010 Chhattisgarh, India Santosh K. Verma, State Forensic Science Laboratory, Raipur, 492001 Chhattisgarh, India Jayant Nirmalkar, School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, 492010 Chhattisgarh, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Persistence behavior of three combination mix formulations of insecticides viz. chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin (Action-505), profenofos + cypermethrin (Roket 44EC) and triazophos + deltamethrin (Anaconda) and their bioefficacy against melon fruitfly were studied in bittergourd fruits following spray application. Half-life values of the constituent insecticides calculated from first order dissipation kinetics were ~2–3 days. Based on acceptable daily intake values, safe waiting period of 3-days is suggested for all the three combination mix formulations at recommended dose of application. Anaconda (1 L/ha) was found to be most effective against Melon fruitfly as it gave 11.72 % (number/number) and 10.93 % (weight/weight) damage as compared to control 41.13 % and 41.16 %, respectively. Anaconda at lower and higher dose (1 and 2 L/ha) was not significantly different. Rocket (2 L/ha) and Action 505 (2 L/ha) were also found effective. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0848-8 Authors Suman Gupta, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Rakesh K. Sharma, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Vijay T. Gajbhiye, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Ram K. Gupta, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This paper describes the development of a remediation approach based on the pre-oxidation using Fenton’s reagent and the subsequent removal of arsenic (As) through sand filtration from drinking water. The efficiency of the process was carried out including As(III) and As(V) with various concentration ratios up to 3,000 ppb. Efficient removal of As was observed within WHO guideline value of 10 ppb. The recoveries of samples were found to be 98 % ± 2.5 %. The process was applied to field samples, where results show considerable reduction in As concentrations. This process is cost effective for treatment of drinking water with high concentration of As. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0852-z Authors Dipali Jasudkar, Water Technology and Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, 440020 Maharashtra, India Rupali Rakhunde, Water Technology and Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, 440020 Maharashtra, India Leena Deshpande, Water Technology and Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, 440020 Maharashtra, India Pawan Labhasetwar, Water Technology and Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, 440020 Maharashtra, India H. D. Juneja, Department of Chemistry, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study aimed to find the association between urinary aflatoxin M 1 level and milk and dairy products consumption. Of 160 morning urine samples collected, aflatoxin M 1 was detected in 61.3 % samples (n = 98) [mean ± SD = 0.0234 ± 0.0177 ng/mL; range = 0–0.0747 ng/mL]. Of these positive samples, 67.3 % (n = 66) had levels above the limit of detection. Respondents with intake of milk and dairy products above median (67.79 g/day) had significantly high level of AFM 1 compared to those with low intake. A significant and positive association (φ = 0.286) was found between milk and dairy products consumption and urinary aflatoxin M 1 level. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0853-y Authors Sabran Mohd Redzwan, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Jamaluddin Rosita, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abdul Mutalib Mohd Sokhini, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abdul Rahman Nurul Aqilah, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of the present work was to determine the bioaccumulation of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), uranium (U) and selenium (Se) in gill, liver, and muscle tissues of the fresh water fish Salmo trutta macrostigma (Duméril, 1858) in Munzur Stream, Tunceli, Turkey. The highest concentrations of U (1.83 μg kg −1 ), Pb (119.84 μg kg −1 ) and Se (1.31 μg kg −1 ) were recorded in the gills of S. t. macrostigma . Concentrations of As (46.27 μg kg −1 ), Cd (109.19 μg kg −1 ), Hg (16.40 μg kg −1 ), Cu (18.19 μg kg −1 ) were recorded at highest levels in the liver. The results showed that there were significant differences in concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, U and Hg in gill, liver and muscle tissue ( p  〈 0.05). Heavy metals were within the edible parts of the investigated fish were in the permissible safety levels for human uses. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0824-3 Authors Erkan Can, Fisheries Faculty, Tunceli University, 62000 Tunceli, Turkey Murat Yabanli, Department of Hydrobiology, Fisheries Faculty, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, 48000 Muğla, Turkey George Kehayias, Department of Environmental & Natural Resources Management, University of Western Greece, Agrinio, Greece Önder Aksu, Fisheries Faculty, Tunceli University, 62000 Tunceli, Turkey Mehmet Kocabaş, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Management, Faculty of Forestry, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey Veysel Demir, Department of Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Tunceli University, 62000 Tunceli, Turkey Murathan Kayim, Fisheries Faculty, Tunceli University, 62000 Tunceli, Turkey Filiz Kutluyer, Fisheries Faculty, Tunceli University, 62000 Tunceli, Turkey Sebahat Şeker, Engineering Faculty, Ardahan University, Ardahan, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The current study examined the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) and methanol on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The results showed that methanol application caused approximately 29 % more damage than the control group, and that there were no significant differences among the other groups in terms of mtDNA damage. The application of 0.04 ng/mL OTA and 0.04 ng/mL OTA with methanol increased mtDNA copy number compared with the control and 0.005 ng/mL OTA with methanol groups. The copy number in the 0.04 ng/mL OTA group was approximately 16 % greater than in the control. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0826-1 Authors Ayse Gul Mutlu, Department of Biology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    There is an increasing concern regarding elevated levels of Cr(VI) in the environment due to its higher mobility and toxicity compared to the trivalent form. Anomalous hexavalent chromium concentrations (up to 212 μg/L) were determined in irrigated groundwaters from the wider area of Thiva Basin (central Greece), frequently exceeding the permissible limit for human consumption (50 μg/L for total Cr). Based on the spatial distribution of Cr(VI) values, two groups of groundwater samples were distinguished, possibly reflecting different natural and/or anthropogenic factors that govern the levels of contamination. The first group is spatially located northwards of Thiva town and is consisted of concentrations that range from 13 to 212 μg/L (median 58 μg/L), while the second group is located near Mouriki village and Cr(VI) values range from 〈9 to 14 μg/L. The Cr(VI) chemical anomalies represent an important social problem because the agricultural products of this region are a major vegetable supply for Greece, bringing up the urgent need to evaluate the health effects associated with Cr(VI) exposure by ingesting the potentially contaminated foods. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0831-4 Authors Evangelos Tziritis, Land Reclamation Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Sindos, Greece Efstratios Kelepertzis, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Athens, Greece George Korres, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Dimitrios Perivolaris, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Stella Repani, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Ready-mix formulation consists of two insecticides—endosulfan (35 %) and cypermethrin (5 %). To understand the dissipation pattern of the insecticides on made tea from the north-east region of India, it was applied twice in 10 day interval @ 1,000 mL/ha (350 g a.i. endosulfan + 50 g a.i. cypermethrin) and 2,000 mL/ha (700 g a.i. endosulfan + 100 g a.i. cypermethrin) along with untreated control. The made tea samples were collected at 0, 1, 3 and 7 days interval after last application. The dissipation rate of endosulfan and cypermethrin followed first order kinetics. The calculated half-life values were found in the range between 1.7 to 2.1 days for endosulfan and 1.0 to 1.1 days for cypermethrin. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0808-3 Authors Sukhendu Kumar Pramanik, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741 252 West Bengal, India Parimal Saha, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741 252 West Bengal, India Anjan Bhattacharyya, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741 252 West Bengal, India Arun V. Dhuri, R & D, M/s Excel Crop Care Ltd., B/5, Gaiwadi Industrial Estate, Goregaon (West), 400062 Mumbai, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A novel analytical approach has been developed and evaluated for the quantitative analysis of 15 organophorous pesticides residues in camellia oils. The proposed methodology is based on acetonitrile/water (3:1, V/V) extraction, followed by matrix solid-phase dispersion, using aminopropyl as dispersant material. Then gas chromatography-flame photometric detection was applied for the pesticide residue analysis. The optimal sorbent quantity was studied. The results demonstrated that the method achieved acceptable quantitative recoveries of 71.5 %–104.2 % with relative standard deviations 〈19 %, and the method limit of detection at or below the regulatory maximum residue limits for the pesticides were achieved. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0818-1 Authors Yihua Liu, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, 311400 People’s Republic of China Danyu Shen, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, 311400 People’s Republic of China Fubin Tang, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, 311400 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Land subsidence in coal mine would change the type of soil so that it influences the distribution and bioavailability of metals. The results show that the total metal concentration was in the range from 0.41 ± 0.26 mg/kg (Cd) to 94.16 ± 12.06 mg/kg (Zn) and Cd was the serious pollution metal. In spatial, the concentration of most metals (except Sb) was highest in perennial waterlogged zone while was lowest in no waterlogged zone, which implied that the perennial waterlogged zone was a sink of metals in coal mine area. However, the bio-available fraction of metals was lowest in perennial waterlogged zone. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0828-z Authors Yan Zhang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116 China Qiyan Feng, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116 China Qingjun Meng, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116 China Ping Lu, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116 China Lei Meng, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The green mussel, Perna viridis, was used to measure bioaccumulated levels of organochlorine pesticides in the marine environment of Cuba. Samples were collected in the Cienfuegos Bay between January and December 2010. The organochlorine pesticides (i.e. DDT, Dieldrin, Chlordane, Endosulfan, HCB, Aldrin, Heptachlor and Lindane) were quantified by gas chromatography. The sum of all organochlorine pesticides in P. viridis was 6.31 ng g −1 . The concentration ranged from 3.53 to 4.42 ng g −1 dry weight (dw) for DDTs (i.e. sum of pp’ DDT, pp’ DDD, op’ DDE and pp’ DDE); 1.7–1.9 ng g −1 dw for Dieldrin; 0.17–0.20 ng g −1 dw for Chlordanes; 0.14–0.16 ng g −1 dw for Endosulfan; 0.11–0.17 ng g −1 dw for HCB; 0.07–0.11 ng g −1 dw for Aldrin; 0.046–0.054 ng g −1 dw for Heptachlor and 0.035–0.039 ng g −1 dw for Lindane. These levels can be considered as low when compared to reported values from similar studies conducted elsewhere in the world. The concentrations of all organochlorines residues detected in this study fell below the EU Maximum Residue Limits. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0835-0 Authors Carlos Manuel Alonso-Hernández, Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, Ciudad Nuclear, 59350 Cienfuegos, Cuba Miguel Gómez-Batista, Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, Ciudad Nuclear, 59350 Cienfuegos, Cuba Chantal Cattini, International Atomic Energy Agency-Environment Laboratories, 4, Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco, 98000 Monaco Jean-Pierre Villeneuve, International Atomic Energy Agency-Environment Laboratories, 4, Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco, 98000 Monaco Jae Oh, International Atomic Energy Agency-Environment Laboratories, 4, Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco, 98000 Monaco Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study presents a simple electrochemical approach for preparing a poly( l -serine) film-modified glassy carbon electrode, which responds quickly and sensitively during the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen and ofloxacin in prepared, environmental, and pharmaceutical samples. The prepared electrode exhibited catalytic activities and promoted the oxidation of acetaminophen and ofloxacin. Acetaminophen and ofloxacin showed linear responses between 1.0 × 10 −5 and 1.0 × 10 −4  mol/L and their limits of detection were 1.2 × 10 −7 and 1.6 × 10 −7  mol/L, respectively. The average recoveries (±relative standard deviations) of acetaminophen and ofloxacin were 96.8 ± 3.5 % and 97.6 ± 3.2 %, respectively, indicating that the prepared electrode and detection method are very accurate and reproducible for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen and ofloxacin. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0833-2 Authors Te-San Chen, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201 Taiwan Kuo-Lin Huang, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201 Taiwan Jia-Long Chen, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201 Taiwan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A simple and efficient HPLC–UV method was developed and validated for determination of chromafenozide in paddy as there was no previous report on record in this regard. The residue analysis method of chromafenozide, its dissipation and final residue in paddy along with soil were also studied after field treatment. Residues of chromafenozide were extracted and purified from paddy and soil followed by liquid/liquid partitioning, chromatographic column and determination by HPLC equipped with PDA detector. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Luna RP C 18 (250 × 4.6 mm i.d, 5 μm particle size) column at room temperature. The mean accuracy of analytical method were 94.92 %, 95.38 %, 94.67 % and 96.90 % in straw, grain, soil and field water respectively. The precision (repeatability) was found in the range of 1.30 %–9.25 % for straw/grain, 1.27 %–11.19 % in soil; 1.0 %–9.25 % in field water. The precision (reproducibility) in straw/grain was ranging from 2.2 % to 12.1 %, in soil it from 2.0 % to 11.7 %. The minimum detectable concentration was 0.01 mg kg −1 . The degradation of chromafenozide formulation in rice, soil and water was determined and results showed that chromafenozide as wettable powder formulation degraded with the half-lives of about 4.4 and 2.9 days in paddy plant and soil respectively for double recommended dose. The results indicated that the developed method is easier and faster then could meet the requirements for determination of chromafenozide in paddy. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0822-5 Authors Papia Ditya, Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India S. P. Das, Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India Anjan Bhattacharyya, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741252 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The purpose of this study was to measure levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the blood of children (50 individuals) living in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. We analyzed six PBDE congeners by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total PBDE levels ranged from not detectable (nd) to 15.2 μg/L on a whole-weight basis and from nd to 6,435 ng/g lipid on a lipid-weight basis. The dominant congener in our study was BDE-153, followed by BDE-154, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-47. Levels of BDE-209 were below the detection limit. Our data indicate that children living in the areas studied in this work are exposed to high levels of PBDEs. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0727-3 Authors Sandra Teresa Orta-Garcia, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Lilia Carolina León-Moreno, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Carolina González-Vega, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Gabriela Dominguez-Cortinas, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Guillermo Espinosa-Reyes, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Iván N. Pérez-Maldonado, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Lead chronic intoxication under hypoxic conditions revealed growth retardation in growing rats and damages on femoral and mandibular bones that predispose to fractures. These findings aimed us to investigate if bone material and geometric properties, bone mass in terms of histomorphometry or antioxidant capacity are also impaired in such experimental model. Combined treatments significantly reduced hemimandible cross sectional geometry and intrinsic stiffness (−16 % and −34 %); tibia and hemimandible bone volume (−45 % and −40 %) and growth plate cartilage thickness (−19 %). These results show a previously unreported toxic effect of lead on mandible however, longer studies should be necessary to evaluate if an adaptation of bone architecture to maintain structural properties may occur and if the oxidative stress can be identified as the primary contributory agent in the pathogenesis of lead poisoning. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0753-1 Authors María I. Conti, Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, MT Alvear 2142, 3rd. floor “A”, Buenos Aires, Argentina Clarisa Bozzini, Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, MT Alvear 2142, 3rd. floor “A”, Buenos Aires, Argentina Graciela B. Facorro, Department of Physics, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Ching M. Lee, Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, MT Alvear 2142, 3rd. floor “A”, Buenos Aires, Argentina Patricia M. Mandalunis, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Lidia L. Piehl, Department of Physics, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Adriana E. Piñeiro, Department of Toxicology and Legal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Antonela R. Terrizzi, Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, MT Alvear 2142, 3rd. floor “A”, Buenos Aires, Argentina María P. Martínez, Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, MT Alvear 2142, 3rd. floor “A”, Buenos Aires, Argentina Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study, we measured the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic carbon (VOC) in the indoor air of the manufacturing department of a metal factory. The daily average PM 2.5 concentration ranged between 86.3 and 404.9 μg/m 3 . The isolation of the manufacturing machines reduced. PM 2.5 concentration between 2.5 and 8.8 fold. At the seven measurement points, daily concentrations ranged from 576.7 to 623.4 ppm for CO 2 , 0.8 to 15.8 ppm for CO, and 0 to 0.58 ppm for VOC, respectively. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0781-x Authors Ülkü Alver Şahin, Environmental Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, İstanbul University, 34320 Avcılar, Istanbul, Turkey Birgül Kurutaş, Environmental Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, İstanbul University, 34320 Avcılar, Istanbul, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of this study was to develop a methodology for identifying and quantifying Fipronil and its degradation products in soil by gas chromatography–electron capture detector previously extracted using a focused ultrasound probe. This methodology was obtaining a range of recovery between 85 % and 120 %, decreasing approximately solvent used time and cost, respect to other methodologies such as bath ultrasonic, solid-phase extraction, liquid–liquid extraction and soxhlet. The method was validated in fortified matrix, presented linearity in the range of 25–400 μg kg −1 , and limit of detection for Fipronil and their products desulfinyl, sulfide and sulfone was 14.7, 9.8, 8.9 and 10.7 μg kg −1 , respectively. This process was applied to samples of agricultural soils, where two degradation products desulfinyl and sulfone were found. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0780-y Authors R. Flores-Ramírez, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, CIACYT-Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí., Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico L. E. Batres-Esquivel, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, CIACYT-Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí., Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico F. Díaz-Barriga Martínez, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, CIACYT-Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí., Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico I. López-Acosta, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, CIACYT-Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí., Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico M. D. Ortiz-Pérez, Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí., Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    We investigated the effects of sodium sulfite (Na 2 SO 3 ) on rhinovirus (RV)-induced chemokine production in A549 airway epithelial cells. Our results demonstrated that the treatment of A549 cells with 2,500 μM Na 2 SO 3 enhanced the mRNA expression of RV-induced interleukin (IL)-8 1.8 fold ( p  = 0.025); and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), 2.9 fold ( p  = 0.025). Moreover, the secretion of IL-8, RANTES, and interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP)-10 was increased in a statistically significant manner without affecting cell viability and RV replication. Our results suggest that Na 2 SO 3 may potentiate RV infection by enhancing chemokine production. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0786-5 Authors Yoon Hong Chun, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Hyun Sook Kim, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Huisu Lee, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Sulmui Won, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Jong-seo Yoon, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Hyun Hee Kim, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Jin Tack Kim, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Joon Sung Lee, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701 Republic of Korea Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Studies on heavy metal contamination in soils used for ammunition disposal and destruction are still emerging. The present study aimed to evaluate the contamination level and spatial distribution of lead in disposal and destruction areas. This site was used for ammunition disposal and destruction activities for 20 years. The ammunition destruction site (1,296 ha), a sampling system that followed a sampling grid (5 m × 5 m) with 30 points was adopted and samples were collected at the following five depths with a total of 150 samples. During the collection procedure, each sampling grid point was georeferenced using a topographic global positioning system. Data were validated through semivariogram and kriging models using Geostat software. The results demonstrated that the average lead value was 163 mg kg −1 , which was close to the investigation limit and the contamination levels were higher downstream than upstream. The results showed that there was lead contamination at the destruction site and that the contamination existed mainly at the surface layer depth. However, high lead concentrations were also found at deeper soil depths in the destruction area due to frequent detonations. According to the planimetry data, the areas that require intervention significantly decreased with increasing depths in the following order: 582.7 m 2 in the 0–20 cm layer; 194.6 m 2 in the 20–40 cm layer; 101.6 m 2 in the 40–60 cm layer; and 45.3 m 2 in the 60–80 cm layer. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0790-9 Authors Jair do Nascimento Guedes, Laboratory of Soil Chemistry, Department of Soils, UFRRJ, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, Brazil Nelson Moura Brasil do Amaral Sobrinho, Department of Soils, Institute of Agronomy, UFRRJ, Seropédica, Brazil Marcos Bacis Ceddia, Laboratory of Soil Chemistry, Department of Soils, UFRRJ, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, Brazil André Luis Oliveira Vilella, Laboratory of Soil Chemistry, Department of Soils, UFRRJ, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, Brazil Alfredo Tolón-Becerra, Rural Engineering Department, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain Xavier Bolívar Lastra-Bravo, Rural Engineering Department, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study explored the natural variability of Arabidopsis thaliana to find out its response to ammonium availability and characterize the tolerance capacity to cadmic stress under low, average or high nitrogen supplies. Growth was determined by different morphological traits and metabolic enzymes. Plant growth was inhibited by cadmium at low nitrogen regime. But, at average or high nitrogen conditions, plant growth seems to be no affected by cadmium. Cadmium inhibited glutamine synthetase activity and stimulated glutamate dehydrogenase one in order to tolerate cadmium stress. Cadmium enhanced proline and sugar tenor in average or high nitrogen plants parallel with activation of Rubisco. Observations show that cadmium-induced stress was alleviated by optimal ammonium availability. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0840-3 Authors Nasraoui Hajaji Afef, Unité de Recherche Nutrition et métabolisme azotés et protéines de stress, 99UR/09-20, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Universitaire de Tunis El Manar, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia Gouia Houda, Unité de Recherche Nutrition et métabolisme azotés et protéines de stress, 99UR/09-20, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Universitaire de Tunis El Manar, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia Chaffei Haouari Chiraz, Unité de Recherche Nutrition et métabolisme azotés et protéines de stress, 99UR/09-20, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Universitaire de Tunis El Manar, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential use of the bivalve Tivela mactroides , as a Caribbean sentinel species. Organisms were collected from a relatively clean sandy beach, and were exposed to a gradient of petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted sediments for periods of 3, 4 and 6 days, after which their activity levels of biotransformation enzymes were measured. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, glutathione transferase and cytochrome b 5 activities increased according to total hydrocarbon concentration, whereas NADH-cytochrome ferricyanide reductase activity decreased. Catalase activity was constant while superoxide dismutase activity was inhibited. The results indicated that T. mactroides may serve as a sentinel species. However, further studies are recommended on the influence of biotic and abiotic variables on basal activities of enzymes, and their responses to other pollutants. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0862-x Authors A. E. Sardi, Laboratorio de Comunidades Marinas y Ecotoxicología, Departamento Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apdo. 8900, Caracas, 1080-A Venezuela R. Ramos, Laboratorio de Comunidades Marinas y Ecotoxicología, Departamento Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apdo. 8900, Caracas, 1080-A Venezuela E. M. García, Laboratorio de Comunidades Marinas y Ecotoxicología, Departamento Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apdo. 8900, Caracas, 1080-A Venezuela Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Human exposure to phthalates was assessed through digestive and respiratory intakes. Six phthalates (DMP, DEP, DnBP, BBP, DEHP, DnOP) were investigated in drinking water, in current foodstuff and in ambient air. Digestive intake was prevailing (92 %) with a major contribution of food (95.5 %). Phthalate intake from water was mainly due to bottled water (60 %) in spite of the minor volume absorbed daily. From the respiratory tract, it was dominated by DEP: 30.3 ng kg −1 bw day −1 and the part played by indoor air prevailed. Total intake were as ng kg −1 bw day −1 , for DEHP: 1458, DnBP: 191.8, BBP: 164.3, DEP: 107.7, DMP: 79.1. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0859-5 Authors Blanchard Martine, Laboratoire Hydrologie Environnement, Ecole Pratique des hautes etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, UPMC, BC 105, Tour 56, 4 PL. Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France Teil Marie-Jeanne, Laboratoire Hydrologie Environnement, Ecole Pratique des hautes etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, UPMC, BC 105, Tour 56, 4 PL. Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France Dargnat Cendrine, Laboratoire Hydrologie Environnement, Ecole Pratique des hautes etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, UPMC, BC 105, Tour 56, 4 PL. Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France Alliot Fabrice, Laboratoire Hydrologie Environnement, Ecole Pratique des hautes etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, UPMC, BC 105, Tour 56, 4 PL. Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France Chevreuil Marc, Laboratoire Hydrologie Environnement, Ecole Pratique des hautes etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, UPMC, BC 105, Tour 56, 4 PL. Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Etofenprox residues were estimated by employing standardized QuEChERS technique in tomato following one application of Trebon ® 20 % EC. The average recoveries of etofenprox on tomato for fortification levels 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg were observed to be 87.5 %, 89.7 % and 92.2 %, respectively, with relative standard division of 3.50, 4.11 and 3.20. The LOQ for tomato was found to be 0.01 mg/kg. The average initial deposit of etofenprox on tomato was observed to be 0.783 mg/kg, at single application rate. This etofenprox residue dissipated below its LOQ of 0.01 after 15 days at a single dosage. Half-life of etofenprox was observed to be 2.15 days, at the recommended dosage. These data could provide guidance for the proper and safe use of this pesticide on tomato in Egypt. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0627-6 Authors Farag Malhat, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Department of Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618 Egypt Hend Abdallah, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Department of Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618 Egypt Islam Nasr, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Department of Pesticide Residues and Environmental Pollution, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12618 Egypt Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Concentrations of metals were determined in market vegetables in Ghaziabad industrial region. The average concentrations of metals (mg/kg dry wt.) in vegetables ranged from 0.57 to 9.77, 0.72 to 22.17, 2.76 to 46.63, 2.53 to 5.53, 28.87 to 65.94, 6.77 to 74.1, 8.43 to 161.1, 23.46 to 36.55 and 4.74 to 24.18 for Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni and Co, respectively. Pb, Cd and Ni were above the recommended limit in all the examined vegetables. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0613-z Authors Mayuri Chabukdhara, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016 India Arvind K. Nema, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016 India Sanjay K. Gupta, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Soil was fortified with bifenthrin at the level of 10 μg g −1 soil. Soil samples were drawn at regular intervals of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days. For extraction of bifenthrin, soil was extracted with acetone. Clean up was done by liquid–liquid partitioning with dichloromethane after diluting with brine solution. Quantification of bifenthrin residues was done by GC using mega bore column and ECD detector. Recovery of bifenthrin in soil ranged between 92.6 % and 93.8 % at 0.5 and 1.0 μg g −1 . The instrumental limit of detection of bifenthrin was 0.005 μg mL −1 and LOQ for soil by this method was found to be 0.05 μg g −1 . The calibration curve was found to be linear within range the range of 0.01 and 0.10 μg mL −1 concentration. The DT 50 (disappearance time for 50 % loss) of bifenthrin at the level of 10 μg g −1 in sterile and non sterile soil were found to be 330 and 147 days, respectively. A vast difference in the half life of sterile and non sterile soil indicated the presence of potential microbes for bifenthrin degradation. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0618-7 Authors Divya Sharma, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Shashi Bala Singh, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb were determined in tissues (shell and soft tissue) of 144 of bivalve mollusks ( Solen brevis ) and 15 samples of surface sediment collected from three locations in intertidal zones of Bushehr coast, Persian Gulf, Iran in May 2011. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb in the sediment samples were 26.2, 1.25, and 21.1 μg/g dw, respectively. The mean levels of Zn, Cd and Pb in the clam samples were 63.3, 0.67, and 4.38 μg/g dw in soft tissue and 10. 7, 1.53, and 15.6 μg/g dw in shell, respectively. The degrees of variability (CV %) for Cd and Pb within the shells were lower than for soft tissues, whereas the CV for Zn was lower in the soft tissue than in the shell, indicating that there is more precision (lower CV) in the determination of Cd and Pb in the shells and Zn in the soft tissues. Significant correlation were found between Cd (r = 0.63; p  〈 0.05) and Pb (r = 0.78; p  〈 0.01) concentrations in the shell of S. brevis and their concentrations in the surface sediments. Indeed, Zn concentrations in the soft tissue of S. brevis significantly (r = 0.63; p  〈 0.05) correlated with Zn concentrations in surface sediments. The results of this study suggest that the shell of S. brevis may serve as a reliable biomonitor for Cd and Pb, and the soft tissue for Zn. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0599-6 Authors Sara Salahshur, Department of Environmental Pollution, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Khouzestan, Iran Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resource and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran Preeta Kochanian, Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, P. O. Box 699, Khorramshahr, Khouzestan, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Variations in concentrations of herbicide bromobutide (RS)-2-bromo- N -(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide, and its metabolite bromobutide-debromo, N -(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide were investigated in soils from three paddy fields used for rice farming at 24 weeks after application. The bromobutide concentration was maximum within 24 h after application. That of bromobutide-debromo was maximum within 5–7 days of application. Each gradually decreased to below detection limits at 12–22 weeks after application. Bromobutide was detected up to 76–104 days after application in the paddy soils, whereas bromobutide-debromo was detected up to 125 days after application. The bromobutide composition was higher than 90 % within 6 days of application, decreasing to less than 5 % by 125 days of application. The decrease of bromobutide amount in the soil was inferred as the first-order reaction. The bromobutide half-life was calculated as 12–21 days (16 days mean) during 18–104 days following application. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0625-8 Authors Masayuki Morohashi, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Shunsuke Nagasawa, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Nami Enya, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Masaki Ohno, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Kazuyuki Suzuki, Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, 914 Kamitanadare, Kazo, Saitama, 347-0115 Japan Tomohiro Kose, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Kuniaki Kawata, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of the present study is to investigate the pollution vulnerability of groundwater aquifers in the coastal regions of Tuticorin city, Tamil Nadu, India. Fourteen samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of trace elements (Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cr and Cu) in the groundwater. Among the total samples six were collected from industrial areas and eight from non-industrial areas of Tuticorin city. The concentration of trace element ranges from 0.01 to 0.19 mg/kg −1 for Pb, from 0.01 to 0.16 mg/kg −1 for Zn, from BDL to 0.21 mg/kg −1 for Cd, from BDL (Below Detection Limit) to 0.023 mg/kg −1 for Hg, from 0.02 to 0.18 mg/kg −1 for Cr and from 0.01 to 0.16 mg/kg −1 for Cu. The trace element concentration in groundwater is higher than the WHO suggested maximum permissible limit except Zn and Cu. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0614-y Authors S. Krishna Kumar, Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, 627 012 Tamil Nadu, India N. S. Magesh, Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, 627 012 Tamil Nadu, India N. Chandrasekar, Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, 627 012 Tamil Nadu, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    We studied the antioxidant responses of macrophyte Vallisnerria natans seedlings to combined ammonia (0, 0.21, and 0.85 mg L −1 ) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) (0, 10, and 50 μg L −1 ) for 7 days. Results showed that superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), peroxidase, and glutathione were significantly induced by the mixtures of ammonia and MC-LR, and there were significant interactions between ammonia and MC-LR. Specially, CAT increased about fivefold at ammonia 0.85 mg L −1 and MC-LR 50 μg L −1 on day 3. Malondialdehyde fluctuated with both ammonia and MC-LR, and significant interactions were detected between the two stressors. Changes in all the measured variables were time-dependent. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0633-8 Authors Juan Ge, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210046 China Jiajia Li, Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 East Cha Ting Street, Nanjing, 210017 China Jing Zhang, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210046 China Zhou Yang, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210046 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A simple and efficient analytical method was standardized for the estimation of residues of carbaryl in various substrates comprising grape berries, kinnow pulps, kinnow rind and soil. The samples were refluxed using mixture of methanol: 0.5 N HCl (1:1 v/v); diluted with brine solution, partitioned into chloroform and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Further the samples were treated with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and primary secondary amine. Final clear extracts were concentrated under vacuum and reconstituted the volume into acetone. The residues were estimated directly on gas liquid chromatograph equipped with nitrogen phosphorus detection system equipped with a capillary column packed with 5 % diphenyl 95 % dimethyl polysiloxane non-polar phase. A consistent recovery from 82 % to 97 % for carbaryl was observed when samples were spiked at levels ranging from 0.05 to 1.00 mg kg −1 . The limit of quantification of the method was worked out to be 0.05 mg kg −1 for grape berries, kinnow pulp, kinnow rind and soil. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0624-9 Authors Raminderjit Singh Battu, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Kousik Mandal, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Urvashi, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Suneet Pandher, PAU Regional Research Station, Faridkot, 151203 Punjab, India Reenu Takkar, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Balwinder Singh, Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A SPE-UHPLC-UV method for the determination of 13 pharmaceuticals from different therapeutic groups in surface water and wastewater samples was proposed. The following three solid-phase-extraction (SPE) columns with polymeric sorbents were used as a pre-concentration step: the Oasis HLB (average recoveries 93.8 %), the Nexus (84.0 %) and the Bond Elut ENV (88.3 %). A reverse-phase UHPLC with a C 18e monolithic column and gradient elution program was used to obtain the best separations for all 13 drugs in short analysis time (3.4 min). The LOD range for determined drugs was 0.02–0.18 μg L −1 , and the concentration range for drugs found in water samples was 0.06–0.90 μg L −1 . The proposed method was used to analyze different water samples, mostly from rivers, and can be used as a monitoring tool for environmental pollution. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0634-7 Authors Irena Baranowska, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Silesian University of Technology, 7 Strzody Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland Bartosz Kowalski, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Silesian University of Technology, 7 Strzody Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In this study, it was aimed to determine accumulation of the metal concentrations in fish species in different regions which are Sürmene and Yomra bay at southeastern Black sea in Trabzon-Turkey. For this purpose, concentrations of metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Hg, Pb) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in muscle of red mullet ( Mullus barbatus ponticus ) and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus euxinus ). Metal concentrations were found for whiting ranged as follows; 0.35–1.64 (Cr), 0.01–0.09 (Co), 0.01–0.71 (Ni), 0.71–1.45 (Cu), 18.64–68.06 (Zn), 2.05–9.66 (As), 0.15–14.16 (Se), 0.01–0.22 (Cd), 0.01–0.01 (Sb), 0.01–0.15 (Hg), 0.01–0.25 (Pb) and for red mullet as 0.43–1.04 (Cr), 0.05–0.23 (Co), 0.02–0.67 (Ni), 0.74–2.32 (Cu), 19.89–43.50 (Zn), 6.04–24.82 (As), 0.02–9.83 (Se), 0.01–0.11 (Cd), 0.01–0.01 (Sb), 0.07–0.18 (Hg), 0.01–0.20 (Pb) μg g −1 dry weight. Metal concentrations in samples were found to be lower than legal limits proposed by Turkish Food Codex ( 2008 ), Food and Agricultural Organization ( 1983 ), and European Commission (Off J Eur Union L364-5–L364-24, 2006 ) for human consumption. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0631-x Authors Nigar Alkan, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, 61350 Sürmene, Trabzon, Turkey Muammer Aktaş, Central Fisheries Research Institute, 61250 Yomra, Trabzon, Turkey Kenan Gedik, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, 61350 Sürmene, Trabzon, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The aim of this study was to evaluate hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) exposure in children living in nine hot spots in four Mexican states. We analyzed HCH (α, β, and γ-isomers) in blood using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. HCH exposure level in 261 children was assessed and approximately 75 % of the children studied had detectable levels of HCH. These levels ranged from 188 to 40,096.7 ng/g lipid. The highest mean levels were found in Lacanja (5,446.9 ng/g lipid), an indigenous community in Chiapas, Mexico. Our data indicate high exposure to HCH in children living in these communities. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0626-7 Authors Antonio Trejo-Acevedo, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Norma Edith Rivero-Pérez, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Rogelio Flores-Ramirez, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Sandra Teresa Orta-García, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Lucia Guadalupe Pruneda-Álvarez, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Iván N. Pérez-Maldonado, Departamento Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Venustiano Carranza No. 2405, Col Lomas los Filtros, 78210 San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This work evaluates for the first time the relationships between copper-tolerance, -solubilization and -bioaccumulation in the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana exposed to Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride or copper hydroxide. Bordeaux mixture was highly detrimental to fungus, by inhibiting the growth totally at the recommended dose (RD) and 2×RD. Copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride were found to be less toxic, reducing fungus growth, sporulation and conidial germination in an average of 29  %, 30 % and 58 %, respectively. These two copper forms were the easiest to solubilize, to precipitate and the most accumulated by B. bassiana , suggesting the involvement of all these processes on fungus copper-tolerance. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0628-5 Authors Fátima Martins, CIMO/School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-854 Bragança, Portugal Maria Elisa Soares, REQUIMTE/Serviço de Toxicologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal Ivo Oliveira, CIMO/School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-854 Bragança, Portugal José Alberto Pereira, CIMO/School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-854 Bragança, Portugal Maria de Lourdes Bastos, REQUIMTE/Serviço de Toxicologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal Paula Baptista, CIMO/School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-854 Bragança, Portugal Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Because of the report on the abnormal local fertility rate at Taizhou area, which is a famous e-waste disassembly center in China, the hormone-like effects in the surface sediment from the local river was investigated. Compared to the control site DG, significant estrogenic effects ( p  〈 0.01) were observed at e-waste recycling sites ranging from 6.01 to 29.31 nmol/kg dw E2 equivalents by water extraction while ranging from 20.47 to 135.02 nmol/kg dw by organic extraction. When coincubated with E2, the water and the organic extractions displayed significant ( p  〈 0.01) synergistic and anti-estrogenic effects respectively. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0632-9 Authors Lei Chen, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People’s Republic of China Chunna Yu, Center for Biomedicine and Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121 People’s Republic of China Chaofeng Shen, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People’s Republic of China Jinglan Cui, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People’s Republic of China Chen Chen, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People’s Republic of China Yingxu Chen, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of the present study was to investigate the concentration of metals (cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, copper, and iron) were measured in groundwater at 30 sites from the Birjand flood plain of eastern Iran during the November 2010; identify any relationships between metals and pH, total hardness. Metal concentrations in the groundwater samples were decreased in sequence of Zn 〉 Fe 〉 Cu 〉 Cr 〉 Pb 〉 Cd, respectively. The results showed that the overall mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cr were at 0.000, 0.023, and 0.049 mg l −1 , respectively. The mean concentration of Cu, Zn, and Fe were 0.109, 0.192, and 0.174 mg l −1 , respectively. Results also indicated that there were correlations among Cd, Cu, and Zn metals. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0630-y Authors Borhan Mansouri, Young Researchers Club, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Javad Salehi, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran Behrooz Etebari, Southern Khorasan Regional Water Company, Birjand, Iran Hamid Kardan Moghaddam, Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Behavior of the herbicide pyrazolynate, 4-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)-1,3-dimethylpyrazol-5-yl p -toluenesulfonate, in paddy water and soil after application to paddy fields was investigated to evaluate the hydrolyzation to destosyl pyrazolynate (DTP), 4-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5-hydroxypyrazole. The respective maximum concentrations of pyrazolynate and DTP were 440–1,240 and 200–260 μg/L, respectively, in the paddy water, and 610–860 μg/kg dry and 460–730 μg/kg dry in the paddy soil. The applied pyrazolynate was drained from the paddy fields as DTP. The runoff ratios of DTP from the paddy fields were calculated as 19 % ± 14 %. The respective mean values of the half-lives of pyrazolynate and DTP were 0.87 ± 0.091 and 17 ± 1.4 days in the paddy water and 2.2 ± 0.70 and 26 ± 2.1 days in the paddy soil, respectively. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0793-6 Authors Takuya Kubo, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Masaki Ohno, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Shunsuke Nagasawa, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Tomohiro Kose, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Kuniaki Kawata, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Chlorpyrifos is a common surface water contaminant in California, USA. We evaluated five years of chlorpyrifos use and surface water monitoring data in California’s principal agricultural regions. Imperial County and three central coastal regions accounted for only 10 % of chlorpyrifos statewide use, but displayed consistently high aquatic benchmark exceedances (13.2 %–57.1 %). In contrast, 90 % of use occurred in Central Valley regions where only 0.6 %–6.5 % of samples exceeded aquatic benchmarks. Differences among regions are attributable to crop type, use intensity, irrigation practices and monthly application patterns. Application method did not appear to be a factor. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0791-8 Authors Xuyang Zhang, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Keith Starner, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Frank Spurlock, Environmental Monitoring Branch, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A multiresidue method was developed and optimized for the quantification of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in milk, egg and meat samples. Sample extraction was performed by adopting QuEChERS principle and the extracts were cleaned-up dispersive solid-phase extraction with primary secondary amine after salting out with NaCl and MgSO 4 . Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector and confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The performance of the method was investigated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, detection limit and quantification limit (LOQ). Good linearity was obtained, with correlation coefficients (r 2 ) higher than 0.992. Mean recoveries were found in the ranges 72 %–108 %, 74 %–101 % and 75.27 %–104.56 % for the milk, egg and meat, respectively, RSD % turned out to range from 0.28 % to 10.05 %. The method developed was successfully tested on commercial milk, egg, and meat samples from the markets of Tamil Nadu (India), proving to be a useful tool in routine analysis of OCPs for monitoring purposes. None of the compounds of interest were observed above their respective LOQ. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0789-2 Authors C. Selvi, Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003 Tamil Nadu, India M. Paramasivam, Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003 Tamil Nadu, India Deepa S. Rajathi, Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003 Tamil Nadu, India S. Chandrasekaran, Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003 Tamil Nadu, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The characteristic distributions of 12 metals (Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd and Pb) were investigated in surface sediments from a small river (Niitsu River) flowing through both urban and agricultural areas by comparison with those from the upper main stream (Nodai River). Among the investigated metals, the mean concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb in the Niitsu River were significantly higher than those in the Nodai River. The investigated sites can be characterized by the principal components 1–3. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0797-2 Authors Yuri Igari, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Takaaki Tamura, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Masaki Ohno, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Kazuyuki Suzuki, Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, 914 Kamitanadare, Kazo, Saitama 347-0115, Japan Tomohiro Kose, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Kuniaki Kawata, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Total mercury levels in different feather types (down, contour, tail and flight) in Great Cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo L.) were determined using CV-AAS. Feathers from Great Cormorants inhabiting the Vistula Lagoon ecosystem have an average Hg level of 7.14 ± 3.99 (μg/g w.w.). Age-dependent concentrations of Hg were statistically significant (ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis, p  〈 0.0001). There were also significant differences in Hg levels in different parts of feathers from adults and immature birds (ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis, p  〈 0.0001). Cormorant chick feathers appear to be a potential biomonitor of Hg pollution in the Vistula Lagoon ecosystem, but this subject requires further research. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0771-z Authors Małgorzata Misztal-Szkudlińska, Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland Piotr Szefer, Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland Piotr Konieczka, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland Jacek Namieśnik, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cr) in muscle, gill, liver, kidney and intestine of two freshwater fish, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Perca fluviatilis , in Anzali Wetland, Iran. The concentrations were different between the fish species as well as among the tissues of fish. Results showed that the metal concentrations in both fish species were in descending order of Zn 〉 Cu 〉 Pb 〉 Cr 〉 Cd. Results also showed that the Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations in the muscle of both fish from Anzali Wetland are below levels of concern for human consumption. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0795-4 Authors Rahimeh Baramaki Yazdi, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran Mohammad Ebrahimpour, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran Borhan Mansouri, Young Researchers Club, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Mohammad Reza Rezaei, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran Hadi Babaei, National Inland Water Aquaculture Institute, P.O. Box 66, Port Anzali, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    This study was conducted to determine the concentration of metals, namely cadmium, lead, cobalt and copper, in the feathers of chukar ( Alectoris chukar ), see–see partridge ( Ammoperdix griseogularis ) and rock dove ( Columba livia ) in order to: examine the species, gender and age related variations in trace metal accumulation, and identify any relationships between species. Bird samples were collected in February 2012 from the Hormod protected area, southern Iran and the concentration of metals were measured using a Shimadzu AA 660 flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentrations in all three species were copper 〉 lead 〉 cadmium 〉 cobalt. The average cadmium concentrations were 2.0, 1.9, and 1.9 μg/g for A. chukar , A. griseogularis , and C. livia , respectively. The average lead concentrations were 8.0, 5.4, and 7.7 μg/g for A. chukar , A. griseogularis , and C. livia , respectively. The results showed that in all three species, the highest metal concentrations were observed in female/adult birds and the lowest concentrations were found in female/juvenile birds (except lead in A. chukar and copper in C. livia ). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0798-1 Authors Mohsen Norouzi, Young Researchers Club, Larestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lar, Iran Borhan Mansouri, Young Researchers Club, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Amir Hossein Hamidian, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Tahereh Ebrahimi, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran Fakher Kardoni, Young Researchers Club, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study, Arsenic (As) concentrations in underground water, soil, and plants (rice) and their inter-relationships in central and sub-mountainous Punjab, India were studied. Approximately, 32 % of the tubewell water samples had As concentrations greater than the maximum permissible limit (10 μg As L −1 ) set by the World Health Organization (WHO) whereas in hand pump waters, As concentrations were within the safe range (i.e. 〈10 μg As L −1 ). As concentrations in tubewell waters were significantly correlated with As concentrations in surface soil (r = 0.57; P  〈  0.05 ) and plant samples (r = 0.27–0.82; P  〈  0.05 ) in central and sub-mountainous Punjab. The estimated daily intake of As through human consumption in rural and urban population was 0.016 and 0.012 μg day −1  kg −1 body weight respectively. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0799-0 Authors Savitoz Singh Sidhu, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India Joginder Singh Brar, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India Asim Biswas, CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Kamaljit Banger, International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5418, USA Gurbachan Singh Saroa, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The present research determined the total mercury concentrations in muscle and liver tissue in fish collected from the Magdalena River watershed. A total of 378 muscle samples and 102 liver samples were included in the analysis. The highest mean mercury level in muscle tissue was found in the noncarnivore, Pimelodus blochii . However, as a group, carnivores had significantly higher ( p  〈 0.05) mercury levels in their muscle tissue than noncarnivores. A significant correlation ( p  〈 0.05) was obtained between fish mass and mercury concentrations in muscle or liver in four species. No differences were observed in total mercury concentration based either on species or gender. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0782-9 Authors Santiago Alvarez, Grupo de Investigación en Gestión Y Modelación Ambiental, GAIA–SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Cl. 62 No. 52-59, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia Alan S. Kolok, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0040, USA Luz Fernanda Jimenez, Grupo de Ictiología, GIUA, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 67 No. 53-108, Medellín, Colombia Carlos Granados, Universidad de Sevilla, C.P. 41004 Seville, Spain Jaime A. Palacio, Grupo de Investigación en Gestión Y Modelación Ambiental, GAIA–SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Cl. 62 No. 52-59, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Crop production in areas with a high water table and poorly drained soils requires special drainage infrastructure to allow adequate rooting depth. In addition to facilitating drainage, this infrastructure also facilitates discharge of agrichemicals dissolved in drainage and runoff water. Copper export from bedded citrus production areas was evaluated using simulated rainfall events following application of copper. Copper concentrations in runoff water from individual water furrows ranged from 13 to 223 μg/L during the staged events, while copper loadings ranged from 32 to 302 g/water furrow. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0740-6 Authors P. Chris Wilson, Soil and Water Science Department, UF/IFAS-Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA Brian Boman, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, UF/IFAS-Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA Joseph P. Albano, USDA-ARS/U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A rapid, simple and reliable analytical method was developed for the determination of cyantraniliprole and its major metabolite J9Z38 in pakchoi and soil by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). The sample preparation approach is known as QuEChERS, which stands for quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and cleaned up with dispersive primary and secondary amine sorbent before analysis by UPLC–MS/MS. The limit of quantitation for cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 was 0.01 mg/kg in both pakchoi and soil. Average recoveries of cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 at three fortified levels (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 mg/kg) ranged from 77.8 % to 102.5 % with relative standard deviation of 1.6 %–8.9 %. This method has been applied to the analysis of cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 residues in real pakchoi and soil samples selected from field. The results of the residue dynamic experiment showed that the half-life of cyantraniliprole ranged from 2.9 to 6.4 days in pakchoi and 8.7 to 18.2 days in soil, respectively. The final residual levels of cyantraniliprole in pakchoi and soil from Guangdong and Shanghai were below 0.20 and 0.10 mg/kg, respectively; similarly, the final residual levels of J9Z38 in pakchoi and soil from Guangdong and Shanghai were 〈0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg. These results will be helpful in setting maximum residue limit guidance for cyantraniliprole in pakchoi in China. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0752-2 Authors Jianpeng Sun, Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 10026 People’s Republic of China Nan Feng, Beijing Municipal Center for Food Safety Monitoring, Beijing, 100041 People’s Republic of China Congfeng Tang, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 People’s Republic of China Dongmei Qin, Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 10026 People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Uptake rates for dissolved nitrogen (DN) by a marine alga ( Oocystis borgei ) were examined in a 15 N tracer experiment. Maximal uptake rates for all forms of DN were observed at temperatures between 25 and 30°C and at algal concentrations between 3.22 × 10 8 and 4.78 × 10 8  cell L −1 . Light intensity required to achieve the maximal uptake rate was 45 μmol m −2  s −1 for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = NO 3 − , NO 2 − , NH 4 + ) and methionine, and 126 μmol m −2  s −1 for urea. Salinity required to achieve the maximal uptake rate was 12.85 ppt for DIN, 19.89 ppt for urea and 26.2 ppt for methionine. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0767-8 Authors Xianghu Huang, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Xiaoju Li, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524025 China Yaqiong Wang, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524025 China Meihua Zhou, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Heavy metal contamination in Chennai city was evaluated using a heavy metal pollution index (HPI) model in conjunction with the spatial distribution maps. Metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the groundwater were determined using standard methods and the resultant data was utilized in the development of a HPI model. The metal concentrations showed a dominance in the order of Zn 〉 Cu 〉 Cr 〉 Pb 〉 Cd respectively. About 14.3 % of the samples (n = 2), exhibited high HPI (〉38) and the highest value, HPI = 97.55, has been recorded from Thiruvanmiyur area. Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between metals such as Cd and Cr ( r  = 0.606), Cd and Cu ( r  = 0.601), Cr and Cu ( r  = 0.464) and Pb and Zn ( r  = 0.416), suggested their common origin. The spatial distribution maps of heavy metals and the HPI suggested that the SW region, especially Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur regions are highly contaminated with the metals. Industrialisation and improper waste dumping were identified as the major cause for the accumulation of metals in the groundwater of Chennai city. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0794-5 Authors P. J. Sajil Kumar, BTU Cottbus, Cottbus, 03046 Germany P. Davis Delson, ITALCONSULT, Riyadh, 11421 Saudi Arabia P. Thomas Babu, Delta Studies Institute, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, 530003 India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The growth study and hydrocarbonoclastic potential of microorganisms isolated from aviation fuel spill sites at Inua-eyet Ikot in Ibeno, Nigeria were examined using standard microbiological methods. The results of the analysis revealed that the viable plate count of microorganisms in the polluted soil ranged from 2.2 ± 0.04 × 10 3 to 3.4 ± 0.14 × 10 6  cfu/g for bacteria and 1.4 ± 0.5 × 10 2 to 2.3 ± 0.4 × 10 4  cfu/g for fungi while count of biodegraders ranged from 1.2 ± 0.4 × 10 3 to 2.1 ± 0.8 × 10 5  cfu/g. A total of 11 microbial isolates comprising of Micrococcus , Klebsiella , Flavobacterium , Bacillus , Pseudomonas , Candida , Aspergillus , Cladosporium , Penicillium , Saccharomyces and Fusarium were characterized. The ability of the selected isolates to utilize the pollutant (aviation fuel) as their sole source of carbon and energy was examined and noticed to vary in growth profiles between the isolates. The results of their degradability after 28 days of incubation shows that species of Cladosporium , Pseudomonas , Candida , Bacillus , Micrococcus and Penicillium were the most efficient Aviation fuel degraders with percentage weight loss of 86.2, 78.4, 78, 56, 53 and 50.6 respectively. Flavobacterium , Saccharomyces and Aspergillus exhibited moderate growth with percentage weight loss of 48, 45.8 and 43.4 respectively while Klebsiella and Fusarium species showed minimal growth with percentage weight loss of 20 and 18.5 respectively. The results imply that the most efficient biodegraders like Cladosporium , Pseudomonas , Candida , Bacillus and Microoccus could tolerate and remove aviation fuel from the environment. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0796-3 Authors C. U. Etuk, Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria R. C. John, Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria U. E. Ekong, Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria M. M. Akpan, Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Transport processes are the hallmark of functioning kidney. Various nephrotoxicants disrupt the transport processes to manifest nephrotoxicity. Of several nephrotoxicants, mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) depletes the reduced glutathione (GSH) in kidney and has been observed to affect the in vitro p -aminohippurate (PAH) transport by basolateral (BL) membrane vesicles. The role of renal nonprotein sulfhydryls such as, reduced GSH has been demonstrated to affect the PAH transport by BL membrane vesicles. The role of protein sulfhydryls in transport process of PAH by BL membrane is not known. Due to mercury mediated effects on sulfhydryls, the effects of protein-sulfhydryls (–SH) modifying reagents in the current study were investigated on PAH transport by BL membrane. It was observed that modification of –SH by p -chloromercuribenzoate sulphate ( p CMBS), and mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) decreased while recovering the protein –SH with dithiothreitol treatment provided protection against the effects of p CMBS, and HgCl 2 on PAH transport by BL membrane vesicles. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0756-y Authors Rais A. Ansari, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Health Professions Division, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, USA Syed A. A. Rizvi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Health Professions Division, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, USA Kazim Husain, Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ponce School of Medicine, PO Box 7004, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, USA Anastasios Lymperopoulos, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Health Professions Division, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, USA William O. Berndt, Department of Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68102, USA Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Metals in the surface sediment and zoobenthos throughout Taihu Lake were investigated to explore their distribution, source and potential ecological risks. The result showed that the average metal concentration followed the order: Fe 〉 Mn 〉 Zn 〉 Cr 〉 Ni 〉 Pb 〉 Cu 〉 Cd, with the highest value of 27.9 g/kg (Fe) and lowest value 0.54 mg/kg (Cd). Anthropogenic inputs were the major sources of metals, followed by geochemical processes, and organic matter is also a control for metals. Spatially, high metal concentrations were distributed in the northern lake and low concentrations in Gonghu Bay and the eastern part of the lake. Risk assessment showed that Pb had the highest ecological risk (E r  = 10.32), followed by Cu and Ni (E r  = 8.77−8.81), while Zn had the lowest risk (E r  = 1.59). Analysis indicated that Corbicula sp. was more suitable for biomonitoring than Bellamya sp. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0784-7 Authors Yuan Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012 China Xiaona Hu, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012 China Tao Yu, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012 China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Although fluoride induced inflammatory reactions have been shown in animals and in vitro humans, there are few studies about fluoride induced inflammatory reactions in human beings at clinical setting. We aimed to measure the plasma neopterin, a marker of activation of the monocyte/macrophage system, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with endemic fluorosis to investigate the possible role of inflammatory processes (monocyte/macrophage activity) in the underlying pathophysiology of fluoride toxicity at clinical level. Plasma neopterin and hs-CRP levels were determined in endemic fluorosis patients and control subjects. Plasma neopterin levels were significantly higher among patients with endemic fluorosis when compared with control group (2.40 ± 0.66 vs. 1.63 ± 0.27 ng/mL respectively; p  〈 0.001) and plasma hs-CRP levels were also significantly higher among patients with endemic fluorosis when compared with control group (2.41 ± 1.23 vs. 1.93 ± 0.64 mg/L respectively; p  〈 0.001). Plasma neopterin levels were positively correlated with urine fluoride levels (r = 0.67, p  〈 0.001) and serum hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with urine fluoride levels (r = 0.36, p  〈 0.001). We have found that plasma neopterin and hs-CRP levels are increased in patients with endemic fluorosis. We have concluded that inflammation play an important role in the pathophysiology of fluoride toxicity in patients with endemic fluorosis. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0801-x Authors Ercan Varol, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Fatih Aksoy, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Atilla Icli, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Akif Arslan, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Ozlem Yuksel, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey I. Hakki Ersoy, Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Simge Varol, Department of Geology, Faculty of Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Abdullah Dogan, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The purpose of our investigation was to examine the mass concentrations of EC, OC and TC (EC + OC) in PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 particle fractions. Daily PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 samples were collected at an urban background monitoring site in Zagreb during winter 2009. Average OC and EC mass concentrations were 11.9 and 1.8 μg m −3 in PM 10 , 9.0 and 1.4 μg m −3 in PM 2.5 , and 5.5 and 1.1 μg m −3 in PM 1 . Average OC/EC ratios in PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1 were 7.4, 6.9 and 5.4, respectively. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0787-4 Authors Ranka Godec, Institute for Medical Research and Occupation Health, Ksaverska c.2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Mirjana Čačković, Institute for Medical Research and Occupation Health, Ksaverska c.2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Krešimir Šega, Institute for Medical Research and Occupation Health, Ksaverska c.2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Ivan Bešlić, Institute for Medical Research and Occupation Health, Ksaverska c.2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    In the present study, Hg bioconcentration by Puffball ( Lycoperdon perlatum ) mushroom was investigated. Total Hg content of fruiting bodies and topsoil (0–10 cm layer) were determined by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy. For ten geographically distant sampling sites of Poland, Hg ranged from 0.91 ± 0.28 to 2.4 ± 0.4 (overall range 0.57–4.5) μg/g dry weight in the carpophores and 0.012 ± 0.002 to 0.063 ± 0.024 (overall range 0.0077–0.12) μg/g dw in topsoil. The mean values of the bioconcentration factor ranged from 28 ± 11 to 110 ± 36 (range 9.6–280) indicating that L . perlatum effectively accumulates Hg and could be classified as a Hg accumulator. Total Hg content of L . perlatum to some degree seems to be determined both by degree of soil contamination and metal bioavailability to mycelium and also the rate of transfer and accumulation in fruiting bodies at the sites surveyed. Summarized and discussed are published data available on total Hg and methylmercury in L . perlatum . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0788-3 Authors Jerzy Falandysz, Institute of Environmental Sciences and Public Health, University of Gdańsk, 18 Sobieskiego Str, 80–952 Gdańsk, Poland Innocent C. Nnorom, Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria Grażyna Jarzyńska, Institute of Environmental Sciences and Public Health, University of Gdańsk, 18 Sobieskiego Str, 80–952 Gdańsk, Poland Dominika Romińska, Institute of Environmental Sciences and Public Health, University of Gdańsk, 18 Sobieskiego Str, 80–952 Gdańsk, Poland Kamila Damps, Institute of Environmental Sciences and Public Health, University of Gdańsk, 18 Sobieskiego Str, 80–952 Gdańsk, Poland Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Emamectin benzoate residue dynamics and final residues in supervised field trials at GAP conditions were studied. An HPLC–MS analytical method for the determination of emamectin benzoate in cabbage and soil was developed. The recoveries of emamectin benzoate on cabbage and soil were observed from 71 % to 102 % at fortification levels of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg. The reported limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0.01 mg/kg. The dissipation experiments showed the half-lives (T 1/2 ) of emamectin benzoate was around 1 days. At pre-harvest intervals (PHI) of 7 and 12 days, emamectin benzoate residue was observed to be below the LOQ. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0729-1 Authors Shuaigang Liu, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Fengzu Zhang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Lei Wang, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Canping Pan, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    The effect of mercuric chloride on the histo-morphology and bioaccumulation in the kidney of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) were examined after exposing the fish (15–20 cm) to three sublethal concentrations (0.033, 0.066 and 0.132 mg/L) of HgCl 2 for 30 days. Mercury deposition in kidney tissues had increased significantly with dose and exposure duration dependant manner. Several histological changes were noted in the kidney of all treated groups in compare to control group. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0743-3 Authors Debasree Ghosh, Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731 235 West Bengal, India Dipak Kumar Mandal, Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731 235 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    A simple and efficient method for determination of kasugamycin in chilli and soil was developed, and the fate of kasugamycin in chilli field ecosystem was also studied. Kasugamycin residues were extracted from sample, cleaned up by solid phase extraction and chromatographic column and then determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. The method got recoveries ranged from 77.82 % to 83.35 % with relative standard deviations of 2.20 %–6.54 %. As far as the accuracy and precision was concerned, the method met certain standard. The LODs of kasugamycin calculated as a sample concentration(S/N ratio of 3) was 2.50 μg kg −1 . The degradation of kasugamycin in chilli and soil was determined. The results showed that kasugamycin degradation in chilli plant and soil followed the first-order kinetics. The half-lives of kasugamycin in chilli and soil was 2.76–3.77 and 3.07–3.91 days, respectively. The final kasugamycin residues in chilli and soil were undetectable at levels of recommended and 1.5 times recommended dosage with an interval of 21 days. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0746-0 Authors Lei Lu, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018 Shandong, China Shancang Zhao, Central Laboratory of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Test Technology on Food Quality and Safety of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100 Shandong, China Ligang Deng, Central Laboratory of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Test Technology on Food Quality and Safety of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100 Shandong, China Yebing Chen, Central Laboratory of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Test Technology on Food Quality and Safety of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100 Shandong, China Xue Liu, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018 Shandong, China Dapeng Li, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018 Shandong, China Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861

Description:    Chromafenozide is a lepidopteran insecticide. It is highly effective in controlling various lepidopteran pests. Chromafenozide technical and formulation (80WP) was applied at 2.5 and 5.0 μg g −1 in 4 types of soils (air dried and sieved) separately in laboratory condition. Half-lives of active ingredient were calculated and found at 15.8, 21.6, 25 and 23.9 days for single dose for chromafenozide technical (99.4 %). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0691-y Authors Papia Ditya, Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India S. P. Das, Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235 West Bengal, India Anjan Bhattacharyya, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741252 West Bengal, India Journal Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Online ISSN 1432-0800 Print ISSN 0007-4861