Including metal atmospheric fate and speciation in soils for terrestrial ecotoxicity in life cycle impact assessment

Purpose

The aim of the study is to calculate regionalized characterization factors for the atmospheric emissions of metals transferred to soil for zinc, copper, and nickel taking into account the atmospheric fate and speciation.

Methods

In order to calculate characterization factors for all possible atmospheric emission locations around the world, the link between atmospheric deposition with regionalized soil fate factors and bioavailability factors accounting for the metal’s speciation was established. The methodology to develop the regionalized fate factors and characterization factors is threefold. First, the emitted metal fraction that is deposited on soils is calculated from atmospheric source-receptor matrices providing for each emission location the fraction of an emission that is deposited on each worldwide receiving cell (2°?×?2.5° resolution). Second, the fraction of metal deposited in different soil types is determined by overlapping the deposition map with a soil map, based on the 4513 different soil types from the Harmonized World Soil Database. Third, bioavailability factors are calculated for each soil type, which allows determining the bioavailable fraction of the deposited metal depending on the soil properties. Combining these steps with the effect factors results in a series of terrestrial ecotoxicological characterization factors. These characterization factors are then applied in an illustrative example and compared to results obtained with generic characterization factors. The case study focuses on the electricity production process in Québec, whose ecosystem impacts are currently dominated by metal ecotoxicity impacts. The uncertainty due to the spatial variability of the impact is quantified.

Results and discussion

Our results show that regionalized characterization factors are over three orders of magnitude lower than generic characterization factors. They are presented on maps and their spatial variability was evaluated at different regional scales (region, country, world). The use of regionalized characterization factors with their spatial variability at different geographic resolution scales in the case study gives a result more or less precise depending on the level of resolution of the characterization factor applied (country or global-default). The impact scores of the three metals in the case study are three orders of magnitude lower when compared to the scores obtained with generic characterization factors.

Conclusions

The development of those regionalized characterization factors improves the terrestrial ecotoxicity assessment in life cycle impact assessment by taking into account the atmospheric fate and the speciation of the metal for new 3 metals for the different soil types in the world and by documenting their spatial variability.

     

Regionalized aquatic ecotoxicity characterization factor for zinc emitted to soil accounting for speciation and the transfer through groundwater

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - The goal of this study is to calculate regionalized fate and characterization factors for zinc (Zn) emitted to soil considering the Zn transfer...     

Freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors for aluminum

Purpose

Aluminum (Al) is an abundant, non-essential element with complex geochemistry and aquatic toxicity. Considering its complex environmental behavior is critical for providing a reasonable estimate of its potential freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity in the context of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA).

Methods

Al characterization factors (CFs) are calculated using the following: (1) USEtox^? model version 2.1 for environmental fate, (2) MINEQL+ to estimate the distribution of Al between the solid phase precipitate and total dissolved Al, (3) WHAM 7 for Al speciation within the total dissolved phase, and (4) Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) and Free Ion Activity Model (FIAM) for ecotoxicity estimation for seven freshwater archetypes and default landscape properties for the European continent. The sensitivity of the CFs to aquatic chemistry parameters is calculated. New CFs are compared with Dong et al. (Chemosphere 112:26–33, 2014) and default CF calculated by USEtox 2.1.

Results and discussion

Al CFs vary over 5 orders of magnitude between the seven archetypes, with an arithmetic average CF_ave of 0.04 eq 1,4-DCB (recommended for use), geometric mean CF_geo of 0.0014 eq 1,4-DCB, and weighted average CF_wt of 0.026 eq 1,4-DCB. These values are lower (less toxic) than those for Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb (with one exception). The effect factor (EF) contributed most to this variability followed by the bioavailability factor (BF), varying over 8 and 4 orders of magnitude, respectively. These revised CFs are 2–6 orders of magnitude lower than those presented by Dong et al. (Chemosphere 112:26–33, 2014) mainly because of consideration of Al precipitation.

Conclusions

Freshwater archetype-specific Al CFs for freshwater ecotoxicity that address the effect of Al speciation on bioavailability (BF) and ecotoxicity (EF) have been calculated, and a CF of 0.04 eq 1,4-DCB is recommended for use in generic LCA. For site-specific LCA, the choice of water chemistry and, in particular, pH, and consideration of metal precipitation could significantly influence results.

Practical implications

Incorporating estimates of metal speciation and its effect on aquatic toxicity is essential when conducting LCIA. Along with metal speciation estimates, the values derived from the definition of water chemistry parameters must also be included into LCIA. For site-generic assessments, we recommend using the arithmetic average of metal CFs. We also recommend using FIAM as a suitable alternative to BLM to estimate EF if the latter is not available. Consideration of metal speciation is essential for providing more realistic estimates of Al freshwater ecotoxicity in the context of LCIA.

     

Chiral speciation in terrestrial pulmonate snails

On the basis of data in the literature, the percentages of dextral versus sinistral species of snails have been calculated for western Europe, Turkey, North America (north of Mexico), and Japan. When the family of Clausiliidae is represented, about a quarter of all snail species may be sinistral, whereas less than one per cent of the species may be sinistral where that family does not occur. The number of single-gene speciation events on the basis of chirality, resulting in the origin of mirror image species, is not closely linked to the percentage of sinistral versus dextral species in a particular region. Turkey is nevertheless exceptional by both a high percentage of sinistral species and a high number of speciation events resulting in mirror image species. Shell morphology and genetic background may influence the ease of chirality-linked speciation, whereas sinistrality may additionally be selected against by internal selection. For the Clausiliidae, the fossil record and the recent fauna suggest that successful reversals in coiling direction occurred with a frequency of once every three to four million years.     

Allosteric modulation of zinc speciation by fatty acids

Background

Serum albumin is the major protein component of blood plasma and is responsible for the circulatory transport of a range of small molecules that include fatty acids, hormones, metal ions and drugs. Studies examining the ligand-binding properties of albumin make up a large proportion of the literature. However, many of these studies do not address the fact that albumin carries multiple ligands (including metal ions) simultaneously in vivo. Thus the binding of a particular ligand may influence both the affinity and dynamics of albumin interactions with another.

Scope of review

Here we review the Zn^2 + and fatty acid transport properties of albumin and highlight an important interplay that exists between them. Also the impact of this dynamic interaction upon the distribution of plasma Zn^2 +, its effect upon cellular Zn^2 + uptake and its importance in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia are considered.

Major conclusions

We previously identified the major binding site for Zn^2 + on albumin. Furthermore, we revealed that Zn^2 +-binding at this site and fatty acid-binding at the FA2 site are interdependent. This suggests that the binding of fatty acids to albumin may serve as an allosteric switch to modulate Zn^2 +-binding to albumin in blood plasma.

General significance

Fatty acid levels in the blood are dynamic and chronic elevation of plasma fatty acid levels is associated with some metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Since the binding of Zn^2 + to albumin is important for the control of circulatory/cellular Zn^2 + dynamics, this relationship is likely to have important physiological and pathological implications. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Serum Albumin.     

Immunological factors in Peromyscus speciation

Reciprocal interspecific F1 hybrids of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and oldfield mice (P. polionotus) differ significantly and substantially in fetal and placental, as well as adult, size and weight. Hybrid fetal mortality is associated with large conceptus size. Skin grafts were exchanged between and within the two species to ascertain whether any relationship exists between mean graft retention time and body size of fetuses and adults. P. maniculatus skin grafted to P. polionotus rejected significantly earlier than the reciprocal xenograft. All interspecific graft combinations rejected significantly earlier than intraspecific grafts. Pre-immunization of female P. maniculatus with con- and trans-specific paternal spleen cell antigens reduced fetal, placental, neonatal, and ten-day size compared with controls. Size, weight, fertility, and graft rejection data were compared with several theoretical models. The data were consistent with the hypothesis that immunological disparity between the species could produce marked size variations in reciprocal hybrids. Multiple minor histocompatibility factors can account for large placental size and fetal mortality in Peromyscus hybrids. Physiological reproductive isolation may result from immunological differences between closely allied species.     

Revealing the factors that promote speciation

What biological attributes of organisms promote speciation, and ultimately, species diversity? This question has a long history of interest, with proposed diversity promoters including attributes such as sexual selection, ecological specialism and dispersability. However, such ideas are difficult to test because the time-scale of processes involved is too great for direct human observation and experimentation. An increasingly powerful solution is to investigate diversity patterns among extant groups to infer the nature of processes operating during the evolution of those groups. This approach relies on the use of robust, phylogenetically based null models to overcome some of the problems inherent in observational inference. We illustrate this area by (i) discussing recent advances in identifying correlates of diversity among higher taxa, and (ii) proposing new methods for analysing patterns in species-level phylogenies, drawing examples from a wide range of organisms.     

Deriving characterization factors on freshwater ecotoxicity of graphene oxide nanomaterial for life cycle impact assessment

Purpose

Graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterial has found wide potential industrial applications, but its life cycle environmental impact is not fully understood mainly because of lack of characterization factors (CFs) for the life cycle impact assessment. In this paper, we report the derivation of CF for freshwater ecotoxicity of GO based on the USEtox method.

Methods

The CF is derived based on the toxic effect factor, fate factor, and exposure factor of GO in the aquatic environment. The toxic effect factor is extracted from mechanistic toxicity studies available in the literature. The fate factor is derived with the colloidal method, and the exposure factor is determined through Langmuir adsorption isotherm for interactions between GO and dissolve organic carbon. Additionally, both fate factor and exposure factor are re-calculated through the default mass-balanced model in USEtox. The apparent octanol-water partition coefficient (K _ow) required in the mass balanced model is determined via experiment. Other parameters are calculated according to the apparent K _ow.

Results and discussion

The study derives a CF of 777.5 potentially affected species (PAF) day m³ kg^?1 for GO with a fate factor of 27.2 days and an exposure factor of 0.93. Sensitivity analysis suggests that variability from the effect factor is the dominant source leading changes in CF. The uncertainty of CF value can vary between ～1 and 10³ PAF day m³ kg^?1. Comparison between the colloidal and the mass-balanced models indicates that heteroaggregation may be underestimated by using the apparent partition coefficient, and thus, a much higher estimate of fate factor is obtained from the mass-balanced model. Additionally, empirical formulae in the USEtox to correlate other coefficients with K _ow are not proper to calculate bioaccumulation and adsorption with dissolved organic carbon since a virtually a unit exposure factor is obtained.

Conclusion

The derived CFs can be readily incorporated into future toxicity assessment on GO. The fate factor is calculated in the colloidal model while adsorption of dissolved organic carbon onto GO surface should be derived from the Langmuir isotherm. Compared to the colloidal-based method, the conventional mass-balanced method may not be well applicable to GO due to the significant uncertainties in fate and exposure factors from applying the apparent partition coefficients. As three orders of magnitude variations in CF are caused by effect factor due to limited toxicity tests available for GO, more toxicological studies of GO on various species are needed in the future.

     

The potential to use QSAR to populate ecotoxicity characterisation factors for simplified LCIA and chemical prioritisation

Purpose

Today’s chemical society use and emit an enormous number of different, potentially ecotoxic, chemicals to the environment. The vast majority of substances do not have characterisation factors describing their ecotoxicity potential. A first stage, high throughput, screening tool is needed for prioritisation of which substances need further measures.

Methods

USEtox characterisation factors were calculated in this work based on data generated by quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to expand substance coverage where characterisation factors were missing. Existing QSAR models for physico-chemical data and ecotoxicity were used, and to further fill data gaps, an algae QSAR model was developed. The existing USEtox characterisation factors were used as reference to evaluate the impact from the use of QSARs to generate input data to USEtox, with focus on ecotoxicity data. An inventory of chemicals that make up the Swedish societal stock of plastic additives, and their associated predicted emissions, was used as a case study to rank chemicals according to their ecotoxicity potential.

Results and discussion

For the 210 chemicals in the inventory, only 41 had characterisation factors in the USEtox database. With the use of QSAR generated substance data, an additional 89 characterisation factors could be calculated, substantially improving substance coverage in the ranking. The choice of QSAR model was shown to be important for the reliability of the results, but also with the best correlated model results, the discrepancies between characterisation factors based on estimated data and experimental data were very large.

Conclusions

The use of QSAR estimated data as basis for calculation of characterisation factors, and the further use of those factors for ranking based on ecotoxicity potential, was assessed as a feasible way to gather substance data for large datasets. However, further research and development of the guidance on how to make use of estimated data is needed to achieve improvement of the accuracy of the results.

     

In vivo speciation of zinc in Noccaea caerulescens in response to nitrogen form and zinc exposure

Nitrate has been shown to enhance Zn hyperaccumulation in the shoots of Noccaea caerulescens (formerly Thlaspi caerulescens) (Prayon); however, the mechanisms beyond the effect of nitrogen form are unknown. This study used synchrotron X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) on alive and intact plants at room temperature to examine whether enhanced Zn hyperaccumulation in nitrate-fed plants was associated with differences in Zn speciation, and to correlate Zn species with mechanisms of Zn uptake, translocation and hyperaccumulation. The higher Zn concentration in plants supplied with nitrate compared to ammonium, or with high Zn exposure (300 ???), was not due to differences in Zn speciation. The importance of carboxylates for Zn hyperaccumulation in the shoots was supported by a predominance of Zn-malate or Zn-citrate. Zinc-phytate was detected for the first time in this species and may assist Zn-tolerance in the roots. The feasible presence of Zn-histidine in the roots but not in the xylem sap suggests a mechanism for Zn binding and non-toxic transport through the cytoplasm and release of aqueous Zn into the xylem vessels. Zinc was translocated in the xylem as Zn-malate and weakly complexed or aqueous Zn forms. Zinc speciation in roots, shoots and xylem did not differ between nitrate- and ammonium-fed plants.     

Aquatic ecotoxicity for common crop protection aids

Crop protection aids, used in the agriculture phase, contribute a great deal to the environmental impact of food products. An adequate inclusion of those substances in life cycle assessment is usually hampered by the lack of relevant equivalency factors. In this paper rough equivalency factors are given for 65 frequently used herbicides and pesticides. Those factors are calculated according to the methodology, originally developed by EPA, which was used by CML in 1992. It is acknowledged that equivalency factors, derived in this way, have a limited value. They only indicate potential impacts, ignoring the fate of such substances. However, as long as better data are lacking, these figures provide a useful approximation.     

Biogeography and speciation of terrestrial fauna in the south‐western Australian biodiversity hotspot

The south‐western land division of Western Australia (SWWA), bordering the temperate Southern and Indian Oceans, is the only global biodiversity hotspot recognised in Australia. Renowned for its extraordinary diversity of endemic plants, and for some of the largest and most botanically significant temperate heathlands and woodlands on Earth, SWWA has long fascinated biogeographers. Its flat, highly weathered topography and the apparent absence of major geographic factors usually implicated in biotic diversification have challenged attempts to explain patterns of biogeography and mechanisms of speciation in the region. Botanical studies have always been central to understanding the biodiversity values of SWWA, although surprisingly few quantitative botanical analyses have allowed for an understanding of historical biogeographic processes in both space and time. Faunistic studies, by contrast, have played little or no role in defining hotspot concepts, despite several decades of accumulating quantitative research on the phylogeny and phylogeography of multiple lineages. In this review we critically analyse datasets with explicit supporting phylogenetic data and estimates of the time since divergence for all available elements of the terrestrial fauna, and compare these datasets to those available for plants. In situ speciation has played more of a role in shaping the south‐western Australian fauna than has long been supposed, and has occurred in numerous endemic lineages of freshwater fish, frogs, reptiles, snails and less‐vagile arthropods. By contrast, relatively low levels of endemism are found in birds, mammals and highly dispersive insects, and in situ speciation has played a negligible role in generating local endemism in birds and mammals. Quantitative studies provide evidence for at least four mechanisms driving patterns of endemism in south‐western Australian animals, including: (i) relictualism of ancient Gondwanan or Pangaean taxa in the High Rainfall Province; (ii) vicariant isolation of lineages west of the Nullarbor divide; (iii) in situ speciation; and (iv) recent population subdivision. From dated quantitative studies we derive four testable models of historical biogeography for animal taxa in SWWA, each explicit in providing a spatial, temporal and topological perspective on patterns of speciation or divergence. For each model we also propose candidate lineages that may be worthy of further study, given what we know of their taxonomy, distributions or relationships. These models formalise four of the strongest patterns seen in many animal taxa from SWWA, although other models are clearly required to explain particular, idiosyncratic patterns. Generating numerous new datasets for suites of co‐occurring lineages in SWWA will help refine our understanding of the historical biogeography of the region, highlight gaps in our knowledge, and allow us to derive general postulates from quantitative (rather than qualitative) results. For animals, this process has now begun in earnest, as has the process of taxonomically documenting many of the more diverse invertebrate lineages. The latter remains central to any attempt to appreciate holistically biogeographic patterns and processes in SWWA, and molecular phylogenetic studies should – where possible – also lead to tangible taxonomic outcomes.     

Solid phase speciation of Zn and Cd in zinc smelter effluent-irrigated soils

Solubility of metal in contaminated soils is a key factor which controls the phytoavailability and toxic effects of metals on soil environment. The chemical equilibria of metal ions between soil solution and solid phases govern the solubility of metals in soil. Hence, an attempt was made to identify the probable solid phases (minerals), which govern the solubility of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in zinc smelter effluent-irrigated soils. Estimation of free ion activities of Zn²⁺ (pZn²⁺) and Cd²⁺ (pCd²⁺) by Baker soil test indicated that metal ion activities were higher in smelter effluent-irrigated soils as compared to that in tubewell water-irrigated soils. Identification of solid phases further reveals that free ion activity of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in soil highly contaminated with Zn and Cd due to long-term irrigation with zinc smelter effluent is limited by the solubility of willemite (Zn₂SiO₄) in equilibrium with quartz and octavite (CdCO₃), respectively. However, in case of tubewell water-irrigated soil, franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄) in equilibrium with soil-Fe and exchangeable Cd are likely to govern the activity of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in soil solution, respectively. Formation of highly soluble minerals namely, willemite and octavite indicates the potential ecological risk of Zn and Cd, respectively in smelter effluent irrigated soil.     

Characterization of the bottom sediments contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls: Evaluation of ecotoxicity and biodegradability

At the locality of the former producer of PCBs Chemko Strá?ske in East Slovakia, a large amount of PCBs (the commercial mixture DELOR 103, an equivalent of AROCLOR 1242) is still persisting in sediments and negatively influences health of the population. The objective of this work was to provide a study of ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of PCBs in contaminated sediments. Toxicity of the PCB-contaminated sediments sampled from Zemplínska ?írava and Strá?sky canal (surroundings of the former producer of PCBs) was determined applying a standard aquatic plant toxicity test using Lemna minor. The endpoints for the test were frond numbers and frond areas. The sediment sampled from Zemplínska ?írava was more toxic to L. minor than the one sampled from Strá?sky canal. The results on genotoxicity showed that both sediments were not mutagenic toward the standard strains of the Ames test, Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. This work deals also with biodegradation of PCBs in two samples of the above mentioned contaminated sediments: a) in the natural sediments by autochthonous microbial consortium and b) in the bioaugmented sediments inoculated by allochthonous bacterial strains, two bacterial isolates from long-term PCB-contaminated soil Pseudomonas stutzeri and Alcaligenes xylosoxidans. Both approaches were applied under the biostimulation conditions, with addition of glucose or biphenyl as co-substrates, as well. The highest PCB degradation was observed in the bioaugmented sediment inoculated with bacterial strain P. stutzeri. Addition of biphenyl, as the co-substrate and the inducer, positively affected degradation of PCBs. The bphA1 gene, encoding enzyme biphenyldioxygenase, responsible for the start of PCB degradation, was identified in genome of P. stutzeri, a potential PCB-degrader isolated from long-term PCB-contaminated soil, but not in genome of A. xylosoxidans.     

Development of a dynamic LCA approach for the freshwater ecotoxicity impact of metals and application to a case study regarding zinc fertilization

Purpose

Temporal variability is a major source of uncertainty in current life cycle assessment (LCA) practice. In this paper, the recently developed dynamic LCA approach is adapted to assess freshwater ecotoxicity impacts of metals. The objective is to provide relevant information regarding the distribution and magnitude of metal impacts over time and to show whether the dynamic approach significantly influences the conclusions of an LCA. An LCA of zinc fertilization in agriculture was therefore carried out.

Methods

Dynamic LCA is based on the temporal disaggregation of the inventory, which is then assessed using time-horizon-dependent characterization factors. The USEtox multimedia fate model is used to develop time-horizon-dependent characterization factors for the freshwater ecotoxicity impact of 18 metals. Mass balance equations are solved dynamically to obtain fate factors as a function of time, providing both instantaneous (impact at time t following a pulse emission) and cumulative (total time-integrated impact following a pulse emission) characterization factors (CFs).

Results and discussion

Time-horizon-dependent CFs for freshwater ecotoxicity depend on the emission compartment and the metal itself. The two variables clearly influence metal fate aspects such as the maximum mass loading reaching freshwater and the persistence time of metals into this compartment. The time needed to reach the total impact for each metal may exceed thousands of years, so the time horizon used in the analysis constitutes a determining factor. The case study reveals that the results of a classical LCA are always higher than those obtained from a dynamic LCA, especially for short time horizons. For instance, at the end of a 100-year fertilization treatment, only 25 % of the impacts obtained through traditional LCA occurred.

Conclusions

Results show that dynamic LCA enables assessing freshwater ecotoxicity impacts of metals over time, allowing decision makers to test the sensitivity of their results to the choice of a time horizon. For the particular case study of zinc fertilization over a period of 20 years, the use of time-horizon-dependent CFs is more important in determining the dynamics of impacts than the timing of emission.     

Characterization of terrestrial insect communities using quantified, Malaise-trapped Coleoptera

Abstract. 1. Weekly samples of Malaise trapped Coleoptera from regenerating shrubland and an adjacent mature, podocarp-broadleaved forest, in the North Island, New Zealand, were compared over one season. Three traps were monitored in each site.
2. Diversity indices did not group samples by site whereas the divisive polythetic classification analysis TWINSPAN showed that the two sites possessed clearly different communities. In the classification, site was of primary importance, with time of year, and trap position within site of secondary and tertiary importance respectively.
3. Samples were compared at different taxonomic levels and using different subsets of the database. Determination of the main families, morphotyped to species or species complex, was found to be sufficient to classify most samples to the appropriate community group.
4. The divisive classification procedure applied to four consecutive weekly Coleoptera samples over early summer, is suggested as a means of describing and identifying terrestrial arthropod communities characteristic of site and year of collection. This approach provides a potentially sensitive tool for monitoring terrestrial ecosystems.     

Effect factors of terrestrial acidification in Brazil for use in Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Purpose

In Life Cycle Impact Assessment, atmospheric fate factors, soil exposure factors, and effect factors are combined to characterize potential impacts of acidifying substances in terrestrial environments. Due to the low availability of global data sets, effect factors (EFs) have been reported as the major contributors to statistical uncertainties of characterization factors and they are the focus of this study. We aim to develop spatially differentiated EFs taking Brazil as case and explore new methodological ways to derive them.

Methods

EFs are calculated based on a comprehensive database reporting observations of approximately 30,000 plant species at biome and ecoregion levels. Species richness distributions as function of soil pH are developed and translated into potentially not occurring fraction (PNOF) of species, which can be equated to the more commonly used potentially disappeared fraction of species, to assess effects of changes in soil hydrogen ion concentration on terrestrial plant species. Potentially extinct fraction (PXF) of species is proposed as a complementary metric for LCIA models based on distributions of range-restricted species (species only occurring in one ecoregion of Brazil). Different approaches for determining EFs from the species richness distributions are evaluated. Area-weighted EFs are explored to determine potential effects when considering both acid and alkaline sides of species richness curves, thus integrating potentially positive effects of acidification on biodiversity.

Results and discussion

Spatially differentiated EFs are provided for 6 biomes and 45 ecoregions composing Brazil. Comparisons with previous EFs demonstrate that data availability might significantly influence regression analyses, and the use of more representative data can lead to more consistent EFs. Moreover, consideration of the entire species richness curves yields positive and negative EFs. Adding acidifying substances onto specific soils in Brazilian ecoregions may therefore be associated with increased species richness if the pH approaches the optimum pH from the alkaline side of the curve. The meaningfulness of species richness as indicator of acidification stress is discussed based on this finding, as is the inclusion of the metric PXF, highlighting species whose loss could cause irreversible damages to the environment.

Conclusions

We recommend the calculation of area-weighted EFs to be integrated into characterization models for terrestrial acidification, and we therefore advocate that similar work be done for other regions in the world than Brazil to enhance the consistency of the EFs and reduce their uncertainties. We additionally recommend that LCIA method developers further explore the application of PXF for other impact categories than acidification.

     

Supportive care including growth factors in myelodysplastic syndromes

In spite of recent advances in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), supportive care remains a very important part of the therapy. Red blood cells transfusions are the most important component of this supportive care. They transiently relieve anemia symptoms and alleviate their effects on quality of life and daily functioning. Platelet transfusion therapy is less frequently needed, at least in low-risk MDS. Dealing with an increased risk of infections linked to neutropenia, mainly by broad spectrum antibiotics, is also needed, more often in advanced stages of [dict: MDS] or when the MDS evolves to acute myeloid leukemia. Chronic red blood cell transfusions expose patients to various side-effects, including blood components intolerance reactions and alloimmunization risks, but also increased frequency of iron overload, a more significant problem in low-risk heavily transfused MDS patients, who have prolonged life expectancy. The use of growth factors is becoming a more and more important part of current supportive care. High-dose erythropoietin is able to reduce or suppress red blood cell transfusions needs in selected subgroups of MDS. The short-term use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is also often proposed in infections, although not formally established by prospective trials. Although trials of growth factors with thrombopoeitic activity have been performed with interleukin 11 and are underway with thrombopoeitin, none of them are available for routine use.     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus

We developed a set of six polymorphic microsatellite loci for the woodlouse, Porcellionides pruinosus. We screened 43 individuals from three French populations and found that locus‐specific allelic diversity ranges from 3 to 17 alleles (mean = 9.8) and observed heterozygosity ranges from 0.51 to 0.89 (mean = 0.77). These are the first microsatellites loci reported from the woodlouse.