Evaluation of respiratory and cutaneous doses of chlorothalonil during re-entry in greenhouses

Five female workers were monitored for 5 consecutive days during re-entry into a greenhouse containing ornamental plants. Skin contamination (excluding hands) was evaluated with nine pads of filter paper placed on the skin. Hand contamination was assessed by washing with 95% ethanol. Respiratory exposure was evaluated by personal air sampling. The respiratory dose was based on a lung ventilation of 15 l/min. The doses absorbed were estimated assuming 10% skin absorption and 100% lung retention. Dislodgeable foliar residue was determined on days of re-entry to evaluate the decay of chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil was analysed in the different matrices by GC-MS. Respiratory exposure was less than skin contamination, being 11.4+/-5.1% (mean+/-SD) of total exposure. The estimated total absorbed dose did not exceed the acceptable daily intake of 0.03 mg/kg body mass. The hands and unexposed skin of all workers were always found to be contaminated. Greater precautions are therefore needed to reduce skin exposure (clean gloves and suitable clean clothing every day).     

Availability of Fenamiphos and its Metabolites to Soil Water

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the extent to which fenamiphos and its degradation products, fenamiphos sulfoxide and fenamiphos sulfone, are available to contact nematodes in the soil. Water extraction provided a relative measure of each chemical''s availability to the soil water where the chemicals could contact nematodes, and methanol extraction provided a relative measure of the total amount of each chemical present in the soil. Only small amounts of fenamiphos and fenamiphos sulfone could be extracted by water, even when much larger amounts were present in the soil. In contrast, virtually all of the fenamiphos sulfoxide present in the soil was extractable by water several days after nematicide application. Three days after fenamiphos (3EC) was applied at 6.7 kg a.i./ha to field plots, 6.4% of the fenamiphos, 14.4% of the fenamiphos sulfone, and 100% of the fenamiphos sulfoxide present in the soil was extracted by water. In greenhouse experiments with soil from these field plots, a 15G formulation of fenamiphos containing 98.7% fenamiphos and 1.3% fenamiphos sulfoxide was added to the soil. After an initial period of 3-4 days, the sulfoxide which formed by oxidation of fenamiphos became completely available for water extraction, whereas fenamiphos remained relatively unextractable by water. Fenamiphos sulfoxide is much more available to soil water, thus available for contact with nematodes, than are fenamiphos or fenamiphos sulfone. Based on this availability in water, it seems likely that fenamiphos sulfoxide is the major component for controlling nematodes.     

Assessment of Potential Human Health Risks from Arsenic in CCA-Treated Wood

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a chemical preservative used to treat wood for a variety of outdoor uses, including decks, fencing, and play structures. This article describes a methodology to quantify exposures to arsenic from CCA-treated wood. Exposure was evaluated for ingestion and dermal contact with arsenic-containing residue on treated wood surfaces (dislodgeable arsenic), and ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation of soil containing arsenic originating from treated wood structures. Standard approaches were used to quantify exposures to arsenic in soil. In the absence of standard approaches for exposures to dislodgeable residue, an empirical approach was developed, extrapolating from studies of soil loadings on hands and soil ingestion rates to estimate the amount of dislodgeable residue on hands that is subsequently ingested. Results from animal studies were used to develop relative bioavailability estimates for dislodgeable and soil arsenic. A focused sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the assumptions used regarding hand loading and subsequent incidental ingestion of dislodgeable arsenic had the most significant impact on the results. This assessment indicates low uptake of arsenic into the body, resulting in incremental lifetime cancer risks within USEPA's target risk levels. We compare this approach to other methodologies used to assess exposures to treated wood.     

Habitat‐specific positive and negative effects of soil biota on seedling growth in a fragmented tropical montane landscape

Soil biota, in particular fungi and other microbes, are known to interactively influence plant community structure. However, soil biota effects that can be isolated in a greenhouse experiment may be overridden by other biotic and abiotic factors in the field. Here we conducted parallel greenhouse and field experiments and quantified how soil biota sampled at the habitat level affect the performance of potential host plants within and across neighboring habitat types (pastures, coffee plantations and forest fragments) in a montane region in Colombia. We hypothesized that the direction and strength of soil‐biota effects depend on the habitat where soil is sampled, focal plant's life history, and field environmental characteristics (soil nutrients, light). In a greenhouse experiment, we compared growth of 10 plant species with soil from home (where species typically occur) and foreign (where conspecific adults rarely occur) habitats, with or without soil sterilization. In the field, we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment in which we suppressed soil fungi with the application of fungicide. In the greenhouse experiment, fast‐growing pasture grass and pioneer trees performed less well with live soil from their home, compared to foreign habitats, and such home disadvantage was reduced following soil sterilization. Home disadvantage associated with live soil biota was also detectable in the field experiment, although light conditions of grasslands and coffee plantations benefited growth of these fast‐growing species. In contrast, coffee and shade‐tolerant trees performed similarly or better with their home soils, and showed no response to soil biota suppression. Overall, the species‐and‐habitat specific soil biota effects detectable in the field experiment were similar in direction and relative strength to those from the greenhouse experiments. Our findings highlight the importance of habitat‐level plant–soil interactions and plant life history for the regeneration of natural forests and agricultural production in human‐modified landscapes.     

Epidemiological study of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in greenhouses enables reduction of disease damage in cucurbit production

Since 2007, the tobamovirus Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) has become widespread in Israel, causing severe damage to trellised cucumber and melon in greenhouses and watermelon grown in open fields. To reduce disease damage below the economic threshold, this study focused on four objectives: (a) monitoring the patterns of virus distribution within commercial cucumber greenhouses; (b) studying the potential transmission of CGMMV by agrotechnical activities; (c) virus localization in plant tissues; and (d) searching for techniques that might be adapted for mitigating the disease in trellised cucurbit growth. The results of our surveys demonstrated the role of contaminated seeds and soil as primary inoculum sources, and secondary spread caused by agrotechnical activities. The patterns of secondary disease spread were demonstrated in a series of inoculation experiments involving contaminated knives, shears or hands on wet and dry plants, conducted under research‐greenhouse conditions. In parallel experiments using CGMMV‐specific antibody and secondary antibody conjugated to Alexa fluor 488, the viral coat protein was visualized in several plant tissues: phloem, xylem, trichomes and grasping tendrils. In addition, commercial‐greenhouse experiments were aimed at reducing the number of inoculum sources by identifying and removing infected plants from the plots (early monitoring) prior to agrotechnical activities and/or by adding intermediate medium (IM), such as virus‐free compost, to the planting pits at the planting stage. It is suggested that the use of IM combined with early monitoring, awareness of worker mobility (from contaminated structures to young planting areas) and proper sanitation (e.g. disinfection of agrotechnical tools) may reduce the yield losses caused by CGMMV below the economic threshold.     

Hands as route of transmission for Klebsiella species.

Seventeen per cent of the staff of an intensive care ward were found to have Klebsiella spp contaminating their hands, and these strains could be related to serotypes infecting or colonising patients in the ward on the same day. We identified some simple ward procedures that resulted in contamination of nurses'' hands with 100-1000 klebsiellae per hand. Klebsiellae survived on artifically inoculated hands for up to 150 minutes. Handwashing with chlorhexidine hand cleanser reliably gave 98-100% reduction in hand counts, and the introduction of routine handwashing by staff before moving from one patient to the next was associated with a significant and sustained reduction in the number of patients colonised or infected with Klebsiella spp. Staff clothing was occasionally contaminated, but ward air and dust rarely contained klebsiellae.     

Investigation of the influence of oil on soil adherence to skin

Dermal contact with contaminated soils may be a significant route of human exposure to toxic substances under some circumstances. Soil adherence to skin is an important determinant of such exposures, but factors influencing soil adherence are generally not well characterized. Petroleum hydrocarbons are often found in contaminated soils at relatively high concentrations. Results of an investigation of the influence of motor oil on soil adherence to skin are reported here. Studies were conducted at three oil concentrations (0, 1, and 10% by weight) under wet and dry conditions in three different soil types. Only two of six soil/moisture combinations showed consistently increasing adherence with increasing oil content. Overall, an increase was found in wet, but not dry soils. The results indicate that high concentrations of petroleum contaminants can increase the dermal adherence of soil, but that the magnitude of the effect is likely to be modest.     

Do soil inoculants accelerate dryland restoration? A simultaneous assessment of biocrusts and mycorrhizal fungi

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are communities of soil organisms often targeted to assist in the achievement of multiple ecological restoration goals. In drylands, benefits conferred from biocrust and AM fungal inoculation, such as improved native plant establishment and soil stabilization, have primarily been studied separately. However, comparisons between these two types of soil inoculants and investigations into potential synergies between them, particularly at the plant community scale, are needed to inform on‐the‐ground management practices in drylands. We conducted two full‐factorial experiments—one in greenhouse mesocosms and one in field plots—to test the effects of AM fungal inoculation, biocrust inoculation, and their interaction on multiple measures of dryland restoration success. Biocrust inoculation promoted soil stabilization and plant drought tolerance, but had mixed effects on native plant diversity (positive in greenhouse, neutral in field) and productivity (negative in greenhouse, neutral in field). In greenhouse mesocosms, biocrust inoculation reduced plant biomass, which was antagonistic to % root length colonized by AM fungi. Inoculation with native or commercial AM fungi did not influence plant establishment, drought tolerance, or soil stabilization in either study, and few synergistic effects of simultaneous inoculation of AM fungi and biocrusts were observed. These results suggest that, depending on the condition of existing soil communities, inoculation with AM fungi may not be necessary to promote dryland restoration goals, while inoculation with salvaged biocrust inoculation may be beneficial in some contexts.     

Effects of clothing pressure caused by different types of brassieres on autonomic nervous system activity evaluated by heart rate variability power spectral analysis

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of clothing skin pressures exerted by two different types of brassieres (a conventional higher skin-pressured brassiere and a newly devised low skin-pressured brassiere) on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Six healthy young women (22.8 +/- 1.4 yrs.) with regular menstrual cycles participated in this study. The ANS activities were assessed by means of heart rate variability power spectral analysis. The skin pressures exerted by the brassieres were measured with an air-pack type contact surface pressure sensor at five different points. The total amount of clothing pressure, and the pressures at the center and the side regions of the brassieres were significantly greater in the high than in the low skin-pressured brassiere (Total 9816.1 +/- 269.0 vs. 6436.8 +/- 252.4 Pa, P < 0.01; Center 2212.1 +/- 336.3 vs. 353.8 +/- 85.8 Pa, P < 0.01; Side 2556.8 +/- 316.1 vs. 1747.2 +/- 199.2 Pa, P < 0.05). Concerning the ANS activity, the Total power, and the very low frequency (VLF) and the high frequency (HF) components were significantly decreased in the high skin-pressured brassiere than those in the low skin-pressured brassiere (Total 531.6 +/- 57.3 vs. 770.5 +/- 54.2 ms2, P < 0.01; VLF 60.7 +/- 14.6 vs. 179.2 +/- 38.1 ms2, P < 0.05; HF 209.5 +/- 33.2 vs. 283.2 +/- 61.5 ms2, P < 0.01). Our data indicate that the higher clothing pressures exerted by a conventional brassiere have a significant negative impact on the ANS activity, which is predominantly attributable to the significant decrease in the parasympathetic as well as the thermoregulatory sympathetic nerve activities. Since the ANS activity plays an important role in modulating the internal environment in the human body, excess clothing pressures caused by constricting types of foundation garments on the body would consequently undermine women's health.     

环境条件对不同品种小麦缺Mn的影响

在温室和网室中进行盆栽试验 ,研究不同环境条件和杂草对冬小麦缺Mn的影响 ,同时探讨不同小麦品种对缺Mn的耐性 ,发现生长在温室中的小麦其缺Mn症尤为严重 ,而从网室转移到温室的小麦因苗期在网室中受降雨渍水影响吸收了较多Mn2 ,缺Mn症就较轻 ,表明环境因子中降雨是影响小麦Mn营养的一个重要因素 ;供试的 3个品种中 331 7较耐缺Mn ,其Mn的吸收量明显高于敏感品种 .此外 ,试验还发现与小麦伴生的杂草麦麦草对Mn吸收能力强 ,是小麦根际Mn营养的有力争夺者 .     

Bt玉米秸秆分解对土壤酶活性和土壤肥力的影响

通过室内实验,研究了Bt玉米34B24和同源常规品种34B23、Bt玉米农大61和常规品种农大3138秸秆分解对土壤酶活性和土壤肥力的影响.结果表明,与34B23处理相比,34B24处理的土壤蛋白酶和酸性磷酸酶活性在观测期没有显著差异;7d时土壤脱氢酶活性显著提高,1、4、60和7d土壤蔗糖酶活性显著提高;30d时土壤脲酶活性显著提高,4d和7d时则土壤脲酶活性显著降低.2个Bt玉米处理和2个常规玉米处理的土壤酶活性也在某些时间有显著差异.秸秆分解90d后,34B24处理比34B23处理.显著降低了土壤速效磷和速效钾含量.以上差异与不同秸秆的化学构成有关,Bt基因的转化过程可能会影响受体作物秸秆的化学成分.应建立不同土壤类型土壤酶活性的标准分级体系,以便科学评价Bt玉米秸秆分解对土壤质量的影响.     

轮作与休闲对日光温室黄瓜连作土壤微生物和酶活性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了不同作物轮作和休闲方式对日光温室黄瓜连作土壤微生物数量、酶活性及后茬黄瓜生长和产量的影响.结果表明： 与连作相比,轮作有利于改善土壤微生物结构,增加细菌和放线菌数量,减少真菌数量;轮作与休闲有利于提高土壤转化酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性.在不同作物轮作和休闲方式下,后茬黄瓜结果期的细菌、放线菌数量和土壤转化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在盛瓜期达到最大值;真菌数量随生育期延长而增加;脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性则随生育期延长而降低,在初瓜期最高.不同栽培模式下,以大葱-黄瓜轮作和糯玉米-黄瓜轮作的效果更佳,明显改善了后茬黄瓜的生长,提高了产量.     

太阳能消毒对温室土壤环境效应及防治黄瓜根结线虫病效果

采用室内测定与大田试验相结合的方法,研究了太阳能不同消毒方式对温室土壤环境的效应及对温室黄瓜根结线虫病的控制效果.结果表明,垄沟式覆盖地膜处理对温室土壤温度、土壤酶的活性、微生物数量的影响最明显,处理16d,棚室10、20、30、40、50cm深土壤的最高温度依次是59.1、57.7、56.6、48.9、47.6℃,平均每天超过55、50、45℃持续时间分别为7.5、8.5h和16h;土壤温度的升高,有利于提高对根结线虫的杀灭效果.0～20cm土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、碱性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶分别降低43.3%、18.7%、20.1%和13.1%;土壤真菌、细菌、放线菌数量分别降低96.0%、84.8%、53.9%.垄沟式未覆膜处理对土壤环境的影响次之,平面式未覆膜的影响最小,酶活性降低及土壤微生物数量下降对土壤的活性有一定的负效应.垄沟式覆膜太阳能消毒对温室黄瓜根结线虫控制效果最显著,持效期最长,能有效杀灭温室0～50cm土壤内根结线虫;处理后第1年和第2年对温室黄瓜根结线虫控制效果均达到100%,第3年防效96.7%,第5年仍达72.8%.垄沟式未覆膜控制效果次之;平面式未覆膜控制效果最差,持效期最短.     

Factors associated with health effects from occupational exposure to pesticide residues among greengrocers in fresh market,Bangkok, Thailand

Greengrocers are occupationally exposed to pesticide residues (PRs) on vegetables via dermal contact, especially organophosphates (OPs). The study's aim was to explore health effects from exposure to PRs. Eighty five vegetable vendors at a large fresh market in Bangkok were tested blood cholinesterase activity by the Test-mate ChE Kit (Model 400). The average acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) levels were 3.33 ± 0.66 U/ml and 2.06 ± 0.46 U/ml, respectively. The subjective symptoms were skin rash/itching, fatigue/tiredness, eye irritation/blurred vision, headache, and excessive sweating. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positively significant association between scores of practices regarding exposure to PRs and AChE levels, and a negatively significant relationship between OP residues on hands and PChE levels (p-value < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that either AChE or PChE was significantly associated with eye symptoms and neuromuscular symptoms (p-value < 0.05). A statistically significant association between low score of dermal practice and having skin symptoms was found. Exposure to PRs by hand contact and consumption with poor hygiene habits can pose health problems among greengrocers. The findings emphasized that good personal hygiene practices such as wearing gloves and washing hands can prevent and reduce the health effects from exposure to PRs.     

Evaluations of permethrin-impregnated clothing and three topical repellent formulations of deet against tsetse flies in Zambia

Permethrin-impregnated clothing and three topical repellent formulations of deet (diethyltoluamide) were field tested against natural populations of tsetse flies, mostly Glossina morsitans centralis Machado, in central Zambia. Volunteers wore different combinations of clothing impregnated with permethrin 0.125 mg ai/cm2 and repellents while riding in a vehicle that was driven slowly (4-6 km/h), with the windows and rear door open, through fly-infested areas. The mean rate of tsetse bites was about twenty per 75 min for unprotected people. The treatment combination of permethrin-impregnated clothing (blue cotton coveralls) and either of two controlled-release deet formulations on exposed skin of face and arms provided 91% mean protection, but this was not significantly better (P greater than 0.05) than wearing deet repellent alone (76-87% protection). No significant differences of protection were observed between the three repellent treatments, although the two controlled-release formulations (intended to be more persistent) were applied at approximately half the dosage of the standard 75% deet. Wearing permethrin-impregnated coveralls alone provided relatively poor protection (34%) for the untreated and exposed skin of head and hands. However, olive drab mesh jackets treated with permethrin reduced the tsetse biting rate by 75%.     

Contaminated Soil Phytoremediation by Cyperus Laxus Lam. Cytochrome P450 Erod-Activity Induced by Hydrocarbonsin Roots

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments with Cyperus laxus Lam were conducted to determine the rate and extent of phytoremediation and the effect of hydrocarbons on the cytochrome P450 EROD (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) enzymatic activity in roots. Plants were cultivated on hydrocarbon-contaminated soil (HCS) and spiked perlite. Phytoremediation was evaluated using 6.5 kg HCS (173 ± 15 mg total petroleum hydrocarbons [TPH] g^?1 of dry soil) pots at different moisture contents; the average removal rate was 3.46 ± 0.25 mg TPH g^?1 dry soil month^?1 and 48% was removed when moisture was kept at 60%. The aromatic hydrocarbon fraction was the mostly removed, 60%; aliphatic, 51%; and polar 24% after 24-month experiments. In unplanted pots, TPH concentration did not exhibit significant differences with respect to the initial concentration. We confirmed that the presence of hydrocarbons induced ERODactivity up to 6.5-fold. Moreover, short-term experiments (up to 13 d) with spiked perlite demonstrated that two EROD activities in roots contributed to the total detected; 60% was found in the cytosolic and 40% in the microsomal fraction. To our knowledge, this is the first work that tries to build links between the hydrocarbon-inducible character of ERODactivity in roots and the phytoremediation ability of C. laxus in highly contaminated soils.     

Mass transfer studies on immobilized alpha-chymotrypsin biocatalysts prepared by deposition for use in organic medium

Mass transfer limitations were studied in enzyme preparations of alpha-chymotrypsin made by deposition on different porous support materials such as controlled pore glasses, Celite, and polyamides of different particle sizes. It is the onset of mass transfer limitations that determines the position of the activity optimum with respect to enzyme loading on each support. The evidence of various experiments indicates that internal diffusional limitations are the important mechanism for the observed mass transfer limitations. External diffusion was not found to play an important role under the conditions used, and it was also found that when immobilizing multilayers of enzyme the buried enzyme molecules are active to a large extent. An extreme situation is observed on Celite at very high loadings. Under these conditions, this support is expected to have its pores completely filled with packed enzyme molecules, and then it is the diffusion within the enzyme layer that determines the observed rate. As the enzyme loading increases, the area of contact between the deposited enzyme layers and the liquid solution inside the pores diminishes, causing a decrease on the observed rate of an intrinsically fast reaction which apparently is incongruous with the presence of more enzyme in the system. This work shows that mass transfer limitations can be an important factor when working with immobilized enzymes in organic media, and its study should be carried out in order to avoid undesired reduced enzyme activities and specificities.     

Hatch and Reproduction of Globodera tabacum tabacum in Response to Tobacco,Tomato, or Black Nightshade

The effects of broadleaf tobacco, tomato, and black nightshade on juvenile hatch and reproduction of Globodera tabacum tabacum were determined in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Root exudates from nightshade stimulated greater egg hatch than those from either ''Rutgers'' tomato or ''86-4'' tobacco. Hatch was greater at higher proportions of root exudates for all three plant species. Root exudates from plants greater than 3 weeks old stimulated more hatch than younger plants. No regression relationships existed between plant age and nematode batch. In other experiments, hatch from eggs in cysts was higher for tomato and nightshade after 10 weeks in greenhouse pots compared to tobacco and bare soil. Numbers of second-stage juveniles in eggs in cysts produced from a previous generation on the same host were highest on nightshade and less on tomato and tobacco. Cysts of variable age recovered from field soil had increased hatch in both root exudates or water compared to recently produced cysts from plants in growth chambers. Globodera t. tabacum may be subject to both host and environmentally mediated diapause.     

Diurnal changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity in leaves

Studies were conducted to identify and compare diurnal changes in sucrose phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.1.14) activity in leaves of different species, and the effect of nitrogen nutrition on the rhythm in soybean [ Glycine max (L). Merr] leaves. In recently expanded corn ( Zea mays L.) leaves, a single peak of enzyme activity was observed at the beginning of the photoperiod. A similar pattern was observed in older corn leaves, but activities (leaf fresh weight basis) were lower. In recently expanded pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and soybean leaves, two peaks of sucrose phosphate synthase activity were observed over a 24-h light:dark period, one at the beginning and one at the end of the photoperiod. A similar pattern was observed in older soybean leaves, but activities were generally lower and the amplitude of the changes was reduced. In a separate experiment, soybean plants were grown in the greenhouse with either 2 or 10 m M nitrate. The high-N plants had higher rates of photosynthesis and translocation, and greater activities of sucrose phosphate synthase in leaf extracts, compared to low-N plants. Over both experiments with soybeans, changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity during the photoperiod were closely aligned with changes in translocation rate.     

Microbial activity across a boreal peatland nutrient gradient: the role of fungi and bacteria

Microbes involved in decomposition within peatlands and the conditions that influence their activities have implications for C and greenhouse gas exchange. The objectives of this research were to characterize the role of fungal and bacterial activities in peatlands using selective antibiotic inhibition techniques across a nutrient gradient (rich to poor fens) and to search for environmental controls on the activity of each group. Bacterial activities predominated across a range of rich to poor boreal peatlands in central Ontario, Canada, although fungal activity became increasingly important in the poor sites. Linkages between soil pH and nutrient status and fungal and bacterial activities were found. However, they did not confirm our initial hypotheses that bacterial activity would be low in poor sites due to proton stress and low nutrient (particularly N) availability, whereas, fungal activity would be low in rich sites due to increased competitive ability of bacteria under near neutral pH conditions and high nutrient availability. Further work across these sites aimed at characterizing the phylogeny of the rhizosphere fungi is needed to determine if increased presence of mycorrhizae in poor sites could have explained our observed patterns. However, regardless of fungal: bacterial activity ratio differences across sites and its associated controls, microbial CO₂ production rates across fen types did not vary significantly, suggesting that the proportion of bacteria and fungi may not matter to broader carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in peat soils.