Biodegradation of two superabsorbent polymers, a crosslinked, insoluble polyacrylate and an insoluble polyacrylate/ polyacrylamide copolymer, in soil by the white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated. The polymers were both solubilized and mineralized by the fungus but solubilization and mineralization of the copolymer was much more rapid than of the polyacrylate. Soil microbes poorly solublized the polymers and were unable to mineralize either intact polymer. However, soil microbes cooperated with the fungus during polymer degradation in soil, with the fungus solubilizing the polymers and the soil microbes stimulating mineralization. Further, soil microbes were able to significantly mineralize both polymers after solubilization by P. chrysosporium grown under conditions that produced fungal peroxidases or cellobiose dehydrogenase, or after solubilization by photochemically generated Fenton reagent. The results suggest that biodegradation of these polymers in soil is best under conditions that maximize solubilization.

Part I (SNYDER ET AL., 1999a) of this series introduced SCRAM, a chemical scoring and ranking system for contaminants of the North American Great Lakes. Here, in Part II, scoring of the bioaccumulation potential and persistence of chemicals is discussed, including acceptable types of data, specific scoring instructions, and the basis for criteria and scores for these categories of the system. Difficulties encountered during the process of determining which types of data adequately represent the properties of interest are discussed. Also, justification is given for an emphasis on scoring on the basis of persistence.

During the operation “Allied Force” in the spring of 1999, the burning or damaging of industrial and military targets in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia resulted in the release of a large number of chemicals into the atmosphere. The releases contained not only conventional air pollutants, but also Semi-Volatile Organic compounds (SVOs) which are known to be hazardous to health. Under suitable meteorological conditions, these chemicals can be transported across borders over large distances. In this paper, an analysis of measurements and dispersion calculations is presented which provides evidence of pollutant transport from the conflict area to Greece. The measuring program was carried out in Xanthi, Greece and included aerosol sampling and subsequent analysis for the determination of the concentration of SVOs including dioxins, furans, PCBs (PolyChlorinated Biphenyls), PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and organic phthalates.This paper focuses on two episodes of organic phthalates that were observed during the conflict period. Pollution measurements are interpreted by means of air trajectories and dispersion calculations. For this purpose, the HYSPLIT_4 (HYbrid Single-Particle Langrangian Integrated Trajectory) modeling system is used to calculate the dispersion of toxic substances.

In order to improve the orientation about the long-term sustainability of the use of the antifouling biocides tributyltin (TBT), copper, Irgarol® 1051, Sea-Nine™ 211 and zinc pyrithione, used for the protection of fouling in sea-going ships, the risks posed to the marine biosphere due to their use are evaluated. The newly presented method of risk analysis uses release rate, spatiotemporal range, bioaccumulation, bioactivity and uncertainty as 5 dimensions of ecotoxicological risk. For each dimension, a scoring procedure is briefly described. The resulting risk profiles of the antifouling biocides show characteristics of the different substances, but also indicate where further information is required. Application of the method is proposed as a decision support in the integrated development of products, informed purchasing and for regulatory purposes.

A method by GC/MS has been established for the determination of dimethenamid and cyhalofop-butyl in agricaltural products. Dimethenamid and cyhalofop-butyl were extracted with acetone, concentrated, and re - extracted with n - hexane. The extracts were cleaned up acetonitrile partitioning and florisil column, then determined by GC/MS-SIM. This method was featured of recovery over 75% and it's C.V. below 6%. The detection limits for dimetenamid and cyharofop-butyl were 0.001 micro g/g and 0.002 micro g/g, respectively.

In Nagano Prefecture, the sudden death of many wild birds became appearent in 1997. In order to investigate the cause, the authors developed a simultaneous analytical method using GC/MS. The method was applied to investigate the reason of sudden wild bird death in 3 cases that happened in 1998. Therefore, the every cause was cleared as following. 1) In the case of Komagane City, seeds of buckwheat were found in the residues of their stomachs, and the buckwheat was subjected to analyses. A high concentration of highly toxic insecticide, Methomyl, was detected. The authors presumed that was the cause of birds' death. 2) In the case of Saku City, some flesh, probably from apples was found in the birds' stomachs. The result of flesh analysis was the highly toxic insecticide, EPN, detected in a high concentration. The authors assumed that was the cause of death. 3) In the case of Asashina Village, fish, shrimp, rice, among others were found in the birds' stomachs. The result of their analysis was the highly toxic insecticide, Benfuracarb, detected in a high concentration. The authors assumed that was the cause of death.