The bioaccumulation and toxicity of zinc in Spirogyra fluviatilis Hilse, from two populations in the River Seyhan, Adana, Turkey, were examined in laboratory flowing-water channels. Plants were subjected to zinc concentrations ranging from 0 to 4.0 mg L⁻¹ at current velocities of 25–35 cm s⁻¹ for up to 3 h. There was little difference in zinc bioaccumulation between Spirogyra from the site showing mild organic pollution and that from the site subjected to considerable inputs from urban and motorway runoff. Uptake of zinc increased with increasing concentration in the test solution and was linear and proportional up to 0.5 mg L⁻¹. Cellular damage was evident in Spirogyra subjected to 0.5 mg L⁻¹ zinc, and increased with increasing zinc concentration.

A general introduction of the bait-lamina test has been made in this article. This article has an introductional character for other articles dealing with the bait-lamina test method and gives the experimental data.The test was first introduced by Törne in 1990 to measure the biological activity of soil. It enables the monitoring of biotic (microbial and zootic) processes in the soil within a short period of time, and detailed investigations. The test system is based on visual assessment of feeding on small portions of thin laminated bait substrate exposed to edaphic processes. The test system has found its application mainly in Germany but in the meanwhile also in Portugal, Switzerland and in the Netherlands in laboratories of soil ecology and soil ecotoxicology. At present there are only few publications in the international literature, but the interest in this method is growing. During the past years two workshops on the subject have been organized in Germany to summarize experiences with and to evaluate the test system and optimize the standard procedure.

Ethylarsine dichloride was used during WW I as a chemical warfare agent. Residues of this chemical warfare agent and its metabolites are still present today and continue to contaminate soil and water.A gas Chromatographic method for the detection and determination of ethylarsine dichloride is shown. Six dithiols were tested as possible derivatization reagents for ethylarsine dichloride. With selection of the dithiol, matrix interferences can be eliminated because of the different retention times of the derivatives.