Ozone-sensitive (S156) and -tolerant (R123 and R331) genotypes of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were tested as a plant bioindicator system for detecting O₃ effects at current and projected future levels of tropospheric O₃ and atmospheric CO₂ under field conditions. Plants were treated with ambient air, 1.4× ambient O₃ and 550 ppm CO₂ separately and in combination using Free Air Concentration Enrichment technology. Under ambient O₃ concentrations pod yields were not significantly different among genotypes. Elevated O₃ reduced pod yield for S156 (63%) but did not significantly affect yields for R123 and R331. Elevated CO₂ at 550 ppm alone did not have a significant impact on yield for any genotype. Amelioration of the O₃ effect occurred in the O₃ + CO₂ treatment. Ratios of sensitive to tolerant genotype pod yields were identified as a useful measurement for assessing O₃ impacts with potential applications in diverse settings including agricultural fields.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have important technological applications resulting in an increased potential for release to the environment, and a greater possibility of toxicological effects. The marine bivalve Scrobicularia plana was exposed to AuNPs of size 5, 15 and 40nm during a 16 d laboratory exposure at 100μg Au L⁻¹. After exposure to AuNPs forming aggregates (>700nm), the clams accumulated Au in their soft tissues. Biochemical (biomarkers) and behavioral (burrowing and feeding) responses were investigated. Au NPs were responsible of metallothionein induction (5, 40nm), increased activities of catalase (15, 40nm) and superoxide dismutase (40nm) and of glutathione S-transferase by the three sizes of AuNPs indicating defense against oxidative stress. Exposure to AuNPs impaired burrowing behavior. However, it must be underlined that these effects were observed at a dose much higher than expected in the environment.

The study examined weekday–weekend differences in ozone, NOₓ (NO and NO₂) and VOC concentrations in Santiago, Chile, from 1999 to 2007. The results provide evidence for the occurrence of an atmospheric phenomenon that produces higher ozone concentrations during weekends despite lower concentrations of ozone precursors. This phenomenon is known as the weekend effect (WE). The overall ozone decrease since the spring of 2004 was a consequence of the implementation of several urban pollution control measures. Although these measures caused a decline in the number of days that exceed the national standard from two-thirds to one-third of summer days, the WE, which became statistically significant beginning in September 2004, could not be eliminated. Furthermore, VOC/NOₓ ratios decreased during the same period (2004), especially in the most industrialized area of Santiago. Similarly, under these regimes, the VOC/NOₓ ratios were higher on Sundays than on weekdays and caused higher ozone concentrations on Sundays.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) constitute an important group of brominated flame retardants that have been massively produced and extensively used in numerous everyday products, providing longer escape times in case of fire and thus saving lives, as well as reducing the damage of property. In recent years, PBDEs have been recognized as significant pollutants of the indoor environment. This article provides a synthesis and critical evaluation of the state of the knowledge about the occurrence of PBDEs in the indoor environment (air and dust in homes, workplaces and cars) in different countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, as well as about the human exposure via indoor air inhalation and dust ingestion in comparison to outdoor air inhalation and dietary intake.

The objective of the study reported in this paper was to assess the quality of harvested rainwater on the basis of the roofing materials used and the presence of lichens/mosses on the roofing surface. Four pilot structures with different roofing materials (i.e., wooden shingle tiles, concrete tiles, clay tiles [Gi-Wa] and galvanized steel) were installed in a field. The galvanized steel was found to be the most suitable for rainwater harvesting applications, with their resulting physical and chemical water quality parameters meeting the Korean guidelines for drinking water quality (e.g., pH (5.8–8.5), TSS <500 mg/L, NO₃ ⁻ < 10 mg/L, SO₄ ²⁻ < 200 mg/L, Al < 0.2 mg/L, Cu < 1 mg/L, Fe < 0.3 mg/L, Pb < 0.05 mg/L, Zn < 1 mg/L, and E. coli (No detection)). In the galvanized steel case, the relatively high water quality was probably due to ultraviolet light and the high temperature effectively disinfecting the harvested rainwater. It was also found that the presence of lichens and mosses may adversely affect the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of rainwater.

Two common (semi-) natural temperate grassland species, Dactylis glomerata and Ranunculus acris, were grown in competition and exposed to two watering regimes: well-watered (WW, 20–40% v/v) and reduced-watered (RW, 7.5–20% v/v) in combination with eight ozone treatments ranging from pre-industrial to predicted 2100 background levels. For both species there was a significant increase in leaf damage with increasing background ozone concentration. RW had no protective effect against increasing levels of ozone-induced senescence/injury. In high ozone, based on measurements of stomatal conductance, we propose that ozone influx into the leaves was not prevented in the RW treatment, in D. glomerata because stomata were a) more widely open than those in less polluted plants and b) were less responsive to drought. Total seasonal above ground biomass was not significantly altered by increased ozone; however, ozone significantly reduced root biomass in both species to differing amounts depending on watering regime.

Although recent research has shown that marine litter has made it even to the remotest parts of our planet, little information is available about temporal trends on the deep ocean floor. To quantify litter on the deep seafloor over time, we analysed images from the HAUSGARTEN observatory (79°N) taken in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011 (2500m depth). Our results indicate that litter increased from 3,635 to 7,710 items km-2 between 2002 and 2011 and reached densities similar to those reported from a canyon near the Portuguese capital Lisboa. Plastic constituted the majority of litter (59%) followed by a black fabric (11%) and cardboard/paper (7%). 67% of the litter was entangled or colonised by invertebrates such as sponges (41%) or sea anemones (15%). The changes in litter could be an indirect consequence of the receding sea ice, which opens the Arctic Ocean to the impacts of man’s activities.

Reactivity of nanopar8cles represents a central issue for many laboratories around the world. Among many supported efforts the control of the morphology of nanopar8cles is mo8vated by the fact that morphology strongly influence the proper8es of the final products. Among the vast family of available nanopar8cles, imogolite is a clay nanotube for which perfect control of the diameter is possible. Imogolites were first observed in volcanic soils[1]. They are natural aluminosilicate nanotubes having the general formula (OH)3Al2O3SiOH with a 2 nm external diameter and up to micrometers in length. The impressive monodispersity in imogolite nanotube diameter has mo8vated research on their forma8on mechanism. Synthesis protocols to produce imogolite were quickly developed. Farmer et al. were the first to obtain synthe8c imogolite using low concentra8ons of AlCl3 and SiO 2 monomers as star8ng materials (millimolar concentra8ons of the reagents) [2]. However, the produc8on of large amount of imogolite or imogolite type materials remained challenging for long 8me. We will present our most recent results concerning the possibility to produce imogolite type materials from highly concentrated stock solu8ons. We will also detail the possibility to form double wall Al- Ge nanotubes and the different stages of their forma8on [3-7]. We will then detail the surface reac8vity of these nanotubes toward metals at he lab scale as well as in natural soil. (Résumé d'auteur)

Bivalve larvae and hydrographic parameters were sampled over a range of spatio-temporal scales in a deep atoll lagoon. Bivalve larvae abundances were very high throughout the year: 18,550 m(-3) in average. Larvae were (i) concentrated at mid-depth with nocturnal ascent and diurnal descent, (ii) heterogeneously dispersed at the lagoon scale, (iii) subject to day-to-day variation in abundance and (iv) transferred between different parts of the lagoon providing evidence of intra-lagoonal connectivity. The primacy of physical factors was seen on large spatial scale with the diluting effect of water renewal and transfers by hydrodynamics. On smaller spatial scale, the primacy of biological processes was recognised, with larval swimming activity leading to dial vertical migration correlated with food concentration. Variations in larval abundance were driven by bivalve reproductive activity correlated with meteorological conditions (i.e. windy periods). Finally, relationship between bivalve larvae patterns and pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) settlement structuring is discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.