Environmental Pollution and Protection

7

Authors: Kannan, V.M., Renjini, P., Gopikrishna V.G., Binsh, M.B., Mahesh Mohan

The anthropogenic release of pollutants, to the aquatic ecosystem, can cause severe damage to the flora and fauna of that ecosystem. Fish is a key unit in many natural food webs, but the effects of organic and inorganic pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers and suspended solids alter the water quality and may cause many problems to these organisms, such as diseases and structural alterations. Haematological parameters can be considered as a valuable tool to understand the alterations of physiological status of the fish. Vembanad ecosystem is considered as a highly productive zone, and has been divided into two distinct regions by Thannermukkom barriage. The northern part is more prone to pollution from industrial sector. The present study analysed some haematological parameters along with the heavy metal contents and found that elevated concentrations of Zn and Pb in fish tissue in Cochin estuary (northern part) than Kumarakom. The concentrations were higher than permissible limit recommended by WHO. The result of the haematological analysis has showed considerable variation between the two sites. A positive statistical correlation was observed between the haematological parameters and heavy metals especially Cd.

7

Authors: Gülşen Altuğ, Mine Çardak, Pelin S. Çiftçi Türetken, Serap Koşal Şahin, Samet Kalkan

In this study, anthropogenic influences on the natural fresh water sources regarding the levels of indicator bacteria were investigated in the Eastern Anatolian, Turkey. The surface water samples (0–30 cm) were collected seasonally in the period between November 2008 and October 2009. The levels of total and faecal coliform bacteria were tested using membrane filtration technique. The detected coliform bacteria in the sampling region, where livestock raising activities are intense, revealed the region under the influences of bacteriological pollution inputs. The results also showed that freshwater sources of the region carry a potential risk for human health. This is the first data that can be used in the assessment of bacterial risks of these water sources in the Tunceli and Munzur Valley of the Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Bacteriological monitoring studies are needed to be established for detecting of pollution sources and sustainable use of natural water resources.

8

Authors: Sheila A Scoville, J Peter Doherty

Avian hematocrit can be used to monitor the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during the aftermath of oil spills and their cleanup. Exposure to PAHs can result in a rapid and dramatic drop in hematocrit. Some baseline hematocrit data has been reported for waterbirds before and during coastline spills, but the equivalent baseline hematocrit data does not exist for monitoring land-based spills affecting migratory and resident songbirds. In this study, blood samples were taken from 310 North American migratory birds on their wintering grounds in The Bahamas and Panama. Hematocrit was measured in 20 species of passerines and near passerines plus one shorebird species. The results show that hematocrit values rose prior to northbound migration in mid-March to midApril when samples were compared to those taken in January. Among those species able to be reliably sexed by plumage, increases in hematocrit were found only in males. Hematocrit samples from 8 neo-tropical species and one avian family met new guidelines for determining reference intervals as published by The American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists. This study establishes hematocrit baseline values for a portion of the annual cycle of these neo-tropical migrant species and explains how monitoring changes in hematocrit after polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure can be used to determine injury and possible recovery after an oil spill.

21

Authors: Daniel Jost, Josef Winter, Claudia Gallert

We followed the development of a Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm on quartz sand in an instrumented horizontal flow-through stainless steel container (SSC) in lysimeter-scale, to investigate its impact on physical soil parameters within the aquifer and the capillary fringe (CF). Increasingly concentrated biodegradable substances in a liquid medium were pumped through the sand in the SSC creating an artificial aquifer. Biofilm development and its influence on flow parameters and oxygen concentration profiles, as well as temperature or water suction changes with time were determined. After more than 19 weeks of medium flow, at DOC concentrations of finally about 300 mg/L, P. fluorescens formed a strong biofilm and the highest biomass concentrations with up to 2.8 mg volatile solids per g dry sand were found in the transition zone of the CF. The soil temperature, which was slightly increased, or the water suction was significantly influenced during the experiment. The effects were strongest within the first 0.3 m of flow stretch, where the highest biomass values were detected. During the total experimental duration of 54 weeks the average flow velocity was reduced by up to 15 % due to clogging effects and the oxygen profiles were changed drastically. Results may be representative for real polluted aquifers.