The expression of CYP1A,vitellogenin and zona radiata proteins in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) after oral dosing with two commercial PBDE flame retardant mixtures: absence of short-term responses

The short-term effects of the commercial PBDE flame retardant mixtures Penta-BDE and cta-BDE on the expression of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), vitellogenin (Vtg) and zona radiata proteins (Zrp) were investigated in juvenile salmon (Salmo salar). For this purpose, groups of fish were dosed twice (oral intake at days I and 4) with 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight of both commercial mixtures. The fishes were sacrificed at day 7 (n = 5 for each group) and 14 (n = 6 for each group), and blood, liver, fillet, and brain were collected. Blanks and positive controls were also part of the experiment. The expressions of Vtg, Zrp, and CYPIA were measured with several techniques (EROD, ELISA, Western, Northern and Slot Blot). The values in the groups of fish treated with Penta-BDE or Octa-BDE did not significantly differ from the reference group for any of the parameters tested. In contrast, the positive control groups treated with estradiol-17beta for Vtg and Zrp expression, and beta-naphthoflavone for CYP1A expression did show a significant response, indicating the potential sensitivity of the fishes for the parameters measured. Since the results of the chemical analyses showed concentrations of a number of PBDE congeners in liver, fillet, and brain that were about three orders of magnitude above those of fish from the North Sea, it is concluded that the short-term toxicity of both commercial PBDE mixtures for these endpoints was low.     

Species, tissue and gender-related organochlorine bioaccumulation in white-sided dolphins, pilot whales and their common prey in the northwest Atlantic

Organochlorine concentrations were measured in white-sided dolphins, pilot whales, and their prey from the Gulf of Maine and used to identify species, tissue, and gender differences, and trophic transfer trends, in bioaccumulation. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations ([PCB]) in dolphin blubber (13 +/- 7.1 micrograms/g fresh wt.) were twice those in pilot whales, but pesticide concentrations (20 +/- 13 micrograms/g fresh) were similar between species. 4,4'-DDE, trans-non-achlor, Cl6(153) and Cl6(138) concentrations were highest. Skin tissues had more recalcitrant organochlorines than the internal organs. Male dolphins bioaccumulated higher concentrations of nonmetabolizable PCBs and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, whereas pilot whales had no gender-related differences in bioaccumulation. Pilot whales, mackerel, and herring had proportionately higher concentrations of DDTs, whereas [PCB] were higher in dolphins and squid. Although these odontocetes feed at the same trophic level and store a similar suite of contaminants, dolphins bioaccumulated higher and potentially hazardous 4,4'-DDE and PCB concentrations from food in their more geographically restricted range.     

Population explosion in Africa: further implications

A serious problem associated with the population explosion in Africa is the widespread degradation of vegetation and soils. Various factors such as climate, animal overgrazing, overcultivation, fires, and soil erosion contribute to the social and economic impact in some areas. An increase of droughts due to lack of precipitation has damaged grasslands. In addition, increased animal population due to animal disease control, increased water supply, and social custom of measuring wealth in terms of herd size cause near wastelands from overgrazing. Also, overcultivation of commercial crops due to an increasing population has accelerated soil erosion by allowing shorter fallow periods, which causes lower crop yields and soil deterioration. Firing woodlands and grasslands to suppress new woody growth is damaging soil as well as encouraging the growth of coarse grasses that have little value for grazing animals. The barren land due to firing causes soil erosion both by water and wind; a total estimated drift of dust from western Africa is 60 million tons/year. These conditions indicate that deterioration will continue resulting in lower carrying capacities and lower productivity from cultivated land.     

Biochemical alterations in juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to zinc: glutathione reductase as a target

The aim of this study was to investigate biochemical changes in juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to zinc chloride (10, 30 and 100 microM) for a period of 48 h. Zinc exposure caused a concentration-dependent reduction in glutathione reductase (GR) activity in gills, liver and brain. Gill glutathione S-transferase (GST) was reduced when animals were exposed to the highest concentration of 100 microM zinc. The phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) increased in the brain of fish exposed to zinc 100 microM, while phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) remained unchanged. Expression of proteins HSP60 and HSP70 were not affected by zinc exposure. Considering the significant concentration-dependent inhibition of GR in all tissues analyzed, this enzyme could be a potential biomarker of exposure to zinc, which has to be confirmed.     

第四届国际地学情报会议概况

1.会议一般情况国际地学情报会议(International Confe-rence on Geoscience Information)是国际地学情报界最重要的专业会议。会议每四年举行一次(前三次分别于1978年、1982年、1986年在英国、美国、澳大利亚召开)。本次会议,即第四届国际地学情报会议于1990年6月24—29日在加拿大首都渥太华的政府会议中心举行。会议发起单位为国际地质科学协会(IUGS)、加拿大地学情报学会(GIS)、澳大利亚地学情报学会、英国地质学会情报专门组。会议主     

中,美,日地震学文献近期引文特征分析比较

本文利用引文分析方法，对代表中、美、日地震学研究水平的《地震学报》、《美国地震学会通报》和《地震》三个核心期刊１９８８－１９９０年期间的４１０篇论文所附的７０９５篇引文的引文量、引用学科、引文来源和语种、自引、互引及引文年代进行了统计分析；此外，还探讨了中外地震学文献交流的现状和影响因素，以期对掌握地震学文献交流的规律和特征、文献的利用和管理及促进中外地震学文献的交流提供有益的启示和参考。     

探测液体污染的地质雷达

通过介绍美国中西部一个实验场地下水位之上的石油物质的情况，证明了地质雷达（ＧＰＲ）作为探测地面附近污染的的一种手段重要作用，一些试验表明，ＧＰＲ可以提供测绘渗流层中烃类物质的方法，俄州立大学一个砂质试验坑中的控制测量的结果确实表明，在柴油容器和装有柴油饱和的砂质材料的容器上方丰在的清晰的ＧＰＲ异常。在印第安纳州北部一个汽油泄漏场地，一年中不同时期（夏，秋，冬）测得的ＧＰＲ资料在对比给出了在高度潮湿