Use of Umbra pygmaea and Mytilus edulis to detect mutagens in the aquatic environment

Chemicals/CAS: aroclor, 12767-79-2; benzo[a]pyrene, 50-32-8; mesylic acid ethyl ester, 62-50-0; mesylic acid methyl ester, 66-27-3; triaziquone, 68-76-8

Identification of arsenobetaine in sole, lemon sole, flounder, dab, crab and shrimps by field desorption and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Organo-arsenic has been isolated from sole, lemon sole, flounder, dab, crab and shrimps by extraction or ion-exchange in combination with thin-layer chromatography. An alkaline digestion of the samples, followed by a reduction with sodiumborohydride leads to the formation of trimethylarsine. The behaviour of the organo-arsenic compound was very...

Investigation of an iodine-like taste in herring from the Baltic Sea

Marinated herring from the Baltic Sea was found to have an offensive odor and taste described as iodine-like and phenolic. Fat isolated from herring was found to contain this taint. The volatiles were isolated from the fat, using a molecular distillation and were subsequently fractionated by gas chromatography. A fraction containing the taint...

The bispyridinium-dioxime HLö-7. A potent reactivator for acetylcholinesterase inhibited by the stereoisomers of tabun and soman

Purification of (+)-tabun was accomplished by treatment with electric eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in order to bind contaminating (-)-tabun, the more potent enantiomer with respect of AChE inhibition. Electric eel AChE inhibited with (-)-tabun and with purified (+)-tabun show similar properties in reactivation reactions with oximes (pH 7.5,...

The ecotoxicity and the biodegradability of lactic acid, alkyl lactate esters and lactate salts

The ecotoxicity of lactic acid, its alkyl esters and selected metal salts was studied experimentally with the micro alga Selenastrum capricornutum, the crustacean Daphnia magna and the fish species Brachydanio rerio and Pimephales promelas. In addition, the biodegradation of lactate esters was also studied. The aim of the study was to provide...

Feminisation of young males of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, exposed to 4-tert-pentylphenol during sexual differentiation

In recent years, a hierarchy of techniques has become available for detecting chemicals which may cause endocrine

Demasculinisation of sexually mature male common carp, Cyprinus carpio, exposed to 4-tert-pentylphenol during spermatogenesis

Sexually mature male common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed for a 3-month period to sublethal concentrations of 4-tert-pentylphenol (TPP) and to 17β-estradiol (E2) during spermatogenesis. This was part of a broad research programme investigating the effects of TPP on the life stages of the carp which might prove susceptible to endocrine...

Animal products, calcium and protein and prostate cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study

Prostate cancer risk in relation to consumption of animal products, and intake of calcium and protein was investigated in the Netherlands Cohort Study. At baseline in 1986, 58,279 men aged 55-69 years completed a self-administered 150-item food frequency questionnaire and a questionnaire on other risk factors for cancer. After 6.3 years of...

Vitamines en visvetzuren ter preventie van hart- en vaatziekten: Gezondmakers uit potjes en flesjes T2 = Health from jars and bottles. Vitamins and fish oil fatty acids for prevention of cardiovascular diseases

A high dietary intake of antioxidants ascorbic acid, tocopherol and beta-carotene and 1 or 2 servings of fish per week is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart diseases, but the 'evidence' for a preventive effect still has not been produced. A raised homocysteine level can be lowered with folate, possibly in combination with pyridoxine...

Search for the evidence of endocrine disruption in the aquatic environment: Lessons to be learned from joint biological and chemical monitoring in the European Project COMPREHEND

Between January 1999 and December 2001, the European Community project COMPREHEND was performed. The overall aim of COMPREHEND was to assess endocrine disruption in the aquatic environment in Europe, consequent to effluent discharge, with emphasis on estrogenic activity. COMPREHEND demonstrated the widespread occurrence of estrogenic effluents...

Bioavailability of selenium from fish, yeast and selenate: A comparative study in humans using stable isotopes

Objective: To measure the bioavailability of selenium from cooked and raw fish in humans by estimating and comparing apparent absorption and retention of selenium in biosynthetically labelled fish with labelled selenate and biosynthetically labelled selenium in brewers yeast. Design: The intervention study was a parallel, randomised, reference...

Herring (sild), killer whales (spekkhogger) and sonar: The 3S-2006 cruise report with preliminary results

This report summarises the outcome of an international research cruise in Norwegian waters (Vestfjorden) in November 2006. The objectives of the trial were to study impacts of military low frequency - (LFAS 1-2 kHz) and mid frequency - (MFAS 6-7 kHz) active sonars on killer whales and herring. In addition the capability of active and passive...

The WODA guidance paper on underwater sound from dredging (abstract)

The World Organisation of Dredging Associations (WODA) has identified underwater sound as an environmental issue that needs further consideration. A WODA Expert Group on Underwater Sound (WEGUS) was established to provide a guidance paper on dredging sound, impact on aquatic biota and advice on underwater sound monitoring procedures. The paper...

Potential population consequences of active sonar disturbance in Atlantic herring: Estimating the maximum risk (abstract)

Effects of noise disturbance to fish populations may be predicted by using the four steps in the population consequences of acoustic disturbance (PCAD) model, with small scale exposure experiments as input. We have used the results from experimental studies on mortality and behavior of juvenile and adult herring exposed to naval sonar as input...

The Underwater Sound Field from Impact Pile Driving and Its Potential Effects on Marine Life

Impact pile driving is a method used to install piles for marine and inland water construction projects using high-energy impact hammers. The installation of hollow steel piles in this manner can produce extremely high sound levels in the surrounding waters (as well as in the air). Given the large-scale development of off€shore wind in European...

WODA technical guidance on underwater sound from dredging

The World Organization of Dredging Associations (WODA) has identified underwater sound as an environmental issue that needs further consideration. A WODA Expert Group on Underwater Sound (WEGUS) prepared a guidance paper in 2013 on dredging sound, including a summary of potential impacts on aquatic biota and advice on underwater sound monitoring...

Offshore dredger sounds: Source levels, sound maps, and risk assessment

The underwater sound produced during construction of the Port of Rotterdam harbor extension (Maasvlakte 2) was measured, with emphasis on the contribution of the trailing suction hopper dredgers during their various activities: dredging, transport, and discharge of sediment. Measured source levels of the dredgers, estimated source levels of...

Population-level consequences of seismic surveys on fishes An interdisciplinary challenge