Fluid types in rock crystals from quartz vein close to Hutě near Bechyně

Pure quartz crystals occurred in the vein penetrating intensely altered biotite migmatites in proximity of the eclogite body located NE from Hutě near Bechyně. Optical microthermometry has been applied on fluid inclusions (FI) in quartz. Two-phase primary inclusions contain aqueous solution, vapour phase and rarely unidentified solid phase as well (type L+V±S). Medium tempered fluids (Th = 251/270 °C) contain a little amount of CO2 and eutectic temperatures (Te = -9,5/-4,3 °C) suggests presence of sulphates and/or (hydrogen)carbonates. The overall composition of trapped fluid is H2O-MgSO4 ± Na2SO4 ± K2SO4 ± KCl ± CO2. Such not common composition of aqueous phase might be a result of interaction of fluids and ultrabasic rocks containing sulphides.Pure quartz crystals occurred in the vein penetrating intensely altered biotite migmatites in proximity of the eclogite body located NE from Hutě near Bechyně. Optical microthermometry has been applied on fluid inclusions (FI) in quartz. Two-phase primary inclusions contain aqueous solution, vapour phase and rarely unidentified solid phase as well (type L+V±S). Medium tempered fluids (Th = 251/270 °C) contain a little amount of CO2 and eutectic temperatures (Te = -9,5/-4,3 °C) suggests presence of sulphates and/or (hydrogen)carbonates. The overall composition of trapped fluid is H2O-MgSO4 ± Na2SO4 ± K2SO4 ± KCl ± CO2. Such not common composition of aqueous phase might be a result of interaction of fluids and ultrabasic rocks containing sulphides

Effects of light pollution on tree phenology in the urban environment

Research on urban climates has been an important topic in recent years, given the growing number of city inhabitants and significant influences of climate on health. Nevertheless, far less research has focused on the impacts of light pollution, not only on humans, but also on plants and animals in the landscape. This paper reports a study measuring the intensity of light pollution and its impact on the autumn phenological phases of tree species in the town of Zvolen (Slovakia). The research was carried out at two housing estates and in the central part of the town in the period 2013-2016. The intensity of ambient nocturnal light at 18 measurement points was greater under cloudy weather than in clear weather conditions. Comparison with the ecological standard for Slovakia showed that average night light values in the town centre and in the housing estate with an older type of public lighting, exceeded the threshold value by 5 lux. Two tree species, sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), demonstrated sensitivity to light pollution. The average onset of the autumn phenophases in the crown parts situated next to the light sources was delayed by 13 to 22 days, and their duration was prolonged by 6 to 9 days. There are three major results: (i) the effects of light pollution on organisms in the urban environment are documented; (ii) the results provide support for a theoretical and practical basis for better urban planning policies to mitigate light pollution effects on organisms; and (iii) some limits of the use of plant phenology as a bioindicator of climate change are presented.28229

Effects of light pollution on tree phenology in the urban environment

Research on urban climates has been an important topic in recent years, given the growing number of city inhabitants and significant influences of climate on health. Nevertheless, far less research has focused on the impacts of light pollution, not only on humans, but also on plants and animals in the landscape. This paper reports a study measuring the intensity of light pollution and its impact on the autumn phenological phases of tree species in the town of Zvolen (Slovakia). The research was carried out at two housing estates and in the central part of the town in the period 2013-2016. The intensity of ambient nocturnal light at 18 measurement points was greater under cloudy weather than in clear weather conditions. Comparison with the ecological standard for Slovakia showed that average night light values in the town centre and in the housing estate with an older type of public lighting, exceeded the threshold value by 5 lux. Two tree species, sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), demonstrated sensitivity to light pollution. The average onset of the autumn phenophases in the crown parts situated next to the light sources was delayed by 13 to 22 days, and their duration was prolonged by 6 to 9 days. There are three major results: (i) the effects of light pollution on organisms in the urban environment are documented; (ii) the results provide support for a theoretical and practical basis for better urban planning policies to mitigate light pollution effects on organisms; and (iii) some limits of the use of plant phenology as a bioindicator of climate change are presented.28229

Effects of light pollution on tree phenology in the urban environment

Research on urban climates has been an important topic in recent years, given the growing number of city inhabitants and significant influences of climate on health. Nevertheless, far less research has focused on the impacts of light pollution, not only on humans, but also on plants and animals in the landscape. This paper reports a study measuring the intensity of light pollution and its impact on the autumn phenological phases of tree species in the town of Zvolen (Slovakia). The research was carried out at two housing estates and in the central part of the town in the period 2013–2016. The intensity of ambient nocturnal light at 18 measurement points was greater under cloudy weather than in clear weather conditions. Comparison with the ecological standard for Slovakia showed that average night light values in the town centre and in the housing estate with an older type of public lighting, exceeded the threshold value by 5 lux. Two tree species, sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), demonstrated sensitivity to light pollution. The average onset of the autumn phenophases in the crown parts situated next to the light sources was delayed by 13 to 22 days, and their duration was prolonged by 6 to 9 days. There are three major results: (i) the effects of light pollution on organisms in the urban environment are documented; (ii) the results provide support for a theoretical and practical basis for better urban planning policies to mitigate light pollution effects on organisms; and (iii) some limits of the use of plant phenology as a bioindicator of climate change are presented

High-resolution mass spectrometry to complement monitoring and track emerging chemicals and pollution trends in European water resources

Currently, chemical monitoring based on priority substances fails to consider the majority of known environmental micropollutants not to mention the unexpected and unknown chemicals that may contribute to the toxic risk of complex mixtures present in the environment. Complementing component- and effect-based monitoring with wide-scope target, suspect, and non-target screening (NTS) based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data is recommended to support environmental impact and risk assessment. This will allow for detection of newly emerging compounds and transformation products, retrospective monitoring efforts, and the identification of possible drivers of toxicity by correlation with effects or modelling of expected effects for future and abatement scenarios. HRMS is becoming increasingly available in many laboratories. Thus, the time is right to establish and harmonize screening methods, train staff, and record HRMS data for samples from regular monitoring events and surveys. This will strongly enhance the value of chemical monitoring data for evaluating complex chemical pollution problems, at limited additional costs. Collaboration and data exchange on a European-to-global scale is essential to maximize the benefit of chemical screening. Freely accessible data platforms, inter-laboratory trials, and the involvement of international partners and networks are recommended. © 2019, The Author(s).This article has been prepared as an outcome of the SOLUTIONS project (European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. 603437).Peer reviewe

Identification of algal growth inhibitors in treated waste water using effect-directed analysis based on non-target screening techniques

Growth inhibition of freshwater microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata caused by a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent extract was investigated using an effect directed analysis (EDA) approach. The objective was to identify compounds responsible for the toxicity by combining state-of-the-art sampling, bioanalytical, fractionation and non-target screening techniques. Three fractionation steps of the whole extract were performed and bioactive fractions were analysed with GC (xGC)-MS and LC-HRMS. In total, 383 compounds were tentatively identified, and their toxicity was characterized using US EPA Ecotox database, open scientific literature or modelled by ECOSAR. Among the top-ranking drivers of toxicity were pesticides and their transformation products, pharmaceuticals (barbiturate derivatives and macrolide antibiotics e.g. azithromycin), industrial compounds or caffeine and its metabolites. Several of the top-ranking pesticides are no longer registered for use in plant protection products or biocides in the Czech Republic (e.g. prometryn, atrazine, acetochlor, resmethrin) and some are approved only for use in biocides (e.g. terbutryn, carbendazim, phenothrin), which indicates that their non-agricultural input into aquatic environment via WWTPs should be carefully considered. The study demonstrated a functional strategy of combining biotesting, fractionation and non-target screening techniques in the EDA study focused on the identification of algal growth inhibitors in WWTP effluent

Curating Suspect Lists for International Non-target Screening Efforts.ppt

<p>The NORMAN Network (<a href="http://www.norman-network.com/">www.norman-network.com</a>) is a unique network of reference laboratories, research centres and related organisations for monitoring of emerging environmental substances, through European and across the world. Key activities of the network include prioritization of emerging substances and non-target screening. A recent collaborative trial revealed that suspect screening (using specific lists of chemicals to find “known unknowns”) was a very common and efficient way to expedite non-target screening (Schymanski <i>et al</i>. 2015, DOI: <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-015-8681-7">10.1007/s00216-015-8681-7</a>). As a result, the NORMAN Suspect Exchange was founded (<a href="http://www.norman-network.com/?q=node/236">http://www.norman-network.com/?q=node/236</a>) and members were encouraged to submit their suspect lists. To date 20 lists of highly varying substance numbers (between 52 and 30,418), quality and information content have been uploaded, including valuable information previously unavailable to the public. All preparation and curation was done within the network using open access cheminformatics toolkits. Additionally, members expressed a desire for one merged list (“SusDat”). However, as a small network with very limited resources (member contributions only), the burden of curating and merging these lists into a high quality, curated dataset went beyond the capacity and expertise of the network. In 2017 the NORMAN Suspect Exchange and US EPA CompTox Chemistry Dashboard (<a href="https://comptox.epa.gov/">https://comptox.epa.gov/</a>) pooled resources in curating and uploading these lists to the Dashboard (<a href="https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/chemical_lists">https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/chemical_lists</a>). This talk will cover the curation and annotation of the lists with unique identifiers (known as DTXSIDs), plus the advantages and drawbacks of these for NORMAN (e.g. creating a registration/resource inter-dependence). It will cover the use of “MS-ready structure forms” with chemical substances provided in the form observed by the mass spectrometer (e.g. desalted, as separate components of mixtures) and how these efforts will support other NORMAN activities. Finally, limitations of existing cheminformatics approaches and future ideas for extending this work will be covered. <i>Note: </i><i>This abstract does not reflect US EPA policy</i>.<br></p

A new risk assessment approach for the prioritization of 500 classical and emerging organic microcontaminants as potential river basin specific pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive

Given the huge number of chemicals released into the environment and existing time and budget constraints, there is a need to prioritize chemicals for risk assessment and monitoring in the context of the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU WFD). This study is the first to assess the risk of 500 organic substances based on observations in the four European river basins of the Elbe, Scheldt, Danube and Llobregat. A decision tree is introduced that first classifies chemicals into six categories depending on the information available, which allows water managers to focus on the next steps (e.g. derivation of Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), improvement of analytical methods, etc.). The priority within each category is then evaluated based on two indicators, the Frequency of Exceedance and the Extent of Exceedance of Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNECs). These two indictors are based on maximum environmental concentrations (MEC), rather than the commonly used statistically based averages (Predicted Effect Concentration, PEC), and compared to the lowest acute-based (PNECacute) or chronic-based thresholds (PNECchronic). For 56% of the compounds, PNECs were available from existing risk assessments, and the majority of these PNECs were derived from chronic toxicity data or simulated ecosystem studies (mesocosm) with rather low assessment factors. The limitations of this concept for risk assessment purposes are discussed. For the remainder, provisional PNECs (P-PNECs) were established from read-across models for acute toxicity to the standard test organisms Daphnia magna, Pimephales promelas and Selenastrum capricornutum. On the one hand, the prioritization revealed that about three-quarter of the 44 substances with MEC/PNEC ratios above ten were pesticides. On the other hand, based on the monitoring data used in this study, no risk with regard to the water phase could be found for eight of the 41 priority substances, indicating a first success of the implementation of the WFD in the investigated river basins. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.The presented prioritization approach was developed within the NORMAN Association (No. W604002510) working group on prioritization of emerging substances (WG 1) and was approved by the WG members present at the WG meeting in Paris (22–23 November 2010). The work was supported by the European Commission through the Integrated Projects MODELKEY (Contract-No. 511237GOCE) and OSIRIS (contract No. 037017). Peter C. von der Ohe was financially supported through a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) postdoctoral fellowship (PAK 406/1). The authors would like to acknowledge the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River and the team of experts and laboratories providing the data from the Joint Danube Survey 2 as well as the Landesbetriebes für Hochwasserschutz und Wasserwirtschaft Sachsen-Anhalt (Gen. LHW/5.4/003/2006), the Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt und Geologie (LfUG, Dresden, Germany), the Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM, Erembodegem, Aalst, Belgium) and the Agencia Catalana de l'Aigua (ACA, Barcelona, Spain) who kindly provided the monitoring data used for the application of the methodology. Emma L. Schymanski is thanked for valuable suggestions that improved the manuscript.Peer Reviewe

Biosensors for unattended cost-effective and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution: Automated water analyser computer supported system (AWACSS) and river analyser (RIANA)

This work describes our recent progress and achievements in the field of fully automated biosensors (Automated Water Analyser Computer Supported System (AWACSS) and River Analyser (RIANA)) for unattended, cost-effective and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution. We report on ultra-sensitive immunoassays for the hormones progesterone, testosterone and estrone and the pesticides propanil and isoproturon as examples of the outstanding progress made on biosensors in the field of environmental monitoring and water analysis. Most of the bio-active organic pollutants (estrone, progesterone, propanil and isoproturon) were detected at levels as low as 1.0pgm/L or even below. In fact, the reported limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.2 and 6.0pgm/L. For the first time, commercially available derivatives and antibodies were incorporated into immunoassays (progesterone and testosterone) for fully automated biosensors. To verify the assay performance for quantifying testosterone, progesterone, and isoproturon in real-world samples using our immunosensors, we spiked river and drinking water at six different levels from 0.9pgm/L to 90ngm/L. Nearly all recovery rates could be obtained between 70 and 120% as the AOAC International recommends it chiefly for water analysis