Chemical composition variations,allelopathic, and antioxidant activities of Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) Nesom essential oils growing in heterogeneous habitats

The present study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of Symphyotrichum squamatum EOs growing in two different habitats to explore the ecological implication on the EOs production and evaluate their antioxidant and allelopathic potentialities. The EOs from the aerial parts collected from coastal Mediterranean belt and inland abandoned habitats in the Nile Delta of Egypt, were extracted and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sixty compounds were characterized as overall constituents of EOs from both samples. Sesquiterpenes were the main component and represented by 69.77% and 88.68% from coastal and inland sample, respectively. The coastal sample attained a relatively high content of monoterpenes compared to the inland sample. Major compounds from the EOs of the coastal habitat sample, were humulene epoxide, (-)-spathulenol, (-)-caryophyllene oxide, germacrene D, and α-humulene representing 59.72%. However, β-pinene, germacrene D, α-humulene, α-muurolene, humulene epoxide, (-)-caryophyllene oxide, and β-cadinene were the major compounds of EOs of the inland habitat sample, representing 63.70%. The correlation analysis revealed more correlation between the Egyptian inland S. squamatum and the Japanese ecospecies. However, the Egyptian coastal S. squamatum and Turkish ecospecies were more correlated to each other. The present data suggested that chemotypes of S. squamatum maintain their typical pattern despite ecological or climatic differences. The EOs of S. squamatum showed moderate antioxidant activity, wherein coastal and inland EOs have an IC₅₀ value of 382.53 and 559.63 μL L⁻¹, respectively. Also, the EOs from both habitats showed moderate allelopathic activity against the noxious weed Bidens pilosa. However, the activity of the coastal sample was more than inland one and could be attributed to the content of the major compounds, especially the oxygenated terpenes.     

Improvement of the SOS/UMU Test for Preliminary Screning of Mutagens

Abstract

A short-term system to detect environmental mutagens is presented by using a plasmid (pSK1002) carrying a fused gene umuC′-′lacZ introduced into Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. Higher sensitivity, repeatability, and simplicity were achieved when (1) the culture volume taken from 2hrs after treatment with test compound was increased to 1.5ml diluted with distilled water to 2.5ml, (2) the 15μ 1 of 3% SDS solution saturated with chloroform was used as the disruptor of the cell membrane. and (3) an incubation -temperature of 37°C was used. At the above experimental conditions, the time required for the mutagen test was shortened to 3hrs. Based on the results of the present study, it seems that the improved SOS/umu test is useful for screening of mutagenic complex environmental mixtures.     

A combination of accreditation and certification in an evolving process at EMPA: A management system to meet ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EN 45001

 The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) have established a quality assurance system based on EN 45001 which meets the requirements for accreditation of all EMPA's testing activities. As testing is only a part of EMPA's range of activities, and is performed in decentralised departments, the system does not satisfy the management needs. The fundamental reorganisation of EMPA's St. Gallen site was used as an opportunity to implement an overall process-oriented management system which also included quality and the needs for accreditation. Later, an environmental management system was added and then certified for ISO 9001 and 14001. The system consists of a "Management Manual" for the St. Gallen site and a customised "Quality Manual" for each department. One of the key elements is a comprehensive review and planning procedure covering all business aspects.     

Automated high-capacity sorption probe for extraction of organic compounds in aqueous samples followed by gas chromatographic analysis

An automated high-capacity sorption device for GC analysis of ultra trace components has been developed. The scope of the presented technique was to combine the simplicity of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with the high extraction efficiency of the stir bar sorptive extraction technology. Sorptive extractions of water samples were performed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber tubing (120 microl) mounted onto a glass rod. The sampling procedure was carried out by a robotic autoinjector. Since the setup is fully automated, unattended and precise time-controlled extraction of samples is possible and makes quantitation with non-equilibrium extractions feasible. The sorption probes are easy to exchange, which facilitates off-line/in-field sampling. The system was evaluated with a test mixture of 44 environmentally hazardous compounds. Detection limits were found to be in the sub-ppt region. The performance of the system was demonstrated with the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban snow.     

ON OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION AND ENFORCEMENT: INFORMATION,MONITORING AND EFFICIENCY

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the paper is to contribute to the narrowing of the distance between formal theory and practical environmental policy design. We formulate a general and comprehensive theoretical model in order to take into account the different informational and technological problems which characterize the definition and implementation of environmental taxes in a second best world where there also are distortionary taxes. Having formalized these problems, we present a general model which allows us to discuss the existence of efficient and implementable environmental quality objectives and policy instruments, and to analyze many particular cases.     

谷氨酸钠溶液514nm激光拉曼光谱受环境光影响的研究

探讨了环境光的存在对谷氨酸钠溶液的514 nm绿色激光激发的拉曼光谱的影响.研究表明不同的环境光、自然光和室内荧光灯光均会对514 nm激光拉曼光谱产生干扰,存在着特征干扰峰.自然阳光干扰较小;而荧光灯光表现为1127、2107 cm-1和2170 cm-1等3个明显尖锐的脉冲峰,不能忽略.建议在进行谷氨酸钠溶液514 nm绿色激光拉曼光谱检测时,须在暗室或暗罩中进行,以完全隔离环境光的影响.     

环境水镉污染应急处理的药物及条件挑选

探讨了硫酸铝、聚铝、聚铁对环境水体中的镉的沉淀能力,实验证明当在实际环境水样品中调节pH在7-9之间,聚铁或聚铝能对环境水体中的镉很好的沉淀作用,短期作用比较明显,药剂能在30min左右达到2h的处理效果的70%-90%,而长期作用后(18h)能将水体中的镉降低到10μg/L以下,一立方水的用药量在100-400g之间就可以到达很好的处理效果,而且无二次污染,可为环境水中镉污染的应急处理药品.     

Economy of proficiency testing: reference versus consensus values

Many proficiency tests are operated with a consensus value derived from the participants’ results. Apart from technical issues, one of the reasons often mentioned is that proficiency tests operated with consensus values would be cheaper than those using reference values obtained from a priori characterisation measurements. The economy of a proficiency test must of course be balanced by the need of the participants, and the quality of the comparison in general. The proficiency tests selected in this study had both a reference value and a consensus value, one of which was used for assessing the performance of the participating laboratories. In this work, both a technical and an economical assessment of how the comparisons were operated is made. From the evaluation, it follows that usually the use of consensus values does not necessarily reduce the costs of a proficiency test. However, frequently it may be observed that the quality of the assessment of the laboratories is better with a reference value. Received: 11 October 2000 Accepted: 3 January 2001     

Proficiency testing in occupational and environmental health – Current practice and international initiatives for harmonisation

An increasing number of proficiency testing schemes (PT schemes) related to occupational and environmental health have been organised. Most schemes emphasise the importance of the validation of analytical results. With regards to harmonisation of the schemes, there are many differences between the schemes at many levels. These include factors concerning their relationship with legislation, national status, type and quality of proficiency testing material, analytical range and priorities for future development. Since differences between PT schemes have been recognised at the European level by organisers of PT schemes and external quality assessment schemes (EQASs) it seems appropriate to reinforce collaboration between scheme organisers in order to improve the quality of analytical performance in occupational and environmental health.     

X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy of galvannealed coatings on steel

The formation of Fe–Zn intermetallic compounds, as relevant in the commercial product galvannealed steel sheet, was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and different methods of X-ray diffraction. A scanning electron microscope with high resolution was applied to investigate the layers of the galvannealed coating and its topography. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GID) was preferred over conventional Bragg–Brentano geometry for analysing thin crystalline layers because of its lower incidence angle α and its lower depth of information. Furthermore, in situ experiments at an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) with an internal heating plate and at an X-ray diffractometer equipped with a high-temperature chamber were carried out. Thus, it was possible to investigate the phase evolution during heat treatment by X-ray diffraction and to display the growth of the ζ crystals in the ESEM.