Assessment of natural attenuation via in situ reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments of the Twelve Mile Creek arm of Lake Hartwell, SC

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediment cores taken from five locations in Lake Hartwell, SC, with an increasing distance from the point source were evaluated for the presence of in situ reductive dechlorination of PCBs on the basis of a comparative congener-specific analysis of PCB distribution profiles between historical (1987) and current (1998) sediments from the same sites. A layer of 1998 sediment that was equivalent to 1987 sediment was determined by direct comparison of total PCB depth profiles after correction for any sedimentation that occurred at each location since 1987. Natural capping of contaminated sediments with the continued deposition of new sediments was observed in all locations except the one farthest from the source area. The residual PCB congeners accumulated in the field samples did not vary from site to site. Certain PCB congeners (e.g., 236-24 + 34-34, 245-25, and 23-4 CB) decreased with time and with depth along with an increase in lower chlorinated PCB congeners in all sampling locations. A similarity in distribution profiles between dechlorinated PCBs in laboratory microcosms and in the field samples was observed. These results provide supporting evidence that in situ reductive dechlorination has occurred in the Twelve Mile Creek arm of Lake Hartwell. Several sediment layers, particularlythe sites with highest PCB concentration, showed similar PCB distribution profiles between 1987 and 1998. An additional change in chlorine distribution between 1987 and 1998 at most "equivalent" depths was not observed. The ortho- and para-substituted congeners that accumulated during dechlorination of Aroclor 1254 after nearly 1 yr of incubation in the laboratory were the prominent residual products in all field samples. At a few locations and depths, evidence for dechlorination at surprisingly low concentrations (1-5 ppm) was observed. These results confirm that in situ reductive dechlorination of PCBs is operating at a very slow rate and may have been at a plateau since 1987 for certain depths and certain locations.     

Occurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas

A nationally consistent approach was used to assess the occurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream bed sediments from seven metropolitan areas across the United States. One or more pyrethroids were detected in almost half of the samples, with bifenthrin detected the most frequently (41%) and in each metropolitan area. Cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, and resmethrin were detected much less frequently. Pyrethroid concentrations and Hyalella azteca mortality in 28-d tests were lower than in most urban stream studies. Log-transformed total pyrethroid toxic units (TUs) were significantly correlated with survival and bifenthrin was likely responsible for the majority of the observed toxicity. Sampling sites spanned a wide range of urbanization and log-transformed total pyrethroid concentrations were significantly correlated with urban land use. Dallas/Fort Worth had the highest pyrethroid detection frequency (89%), the greatest number of pyrethroids (4), and some of the highest concentrations. Salt Lake City had a similar percentage of detections but only bifenthrin was detected and at lower concentrations. The variation in pyrethroid concentrations among metropolitan areas suggests regional differences in pyrethroid use and transport processes. This study shows that pyrethroids commonly occur in urban stream sediments and may be contributing to sediment toxicity across the country.     

Detection of environmentally persistent free radicals at a superfund wood treating site

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have previously been observed in association with combustion-generated particles and airborne PM(2.5) (particulate matter, d < 2.5um). The purpose of this study was to determine if similar radicals were present in soils and sediments at Superfund sites. The site was a former wood treating facility containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as a major contaminant. Both contaminated and noncontaminated (just outside the contaminated area) soil samples were collected. The samples were subjected to the conventional humic substances (HS) extraction procedure. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to measure the EPFR concentrations and determine their structure for each sample fraction. Analyses revealed a ～30× higher EPFR concentration in the PCP contaminated soils (20.2 × 10(17) spins/g) than in the noncontaminated soil (0.7 × 10(17) spins/g). Almost 90% of the EPFR signal originated from the minerals/clays/humins fraction. GC-MS analyses revealed ～6500 ppm of PCP in the contaminated soil samples and none detected in the background samples. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES) analyses revealed ～7× higher concentrations of redox-active transition metals, in the contaminated soils than the noncontaminated soil. Vapor phase and liquid phase dosing of the clays/minerals/humins fraction of the soil with PCP resulted in an EPR signal identical to that observed in the contaminated soil, strongly suggesting the observed EPFR is pentachlorophenoxyl radical. Chemisorption and electron transfer from PCP to transition metals and other electron sinks in the soil are proposed to be responsible for EPFR formation.     

In vivo synchrotron study of thallium speciation and compartmentation in Iberis intermedia

Thallium (TI) is a metal of great toxicological concern and its prevalence in the natural environment has steadily increased as a result of manufacturing and combustion practices. Due to its low natural abundance and increasing demand, TI is the fourth most expensive metal, thus, recovery and reuse could be a profitable endeavor. The hyperaccumulator Iberis intermedia was examined via in vivo micro-X-ray absorption near edge (micro-XANES) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) spectroscopies to determine the speciation and distribution of TI within leaves of the plant. I. intermedia plants were cultivated under controlled conditions in 0, 10, and 20 mg TI kg(-1) soil leading to a shoot concentration of up to 13 430 mg TI kg(-1) dry weight plant mass during 10 weeks of growth. Live plant leaves were examined by micro-XANES and micro-XRF which determined aqueous TI(I) to be the model species distributed primarily throughout the vascular network. A direct relationship of vein size to TI concentration was observed. The high uptake of TI and high potential biomass of I. intermedia, combined with knowledge of TI speciation and compartmentation within the plant, are discussed in terms of accumulation/tolerance mechanisms, consequences for potential food chain contamination, and phytomining strategies to reclaim TI-contaminated soils, sediments, and waters.     

Lateral and longitudinal variation of hyporheic exchange in a piedmont stream pool

A conservative solute tracer experiment was conducted in Indian Creek, a small urban stream in Philadelphia, PA, to investigate the role of subsurface properties on the exchange between streamwater and the hyporheic zone (subsurface surrounding the stream). Sodium bromide (NaBr) was used as a conservative tracer, and it was monitored in the surface water and in the bed sediments of a 15 m long pool. Subsurface sampling occurred at 12 locations in the upper layer sediments (extending from 7.5 to 10 cm below the streambed) and 13 locations in the lower layer sediments (extending from 10 to 12.5 cm below the streambed). The hydraulic conductivity (K) of the upper bed sediments and the lower bed sediments was measured in situ. Several locations within the streambed exhibited an increase in tracer concentration with depth, suggesting the presence of horizontal flow paths within this small pool. Over the entire pool, the influence of K heterogeneity on hyporheic exchange was masked by the groundwater head gradient and the morphology of the stream. Together, the groundwater head gradient and stream morphology induced a generally high tracer concentration and fast hyporheic exchange on the left side and center of the channel and low concentrations and slower exchange on the right side. Although the reach-scale effects on the surface water concentration were small, groundwater greatly influenced the local-scale hyporheic exchange in the pool. Understanding how physical stream characteristics control the location and extent of hyporheic exchange pathways will lead to a better understanding of biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and contaminants.     

Particle-phase dry deposition and air-soil gas-exchange of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Izmir, Turkey

The particle-phase dry deposition and soil-air gas-exchange of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in Izmir, Turkey. Relative contributions of different deposition mechanisms (dry particle, dry gas, and wet deposition) were also determined. BDE-209 was the dominating congener in all types of samples (air, deposition, and soil). Average dry deposition fluxes of total PBDEs (sigma7PBDE) for suburban and urban sites were 67.6 and 128.8 ng m(-2) day(-1), respectively. Particulate dry deposition velocities ranged from 11.5 (BDE-28) to 3.9 cm s(-1) (BDE-209) for suburban sites and 7.8 (BDE-28) to 2.8 cm s(-1) (BDE-154) for urban sites with an overall average of 5.8 +/- 3.7 cm s(-1). The highest sigma7PBDE concentration (2.84 x 10(6) ng kg(-1) dry wt) was found around an electronic factory among the 13 soil samples collected from different sites. The concentration in a bag filter dust from a steel plant was also high (2.05 x 10(5) ng kg(-1)), indicating that these industries are significant PBDE sources. Calculated net soil-air gas exchange flux of sigma7PBDE ranged from 11.8 (urban) to 23.4 (industrial) ng m(-2) day(-1) in summer, while in winter it ranged from 3.2 (urban) to 11.6 (suburban) ng m(-2) day(-1). All congeners were deposited at all three sites in winter and summer. It was estimated that the wet deposition also contributes significantly to the total PBDE deposition to soil. Dry particle, wet, and gas deposition contribute 60, 32, and 8%, respectively, to annual PBDE flux to the suburban soil.     

EFFECT OF SELENIUM FERTILIZATION ON THE CONCENTRATION OF SELENIUM, OTHER MINERALS, AND ASCORBIC ACID IN POTATOES

The effect of selenium fertilization on the concentration of selenium, other minerals, and ascorbic acid of Katahdin potato tubers was studied during each of two years. Sodium selenite was banded to the soil at rates of 5.6 (2.5), 11.2 (5.0) and 16.2 (7.5) kg/ha (ppm of soil). The tuber selenium concentration was increased significantly (p<0.01) from 0.47 ppm to 0.93 ppm fresh weight. However, selenium levels in the soil greater than 5.0 ppm did not result in further increases in the selenium concentration of tubers. No significant effects due to selenium fertilization were observed for the concentration of other minerals and ascorbic acid. Similar trends were observed during both years of the study. In areas where the soil is low in selenium, addition of this element could prove useful in increasing the selenium content of potatoes, a very important vegetable in the American diet.     

原料组成对清高汤品质的影响

摘 要：目的 分析不同原料组成熬制清高汤中呈味物质含量的差异。方法 利用高效液相色谱技术分析不同原料组成熬制样品中的氨基酸、核苷酸的含量。结果 所设定的16个原料组成熬制的高汤中氨基酸含量范围在1192.37~3070.59 mg/L,不同氨基酸种类的含量亦差异显著,其中谷氨酸和赖氨酸在大部分样品中含量较高,BZT-14样品的氨基酸总量和鲜味氨基酸（谷氨酸和天冬氨酸）含量均最高（744.88 mg/L）;核苷酸总含量范围在在178.98~500.02mg/L,最高的是BZT-14,但鲜味核苷酸（肌苷酸、鸟苷酸和腺苷酸）含量最高的是BZT-1（275.89 mg/L）。结论原料组成的变化对高汤中氨基酸和核苷酸等呈味物质的含量影响很大,BZT-1的等鲜度（Equivalent umami concentration,EUC）值最高,鲜味强度最好。     

Evaluation of spatial variability of soil arsenic adjacent to a disused cattle-dip site, using model-based geostatistics

This study investigated the spatial variability of total and phosphate-extractable arsenic (As) concentrations in soil adjacent to a cattle-dip site, employing a linear mixed model-based geostatistical approach. The soil samples in the study area (n = 102 in 8.1 m(2)) were taken at the nodes of a 0.30 × 0.35 m grid. The results showed that total As concentration (0-0.2 m depth) and phosphate-extractable As concentration (at depths of 0-0.2, 0.2-0.4, and 0.4-0.6 m) in soil adjacent to the dip varied greatly. Both total and phosphate-extractable soil As concentrations significantly (p = 0.004-0.048) increased toward the cattle-dip. Using the linear mixed model, we suggest that 5 samples are sufficient to assess a dip site for soil (As) contamination (95% confidence interval of ±475.9 mg kg(-1)), but 15 samples (95% confidence interval of ±212.3 mg kg(-1)) is desirable baseline when the ultimate goal is to evaluate the effects of phytoremediation. Such guidelines on sampling requirements are crucial for the assessment of As contamination levels at other cattle-dip sites, and to determine the effect of phytoremediation on soil As.     

Analysis of volatile compounds and antioxidant activity in rice extracts (Oryza sativa L.) extracted by various conditions

This study focused on the analysis of the volatiles present in rice extracts (Oryza sativa L.) produced under various extraction conditions (i.e. the range of temperature was 50, 60 and 70 °C, and particle size was whole, 355, and 710 μm) The main volatiles identified were ethyl palmitate, benzenemethanol, nonanal, hexanal and 3-methyl-1-butanol. The highest levels of flavour compounds extracted from rice cultivated in Icheon and Cheorwon were recorded at an extraction temperature of 70 and 60 °C, respectively, and at a rice particle size of 355 μm. Non-volatile rice extracts were tested for antioxidant activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The antioxidant activity of Icheon rice extracts at a concentration of 2000 ppm was found to be 84.33 and 84.39% in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively.     

Occurrence of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls in salted anchovies

The most popular brands of salted anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean were purchased from several Italian supermarkets and grocery stores. Heavy metal (Hg, Cd, and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels were determined and assessed by comparing the concentrations in these samples with the maximum permissible limits set by the European Union (Reg EC 629/2008 and Reg EC 1881/2006 [Off. J. Eur. Union L 173:3-9 and 364:5-24, respectively]). The Hg and Cd levels were higher than those of Pb in all samples examined. For Hg and Pb, the concentrations recorded in this study were below the authorized limits, while an appreciable percentage of samples from both locations (Mediterranean Sea, 35%, and Atlantic Ocean, 25%) showed Cd levels exceeding the threshold recommended for human consumption. Concerning PCBs, the results of principal component analysis showed that samples from the two different marine areas appeared to be discriminate, with Mediterranean anchovies more contaminated than the others, in spite of their lower lipid content. However, anchovy samples from both locations had dioxinlike-PCB levels (Mediterranean Sea, 0.011 pg World Health Organization toxic equivalency [WHO-TEQ] g(-1), wet weight, and Atlantic Ocean, 0.007 pg WHO-TEQ g(-1), wet weight) that were below the WHO-TEQ maximum concentration set by European regulation. The results of this study will help in generating data needed for the assessment of heavy metal and PCB intake from this food.     

Biodegradation, bioaccessibility, and genotoxicity of diffuse polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution at a motorway site

Diffuse pollution of surface soil with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is problematic in terms of the large areas and volumes of polluted soil. The levels and effects of diffuse PAH pollution at a motorway site were investigated. Surface soil was sampled with increasing distance from the asphalt pavement and tested for total amounts of PAHs, amounts of bioaccessible PAHs, total bacterial populations, PAH degrader populations, the potential for mineralization of 14C-PAHs, and mutagenicity. Elevated PAH concentrations were found in the samples taken 1-8 m from the pavement. Soil sampled at greater distances (12-24 m) contained only background levels of PAHs. The total bacterial populations (CFU and numbers of 16S rDNA genes) were similar for all soil samples, whereas the microbial degrader populations (culturable PAH degraders and numbers of PAH dioxygenase genes) were most abundant in the most polluted samples close to the pavement. Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin extraction of soil PAHs, as a direct estimate of the bioaccessibility, indicated that only 1-5% of the PAHs were accessible to soil bacteria. This low bioaccessibility is suggested to be due to sorption to traffic soot particles. The increased PAH level close to the pavement was reflected in slightly increased mutagenic activity (1 m, 0.32 +/- 0.08 revertants g(-1) soil; background/ 24 m: 0.08 +/- 0.04), determined by the Salmonella/ microsome assay of total extractable PAHs activated by liver enzymes. The potential for lighter molecular weight PAH degradation in combination with low bioaccessibility of heavier PAHs is proposed to lead to a likely increase in concentration of heavier PAHs over time. These residues are, however, likely to be of low biological significance.     

Biogenic amines in food: effects of histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine in the human

The effect of 25 mg histamine, 25 mg tyramine and 5 mg phenylethylamine resp. in apple juice on 27 healthy volunteers was studied using a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind procedure. No statistically significant effect was found with histamine and tyramine, but phenylethylamine produced symptoms like headache, dizziness and discomfort in some volunteers. In a second experiment the effect of four different wines (2 dl) containing naturally several biogenic amines in various amounts (histamine n.d. - 21 ppm; tyramine 1-23 ppm; phenylethylamine n.d. - 6 ppm; putrescine 2-55 ppm) on 20 volunteers was recorded. The percentage of volunteers experiencing symptoms was of the same order of magnitude as in the first experiment. No correlation was found to exist in this second experiment between the occurrence of symptoms and the concentration of biogenic amines in the wine samples.     

Lead analysis by anti-chelate fluorescence polarization immunoassay

Lead concentrations were determined by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method that uses polyclonal antibodies raised against the lead(II) chelate of ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The technique is based on competition for a fixed concentration of antibody binding sites between Pb-EDTA, formed by treating the sample with excess EDTA, and a fixed concentration of a fluorescent analogue of the Pb-EDTA complex. The objective was to correlate results obtained by FPIA with those produced by conventional atomic spectroscopy analysis of soils, solid waste leachates (produced by the Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure; TCLP), airborne dust, and drinking water. Linear regression analysis of FPIA results for 138 soil samples containing 0-3094 ppm Pb(II) by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and 40 TCLP extracts containing 0-668 ppm Pb(II) by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy produced correlation coefficients (r2) of 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. Pilot studies of mineral acid extracts of airborne dust trapped on fiberglass filters and of two sources of drinking water demonstrated the feasibility of also measuring lead in these matrixes by FPIA. The limit of detection under conditions that minimized sample dilution was approximately 1 ppb, and cross reactivity with 15 nontarget metals was below 0.5% in all cases. The methods are simple to perform and are amenable to field testing and mobile laboratory use, allowing timely and cost-effective characterization of suspected sources of lead contamination.     

Organic acids and volatile flavor components evolved during refrigerated storage of kefir

Kefir samples were prepared and transferred to sterile jars for storage at 4 degrees C. After 0, 7, 14, and 21 d of storage, the pH, organic acid, and volatile flavor component content were determined to monitor possible flavor changes during storage. Stored samples were analyzed for organic acid (orotic, citric, pyruvic, lactic, uric, acetic, propionic, butyric, and hippuric) content by HPLC with UV detection at 275 nm. Acetoin, ethanol, acetaldehyde, and diacetyl were monitored using gas chromatography equipped with a headspace autosampler. There was no significant decrease in average pH of samples between d 0 and 21 of storage (P>0.05). Lactic acid concentration increased during storage, reaching a maximum of 7739 ppm by d 21. Orotic and citric acids increased slightly during storage. Although pyruvic and hippuric acids are produced during fermentation, neither was detected during storage. Acetic, propionic, and butyric acids were not detected during kefir storage. Ethanol concentrations increased during storage and reached 0.08% by d 21. The amounts of acetaldehyde and acetoin, common flavor substances in many cultured dairy products, increased during fermentation. Acetaldehyde content in kefir samples doubled from d 0 to 21, reaching a final concentration of 11 microg/g. During storage, the concentration of acetoin decreased from 25 ppm on d 0 to 16 ppm on d 21. However, diacetyl, another common flavor component in cultured dairy products, was not detected during fermentation or storage.     

Protein and amino acid composition of maize grain as influenced by variety and fertility

The protein and amino acid composition of maize grain from four Wisconsin single-cross hybrids grown on plots treated with 200 kg/ha of N or 200 kg/ha of N and 278 kg/ha of K fertiliser was determined. The yield increase due to N fertiliser was large, but K increased the yield of only one variety because of the adequate level of available K in the soil of the plot area. Little variation was found among varieties with respect to amino acid composition of the protein. The average protein concentration in maize grain was 7.0,7.7 and 8.4% with the control, N and N-K treatments respectively. The results obtained indicated that the protein increase was due in large part to an increase in zein. The concentration in the maize grain of all essential amino acids, except methionine, was highest in the grain from the balanced N-K fertilizer treatment.     

Soil nitrogen cycle processes in urban riparian zones

Riparian zones have been found to function as "sinks" for nitrate (NO3-), the most common groundwater pollutant in the U. S., in many areas. The vast majority of riparian research, however, has focused on agricultural watersheds. There has been little analysis of riparian zones in urban watersheds, despite the fact that urban areas are important sources of NO3- to nitrogen (N)-sensitive coastal waters in many locations. In this study, we measured stream incision, water table depths, and pools, production (mineralization, nitrification), and consumption (denitrification) of NO3- in urban soils. Samples were taken from soil profiles (0-100 cm) of three forested urban and suburban zones and one forested reference riparian zone in the Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan area. Our objectives were to determine (1) if stream incision associated with urbanization results in lower riparian water tables, and (2) if pools, production, and consumption of NO3- vary systematically with stream incision and riparian water table levels. Two of the three urban and suburban streams were more incised and all three had lower water tables in their riparian zones than the forested reference stream. Urban and suburban riparian zones had higher NO3- pools and nitrification rates than the forested reference riparian zone, which was likely due to more aerobic soil profiles, lower levels of available soil carbon, and greater N enrichment in the urban and suburban sites. At all sites, denitrification potential decreased markedly with depth in the soil profile. Lower water tables in the urban and suburban riparian zones thus inhibit interaction of groundwater-borne NO3- with near surface soils that have the highest denitrification potential. These results suggest that urban hydrologic factors can increase the production and reduce the consumption of NO3- in riparian zones, reducing their ability to function as sinks for NO3- in the landscape.     

Antioxidant effect of turmeric powder,nitrite and ascorbic acid on stored chicken mince

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant effect of turmeric (turmeric 1000 ppm, turmeric 5000 ppm), nitrite (nitrite 200 ppm) and ascorbic acid (ascorbic acid 500 ppm) on raw minced chicken stored at 4 ± 1 °C. Physicochemical properties [pH, water activity, cooking loss, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, peroxide value (PV), free fatty acid (FFA)] were evaluated on 0, 2, 4 and 6th day of storage. Highly significant differences (P < 0.01) in pH, TBA value, PV and FFA value were noticed between treatments and between storage periods. TBA values were observed to be lowest for nitrite 200 ppm and then turmeric 5000 ppm, and there was no significant difference between nitrite 200 ppm and turmeric 5000 ppm, and both were superior to ascorbic acid 500 ppm and turmeric 1000 ppm. Among different treatments, PV was found to be lowest in turmeric 5000 ppm and highest in nitrite 200 ppm. FFA value was found to be lowest in turmeric 5000 ppm and highest in ascorbic acid 500 ppm among all treated samples. It can be concluded that turmeric has potential to replace synthetic antioxidants presently used in meat processing with many added advantages.     

High pressures in combination with antimicrobials to reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Agona in apple juice and orange juice

The effect of high pressure processing in conjunction with the chemical antimicrobials, dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC), hydrogen peroxide, cinnamic acid, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate (NaB) on E. coli O157:H7 strain E009 and Salmonella enterica serovar Agona was investigated in apple juice and orange juice, respectively. Juices were inoculated with approximately 10(6) CFU/ml and subjected to pressures of 550 MPa (E. coli O157:H7 samples) and 400 MPa (Salmonella Agona samples) for 2 min at 6 degrees C (initial temperature). Populations of each pathogen were determined before pressurization, immediately after pressurization, and after samples had been held after treatment for 24 h at 4 degrees C. The most effective treatment for E. coli O157:H7, as determined by plating immediately after pressurization, was 125 ppm of DMDC, which caused a >4.98-log reduction. Other treatments that were significantly different from the sample with no added antimicrobial were 62.5 ppm of DMDC, 300 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and 500 ppm of NaB, which produced 4.97-, 5.79-, and 3.91-log total reductions, respectively. After 24 h at 4 degrees C, E. coli O157:H7 was undetectable in all treatment groups (and controls). In samples inoculated with Salmonella, the most effective treatment was 62.5 ppm of DMDC, which produced a 5.96-log decrease immediately after pressure treatment. The results for 1,000 ppm of NaB, which produced a 3.26-log decrease, also were significantly different from those for the sample containing no antimicrobials. After 24 h at 4 degrees C, all samples with added antimicrobials had near or more than a 5-log total reduction of Salmonella Agona.     

Comparison of haloacetic acids in the environment of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are a family of compounds whose environmental concentrations have been extensively studied, primarily in Europe. Depending on the compound, their sources are believed to be both natural and anthropogenic. To better understand possible sources and contribute to the knowledge of the global distribution of these compounds, especially between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, samples of precipitation, soils, and conifer needles were collected from Canada, Malawi, Chile, and the U.K. Precipitation samples exhibited highest HAA concentrations in collections from Canada, and lowest in those from Malawi. Malawi samples contained measurable levels of monobromoacetic acid (MBA) (56 ng/ L) unlike those from most other locations (< 9 ng/L). Soil HAA concentration levels were highest in the U.K. (e.g., 7.3 ng/g average TCA) and lowest in Malawi (0.8 ng/g average TCA), with Chile having higher levels (4.8 ng/g average TCA) than Canada (3 ng/g average TCA). Malawi soils contained small amounts of MBA (2 ng/g), in common with the two most southern of the 11 Chilean sites. Analysis of soil cores (10-cm depth sliced at 1 cm) from sites in Malawi and Chile showed that trichloroacetic acid (TCA) generally declined with depth while mono- and dichloroacetic acid (MCA and DCA) showed no trend. MCA, DCA, and TCA concentrations in archived U.K. soil samples increased by factors of 2, 4, and 5-fold over 75 years while TFA showed no consistent trend. Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) was detected in pine needles collected from Malawi. U.K. needle samples had the highest concentrations of all chloroacetic acids (CAAs): MCA, 2-18 ng/g; dichloroacetic acid (DCA), 2-38 ng/g; and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), 28-190 ng/g. Conifer needles from Canada and Chile contained CAAs at levels ranging from < 2 to 16 ng/g wet wt. Trifluoroacetic acid concentrations generally declined with increasing elevation in the samples from the Rocky Mountains in western Canada. The results indicate that concentrations of HAAs are greatest in the industrialized Northern Hemisphere but there are significant amounts of these compounds in the less industrialized Southern Hemisphere.