Selected organochlorine pesticides in the atmosphere of major Indian cities: levels, regional versus local variations, and sources

India has extensive production and usage of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) for agriculture and vector control. Despite this, few data are available on the levels and distribution of OCPs in the urban atmosphere of India. Passive and active air sampling was therefore conducted between Dec 2006 and March 2007 in 7 metropolitan cities: New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, and Agra. Concentrations (pg·m(-3)) were as follows: HCHs 890-17000 (mean: 5400 ± 4110); DDTs 250-6110 (1470 ± 1010); chlordanes 290-5260 (1530 ± 790); endosulfans 240-4650 (1040 ± 610); and hexachlorobenzene 120-2890 (790 ± 510). HCHs observed in India appear to be the highest reported across the globe. Chlordanes and endosulfans are lower than levels reported from southern China. Passive sampling enabled within- and between-city variations to be assessed. As expected, paired-sample t-test analysis revealed higher regional than local variation. Comparisons with the limited data available from studies conducted in 1989 suggest general declines of HCHs and DDTs for most regions. γ-HCH dominated the HCH signal, reflecting widespread use of Lindane in India, although the isomeric composition in Kolkata suggests potential technical HCH use. High o,p'-/p,p'-DDT ratios in northern India indicate recent DDT usage. High HCB levels in the industrial areas of New Delhi and Kolkata indicate ongoing sources. Correlation between trans- and cis-chlordane implies ongoing usage. Endosulfan sulfate generally dominated the endosulfan signal, but high values of α/β-endosulfan at Chennai, Mumbai and Goa suggest ongoing usage. Backward trajectories were computed using the NOAA HYSPLIT model to trace the air mass history. Result shows local/regional sources of OCPs within India.     

Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in the northern South China Sea: implications for land outflow and air-sea exchange

The South China Sea (SCS) is surrounded by developing countries in Southeast Asia, where persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), are still used legally or illegally, and are of concern. Yet little is known about the distribution of OCPs in the water and atmosphere over SCS, as well as their air-sea equilibrium status and time trends. In this study, ship-board air samples and surface seawater collected in the northern SCS between September 6 and 22, 2005 were analyzed for selected OCPs. The measured OCP concentrations in the atmosphere over the northern SCS were influenced by proximity to source regions and air mass origins. The highest atmospheric OCP concentrations were found at sampling sites adjacent to continental South China. OCPs in surface seawater showed significant spatial variations, with the highest concentration observed in a water sample from off Vietnam. The coastal currents were suggested to play a key role in the delivery of waterborne OCPs in the northern SCS. Time trend, land outflow, and air-sea exchange of selected OCPs in the SCS were investigated, by comparison of this dataset with historical data.     

Combination of NMR and MRI quantitation of moisture and structure changes for convection cooking of fresh chicken meat

This study demonstrates that a combination of bulk NMR and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the T(2)-values of water protons can be used to determine the heat-induced changes in the structure and moisture content of fresh chicken meat which had been cooked in a convection oven at 200°C for a range of times. The gravimetric moisture content was also determined for both the raw and cooked meat. Multi-exponential fitting of the bulk NMR T(2) relaxation time data demonstrated three distinct water populations T(21) (39-43ms), T(22) (82-99ms) and T(23) (2-3ms) for raw meat which changed to 18-31ms (T(21)), 61-208ms (T(22)) and 3-7ms (T(23)) after the meat had been cooked. The T(1) and T(2) values obtained by MRI for cooked meat decreased progressively with increased heating time. There are highly significant correlations between the T(2) values from MRI and the T(21) values from bulk NMR measurements of cooked meat (r=0.986; p<0.01), and also between the normalised M(0) values from MRI and the gravimetric moisture content (r=0.953; p<0.01).     

The effect of dietary forage to concentrate ratio and forage type on milk fatty acid composition and milk fat globule size of lactating cows

We examined the effects of 2 grass silage-based diets differing in forage:concentrate (FC) ratio and those of a red clover silage-based diet on intake, milk production, ruminal fatty acid (FA) biohydrogenation, milk FA composition, and milk fat globule (MFG) size distribution. Ten multiparous Nordic Red cows received the following treatments: grass silage-based diets containing high (70:30, HG) or low (30:70, LG) FC ratio or a red clover silage-based diet with an FC ratio of 50:50 (RC) on a dry matter basis. Determinations of MFG were performed from fresh milk samples without addition of EDTA so the results of fat globules >1 µm in diameter are emphasized instead of the entire globule population. Lower FC ratio in grass silage-based diets increased milk production with no effect on daily fat yield, leading to 13% lower milk fat concentration. The effect of FC ratio on MFG size was moderate. It did not affect the volume-weighted diameter in grass silage-based diets, although LG lowered the volume-surface diameter of MFG in the size class >1 µm compared with HG. Compared with HG, feeding LG moderately decreased the biohydrogenation of 18:2n-6, leading to a higher level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk fat. Feeding RC lowered milk fat concentration and daily milk fat yield compared with grass silage-based diets. The volume-weighted diameter of MFG in the size class >1 µm was smaller in RC milk compared with grass silage-based diets. Feeding RC increased the flow of 18:3n-3 at the omasum by 2.4-fold and decreased the apparent ruminal 18:3n-3 biohydrogenation compared with grass silage-based diets despite similar intake of 18:3n-3. It also resulted in the lowest amount of saturated FA and the highest amounts of cis-9 18:1, 18:3n-3, and polyunsaturated FA in milk. In conclusion, LG decreased milk fat content and induced minor changes in MFG size distribution compared with HG, whereas RC lowered milk fat production, altered milk FA composition to nutritionally more beneficial direction, and led to smaller MFG compared with grass silage-based diets.     

Liquid Chromatography–Hybrid Linear Ion Trap–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) Method for the Determination of Glycoalkaloids and Their Aglycons in Potato Samples

Potatoes produce biologically active secondary metabolites like glycoalkaloids and their aglycons, which may have both adverse and beneficial effects in the diet. A new analytical method that uses liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) has been developed for the analysis of glycoalkaloids and their aglycons in potato samples. Two glycoalkaloids, α-solanine and α-chaconine, and two aglycons, demissidine and solasodine, were quantified in potato samples. Samples were extracted using methanol, purified on an SPE Strata C₁₈ cartridge, and then analyzed in HPLC–mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) with the FTMS operating in full scan at a resolving power of 30,000 (FWHM), enabling the detection and accurate mass measurement and with the ITMS mode operating in MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) for glycoalkaloids and their aglycons using the [M + H]⁺ ions and their optimized collision energies. After validation, the method was applied to screen different type of potatoes, and some cooking experiment were conducted.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol acetyl transferase Atf1p is localized in lipid particles

The yeast alcohol acetyl transferase I, Atf1p, is responsible for the major part of volatile acetate ester production in fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Some of these esters, such as ethyl acetate and isoamyl acetate, are important for the fruity flavours of wine, beer and other fermented beverages. In order to reveal the subcellular localization of Atf1p and further unravel the possible physiological role of this protein, ATF1::GFP fusion constructs were overexpressed in brewer's yeast. The transformant strain showed a significant increase in acetate ester formation, similar to that of an ATF1 overexpression strain, indicating that the Atf1p-GFP fusion protein was active. UV fluorescence microscopy revealed that the fusion protein was localized in small, sphere-like organelles. These organelles could be selectively stained by the fluorescent dye Nile red, indicating that they contained high amounts of neutral lipids and/or sterols, a specific characteristic of yeast lipid particles. Purification of lipid particles from wild type and ATF1 deletion cells confirmed that the Atf1p-GFP fusion protein was located in these organelles. Furthermore, a clear alcohol acetyl transferase activity could be measured in the purified lipid particles of both wild type and transformed cells. The localization of Atf1p in lipid particles may indicate that Atf1p has a specific role in the lipid and/or sterol metabolism that takes place in these particles.     

Radiation chemistry of methyl tert-butyl ether in aqueous solution

The chemical kinetics of the free-radical-induced degradation of the gasoline oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water have been investigated. Rate constants for the reaction of MTBE with the hydroxyl radical, hydrated electron, and hydrogen atom were determined in aqueous solution at room temperature, using electron pulse radiolysis and absorption spectroscopy (*OH and e- aq) and EPR free induction decay attenuation (*H) measurements. The rate constant for hydroxyl radical reaction of (1.71 +/- 0.02) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) showed that the oxidative process was the dominant pathway, relative to MTBE reaction with hydrogen atoms, (3.49 +/- 0.06) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), or hydrated electrons, <8.0 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). The hydroxyl radical reaction gives a transient carbon-centered radical which subsequently reacts with dissolved oxygen to form peroxyl radicals, the rate constant for this reaction was (2.17 +/- 0.06) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The second-order decay of the MTBE peroxyl radical was 2k = (6.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). These rate constants, along with preliminary MTBE degradation product distribution measurements, were incorporated into a kinetic model that compared the predicted MTBE removal from water against experimental measurements performed under large-scale electron beam treatment conditions.     

Acidity and Power: The Politics of Natural Wine in Nineteenth-Century Germany

This article examines the origins of the natural-wine movement in Germany—the first of its kind in Europe—by exploring the crucial technological and social developments which prompted the use of derided “artificial” winemaking techniques. The forgotten social reformer Ludwig Gall, once known to as the “savoir of the small vintner,” helped to relieve the unreliable dependency of winegrowers on nature by perfecting a deacidification technique which allowed for pleasant wines in any vintage. While Gall's technique became an important part of the road out of impoverishment for many winegrowers in the Mosel River Valley, it had the additional effect of challenging the static nature of the wine trade and the monopolies and economic efficiencies of large landowners. By outlining the initial uses of Gall's technique and the opposition to it, this article reveals the formative debates in the ongoing controversy over the definition of natural wine. In turn, the concepts of “artificial” and “natural” are shown to be grounded more in the social and political spheres of the nineteenth-century German wine trade and less in matters of consumer choice or concerns over the environment.