Particulate matter is harmful to human health. To reduce its concentration in air, plants could be used as biological filters, accumulating particulate matter on their foliage. In a study carried out ...at three sites with differing pollution levels and exposure to precipitation, the capacity of evergreen species (Taxus baccata L., Hedera helix L. and Pinus sylvestris L.) to accumulate particulate matter and trace elements from ambient air in urban areas was investigated. The effects of rainfall and the passage of time on particulate matter deposition on foliage were also determined.
The results showed that foliage accumulated an increasing quantity of particulate matter in successive months, but the actual amount of particulate matter and trace elements accumulated differed considerably between sites and plant species. The greatest accumulation of air pollutants occurred on the foliage of plants protected from the rain at a site exposed to traffic related pollution and the smallest accumulation at a rural site. Among the species analysed, the deposited mass of particulate matter and trace elements was the greatest on P. sylvestris. In all species, precipitation removed a considerable proportion of particles accumulated on foliage. Most of the removed particulate matter was large size fraction, but little belong to the smallest size fraction. These results showed that both, the dynamics of deposition and leaf washing by rain during the season need to be considered when evaluating the total effect of vegetation in pollutant remediation.
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•PM quantity on foliage increases in successive months.•Rain removes a considerable proportion of deposited PM.•Rain removes mostly large PM; fine PM adhere more strongly to foliage.•Pine was the most efficient species tested for PM and TE accumulation.•Plants can be used as bio-monitors of air pollutants.
Particulate matter (PM) accumulation on leaves of 22 trees and 25 shrubs was examined in test fields in Norway and Poland. Leaf PM in different particle size fractions (PM10, PM2.5, PM0.2) differed ...among the species, by 10- to 15-folds at both test sites. Pinus mugo and Pinus sylvestris, Taxus media and Taxus baccata, Stephanandra incisa and Betula pendula were efficient species in capturing PM. Less efficient species were Acer platanoides, Prunus avium and Tilia cordata. Differences among species within the same genus were also observed. Important traits for PM accumulation were leaf properties such as hair and wax cover. The ranking presented in terms of capturing PM can be used to select species for air pollution removal in urban areas. Efficient plant species and planting designs that can shield vulnerable areas in urban settings from polluting traffic etc. can be used to decrease human exposure to anthropogenic pollutants.
► Leaf accumulation of particulate matter (PM) on trees and shrubs was quantified. ► PM accumulation differed 10–15-folds among species at the test sites. ► Leaf properties and wax content were important determinants of PM accumulation. ► Efficient species should be used to shield vulnerable urban areas from PM exposure.
Diets causing milk fat depression (MFD) are known to alter ruminal lipid metabolism leading to the formation of specific biohydrogenation intermediates that exert antilipogenic effects. Several ...isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), namely trans-10, cis-12 CLA, cis-10, trans-12 CLA, and trans-9, cis-11 CLA, inhibit mammary lipogenesis in the lactating cow, but ruminal outflow of these biohydrogenation intermediates does not account entirely for the reductions in milk fat synthesis during diet-induced MFD. Milk fat trans-10 18:1 concentrations are consistently increased on diets that cause MFD, suggesting a possible role in the regulation of milk fat secretion. Three rumen-fistulated cows in mid lactation were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square to evaluate the effects of a mixture of 18:1 fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) on milk fat synthesis. Experimental treatments consisted of abomasal infusions of ethanol (control), 6 g/d of trans-10, cis-12 CLA (positive control; CLA), or 247 g/d of a mixture of 18:1 FAME containing (% fatty acids) cis-9 (9.45), cis-12 (3.35), trans-10 (37.3), trans-11 (37.4), and trans-12 (2.66) as major isomers (T181 treatment). Administration of the T181 treatment supplied 92.1 g/d of trans-10 18:1. Infusions were conducted over a 5-d period with a 9-d interval between treatments. Treatments had no effect on dry matter intake, milk yield, or milk protein. Relative to the control, abomasal infusion of T181 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA treatments reduced milk fat secretion by 19.5 and 41.5%, respectively. Even though a direct cause and effect on mammary lipogenesis could not be established, comparisons with published data and considerations of the relative abundance of constituent FAME in treatment T181 implicated trans-10 18:1 as the isomer responsible. In conclusion, current data suggest that trans-10 18:1 potentially exerts antilipogenic effects and may contribute to the reduction in milk fat synthesis during diet-induced MFD in the lactating cow.
•Challenges for smart intensification of marginal land are manifold•Tools for precise agriculture will aid to detect pollutant hotspots and poor soils•Crop rotation and adapted crop choice will yield ...biomass•Amendments will sequester carbon and release fertilizer when needed•Potentials of marginal soils can be unlocked and lead to ecological and economical success
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The rapid increase of the world population constantly demands more food production from agricultural soils. This causes conflicts, since at the same time strong interest arises on novel bio-based products from agriculture, and new perspectives for rural landscapes with their valuable ecosystem services. Agriculture is in transition to fulfill these demands. In many countries, conventional farming, influenced by post-war food requirements, has largely been transformed into integrated and sustainable farming. However, since it is estimated that agricultural production systems will have to produce food for a global population that might amount to 9.1 billion by 2050 and over 10 billion by the end of the century, we will require an even smarter use of the available land, including fallow and derelict sites. One of the biggest challenges is to reverse non-sustainable management and land degradation. Innovative technologies and principles have to be applied to characterize marginal lands, explore options for remediation and re-establish productivity. With view to the heterogeneity of agricultural lands, it is more than logical to apply specific crop management and production practices according to soil conditions. Cross-fertilizing with conservation agriculture, such a novel approach will provide (1) increased resource use efficiency by producing more with less (ensuring food security), (2) improved product quality, (3) ameliorated nutritional status in food and feed products, (4) increased sustainability, (5) product traceability and (6) minimized negative environmental impacts notably on biodiversity and ecological functions. A sustainable strategy for future agriculture should concentrate on production of food and fodder, before utilizing bulk fractions for emerging bio-based products and convert residual stage products to compost, biochar and bioenergy. The present position paper discusses recent developments to indicate how to unlock the potentials of marginal land.
Under certain dietary situations, rumen biohydrogenation results in the production of unique fatty acids that inhibit milk fat synthesis. The first of these to be identified was trans-10, cis-12 ...conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), but others are postulated to contribute to diet-induced milk fat depression (MFD). Our objective was to examine the potential role of trans-9, cis-11 CLA in the regulation of milk fat. In a preliminary study, we used gas-liquid and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques to examine milk fat samples from a diet-induced MFD study and found that an increase in trans-9, cis-11 CLA corresponded to the decrease in milk fat yield. We investigated this further using a CLA enrichment of 9, 11 isomers to examine the biological effect of trans-9, cis-11 CLA on milk fat synthesis. Four rumen-fistulated Holstein cows were randomly assigned in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment involving 5-d treatment periods and abomasal infusion of 1) ethanol (control), 2) a 9, 11 CLA mix (containing 32% trans-9, cis-11, 29% cis-9, trans-11, and 17% trans-9, trans-11), 3) a trans-9, trans-11 CLA supplement, and 4) a trans-10, cis-12 CLA supplement (positive control). The trans-9, trans-11 CLA and trans-10, cis-12 CLA supplements were of high purity (>90%), and all supplements were infused at a rate to provide 5 g/d of the CLA isomer of interest. Milk yield and dry matter intake did not differ among treatments. Compared with the control treatment, milk fat yield was reduced by 15% for the 9, 11 CLA mixture and by 27% for the trans-10, cis-12 CLA treatment. We also found that trans-9, trans-11 CLA had no effect on milk fat yield, and previous research has shown that milk fat yield is unaltered when cows are infused with cis-9, trans-11 CLA. When all treatments were considered, results suggested that trans-9, cis-11 was the CLA isomer in the 9, 11 CLA mix responsible for the reduction in milk fat synthesis, although the magnitude was less than that observed for trans-10, cis-12 CLA. Interestingly, trans-9, trans-11 CLA altered the milk fat desaturase index, further demonstrating that alterations in desaturase can occur independently of effects on milk fat synthesis. Overall, our investigations identified that an increase in milk fat content of trans-9, cis-11 CLA was associated with diet-induced MFD and provided evidence of a role for this isomer in MFD based on the 15% reduction in milk fat yield with abomasal infusion of a CLA enrichment that supplied 5 g/d of trans-9, cis-11 CLA.
Accumulation of particulate matter (PM) and metals on leaves of three deciduous woody species was studied along urbanisation gradients in Stavanger and Warsaw. Differences between rural and urban ...sites explained most of the observed variation in leaf chemistry, followed by differences between regions. Highest leaf accumulation of elements was found in Warsaw, but also composition of elements differed between the cities. Overall, species showed similar patterns of element accumulation, but differed in accumulation of specific elements. These differences could in part be explained by differences in epicuticular waxes and PM accumulation. Expected source of elements and their chemical characteristics did not explain the observed accumulation patterns. A better differentiation between elements taken up from soil and air would be required for his. Species specific accumulation of elements has to be taken into consideration using leaf samples for biomonitoring.
•Rural to urban gradient explained much of the observed variation in leaf chemistry.•PM deposition correlated with metal accumulation in two of three species.•Plant species differed in accumulation of specific elements.
Leaf accumulation of pollutants depends on pollution concentration and is affected by plant species.
A number of studies have focused on urban trees to understand their mitigation capacity of air pollution. In this study particulate matter (PM) deposition on Quercus ilex leaves was quantitatively ...analyzed in four districts of the City of Terni (Italy) for three periods of the year. Fine (between 0.2 and 2.5 μm) and Large (between 2.5 and 10 μm) PM fractions were analyzed. Mean PM deposition value on Quercus ilex leaves was 20.6 μg cm−2. Variations in PM deposition correlated with distance to main roads and downwind position relatively to industrial area. Epicuticular waxes were measured and related to accumulated PM. For Fine PM deposited in waxes we observed a higher value (40% of total Fine PM) than Large PM (4% of total Large PM). Results from this study allow to increase our understanding about air pollution interactions with urban vegetation and could be hopefully taken into account when guidelines for local urban green management are realized.
•A quantitative analysis of Particulate Matter deposition on urban Quercus ilex leaves was implemented.•Deposition data were correlated with pollutants sources such as roads and local steel factory, and with epicuticular waxes.•Results provide new insight about the capacity of trees in removing pollutants in urban environment.
This paper is providing useful information on PM deposition on urban vegetation.
Conjugated linoleic acids refer to a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bounds. Three supplements of conjugated linoleic acids which differed in ...isomer enrichment were infused into the abomasum of lactating dairy cows to determine postruminal effect on milk yield and composition. Four Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Treatments were 3-d abomasal infusion of 1) control, 5 kg of skim milk (carrier for conjugated linoleic acid supplements), 2) conjugated linoleic acid supplement 1 (28.8 g/d; 6.9 g of cis/trans 9,11; 6.4 g of cis/trans 8,10), 3) conjugated linoleic acid supplement 2 (48.5 g/d; 7.1 g of cis/trans 9,11; 4.1 g of cis/trans 8,10; 8.3 g of cis/trans 10,12; 5.5 g of cis/trans 11,13), and 4) conjugated linoleic acid supplement 3 (16.3 g/d; 7.1 g of cis/trans 9,11; 7.2 g of cis/trans 10,12). Infusions increased the conjugated linoleic acids content of milk fat from 0.43 g/100 g of fat for the control treatment to 1.02, 1.52, and 0.95 g/100 g of fat for conjugated linoleic acid supplements 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Apparent efficiency of transfer in milk fat was 25.2, 33.5, 21.0, and 28.4% for cis/trans 8,10, cis/trans 9,11, cis/trans 10,12, and cis/trans 11,13, respectively. Infusion of conjugated linoleic acids had no effect on dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk protein content. However, conjugated linoleic acid supplements reduced the content and yield of milk fat by 28 and 25%, respectively. The similarity of response for the different conjugated linoleic acid supplements did not allow us to identify the specific role of different isomers, but the changes in milk fatty acid composition indicated that effects were primarily on de novo fatty acid synthesis and the desaturation process.
As a stress hormone, cortisol and more recently its metabolites are analysed when assessing fish stress and welfare status, although the exact identity of these metabolites is not clearly defined for ...the Atlantic salmon. LC-MS/MS techniques, owing to their specificity, sensitivity and ability to simultaneously identify and measure several relevant compounds, can be useful tools for this purpose. Using the guidelines provided by the European Decision no. 657/2002/EC for validation, the LC-MS/MS method presented here, can reliably identify and quantify cortisol and five of its metabolites (5β-THF, cortisone, 5β-DHE, 5β-THE and β-cortolone) in bile and faeces, and cortisol and cortisone in skin mucus and blood plasma of farmed Atlantic salmon within 15 min. Identified as the most predominant compound in faeces and bile, 5β-THE is proposed as a candidate stress biomarker when using these matrices. A decision limit (CCα) below 5 ng/mL, a detection capability (CCβ) and a limit of detection (LOD) below 10 ng/mL and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) below 30 ng/mL were typically obtained for most of the compounds. The concentrations of these compounds measured in either non-stressed or stressed fish were all above the CCα, CCβ, LOD and the LOQ of the method. The latter consequently demonstrated significant difference in cortisol metabolites concentrations between the two groups of fish. The present study further demonstrates that pooling of samples from several individuals could provide reliable results for farmed fish stress evaluation, when sample materials are insufficient in terms of quantity.
•Cortisol metabolites in plasma, skin mucus, bile and faeces are appropriate stress biomarkers of farmed Atlantic salmon.•5β-tetrahydrocortisone is the major cortisol metabolite in Atlantic salmon bile and faeces.•Use of low sample amount and sample pooling are feasible in stress evaluation of farmed Atlantic salmon using LC-MS/MS techniques.
In this book, scientists from various disciplines address the advances in seafood research with respect to quality, safety, consumer's demands and processing of wild and farmed fish. The nutritional ...properties of marine lipids and lipid oxidation from model systems to seafood are presented. Several contributions on the effects of natural anti-oxidants to prevent oxidation are also included. Effects of dietary factors on muscle tissue quality, pre-rigor processing and brining of farmed cod are covered. The development of rigor mortis and the quality of muscle in relation to commercial and experimental slaughter techniques are also discussed. Consumer's knowledge, perception and need for information about seafood are discussed. Topics such as shelf life and microbial quality of seafood are covered in a range of contributions. Inactivation of micro organisms or biopreservation of seafood are included. Attention is paid to the development of the Quality Index Method for the evaluation of the quality of fresh fish and products. The characterisation and the quality of processed by-products are also presented. The presence of trace elements and organic contaminants in variety of seafood products is highlighted. Finally, several contributions regarding advanced methodologies to determine the quality of seafood are presented. This book will be of interest to anybody concerned with quality and safety of fish throughout the entire chain from catch to consumer.
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