Effects of toxicants with different modes of action on Myriophyllum spicatum in test systems with varying complexity.

At the international workshop Aquatic Macrophyte Risk Assessment for Pesticides (AMRAP), it was noted that the EU risk assessment under the directive 91/414/EEC for herbicides, based only on algae and the monocotyledonous duckweed species Lemna sp., offers no certain protection against some growth regulating auxins. Therefore, AMRAP members proposed the introduction of the dicotyledonous water milfoil Myriophyllum as additional test species. This study was aimed to compare toxicity results from three test systems (TS) with varying complexity, namely Water TS, Sediment TS and Microcosm TS using Myriophyllum spicatum as test organism. As test substances, the photosynthesis inhibiting herbicide isoproturon, the growth regulating auxins fluroxypyr and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and the non-specific acting toxicant 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP) were chosen. It was assessed if and why the sensitivity of M. spicatum towards the four toxicants varied in the different test systems and if the addition of sucrose to the medium used in the Water TS had an effect on the sensitivity of Myriophyllum. All TS were suitable for detecting negative effects of toxicants with different modes of action on M. spicatum. The lowest variability of endpoints was found in the Water TS with lowest experimental complexity. For auxins, the endpoint weight did not result in robust EC50 values in all TS, whereas root related endpoints, which are also ecologically relevant, turned out to be very sensitive with low variance. Sucrose in the medium of the Water TS did not seem to influence the sensitivity of M. spicatum towards isoproturon and 3,5-DCP but may have increased the sensitivity of M. spicatum roots when exposed to 2,4-D. However, the findings of all TS resulted in similar risk estimations if root endpoints were not considered.

[German Environmental Survey for Children (GerES IV) in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). First results]. / Kinder-Umwelt-Survey (KUS) im Rahmen des Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurveys (KiGGS). Erste Ergebnisse.

The German Environmental Survey for Children (GerES IV) is the environment-related module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) of the Robert Koch Institute and the fourth GerES of the Federal Environment Agency. The main objective of GerESs is to analyse and document the extent, distribution and determinants of exposure to environmental pollutants of the German general population. GerES IV was performed from 2003 to 2006. A total of 1.790 children aged 3-14 years from 150 sampling locations participated in GerES IV. Samples of blood, urine, tap water, house dust and indoor air were analysed. Hearing tests, measurements of traffic noise and interviews to get exposure-related information were conducted. First results indicate a clear decrease of the exposure to arsenic, lead and mercury. Cotinine concentrations in urine can be used to classify the exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke. The examination of the tap water used in the subjects' households indicates that in some households the guideline values of the German Drinking Water Ordinance were not always met. This is the case for nickel, copper and lead which are used as pipe material for domestic plumbing.