ABSTRACT
EuroBionet, the 'European Network for the Assessment of Air Quality by the Use of Bioindicator Plants', is an EU-funded cooperative project currently consisting of public authorities and scientific institutes from 12 cities in 8 countries. In 2000, the bioindicator plants tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Bel W3), poplar (Populus nigra 'Brandaris'), spiderwort (Tradescantia sp. clone 4430), Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum italicum) and curly kale (Brassica oleracea acephala) were exposed to ambient air at 90 monitoring sites according to standardised methods. Visible injuries and growth parameters were assessed and the accumulation of toxic substances in leaves determined. The exposure of tobacco resulted in a gradient with low levels of ozone-induced foliar injury in N and NW Europe, and medium to high values in the southern and central regions. The results of heavy metal and sulphur analyses in rye grass samples generally showed low to very low sulphur and low to medium heavy metal concentrations in leaves. In some cities, however, local hot spots of heavy metal contamination were detected. Analyses of the PAH contents in curly kale leaves gave low to medium values, with locally elevated levels at traffic-exposed sites.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/analysis , Environmental Monitoring , International Cooperation , Biomarkers , Cities , Europe , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Oxidants, Photochemical/adverse effects , Ozone/adverse effects , Plant Leaves , Plants/chemistry , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis , Vehicle EmissionsSubject(s)
Ducks/physiology , Animals , Ducks/growth & development , Eggs , Female , Housing, Animal , Humidity , Hygiene , Incubators , TemperatureABSTRACT
A long term investigational, advisory and monitoring exercise with a major hatchery emphasised the multi-disciplinary approach adopted by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) to raise the performance of the many aspects of chick production. These included an investigation of egg handling techniques from nest box to hatcher; the adoption by the hatchery of plastic setter trays; an improvement to incubator environment; an improvement in the overall hatchery hygiene programme and the introduction of a regular monitoring programme based on the examination of hatchery fluff. Collectively these improvements led to an improvement of approximately 10 per cent in hatchability over a two year period.
