Maximin principle, emotional aversion, and integrative judgment in the NIMBY context, including social dilemma and moral dilemma: The roles of the amygdala, angular gyrus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Public facilities that have NIMBY (not in my backyard) structure involve both a social dilemma, in which individuals' decisions to prevent the worst outcomes for themselves undermine the public interest, and a moral dilemma focused on the majority versus the minority. This study examined the cognitive-neural processes in judging whether to prioritize the site residents or the citizenry as a whole within the context of NIMBY. Our ROIs were the right angular gyrus being related to concern about the worst possible outcomes for others and oneself, the amygdala associating with emotional aversion to prioritizing the majority, and the vmPFC, which integrates the aversion into "all things considered" judgments. As a result of comparing ingroup conditions for which a NIMBY facility may make participants worst-off position and outgroup conditions for which this possibility is denied, the right angular gyrus was activated in both conditions. The amygdala was activated only in the ingroup, and the vmPFC exhibited a stronger tendency in the ingroup. We concluded that the cognitive-neural processes in judgments on NIMBY facilities are common to both decision-making to avoid the worst-off position for others and for oneself and moral judgments between the majority and the minority.

Contamination of habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis) in Okinawa, Japan by persistent organochlorine chemicals.

Persistent organochlorine chemicals (OCs), including chlordane compounds (CHLs), DDTs, PCBs, and chlorinated dioxins and related compounds (DRCs), were examined in the adipose tissue and liver from 33 specimens of habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis), a species of venomous pit viper endemic to the Japanese Southwest Islands. The median concentrations of CHLs, DDTs, and PCBs in adipose tissue of 22 habus collected from an urban area were 4400 ng g-1 lipid weight (lw), 610 ng g-1 lw, and 1600 ng g-1 lw, respectively. Their DDT and PCB concentrations were higher in comparison with the specimens from a rural area. Liver of 10 specimens from the urban area were subjected to DRCs analysis, and PCDDs, PCDFs, and DL-PCBs were detected with median values of 1300, 350, and 150,000 pg g-1 lw, respectively. Among PCDD/F congeners, octa-CDD was detected at the highest concentrations in seven liver samples, but considerable concentrations of penta- and hexa-CDD/Fs were found in two samples. Relatively higher concentrations of PCB, DDTs, and PCDD/Fs were found in habus collected within 1 km of the boundary of military facilities, suggesting that OCs from some unknown sources of these OCs inside and/or around some of the facilities accumulated in habus.

Coastal biomonitoring survey on persistent organic pollutants using oysters (Saccostrea mordax) from Okinawa, Japan: Geographical distribution and polystyrene foam as a potential source of hexabromocyclododecanes.

The present study determined contamination levels of POPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), in oysters (Saccostrea mordax) collected throughout the seacoast of Okinawa, Japan and their geographic distribution. PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, PBDEs and HBCDs were detected in almost all the oyster samples analyzed and higher concentrations of PCBs, DDTs and CHLs were found in oysters from southwestern populated areas. On the other hand, HBCDs in oysters showed similar levels throughout Okinawa and the highest concentration in a northern rural site with less human and industrial activities, although oyster concentrations of PBDEs were relatively lower. When POPs in expanded polystyrene (EPS) buoys and polystyrene foam debris floated and drifted on coastal seawater were analyzed, extremely high concentrations of HBCDs were detected in some of these EPS buoys and polystyrene foam debris but other POPs were below the limit of detection in all the samples. To evaluate the specific exposure route of HBCDs for oysters, we further analyzed HBCD diastereomers, and PCB congeners by way of comparison, in seawater and sediment samples collected at an urban site and a rural site and estimated their biota (oyster)-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) and bioaccumulation factors (BAF). Interestingly, the highest log BAF values were found for α-HBCD despite its lower log Kow than those of γ-HBCD and PCB congeners, although log BSAF values for HBCDs were lower than those for PCBs. Considering that α-HBCD was detected in a few polystyrene foam samples as the predominant diastereomer, oysters inhabiting the coastal region of Okinawa might be frequently exposed to micronized polystyrene foam particles containing HBCDs.

Concentration of organic sun-blocking agents in seawater of beaches and coral reefs of Okinawa Island, Japan.

The concentration of UV filters (UVFs) and UV light stabilizers (UVLSs) were measured in seawater and river water collected from sites at four beaches, two reefs, and one river on Okinawa Island, Japan. UVFs and/or UVLSs of 8-10 types were detected in beaches samples and 6-9 types were detected in reef samples. The total UVF concentrations at the beach sites were highest either in July or August with a maximum of 1.4 µg L(-1). The concentrations at the reef sites did not show peaks in summer and the maximum values were close to 10 ng L(-1). The detected UVF profiles reflected the ingredients of sunscreens used in each region. The highest UVLS concentrations at the reefs were observed not only in summer but also in June and September. The UVLS concentrations at the reefs were similar to or even higher than that at the beaches or in the river.

Species-specific differences in the accumulation features of organohalogen contaminants and their metabolites in the blood of Japanese terrestrial mammals.

Residue levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PCBs, OH-PBDEs), and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) in the blood of various terrestrial mammals in Japan, including cats, raccoon dogs, dogs, masked palm civets, foxes, raccoons, badgers, and mongooses were determined. Tri- through penta-chlorinated OH-PCBs were predominant in cat blood, whereas hexa- through octa-chlorinated OH-PCBs were found in other species. High proportion of BDE209 was found in all species, suggesting exposure to municipal waste and soil containing higher levels of deca-BDE products. 6OH-/MeO-BDE47 and 2'OH-/MeO-BDE68 were dominant in all terrestrial mammals. This is first report on the detection of OH-/MeO-PBDEs in the blood of terrestrial mammals. High concentrations of OH-/MeO-PBDEs were found in cats, suggesting the intake of these compounds from seafood. Cats exhibited higher accumulation and specific patterns of OH-PCBs, OH-PBDEs, and MeO-PBDEs, they may be at a high risk from these metabolites.

Improved application of recombinant yeast assays on environmental samples by size exclusion chromatography.

The utility of HPLC with a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) column for the fractionation of environmental samples was examined to expand the applicability of recombinant yeast assays (RYAs) for the measurement of estrogenic activity in environmental samples. The elution of steroidal hormone standards through SEC was tested, and river water and sediment samples were subjected to SEC fractionation. The retention times of all estrogen standards were longer than those of the major components with absorbance at 230 nm of the environmental sample matrix. The estrogenic activity of SEC fractions of environmental samples from highly polluted sites was measured using RYA and revealed the existence of estrogenic compounds that could not be detected or quantified in extracted samples before fractionation. The fractions from environmental samples that corresponded to the retention time of estrone, 17[small beta]-estradiol, and estriol were analyzed with LC/MS/MS. These three estrogens were separated into three different fractions, and the concentration of estrone coincided with the estrogenic activity of the fraction in which it was detected. The profile of estrogenic activity of SEC fractions indicated the molecular size of the estrogenic compounds and the yeast growth inhibitors in samples.

Livestock wastes as a source of estrogens and their effects on wildlife of Manko tidal flat, Okinawa.

The Manko tidal flat in the southern part of Okinawa Island is an important visiting and wintering area for migratory birds and was added to the Ramsar Convention Register of Wetlands in 1999. This area used to be an inlet extending to the inner part of Naha Port, but recent reclamation projects have restricted its connection to the East China Sea. As is typical in rural regions of subtropical islands, the inhabitants in the Manko basin raise livestock, especially pigs, without employing sufficient waste treatment methods. As sewage treatment works are considered to be one of the main sources of environmental estrogens in urban areas, the significance of livestock farming as a source of estrogens in rural area is examined in this study. In the present study, total estrogenic activities in water and sediment samples from the Manko tidal flat and its basin were measured using a recombinant yeast screen method. Estrogenic activities (equivalent to 17beta-estradiol, E2) were around 10 ng l(-1) in water samples and more than 10 microg kg(-1) in some sediment samples. In addition, the concentrations of estrone (E1) and E2 in water samples measured using LC/MS/MS indicated a high contribution of environmental estrogens from livestock wastes.

Atmospheric NO2 and CO concentration in Lima, Peru.

The atmospheric concentration of NO2 in Lima, Peru was measured through 1 year using passive samplers. The concentration was stable and evident seasonal change was not observed. Also, the distribution of NO2 concentration in entire Lima was monitored twice in different seasons. The average NO2 concentrations at 33 and 27 sites of these monitoring were 17.1 and 15.3 ppb, respectively. NO2 distribution was high in the downtown area and decreased gradually with distance from there. The wind that almost always blew from the ocean had a great influence on it. High NO2 level and the change of CO concentration suggest that the residential area in the northeast side forms a topological channel among hills to blow out the pollutants from the downtown area.