Five tropical seaweeds, Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P.C. Silva, Padina australis Hauck, Sargassum binderi Sonder ex J. Agardh (syn. S. aquifolium (Turner) C. Agardh), Sargassum siliquosum J. Agardh and Turbinaria conoides (J. Agardh) Kützing, were incubated in seawater of pH 8.0, 7.8 (ambient), 7.6, 7.4 and 7.2, to study the effects of changing seawater pH on halocarbon emissions. Eight halocarbon species known to be emitted by seaweeds were investigated: bromoform (CHBr3), dibro-momethane (CH2Br2), iodomethane (CH3I), diiodomethane (CH2I2), bromoiodomethane (CH2BrI), bromochlorometh-ane (CH2BrCl), bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2), and dibro-mochloromethane (CHBr2Cl). These very short-lived halocarbon gases are believed to contribute to stratospheric halogen concentrations if released in the tropics. It was observed that the seaweeds emit all eight halocarbons assayed, with the exception of K. alvarezii and S. binderi for CH2I2 and CH3I respectively, which were not measurable at the achievable limit of detection. The effect of pH on halocarbon emission by the seaweeds was shown to be species-specific and compound specific. The highest percentage changes in emissions for the halocarbons of interest were observed at the lower pH levels of 7.2 and 7.4 especially in Padina australis and Sargassum spp., showing that lower seawater pH causes elevated emissions of some halocarbon compounds. In general the seaweed least affected by pH change in terms of types of halocarbon emission, was P. australis. The commercially farmed seaweed K. alvarezii was very sensitive to pH change as shown by the high increases in most of the compounds in all pH levels relative to ambient. In terms of percentage decrease in maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv∕Fm) prior to and after incubation, there were no significant correlations with the various pH levels tested for all seaweeds. The correlation between percentage decrease in the maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv∕Fm) and halocarbon emission rates, was significant only for CH2BrCl emission by P. australis (r = 0.47; p ≤ 0.04), implying that photosynthesis may not be closely linked to halocarbon emissions by the seaweeds studied. Bromine was the largest contributor to the total mass of halogen emitted for all the seaweeds at all pH. The highest total amount of bromine emitted by K. alvarezii (an average of 98% of total mass of halogens) and the increase in the total amount of chlorine with decreasing seawater pH fuels concern for the expanding seaweed farming activities in the ASEAN region.
A study was carried out on the distribution and enrichment of trace elements in the core marine sediments of East Malaysia from three stations at South China Sea and one station each at Sulu Sea and Sulawesi Sea. Five stations of sediment cores were recovered and the vertical concentration profiles of six elements namely Br, Cs, Hf, Rb, Ta, and V were determined using the instrumental neutron activation analysis. The enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and the modified degree of contamination were used to calculate the anthropogenic and pollution status of the elements in the samples. Except for Cs and Hf, which by the enrichment factor are categorized from minimum enrichment to moderate enrichment in all stations and for V and Rb in Sulu Sea and Sulawesi Sea, which are categorized minimum enrichment, other elements are found to be no enrichment at all stations. The geoaccumulation index of Hf in one station shows moderately polluted and for other elements are unpolluted. However, the modified degree values of all samples are less than 1, suggesting very low contamination of elements found in all the stations.
Very short-lived brominated substances (VSLBr) are an important source of stratospheric bromine, an effective ozone destruction catalyst. However, the accurate estimation of the organic and inorganic partitioning of bromine and the input to the stratosphere remains uncertain. Here, we report near-tropopause measurements of organic brominated substances found over the tropical Pacific during the NASA Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment campaigns. We combine aircraft observations and a chemistry-climate model to quantify the total bromine loading injected to the stratosphere. Surprisingly, despite differences in vertical transport between the Eastern and Western Pacific, VSLBr (organic + inorganic) contribute approximately similar amounts of bromine [∼6 (4-9) parts per trillion] [corrected] to the stratospheric input at the tropical tropopause. These levels of bromine cause substantial ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere, and any increases in future abundances (e.g., as a result of aquaculture) will lead to larger depletions.
This study determines the trace metal content in Anadara Granosa L., a popular seafood amongst South-East-Asians. Using the technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) identification has been made of the presence of 17 trace metals including elements which are classified as toxic (As, Br, Cs) and those which are rare-earths (Eu, Ce, Lu, Tb, Yb).
A simple atomic-absorption spectrophotometry method is described for the determination of silver, bismuth, cadmium, copper, iron, nickel and zinc in lead- and tin-base solders and white-metal bearing alloys, with use of a single sample solution. The sample is dissolved in a mixture of hydrobromic acid and bromine, then fumed with sulphuric acid. The lead sulphate is dissolved in concentrated hydrochloric acid. The method is particularly suitable for the determination of silver and bismuth, which are co-precipitated with lead sulphate. The other elements can also be determined after removal of the lead sulphate by filtration.
Co-pyrolysis of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) with polymeric materials prevails in scenarios pertinent to thermal recycling of bromine-laden objects; most notably the non-metallic fraction in e-waste. Hydro-dehalogenation of aromatic compounds in a hydrogen-donating medium constitutes a key step in refining pyrolysis oil of BFRs. Chemical reactions underpinning this process are poorly understood. Herein, we utilize accurate density functional theory (DFT) calculations to report thermo-kinetic parameters for the reaction of solid polyethylene, PE, (as a surrogate model for aliphatic polymers) with prime products sourced from thermal decomposition of BFRs, namely, HBr, bromophenols; benzene, and phenyl radical. Facile abstraction of an ethylenic H by Br atoms is expected to contribute to the formation of abundant HBr concentrations in practical systems. Likewise, a relatively low energy barrier for aromatic Br atom abstraction from a 2-bromophenol molecule by an alkyl radical site, concurs with the reported noticeable hydro-debromination capacity of PE. Pathways entailing a PE-induced bromination of a phenoxy radical should be hindered in view of high energy barrier for a Br transfer into the para position of the phenoxy radical. Adsorption of a phenoxy radical onto a Cu(Br) site substituted at the PE chain affords the commonly discussed PBDD/Fs precursor of a surface-bounded bromophenolate adduct. Such scenario arises due to the heterogeneous integration of metals into the bromine-rich carbon matrix in primitive recycling of e-waste and their open burning.
Series of the 2-unsubstituted and 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-substituted 4-anilino-6-bromoquinazolines and their 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-substituted derivatives were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HeLa cells. The 2-unsubstituted 4-anilino-6-bromoquinazolines lacked activity, whereas most of their 2-(4-chlorophenyl) substituted derivatives were found to exhibit significant cytotoxicity and selectivity against HeLa cells. Replacement of bromine with 4-fluorophenyl group for the 2-unsubstituted 4-anilinoquinazolines resulted in superior activity against HeLa cells compared to Gefitinib. The presence of a 4-fluorophenyl group in the 2-(4-chlorophenyl) substituted derivatives led to increased cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, except for the 3-chloroanilino derivative. The most active compounds, namely, 3g, 3l, and 4l, were found to exhibit a moderate to significant inhibitory effect against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK). The EGFR molecular docking model suggested that these compounds are nicely bound to the region of EGFR.
Discriminant analysis of six trace element concentrations measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in 26 paired-samples of malignant and histologically normal human breast tissues shows the technique to be a potentially valuable clinical tool for making malignant-normal classification. Nonparametric discriminant analysis is performed for the data obtained. Linear and quadratic discriminant analyses are also carried out for comparison. For this data set a formal analysis shows that the elements which may be useful in distinguishing between malignant and normal tissues are Ca, Rb and Br, providing correct classification for 24 out of 26 normal samples and 22 out of 26 malignant samples.
We present results from the OP3 campaign in Sabah during 2008 that allow us to study the impact of local emission changes over Borneo on atmospheric composition at the regional and wider scale. OP3 constituent data provide an important constraint on model performance. Treatment of boundary layer processes is highlighted as an important area of model uncertainty. Model studies of land-use change confirm earlier work, indicating that further changes to intensive oil palm agriculture in South East Asia, and the tropics in general, could have important impacts on air quality, with the biggest factor being the concomitant changes in NO(x) emissions. With the model scenarios used here, local increases in ozone of around 50 per cent could occur. We also report measurements of short-lived brominated compounds around Sabah suggesting that oceanic (and, especially, coastal) emission sources dominate locally. The concentration of bromine in short-lived halocarbons measured at the surface during OP3 amounted to about 7 ppt, setting an upper limit on the amount of these species that can reach the lower stratosphere.