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Objectives: To compare caesium-137 concentrations in patients from the Western Isles Health Board, Glasgow area, and other parts of the Scottish mainland, and to investigate the source of 137Cs in patients from the Western Isles., Design: Study of hypertensive patients having electrolyte concentrations measured, including 137Cs. Interview by questionnaire of island subjects about intake of foods likely to contain radiocaesium and the source of these foods. Measurement of 137Cs and 134Cs in food, urine, and vegetation., Setting: Scottish mainland and Western Isles, 1979-86. All measurements before Chernobyl nuclear accident., Patients: 413 consecutive patients referred to the blood pressure unit for investigation of hypertension. 60 from the Western Isles, including 44 from North Uist; 32 from North Uist participated in the dietary analysis., Main Outcome Measures: Concentration of radiocaesium in the body, urine, food, and vegetation. Islanders' consumption of local produce., Results: Patients from the Western Isles had five times higher body concentrations of 137Cs (median 2.54 (interquartile range 1.25-3.73)) Bq/gK) than did patients from around Glasgow (0.47 (0.26-0.66) Bq/gK) and other parts of the Scottish mainland (0.42 (0.24-0.71) Bq/gK). Islanders often consumed local milk and mutton, but ate local fish rarely. 137Cs and 134Cs were present in coastal (21.6 Bq/kg 137Cs, 0.25 Bq/kg 134Cs) and moorland (135.9, 0.65 Bq/kg) grasses and in islanders' urine (2.01, 0.013 Bq/l). Lower concentrations (0.336, 0.004 Bq/l), were found in the urine of Glasgow controls (p less than 0.001 for both isotopes)., Conclusions: Islanders have excess body 137Cs concentrations, most of which probably comes from local milk and lamb. The radioactivity is not above the recommended safety limit. The presence of 134Cs suggests that nuclear reprocessing is the source of some of the radiocaesium.

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of paraquat using ascorbic acid (an easily available reducing agent) is described. Paraquat is reduced with ascorbic acid in alkaline solution to give a blue radical ion with an absorbance maximum at 600 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 12-96 micrograms of paraquat in 10 ml of the final solution (1.2-9.6 ppm). The important analytical parameters and the optimum reaction conditions were evaluated. The method was applied successfully to the determination of paraquat in water, grain and plant materials.

Although esophageal extrusa is the most readily accepted representation of forage consumed by grazing ruminants, esophageal sampling is demanding from the standpoint of animal care and maintenance and extrusa processing. This experiment was conducted with a split-plot design to evaluate the effects of pasture type, pasture sampling technique and drying method on estimation of grazed forage composition. Ten esophageally fistulated steers grazed pastures of either tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) or tall fescue interseeded with ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.); steers were closely observed during four collection periods to determine their exact grazing location. Forage samples were collected either directly from the esophageal fistula (E) or hand-gathered (HG) from the immediate perimeter of the grazed area. Samples of E and HG from each steer were divided and oven-dried at 40 degrees C or lyophilized. Fescue samples had lower (P less than .01) N and ADF N concentrations than fescue-ladino clover samples, and E-collected fescue samples had lower (P less than .05) in vitro digestible OM than E-collected fescue-ladino clover samples. Sampling x drying method interactions were detected (P less than .01) for OM, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose (HEMI), ADL, alkaline peroxide lignin (APL), ADFN and indigestible ADF (IADF). Oven-dried E had higher (P less than .05) NDF, ADF, HEMI, ADL, APL and ADF N than lyophilized E; ADF N and IADF were higher from oven-dried HG than from lyophilized HG. In vitro digestible OM was not modified by oven drying. Hand-gathered samples, whether lyophilized or oven-dried, did not simulate E dried by lyophilization. Standardized collection techniques and drying procedures should be implemented to minimize damage to fibrous components.

Concentrations of radionuclides originating from the Chernobyl reactor accident were measured as a function of time in air, rainwater, grass, cow's milk, vegetables and dust by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. Special attention was paid to grass and milk originating from the same meadows. Also, milk of cows temporarily kept inside after the accident was monitored until a few days after their release from the stables. Activity ratios in various types of samples and the implication of the sheltering measures for cows are discussed.

The present investigation studied the toxicity of soil contaminated by untreated discharge from a factory that recycles used plastics. The nearby agricultural areas and freshwater fish ponds were polluted with high concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Mn. Water extracts from the contaminated soil retarded root growth of Brassica chinensis (Chinese white cabbage) and Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) where their seeds were obtained commercially. The contaminated populations of C. dactylon, Panicum repen (panic grass), and Imperata cylindrica (wooly grass) were able to withstand higher concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Mn, especially C. dactylon, when compared with their uncontaminated counterparts.

Fiber contents of oven-dried ray-grass cut at different stages of maturity were higher than the values obtained for freeze-dried samples. The reverse was observed for in vitro organic matter digestibility. Moreover, oven-drying dramatically decreased in sacco nitrogen degradability as compared to lyophilization, preservation by freezing with liquid nitrogen and use of fresh material.

A microtechnique is described to visualize pollen allergens by making prints from the surface of mature grains on nitrocellulose membrane. The allergen Lol p I is detected by specific monoclonal antibodies or specific IgE from sera of grass-pollen-allergic patients, visualized by the immunoperoxidase method. This technique offers the potential to study the distribution of individual allergens in aerobiology samples by bright-field microscopy, and to determine the sensitivity spectra of allergic individuals to known and unknown pollen sources.

A colorimetric method for the quantitative determination of perloline in fodder grasses was established. The comparison with the internationally used spectrofluorimetric method shows that the established method is applicable as a routine method. The average variation coefficient of the colorimetric method is 4.9%. The average rediscovery quota was 95.8% (93.8-99.0%).

Four forage samples were analyzed by 16 laboratories for KNO3 content. Individual reported KNO3 values varied widely for each sample; coefficients of variation for the 4 samples were 36.0, 51.0, 12.8, and 55.0%. Recovery of KNO3 from the spiked sample averaged 105%. The analytical results, as a group, were unacceptable both statistically and for use in feeding recommendations. Three values reported could have resulted in feeding potentially toxic forage to livestock.

The nutrient status of grazing beef cattle from four selected soil order regions of Florida was examined. Liver, blood, hair and feces samples from 14 heifers and 14 cows, plus forage samples, were collected during two periods of the year from nine ranches located in four different regions. Soil samples were collected during one period. The soil order regions were the Histosol (southeast), Spodosol (southwest), Entisol (central) and Ultisol (northwest). Mean forage P values were higher (P less than .05) in the wet season, while mean hair P levels were higher (P less than .05) during the dry season. Mean forage, plasma, liver and hair Mg values were higher (P less than .05) in the wet season. Plasma vitamin E, liver vitamin A and forage carotene levels were higher (P less than .05) during the wet season. Mean forage P content was deficient (less than .25%) during both seasons and varied from .10% in the dry season to .16% during the wet season. Mean forage Mg (less than .18%) and K (less than .60%) concentrations were deficient in the dry season. Forage protein was deficient (less than 7.0%) in five of seven ranches during the dry season. Extractable soil Ca, exchangeable soil Ca, Mn, Al, H+, soil organic matter and effective cation exchange capacity were higher (P less than .05) in the Histosol region. Extractable soil K was low (60 ppm) in all regions, except the northwest. Forage P was critical (less than .25%) during the dry season in all regions and varied from .08 to .15%, while plasma P was deficient (4.5 mg/100 ml) in animals from the southeast during the dry season only.

A collaborative study was conducted to determine the standard error of difference among laboratories for near-infrared reflectance spectroscopic (NIRS) determination of acid-detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein in forages. The 6 participating laboratories were members of the USDA/ARS National Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Forage Research Project. The NIRS calibration equations were developed in the Associate Referee's laboratory for crude protein and ADF and were transferred to the instrument in each of the other collaborating laboratories. The calibration set included over 650 diverse forage samples with crude protein and ADF calibration data; the validation set included 94 samples of bermudagrass. Among-laboratory reproducibility for the NIRS method, calculated as the relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR), was 1.14% for ADF and 0.42% for crude protein. The variance component for among-laboratory variation (coefficient of variation) was 2.54% for ADF and 2.89% for crude protein. These results confirm that it is possible to calibrate, validate, and transfer (NIRS) equations and data among laboratories for the accurate determination of ADF and crude protein, and thereby demonstrate that NIRS can be used as a standard method for the analysis of forages. The method has been adopted official first action.

Milk sales records for a dairy herd showed that milk production did not decrease during the first 4 yr of exposure of cows to fluoride pollution from an aluminum plant. During the next 3 yr milk production decreased, but not significantly. From yr 8 of exposure there was a significant decrease, which persisted through yr 19, when the dairy operation was terminated. From yr 15 through yr 19, the milk yield averaged less than 60% of the expected value.

Samples of grass, cattle and sheep livers from the districts surrounding Karatina, Kenya, were analysed for their contents of selenium. The following mean values were found: Grass (n = 31): 0.19 +/- 0.17 mg Se/kg on dry matter basis, cattle liver (n = 96): 0.31 +/- 0.10 mg Se/ kg on wet weight, and sheep liver (n = 93): 0.55 +/- 0.25 mg Se/kg on wet weight. It is concluded that selenium deficiency is unlikely to occur in the districts included in this investigation.

Africa's abundant large herbivores are very heterogeneously distributed, both geographically and regionally. Within a region, some localities contain dense animal concentrations although areas nearby may be virtually unoccupied. Mixed-species herds are a conspicuous feature of areas where animals concentrate. The prevailing explanations of local distributional concentrations are (1) that different herbivore species facilitate each other's foraging, and (2) that animals are protected from predation by both intraspecific and interspecific association. If facilitation of grazing were an overriding factor, mixed species herds should move extensively with localized rain showers to obtain the greatest forage yield. If predation were the major factor influencing animal densities and distributions, rapid, unpredictable spatial movements would further reduce predation. But because resident, non-migratory species tend to occupy home ranges that are stable over time, neither of these hypotheses is totally compelling. Because tropical forages are of lower quality than temperate ones and are often chronically deficient in mineral elements, I tested the hypothesis that areas where animals concentrate are localities supporting forages of higher mineral content. I report here that the mineral content of foods is an important determinant of the spatial distributions of animals within the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Based on ecological critieria, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus appear particularly important.

A sample of ergot from meadow grass collected in the south-western part of Norway was examined for alkaloids and dosed orally to four lambs about 10 months old. Sclerotia were dosed at a rate of 0.12-0.75 g per kg body weight per day for 4-27 days. The concentration of total alkaloids in the sclerotia was estimated to be about 0.4%. Ergosine, ergocristine, ergotamine and the three corresponding isomers were identified by thin-layer chromatography. Of the total alkaloids, ergosine and ergocristine constituted 35% each, ergotamine 15% and the isomers 5% each. Three lambs dosed outdoors in cold and wet weather all became ill, with anorexia and increased pulse rate. No symptoms nor post mortem lesions were seen in the single lamb kept indoors. On post mortem examination of the three lambs showing symptoms, hyperemic mucosae, haemorrhages, erosions and necroses in the digestive tract, most pronounced in abomasum and cecum, were demonstrated. In two lambs, slight oedema was found distally in some of the limbs and tail, but no sign of gangrene was observed.

Thirty-one samples of pasture grass from districts surrounding Karatina, Kenya were analysed for contents of copper, molybdenum, zinc and sulphur. The following mean values and standard deviations were found: Copper: 8.2 +/- 5.0 mg/kg DM; molybdenum: 1.4 +/- 2.6 mg/kg DM; zinc: 33 +/- 10 mg/kg DM and sulphur: 0.17 +/- 0.06% DM. Mean value of the ratio between copper and molybdenum was 13 +/- 11. Samples of cattle liver (n = 96) and sheep liver (n = 93) were analysed for copper and zinc with the following results: Cattle liver: 21 +/- 16 mg Cu/kg WW and 37 +/- 11 mg Zn/kg WW. Sheep liver: 59 +/- 37 mg Cu/kg WW and 30 +/- 6.4 mg Zn/kg WW. It is concluded that subclinical copper deficiency may occur in cattle in the districts included in the investigation. The copper status of sheep seems to be adequate. The levels of zinc may indicate a marginal intake of this element in sheep.

Four rumen fistulated wether and beef steers were used to evaluate differences in dry matter digestibility (DMD) between cattle and sheep. They were fed either perennial ryegrass or switchgrass hay at an ad libitum or restricted level for four experimental periods. Significant ruminant species X forage and ruminant species X level of intake (P less than .05) interactions were observed for digestible dry matter. The steers digested the switchgrass 7 percentage units greater than the wethers while ryegrass was digested equally. Digestibility differences between the steers and wethers were 6 percentage units at the ad libitum level of intake and 1 unit at the restricted level of intake. Crude protein digestibility tended to be greater (P less than .10) for sheep with a 7 unit difference for switchgrass and a 3 unit difference for ryegrass. The mean ruminal solids retention time of the digesta was approximately (P less than .01) 50% greater (26.0 vs 17.4 h) in cattle, with no difference in ruminal liquid dilution rate (LD) between animal species. Total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration differed (P less than .01) with level of intake; however, no influence due to intake on the molar proportion of acetate (P greater than .10) or propionate (P greater than .10) was evident in spite of a difference (P less than .01) in LD. Rumen pH (P less than .05) and osmolality (P less than .01) were affected by both level of intake and forage, with the ryegrass and high level of intake decreasing pH and increasing osmolality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The near infrared reflectance spectra of 15 forages and the first and second derivatives of those spectra were examined for variations that would relate to measures of forage quality and animal performance. Strong relationships between second derivative values and protein, NDF, ADF, and digestible DM were found at wavelengths reported previously as well as at other wavelengths. Error mean squares for simple regressions were similar to those previously reported for multiple wavelength regressions. The more important measures of forage quality, digestible organic matter intake and average daily body weight gain, were each highly correlated with second derivative values at 1696 and 2298 nm (r greater than /.91/). Second derivatives at 1696 and 2298 nm were also correlated (r greater than /.95/) with ADF and protein, respectively. The evidence suggests a biological basis for the estimation of digestible organic matter intake from near infrared reflectance spectroscopy spectra.

1. Twenty-eight leaf-protein concentrate (LPC) samples, subjected to different thermal treatments, were produced from five curd batches. For these samples, the fluorodinitrobenzene (FDNB)-reactive lysine values gave closer agreement with dye-binding lysine (DBL) than with the dye-binding capacity (DBC). 2. No relationship was established between the dye-bound-after-propionylation (DBAP) and the histidine + arginine value. 3. Comparison of dye-bound-protein values with those for tungstic-acid-precipitated nitrogen x 6.25 for the LPC samples showed the heat-damaged samples to lie below the regression line for the other samples. 4. Reactive-lysine values by dye-binding and by FDNB methods correlated well with total lysine, but the slopes of the regression line indicated closer agreement for values for samples not damaged by heat. 5. The correlation coefficients between DBC and total basic amino acids, DBC and histidine + arginine + DBL, and DBC and histidine + arginine + FDNB-reactive lysine were similar. 6. There was no correlation between the lightness of colour of the LPC samples and the availability of lysine.

Copper toxicity occurred in North Ronaldsay sheep fed on a diet of terrestrial herbage relatively high in molybdenum. Five sheep were taken from the island of North Ronaldsay, Orkney to the veterinary investigation centre at Thurso and fed solely on the herbage of the laboratory paddocks, supplemented in winter by hay made from these paddocks. The level of copper, molybdenum, zinc and total sulphur in the terrestrial herbage was analysed, together with the seaweeds which form the major part of the diet on North Ronaldsay. Serum copper, vitamin B12 and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were obtained. Four of the five sheep died on this diet of terrestrial herbage and had liver copper levels of 1379, 1723, 2279 and 2281 mg/kg. The susceptibility of the North Ronaldsay breed of Orkney sheep to copper poisoning when first introduced to a diet of purely terrestrial herbage is demonstrated by the high liver copper levels of the four dead sheep compared to the normal serum copper levels and unimpaired health of two other breeds of sheep and a north country Cheviot cross North Ronaldsay ram.

Interest has arisen in heavy-metal contamination of the environment, mostly because of potential hazards to the health of animals and human (directly and/or indirectly). High levels of heavy metals in soil, plants, and the atmosphere are often related to industries, highways , chemical dumping, impure chemical fertilizers, and pesticides containing metals. An important source of heavy metals, especially lead, is from the combustion of leaded gasoline used for transportation. Other heavy metals associated with transportation include nickel, which is also added to gasoline and is contained in engine parts, zinc, and cadmium from tires, lubricating oils, and galvanized parts such as fuel tanks.

A recently published method involving the simultaneous extraction, gel permeation cleanup, and electron capture gas chromatographic detection of residues of the insecticide and acaricide chlorpyrifos and its principal metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol is successfully applied to Lorsban-treated peach and Bahia samples. Previous quantitation of these compounds has required 2 separate analytical procedures. Multilevel temperature programming and manipulation of the gel permeation column effluent rate are the only adjustments of experimental parameters necessary to avoid large amounts of gas chromatographic interferences. Chromatographic peaks are more clearly defined and easier to integrate with the multilevel program than they are with 2-step or linear programs. This is one reason that recovery data are improved over those reported for the method as applied in the pea vine work. Residue analysis conducted on field-treated peaches and Bahia grass show the newly published procedure to be sensitive and effective.

In three trials, young Holstein steers housed in restraint type crates in a controlled environment room were fed tall fescue hay or seed diets to determine the ability of the diets to produce signs of summer syndrome. Trial 1 examined the effects of dehydration and extended storage of G1-307 fescue compared to alfalfa on dairy steers. Calves fed G1-307 fescue had lower daily feed intake, higher rectal temperatures and respiration rates, and lost 13.4 kg more body weight during the experimental period as compared to those fed alfalfa hay. In trial 2, benomyl (a systemic fungicide) was used to eliminate the fungus Epichloe typhina from treated G1-307 fescue plants. Steers fed the treated G1-307 fescue progeny had higher daily intakes, lower rectal temperature, lower respiration rates, and lost less body weight over the trial period as compared with those fed untreated G1-307 fescue. Kenhy tall fescue seeds with and without analyzable N-acetyl and N-formyl loline alkaloids and a control diet were fed in trial 3. Steers fed the seed with the loline alkaloids had reduced intake, higher rectal temperatures, and lost 10.9 kg more body weight over the trial period than steers fed seed that did not contain loline alkaloids.

A field study was undertaken to evaluate health risks in persons engaged in ultra-low-volume (ULV) aerial application of technical malathion for mosquito control. No specific toxicity signs and symptoms were observed except nausea and irritation of eyes in a few cases. Observations on the ChE activity has revealed a significant depression in plasma at the end of spray operation in labourers employed in loading and unloading of insecticide and in field workers. Red blood cells ChE activity was not affected in any group of subjects. At the end of spray operation the insecticide residue on the grass used as cattle feed were about 315 ppm, which are much above the permissible level. However, 4 days after the application normal levels of the insecticide residues were detected.

The history of those survey programmes concerned with nuclear energy, which were carried out by the National Institute of Public Health (RIV) in co-operation with the Veterinary Chief Inspectorate (VHI), starting with the measurement of fission products originating from fall-out and nuclear arms tests, in food such as milk, meat, etc. and gradually passing into the survey of grass and milk from the areas surrounding nuclear facilities, is reviewed.

A method of simultaneously measuring glucosamine and muramic acid concentrations in marsh grass litter was developed. Spartina alterniflora samples were preextracted with acetone to remove lipids containing amino sugars and then hydrolyzed in 6 N HCl (100 degrees C, 4.5 h). Amino sugars in the hydrolysates were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography, which gave good recoveries (greater than 90%) and reproducibility (CV less than 5%). Isolated amino sugars were converted to O-methyloxime acetates. beta-Phenylglucose and N-methylglucamine were added as internal standards. Sample derivatives were quantified by capillary column gas chromatography. OV-101 and SE-54 capillary columns completely separated glucosamine and muramic acid from other amino sugars. The detection limit of glucosamine and muramic acid during gas chromatographic analysis was below 30 pmol using splitless-mode injection (SE-54 column). Filamentous fungal and procaryotic biomasses may be estimated simultaneously by using glucosamine and muramic acid biomass conversion factors in conjunction with this method.

This second study carried out on an extract of two grass pollens (Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense) demonstrated the presence of N-acetilglucosamine and sialic acid in the extract (RFEX). Moreover the extract has confirmed its characteristics biologic activity i.e. the inhibition of the phenomenon of immune hemolysis with a different technique too, even having the antibodies of the treated animals the complement fixing activity. No appreciable changes of the immunoelectrophoresis pattern in the serum of the immunized mice have been noticed.