Odour and indoor air quality hazards in railway cars: an Australian mixed methods case study.

Purpose: This case study aimed to diagnose the cause(s) of a seasonal, and objectionable odour reported by travellers and drivers in the railway cars of Australian passenger trains. The research questions were to: (1) identify whether significant microbial colonisation was present within the air handling system of trains and causing the odours; to (2) identify other potential sources and; (3) remedial options for addressing the issue.

Methods: A mixed-methods, action research design was used adopted.

The effects of the toxic cyanobacterium Limnothrix (strain AC0243) on Bufo marinus larvae.

Limnothrix (strain AC0243) is a cyanobacterium, which has only recently been identified as toxin producing. Under laboratory conditions, Bufo marinus larvae were exposed to 100,000 cells mL(-1) of Limnothrix (strain AC0243) live cultures for seven days. Histological examinations were conducted post mortem and revealed damage to the notochord, eyes, brain, liver, kidney, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and heart.