Contaminant exposure and effects in Baltic ringed and grey seals as assessed by biomarkers.

The Baltic Sea ecosystem has suffered from a heavy pollutant load for more than three decades. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals have been of most concern due to their persistence and toxic properties. Ringed seals (Phoca hispida baltica) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) living in the Baltic Sea have been suffering from pathological impairments, including reproductive disturbances, which have resulted in a depressed reproductive capacity.

Aluminium, lead and cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma and spermatozoa, and semen quality in Finnish men.

Aluminium, cadmium and lead concentrations in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma of 27 employees of two industrial companies, a refinery and a polyolefin factory, and 45 consecutive sperm donor candidates at a sperm bank were studied using atomic absorption measurements. The relationship between metal concentration and parameters of semen analysis was studied. A high concentration of aluminium in spermatozoa was correlated with decreased sperm motility.

Survival of Yersinia enterocolitica in Fermented Sausages Manufactured With Different Levels of Nitrite and Different Starter Cultures.

The ability of Yersinia enterocolitica 0:3 to grow and survive during the manufacture of fermented sausages made with 0, 50, 80, 100, and 120 mg/kg added sodium nitrite and three different commercial starter cultures was determined. The sausage mass was inoculated to contain 1.7 × 10 of Y.