Introduction With the implementation of consistent federal standards for products marketed as “organic” in October 2002 (USDA/AMS, 2002), organic production and consumption is expected to increase beyond current organic sales of $10 billion in 2001 (OTA, 2002). In 1999, Iowa farmers reported 150,000 acres of organic production to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship survey (I...

Background: Contagion of aquatic ecosystems to heavy metals especially mercury (Hg) has risen concerns about healthiness of marine organisms. Organic mercury compounds are highly toxic for animals, and its detection in various samples is frequently needed. In present study we have described a new method for measurement of organic mercury and total mercury concentration in great cormorants (ph...

Life-detection instruments on future Mars missions may use surfactant solutions to extract organic matter from samples of martian rocks. The thermal and radiation environments of space and Mars are capable of degrading these solutions, thereby reducing their ability to dissolve organic species. Successful extraction and detection of biosignatures on Mars requires an understanding of how degrada...

Introduction With a 20% growth rate in 2001, organic agriculture continues to expand in the U.S. and the world (OTA, 2002). After the release of consistent federal standards for products marketed as “organic” in October 2002 (USDA/AMS, 2002), organic production and consumption was expected to increase beyond current organic sales of $10 billion in 2001 (OTA, 2002). In 1999, Iowa farmers reporte...

An evaluation of flow-injection analysis with chemiluminescence detection (FIA-CL) to quantify Fe(2+) ((aq)) in freshwaters was performed. Iron-coordinating and/or iron-reducing compounds, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and samples from two natural water systems were used to amend standard solutions of Fe(2+) ((aq)). Slopes of the response curves from ferrous iron standards (1 - 100 nM) were c...

Organic farming is a promising agricultural method with positive effects on the human ecological and social environment. Governments have taken over a major role in defining organic farming by creating legal standards. Many countries all over the world have estabChristian R. Vogl is affiliated with the Institute for Organic Farming, University for Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BO...

background: contagion of aquatic ecosystems to heavy metals especially mercury (hg) has risen concerns about healthiness of marine organisms. organic mercury compounds are highly toxic for animals, and its detection in various samples is frequently needed. in present study we have described a new method for measurement of organic mercury and total mercury concentration in great cormorants (phal...