Ultraviolet radiation

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an endangered species prone to a debilitating disease called fibropapillomatosis (FP). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of UV light on vitamin D levels and immune function in juvenile green sea turtles with FP. Phagocytosis, plasma vitamin D levels and viral load of ChHV5 were measured for FP- and FP+ turtles kept at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (GLNC) and for turtles caught at the St. Lucie power plant. Turtles kept at GLNC were housed in tanks exposed to varying amounts of UV light. Turtles brought into GLNC had lower phagocytosis compared to turtles at the St. Lucie power plant. Individuals exposed to greater UV light had higher plasma vitamin D levels and a more successful recovery. The results of this project will provide rehabilitation facilities with a mechanism to improve the recovery of animals with this disease.

The photodegradation of benzimidazole-based fungicides: benomyl ({1- [(butylamino) carbonyl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl} carbamic acid methyl ester), thiabendazole (2-(4-thiazolyl)-1H-benzimidazole) and fuberidazole (2-(2-furyl)-1H-benzimidazole) by ultraviolet radiation has been studied. Benomyl in an organic solvent (chloroform) undergoes a rapid degradation even without any UV radiation; UV radiation and air agitation will increase the rate of the reaction. The degradation product was found to be methyl 2-benzimidazolecarbamate (MBC) in all cases. The degradation of thiabendazole and fuberidazole in methanol was also studied under different conditions but degradation was observed only under UV radiation and in the presence of oxygen, 7-8 Photodegradation products were found in the mixture after irradiation of thiabendazole but only 2 of them were separated from the mixture and identified. Benzimidazole-2-carboxamide and dimethyl oxalate were two of the final photodegradation products of thiabendazole in methanol. It is clear that the thiazole ring is the most vulnerable part of the molecule and suffers ring cleavage. No photodegradation products of fuberidazole were identified so far.

The photodegradation of bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil) and terbacil (5-chloro-3-tert-butyl-6-methyluracil) by ultraviolet radiation has been investigated. Irradiation of aerated aqueous solutions of the title compounds (25 ppm), led to fast degradation of both. The reactions were found to follow first order kinetics with rate constants 5.77x10^-1 hr^-1 in the case of bromacil and 8.45x10^-2 hr^-1 in the case of terbacil. Degradation in ethanol and cyclohexane was also studied, but the solutions were not analyzed for photoproducts. The photoreaction mixture of both the herbicides in water showed four peaks on GC, indicating four photoproducts. Loss of halogens from the heterocyclic ring has been observed as shown by the presence of Br- in the case of bromacil and Cl- in the case of terbacil in the photoreaction solution. 6-Methyluracil which was isolated from the aqueous fraction of the photoreaction mixture was the common photoproduct from both bromacil and terbacil. From the organic fractions 3-sec-butyl-5-acetyl-5-hydroxyhydantoin was identified in the case of bromacil and 3-tert-butyl-5-acetyl-5-hydroxyhydantoin in the case of terbacil. The other two photoproducts were left unidentified.

The photodegradation of propiconazole (1-{[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl}-1 H-1,2,4-triazole), a systemic fungicide, by ultraviolet radiation has been studied. After 12 hours of continuous irradiation, propiconazole undergoes degradation in aqueous solution. The process requires the presence of oxygen and continuous agitation. Similarly, propiconazole undergoes degradation in organic solvents as well (methanol, hexane).