M.Sc. (Zoology) / Blood samples were obtained from 42 Cape (Gyps coprotheres) Vultures during the period 1990 to 1991. Nestlings were sampled at two natural localities namely the Scheerpoort and Manoutsa colonies. Samples from captive birds ranging in age from immature to mature were obtained from four locations which include the Johannesburg Zoo, Tygerberg Zoo, De Wildt Cheetah Research and Breeding Station and World of Birds. The main objective of the study was to describe the population genetic structure of G. coprotheres by means of a protein electrophoretic examination. The optimum electrophoretic conditions were determined for maximum resolution of the protein systems examined. Allele frequency data assessed at 34 structural gene loci were obtained. As measures of variability, the perc~ntage polymorphic loci and average heterozygosity were calculated for the Cape vulture and values obtained were 11.76\ and 0.021 respectively. Both of the latter values are less than half the values reported for the majority of other avian species. The electrophoretic data were utilised in two population genetic simulation programmes and it was determined that the variation present in the populations of G. coprotheres studied may disappear within the next 35 generations. The blood samples were also subjected to a toxicological examination. Concentrations of DDT and its derivatives were measured by gaschromatographic analyses. Biocide levels were detected in ppb and adjusted to ppm by a conversion factor of 150. Quantifiable levels of DDT, DOD and DOE were detected in 72.4\, 60.0% and 89.7% of the individuals respectively. DOE is one of the major metabolites of DDT and the discussion was focused on levels thereof.

Le continuum sol-zone non saturée-aquifère est rarement abordé en modélisation des pesticides car il requiert des outils et une méthodologie élaborés. Ces outils peuvent avoir des niveaux de complexités variables, le plus simple étant le modèle global et le plus complexe, le modèle hydrogéologique de transport en 3 dimensions prenant en compte chacun des compartiments dans le détail. Dans ce contexte une modélisation associant de manière dynamique des outils ou des méthodes propres à chaque compartiment propose une solution intermédiaire intéressante. Une approche progressive de la modélisation hydrodynamique ainsi que de la modélisation des transferts de pesticides, appliqué au cas du bassin versant hydrogéologique de la source des Brévilles à Montreuil-sur-Epte (Val d’Oise) a pu être réalisée et fournir un modèle couplé 1D / 2D prenant en compte l’écoulement et le transport dans le sol, la zone non saturée et la zone saturée / The continuum ground-vadose zone-aquifer is rarely studied in the modeling of pesticides because it requires elaborate tools and methodology. These tools may have variable levels of complexity, the simplest being the global model and most complex, the hydrogeological model of transport in 3D taking into account each compartment in detail. In this context, a modeling associating in a dynamic way, tools or specific methods to each compartment will be an interesting intermediate solution. A progressive approach of hydrodynamic modeling and transfer modeling of pesticides applied to the case of the Brévilles spring catchment in Montreuil-sur-Epte (Val d'Oise) has been carried out and provided a coupled model 1D / 2D taking into account the flow and transport in the ground, the unsaturated zone and the saturated zone

Les expositions environnementales aux pesticides chez la femme enceinte sont une préoccupation de santé publique. L’association d’analyses métabolomiques par RMN chez l’Homme et l’animal a permis de tester l’utilité de cet outil dans l’étude des mélanges complexes. Les empreintes métaboliques proviennent des urines et du sang de cordon de plus de 300 femmes de la cohorte PELAGIE (Bretagne) et des urines, sang, foie et cerveaux de rates et de leurs fœtus exposés par voie orale durant la gestation à 8 pesticides représentatifs des expositions humaines. Une discrimination des profils métaboliques a été observée chez l’Homme en fonction de l’exposition estimée par la part de cultures de céréales dans la commune. Les modifications métaboliques suggèrent un mécanisme osmo-protecteur lié à un stress oxydant. Les données animales ont confirmé ces observations avec des modifications évoquant un dysfonctionnement mitochondrial. Les conséquences sanitaires associées restent à étudier. / Environmental exposure to pesticides is of growing interest in public health, especially in pregnant women. The combination of metabolomics analyses both in human and animal allows testing the utility of this tool in the study of complex mixtures and low-dose exposures. 1H NMR metabolic profiling was carried out on urinary samples collected at the first trimester of pregnancy and cord blood samples at birth for more than 300 women included in the PELAGIE cohort (Britany, France) and on urine, blood, liver and brain from rats and their fetuses orally exposed during the gestation to 8 pesticides representative of human exposures. Based on PLS-DA analyses, a good separation of the metabolic profiles was observed in human according to the percentage of area devoted to cereal crops in the town of residence. The metabolic modifications suggest an osmo-protective mechanism associated with an oxidative stress. Animal data confirmed this hypothesis with plasmatic, liver and brain metabolic changes suggesting a mitochondrial dysfunction. The associated health impacts are yet to be studied.

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