The fate of five herbicides (glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, phenmedipham, ethofumesate and metamitron) was studied in two Finnish sugar beet fields for 26 months. Soil types were sandy loam and clay. Two different herbicide-tolerant sugar beet cultivars and three different herbicide application schedules were used. Meteorological data were collected throughout the study and soil properties were thoroughly analysed. An extensive data set of herbicide residue concentrations in soil was collected. Five different soil depths were sampled. The study was carried out using common Finnish agricultural practices and represents typical sugar beet cultivation conditions in Finland. The overall observed order of persistence was ethofumesate > glyphosate > phenmedipham > metamitron > glufosinate-ammonium. Only ethofumesate and glyphosate persisted until the subsequent spring. Seasonal variation in herbicide dissipation was very high and dissipation ceased almost completely during winter. During the 2 year experiment no indication of potential groundwater pollution risk was obtained, but herbicides may cause surface water pollution.

Translocation of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) to plant roots and its impact on detected herbicide residues in sandy loam soil were studied in a glasshouse pot experiment in Finland. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd) plants in two different growing phases (6-8 and 12-14 leaf stages, groups A and B, respectively) were sprayed with nonlabelled glyphosate. Bare soil pots were included as controls (group C). Soil surface contamination with glyphosate was prevented in groups A and B but not in group C. Soil samples were collected 1 h, 8 days and 44 or 53 days after the glyphosate applications. Root samples were taken 8 days after the application from group B. After 8 days from the treatment, 4% of the applied glyphosate was detected in soil and about 12% in roots (group B). One and a half months later 12% and 8% of the applied glyphosate (groups A and B, respectively) was detected in soil samples incubated with roots. The main metabolite of glyphosate, aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA), was not found in root samples. Glyphosate fate was simulated with the PEARL 3.0 model. Simulated concentrations in bare soil pots were very close to the observed ones. However, the model lacks a process description for herbicide transport within a plant and, therefore, the observed and simulated glyphosate residues in soil after canopy applications did not correlate. Simulations highlight the importance of the translocation process in glyphosate fate. We conclude that also in field studies part of the detected glyphosate soil residues must originate from plant roots, and translocation process should be included both in leaching assessments and pesticide fate models.

This action research is an ongoing study which will last from 1991 to 1993. The main purpose of the study is to increase the participation of informal caregivers in the hospital care of elderly patients without decreasing the quality of care. The data reported here are from a pilot study. This study had three aims: (a) to test reliability and validity of the measure used, (b) to investigate the current participation of informal caregivers in the hospital care of elderly patients (aged over 75), and (c) to evaluate and compare the quality of care from both the patients' and the informal caregivers' point of view in three different hospitals. The measure of quality of care was developed on the basis of need theories, mainly those of Maslow and Alderfer. Patients and caregivers were also asked to rate the participation of the caregivers in the hospital care of elderly patients. Participation consisted of 18 activities of daily living. The pilot test with 18 elderly hospital patients and seven family members or significant others showed differences between the two groups in perception of care received. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the following categories: mainly social needs, psychic and spiritual needs and totals. The results supported earlier findings that elderly patients are satisfied with and do not criticize their care. The younger generation (i.e. their children) is more demanding and has precise perceptions about the care given. Relatives could be used more in planning, evaluation and even implementation of care; however, their current participation in patient hospital care is minimal.

Glyphosate [(N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine)] is a widely used herbicide and it is known to compete for the same sorption sites in soil as phosphorus. Persistence and losses of glyphosate were monitored in a field with low phosphorus status and possible correlation between glyphosate and phosphorus leaching losses was studied. Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA (aminomethyl phosphonic acid) residues in soil samples were analysed after a single application in autumn. Twenty months after the application the residues of glyphosate and AMPA in the topsoil (0-25 cm) corresponded to 19% and 48%, respectively, of the applied amount of glyphosate, and traces of glyphosate and AMPA residues were detected in deeper soil layers (below 35 cm). These results indicate rather long persistence for glyphosate in boreal soils. Surface runoff and subsurface drainflow were collected continuously all year round for 20 months and analysed for glyphosate, AMPA, dissolved phosphate, total phosphorus and total suspended solids.The glyphosate concentrations in the surface runoff water were highest, with 99% of the total leaching losses obtained, during the periods of snow melting and soil thawing in the first winter following the autumn application. The total leaching of glyphosate was 5.12 g ha −1 and that of AMPA 0.48 g ha −1 , corresponding to about 0.51% and 0.07%, respectively, of the applied amount of glyphosate. No residues of glyphosate and AMPA were detected in the subsurface drainflow. The correlations between concentrations of glyphosate and dissolved orthophosphate as well as glyphosate and total phosphorus in surface runoff were significant (p<0.01).

A study to identify informal caregivers' perceptions of factors promoting or inhibiting their participation in the care of elderly patients was conducted. An open-ended questionnaire was completed by 369 informal caregivers during 2-month periods in late 1991, 1992 and 1993. Several factors related to the patient, informal caregiver, nurse and environment were identified. The findings and implications for nursing are discussed. The data presented here are from a larger study which is reported in earlier issues of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.