Relationship between heavy metals pollution and genetic diversity in Mediterranean populations of the sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu) (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

Trace metals are one of the groups of pollutants that reduce genetic variability in natural populations, causing the phenomenon known as “genetic erosion”. In this study we evaluate the relationship between trace metals contamination (Hg, Cd and Cu) and genetic variability, assessed using fluorescent Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (fISSRs). We used eight populations of a well-established biomonitor of trace metals on sandy beaches: the amphipod Talitrus saltator. The trace metals analysis confirmed the ability of sandhoppers to accumulate Hg, Cd and Cu. Moreover, populations from sites with high Hg availability had the lowest values of genetic diversity. Our results validate the use of fISSR markers in genetic studies in sandhoppers and support the “genetic erosion” hypothesis by showing the negative influence of Hg contamination on sandhopper genetic diversity. Therefore, genetic variability assessed with fISSR markers could be successfully employed as a biomarker of Hg exposure.     

Simulation of a Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill in the marine environment: Lethal and sublethal effects of acrylonitrile to the European seabass

Despite the extensive maritime transportation of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), there is a current lack of knowledge on the effects posed by HNS spills on the marine biota. Among the HNS identified as priority, acrylonitrile was selected to conduct ecotoxicological assays. We assessed the acute and subletal effects of acrylonitrile in seabass, followed by a recovery phase to simulate the conditions of a spill incident. The work aimed at testing a broad range of biological responses induced by acrylonitrile. Sublethal exposure to the highest two doses increased the fish mortality rate (8.3% and 25% mortality in 0.75 and 2 mg L⁻¹ acrylonitrile concentrations), whereas no mortality were observed in control and 0.15 mg L⁻¹ treatments. Additionally, important alterations at sub-individual level were observed. Acrylonitrile significantly induced the activities of Catalase– CAT and Glutathione S-Transferase – GST; and the levels of DNA damage were significantly increased. Conversely, Superoxide Dismutase– SOD – activity was found to be significantly inhibited and no effects were found on Lipid Peroxidation– LPO and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase – EROD – activity. Following a 7 d recovery period, the levels of CAT, GST and EROD fell to levels at or below those in the control. In the 2 mg L⁻¹ group, SOD remained at the levels found during exposure phase. This study has gathered essential information on the acute and subletal toxicity of acrylonitrile to seabass. It also demonstrated that 7 d recovery allowed a return of most endpoints to background levels. These data will be useful to assist relevant bodies in preparedness and response to HNS spills.     

Variations in concentrations and compositions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coals related to the coal rank and origin

The release of unburnt coal particles and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may cause adverse impacts on the environment. This study assessed variations in the concentration and composition of PAHs in a set of fifty coal samples from eleven coal basins worldwide. The maximum PAH concentrations at high volatile bituminous rank were recorded in samples from a single basin. Considering the entire sample set, the highest PAH concentrations were in fact found outside of this rank range, suggesting that the maceral composition and thus the coal’s origin also influenced PAH concentrations. The examination of the PAH compositions revealed that alkylated 2-3 ring PAHs remain dominant compounds irrespective of coal rank or origin. Multivariate analysis based on PAH and maceral content, bulk and maturity parameters allowed the recognition of seven groups with different rank and origin within the coal sample set.     

Influence of environmental factors on the response of a natural population of Daphnia magna (Crustacea: Cladocera) to spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in Mediterranean coastal wetlands

The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of a candidate mosquito larvicide, spinosad (8, 17 and 33 μg L⁻¹) on a field population of Daphnia magna under natural variations of water temperature and salinity, using Bti (0.16 and 0.50 μL L⁻¹) as the reference larvicide. Microcosms (125 L) were placed in a shallow temporary marsh where D. magna was naturally present. The peak of salinity observed during the 21-day observation period may have been partly responsible for the decrease of daphnid population density in all the microcosms. It is also probably responsible for the absence of recovery in the microcosms treated with spinosad which caused a sharp decrease of D. magna abundance within the first two days following treatment whereas Bti had no effect. These results suggest that it may be difficult for a field population of daphnids to cope simultaneously with natural (water salinity and temperature) and anthropogenic (larvicides) stressors.     

Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility

Organochlorine pesticide and total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were measured in largemouth bass from the Tombigbee River near a former DDT manufacturing facility at McIntosh, Alabama. Evaluation of mean p,p′- and o,p′-DDT isomer concentrations and o,p′- versus p,p′-isomer proportions in McIntosh bass indicated that DDT is moving off site from the facility and into the Tombigbee River. Concentrations of p,p′-DDT isomers in McIntosh bass remained unchanged from 1974 to 2004 and were four times greater than contemporary concentrations from a national program. Total DDT in McIntosh bass exceeded dietary effect concentrations developed for bald eagle and osprey. Hexachlorobenzene, PCBs, and toxaphene concentrations in bass from McIntosh also exceeded thresholds to protect fish and piscivorous wildlife. Whereas concentrations of DDT and most other organochlorine chemicals in fish have generally declined in the U.S. since their ban, concentrations of DDT in fish from McIntosh remain elevated and represent a threat to wildlife.     

Spectroscopic and molecular characterization of humic substances (HS) from soils and sediments in a watershed: comparative study of HS chemical fractions and the origins

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Optical properties and molecular composition of humic substances (HS) can provide valuable information on the sources and the history of the...     

Two-stage chemical fractionation method for the analysis of elements and non-volatile inorganic ions in PM10 samples: Application to ambient samples collected in Rome (Italy)

A two-stage micro-analytical scheme for the determination of metals and ions in atmospheric particulate matter collected on only one Teflon filter was developed. In the first stage the collected particles are chemically fractionated for their solubility in a pH-buffered extracting solution; in the second stage the residue is mineralised. The major non-volatile inorganic ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) are determined in the first fraction by ion-chromatography (IC), while metals and metalloids (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Ti, V, Zn) are determined in both the acetate extractable and the mineralised residual fractions by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).The procedure was applied to ambient 24-h PM₁₀ samples collected on Teflon filters during two field campaigns carried out at two sites in the area of Rome (Italy). The variations in the chemical composition of the collected particles during the two periods were interpreted in the light of the dilution properties of the lower atmosphere and of the back-trajectories of the air masses. The difference in the results between the two locations was interpreted in the light of their proximity to the emission sources. It was found that the acetate extractable and the mineralised residual fraction of some metals exhibit a different temporal pattern, suggesting the existence of different emission sources of the two fractions.     

Fate of a stilbene-type fluorescent whitening agent (DSBP) in the presence of Fe(III) aquacomplexes: from the redox process to the photodegradation

The behaviour of 4,4′-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl (DSBP), a fluorescent whitening agent, was investigated in the presence of Fe(III) aquacomplexes at room temperature. In the dark, a two-step reaction was observed when adding Fe(III) to a solution of DSBP: an initial fast redox reaction between DSBP and the monomeric species Fe(OH)²⁺ and a slower reaction leading to the coagulation of oxidised DSBP and iron. This phenomenon is due to the formation of a complex or an ion-pair between Fe(II) and/or Fe(III) with oxidised DSBP and it probably occurs by charge neutralisation in our experimental conditions. The precipitation of DSBP depends on the initial concentration in Fe(OH)²⁺ and is achieved for a ratio [Fe(OH) ²⁺]/[DSBP] of 5 approximately. Under irradiation at 365 nm, a complicated behaviour was observed: a complexation of iron by oxidised DSBP favoured by irradiation and a degradation of DSBP induced by an intramolecular electron transfer in the complex or by a photoredox of Fe(OH)²⁺ species generating OH radicals in the supernatant. The complete degradation of DSBP is reached four times faster in the presence of Fe(III) with respect to the direct photolysis of DSBP alone. Moreover, the total mineralization of DSBP obtained in less than 120 h upon irradiation at 365 nm is only observed in the presence of the ferric ions, enlightening the efficiency of the method involving Fe(III) and UV irradiation.     

Two modelling approaches to water-quality simulation in a flooded iron-ore mine (Saizerais, Lorraine, France): a semi-distributed chemical reactor model and a physically based distributed reactive transport pipe network model

The flooding of abandoned mines in the Lorraine Iron Basin (LIB) over the past 25 years has degraded the quality of the groundwater tapped for drinking water. High concentrations of dissolved sulphate have made the water unsuitable for human consumption. This problematic issue has led to the development of numerical tools to support water-resource management in mining contexts. Here we examine two modelling approaches using different numerical tools that we tested on the Saizerais flooded iron-ore mine (Lorraine, France). A first approach considers the Saizerais Mine as a network of two chemical reactors (NCR). The second approach is based on a physically distributed pipe network model (PNM) built with EPANET 2 software. This approach considers the mine as a network of pipes defined by their geometric and chemical parameters. Each reactor in the NCR model includes a detailed chemical model built to simulate quality evolution in the flooded mine water. However, in order to obtain a robust PNM, we simplified the detailed chemical model into a specific sulphate dissolution-precipitation model that is included as sulphate source/sink in both a NCR model and a pipe network model. Both the NCR model and the PNM, based on different numerical techniques, give good post-calibration agreement between the simulated and measured sulphate concentrations in the drinking-water well and overflow drift. The NCR model incorporating the detailed chemical model is useful when a detailed chemical behaviour at the overflow is needed. The PNM incorporating the simplified sulphate dissolution-precipitation model provides better information of the physics controlling the effect of flow and low flow zones, and the time of solid sulphate removal whereas the NCR model will underestimate clean-up time due to the complete mixing assumption. In conclusion, the detailed NCR model will give a first assessment of chemical processes at overflow, and in a second time, the PNM model will provide more detailed information on flow and chemical behaviour (dissolved sulphate concentrations, remaining mass of solid sulphate) in the network. Nevertheless, both modelling methods require hydrological and chemical parameters (recharge flow rate, outflows, volume of mine voids, mass of solids, kinetic constants of the dissolution-precipitation reactions), which are commonly not available for a mine and therefore call for calibration data.     

New cytochrome P450 1B1, 1C1, 2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K genes from Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus): Molecular characterization,basal expression and response of rare minnow CYP1s and CYP2s mRNA exposed to the AHR agonist benzo[a]pyrene

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genes play an important role in catalyzing oxidative metabolism of toxicants. Recently, CYP1 subfamily were discovered and reported in fish, however, little is known regarding the CYP2 isoforms in fish. In the present study, the cDNA fragments of CYP 1B1 and 1C1 and CYP2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K of rare minnow were cloned and exhibited a high amino acid sequence identity compared with their zebrafish orthologs. Basal expression showed CYP1C1 and CYP 2Aa expression were observed in all eight tissues analyzed (liver, gill, intestine, kidney, spleen, brain, skin, and muscle). CYP 1A, and 1B1 expression was found in all tissues except for muscle and skin. However, CYP 2Y3 was expressed in liver, spleen, intestine and muscle whereas CYP 2 K in liver, kidney and intestine. 4 and 100 μg L⁻¹ Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induced patterns showed that CYP 1A, 1B1 and 1C1 expression in liver, gill, and intestine was strongly up-regulated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CYP 2Y3 was strongly induced in liver from BaP treatments (p < 0.05). The high induction on mRNA level of CYP1s and CYP 2Y3 by BaP could be associated with catalyzing detoxification and indicated that CYP2s may also be potential biomarker to screen AHR agonist. The high responsiveness of CYP1 and 2 genes suggested Chinese rare minnow is feasible to screen and assess pollution with AHR agonist.     

Towards a multidisciplinary and integrated strategy in the assessment of adverse health effects related to air pollution: the case study of Cracow (Poland) and asthma

Complex interaction between anthropogenic activities, air quality and human health in urban areas, such as in Cracow sustains the need for the development of an interdisciplinary and integrated risk-assessment methodology. In such purpose, we propose a pilot study performed on asthmatics and based on a combined use of a biomarker, such as metallothionein 2A (MT-2A) in the characterization of human exposure to one or a mixture of pollutants and of Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) which integrates climatic and urban anthropogenic parameters in the assessment of spatio-temporal dispersion of air pollutants. Considering global incidence of air pollution on asthma and on peripheral blood lymphocytes MT-2A expression should provide a complementary information on biological risks linked to urban anthropogenic activities. Such study would help for the establishment of a sustainable development in urban areas that can maintain the integrity of air quality and preserve human health.     

基于污水处理厂提标改造需求的难降解工业废水处理工艺改进——以湖南省某城镇污水处理厂为例

以湖南省某城镇污水处理厂一期1.0× 104 m3·d-1提标改造工程项目为案例,针对其进水中工业废水占比高(达80％)、污染物浓度波动大、难降解有机物含量高等特点,在原水解酸化池+AAO+高效沉淀池+纤维转盘滤池工艺的基础上,通过现场中试实验,分析了以臭氧催化氧化+生物活性炭滤池(O3-BAC)作为提标改造主...     

Accounting for intended use application in characterizing the contributions of cyclopentasiloxane (D5) to aquatic loadings following personal care product use: Antiperspirants,skin care products and hair care products

Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, commonly known as D5 (cyclopentasiloxane) has a wide application of use across a multitude of personal care product categories. The relative volatility of D5 is one of the key properties attributed to this substance that provide for the derived performance benefits from the use of this raw material in personal care formulations. On this basis, rapid evaporative loss following use of many products comprising D5 is expected following typical use application and corresponding wear time.