Internalization of SiO2 nanoparticles by alveolar macrophages and lung epithelial cells and its modulation by the lung surfactant substitute Curosurf®

Because of an increasing exposure to environmental and occupational nanoparticles (NPs), the potential risk of these materials for human health should be better assessed. Since one of the main routes of entry of NPs is via the lungs, it is of paramount importance to further characterize their impact on the respiratory system. Here, we have studied the uptake of fluorescently labeled SiO₂ NPs (50 and 100 nm) by epithelial cells (NCI-H292) and alveolar macrophages (MHS) in the presence or absence of pulmonary surfactant. The quantification of NP uptake was performed by measuring cell-associated fluorescence using flow cytometry and spectrometric techniques in order to identify the most suitable methodology. Internalization was shown to be time and dose dependent, and differences in terms of uptake were noted between epithelial cells and macrophages. In the light of our observations, we conclude that flow cytometry is a more reliable technique for the study of NP internalization, and importantly, that the hydrophobic fraction of lung surfactant is critical for downregulating NP uptake in both cell types.     

Effect of the pesticide lindane on the biomass of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata

This study assesses the growth of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata in the presence of lindane and the ability of N. oculata to remove lindane from media. Algal biomass increased with 0.1 and 0.5 mg L^?1 of lindane, and lindane concentrations in the media decreased. N. oculata removed 73% and 68.2% of lindane in the 0.1 and 0.5 mg L^?1 media concentrations, respectively. Algal biomass decreased to the level of the control at lindane concentrations greater than 2.5 mg L^?1, probably due to toxicity. N. oculata removed lindane from the media at concentrations lower than 1.0 mg L^?1. Thus, N. oculata may be useful for lindane bioremediation in contaminated aquatic systems.     

Heavy metal distribution in marine sediments from the southwest coast of Spain

The latest version (1999) of the BCR-sequential extraction technique was used to determine the distribution of metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, Cr, and Mn) with major sedimentary phases (acid-soluble, reducible, oxidisable and residual) in samples from the southwest coast of Spain. The total metal content was also determined. The results showed that an extensive area along the coast (35 km long), near the joint mouth of the Tinto and Odiel Rivers, contains sediments with high concentrations of metals, with maximums of 649 mg/kg of Zn, 336 mg/kg of Cu, 197 mg/kg of Pb and 2.5 mg/kg of Cd. The values found for Cr, Ni and Mn are comparable to those in unpolluted areas. Based on the chemical distribution of metals, we found that Zn is the most mobile (i.e., it can pass easily into the water under changing environmental conditions). This metal showed the highest percentages in the acid-soluble fraction (the most labile), especially in the central coastal area, where the samples contained over 50% of this element associated with this fraction. This area close to the Tinto and Odiel river mouths also shows a significant increase in the mobility of Cd and Cu. In both cases the amount present in the residual fraction is lower, and the acid-soluble fraction is increased for Cd and the oxidisable fraction for Cu. However, the highest percentages of Fe, Cr and Ni are found in the residual fraction (84%, 89% and 75%, respectively), which implies that these metals are strongly bound to the sediments.     

Integrative assessment of coastal pollution in a Ría coastal system (Galicia, NW Spain): correspondence between sediment chemistry and toxicity

Elutriate embryo-larval bioassays with sea-urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) and ascidians (Ciona intestinalis) were conducted concurrently with trace metal analyses as part of an integrative assessment of sediment pollution at Ría de Pontevedra (Galicia, NW Spain). High metal contents in sediments were found in localised areas from the inner part of the estuary indicating a clear anthropogenic influence. In particular, very high Cu, Zn and Pb levels were found at sites P2 and P3, which were also the most toxic to the embryo-larval bioassays. Sediment quality guidelines were used to help in the ecological interpretation of sediment chemistry data and to identify pollutants of concern. Cu and Zn in P3 were consistently above the effects range median (ERM) values, which seem to be good predictors of toxicity to sea-urchin and ascidian embryos. A toxic unit approach, based on published EC(50) values and metal levels in elutriates, was used to assess the harmful ecological effects associated to sediment chemistry. Toxicity detected in P3 may be explained on the basis of the toxic unit model; however, the high toxicity detected at P2 may be attributable not only to the metals quantified in the analyses but also to unmeasured organic pollutants. Multidimensional scaling applied independently to the toxicology and chemistry data resulted in a good agreement between both types of configurations. Moreover, the Mantel test revealed a significant correlation (r(M)=0.481; p=0.019) between metal concentrations and toxicity data profiles, supporting the correspondence between configurations.     

On the joint valuation of averting fatal and severe injuries in highway accidents

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the benefits of road transport safety projects, planners need the monetary value of averting fatal and severe injuries. Usually, contingent valuation and risk-risk studies have been used. The contexts posed by both survey techniques do not represent the choice situation a driver faces when having to choose among alternative routes with different levels of safety. METHOD: We set up a stated choice web page survey in which individuals had to choose between two routes for a hypothetical trip between two cities; thus implicitly revealing their preferences for safety both in terms of reducing the number of fatal victims and of severely injured victims. RESULTS: For Chilean routes we were able to estimate approximate values of US$300,000 and US$140,000 for a reduction in one fatality and one severely injured victim, respectively. IMPACTS: Our evidence could be valuable for road planners in other developing nations.     

Assessing ecological correlates of marine bird declines to inform marine conservation

Identifying drivers of ecosystem change in large marine ecosystems is central for their effective management and conservation. This is a sizable challenge, particularly in ecosystems transcending international borders, where monitoring and conservation of long‐range migratory species and their habitats are logistically and financially problematic. Here, using tools borrowed from epidemiology, we elucidated common drivers underlying species declines within a marine ecosystem, much in the way epidemiological analyses evaluate risk factors for negative health outcomes to better inform decisions. Thus, we identified ecological traits and dietary specializations associated with species declines in a community of marine predators that could be reflective of ecosystem change. To do so, we integrated count data from winter surveys collected in long‐term marine bird monitoring programs conducted throughout the Salish Sea—a transboundary large marine ecosystem in North America's Pacific Northwest. We found that decadal declines in winter counts were most prevalent among pursuit divers such as alcids (Alcidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae) that have specialized diets based on forage fish, and that wide‐ranging species without local breeding colonies were more prone to these declines. Although a combination of factors is most likely driving declines of diving forage fish specialists, we propose that changes in the availability of low‐trophic prey may be forcing wintering range shifts of diving birds in the Salish Sea. Such a synthesis of long‐term trends in a marine predator community not only provides unique insights into the types of species that are at risk of extirpation and why, but may also inform proactive conservation measures to counteract threats—information that is paramount for species‐specific and ecosystem‐wide conservation. Evaluación de las Correlaciones Ecológicas de las Declinaciones de Aves Marinas para Informar a la Conservación Marina     

Monitoring the effectiveness of the European tributyltin regulation on the Basque coast (northern Spain) by assessing imposex in two gastropod species (Nassarius reticulatus and Nassarius nitidus)

Imposex and butyltin body burden were assessed in 2011 along the Basque coast (northern Spain) in two gastropod species (Nassarius reticulatus and Nassarius nitidus) four years after an initial survey in 2007. The aim of this re-survey was to monitor the effectiveness of the European ban on the use of tributyltin (TBT) based antifouling paints on ships’ hulls (EC 782/2003). Imposex levels in 2011 were lower than those determined in 2007 at most of the sampling sites. Accordingly, TBT concentrations in the female body burden of Nassarius reticulatus varied from 43 to 250 ng Sn/g in dry weight in 2011, which was a lower maximum than in 2007. Nevertheless, the results for the butyltin degradation index suggest that there have been recent inputs of TBT within the two main Basque harbours. Overall, the legislative measure is contributing to the reduction of TBT effects on the Basque coast although its presence is still evident.