Characterization of endocrine disruptors from a complex matrix using estrogen receptor affinity columns and high performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry

Complex mixtures of contaminants with potential adverse effects on human health and wildlife are found in the environment and in the food chain. These mixtures include numerous anthropogenic compounds of various origins and structures, which may behave as endocrine disruptors. Mixture’s complexity is further enhanced by biotic and abiotic transformations. It is therefore necessary to develop new strategies allowing the identification of the structure of known, as well as unknown, nuclear receptor (NR) ligands present in complex matrices. We explored the possibility to use NR-based affinity columns to characterize the presence of bioactive molecules in environmental complex mixtures. Estrogen receptor α (ERα)-based affinity columns were used to trap and purify estrogenic substances present in surface sediment samples collected in a French river under mixed anthropogenic pressure. We combined biological, biochemical and analytical approaches to characterize the structure of ligands retained on columns and demonstrate the presence of known active molecules such as bisphenol A and octylphenol, but also of unexpected ERα ligands (n-butylparaben, hydroxyl-methyl-benzofuranone). High resolution mass spectrometry results demonstrate that ERα affinity columns can be used for the isolation, purification and identification of known as well as unknown estrogenic contaminants present in complex matrices.     

Contribution of fetal cerebral MRI for diagnosis of structural anomalies

More than 20 years after its introduction, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now considered a useful complementary tool in the imaging work-up of fetal brain structural anomalies, but its real contribution in neuro-fetal imaging is still controversial. Our purpose is to present an overview of the most valuable indications of fetal cerebral MRI in current practice as guided by dedicated ultrasound analysis. On the basis of a review of the literature and our personal experience, we underline herein the real complementarities between these two techniques in different clinical or imaging settings and show how MRI adds significant information compared with ultrasound, especially in the late second and third trimesters. We assess the interest of using MRI from a technical point of view (complete and extensive anatomical analysis, analysis of developmental and pathological processes) and from a practical point of view in different imaging and clinical settings. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low impact of phenanthrene dissipation on the bacterial community in grassland soil

The effect of phenanthrene on the bacterial community was studied on permanent grassland soil historically presenting low contamination (i.e. less than 1 mg kg^?1) by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Microcosms of soil were spiked with phenanthrene at 300 mg kg^?1. After 30 days of incubation, the phenanthrene concentration decreased rapidly until its total dissipation within 90 days. During this incubation period, significant changes of the total bacterial community diversity were observed, as assessed by automated-ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis fingerprinting. In order to get a deeper view of the effect of phenanthrene on the bacterial community, the abundances of ten phyla and classes (Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobiales, Gemmatimonadetes, and Planctomycetes) were monitored by quantitative polymerase chain reaction performed on soil DNA extracts. Interestingly, abundances of some bacterial taxa significantly changed as compared with controls. Moreover, among these bacterial groups impacted by phenanthrene spiking, some of them presented the potential of phenanthrene degradation, as assessed by PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase (PAH-RHD_α) gene detection. However, neither the abundance nor the diversity of the PAH-RHD_α genes was significantly impacted by phenanthrene spiking, highlighting the low impact of this organic contaminant on the functional bacterial diversities in grassland soil.     

An in vitro bioassay to assess the potential global toxicity of waters on spermatogenesis: a pilot study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Many toxicants are present in water as a mixture. Male infertility is one of the environmental impacts in developed countries. Using our rat...     

MSWI bottom ash used as basement at two pilot-scale roads: Comparison of leachate chemistry and reactive transport modeling

The recycling of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash as aggregates for road basement requires assessing the long-term evolution of leachate chemistry. The Dåva (Sweden) and Hérouville (France) pilot-scale roads were monitored during 6 and 10 years, respectively. Calculated saturation indices were combined to batch test modeling to set a simplified geochemical model of the bottom ash materials. A common reactive transport model was then applied to both sites. At Hérouville, pH and the concentration of most elements quickly drop during the first two years to reach a set of minimum values over 10 years. The decrease is less pronounced at Dåva. The evolutions of pH and major element concentrations are fairly well related to the following pH-buffering sequence: portlandite, C-S-H phases or pseudo-wollastonite and, finally, calcite in equilibrium with atmospheric CO₂. Al(OH)₃, barite, ettringite and monohydrocalcite may also control leachate chemistry. Cu release is correctly modeled by DOM complexation and tenorite equilibrium. Temperature has no significant effect on the modeling of leachate chemistry in the range 5-30 °C, except at high pH. Effects at road edges and roadside slopes are important for the release of the less reactive elements and, possibly, for carbonation processes.     

There Are More Than Three Reasons to Consider Sustainable Remediation,a Dutch Perspective

This article provides an overview of the developments concerning sustainable remediation (SR) from the authors’ perspective. A short history of policy development is outlined, in which the focus mainly lies on the Netherlands since this is the homeland of the majority of the authors. The Netherlands is a densely populated country with high pressure on land and was in the forefront of developments in soil policy. The authors plead for simplicity in approaches, as history has proven that the simpler theory more often is true, and above all will better be understood by stakeholders and, thus, will more easily lead to consensus. Implicitly the authors make clear that SR not only has benefits from a societal, economic, and environmental point of view, but if the methodologies are implemented correctly, it leads to more robust and supported decision making. Moreover, it opens the road to flexible and integral remedial objectives that enable innovative and creative solutions for soil and groundwater contamination. The proposed methodologies and creative innovations are illustrated with full‐scale operational cases. ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.