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Spatial and sex differences in mercury contamination of skuas in the Southern Ocean
2022
Mills, William, | Ibañez, Andrés, | Bustamante, Paco | Carneiro, Ana, | Bearhop, Stuart | Cherel, Yves | Mariano-Jelicich, Rocío | Mcgill, Rona, | Montalti, Diego | Votier, Stephen, | Phillips, Richard,
Antarctic marine ecosystems are often considered to be pristine environments, yet wildlife in the polar regions may still be exposed to high levels of environmental contaminants. Here, we measured total mercury (THg) concentrations in blood samples from adult brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi (n = 82) from three breeding colonies south of the Antarctic Polar Front in the Southern Ocean (southwest Atlantic region): (i) Bahía Esperanza/Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula; (ii) Signy Island, South Orkney Islands; and, (iii) Bird Island, South Georgia. Blood THg concentrations increased from the Antarctic Peninsula towards the Antarctic Polar Front, such that Hg contamination was lowest at Bahía Esperanza/Hope Bay (mean ± SD, 0.95 ± 0.45 µg g-1 dw), intermediate at Signy Island (3.42 ± 2.29 µg g-1 dw) and highest at Bird Island (4.47 ± 1.10 µg g-1 dw). Blood THg concentrations also showed a weak positive correlation with δ15N values, likely reflecting the biomagnification process. Males had higher Hg burdens than females, which may reflect deposition of Hg into eggs by females or potentially differences in their trophic ecology. These data provide important insights into intraspecific variation in contamination and the geographic transfer of Hg to seabirds in the Southern Ocean.
Show more [+] Less [-]Contrasted fate of zinc sulfide nanoparticles in soil revealed by a combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, diffusive gradient in thin films and isotope tracing
2022
Le Bars, Maureen | Legros, Samuel | Levard, Clément | Chevassus-Rosset, Claire | Montes, Mélanie | Tella, Marie | Borschneck, Daniel | Guihou, Abel | Angeletti, Bernard | Doelsch, Emmanuel
Incidental zinc sulfide nanoparticles (nano-ZnS) are spread on soils through organic waste (OW) recycling. Here we performed soil incubations with synthetic nano-ZnS (3 nm crystallite size), representative of the form found in OW. We used an original set of techniques to reveal the fate of nano-ZnS in two soils with different properties. 68 Zn tracing and nano-DGT were combined during soil incubation to discriminate the available natural Zn from the soil, and the available Zn from the dissolved nano-68 ZnS. This combination was crucial to highlight the dissolution of nano-68 ZnS as of the third day of incubation. Based on the extended X-ray absorption fine structure, we revealed faster dissolution of nano-ZnS in clayey soil (82% within 1 month) than in sandy soil (2% within 1 month). However, the nano-DGT results showed limited availability of Zn released by nano-ZnS dissolution after 1 month in the clayey soil compared with the sandy soil. These results highlighted: (i) the key role of soil properties for nano-ZnS fate, and (ii) fast dissolution of nano-ZnS in clayey soil. Finally, the higher availability of Zn in the sandy soil despite the lower nano-ZnS dissolution rate is counterintuitive. This study demonstrated that, in addition to nanoparticle dissolution, it is also essential to take the availability of released ions into account when studying the fate of nanoparticles in soil.
Show more [+] Less [-]Prioritization based on risk assessment to study the bioconcentration and biotransformation of pharmaceuticals in glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) from the Adour estuary (Basque Country, France)
2022
Alvarez-Mora, Iker | Bolliet, Valérie | Lopez-Herguedas, Naroa | Castro, Lyen | Anakabe, Eneritz | Monperrus, Mathilde | Etxebarria, Nestor | Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/ EHU, P.O. Box 644, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain ; University of the Basque Country (University of the Basque Country) | Plentzia Marine Station, University of the Basque Country ; University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) | Ecologie Comportementale et Biologie des Populations de Poissons (ECOBIOP) ; Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of the Basque Country | Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux (IPREM) ; Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA)-Institut de Chimie - CNRS Chimie (INC-CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | Agencia Estatal de Investigaci ́on (AEI) of Spain | European Regional Development Fund through project CTM2017–84763-C3–1-R | Basque Government through the financial support as a consolidated group of the Basque Research System (IT1213–19) | University of the Basque Country | Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour
International audience | The presence of contaminants of emerging concern in the aquatic environment directly impacts water-living organisms and can alter their living functions. These compounds are often metabolized and excreted, but they can also be accumulated and spread through the food chain. The metabolized contaminants can also lead to the formation of new compounds with unknown toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. In this work, we have studied the occurrence, bioconcentration, and biotransformation of CECs in glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) using UHPLC-HRMS. To select the target CECs, we first carried out an environmental risk assessment of the WWTP effluent that releases directly into the Adour estuary (Bayonne, Basque Country, France). The risk quotients of every detected contaminant were calculated and three ecotoxicologically relevant contaminants were chosen to perform the exposure experiment: propranolol, diazepam, and irbesartan. An experiment of 14 days consisting of 7 days of exposure and 7 days of depuration was carried out to measure the bioconcentration of the chosen compounds. The quantitative results of the concentrations in glass eel showed that diazepam and irbesartan reached BCF ≈10 on day 7, but both compounds were eliminated after 7 days of depuration. On the other hand, propranolol's concentration remains constant all along with the experiment, and its presence can be detected even in the non-exposed control group, which might suggest environmental contamination. Two additional suspect screening strategies were used to identify metabolization products of the target compounds and other xenobiotics already present in wild glass eels. Only one metabolite was identified, nordiazepam, a well-known diazepam metabolite, probably due to the low metabolic rate of glass eels at this stage. The xenobiotic screening confirmed the presence of more xenobiotics in wild glass eels, prominent among them, the pharmaceuticals exemestane, primidone, iloprost, and norethandrolone. ☆ This paper has been recommended for acceptance by. Eddy Y. Zeng. ☆☆ Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Glass Eel (Anguilla anguilla): Occurrence, Bioconcentration and Biotransformation.
Show more [+] Less [-]Did decades of glyphosate use have selected for resistant amphibians in agricultural habitats?
2022
Sabrina, Tartu | Matthias, Renoirt | Marion, Cheron | Léa-Lise, Gisselmann | Solenn, Catoire | Brischoux, François | Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC) ; La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)
International audience
Show more [+] Less [-]A long-term field experiment confirms the necessity of improving biowaste sorting to decrease coarse microplastic inputs in compost amended soils
2022
Colombini, Gabin | Rumpel, Cornelia | Houot, Sabine | Biron, Philippe | Dignac, Marie-France | Ecologie fonctionnelle et écotoxicologie des agroécosystèmes (ECOSYS) ; AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (iEES Paris ) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | ANR-11-INBS-0001,ANAEE-FR,ANAEE-Services(2011)
International audience | Microplastic (MP) input into agroecosystems is of particular concern as their sources are diverse (mulching films, biosolid application, wastewater irrigation, flooding, atmospheric input, road runoff). Compost application, which is needed to sustain soil ecosystem services in the context of a circular economy, may be a source of microplastics. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different composts derived from urban wastes impact the nature and quantity of coarse (2-5 mm) microplastics (CMP) in soils, using a long-term field experiment in France. Composts resulting from different levels of urban waste sorting were investigated. Our approach included the isolation of microplastics from composts and amended soils followed by their characterization using pyrolysis GC/MS spectrometry. We found that coarse microplastic concentrations varied from 26.9 to 417 kg per hectare depending on the compost type, after 22 years of bi-annual application. These values may be higher than for conventional agricultural practices, as application rate was twice as high as for normal practices. Composts made from municipal solid waste were by far the organic amendments leading to the highest quantity of plastic particles in soils, emphasizing the urgent need for limiting plastic use in packaging and for improving household biowaste sorting. Our results strongly suggest that standards regulating organic matter amendment application should take microplastics into account in order to prevent contamination of (agricultural) soils. Moreover, although no impacts on the soil bio-physico-chemical parameters has been noted so far. However, given the huge microplastic inputs, there is an urgent need to better evaluate their effect on soil functioning.
Show more [+] Less [-]Cu phytoextraction and biomass utilization as essential trace element feed supplements for livestock
2022
Wang, Xiaolin | Fernandes de Souza, Marcella | Mench, Michel, J | Li, Haichao | Ok, Yong Sik | Tack, Filip M.G. | Meers, Erik | Universiteit Gent = Ghent University (UGENT) | Biodiversité, Gènes & Communautés (BioGeCo) ; Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Korea Polytechnic University (KPU)
International audience | Copper (Cu), as an essential element, is added to animal feed to stimulate growth and prevent disease. The forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produced during Cu phytoextraction may be considered a biofortified crop to substitute the Cu feed additives for livestock production, beneficially alleviating Cu contamination in soils and reducing its input into agriculture systems. To assess this, alfalfa was grown in three similar soils with different Cu levels, i.e., 11, 439 and 779 mg kg−1 for uncontaminated soil (A), moderately Cu-contaminated soil (B) and highly Cu-contaminated soil (C), respectively. EDDS (Ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid) was applied to the soils seven days before the first cutting at four rates (0, 0.5, 2 and 5 mmol kg−1) to enhance bioavailable Cu uptake. Alfalfa grew well in soils A and B but not in the highly Cu-contaminated soil. After applying EDDS, a significant biomass reduction of the first cutting shoot was only observed with 5 mmol kg−1 EDDS in the highly Cu-contaminated soil, with a 45% (P < 0.05) decrease when compared to the control. Alfalfa grown in the three soils gradually wilted after the first cutting with 5 mmol kg−1 EDDS, and Cu concentrations in the first cutting shoot were augmented strongly, by 250% (P < 0.05), 3500% (P < 0.05) and 6700% (P < 0.05) compared to the controls, respectively. Cu concentrations in alfalfa shoots were found to be higher in this study than in some fodder plants and further augmented in soils with higher Cu levels and with EDDS application. These findings suggest that alfalfa grown on clean soils or soils with up to 450 mg Cu kg−1 (with appropriate EDDS dosages) has the potential to be considered as a partial Cu supplementation for livestock. This research laid the foundation for the integration between Cu-phytoextraction and Cu-biofortification for livestock.
Show more [+] Less [-]Associations between internal concentrations of fluorinated and organochlorinated chemicals in women and in vitro fertilization outcomes: A multi-pollutant study
2022
Lefebvre, Tiphaine | Fréour, Thomas | Duval, Gauthier | Ploteau, Stéphane | Marchand, Philippe | Le Bizec, Bruno | Antignac, Jean-Philippe | Cano-Sancho, Germán | Centre hospitalier universitaire de Nantes (CHU Nantes) | Laboratoire d'étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA) ; École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Team 2 : Cell and gene engineering in tolerance, fertility and regenerative medicine (U1064 Inserm - CR2TI) ; Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie - Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology (U1064 Inserm - CR2TI) ; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Nantes Université - UFR de Médecine et des Techniques Médicales (Nantes Univ - UFR MEDECINE) ; Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Nantes Université - UFR de Médecine et des Techniques Médicales (Nantes Univ - UFR MEDECINE) ; Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ) | Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie - Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology (U1064 Inserm - CR2TI) ; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Nantes Université - UFR de Médecine et des Techniques Médicales (Nantes Univ - UFR MEDECINE) ; Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université - pôle Santé ; Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)-Nantes Université (Nantes Univ) | Nantes Université (Nantes Univ)
International audience | The impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on reproductive health is still poorly understood, even though infertility management has high associated societal and economical costs. The aims of this study were to characterize the internal levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF); and evaluate their association with IVF outcomes, individually and as mixtures in a combined multipollutant approach. Thus, 136 women undergoing IVF treatment at Nantes University Hospital (France) were prospectively recruited between 2019 and 2020. Serum samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem-mass spectrometry for 14 PFAS. Follicular fluid was analyzed with gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry for 14 PCBs and 25 OCPs. Intermediate and clinical IVF outcomes were ascertained by embryologists and clinicians using standardized protocols. Multivariate Poisson regression models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regressions (BKMR) were used to identify individual and joint associations between POPs and IVF outcomes adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI) and anti-Müllerian hormone. The results showed that most POPs were widely present in women, and globally not associated with clinically relevant IVF outcomes, like live birth rates. Nonetheless, negative associations between PCB138 and trans-nonachlor with useable blastocysts were identified, β -0.28 (95%CI [-0.52; -0.04] p = 0.02) and β -0.22 (95%CI [-0.40; -0.03] p = 0.02). Conversely, PCB28 showed positive associations with the number of useable blastocysts, pregnancy rate and live birth rate. The BKMR analysis suggested the lack of association of the mixture with intermediate and clinical outcomes. The study supports the need of conducting further studies in a larger population sample in order to ensure sufficient statistical power to identify modest effects and a robust stratification analysis to account for the large underlying disease heterogeneity.
Show more [+] Less [-]Measurement of hair thyroid and steroid hormone concentrations in the rat evidence endocrine disrupting potential of a low dose mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
2022
Peng, Feng-Jiao | Palazzi, Paul | Viguié, Catherine | Appenzeller, Brice M.R. | Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) | Exposition, Perturbation Endocrino-métabolique et Reproduction (ToxAlim-EXPER) ; ToxAlim (ToxAlim) ; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan (INP - PURPAN) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan (INP - PURPAN) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | This work was financially supported by the Luxembourg Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche (MESR).
International audience | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been shown to influence endogenous hormones levels in animal models, but little is known about the effects of their mixtures. For hormone measurements, hair analysis is a promising approach to provide information on long-term status of hormones. Herein we used hair analysis to assess the combined effects of 13 PAHs on steroid and thyroid hormones levels in a rat model. The PAH mixture was administered orally three times per week to female rats at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 200, 400 and 800 μg/kg of body weight for each compound over a 90-day exposure period. Fourteen out of 36 analyzed hormones were detected in rat hair, including pregnenolone (P5), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP4), corticosterone (CORT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (AD), 3,3'-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2), 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), and 3,5,3',5'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T4). The PAH mixture significantly elevated P5 and DHEA levels at the doses of 200 and 400 μg/kg but reduced T2 and T3 levels at the highest dose as compared to the control. While P5, DHEA, 17-OHP4 and AD concentrations exhibited inverted U-shaped dose responses, T2, T3 and T4 concentrations exhibited inverse linear dose responses, which are further confirmed by their relationships with hair hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) concentrations. Likewise, there were significant nonmonotonic relationships of hormone molar ratios (e.g., AD/17-OHP4 and DHEA/CORT ratios) with exposure intensity and OH-PAHs. Overall, our results demonstrate the capability of PAH mixtures to interfere with steroid and thyroid hormones in female rats.
Show more [+] Less [-]Influence of edaphic conditions and persistent organic pollutants on earthworms in an infiltration basin
2022
Fernandes, G. | Roques, O. | Lassabatère, L. | Sarles, L. | Venisseau, A. | Marchand, P. | Bedell, Jean-Philippe | Équipe 5 - Impact des Aménagements et des Polluants sur les HYdrosystèmes (IAPHY) ; Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA) ; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL) ; Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL) ; Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | Laboratoire d'étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA) ; École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)
International audience | In recent decades, stormwater management has developed to allow stormwater to infiltrate directly into the soils instead of being collected and routed to sewer systems. However, during infiltration, stormwater creates a sediment deposit at the soil surface as the result of high loads of suspended particles (including pollutants), leading to the settlement of sedimentary layers prone to colonization by plants and earthworms. This study aims to investigate the earthworm communities of a peculiar infiltration basin and investigate the influence of edaphic conditions (water content, organic matter content, pH, height of sediment) and of persistent organic pollutants (POPs: PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs) on these earthworms. Attention was paid to their age (juveniles or adults) and their functional group (epigeic, endogeic, anecic). We found that the earthworm abundance was mostly driven by edaphic conditions, with only a slight impact of POPs, with a significant negative impact of PCBDLno for juveniles and endogeic, and PCDDs for epigeic. On the contrary, the height of the sediment and the water content are beneficial for their presence and reproduction. Furthermore, POPs contents are also linked to physicochemical parameters of the sediment. Bioaccumulation was clearly revealed in the studied site but does not differ between juveniles and adults, except for PCDDs. Conversely, BAF values seemed to vary between functional groups, except for PCBDL non-ortho. It strongly varies with the family types (PCBs versus PCCD/Fs) and between congeners within the same family, with specific strong bioaccumulation for a few congeners.
Show more [+] Less [-]Mercury contamination level is repeatable and predicted by wintering area in a long-distance migratory seabird
2022
Bertram, Justine | Kürten, Nathalie | Bichet, Coraline | Schupp, Peter | Bouwhuis, Sandra | Institute of Avian Research | Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC) ; La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) ; University of Oldenburg
International audience | The environmental presence of mercury has dramatically increased over the past century, leading to increased uptake, especially by top predators such as seabirds. Understanding the exact sources of contamination requires an individual-level approach, which is especially challenging for species that migrate. We took such an approach and located the wintering areas of 80 common terns (Sterna hirundo) through tracking, and, across years, collected feathers grown in those areas to assess their mercury levels using atomic absorption spectrometry. Although feathers of males and females did not differ in their mercury level, we found the average feather mercury level to be highest in birds wintering in the Canary Current (3.87 μg g⁻¹), medium in birds wintering in the Guinea Current (2.27 μg g⁻¹) and lowest in birds wintering in the Benguela Current (1.96 μg g⁻¹). Furthermore, we found considerable inter-annual fluctuations in feather mercury levels, a within-individual repeatability of 41%, that the mercury levels of 17% of feather samples exceeded the admitted toxicity threshold of 5 μg g⁻¹, and that the overall mean concentration of 3.4 μg g⁻¹ exceeded that of other published reports for the species. Further studies therefore should assess whether these levels lead to individual-level carry-over effects on survival and reproductive performance.
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