Microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) in stormwater have been poorly investigated. Data on their intra and inter rain events variability over time are still sparse. For the first time, the variability of microlitter concentrations in stormwater has been studied. MF and MP concentrations were investigated in stormwater runoff at the outlet of the suburban catchment at Sucy-en-Brie (a suburb of Paris, France), during four rain events. Median MF and MP concentrations were 1.9 and 29 items/L, with an interquartile range of 2.3 and 36 items/L, respectively (N = 18). A different pattern was observed between MFs and MPs. While no relationship or trends were observed for MFs, the highest MP concentrations were observed before the flow rate peak of the rain events. This could indicate a difference in the behaviour between MFs and MPs. We estimated the median MP mass concentration to be 56 μg/L with an interquartile range of 194 μg/L, whereas the mass concentration of macroplastics was estimated to be 31 μg/L with an interquartile range of 22 μg/L at the same sampling site, in a previous study. For this sampling site, MPs and macroplastics have the same order of magnitude. This study may have strong implications on microplastic assessment in urban waters.

Industrial metalworking facilities emit a variety of air toxics including volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. In order to investigate these emissions, a 1-month multi-instrument field campaign was undertaken at an industrial site in Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk (France), in May and June 2012. One of the main objectives of the study was to provide new information on the chemical composition of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) in the vicinity of metalworking facilities. An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was deployed to provide size-resolved chemical mixing state measurements of ambient single particles at high temporal resolution. This mixing state information was then used to apportion PM₂.₅ to local metalworking facilities influencing the receptor site. Periods when the site was influenced by metalworking sources were characterised by a pronounced increase in particles containing toxic metals (manganese, iron, lead) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with a variety of chemical mixing states. The association of specific particle classes with a nearby ferromanganese alloy manufacturing plant was confirmed through comparison with previous analysis of raw materials (ores) and chimney filter particle samples collected at the facility. Particles associated with emissions from a nearby steelworks were also identified. The contribution of local metalworking activities to PM₂.₅ at the receptor site for the period when the ATOFMS was deployed ranged from 1 to 65% with an average contribution of 17%, while the remaining mass was attributed to other local and regional sources. These findings demonstrate the impact of metalworking facilities on air quality downwind and provide useful single particle signatures for future source apportionment studies in communities impacted by metalworking emissions.

Organic-matter decomposition has long been proposed as a tool to assess stream functional integrity, but this indicator largely depends on organic-matter selection. We assessed eight decomposition-based indicators along two well-known environmental gradients, a nutrient-enrichment gradient (0.2–1.4 mg DIN/L) in central Portugal and an acidification gradient (pH: 4.69–7.33) in north-eastern France to identify the most effective organic-matter indicator for assessing stream functional integrity. Functional indicators included natural leaf litter (alder and oak) in 10-mm and 0.5-mm mesh bags, commercial tea (Lipton green and rooibos teas in 0.25-mm mesh bags), wood sticks (wood tongue depressors) and cotton strips. Biotic indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates (IPtIN for Portugal and IBGN for France) were calculated to compare the effectiveness of structural and functional indicators in detecting stream impairment and to assess the relationship between both types of indicators. The effectiveness of organic-matter decomposition rates as a functional indicator depended on the stressor considered and the substrate used. Decomposition rates generally identified nutrient enrichment and acidification in the most acidic streams. Decomposition rates of alder and oak leaves in coarse-mesh bags, green and rooibos teas and wood sticks were positively related with pH. Only decomposition rates of rooibos tea and wood sticks were related with DIN concentration; decomposition rates along the nutrient-enrichment gradient were confounded by differences in shredder abundance and temperature among streams. Stream structural integrity was good to excellent across streams; the IPtIN index was unrelated to DIN concentration, while the IBGN index was positively related with pH. The relationships between decomposition rates and biotic indices were loose in most cases, and only decomposition rates of alder leaves in coarse-mesh bags and green tea were positively related with the IBGN. Commercial substrates may be a good alternative to leaf litter to assess stream functional integrity, especially in the case of nutrient enrichment.

Biomonitoring of aquatic environments requires new tools to characterize the effects of pollutants on living organisms. Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from the same site in north-eastern France were caged for two months, upstream and downstream of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the international watershed of the Meuse (Charleville-Mézières “CM” in France, Namur “Nam” and Charleroi “Cr” in Belgium). The aim was to test ¹H-NMR metabolomics for the assessment of water bodies’ quality. The metabolomic approach was combined with a more “classical” one, i.e., the measurement of a range of energy biomarkers: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and amylase activities, condition index (CI), total reserves, electron transport system (ETS) activity and cellular energy allocation (CEA). Five of the eight energy biomarkers were significantly impacted (LDH, ACP, lipase, total reserves and ETS), without a clear pattern between sites (Up and Down) and stations (CM, Nam and Cr). The metabolomic approach revealed variations among the three stations, and also between the upstream and downstream of Nam and CM WWTPs. A total of 28 known metabolites was detected, among which four (lactate, glycine, maltose and glutamate) explained the observed metabolome variations between sites and stations, in accordance with chemical exposure levels. Metabolome changes suggest that zebra mussel exposure to field contamination could alter their osmoregulation and anaerobic metabolism capacities. This study reveals that lactate is a potential biomarker of interest, and ¹H-NMR metabolomics can be an efficient approach to assess the health status of zebra mussels in the biomonitoring of aquatic environments.

The present pilot study aimed to provide an overview of organic contaminant concentration levels in the littoral ecosystems of the Pertuis seas. The study determined the concentrations of twenty-nine pesticides, six nonylphenols and seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments, seawater, Pacific oysters and blue mussels. Oysters accumulated a higher number of pesticides than blue mussels. Indeed, alpha BHC (0.60–0.72 ng/g, ww), chlorfenvinphos (1.65–2.12 ng/g, ww), chlorpyrifos (0.79–0.93 ng/g, ww), chlortoluron (2.50–4.31 ng/g, ww), metolachlor (up to 0.38 ng/g, ww) and parathion (0.56–0.69 ng/g, ww) were quantified in oysters whereas only alpha BHC (0.24–0.31 ng/g, ww), was quantified in mussels. The present results also revealed that the POPs detected in water or sediments were not ultimately found accumulated in bivalves. Other molecules such as methylparathion and BDE47 were quantified in sediments. These molecules, BDE99 and one nonylphenol (OP2OE) were quantified in seawater. Finally, the comparison with the available environmental guidelines showed that the values measured were at concentrations not considered to cause adverse effects at the populations' level except for chlortoluron in seawater (15–50 ng/L).

In the early 1970s, studies of marine litter first appeared in the scientific literature. Fifty years later, knowledge of several coastal areas of the Atlantic, the driving forces of oyster farmers and aquaculture, is lacking. This work documents a pilot study on an Atlantic coastal area (France). This study aims to (i) characterize the abundance of macroplastics related to aquaculture tools; (ii) microplastics present in beach sediments and (iii) characterization of pollutants present on aquaculture plastics collected. First, it was observed that 70% of the plastics collected on the beach were characteristic of aquaculture materials. In sediments, MPs most found were Polyamide between 10 and 20 μm, with a total MP concentration of 397–457 MPs.kg⁻¹. Pipes collectors (PVC), frequently used in aquaculture, have been shown to have concentrations of dimethylphthalates and naphthalene. Waste management and support policies can then base their actions on such studies, in order to improve their knowledge.

Litter are ubiquitous and increasing in the coastal and marine environments. Entanglement with litter is one of the principal causes of mortality in seabirds, but the population-level consequences are unknown. Currently, all seabirds collect litter for nesting material. Northern Gannets are not the exception and there are several cases where elevated percentages of polymers are part of the life cycle of gannets, especially during breeding. This baseline paper presents an analysis of litter content and its related impacts on the two gannet nests located in South France (Carry-Le-Rouet) and Northwest Italy (Portovenere) from 2017 to 2019. 654 items from both gannet nests were collected with 277 items (42%) being of natural origin, while 377 items (58%) were litter. Most of the nesting material was nautical cordage, which appears to be used preferentially. A more restrictive litter management regulation must be adopted to reduce litter generation from fishing/aquaculture-related activities.