Compared to antibiotic parent molecule, human metabolites are generally more polar and sometimes not less toxic in wastewater. However, most researches focus on the fate of parent molecule. Therefore, behaviors of human metabolites are little known. Moreover, though much has been done on the fate of antibiotics during activated sludge process, there are still some limitations and gaps. In the present study, [Ring-¹⁴C] acetyl sulfamethoxazole (¹⁴C-Ac-SMX) was used to investigate the fate of human metabolite of SMX during activated sludge process at environmentally relevant concentration. At the end of 216 h, 3.1% of the spiked activity in the initial aqueous phase was mineralized, 50% was adsorbed onto the solid phase, and 36.5% still remained in the aqueous phase, indicating that adsorption, not biodegradation, was the main dissipation pathway. In the existence of microbial activities, accumulation into the solid phase was much higher, which was less bioavailable by chemical sequential extraction. The multimedia kinetic model simultaneously depicted the fate of Ac-SMX in the gas, aqueous, and solid phases, and demonstrated that microbially accelerated accumulation onto the solid phase was attributed to lower desorption rate from the solid phase to the aqueous phase, where adsorption rate was not the key factor. Therefore, Ac-SMX cannot be efficiently mineralized and remain in the aqueous or the solid phases. The accumulation in the solid phase is less bioavailable and is hard to be desorbed in the existence of microbial activities, and should not be easily degraded, and may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes after discharge into the environment.

Compared to antibiotic parent molecule, human metabolites are generally more polar and sometimes not less toxic in wastewater.However, most researches focus on the fate of parent molecule. Therefore, behaviors of human metabolites are little known.Moreover, though much has been done on the fate of antibiotics during activated sludge process, there are still some limitationsand gaps. In the present study, [Ring-14C] acetyl sulfamethoxazole (14C-Ac-SMX) was used to investigate the fate of humanmetabolite of SMX during activated sludge process at environmentally relevant concentration. At the end of 216 h, 3.1% of thespiked activity in the initial aqueous phase was mineralized, 50% was adsorbed onto the solid phase, and 36.5% still remained inthe aqueous phase, indicating that adsorption, not biodegradation, was the main dissipation pathway. In the existence of microbialactivities, accumulation into the solid phase was much higher, which was less bioavailable by chemical sequential extraction. Themultimedia kinetic model simultaneously depicted the fate of Ac-SMX in the gas, aqueous, and solid phases, and demonstratedthat microbially accelerated accumulation onto the solid phase was attributed to lower desorption rate from the solid phase to theaqueous phase, where adsorption rate was not the key factor. Therefore, Ac-SMX cannot be efficiently mineralized and remain inthe aqueous or the solid phases. The accumulation in the solid phase is less bioavailable and is hard to be desorbed in the existenceof microbial activities, and should not be easily degraded, and may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria andgenes after discharge into the environment.

In combination, pollution and pathogens represent a serious threat to the health of European eels that has been increasingly recognized. Thus, the impact of contaminants, cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium, on anguillid herpesvirus 1 infection in wild European eels has been evaluated. Despite the small sample size, results indicate that selenium and mercury concentrations may compromise the European eel immune system as herpesvirus infection was more prevalent in specimens with higher Hg and Se hepatic concentrations.

SHORT RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION ARTICLE | In combination, pollution and pathogens represent a serious threat to the health of European eels that has been increasingly recognized. Thus, the impact of contaminants, cadmium, lead,mercury, and selenium, on anguillid herpesvirus 1 infection inwild European eels has been evaluated. Despite the small sample size, results indicate that selenium and mercury concentrations may compromise the European eel immune system as herpesvirus infection was more prevalent in specimens with higher Hg and Se hepatic concentrations. | Aptitud ecológica de la anguila europea de humedales mediterráneos e implicaciones en el declive de las poblaciones | ANMARME | SI

Fixation reactions reduce the concentration of soluble phosphorus (P) and affect crop growth in alkaline calcareous soils. In lab and greenhouse studies, phosphoric acid (PA) or diammonium phosphate (DAP) were evaluated at various P rates (0, 18, 36 and 54 mg kg⁻¹ soil), either as non-mix (designated as NM-PA and NM-DAP, respectively) or after premixing with farmyard manure (FYM) at 400 mg kg⁻¹ soil (designated as PM-PA and PM-DAP, respectively). The amended soil was incubated at 25 °C and 70% water holding capacity for 7 weeks; thereafter, ³²P dynamics were measured using the Freundlich kinetic model. A greenhouse study was also conducted using the same thirteen treatments (as used in incubation experiment) and wheat cultivar (Galaxy 2013) was grown following standard agronomic practices. The results showed that application of PM-PA at the highest rate, which caused maximum change in Pr (ΔPr = 59%) in laboratory condition, also produced maximum P uptake by grain (190.3 mg pot⁻¹) and grain yield (44.1 g pot⁻¹) of wheat in greenhouse experiment. Similarly, regression analysis showed that an increase in Pr values caused a corresponding increase in crop parameters. The results suggested that pre-mixing P fertilizer with FYM could be a viable technique to increase P supply and enhance productivity of wheat in alkaline calcareous soils.

International audience | Fixation reactions reduce the concentration of soluble phosphorus (P) and affect crop growth in alkaline calcareous soils. In lab and greenhouse studies, phosphoric acid (PA) or diammonium phosphate (DAP) were evaluated at various P rates (0, 18, 36 and 54 mg kg−1 soil), either as non-mix (designated as NM-PA and NM-DAP, respectively) or after premixing with farmyard manure (FYM) at 400 mg kg−1 soil (designated as PM-PA and PM-DAP, respectively). The amended soil was incubated at 25 °C and 70% water holding capacity for 7 weeks; thereafter, 32P dynamics were measured using the Freundlich kinetic model. A greenhouse study was also conducted using the same thirteen treatments (as used in incubation experiment) and wheat cultivar (Galaxy 2013) was grown following standard agronomic practices. The results showed that application of PM-PA at the highest rate, which caused maximum change in Pr (ΔPr = 59%) in laboratory condition, also produced maximum P uptake by grain (190.3 mg pot−1) and grain yield (44.1 g pot−1) of wheat in greenhouse experiment. Similarly, regression analysis showed that an increase in Pr values caused a corresponding increase in crop parameters. The results suggested that pre-mixing P fertilizer with FYM could be a viable technique to increase P supply and enhance productivity of wheat in alkaline calcareous soils.

Precise modeling of CO₂ emissions is important for environmental research. This paper presents a new model of human population dynamics that can be embedded into ESMs (Earth System Models) to improve climate modeling. Through a system dynamics approach, we develop a cohort-component model that successfully simulates historical population dynamics with fine spatial resolution (about 1°×1°). The population projections are used to improve the estimates of CO₂ emissions, thus transcending the bulk approach of existing models and allowing more realistic non-linear effects to feature in the simulations. The module, dubbed POPEM (from Population Parameterization for Earth Models), is compared with current emission inventories and validated against UN aggregated data. Finally, it is shown that the module can be used to advance toward fully coupling the social and natural components of the Earth system, an emerging research path for environmental science and pollution research.

Precise modeling of CO2 emissions is important for environmental research. This paper presents a new model of human population dynamics that can be embedded into ESMs (Earth System Models) to improve climate modeling. Through a system dynamics approach, we develop a cohort-component model that successfully simulates historical population dynamics with fine spatial resolution (about 1°×1°). The population projections are used to improve the estimates of CO2 emissions, thus transcending the bulk approach of existing models and allowing more realistic non-linear effects to feature in the simulations. The module, dubbed POPEM (from Population Parameterization for Earth Models), is compared with current emission inventories and validated against UN aggregated data. Finally, it is shown that the module can be used to advance toward fully coupling the social and natural components of the Earth system, an emerging research path for environmental science and pollution research.

The simultaneous fate of organic matter and 4 endocrine disruptors (3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) and nonylphenols (NP)) was studied during the anaerobic digestion followed by composting of sludge at lab-scale. Sludge organic matter was characterized, thanks to chemical fractionation and 3D fluorescence deciphering its accessibility and biodegradability. Total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 41% and 56% during anaerobic digestion and composting, respectively. 3D fluorescence highlighted the quality changes of organic matter. During continuous anaerobic digestion, organic micropollutants’ removal was 22 ± 14%, 6 ± 5%, 18 ± 9%, and 0% for fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols, respectively. Discontinuous composting allowed to go further on the organic micropollutants’ removal as 34 ± 8%, 31 ± 20%, 38 ± 10%, and 52 ± 6% of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols were dissipated, respectively. Moreover, the accessibility of PAH and NP expressed by their presence in the various sludge organic matter fractions and its evolution during both treatments was linked to both the quality evolution of the organic matter and the physicochemical properties of the PAH and NP; the presence in most accessible fractions explained the amount of PAH and NP dissipated.

International audience | The simultaneous fate of organic matter and 4 endocrine disruptors (3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) and nonylphenols (NP)) was studied during the anaerobic digestion followed by composting of sludge at lab-scale. Sludge organic matter was characterized, thanks to chemical fractionation and 3D fluorescence deciphering its accessibility and biodegradability. Total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 41% and 56% during anaerobic digestion and composting, respectively. 3D fluorescence highlighted the quality changes of organic matter. During continuous anaerobic digestion, organic micropollutants' removal was 22±14%, 6±5%, 18±9%, and 0% for fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols, respectively. Discontinuous composting allowed to go further on the organic micropollutants' removal as 34±8%, 31±20%, 38±10%, and 52±6% of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols were dissipated, respectively. Moreover, the accessibility of PAH and NP expressed by their presence in the various sludge organic matter fractions and its evolution during both treatments was linked to both the quality evolution of the organic matter and the physicochemical properties of the PAH and NP; the presence in most accessible fractions explained the amount of PAH and NP dissipated.

International audience | The simultaneous fate of organic matter and 4 endocrine disruptors (3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) and nonylphenols (NP)) was studied during the anaerobic digestion followed by composting of sludge at lab-scale. Sludge organic matter was characterized, thanks to chemical fractionation and 3D fluorescence deciphering its accessibility and biodegradability. Total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 41% and 56% during anaerobic digestion and composting, respectively. 3D fluorescence highlighted the quality changes of organic matter. During continuous anaerobic digestion, organic micropollutants' removal was 22±14%, 6±5%, 18±9%, and 0% for fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols, respectively. Discontinuous composting allowed to go further on the organic micropollutants' removal as 34±8%, 31±20%, 38±10%, and 52±6% of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols were dissipated, respectively. Moreover, the accessibility of PAH and NP expressed by their presence in the various sludge organic matter fractions and its evolution during both treatments was linked to both the quality evolution of the organic matter and the physicochemical properties of the PAH and NP; the presence in most accessible fractions explained the amount of PAH and NP dissipated.

Human activities have increased anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, which are believed to play important roles in global warming. The spatiotemporal variations of CO₂ concentration and flux at fine spatial scales in aquaculture ponds remain unclear, particularly in China, the country with the largest aquaculture. In this study, the plot-scale spatiotemporal variations of water CO₂ concentration and flux, both within and among ponds, were researched in shrimp ponds in Shanyutan Wetland, Min River Estuary, Southeast China. The average water CO₂ concentration and flux across the water–air interface in the shrimp ponds over the shrimp farming period varied from 22.79 ± 0.54 to 186.66 ± 8.71 μmol L⁻¹ and from − 0.50 ± 0.04 to 2.87 ± 0.78 mol m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. There was no remarkable difference in CO₂ concentration and flux within the ponds, but significantly spatiotemporal differences in CO₂ flux were observed between shrimp ponds. Chlorophyll a, pH, salinity, air temperature, and morphometry were the important factors driving the spatiotemporal patterns of CO₂ flux in the shrimp ponds. Our findings highlighted the importance and spatiotemporal variations of CO₂ flux in the important coastal ecosystems.

Human activities have increased anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which are believed to play important roles in global warming. The spatiotemporal variations of CO2 concentration and flux at fine spatial scales in aquaculture ponds remain unclear, particularly in China, the country with the largest aquaculture. In this study, the plot-scale spatiotemporal variations of water CO2 concentration and flux, both within and among ponds, were researched in shrimp ponds in Shanyutan Wetland, Min River Estuary, Southeast China. The average water CO2 concentration and flux across the water–air interface in the shrimp ponds over the shrimp farming period varied from 22.79 ± 0.54 to 186.66 ± 8.71 μmol L−1 and from − 0.50 ± 0.04 to 2.87 ± 0.78 mol m−2 day−1, respectively. There was no remarkable difference in CO2 concentration and flux within the ponds, but significantly spatiotemporal differences in CO2 flux were observed between shrimp ponds. Chlorophyll a, pH, salinity, air temperature, and morphometry were the important factors driving the spatiotemporal patterns of CO2 flux in the shrimp ponds. Our findings highlighted the importance and spatiotemporal variations of CO2 flux in the important coastal ecosystems.

Pollution from bromine and some of its related compounds is currently unregulated in soil from Russia and other countries, and tools for sound assessment of environmental impacts of bromine contamination are largely missing. Hence, assessing potential implications for humans and ecosystems of bromine soil contamination is urgently needed, which requires the combination of measured soil concentrations from environmental studies and quantified potential toxicity impacts. To address this need, we used data from an experimental study assessing bromine in soils (384 samples) of Tomsk oblast, Russia, starting from measured concentrations obtained by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis in an earlier study. From these data, we calculated the bromine mass in soils and used these as starting point to characterize related cumulative impacts on human health and ecosystems in the Tomsk region, using a global scientific consensus model for screening-level comparative toxicity characterization of chemical emissions. Results show that the combination of sampling methodology with toxicity characterization techniques presents a new approach to be used in environmental studies aimed at environmental assessment and analysis of a territory. Our results indicate that it is important to account for substance-specific chemical reaction pathways and transfer processes, as well as to consider region-specific environmental characteristics. Our approach will help complement environmental assessment results with environmental sustainability elements, to consider potential tradeoffs in impacts, related to soil pollution, in support of improved emission and pollution reduction strategies.

International audience | Pollution from bromine and some of its related compounds is currently unregulated in soil from Russia and other countries,and tools for sound assessment of environmental impacts of bromine contamination are largely missing. Hence, assessingpotential implications for humans and ecosystems of bromine soil contamination is urgently needed, which requires the combi-nation of measured soil concentrations from environmental studies and quantified potential toxicity impacts. To address this need,we used data from an experimental study assessing bromine in soils (384 samples) of Tomsk oblast, Russia, starting frommeasured concentrations obtained by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis in an earlier study. From these data, we calcu-lated the bromine mass in soils and used these as starting point to characterize related cumulative impacts on human health andecosystems in the Tomsk region, using a global scientific consensus model for screening-level comparative toxicity character-ization of chemical emissions. Results show that the combination of sampling methodology with toxicity characterizationtechniques presents a new approach to be used in environmental studies aimed at environmental assessment and analysis of aterritory. Our results indicate that it is important to account for substance-specific chemical reaction pathways and transferprocesses, as well as to consider region-specific environmental characteristics. Our approach will help complement environmen-tal assessment results with environmental sustainability elements, to consider potential tradeoffs in impacts, related to soilpollution, in support of improved emission and pollution reduction strategies.

Household consumption has been identified to have an essential role in influencing ultimately the environmental pressures generated by human activities. This study assesses the indirect environmental footprint of the Spanish households applying a combination of consumer expenditure surveys with environmentally extended multi-regional input–output analysis. A total of fourteen environmental impact categories are studied from 2006 to 2015. All the impact categories present a similar trend, particularly affected by the economic crisis. The impacts decreased from 2008 to 2013 and finally slightly started rising again from 2014 to 2015. Results show that the dominant categories influencing the indirect environmental footprint in 2015 are (1) food and beverages, (2) housing, and (3) furnishings. From the intensity perspective, housing, transport, and food and beverages appear to be the most intensive consumption clusters in the Spanish household indirect environmental footprint. In relation to the indirect water impacts embodied in the Spanish households’ imports, the largest amount is from European countries and the highest virtual water (59%) corresponds to food and agriculture, in particular from wheat, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. The findings obtained in relation to the sources generating indirect impacts from household consumption could aid the implementation of future mitigation policies.

Household consumption has been identified to have an essential role in influencing ultimately the environmental pressures generated by human activities. This study assesses the indirect environmental footprint of the Spanish households applying a combination of consumer expenditure surveys with environmentally extended multi-regional input–output analysis. A total of fourteen environmental impact categories are studied from 2006 to 2015. All the impact categories present a similar trend, particularly affected by the economic crisis. The impacts decreased from 2008 to 2013 and finally slightly started rising again from 2014 to 2015. Results show that the dominant categories influencing the indirect environmental footprint in 2015 are (1) food and beverages, (2) housing, and (3) furnishings. From the intensity perspective, housing, transport, and food and beverages appear to be the most intensive consumption clusters in the Spanish household indirect environmental footprint. In relation to the indirect water impacts embodied in the Spanish households’ imports, the largest amount is from European countries and the highest virtual water (59%) corresponds to food and agriculture, in particular from wheat, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. The findings obtained in relation to the sources generating indirect impacts from household consumption could aid the implementation of future mitigation policies.

Household consumption has been identified to have an essential role in influencing ultimately the environmental pressures generated by human activities. This study assesses the indirect environmental footprint of the Spanish households applying a combination of consumer expenditure surveys with environmentally extended multi-regional input-output analysis. A total of fourteen environmental impact categories are studied from 2006 to 2015. All the impact categories present a similar trend, particularly affected by the economic crisis. The impacts decreased from 2008 to 2013 and finally slightly started rising again from 2014 to 2015. Results show that the dominant categories influencing the indirect environmental footprint in 2015 are (1) food and beverages, (2) housing, and (3) furnishings. From the intensity perspective, housing, transport, and food and beverages appear to be the most intensive consumption clusters in the Spanish household indirect environmental footprint. In relation to the indirect water impacts embodied in the Spanish households' imports, the largest amount is from European countries and the highest virtual water (59%) corresponds to food and agriculture, in particular from wheat, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. The findings obtained in relation to the sources generating indirect impacts from household consumption could aid the implementation of future mitigation policies.

The objective of the present study is to examine the effect of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on reduction of methane (CH₄) production in dairy and beef cattle using meta-analytic methods. After compilation of relevant scientific publications available from the literature between 1990 and 2016, and applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, meta-analyses of data from dairy and beef cattle were applied for the pooled dataset or for each animal category (dairy or beef). The results of meta-analysis of all three datasets (all cattle, dairy cattle, or beef cattle) suggested that effect size of yeast either on daily CH₄ production or on CH₄ production per dry matter intake (CH₄/DMI) was not significant. The results of Q test and I² statistic suggest that there is no heterogeneity between different studies on CH₄ production and CH₄/DMI. The results of meta-analysis suggest that use of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as feed additive does not offer significant results in terms of reduction of CH₄ production in dairy and beef cattle. Further research on the effects of different doses of yeast, use of yeast products, different strains, and experimental designs is warranted to elucidate the effects of yeasts on methane production in the rumen.

8 páginas, 2 tablas, 4 figuras. | The objective of the present study is to examine the effect of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on reduction of methane (CH) production in dairy and beef cattle using meta-analytic methods. After compilation of relevant scientific publications available from the literature between 1990 and 2016, and applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, meta-analyses of data from dairy and beef cattle were applied for the pooled dataset or for each animal category (dairy or beef). The results of meta-analysis of all three datasets (all cattle, dairy cattle, or beef cattle) suggested that effect size of yeast either on daily CH production or on CH production per dry matter intake (CH/DMI) was not significant. The results of Q test and I statistic suggest that there is no heterogeneity between different studies on CH production and CH/DMI. The results of meta-analysis suggest that use of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as feed additive does not offer significant results in terms of reduction of CH production in dairy and beef cattle. Further research on the effects of different doses of yeast, use of yeast products, different strains, and experimental designs is warranted to elucidate the effects of yeasts on methane production in the rumen.

Microplastics (MPs) are widely recognised as a contaminant of emerging concern in the marine environment. This work provides original data of the presence of MPs in coastal sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf. Ten surface sediment samples were collected in order to document baseline microplastic distribution from Algeciras to Barcelona. Microplastics were extracted from bulk sediments by density separation. The number of microplastics per kilogramme of dry weight ranged from 45.9 ± 23.9 MPs/kg d.w. observed at Palma de Mallorca to 280.3 ± 164.9 MPs/kg d.w. noted at Málaga, with an average value of 113.2 ± 88.9 MPs/kg d.w. The lower limit is defined by the pore filter size used (1.2 μm). For all analysed locations, the dominant microplastic type was fibres (82.9%), followed by fragments, and the main colours were transparent and blue. Microplastic size distribution was presented; in the case of fragments, 85% was lower than 0.5 mm, and in the case of fibres, the three studied intervals (0.5–1, 1–2, 2–5 mm) had similar distribution (35, 34 and 31%, respectively). Attending to all available data, no statistically significant relationship (Spearman’s correlation) was found between microplastic average size and distance to the coast, the depth, density population and sediment grain size. Neither relationship was observed between these variables and microplastic concentration using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test. This study has confirmed the widespread distribution of MPs in surface sediments from the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf, and these data are useful to define baselines for MPs in the Western Mediterranean region.

Microplastics (MPs) are widely recognised as a contaminant of emerging concern in the marine environment. This work provides original data of the presence ofMPs in coastal sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf. Ten surface sediment samples were collected in order to document baseline microplastic distribution from Algeciras to Barcelona. Microplastics were extracted from bulk sediments by density separation. The number of microplastics per kilogramme of dry weight ranged from 45.9 ± 23.9 MPs/kg d.w. observed at Palma de Mallorca to 280.3 ± 164.9 MPs/kg d.w. noted at Málaga, with an average value of 113.2 ± 88.9MPs/kg d.w. The lower limit is defined by the pore filter size used (1.2 μm). For all analysed locations, the dominant microplastic type was fibres (82.9%), followed by fragments, and the main colours were transparent and blue. Microplastic size distribution was presented; in the case of fragments, 85% was lower than 0.5 mm, and in the case of fibres, the three studied intervals (0.5–1, 1–2, 2–5 mm) had similar distribution (35, 34 and 31%, respectively). Attending to all available data, no statistically significant relationship (Spearman’s correlation) was found between microplastic average size and distance to the coast, the depth, density population and sediment grain size. Neither relationship was observed between these variables and microplastic concentration using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test. This study has confirmed the widespread distribution of MPs in surface sediments from the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf, and these data are useful to define baselines for MPs in the Western Mediterranean region. | This research has been supported by the Spanish Inter-Ministerial Science and Technology Commission through the “IMPACTA” project (CICYT, CTM2013-48194-C3-1-R), “BASEMAN” project (PCIN-2015170-CO2-02), “2-2 ESMARME” project and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). | Peer reviewed