Metals contamination in water is becoming a threat to human health. The studies ecological and health risk assessment of trace metals was conducted in seven water bodies in Akwa Ibom State, between May 2021 and April 2022 (twelve months), to evaluate the levels of trace metals contaminant and suitability of the waters for human consumption. Six trace metals were assessed in the water samples; using atomic absorption spectrophotometer after digestion. Pollution indices such as heavy metal pollution index, comprehensive pollution index, contamination index and health risk assessment for non-carcinogenic were employed. The findings were compared with Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. The mean concentration of some metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu) in some stations were exceeded the standard limits, while Fe and Ni exceeded the acceptable limits in all the stations, due to anthropogenic activities. The values for HPI in stations I, II, IV and VII were exceeded the threshold of 100, ranging between 61.4 and 743.5; CPI ranged from 1.05 to 3.72, while Cd ranged from 0.94 to 16.3, indicated that the water bodies are highly contaminated. The CDI and HQ values for Fe, Cd, Cr and Cu exceeded the oral toxicity reference dosage of contaminant and stipulated threshold (1) for HI in some stations both in children and adult, indicated that the water bodies are not suitable for human consumption. The findings call for concern regarding their effects on human health, which could be detrimental to the people drinking from these water.

Sampling was conducted on Agra-Delhi national highway NH-2. Samples were collected with the help of Sioutas cascade impactor. During the sampling, PM1.0-0.5 (255.85µg/m3) was higher than PM2.5-1.0 (218.96µg/m3). The AQI value for the average PM2.5 concentration also exceeded the severe AQ limit (401-500). These results showed that PM2.5 pollution has a significant influence on the site as a result of a variety of anthropogenic activities. During the summer season, for PM1.0-0.5 and PM2.5-1.0 highest values (µg/m3) of metals followed the same trend and it was observed as Mg(6.52)> Ca(5.89)> Al(3.64)> while for PM2.5-1.0 it was as Mg(10.12)> Ca(9.5)> Al(5.95) respectively. At roadside, most of these metals are emitted from the resuspension of dust and vehicle activities which causes serious diseases to the human being. Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were highly enriched at national highway sampling sites, highlighting the crustal source, which has a major impact on metals concentration, followed by anthropogenic sources. The present research was conducted to find out the concentration level of metals in PM2.5-1.0 and PM1.0-0.5 particles in Agra, India to find out the health risk assessment at highway site.From the results, it was observed that all metals bound to larger size PM has high bioavailability. From the health risk assessment, it was found that all the metals bound smaller size particles showed higher HQ except in the case of Ni and Al. Cr, Pb showed carcinogenic risk to children and adults in both size fraction of PM except in the case of Ni.

International audience | The biomonitoring of metallic contamination in marine ecosystems is often focused on animal species of commercial interest and in lesser extent on non-model marine invertebrates. The aim of this study was to compare the metal concentrations (Li, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb) in seven marine sponges with a particular interest in the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis at different sites of the Bay of Marseille, France. Inter-species variabilities suggest that the seven sponge species studied accumulate metals differently. In O. lobularis, a multi-site analysis shows different bioaccumulation between the eight sampled populations. These inter-site differences may reflect differences in the hydrodynamic features and in past and present industrial activities. Because Oscarella lobularis shows a homogeneous metal accumulation pattern in comparison with the other tested species, it appears to be suitable for metal contamination biomonitoring in Mediterranean coastal waters, in particular of the coralligenous communities.

International audience | The biomonitoring of metallic contamination in marine ecosystems is often focused on animal species of commercial interest and in lesser extent on non-model marine invertebrates. The aim of this study was to compare the metal concentrations (Li, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb) in seven marine sponges with a particular interest in the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis at different sites of the Bay of Marseille, France. Inter-species variabilities suggest that the seven sponge species studied accumulate metals differently. In O. lobularis, a multi-site analysis shows different bioaccumulation between the eight sampled populations. These inter-site differences may reflect differences in the hydrodynamic features and in past and present industrial activities. Because Oscarella lobularis shows a homogeneous metal accumulation pattern in comparison with the other tested species, it appears to be suitable for metal contamination biomonitoring in Mediterranean coastal waters, in particular of the coralligenous communities.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are known to enhance immune cell damages and to decrease cellular immunity, promoting higher susceptibility to infectious diseases. Selenium (Se) is an essential element involved in immunity and reactive oxygen species scavenging. This study aimed at evaluating how Cd and Pb and low nutritional (Se) quality modulate immune response to a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Mice were trapped near a former smelter in northern France in sites of High or Low contamination. Individuals were challenged immediately after capture or after five days of captivity, fed a standard or a Se-deficient diet. Immune response was measured with leukocyte count and plasma concentration of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Faecal and plasma corticosterone (CORT), a stress-hormone involved in anti-inflammatory processes, was measured to assess potential endocrine mechanisms. Higher hepatic Se and lower faecal CORT were measured in free-ranging wood mice from High site. LPS-challenged individuals from High site showed steeper decrease of circulating leukocytes of all types, higher TNF-α concentrations, and a significant increase of CORT, compared to individuals from Low site. Challenged captive animals fed standard food exhibited similar patterns (decrease of leukocytes, increase of CORT, and detectable levels of TNF-α), with individuals from lowly contaminated site having higher immune responses than their counterparts from highly polluted site. Animals fed Se-deficient food exhibited lymphocytes decrease, no CORT variation, and average levels of TNF-α. These results suggest (i) a higher inflammatory response to immune challenge in free-ranging animals highly exposed to Cd and Pb, (ii) a faster recovery of inflammatory response in animals lowly exposed to pollution when fed standard food than more exposed individuals, and (iii) a functional role of Se in the inflammatory response. The role of Se and mechanisms underlying the relationship between glucocorticoid and cytokine remain to be elucidated.

Active biomonitoring of chemical contamination (e.g., Cd, Hg, Pb, DDT, PCB, PAH) in French Mediterranean coastal waters has been performed for more than two decades. This study aimed at presenting the current contamination in 2021 and the temporal evolution of concentrations from 2000. Based on a relative spatial comparison, low concentrations were measured in 2021 at most sites (>83 %). Also, several stations with moderate to high levels were highlighted in the vicinity of major urban industrial centers (e.g., Marseille, Toulon) and near river mouths (e.g., Rhône, Var). Over the last 20 years, no major trend was revealed, mostly, especially for the relative high-level sites. This likely constant contamination over time, plus slight increases of metallic elements at a few sites, still raise questions on the efforts that remain to be made. The decreasing trends of organic compounds, in particular PAH, provide evidence of the efficiency of some management actions.