Boron (B) is a widespread environmental contaminant that is mobile relative to other trace elements. We investigated the potential of hybrid poplar (Populus sp.) for B phytomanagement using a lysimeter experiment and a field trial on B-contaminated wood-waste. In both studies, poplars enhanced evapotranspiration from the wood-waste, reduced B leaching, and accumulated B in the aerial portions of the tree. When grown in a substrate containing 30 mg/kg B, poplar leaves had an average B concentration of 845 mg/kg, while the stems contained 21 mg/kg B. Leaf B concentrations increased linearly with leaf age. A decomposition experiment revealed that abscised leaves released 14% of their B during the winter months. Fertiliser application enhanced tree growth without decreasing the leaf B concentrations. Harvesting alternate rows of trees on a contaminated site would reduce leaching from the site while removing B. Harvested plant material may provide bioenergy, stock fodder, or an amendment for B-deficient soils. Poplars reduce boron leaching from contaminated sites.

[Departement_IRSTEA]MA [TR1_IRSTEA]QSA / HYDRECO | International audience | Scats of the European otter (Lutra lutra) were sampled along the Allier river (France) catchment for organochlorine toxic compounds (nine pesticides and 16 PCBs congeners) measurement. From early 2004 to June 2005, 90 sites of 40 rivers were twice investigated, and 71 scats samples collected, in four geographical areas being naturally re-colonized by the species since its legal protection. Detectable pesticides and PCBs were found in 100% of the samples. Mean values reached 2.72 and 13.58 mg kg-1 (lipid weight) for pesticides and PCBs, respectively. Amounts were significantly different between the four areas investigated. A significant increase in medium and absolute values is noted by going downstream of the catchment. Potential medium- and long-term consequences on the observed population increase are discussed.

Trace elements were analyzed in fish of commercial interest to determine their importance in marine systems of the Western Indian Ocean and their bioaccumulation patterns. The results are equivalent or lower than levels reported in ichthyofauna worldwide. Certain values of muscular Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn were, however, above thresholds for human consumption. Levels varied among tissues, species and fish length, but were seldom influenced by the nutritional condition of the fish, its gender and its reproductive status. Correlations between hepatic Hg and Se levels in Swordfish (r(2) = 0.747) and Yellowfin Tunas (r(2) = 0.226), and among metallothionein linking metals imply the existence of detoxification processes in these species. Level differences between fish from the Mozambique Channel and Reunion Island reflect differences of diets rather than differences of elemental availability in both environments. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using recent indices developed, in part, for use under the European Water Framework Directive (AMBI, BENTIX, BOPA BQI, I2EC and the trophic index ITI), the ecological quality status of two highly contaminated environments-the Bay of Seine and the Seine estuary (Eastern English Channel)-was determined on several spatial and temporal scales. Data from 604 observations gathered over a 14-year period (1988-2002) were analyzed, and the results used to show the relationship between biotic indices, environmental variables and classic descriptors (e.g., number of species, total abundance, dominance index, ES(50) and Shannon/Brillouin diversities). Though the specific ecological quality (EcoQ) values calculated with the various indices were different, the overall trend of the results was similar. Synthesizing the values produced by the six indices used in the study allowed attribution of a high to good EcoQ status to the Bay of Seine and a moderate EcoQ to the estuary. The mesh size used when processing samples was proved to have no effect in winter on the EcoQ values for either body of water. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On December 12th, 1999, the oil tanker Erika sank off the southern coast of Brittany (France), releasing 20 000–30 000 tons of heavy oil in the open sea. Among the affected coastal habitats were important nurseries for numerous flatfish species and particularly for the common sole, Solea solea. To investigate the potential impact of the spill on this economically significant resource, we employed Fry's concept of metabolic scope for activity to assess the deleterious effect of fuel exposure on the functional integrity of juvenile sole. Fish were captured from uncontaminated areas and experimentally exposed to contamination conditions mimicking those encountered during the weeks that followed the Erika spill. Using respirometry techniques we measured basal and active metabolic rates, and calculated aerobic metabolic scope, in control and fuel-exposed sole. We then compared the ability of control and fuel-exposed sole to face an episode of reduced oxygen availability. We found that whereas basal metabolic rate was not altered in fuel-exposed fish, active metabolic rate (−27%), and therefore aerobic metabolic scope, were impacted. These changes in metabolic scope were viewed as indicating changes in fishes' ability to face environmental contingencies. Finally the ability of sole to face an episode of reduced oxygen availability was found to be significantly altered following fuel exposure as indicated by a 65% increase in the critical oxygen level. It is concluded that fuel-exposed sole are functionally impaired and less able to face environmental challenges. The link between these results and the recently reported fall in the abundance of the year class that suffered the Erika oil spill is discussed.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were analysed in the muscle of various edible marine crustaceans (spider crab, edible crab, velvet swimming crab and Norway lobster) from the Brittany and Normandy coasts (France). The highest concentrations were measured in species collected from Antifer (Seine Bay). PCB and PBDE patterns in crustacean muscles were similar and independent of the geographical area with the predominance of the high chlorinated PCBs (CB 15 3, 138, 118 and 180), and of a few PBDE congeners (BDE47, BDE99, WE 100 and BDE28). Oppositely, dioxin contamination differed with site. The major component in crustaceans from the Seine Bay was 2378-TCDF, whereas specimens from cleaner areas had higher relative concentrations of OCDD. Finally, the comparison of the spider crab contaminant profiles to those measured in mussel and sea bass highlighted two different trends: decapod crustaceans possess relatively strong capacity to metabolise PCBs and PBDEs; however these species might be used as bioindicators for dioxin pollution monitoring in the marine coastal environment. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The life history of the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) begins in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean where the Leptocephalus larvae drift with the gulf stream in order to reach European coastal waters. After their metamorphosis into transparent juveniles "glass" eels and an acclimatising phase in the estuaries, they migrate upstream into the rivers to become yellow eels (sub-adult stage). The yellow eels spend between 2 and 20 years of their lifetime in freshwater until they change into silver eels (adult stage) and finally migrate back to the Atlantic Ocean for spawning (Gomez-Mourelo, 2005). A. anguilla is thus an organism able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, such as variations in oxygen availability, different ranges of salinities and exposure to many anthropogenic compounds. In addition, it is a migratory, benthic and benthivorous species at the top of the food chain and is characterised by a high fat content (>30%). For all these reasons A. anguilla is prone to bioaccumulate a wide range of contaminants and it has been widely employed throughout the last years as a bioindicator of the pollution caused by metals (Batty et al., 1996; Has-Schön et al., 2006) and organic contaminants (Storelli et al., 2007; Yamaguchi et al., 2003). The environmental and toxicological impact of Hg bioaccumulation in fish is related to the methylation of inorganic mercury to form the more toxic methylmercury (MeHg) species. In this way, fish tend to concentrate in their tissues MeHg by a factor of 105-107, leading to dangerous levels even in areas with tolerable Hg concentrations (Mason et al. 1996). It has been reported that about 98% of the Hg present in aquatic systems is immobilised in the sediments (Stein et al., 1996) and that most of the MeHg is produced at the sediment water interface as a result of biotic or abiotic transformations caused by specific redox gradients and bacterial activity (Gilmour and Henry, 1998.). According to this, A. anguilla may be an effective biomagnificator and bioaccumulator of Hg due to its longevity during the continental development phase in freshwaters (where it forages and lives upwards 15 years) and its position at the top of the food chain as a carnivorous species feeding on the benthic fauna (Mancini et al., 2005).

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