The main goals of this study were (1) to standardize a simple and reliable embryotoxicity test for environmental contaminants and (2) to evaluate the presence and possible protective role of the multidrug resistance-associated (MRP) protein-mediated multixenobiotic defense in two Mediterranean sea urchin species, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula. Toxic end-point used was the success of the first cell division in sea urchin embryos. Embryotoxicities of three environmentally relevant contaminants: mercuric chloride (HgCl2, 0.05–6 μM), trybutiltin (TBT, 2.5–500 nM), and oxybenzone (OXI, 0.1–100 μM); as well as seawater samples collected from the polluted and unpolluted locations, were determined and compared. A. lixula embryos were more sensitive to all three toxic compounds, and both P. lividus and A. lixula embryos were highly sensitive to TBT at nanomolar concentrations (EC50 49 ± 5 and 36.8 ± 3 nM, respectively). Inhibition of MRP protein by specific inhibitor MK571 caused significant increase in embryotoxic potency of HgCl2 (EC50 0.697 ± 0.03 and 0.245 ± 0.04 μM, respectively), TBT (EC50 24 ± 3 and 7.4 ± 1 nM, respectively) and polluted seawater sample, but not of OXI or unpolluted, natural seawater. Therefore, our results demonstrated for the first time the protective relevance of MRP proteins in early development of these two Mediterranean sea urchin species. Finally, the embryotoxicity protocol described in this study represents a simple and rapid bioassay for determination of environmentally relevant seawater contamination.

The sequential elution technique (SET) is used to determine the distribution of elements in the different cell fractions of mosses. The extracellular extractants most commonly used in this technique are NiCl2 and EDTA, although there are certain disadvantages associated with their use. In order to avoid such problems, we searched for new extractants that displace extracellularly bound metals, either because they are present at high concentrations (Ca) or because they have a high affinity for cation exchange sites (Hg and Au). The compounds HCl, NaCl, and CaCl2 were tested as extractants of the former type, as possible alternatives for the determination of extracellular metals in the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum. Calcium chloride was finally chosen as is it potentially the most successful in terms of binding to the cation exchange sites without altering the membrane permeability. The concentration chosen was 160 mM, as this yielded maximum displacement of Zn without membrane alterations. An experiment was then carried out to test the efficiency of Ca in extracting extracellular Zn, under laboratory and field conditions. In addition, Hg and Au were tested, at different concentrations, as extractants with high affinity for cation exchange sites, as neither of these elements has previously been used in the SET, and both display electronic characteristics that suggest their potential usefulness in displacing other cations from cation exchange sites. The results obtained show that extraction of extracellularly bound metal by high concentrations of Ca should be ruled out, as total extraction of Zn was not achieved. Both Hg and Au produced membrane alterations at low concentrations and moreover, neither was more efficient at extracting Zn than the reference extractant (20 mM NiCl2).

The degradation of diesel and phenanthrene in waste water was studied in a column combining a submerged trickling-flow with a fixed-film at a determined biofilm thickness with recirculation. Degradation efficiencies were found to be high with the production of a biofilm thickness of 789 μm structured in a package material with proper adsorption and physicochemical properties necessary to reach a stable state condition for the degradation of recalcitrant components in 78% at a retention time of 3 h. Improved degradation rates were reached with a biofilm built from an adapted inoculum that showed the presence of Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp. Enterobacter in a concentration of 6.45 × 109 CFU mL−1. Moreover, the biodegradation rate of the inoculumn was quantified. The diesel kinetic experimental data were well described by Gompertz model which provides a specific grow rate (Kb) of 0.76 ±â€‰0.36 h−1 and a correlation of R 2 = 0.93. The integral approach study of the variables of a complex degradation process lead to improve the complete operation of the reactor in comparison with other more specific component-based approaches.

Mechanism of zinc iron removal by zero-valent iron was discussed through zinc removal responses to several operational conditions of a packed column reactor with zero-valent iron powder. The adsorption isotherm observed implied that a kind of chemisorption was responsible for zinc removal. Zinc removal by zero-valent iron was enhanced by dissolved oxygen and ferric ion addition. However, it was deteriorated under acidic pH. In addition, zinc adsorbed on zero-valent iron was eluted by a reducing agent such as citric acid, whereas the zinc was not eluted by diluted sulfuric acid. Consequently, the zinc removal mechanism by zero-valent iron was inferred to be as follows: Zero-valent iron was firstly corroded and oxidized into ferric ion by dissolved oxygen. The ferric ion was precipitated as iron hydroxide onto the surface of the zero-valent iron powder. Zinc ion was adsorbed on and/or coprecipitated with the iron hydroxide. The iron hydroxide was finally oxidized and transformed into iron oxides.

The aim if this study was to assess the distribution of mercury in water, suspended particulate matter, surface sediments and biota from the Sado estuary, which, for the most part, is classified as a natural reserve, so as to evaluate its environmental quality status in terms of mercury contamination. Besides the diffuse sources of mercury coming into the Sado estuary, there are also additional contributions from the northern industrial zone and from the urban areas within the system. Applying national and international guidelines to different environmental matrices, the results obtained show that the system does not seem to be under environmental risk as far as mercury contamination is concerned. These quality guidelines can be used to rank and prioritise sites of concern. Hence, the area at the northern industrialised area deserves particular attention. The concentration of mercury in sediments of this area (0.54 mg kg⁻¹) simultaneously succeeded the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD) reference value, the OSPAR Convention Ecotoxicological Assessment Criteria (EACs) and is classified as class 2 in degree of contamination by the National legislation, which implies some legal restrictive rules. Considering the stations close to urbanised areas, one exceeded the OSPAR EACs for dissolved mercury, whilst the other exceeded the EU-WFD reference value for mercury concentrations in sediments. No statistical significant relations were found between mercury concentrations in biota (Ulva sp, Hediste diversicolor, Scrobicularia plana, Cerstoderma edule and Carcinus maenas) and in the abiotic matrices (sediment and water column, including mercury in its dissolved form and associated to suspended particulate matter). This paper provides an overview of the guidelines for Hg proposed for a considerable number of coastal systems of the northern hemisphere and highlights the complex interactions of Hg in the different environmental compartments in low contaminated systems.

The availability of metals to plants is a complex function of numerous environmental factors. Many of these factors are interrelated, and vary seasonally and temporally. The current study intended to understand the influence of seasonal fluctuations and the vegetation of salt marsh plants (SMPs; Halimione portulacoides, Juncus maritimus) on sediment’s mercury (Hg) and its pH and redox potential (Eh), as well as their cumulative effect on the plant’s Hg-accumulation and Hg-partitioning potential. The area selected for the study was Laranjo Basin at Ria de Aveiro lagoon (Portugal) where a known Hg gradient was existed due to chlor-alkali plant discharge. Three sampling sites (L1, L2 and L3) were selected along a transect defined by the distance from the main Hg source. Samples were also collected from the Hg-free site (R). Irrespective of the plant vegetation, Hg in sediments gradually increased with a decreasing distance towards Hg-point source. The sediment colonised by J. maritimus showed more Hg concentration compared with H. portulacoides irrespective of the season. As a whole, J. maritimus accumulated Hg more than H. portulacoides at all the sampling sites, whereas in root, stem and leaf, the concentration was ranked as: L1 > L2 > L3 in both the plant species and was differentially influenced by seasonal changes. Moreover, root of both plants exhibited highest Hg concentration compared with stem and leaf. In addition, the leaf of H. portulacoides exhibited more Hg than leaves of J. maritimus. Bioaccumulation and translocation factors and dry weight were differentially influenced by seasonal changes. Taking together the results, the physico-chemical properties of sediment especially the sediment-Eh seems to be influnced by the type of plant vegetation and seasonal changes which in turn may have influenced the chemistry of sediments; thus, it enfluences the bioavalability of Hg and the Hg-retention capacity of both salt marsh sediments (SMSs) and SMPs (bioaccumulation factor). Moreover, SMSs vegetated by J. maritimus exhibited a stronger capacity for the retention and phytostabilization of Hg belowground (in sediments and/or roots) than those dominated by H. portulacoides. Conversely, those SMSs extensively vegetated by H. portulacoides are expected to translocate more Hg to aboveground parts, acting as a potential source of this metal to the marsh ecosystem. Therefore, J. maritimus and H. portulacoides may be used repectively for phytostabilization (in rhizosediments) and phytoextraction (by accumulation in aboveground plant tissue for subsequent plant removal).

Since the 1950s, large areas of upland peat have been afforested in northern European countries. Due to the poor phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity and low hydraulic permeability in blanket peat soil and increased labile P sources, harvesting these blanket peat forests can significantly increase P concentrations in the receiving aquatic systems. This paper briefly reviews the current management practices on the control of P releases from forestry in Ireland and the UK, and proposes a possible novel practice—grass seeding clearfelled areas immediately after harvesting, which should reduce P release from blanket peat forest harvesting. The study was conducted in the Burrishoole Catchment in the west of Ireland. A field trial was carried out to identify the successful native grass species that could grow quickly in the blanket peat forest. The two successful grass species—Holcus lanatus and Agrostis capillaris—were sown in three blanket peat forest study plots with areas of 100, 360, and 660 m2 immediately after harvesting. Areas without grass seeding were used as controls. One year later, the P content in the aboveground vegetation biomass of the three study plots were 2.83, 0.65, and 3.07 kg P ha−1, respectively, which were significantly higher than the value of 0.02 kg P ha−1 in the control areas. The water extractable phosphorus in the three study plots were 8.44, 9.83, and 6.04 mg (kg dry soil)−1, respectively, which were lower than the value of 25.72 mg (kg dry soil)−1 in the control sites. The results indicate that grass seeding of the peatland immediately after harvesting can quickly immobilize significant amounts of P and warrants additional research as a new Best Management Practice following harvesting in the blanket peatland forest to mitigate P release.

We investigated sediments from 23 lakes situated in northeastern Poland and analyzed them for major constituents and selected heavy metals. Short sediment cores were collected from the deepest parts of the lakes, and subsequently, a surface layer (0–2 cm) and reference layer (50–52 cm) were sampled from each. In the collected samples, the content of the major constituents (organic matter, carbonates, and minerogenic material) and chosen heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was analyzed. In the reference layer, representing natural metal content, we identified quite a substantial diversity among lakes, making it difficult to pinpoint one geochemical background value for the whole region. A multivariate analysis of the interrelationships among elements and a comparison of the median values revealed no statistically significant differences between surface and reference levels. The ratio of the mean content in the surface and reference sediments ranged from 0.9 to 1.6, indicating the lack of or only slight anthropogenic pollution in surface sediments. From a spatial perspective, higher metal contents were observed in the eastern part of the study area, but this trend manifested in both surface and reference sediments. Thus, the inference is that the recently accumulated sediments are characterized by a content that is representative of the natural geochemical background for the selected metals.

In the last 10 years, the number of field applications of zero-valent iron differing from permeable reactive barrier has grown rapidly and at present are 112. This study analyzes and compares such field applications. By using statistical analysis, especially ANOVA and principal component analysis, this study shows that chlorinated solvent contamination can be treated efficiently by using zero-valent iron material singly or associated with other technologies. In the analyzed sample of case studies, the association with microbial dechlorination increased significantly the performances of nanoscale iron. This is likely due to the synergistic effect between the two processes. Millimetric iron was always used in association with source zone containment; therefore, it is not possible to distinguish the contributions of the two techniques. The comparison also shows that catalyst addition seems to not dramatically improve treatment efficiency and that such improvement is not statistically significant. Finally, the injection technology is correlated to the type of iron and to the soil permeability.