Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Angel Tesan-Onrubia, Lars-Eric Heimbuerger-Boavida, Aurelie Dufour, Mireille Harmelin-Vivien, Isabel Garcia-Arevalo, Joel Knoery, Bastien Thomas, Francois Carlotti, Marc Tedetti, Daniela Banaru
Summary: Plankton in the Mediterranean Sea is influenced by various factors, such as size, food sources, biochemical composition, and trophic level, leading to differences in the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury. Higher concentrations of monomethylmercury are found in oligotrophic regions, and plankton communities in the Southern Mediterranean Sea have lower concentrations compared to the Northern Mediterranean Sea.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Per-Arne Amundsen, Matilda Henriksson, Amanda Poste, Sebastian Prati, Michael Power
Summary: This study examines the interaction between trophic ecology and mercury contamination in the fish communities of two lakes in a pollution-impacted subarctic watercourse. The findings suggest that the complexity of the food web and the composition of species play a role in the transfer of mercury in fish. Piscivorous fish were found to have higher mercury concentrations, with some species exceeding health authorization limits, potentially impacting fishing and human consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dominic E. Ponton, Raphael A. Lavoie, Maxime Leclerc, Francois Bilodeau, Dolors Planas, Marc Amyot
Summary: Research shows that run-of-river dams and other watershed disturbances alter carbon processing, promote Hg methylation and its accumulation at the base of the food web, leading to a temporary increase in Hg levels in fish.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chengye Hu, Bonian Shui, Xiaolong Yang, Linlong Wang, Jianyu Dong, Xiumei Zhang
Summary: The study evaluated the concentration of heavy metals in different aquatic organisms in Swan Lagoon, China. Results showed that Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb tended to be efficiently biodiluted with increasing trophic levels, while Zn increased with trophic level without biomagnification or biodilution.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongfei Gao, Ruyue Wang, Yanyu Li, Xuebin Ding, Yueming Jiang, Jianfeng Feng, Lin Zhu
Summary: The study investigated the concentrations of metals in various organs of 17 marine species and found that liver, gill, and muscle tissues are ideal indicators for analyzing metal contamination in marine environments. The results showed both bio-dilution and tissue-specific bio-magnification of metals in the studied food web, emphasizing the importance of tissue-specific considerations in enhancing risk assessment of metal elements in wildlife and human health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengting Li, Vera Slaveykova
Summary: This study investigated the influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO(2)) on the accumulation and transfer of inorganic and monomethyl mercury in invertebrate Daphnia magna. The results showed that nTiO(2) led to a decrease in total mercury body burden in D. magna exposed through waterborne exposure, but an increase when exposed through nTiO(2) pre-treated with mercury. The presence of nTiO(2) also decreased the total mercury in D. magna when exposed through algal food. Additionally, high concentrations of nTiO(2) favored trophic transfer of mercury through feeding on nTiO(2) pre-treated with mercury. The results provide insights into the role of nTiO(2) in the bioavailability and trophic transfer of mercury in the aquatic environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose M. Lacombe, Benjamin D. Barst, David Pelletier, Magella Guillemette, Marc Amyot, Raphael A. Lavoie, Kyle H. Elliott
Summary: Compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) can improve the accuracy of trophic position estimates, leading to better assessments of contaminant biomagnification. Comparing the trophic positions obtained from CSIA-AA and traditional stable isotope analysis reveals potential discrepancies in biomagnification estimates.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sen Du, Yanyan Zhou, Li Zhang
Summary: In this study, the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of arsenic in Daya Bay were systematically investigated. The results showed that arsenic concentrations in organisms and environmental samples varied by season and demonstrated biomagnification along trophic transfer in the food web. The study suggested that a benthic habit was an important promoter for arsenic biomagnification in marine food webs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dokyun Kim, Eun-Ji Won, Ha-Eun Cho, Jonghyun Lee, Kyung-Hoon Shin
Summary: Although many attempts have been made to improve the accuracy of trophic magnification factor (TMF) and biomagnification factor (BMF) for assessing pollutant bioaccumulation, this study suggests an improved BMF (BMF') for mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater fish. The results show that the values of BMF' are generally higher than TMF, indicating that it is a more reliable index for risk assessment. This ecological approach provides novel insights into the behavior and trophic transfer of pollutants like mercury.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tao Hu, Jiachao Zhang, Xueyan Xu, Xiaoli Wang, Changzhi Yang, Chao Song, Shuguang Wang, Shan Zhao
Summary: Antibiotic pollution is a common problem in the wetland of the Yellow River Delta caused by aquaculture industries. This study investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer of antibiotics in the aquatic and terrestrial food webs of the YRD, and discussed the effects of physicochemical parameters on their behavior. The results showed that fluoroquinolones had the highest bioaccumulation capacity and the antibiotics were biodiluted in the aquatic food web while biomagnified in the terrestrial food web. Physicochemical parameters such as log Kow/log Dow and log Koa were found to be good predictors for antibiotic bioaccumulation in different organisms.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maura Benedetti, Elena Romano, Antonella Ausili, Daniele Fattorini, Stefania Gorbi, Chiara Maggi, Andrea Salmeri, Daniela Salvagio Manta, Giulio Sesta, Mario Sprovieri, Francesco Regoli
Summary: The Augusta Bay in eastern Sicily, Italy, is a highly impacted coastal environment with elevated levels of contaminants due to industrial activities. The concentrations of mercury and hexachlorobenzene were found to be high in sediments and showed strong bioaccumulation in different species. However, after the closure of the chlor-alkali plant in 2003, the bioavailability and biological effects of these contaminants gradually decreased. The persistence of mercury and hexachlorobenzene in the environment has implications for the health of marine organisms and possible risks to human health.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Renyu Zheng, Yarong Liu, Zhaohui Zhang
Summary: Understanding the trophic transfer of heavy metals in mangrove ecosystems is crucial for assessing ecological exposure risks. The Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve in China is heavily polluted by industrialization and urbanization. Heavy metal concentrations and trophic levels were analyzed in various aquatic organisms and sediments. The results suggest biodilution and low risk for aquatic consumers, with different sources identified for different heavy metals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maxime Leclerc, Dominic E. Ponton, Francois Bilodeau, Dolors Planas, Marc Amyot
Summary: Compared to traditional hydropower plants, run-of-river (ROR) power plants have smaller impounded areas but can still have significant impacts on mercury cycling. This study found that ROR impoundment creates favorable environments for periphyton growth, which can contribute to the bioaccumulation of monomethylmercury (MMHg). The flooding also leads to changes in trophic structures and higher MMHg concentrations in flooded areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ray W. Drenner, Matthew M. Chumchal, Simon P. Gaul, Michael T. Hembrough, Amal M. Khan, Ian M. Rolfe, Garrett R. Wallace, Madeline P. Hannappel
Summary: Mercury contamination is a widespread and toxic environmental issue. Monitoring mercury levels in food chains and fish is challenging in the vast number of water bodies in the United States. This study proposes the use of riparian spiders, specifically long-jawed orb weavers, as sentinel species to identify aquatic systems with high mercury concentrations. The findings demonstrate the potential of using long-jawed orb weavers to monitor chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Dong, Qinghua Zhang, Siyuan Xiong, Ruiqiang Yang, Zhiguo Pei, Yingming Li, Guibin Jiang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and trophic transfer of PCNs in polar ecosystems. It found that PCN concentrations in biota and marine sediments were relatively low and stable in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. However, there were differences in trophic transfer patterns between the two regions, leading to different environmental risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucia Ivorra, Patricia G. Cardoso, Shek Kiu Chan, Catarina Cruzeiro, Karen Tagulao
Summary: This study used an optimized and validated QuEChERS protocol to extract and quantify 21 insecticides and 5 metabolites in seafood samples (crustaceans, bivalves, and fish-mudskippers). Seven species from the poorly monitored Hong Kong and Macao wet markets were selected based on their commercial importance, abundance, and affordability. The results showed high concentrations of insecticides in mussels from Hong Kong and mudskippers from Macao, suggesting potential health risks, such as neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity, associated with the consumption of fish, bivalves, and crustaceans from these markets. Strict monitoring measures should be implemented to improve the quality and safety of seafood products.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carla Leite, Francesca Coppola, Vanessa Queiros, Tania Russo, Gianluca Polese, Carlo Pretti, Eduarda Pereira, Rosa Freitas
Summary: This study evaluated the responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis to neodymium (Nd) exposure under different temperature conditions. It found that increased temperature and Nd exposure caused histopathological injuries in the gills, and the effects of previous exposure to Nd persisted even during the recovery period.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Regina M. B. O. Duarte, Armando C. Duarte
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Nicole Ferreira, Bruno Henriques, Thainara Viana, Lina Carvalho, Daniela Tavares, Joao Pinto, Jessica Jacinto, Joao Colonia, Eduarda Pereira
Summary: A simple and efficient method was validated in this study to quantify nine elements in different food matrices by ICP-MS. Significant changes in most element levels were observed between raw and cooked food, while the contents of PTEs complied with the maximum permissible values.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Veronica Godoy, Joana Correia Prata, Antonio Perez, Joao Pinto da Costa, Teresa Rocha-Santos, Armando C. Duarte
Summary: The main objective of this study was to estimate the microplastic pollution on Costa Nova sandy beach in Portugal using longitudinal and cross-sectional transects. The results showed low variability in data, with median concentrations ranging from 142 to 356 p/kg d.w. in cross-sectional transects, and from 211 to 270 p/kg d.w. in longitudinal transects. Microspheres were the predominant morphology, accounting for over 90% of all samples, and the most abundant microplastics were <200 μm in size. Despite moderate-low tourist activity, microplastic contamination was higher in Costa Nova compared to other Portuguese beaches, possibly due to nearby port activities and ocean currents. However, this study highlights the disparity in data caused by different methodologies used in analyzing similar areas.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Patricia G. Cardoso, Odete Goncalves, Thais Cavalheri, Vania E. Amorim, Weiwei Cao, Diogo A. M. Alexandrino, Zhongjun Jia, Maria F. F. Carvalho, Paulo Vaz-Pires, Rodrigo O. A. Ozorio
Summary: A fish trial was conducted to assess the effects of temperature and dietary lipid level on the body composition, growth performance, and freshness profile of the European seabass. The study showed that fish reared at 24 degrees C had lower lipid levels and higher daily growth index compared to fish reared at 20 degrees C. Sensory and microbiological analysis further revealed better freshness conditions in fish reared at 24 degrees C. However, dietary lipid level did not impact fish freshness. These findings suggest that increasing the temperature to 24 degrees C is beneficial for the growth and freshness profile of this particular species in aquaculture.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elsa T. Rodrigues, Eduarda Pereira, Paulo J. Oliveira, Miguel A. Pardal
Summary: The present study validates the potential of the in vitro H9c2(2-1) cell-based sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay to evaluate the temporal variability of wastewater quality. It also highlights the capability of this assay to discriminate influent and effluent toxic characteristics and its suitability for water quality monitoring and surveillance of treatment processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Joao Pinto, Joana Sousa, Daniela Tavares, Bruno Henriques, Thainara Viana, Nicole Ferreira, Joao Rocha, Eduarda Pereira
Summary: The mining of Rare-Earth Elements (REE) has raised concerns due to its unsustainability and negative impacts on the environment, economy, and society. This study explored the use of microporous titanosilicate ETS-4 for the removal of a mixture of REE3+ from contaminated water. Factors such as pH, concentration, and sorbent amount were studied, and the results showed that increasing pH and higher sorbent amounts led to greater removal of REE3+. The study also revealed that ETS-4 has the potential to effectively remove high concentrations of REE3+ from aqueous solutions.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thainara Viana, Nicole Ferreira, Daniela S. Tavares, Azadeh Abdolvaseei, Eduarda Pereira, Bruno Henriques
Summary: In this study, response surface methodology was used to optimize the biosorption of rare earth elements by living Ulva sp. from industrial wastewaters. The results showed that the initial seaweed dosage had the greatest positive impact on element removal. The optimal conditions for REEs removal were a concentration of 10 μg/L, a wastewater salinity of 15, and a seaweed dosage of 5.0 g/L, achieving a removal rate of up to 88% in 24 hours.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Joao Pinto, Joao Colonia, Azadeh Abdolvaseei, Carlos Vale, Bruno Henriques, Eduarda Pereira
Summary: Efficient and sustainable secondary sourcing of Rare-Earth Elements (REE) is important to address supply bottlenecks and the negative impacts of primary mining. Recycling electronic waste (E-waste) is a promising source of REE, and hydrometallurgical methods followed by chemical separation techniques have successfully been used to recover REE from these wastes. However, the generation of unsustainable acidic and organic waste streams has led to the exploration of greener approaches, such as sorption-based technologies using biomass. Algae sorbents have gained attention, but the efficiency of sorption is influenced by various factors, including biomass type, solution parameters, and matrix complexity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Regina M. B. O. Duarte, Antoine S. Almeida, Pedro F. Brandao, Armando C. Duarte
Summary: This article reviews the most important multidimensional analytical strategies for targeted and untargeted analysis of complex atmospheric organic aerosols (OAs) in both outdoor and indoor environments. It also discusses the major challenges faced in OAs analysis.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Paco, Ana M. Oliveira, Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Rui J. M. Rocha, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Armando C. Duarte, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: Disposable facemasks are found in high abundance in wetlands and can be biodegraded by naturally occurring fungi. The microfibres released from these facemasks can have ecotoxic effects on local bivalves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Goncalves Cardoso, Hugo Morais, Daniel Crespo, Daniela Tavares, Eduarda Pereira, Miguel Angelo Pardal
Summary: This study investigates the seasonal characterization of mercury accumulation in three estuaries along the Portuguese coast. The results show higher mercury concentrations in Ria de Aveiro and Tagus estuary, posing potential risks to human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
