Groundwater Autochthonous Microbial Communities as Tracers of Anthropogenic Pressure Impacts: Example from a Municipal Waste Treatment Plant (Latium, Italy)

The groundwater behavior at a municipal solid waste disposal dump, located in Central Italy, was studied using a multi-parameter monitoring over 1 year consisting of 4 seasonal samples. The hydrological and hydrogeological dynamics of water circulation, microbiological parameters (microbial abundance and cell viability of the autochthonous microbial community), dissolved organic carbon, and several contaminants were evaluated and related to the geological structures in both two and three dimensions and used for geostatistical analysis in order to obtain 3D maps. Close relationships between geological heterogeneity, water circulation, pollutant diffusion, dissolved organic carbon, and cell viability were revealed. The highest cell viability values were found with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) values ≤0.5 mg/L; above this value, DOC negatively affected the microbial community. The highest DOC values were detected in groundwater at some sampling points within the site indicating its probable origin from the waste disposal dump. Although legislation limits for the parameters measured were not exceeded (except for a contaminant in one piezometer), the 1-year multi-parameter monitoring approach made it possible to depict both the dynamics and the complexity of the groundwater flux and, with "non-legislative parameters" such as microbial cell viability and DOC, identify the points with the highest vulnerability and their origin. This approach is useful for identifying the most vulnerable sites in a groundwater body

POPs in Antarctic ecosystems: is climate change affecting their temporal trends?

Climate change is affecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and effects have been already reported for the abiotic compartments of the ecosystems, e.g. ice loss and iceberg calving. Global warming can alter also the distribution of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) both at a global scale and in the Antarctic Region, due to their physical–chemical characteristics. Effects of climate changes have been already reported on feeding behaviour and reproductive process of organisms. Another consequence for organisms includes the POP bioaccumulation. Here we review the literature reporting the linkage between recorded effects of climate changes and POP bioaccumulation in resident marine Antarctic species (fish and penguins). Notwithstanding Antarctica is a final sink for persistent contaminants due to the extreme cold climate, a general decreasing POP trend has been observed for some POPs. Their concentrations in biota are reported to be linked to ice melting and large iceberg calving; the peculiar marine Antarctic ecosystems and the pelagic-benthic coupling may also contribute to alterations in the bioaccumulation processes. These effects are similar in polar regions, although the comparison with the Arctic biota is not possible due to the lack of data in the Antarctic Region. It remains an open question if the POP amount accumulated in the Antarctic ecosystems is decreasing or not

Bioaccumulation of nonylphenols and bisphenol A in the Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus from the Greenland seawaters

Recent climate changes associated with anthropogenic emissions of pollutants are triggering shifts in global biogeochemical cycles and polar marine ecosystem. The decrease of sea ice and the mechanism of ice formation/melting, may considerably have an impact on the mobility of contaminants and on the loss of biodiversity. In this work, we report the occurrence and bioaccumulation of selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in muscle and liver of the Greenland shark . Somniosus microcephalus, an arctic species of interest for biogeography, migration, physiology, long- and short-term contaminant storage. The EDCs selected for this study were 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), its mono- (NP1EO) and di-ethoxylate (NP2EO) precursors and bisphenol A (BPA). There are currently very few scientific papers on the distribution and transport of these EDC. s in the arctic marine food web and no such studies have been performed on the Greenland shark. Totally, muscles and liver samples were analyzed from 23 Greenland sharks (TL range 149-442. cm) sampled in W, SW, SE, and NE Greenland. Extraction of analytes from biological matrices were performed by ASE (Accelerated Solvent Extraction), followed by HPLC-Fluorescence (FLD) detection. Results showed higher contamination levels in muscle than in liver in the sharks from SE and NE Greenland, while in specimens from W and SW Greenland the liver was the tissue more contaminated. In fact, the 4-NP, NP1-2EO and BPA mean content in liver of SW Greenland specimens was 43.5. ng/g, 288.5. ng/g and 8.2. ng/g wet wt respectively, while in muscle mean concentrations was 20.3. ng/g for 4-NP, 171.1. ng/g wet wt for NP1-2EO and 7.9. ng/g for BPA. Results confirm the presence of selected EDCs in this species, suggesting the transfer of contamination in the Euro-Arctic marine trophic web

Alkylphenols in adipose tissues of Italian population

Alkylphenols (APs) and AP ethoxylated compounds (APES) were screened in human subcutaneous adipose tissue samples from Italy. The samples were collected during bariatric surgery from 16 subjects (three men and 13 women) and a total of seven alkylphenol compounds (APs) was detected. Nonylphenol (NP) was the compound found at the highest level (mean 122 ng g(-1) fresh weight; range 10-266 ng g(-1) fw). Several nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) were found in all the sample analysed though the frequency of detection decreased with the increasing number of ethoxylic groups. NP4EO was found only in four patients ranging from trace amounts to 41.3 ng g(-1), fw. Total nonylphenols (NPEs) ranged between 45 and 1131 ng g(-1) fw, whereas the concentration of total octylphenols (OPEs) was at least 10 times lower (range 6-80 ng g(-1) fw). Our findings show that the average concentration of NP is about two times higher than that found in women from Southern Spain and up to three times that of people from Switzerland. Similarly, OP mean level is two times that reported in Finland and Spain populations. This is the first study that reports the presence of alkylphenols in the Italian population adipose tissue and it draws a baseline for further researches in order to depict a trend in human exposure to these compounds and to investigate possible consequences for human health. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The analytical problem of measuring total concentrations of organic pollutants in the whole water

The EU Water Framework (2000/60/EC) provides protection from chemical pollutants through the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (2008/105/EC). The Directive is setting environmental quality standards for the priority substances and certain other pollutants according to requirements set in Article 16(8) of the Water Framework Directive. For organic priority substances these Environmental Quality Standards are expressed as total concentrations in the whole water sample. Total concentrations can be obtained by a direct analysis of the whole water sample or by separate determinations on filterable and solid phases. Both solutions have their advantages and drawbacks which are critically discussed in the present review. Analysis of literature data and experiences from standardisation activities shows that there is a possibility to find a simple extraction method for analysing whole water without time consuming separation steps. Membrane disk extraction is now subject to standardization effortsas the most promising technique to achieve this goal. Limitations of this approach are discussed in the light of the consequence on the chemical status assessment.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Degradation of a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in an urbanized stretch of the River Tiber

The widespread detection of antibiotics in terrestrial and aquatic systems has engendered significant scientific and regulatory concern. Overall, knowledge concerning the ecotoxicology and sub-lethal effects in water is scarce, but some experimental studies show that antibiotics can induce pathogen resistance and they can also have detrimental effects on natural microbial communities and their key functions. The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the biodegradation and photodegradation processes of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the River Tiber waters, in a stretch highly impacted from human pressure. Two set of microcosms consisting of river water containing the natural microbial community and treated with 500 μg/L of CIP in absence or presence of UV-light were performed. Moreover, some microcosms were filled with river water previously sterilized and then treated with the antibiotic. The combined experimental set made it possible to evaluate if the antibiotic CIP could be photodegraded and/or biodegraded. CIP residual concentrations were measured over time by using HPLC coupled to fluorescence detection (FLD) and the effects of the antibiotic on the natural microbial community were assessed in terms of live cell abundance. The key role of light in CIP disappearance was confirmed, but also its biodegradation in natural river water was demonstrated. In fact, differently from other experiments we found a higher degradation rate (DT50= 10.4 d), in presence of both light and the natural river bacterial populations than in the same sterilized river water (DT50= 18.4 d). Moreover, even in the dark, a partial CIP biodegradation was also observed (DT50= 177 d). The overall results were supported by the increase in live cell numbers with the decrease of CIP concentrations both in the dark and light condition

7. Some organic compounds in potable water: the PFASs, EDCs and PPCPs issues

Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes. Membrane Technologies in Environmental Protection and Public Health: Challenges and Opportunities illustrates the application of membrane technology used in separation processes, along with the advantages of membranes in comparison with other types of separation methods. In addition, the book illustrates new approaches for pollution monitoring and helps researchers develop new membrane systems for air or water pollution monitoring. Sections focus on the application of membrane technology to new membranes, hence it is ideal for R&D managers in industry and a variety of others, including academic researchers and postgraduate students working in strategic treatment, separation and purification processes