Effect based methods for monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems: applications and future perspectives

The thesis is about the application of Effect Based Methods (EBM) for the monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems. This research approach has been developed in the last years and has the aim to contribute to identify potential chemical risks for aquatic ecosystems and indirectly for human health. The identification of these risks is a key aspect for the application of prevention and policy measures needed to protect environment and human health. The Effect Based Methods (Bioassays in vivo and in vitro, biomarkers) have been recommended in the context of the Common Implementation Strategy of the European Water Framework Directive that is an ambitious European legislative act with the key aim to achieve a good status for all water bodies in Europe. EBM are tools used for the monitoring of waterbodies and other environmental compartments with the aim to detect effect caused by pollutants or group of pollutants, these effects can be detected at molecular, cellular, individual or populational level. During the 3 years of the project an extensive evaluation of these methods in Europe has been carried out and the potentiality to be implemented in the European and national legislation has been highlighted. Furthermore the possibility to prevent indirect effects on human health has also been considered. A specific case study has been dedicated to the FET test (Fish embryo toxicity test) that is a bioassay widely applied in this field. Bioassays have been applied experimentally in the Tiber river basin, mainly in the urban part, to identify the presence of potential effects caused by mixtures of chemical pollutants and/or emerging substances. These methods have been applied also to investigate the causes of a specific event that happened in 2020 and that has caused a massive fish kills in Tiber river. In conclusion, based on the research carried out, these methods could be considered mature enough to be included in the legislative framework for the protection of water resources

Ambiente e salute a Gela: stato delle conoscenze e prospettive di studio

The high environmental risk area of Gela, Niscemi and Butera includes the Gela Reclamation Site of National Interest (Gela RSNI). If compared to the other sites of national interest, the Gela RSNI is a case in which many important data on environmental matrices and health outcome are available. However these data do not cover all matrices nor the entire risk area, but are mainly limited to the industrial site. These data are also underutilised, almost never integrated, and a clear example of the lacking of coordination and connection between environment and health data collection and management. In Gela there is an important industrial site whose activities have caused over the years a progressive contamination of several environmental matrices, and extremely high levels of chemical toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative pollutants have been found. In this same area, several epidemiological population health studies have been carried out showing a presence of health outcomes higher than in neighbouring areas and in regional data. Most environmental and health data cannot be compared since their respective survey and monitoring systems are planned upon specific regulations having different goals. A local system to assess the relation between environmental pollution and population health is therefore urgently needed to provide risk managers with ad-hoc tools to improve environmental protection and prevent further risks for Gela\u27s population. In this framework, a multidisciplinary working group has been established to study present pollution-exposure-effect data, transform them into a knowledge system, and complete present knowledge on the cycle of pollutants, from migration in the environment to health impact. Workshops were organised in October 2007 and March 2008 in Rome, and in June 2008 in Gela.L\u27area ad alto rischio di crisi ambientale di Gela, Niscemi e Butera include il Sito di Interesse Nazionale per la bonifica di Gela, SIN. A confronto con gli altri, il SIN di Gela ? caratterizzato da ampia disponibilit? di dati di buona qualit? su diverse matrici ambientali e numerosi esiti sanitari. Tuttavia questi dati non coprono tutte le matrici e gli esiti, e sono spesso lacunosi nelle aree esterne al SIN ma interne all\u27area ad alto rischio, che include gli abitati. Inoltre, questi dati sono spesso sottoutilizzati, risulta carente il collegamento tra i due settori ambiente e salute ed un coordinamento organico. Nell\u27area di Gela ? presente un importante polo industriale la cui attivit? ha comportato nel corso degli anni una progressiva contaminazione di diverse matrici ambientali, nelle quali sono stati rilevati livelli estremamente elevati di inquinanti chimici con caratteristiche di tossicit?, persistenza e bioaccumulo. Nella stessa area sono stati effettuati diversi studi epidemiologici sullo stato di salute della popolazione che hanno evidenziato la presenza di patologie in eccesso rispetto alle aree limitrofe e alla regione. La maggior parte dei dati ambientali e sanitari non sono correlabili perch? i sistemi di rilevamento e monitoraggio sono stati pianificati sulla base di normative specifiche con obiettivi differenti. Risulta quindi urgente costruire un sistema locale in grado di valutare l\u27associazione tra l\u27inquinamento ambientale e lo stato di salute della popolazione per poter offrire strumenti mirati ai gestori del rischio per migliorare la protezione ambientale e prevenire ulteriori rischi per la popolazione gelese. In tale contesto, al fine di studiare e sistematizzare le conoscenze attuali sulla concatenazione inquinamento-esposizione-effetto e con l\u27obiettivo di integrare le conoscenze sul ciclo degli inquinanti, dalla migrazione nell\u27ambiente agli effetti sulla salute, ? stato istituto un gruppo di lavoro multidisciplinare per l\u27area di Gela. I seminari si sono svolti a ottobre 2007 e marzo 2008 a Roma e a giugno 2008 a Gela

Water-related diseases outbreaks reported in Italy.

Water related disease outbreak (WRDO) statistics in Italy from 1998 to 2005 have been discussed in this paper. The true incidence of WRDO is not reflected in the National Surveillance System (NSS), although this study has provided information on pathogens associated to different water sources, incidence in Regions and inadequacy of regulations. 192 outbreaks and 2546 cases of WRD were reported to the NSS, an average of 318 cases per year. Cases were associated to shellfish (58.79%), drinking water (39.94%) and agricultural products (1.25%). WRDs have been detected in 76% of Regions: central and southern Regions showed lower percentage of cases (35.4%) due to under-reporting. Most of WRD cases in the North were related to drinking water; WRDs in marine coastal Regions were mostly related to shellfish. 49% of Districts (Province) notified WRDs, including only 101 Municipalities. Pathogenic microorganisms were identified in a few cases from clinical investigations. They included enteric viruses, Norwalk viruses, Salmonella, Shigella, Giardia and Campylobacter. There is the need to improve the existing NSS in relation to WRDs. An adequate WRDs Surveillance System should be based on connection between health and environmental authorities, priority pathogens and critical areas identification, response capability and contingency plans

Application of effect-based methods (EBMs) in a river basin: a preliminary study in Central Italy

Introduction. Effect-based methods (EBMs), i.e. in vitro and in vivo bioassays, represent innovative tools for the effect detection of environmental chemical pollutants on living organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of a river ecosystem implementing two in vivo bioassays on target freshwater animal species: the crustacean Daphnia magna and the small fish Danio rerio, also known as zebrafish.Materials and methods. The methods applied in this study, i.e. the Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation assay and the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) test, are commonly used in water quality research and their application in short-term ecotoxicity detection is suggested by recent European projects. Two sampling sites were chosen in the urban part of the Tiber River in Rome, while a third one was chosen as a reference site in the Farfa River, a tributary upstream of the city. The sites in the Tiber River are potentially affected by different pollution sources, including urban and industrial wastewater discharges, the pesticide release, livestock waste products, and waste dumps.Results and discussion. The results of the study showed wide differences between the two applied bioassays. The FET test was generally more sensitive in detecting even low effects in all the water samples, but the strongest statistically results were observed with the D. magna Acute Immobilisation test. The results of this research confirm the effectiveness of EBMs in investigating and monitoring water chemical pollution, and stress the need for performing further studies, e.g. chemical analyses and other bioassays, to improve the knowledge of the health status of the Tiber River basin.Conclusions. Further results will aim to support the local authorities in adopting measures to reduce and to eliminate the sources of chemical pollution in the study area

Cancer incidence in Priolo, Sicily: a spatial approach for estimation of industrial air pollution impact

The territory around the industrial Sicilian area of Priolo, Italy, has been defined as a contaminated site (CS) of national priority for remediation because of diffuse environmental contamination caused by large industrial settlements. The present study investigates the spatial distribution of cancer into the CS territory (period 1999-2006). Different geographical methods used for the evaluation of the impact of industrial air pollutants were adopted. Using the database of Syracuse Province Cancer Registry, gender-specific standardised incidence ratios were calculated for 35 tumour sites for the CS overall and for each municipality included in the CS. A cluster analysis for 17 selected neoplasms was performed at micro-geographical level. The identification of the priority index contaminants (PICs) present in environmental matrices and a review of their carcinogenicity have been performed and applied in the interpretation of the findings. The area has a higher cancer incidence with respect to the provincial population, in particular excess is registered among both genders of lung, bladder and breast cancers as well as skin melanoma and pleural mesothelioma and there is an a priori evidence of association with the exposure to PICs. The study highlights the need to provide different approaches in CSs where several exposure pathways might be relevant for the population. The presence of potential sources of asbestos exposure deserves specific concern

EDA-EMERGE: an FP7 initial training network to equip the next generation of young scientists with the skills to address the complexity of environmental contamination with emerging pollutants

The initial training network consortium novel tools in effect-directed analysis to support the identification and monitoring of emerging toxicants on a European scale (EDA-EMERGE) was formed in response to the seventh EU framework program call to train a new generation of young scientists (13 PhD fellows and 1 postdoctoral fellow) in the interdisciplinary techniques required to meet the major challenges in the monitoring, assessment, and management of toxic pollution in European river basins. This 4-year project is of particular relevance considering the multidisciplinary analytical chemistry and biology skills required to investigate the enormous complexity of contamination, effects, and cause-effect relationships. By integrating innovative mode-of-action-based biodiagnostic tools including in vitro and in vivo tests, transgenic organisms, and ‘omics’ techniques with powerful fractionation and cutting edge, analytical, and computational structure elucidation tools, powerful new EDA approaches are being developed for the identification of toxicants in European surface and drinking waters. Innovative method development by young researchers at major European universities, research centers, and private companies has been closely interlinked with a joint European demonstration program, higher-tier EDA, and specialized training courses and secondments. Using a simplified protocol based on existing EDA tools, EDA-EMERGE fellows are also being trained to organize and run international and interdisciplinary sampling and monitoring campaigns within selected European river basin sites. Strong networking between academia, the private sector, and leading regulators in the field of river basin management and pollution management ensures the relevance of the research for practice and excellent employment opportunities for the fellows. Additionally, an internationally composed advisory board has been tasked to introduce new perspectives on monitoring, assessment, and management of emerging pollutants within and outside of Europe. The combination of cutting edge science with specialized training in complimentary soft skills is being offered with a strong emphasis on commercial exploitation and media competence which further enhances the employability of the fellows in research, academia, and beyond.publishedVersio

Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants in the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive

The paper is an editorial to a Special Edition of TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, which is dedicated to aspects of chemical monitoring within the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive. The text is based on CIS approved mandate given to the group and illustrates the work of the CIS Group on Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants (CMEP).JRC.H.1-Water Resource

The future development of chemical monitoring of priority substances in the context of the Water Framework Directive

Article 16 of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the legal basis for the identification and review of the European priority substances that should be reduced or eliminated from all emissions, discharges, releases and losses in surface water bodies. Directive 2008/105/EC has defined environmental quality standards (EQS) for 33 priority substances and eight additional pollutants. In 2012, the European Commission published a proposal Directive (COM (2011) 876) with a revised list of priority substances and the derivation of EQS in the water column and biota: 15 new substances were selected through a procedure of prioritization based on a risk assessment methodology with the use of monitoring and modelling data collected over a period of four years. In the list of the new substances, there are several pesticides widely used across Europe, as well as biocides, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, industrial chemicals and also POP (persistent organic pollutants) such as dioxins and heptachlor. The control of the existing and future priority substances requires substantial effort from all the Member States with respect to the monitoring strategies and, in particular, for the selection of analytical methods that must comply with the legal obligations imposed by Directive 2009/90/EC. For this reason, and in the context of the Working Group E on chemical aspects of the WFD, an expert group, CMEP (Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants), chaired by Italy and the European Commission (DG JRC) has been established with the aim of supporting all the Member States in the implementation of chemical monitoring for European surface water bodies.JRC.H.1-Water Resource