Assessment of the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant to remove biologically active chemicals using endocrine and genotoxicity bioassays

There has been much effort to assess the efficacy of sewage treatment plants to remove chemicals with estrogenic activity, but other modes of toxicity have received less attention. This study assessed the efficacy of advanced tertiary technologies to remove estrogen receptor (ER), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), retinoic receptor (RAR) agonists and genotoxicity using recombinant gene bioassays. Untreated sewage contained ER, AhR and RAR agonists and was genotoxic. Activated sludge treatment removed over 69% of the ER, AhR and RAR aqueous phase activities. Ozonation and biologically activated carbon processes removed genotoxicity and most receptor agonists to below detection limits. Estrogenic activity was associated with the semi-polar fraction of the aqueous phase and non-polar phase of the influent (maximum 30%). AhR and RAR activities were found in both the aqueous and particulate phases of influent. Only RAR activity was frequently found in the polar fraction of aqueous and particulate phases of the process effluent. In the influent, the greatest RAR activity was found in the polar fraction of the aqueous phase (>65%). Genotoxic activity was detected in all influent fractions but rapidly decreased. The results showed that ER, AhR and RAR agonists were greatly reduced by the advanced tertiary treatment processes

Toxicity assessment of New Zealand and Pacific dinoflagellates Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus (Dinophyceae) extracts using bioassays

The dinoflagellate genus Ostreopsis produces palytoxin-like compounds (PLTXs) and the genus Gambierdiscus produces ciguatoxins (CTXs) and maitotoxin (MTX). Human illness has been recorded following the consumption of CTX-contaminated finfish. Their effects on the flora and fauna in the environment are largely unexplored. Toxin profiles of extracts of Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus isolates from the Pacific region were characterised using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Sea urchin (Evechinus chloriticus) fertilisation was unaffected by any algal extracts, but extracts containing maitotoxin-3 (MTX-3, but not MTX or CTXs), or with high concentrations of PLTXs, were toxic to urchin larval development. Gambierdiscus extracts containing CTXs elicited toxic responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo toxicity assays; extracts containing only MTX-3 elicited a limited response. Ostreopsis extracts containing PLTXs caused no response. The results demonstrate potential impacts of toxic dinoflagellates on larval organisms and the potential of embryonic assays as toxicity screening tools

Immunological and cytotoxicological responses of the Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (M.), experimentally exposed to cadmium.

International audienceBivalve molluscs, as filter-feeding organisms, are known to accumulate metals that can produce deleterious effects on organisms. The phagocytic activity of haemocytes and lysosomal alterations in the digestive gland cells were measured in the freshwater Asian clam exposed to cadmium, in order to assess the possible use of immunocompetence and lysosomal responses as biomarkers of freshwater quality. Clams were exposed in the laboratory to nominal concentrations of 3, 10, 21.4, 46.5 and 100 microg 1(-1) of cadmium and sampled after 7, 15 and 30 days of exposure. The results show a decrease of phagocytic activity after only 7 days of exposure to 10 microg 1(-1) of cadmium. This response was also observed as the exposure time was increased. Lysosomes in the digestive cells increased in size and number after 7 days of exposure as cadmium concentration increased. After 30 days of exposure, a decrease in size and number indicated a change in the response to the metal from concentrations of 46.5 microg 1(-1) of cadmium. A dose and time response both in phagocytic activity of haemocytes and lysosomal structure demonstrated a possible use of these biomarkers in freshwater biomonitoring

Development and Deployment of a Framework to Prioritize Environmental Contamination Issues

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Décès en relation avec l’abus de médicaments et substances (Drames) : focus en région Languedoc-Roussillon

International audienceBut de l’étudeL’enquête nationale annuelle Drames (décès en relation avec l’usage de médicaments et autres substances) permet la collection et l’analyse de tous les cas de décès en lien avec l’usage des médicaments psychotropes ou substances illicites psychoactives. L’objectif du présent travail a été de caractériser les décès en relation avec la consommation de médicaments ou substances psychoactives, recueillis en région Languedoc-Roussillon via l’enquête Drames.Patients et méthodesLes cas de décès recueillis par le Centre d’évaluation et d’information sur la pharmacodépendance-addictovigilance (CEIP-A) du Languedoc-Roussillon entre 2009 et 2013 ont été collectés et analysés.RésultatsSur la période de l’étude, 65 décès ont été analysés. La méthadone semble responsable de la plus grande part des décès liés à l’utilisation de médicaments et substances, avec la même fréquence qu’au niveau national (45 %). L’impact de la buprénorphine semble moindre mais son association avec d’autres substances est systématique (notamment avec les benzodiazépines). La cocaïne semble bien plus impliquée en Languedoc-Roussillon que dans le reste de la France dans l’enquête Drames (22 % contre 9 %). Des disparités régionales peuvent donc exister et justifier des axes de vigilance spécifiques à renforcer.ConclusionLe recueil des cas Drames permet de mieux comprendre les circonstances des décès liés aux toxiques sur le plan national mais aussi régional. Une description plus systématique et plus précise permettrait d’affiner plus encore cette compréhension et de fournir les outils de prévention nécessaires à mettre en œuvre en réduction des risques

Trace Metal Residues in Marine Mussels: A Global Survey

Pressures from anthropogenic activities are causing degradation of estuarine and coastal ecosystems around the world. Trace metals are key pollutants that are released and can partition in a range of environmental compartments, to be ultimately accumulated in exposed biota. The level of pressure varies with locations and the range and intensity of anthropogenic activities. The present study measured residues of trace metals in Mytilus mussel species collected from a range of locations around the world in areas experiencing a gradient of anthropogenic pressures that we classified as low, moderate, or high impact. The data showed no grouping/impact level when sampling sites in all countries were incorporated in the analysis, but there was significant clustering/impact level for most countries. Overall, high-impact areas were characterized by elevated concentrations of zinc, lead, nickel, and arsenic, whereas copper and silver were detected at higher concentrations in medium-impact areas. Finally, whereas most metals were found at lower concentrations in areas classified as low impact, cadmium was typically elevated in these areas. The present study provides a unique snapshot of worldwide levels of coastal metal contamination through the use of Mytilus species, a well-established marine biomonitoring toolVersión del edito