DECA: A new model for assessing the foliar uptake of atmospheric lead by vegetation, using Lactuca sativa as an example

In the context of peri-urban atmospheric pollution by industrial lead recycling emissions, metal can transfer to plant shoots. Home gardeners consuming their produce can therefore be exposed to metal pollution. The Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol (HHRAP) model from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) classically used in risk assessment provides foliar metal uptake predictions for large farms but is not adapted to cultures in kitchen gardens. Thus, this study developed a new model, entitled “DECA”, which includes individually measured parameters and the washing of vegetables before human consumption. Results given by DECA and HHRAP models were compared with experimental measurements of lettuce. The data calculated by the DECA model were highly correlated with the measured values; the HHRAP model overestimates foliar lead uptake. Moreover, strong influences of factor of washing and time-dependent variations of loss coefficient were highlighted. Finally, the DECA model provided important risk assessment data regarding consumption of vegetables from kitchen gardens

Ecological and physiological effects of soil management practices on earthworm communities in French vineyards

International audienceIn recent literature, very few studies have reported the use of the combination of indicators from ecological communities and ecotoxicity biomarkers in field experiments to assess agricultural quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of three soil management practices of vine inter-rows (chemical weeding, mechanical weeding and grass-covering) on earthworms, in the Gaillac vineyard (South-West France). The sampling, identification and counts of earthworms were performed in spring and autumn over three years in order to determine the influence of the management practices. Focussing on the most abundant species, Aporrectodea nocturna, biomarker assays (glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and cholinesterase (ChE) activities) were conducted to check physiological disturbances that are indirectly linked to soil management practices. A strong influence of soil management practices was highlighted on earthworm ecology and physiology in the vine inter-rows. Chemical weeding favoured worm proliferation, but proportionally decreased the number of epi-anecic species. Mechanical weeding dramatically decreased the total number of earthworms, both adults and juveniles, and their biomass. Under these soil farming practices, variations of metabolisation and anti-oxidant enzyme activities were observed, suggesting an increase in pesticide bioavailability. Grass-covering seemed to be the best practice, at least from an environmental point of view. Neurotoxicity enzyme (cholinesterase) activity in vineyard earthworms was not affected by pollutants conventionally sprayed on the vineyard, regardless of soil agricultural practice. It was concluded that soil management practices can both modify earthworm communities and physiology, inducing variations of the following factors: protection against predators, environmental conditions and availability of pesticide and nutrients

Metal and metalloid foliar uptake by various plant species exposed to atmospheric industrial fallout: Mechanisms involved for lead

Fine and ultrafine metallic particulatematters (PMs) are emitted frommetallurgic activities in peri-urban zones into the atmosphere and can be deposited in terrestrial ecosystems. The foliar transfer ofmetals andmetalloids and their fate in plant leaves remain unclear, although this way of penetration may be a major contributor to the transfer of metals into plants. This study focused on the foliar uptake of various metals and metalloids from enriched PM(Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Sb, As, and especially lead (Pb)) resulting fromthe emissions of a battery-recycling factory.Metal and metalloid foliar uptake by various vegetable species, exhibiting different morphologies, use (food or fodder) and life-cycle (lettuce, parsley and rye-grass) were studied. The mechanisms involved in foliar metal transfer from atmospheric particulate matter fallout, using lead (Pb) as a model element was also investigated. Several complementary techniques (micro-X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) were used to investigate the localization and the speciation of lead in their edible parts, i.e. leaves. The results showed lead-enriched PM on the surface of plant leaves. Biogeochemical transformations occurred on the leaf surfaces with the formation of lead secondary species (PbCO3 and organic Pb). Some compounds were internalized in their primary form (PbSO4) underneath an organic layer. Internalization through the cuticle or penetration through stomata openings are proposed as two major mechanisms involved in foliar uptake of particulate matter

Influence of fine process particles enriched with metals and metalloids on Lactuca sativa L. leaf fatty acid composition following air and/or soil-plant field exposure

We investigate the effect of both foliar and root uptake of a mixture of metal(loid)s on the fatty acid composition of plant leaves. Our objectives are to determine whether both contamination pathways have a similar effect and whether they interact. Lactuca sativa L. were exposed to fine process particles enriched with metal(loid)s in an industrial area. Data from a first experiment were used to conduct an exploratory statistical analysis which findings were successfully cross-validated by using the data from a second one. Both foliar and root pathways impact plant leaf fatty acid composition and do not interact. Z index (dimensionless quantity), weighted product of fatty acid concentration ratios was built up from the statistical analyses. It provides new insights on the mechanisms involved in metal uptake and phytotoxicity. Plant leaf fatty acid composition is a robust and fruitful approach to detect and understand the effects of metal(loid) contamination on plants

Green manure plants for remediation of soils polluted by metals and metalloids: Ecotoxicity and human bioavailability assessment

Borage, white mustard and phacelia, green manure plants currently used in agriculture to improve soil properties were cultivated for 10 wk on various polluted soils with metal(loid) concentrations representative of urban brownfields or polluted kitchen gardens. Metal(loid) bioavailability and ecotoxicity were measured in relation to soil characteristics before and after treatment. All the plants efficiently grow on the various polluted soils. But borage and mustard only are able to modify the soil characteristics and metal(loid) impact: soil respiration increased while ecotoxicity, bioaccessible lead and total metal(loid) quantities in soils can be decreased respectively by phytostabilization and phytoextraction mechanisms. These two plants could therefore be used for urban polluted soil refunctionalization. However, plant efficiency to improve soil quality strongly depends on soil characteristics

Ecotoxicity tests and ecoscores to improve soil management : case of a secondary lead smelter plant

International audienceriginally located on the outskirts of cities, numerous industrial sites, sometimes abandoned, are now in urban areas and are therefore likely to have environmental and health risks to surrounding populations. Currently, rehabilitation of the sites frequently entails excavation of polluted soils. Excavated soils can thus follow two different ways: landfilling, expensive and energy intensive, or reuse/recycling, integrated to sustainable development. The choice of a specific track mainly depends on total and leachable concentrations of the pollutant in the soil. Among the numerous pollutants observed in urban and peri-urban areas, trace metals are often present in soils; atmosphere emissions by smelters being one of the main anthropogenic source. MTE speciation and compartmentalization in soils can modify their impact on living organisms

Ecotoxicity tests and ecoscores to improve soil management : case of a secondary lead smelter plant

International audienceriginally located on the outskirts of cities, numerous industrial sites, sometimes abandoned, are now in urban areas and are therefore likely to have environmental and health risks to surrounding populations. Currently, rehabilitation of the sites frequently entails excavation of polluted soils. Excavated soils can thus follow two different ways: landfilling, expensive and energy intensive, or reuse/recycling, integrated to sustainable development. The choice of a specific track mainly depends on total and leachable concentrations of the pollutant in the soil. Among the numerous pollutants observed in urban and peri-urban areas, trace metals are often present in soils; atmosphere emissions by smelters being one of the main anthropogenic source. MTE speciation and compartmentalization in soils can modify their impact on living organisms

Earthworm’s influence on phytoavailability and Human gastric bioaccessibility of metals

►Introduction : Le développement d’entreprises de recyclage des métaux comme la Société de Traitement Chimique des Métaux (STCM) participe à l’économie circulaire. Cependant, ces activités de recyclage ont durant plusieurs décennies également engendré des émissions de polluants dans l’environnement induisant une augmentation de sites pollués par les retombées atmosphériques de particules fines enrichies en métaux et métalloïdes. Par ailleurs, le ver de terre, organisme clé de l’écosystème sol, apparait comme un ingénieur physique et mécanique des sols, et fait désormais l’objet de nombreuses études environnementales. Pour cette étude, notre objectif était d’évaluer l’influence de la bioturbation des vers de terre sur la phytodisponibilité des métaux et les mécanismes en jeu en lien avec leur compartimentation, leur spéciation et leur écotoxicité. ►Mise en œuvre : Dans ce contexte, une expérience de 25 jours a été menée en microcosmes, avec ou sans vers de terre dans le sol et avec un gradient d’Eléments Traces Inorganiques (ETI) dû aux retombées des particules atmosphériques. L’influence de l’activité des vers de terre sur les transferts sol-plante des métaux a été étudiée au moyen de microcultures de laitues (dispositif RHIZOtests®) réalisées sur 3 conditions différentes de sols : sols non bioturbés (SNB), sols bioturbés (SB) et turricules (T, déjections des vers). Les concentrations en ETI dans les sols, les vers et les salades ont été mesurées et la bioaccessibilité gastrique humaine a été déterminée à partir du test in vitro BARGE. Par ailleurs, des analyses de spéciation chimique du plomb dans divers compartiments abiotiques (sols et turricules) et biotiques (divers organes du vers de terre) ont été réalisées par spectroscopie EXAFS au synchrotron de l’ESRF à Grenoble. ►Résultats & Discussions : L’activité des vers de terre n’est pas significativement impactée par les concentrations en ETI appliquées dans les sols. Mais, la bioturbation des vers augmente la concentration en ETI présents dans les feuilles de laitues (parties consommées par l’homme). La concentration en ETI dans les feuilles de salades peut augmenter avec l’activité des vers de terre, de plus de 45% et 36 % pour le Pb et le Zn respectivement. Généralement, dans les sols et les plantes, les concentrations mesurées en ETI pour les différentes conditions sont classées ainsi : SNB < SB et T. La bioaccessibilité gastrique humaine est fonction de la nature des ETI et augmente pour SB et T, dans le cas du Zn et du Cu notamment. Des changements de spéciation du plomb mettant en évidence l’effet des vers de terre sur le sol ont été observés par spectroscopie EXAFS, en comparant les sols SNB et T, et les tissus des vers de terre. La figure 1 présente les voies d’exposition des ETI pour les vers, et les mécanismes proposés pour expliquer l’augmentation de phytodisponibilité induite par la bioturbation. Figure 1. Voies d’exposition des vers de terre aux ETI et mécanismes potentiellement impliqués dans l’augmentation de phytodisponibilité du fait de la bioturbation. ►Conclusion : La bioturbation des vers de terre modifie le devenir des ETI dans les sols par des changements de spéciation pouvant augmenter la mobilité des métaux, et certainement aussi en raison de modifications de la distribution des matières organiques présentes dans le sol

Physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices, and nutrition among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland - a cross-sectional survey.

AIMS OF THE STUDY We know little about the level of physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices and nutritional status of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), although these are important aspects of patients with chronic respiratory disease. We assessed physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices and nutritional status among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland, investigated how these vary by age and identified factors associated with regular physical activity. METHODS We sent a postal questionnaire survey to people with primary ciliary dyskinesia enrolled in the Swiss PCD registry (CH-PCD), based on the standardised FOLLOW-PCD patient questionnaire. We collected information about physical activity, physiotherapy, respiratory symptoms and nutritional status. We calculated the metabolic equivalent (MET) to better reflect the intensity of the reported physical activities. To assess nutritional status, we extracted information from CH-PCD and calculated participants' body mass index (BMI). RESULTS Of the 86 questionnaires we sent, 74 (86% response rate) were returned from 24 children and 50 adults. The median age at survey completion was 23 years (IQR [interquartile range] 15-51), and 51% were female. Among all 74 participants, 48 (65%) performed sports regularly. Children were vigorously active (median MET 9.1; IQR 7.9-9.6) and adults were moderately active (median MET 5.5; IQR 4.3-6.9). Fifty-nine participants (80%) reported performing some type of respiratory physiotherapy. However, only 30% of adults saw a professional physiotherapist, compared with 75% of children. Half of the participants had normal BMI; one child (4%) and two adults (4%) were underweight. People who were regularly physically active reported seeing a physiotherapist more often. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to provide patient-reported data about physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy and nutrition among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Our results highlight that professional respiratory physiotherapy, exercise recommendations and nutritional advice are often not implemented in the care of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland. Multidisciplinary care in specialised centres by teams including physiotherapists and nutrition consultants could improve the quality of life of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia

Physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices, and nutrition among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland – a cross-sectional survey

Aims of the study: We know little about the level of physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices and nutritional status of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), although these are important aspects of patients with chronic respiratory disease. We assessed physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy practices and nutritional status among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland, investigated how these vary by age and identified factors associated with regular physical activity. Methods: We sent a postal questionnaire survey to people with primary ciliary dyskinesia enrolled in the Swiss PCD registry (CH-PCD), based on the standardised FOLLOW-PCD patient questionnaire. We collected information about physical activity, physiotherapy, respiratory symptoms and nutritional status. We calculated the metabolic equivalent (MET) to better reflect the intensity of the reported physical activities. To assess nutritional status, we extracted information from CH-PCD and calculated participants' body mass index (BMI). Results: Of the 86 questionnaires we sent, 74 (86% response rate) were returned from 24 children and 50 adults. The median age at survey completion was 23 years (IQR [interquartile range] 15-51), and 51% were female. Among all 74 participants, 48 (65%) performed sports regularly. Children were vigorously active (median MET 9.1; IQR 7.9-9.6) and adults were moderately active (median MET 5.5; IQR 4.3-6.9). Fifty-nine participants (80%) reported performing some type of respiratory physiotherapy. However, only 30% of adults saw a professional physiotherapist, compared with 75% of children. Half of the participants had normal BMI; one child (4%) and two adults (4%) were underweight. People who were regularly physically active reported seeing a physiotherapist more often. Conclusions: Our study is the first to provide patient-reported data about physical activity, respiratory physiotherapy and nutrition among people with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Our results highlight that professional respiratory physiotherapy, exercise recommendations and nutritional advice are often not implemented in the care of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Switzerland. Multidisciplinary care in specialised centres by teams including physiotherapists and nutrition consultants could improve the quality of life of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia