Evaluation of the Genotoxic and Physiological Effects of Decabromodiphenyl Ether (BDE-209) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) Flame Retardants in Marine Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Dechlorane Plus (DP) is a proposed alternative to the legacy flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), a major component of Deca-BDE formulations. In contrast to BDE-209, toxicity data for DP are scarce and often focused on mice. Validated dietary in vivo exposure of the marine bivalve (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to both flame retardants did not induce effects at the physiological level (algal clearance rate), but induced DNA damage, as determined by the comet assay, at all concentrations tested. Micronuclei formation was induced by both DP and BDE-209 at the highest exposure concentrations (100 and 200 mu g/L, respectively, at 18% above controls). DP caused effects similar to those by BDE-209 but at lower exposure concentrations (5.6, 56, and 100 mu g/L for DP and 56, 100, and 200 mu g/L for BDE-209). Moreover, bioaccumulation of DP was shown to be concentration dependent, in contrast to BDE-209. The results described suggest that DP poses a greater genotoxic potential than BDE-20

Identification of potential invasive alien species in Spain through horizon scanning

Invasive alien species have widespread impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Since the number of introductions worldwide is continuously rising, it is essential to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of new alien species through a systematic examination of future potential threats. Applying a three-step horizon scanning consensus method, we evaluated non-established alien species that could potentially arrive, establish and cause major ecological impact in Spain within the next 10 years. Overall, we identified 47 species with a very high risk (e.g. Oreochromis niloticus, Popillia japonica, Hemidactylus frenatus, Crassula helmsii or Halophila stipulacea), 61 with high risk, 93 with moderate risk, and 732 species with low risk. Many of the species categorized as very high or high risk to Spanish biodiversity are either already present in Europe and neighbouring countries or have a long invasive history elsewhere. This study provides an updated list of potential invasive alien species useful for prioritizing efforts and resources against their introduction. Compared to previous horizon scanning exercises in Spain, the current study screens potential invaders from a wider range of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine organisms, and can serve as a basis for more comprehensive risk analyses to improve management and increase the efficiency of the early warning and rapid response framework for invasive alien species. We also stress the usefulness of measuring agreement and consistency as two different properties of the reliability of expert scores, in order to more easily elaborate consensus ranked lists of potential invasive alien species.This work is one of the main results of the InvaNET network (RED2018-102571-T, RED2022-134338-T, https://invasiber.org/InvaNET/), financially supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. We thank Guido Jones, funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife under the TFinnova Programme supported by MEDI and FDCAN, for revising the English.Peer reviewe

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Halogenated and organophosphorus flame retardants in European aquaculture samples

This work monitors flame retardants in sediment, mussel and water samples from European fish farms. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were detected in 95% of the sediment and mussel samples with mean levels of 8.60 ± 22.6 ng g−1 dw in sediments and 0.07 ± 0.18 ng g−1 dw in mussels. BDE-209 was the main contributor for the sediments and BDE-47 was found in about 60% of the samples of both matrices. Pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) and hexabromobenzene (HBB) were detected in 42% of the sediments, but not in mussels. Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) was found in about 55% of the samples of both matrices. The same happened for dechloranes in mussels, but they were detected in 92% of the sediments. Syn-DP and anti-DP were always the main contributors. Methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) were detected in all mussels and some sediments, mainly 6-MeO-BDE-47 and 2′-MeO-BDE-68. Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) were found in all matrices with concentrations of 0.04–92.8 ng g−1 dw in sediment, 0.50–102 ng g−1 dw in mussel and 0.43–867 ng l−1 in water. Only OPFRs were analysed in water samples as halogenated flame retardants and MeO-PBDEs are highly unlikely to be detected in water due to their physicochemical properties. Flame retardants have no application in fish farming so results should reflect the impact of human activity on the farm locations. A large majority of the most contaminated samples were collected from sampling spots that were at urban shores or in enclosed water bodies not completely open to the sea