Analysis, Prevalence & Impact of Microplastics in Freshwater and Estuarine Environments Evidence Review 2 What are the sources of the microplastics found in freshwater environments?

This Rapid Evidence Assessment used the systematic review procedure to assess the current evidence available on the sources of the microplastics found in freshwater and estuarine environments. To fully comprehend the prevalence of microplastics in freshwater and estuarine environments, it is important to understand which sources contribute to the microplastics present and the relative importance of those sources. Furthermore, we need to understand the influence of any physical and biologically-mediated processes that affect the concentrations, characteristics and profile of the microplastic particles present, so that their influence can be taken into account when interpreting the microplastics present in terms of contributing sources. A review was conducted of literature, including grey literature, which reported evidence of the sources of the microplastics found in freshwater and estuarine environments. The factors influencing the transport and modification of microplastics in freshwater and estuarine environments were also considered, noting in particular those that alter the profile of microplastics thus obscuring identification of sources. Publications released prior to April 2019 were included in this review. Evidence was acquired according to a predefined set of questions, compiled into a database containing full details of the source and its relevance to the project questions, and the evidence analysed, taking into account reporting biases in the literature, to produce a digestible summary of the evidence base available to answer the main project question and sub-questions, namely, What are the sources of microplastics reported to have been found in freshwater and estuarine environments? a) Are these primary (i.e. manufactured) or secondary (i.e. degradation products) microplastics? b) Within studies reporting the predominant types of microplastics found, is there a link identified to local land use or industry? c) How are microplastics transported and modified in the freshwater and estuarine environments? d) Are microplastics from different sources prevalent in different matrices of the aquatic environment (biota, water, or sediment)

Evidence Reviews on Analysis, Prevalence & Impact of Microplastics in Freshwater and Estuarine Environments Evidence Review 3 What is/are the impact(s) of microplastics on freshwater and estuarine biota?

This Rapid Evidence Assessment used the systematic review procedure to assess the current evidence available on the impact of microplastics on freshwater and estuarine biota. It is important to understand what consequences microplastics may cause in the environment. Furthermore, we need to understand which types of microplastics cause impacts and at what concentrations. A review was conducted of the primary literature, including grey literature, which reported evidence of the impact of microplastics on freshwater and estuarine biota. A particular focus were those publications which reported evidence on the extent to which microplastics influence the behaviour, feeding, growth, reproduction and survival of freshwater and estuarine biota, and any thresholds at which impacts occurred. Publications released prior to April 2019 were included in this review. Evidence was acquired according to a predefined set of questions, compiled into a database containing full details of the source and its relevance to the project questions, and the evidence analysed, taking into account reporting biases in the literature, to produce a digestible summary of the evidence base available to answer the main project question and sub-questions, namely, What is/are the impact(s) of microplastics on freshwater and estuarine biota? a) To what extent do microplastics influence the feeding, growth, reproduction and survival of freshwater and estuarine biota? Do we know trigger levels or threshold values for microplastic impacts on biota? b) Are any differences between different taxonomic groups observed? c) Are results from laboratory studies relevant to microplastics at environmentally relevant field concentrations? d) Are any adverse impacts attributable to the particles or to adsorbed chemicals/microbes on the particles? e) Is there evidence to suggest impacts on populations of aquatic organisms

Histopathological alterations in Senegal sole, Solea Senegalensis, from a polluted Huelva estuary (SW, Spain)

As a component of a large research project to evaluate the effects of contaminants on fish health in the field, histopathological studies have been conducted to help establish causal relationship between pollutants (heavy metals and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons—PAHs) and histopathological responses in Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, from an estuary of SW Spain. Heavy metals (As, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Fe) and 16 PAHs (proprietary USEPA) concentrations in water, sediment and tissues (liver and gills) and histopathological alterations in S. senegalensis from three sampling sites of Ria de Huelva estuary during 2004–2006 years have been analysed. The histopathological studies revealed seasonal and spatial differences in the lesion grade of alterations observing the highest lesion grades in fish from Odiel River and autumn season. No significant differences were observed in the alterations prevalence between sampling sites, but significant differences were observed between seasons observing the highest prevalence in autumn season. However, calculated IPAT demonstrated a low–moderate impact of pollutants on health fish. Correlations between histopathological alterations and pollutants analysed were observed being heavy metals the group that presented a major number of correlations with alterations in several organs of S. senegalensis. In evaluating the general health of fish, the use of histopathological studies in recommended for making more reliable assessment of biochemical responses in fish exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. Statistical analysis using semiquantitative data on pathological lesions can help to establish correlation between cause (stressor) and effect (biomarker)

CO I Barcoding Reveals New Clades and Radiation Patterns of Indo-Pacific Sponges of the Family Irciniidae (Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida)

DNA barcoding is a promising tool to facilitate a rapid and unambiguous identification of sponge species. Demosponges of the order Dictyoceratida are particularly challenging to identify, but are of ecological as well as biochemical importance.Here we apply DNA barcoding with the standard CO1-barcoding marker on selected Indo-Pacific specimens of two genera, Ircinia and Psammocinia of the family Irciniidae. We show that the CO1 marker identifies several species new to science, reveals separate radiation patterns of deep-sea Ircinia sponges and indicates dispersal patterns of Psammocinia species. However, some species cannot be unambiguously barcoded by solely this marker due to low evolutionary rates.We support previous suggestions for a combination of the standard CO1 fragment with an additional fragment for sponge DNA barcoding

Histopathologische veranderingen, in het bijzonder nieuwvormingen, in de lever van de bot (Platichthys flesus) uit Nederlandse kustwateren en estuarien, en de relatie met milieufactoren

Dit rapport beschrijft het histopathologisch onderzoek van levers van platvis (bot, Platichthys flesus) afkomstig van de Nederlandse kustwateren en estuaria welke bemonsterd zijn in de periode 1985-89. Bemonstering vond plaats op een 10-tal lokaties waarbij 210 levers zijn verzameld met waarneembare knobbels (diameter > 2 mm); daarnaast zijn 315 ogenschijnlijke normale levers onderzocht. Van de 210 levers met waarneembare afwijkingen bleek 67% inderdaad tumoren te bevatten, de meeste waren goedaardig (hepatocellulair adenoom). Bij 13.6% bleek sprake van een kwaadaardig tumor (hepatocellulair carcinoom). De meeste overige afwijkingen bleken te bestaan uit zgn. "foci of cellular alteration" (fca). welke wel worden beschouwd als voorstadia van tumoren. Levertumoren komen het meest frequent voor bij bot langs de Hollandse en Zeeuwse kust, prevalenties kunnen hier oplopen tot 30% in vissen van 6 jaar en ouder. Verder werd de tumorziekte vaker bij vrouwelijke dan bij mannelijke botten waargenomen. Histopathologisch onderzoek van de ogenschijnlijk normale levers gaf niettemin een scala van veranderingen te zien, waaronder hepatocellulair adenoom, fca's, ontstekingen, vervalshaardjes, regeneratieve haardjes,hydropische degeneratie van lever- en galgangcellen en fibrillair veranderde levercellen waarvan de betekenis onduidelijk is. Daarnaast werd stapeling (vacuolisatie) van glycogeen en vet gezien, alsmede zgn. melanomacrofagen centra. De laatste twee veranderingen vallen binnen het normale beeld, maar werden gekwantificeerd (semikwantitatief). Uit de resultaten kan worden geconcludeerd dat een geringe fractie van de tumoren zou worden gemist als het onderzoek zich zou beperken tot alleen de zichtbare afwijkende levers. De verspreiding van de fca's kwam goed overeen met die van de tumoren hetgeen de hypothese ondersteund dat deze veranderingen tot hetzelfde proces behoren. Van de overige veranderingen en parameters vertoonde alleen de hydropische galgangdegeneratie ene overeenkomstige verspreiding. Gezien de ruimtelijke en temporele verdeling van de zichtbare afwijkingen over de diverse meetpunten en de gegevens van de histopathologische bevestiging kan geconcludeerd worden dat het voorkomen van levertumoren bij bot als integrale indicator van chemische vervuiling (potentiele carcinogene stoffen) kan dienen. Gezien de lange latentietijd echter zal er behoefte zijn aan vroege indicatoren (waaronder mogelijk fca's), hetgeen in verder laboratoriumonderzoek dient te worden uitgewerkt.This paper reports the detailed histopathological analysis of livers of flounder (Platichthys flesus) sampled in Dutch coastal and estuarine waters during 1985-89. In conjunction with an epidemiological study of grossly identifiable diseases at 10 sampling locations, 210 livers showing gross nodular lesions (diameter > 2 mm) and 315 livers showing no gross pathology were collected. Of the 210 livers with grossly observable nodules, 67% were diagnosed as having neoplasia. The majority of these neoplasms were identified as hepatocellular adenoma ; 13.1% were diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma. Most of the remaining modules were diagnosed as foci of cellular alteration, which are considered to be pre-neoplastic lesions. Routine histopathological examination of livers showing no gross pathology resulted in the identification of a range of lesions including hepatocellular adenoma, foci of cellular alteration, inflammatory lesions, focal necrosis, regenerative foci, hydropic vacuolated lesions of bile duct cells and hepatocytes, and fibrillar hepatocytes of unknown significance. In addition, indices were used to quantify the presence of storage vacuoles (glycogen and lipid) and the density of melanomacrophage centres. The results indicate that a small proportion of neoplasms would be missed if only livers with grossly detectable nodules were subjected to histological examination. The prevalence of foci of cellular alteration at the different sampling sites showed a good correspondence with that of neoplasia, providing support for the hypothesis that these conditions represent stages of the same process. Of the other lesions and quantitative indices, only bile duct vacuolization had a spatial distribution similar to that of neoplasia. The findings indicate that the occurrence of liver neoplasms in flounder represents a promising tool for monitoring exposure to potential carcinogens. However, because of the long latency period associated with tumour development, there will be a need to identify early markers preceding tumour formation (including possibly fca). This will be subject of future laboratory studies.RIV

Risico-analyse van bioaccumulatie in de voedselwebben van twee zoutwater AMOEBE soorten: visdiefje en zeehond

A model has been developed for calculating Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPCs) in water for chemicals accumulating in food webs of sea birds and mammals. Calculations are carried out for two marine AMOEBE species: common tern (Sterna hirundo) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and five chemicals: cadmium, methyl mercury, lindane, dieldrin and PCB153. Laboratory data are collected for toxicity for birds and mammals, as well as for bioaccumulation in the most important aquatic food types. NOECs are extrapolated from laboratory to field conditions by correcting for differences in metabolic rate of birds and mammals, and caloric content of food. It is not clear whether sea birds and sea mammals differ in 'internal' sensitivity to the selected chemicals as compared to other birds and mammals. In vitro enzyme tests suggest that the common tern is less sensitive to PCB153 than the domestic chicken. The total bioaccumulation in food webs is calculated by combining uptake from water, food and sediment: processes called bioconcentration, biomagnification and bio-sediment accumulation, respectively. The common tern is exposed to chemicals via a single food chain: water - phytoplankton - zooplankton - planktonivorous fish - common tern. The harbour seal heads an extensive food web, including sediment organisms, bivalves, crustaceans, phytoplankton and zooplankton, planktonivorous fish, piscivorous fish and omnivorous fish. The uncertainty in the exposure assessment of chemicals is higher for harbour seal than for common tern due to the scarcity of biomagnification factors (BMFs) and bio-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs). Comparison with mesocosm and field data shows the model to predict the bioaccumulation of PCB153 fairly well, whereas it underestimates the bioaccumulation of Cd by some organisms. It can be concluded that the current integrated MPCs for the selected chemicals in the Dutch marine environment have to be adjusted to lower values in order to protect common tern and harbor seal against toxic concentrations in the food (secondary poisoning). The MPCs have to be considered as provisional. For improvement of the reliability of MPCs for sea bird and mammal species, more research is required on BMFs, BSAFs, NOECs and specific species sensitivity.Een model is ontwikkeld voor de berekening van Maximaal Toelaatbare Risiconiveau's (MTR's) in water voor stoffen die accumuleren in voedselketens van zeevogels en zeezoogdieren. Berekeningen zijn uitgevoerd voor twee zoutwater AMOEBE soorten: visdief (Sterna hirundo) en zeehond (Phoca vitulina) en vijf stoffen: cadmium, methylkwik, lindaan, dieldrin en PCB153. Laboratoriumgegevens zijn verzameld met betrekking tot de toxiciteit voor vogels en zoogdieren en de bioaccumulatie in de meest belangrijke aquatische voedseltypen. NOEC's worden ge-extrapoleerd van laboratorium naar veldomstandigheden door correctie voor verschillen in metabolische snelheid van vogels en zoogdieren en calorische waarde van voedsel. Er is zeer weinig informatie beschikbaar om te onderzoeken of de interne gevoeligheid van zeevogels en zeezoogdieren voor de geselecteerde stoffen afwijkt van die van andere vogels en zoogdieren. In vitro enzym testen doen vermoeden dat de visdief minder gevoelig is voor PCB153 dan de kip. De totale bioaccumulatie in voedselwebben is berekend uit de combinatie van opname via water, voedsel en sediment, achtereenvolgens aangeduid als bioconcentratie, biomagnificatie en bio-sediment accumulatie. De visdief wordt voornamelijk blootgesteld via een enkele voedselketen: water - fytoplankton - zooplankton - planktonetende vis - visdief. De zeehond staat aan de top van een uitgebreid voedselweb met sedimentsorganismen, tweekleppigen, kreeftachtigen, fyto- and zooplankton, planktonetende vis, visetende vis en omnivore vis. De onzekerheid in de blootstellingsschatting van stoffen is hoger voor de zeehond dan voor de visdief door het gebrek aan gegevens voor biomagnificatie factoren (BMF's) en bio-sediment accumulatie factoren (BSAF's). Vergelijking met mesocosmos en velddata maakt duidelijk dat het model de bioaccumulatie van PCB153 redelijk voorspelt, terwijl voor sommige organismen de bioaccumulatie van Cd wordt onderschat. Geconcludeerd wordt dat de huidige ge-integreerde zoutwater MTR's in Nederland bijgesteld moeten worden naar lagere waarden om visdief en zeehond te beschermen tegen toxische concentraties in het voedsel (doorvergiftiging). De met het onderhavige model berekende MTR's moeten worden beschouwd als voorlopige MTR's. Voor verbetering van de betrouwbaarheid van deze MTR's voor zeevogels en zeezoogdieren is meer onderzoek nodig voor de bepaling van BMF's, BSAF's, NOEC's and specifieke soortsgevoeligheid

Risico-analyse van bioaccumulatie in de voedselwebben van twee zoutwater AMOEBE soorten: visdiefje en zeehond

Een model is ontwikkeld voor de berekening van Maximaal Toelaatbare Risiconiveau's (MTR's) in water voor stoffen die accumuleren in voedselketens van zeevogels en zeezoogdieren. Berekeningen zijn uitgevoerd voor twee zoutwater AMOEBE soorten: visdief (Sterna hirundo) en zeehond (Phoca vitulina) en vijf stoffen: cadmium, methylkwik, lindaan, dieldrin en PCB153. Laboratoriumgegevens zijn verzameld met betrekking tot de toxiciteit voor vogels en zoogdieren en de bioaccumulatie in de meest belangrijke aquatische voedseltypen. NOEC's worden ge-extrapoleerd van laboratorium naar veldomstandigheden door correctie voor verschillen in metabolische snelheid van vogels en zoogdieren en calorische waarde van voedsel. Er is zeer weinig informatie beschikbaar om te onderzoeken of de interne gevoeligheid van zeevogels en zeezoogdieren voor de geselecteerde stoffen afwijkt van die van andere vogels en zoogdieren. In vitro enzym testen doen vermoeden dat de visdief minder gevoelig is voor PCB153 dan de kip. De totale bioaccumulatie in voedselwebben is berekend uit de combinatie van opname via water, voedsel en sediment, achtereenvolgens aangeduid als bioconcentratie, biomagnificatie en bio-sediment accumulatie. De visdief wordt voornamelijk blootgesteld via een enkele voedselketen: water - fytoplankton - zooplankton - planktonetende vis - visdief. De zeehond staat aan de top van een uitgebreid voedselweb met sedimentsorganismen, tweekleppigen, kreeftachtigen, fyto- and zooplankton, planktonetende vis, visetende vis en omnivore vis. De onzekerheid in de blootstellingsschatting van stoffen is hoger voor de zeehond dan voor de visdief door het gebrek aan gegevens voor biomagnificatie factoren (BMF's) en bio-sediment accumulatie factoren (BSAF's). Vergelijking met mesocosmos en velddata maakt duidelijk dat het model de bioaccumulatie van PCB153 redelijk voorspelt, terwijl voor sommige organismen de bioaccumulatie van Cd wordt onderschat. Geconcludeerd wordt dat de huidige ge-integreerde zoutwater MTR's in Nederland bijgesteld moeten worden naar lagere waarden om visdief en zeehond te beschermen tegen toxische concentraties in het voedsel (doorvergiftiging). De met het onderhavige model berekende MTR's moeten worden beschouwd als voorlopige MTR's. Voor verbetering van de betrouwbaarheid van deze MTR's voor zeevogels en zeezoogdieren is meer onderzoek nodig voor de bepaling van BMF's, BSAF's, NOEC's and specifieke soortsgevoeligheid.A model has been developed for calculating Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPCs) in water for chemicals accumulating in food webs of sea birds and mammals. Calculations are carried out for two marine AMOEBE species: common tern (Sterna hirundo) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and five chemicals: cadmium, methyl mercury, lindane, dieldrin and PCB153. Laboratory data are collected for toxicity for birds and mammals, as well as for bioaccumulation in the most important aquatic food types. NOECs are extrapolated from laboratory to field conditions by correcting for differences in metabolic rate of birds and mammals, and caloric content of food. It is not clear whether sea birds and sea mammals differ in 'internal' sensitivity to the selected chemicals as compared to other birds and mammals. In vitro enzyme tests suggest that the common tern is less sensitive to PCB153 than the domestic chicken. The total bioaccumulation in food webs is calculated by combining uptake from water, food and sediment: processes called bioconcentration, biomagnification and bio-sediment accumulation, respectively. The common tern is exposed to chemicals via a single food chain: water - phytoplankton - zooplankton - planktonivorous fish - common tern. The harbour seal heads an extensive food web, including sediment organisms, bivalves, crustaceans, phytoplankton and zooplankton, planktonivorous fish, piscivorous fish and omnivorous fish. The uncertainty in the exposure assessment of chemicals is higher for harbour seal than for common tern due to the scarcity of biomagnification factors (BMFs) and bio-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs). Comparison with mesocosm and field data shows the model to predict the bioaccumulation of PCB153 fairly well, whereas it underestimates the bioaccumulation of Cd by some organisms. It can be concluded that the current integrated MPCs for the selected chemicals in the Dutch marine environment have to be adjusted to lower values in order to protect common tern and harbor seal against toxic concentrations in the food (secondary poisoning). The MPCs have to be considered as provisional. For improvement of the reliability of MPCs for sea bird and mammal species, more research is required on BMFs, BSAFs, NOECs and specific species sensitivity.RIK

[Vissen als biomarkers voor immunotoxicologie.]

Abstract niet beschikbaarThis report presents a brief survey on the state of the art in the development and application of biomarkers for immunotoxicology in fish. There are several reasons for developing this field: many fish diseases are related to environmental quality, various environmental pollutants have immunotoxic potential and many fish diseases have an immunological component. As in immunotoxicology in general, in fish this aspect has received ample attention in the recent past. Much benefit has been obtained from progress in related fields of science, such as fish immunology and rodent immunotoxicology. To date there is a broad spectrum of potential biomarkers for immunotoxicology in fish, from which macrophage parameters seem to be most widely used. The application of others and more predictive for specific immunity, such as lymphoid cell parameters is still limited, probably due to practical problems such as lack of experience with conduct, validation and interpretation. Specific problems include the paucity of background data in the case of epidemiological field studies and the important role of other (non-chemical) stress factors in the immune response, and hence the lack of specificity of potential biomarkers. It is concluded that a promising arsenal of biomarkers does exist, but further development and validation are still needed.RIV