Development in the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) of a q-PCR assay for the measurement of telomere length, a potential biomarker of pollutant effects for biomonitoring studies

Telomeres protect the coding sequence of chromosome ends and Telomere Length (TL) has been proposed as a biomarker of cellular aging, cumulative stress exposure and life-span in humans. With the aim to propose new biomarkers, a q-PCR protocol was adapted for the measurement of TL in the European flounder Platichthys flesus. The protocol was then applied in 2-year-old flounders from the Seine Estuary. The absolute TL in the flounder is 54 ± 13 kbp per genome (mean ± standard error). Considering relative or absolute TL, no correlation was observed with DNA damage and any of the measured contaminant concentrations (trace elements, metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, organochlorinated pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, perfluoroalkyl substances). Because sampling was limited, further investigations are required to state a possible impact of chemical pollution on flatfish telomeres. This is motivated by correlations observed with organochlorinated compounds when decreasing statistical significance (p ≤ 0.10)

AQUAREF intercomparison passive sampling exercise: monitoring of pesticides in surface water.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is probably the most significant legislation in the water field that has been introduced for many years. Several publications pointed out that passive samplers (PSs) can be valuable tools as complementary method in monitoring water quality in the context of the WFD However, there is still a lack of quality assurance and control (QA/QC) procedures that demonstrate the reliability and the comparability of results obtained by passive sampling. Up to date, very few in situ intercomparison exercises on PSs have been performed until now. To our knowledge only three pan-European or international intercomparison studies have been organized in situ since 2007 (ICES Passive sampling survey and intercalibration, AQUAREF, IPSIC and NORMAN). Among them, the AQUAREF intercomparison exercise was conducted on several passive samplers for priority pollutants (PAH, pesticides and metals) in surface and coastal waters. Presentation of this exercise and first outputs have been already published (Miège et al., 2012) and showed that in spite of variety of expert laboratories, strategies and tools, we observed a low and satisfactory uncertainty on the estimation of mean TWA concentrations with passive sampling. The objective of this poster is to present specific results obtained during this interlaboratory exercise for pesticide sampling. Two trials were conducted during 14 days in the Charente River (at Beillant, France) and in a marine site, the Thau Lagoon (Hérault, France) with the participation of 11 laboratories at Beillant and 8 laboratories at Thau. Nine pesticides (acetochlor, S-metolachlor, 5 WFD priority substances, i.e., alachlor, atrazine, diuron, isoproturon, simazine and two atrazine metabolites, i.e. desethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine) were considered. Among the tested PSs, we found Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS, pharmaceutical & pesticide configuration), polar Chemcatcher (with SDB-XC, SDB-RPS or C18 phases), silicon rod and silicon sheet, speedisk hydrophylic DVB06, ... We will present here and discuss results on i) Comparison of pesticide quantities accumulated per surface of passive sampler exposed ii) Mean and variability of Time Weighted Average (TWA) water concentrations of pesticides obtained with passive samplers and comparison with water concentration from grab samples iii) Pesticide fingerprints in the various passive samplers compared with those in grab sample

Evaluation of the contamination of the Loire estuary by endocrine disruptors

Estuaries are ecosystems of high productivity, crucial in the life history of fishes, invertebrates, birds, including commercially important species, but anthropogenic activities such as urban effluents are often the main factors responsible for water quality degradation. Complex mixtures of contaminants are present in these zones and in this context; there is a growing interest in the influence of endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) on biota physiology. The Loire estuary runs through important urban sites (Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, etc.) with shipping and industrial activities. Moreover, the Loire basin (117,000 km²) represents more than 1/5 of the French territory and drains a lot of tributaries. The aim of this research is to evaluate the contamination of the Loire estuary by EDCs. Twelve sites along the Loire estuary (from Saint-Nazaire to Ancenis) were selected because of their typology of contamination (agricultural, urban, and industrial) and of their particular configuration (upstream/downstream of an effluent site close to a wastewater treatment plant). The endocrine activities in sediment were followed using various bio-analytical tools (in vitro tests of hormonal activities on cellular cultures). The presence of PAHs and dioxine-like compounds was estimated using the EROD test. The eel Anguilla anguilla was chosen for her ecological representativeness and economical incidence on fishing activities and was collected on 3 sites along the Loire estuary (upstream, intermediate, and downstream). The in situ effects on fish were evaluated by measuring biological variables at the individual level (size, sex, gonads histology, vitellogenin and aromatase)

Ability of polymeric membranes to take into account pollution peaks: Exposure to continuous and discontinuous PAH pollution in pilot river.

Over the last years, polymeric membranes have been used as passive samplers to assess hydrophobic organic contaminant concentrations in aquatic environments. The amount of contaminant accumulated in situ during long exposure periods enables the determination of a so called time-weighted average dissolved concentration in water, which is supposed to assimilate the contamination variations over time (Huckins et al., 1993). The objectives of this study were (i) to show if polymeric membranes are reliable to quantify micropollutants in the receiving environment by comparing the actual exposure concentration to the mean concentration estimated by the sampler; (ii) to understand how polymeric membranes assimilate a concentration that varies over time. After being spiked with PRCs, two types of polymeric membranes (LDPE and PDMS) were deployed during 21 days in channels bypassing the French river Gave in Lacq. The flow rate was controlled in the channels and three scenarios of pollution were tested. The first scenario reproduced chronic pollution by continuous injection of PAHs (anthracene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene). Two levels were tested: Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) level and 1/3 of the EQS level. The second scenario reproduced an accidental pollution by an injection of PAHs in the river during the first 3 days of the 21-day exposure. The third scenario was a discontinuous pollution with injection of PAHs during 3 periods of 3 days separated by 4 days. For the two latest scenarios, the same quantity of PAHs was released than during the first scenario. A duplicate of each sampler were retrieved at various time intervals to follow the PAH accumulation and the PRC elimination. During the experiment, grab samples of water were regularly analysed. PRC elimination and PAH accumulation were simultaneously observed for all the compounds allowing the determination of the time-weighted average dissolved concentrations in water for each duration of exposure. For the first scenario with continuous injections of PAHs, the concentrations calculated from passive samplers were the same for all exposure durations and consistent with the quantity of PAHs released in the channel. These results validated the laboratory calibration of kinetic parameters (presented in another IPSW abstract: Lorgeoux et al. 2013) and the use of PRC to correct in situ environmental exposure conditions. For the second and third scenarios with discontinuous injections, the accumulated quantities of PAHs followed the means of exposure concentrations. For the heaviest PAHs (chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene) the calculated concentrations were consistent with the average concentrations of grab samples. This demonstrates that polymeric membranes really incorporate changes in concentration over time for these molecules. For anthracene, the results also were conclusive for the scenario with 3 injections of 3 days. But for a single injection during the first 3 days of the 21-day period, most anthracene were desorbed leading to a measured concentration underestimated compared to the theoretical value. For PAHs of low molecular weight, the exchange kinetics seems too fast to assimilate a pollution peak in the time-weighted concentration

Evaluation of the contamination of the Loire estuary by endocrine disruptors

Estuaries are ecosystems of high productivity, crucial in the life history of fishes, invertebrates, birds, including commercially important species, but anthropogenic activities such as urban effluents are often the main factors responsible for water quality degradation. Complex mixtures of contaminants are present in these zones and in this context; there is a growing interest in the influence of endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) on biota physiology. The Loire estuary runs through important urban sites (Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, etc.) with shipping and industrial activities. Moreover, the Loire basin (117,000 km²) represents more than 1/5 of the French territory and drains a lot of tributaries. The aim of this research is to evaluate the contamination of the Loire estuary by EDCs. Twelve sites along the Loire estuary (from Saint-Nazaire to Ancenis) were selected because of their typology of contamination (agricultural, urban, and industrial) and of their particular configuration (upstream/downstream of an effluent site close to a wastewater treatment plant). The endocrine activities in sediment were followed using various bio-analytical tools (in vitro tests of hormonal activities on cellular cultures). The presence of PAHs and dioxine-like compounds was estimated using the EROD test. The eel Anguilla anguilla was chosen for her ecological representativeness and economical incidence on fishing activities and was collected on 3 sites along the Loire estuary (upstream, intermediate, and downstream). The in situ effects on fish were evaluated by measuring biological variables at the individual level (size, sex, gonads histology, vitellogenin and aromatase)

Campus Branding/ Sustainability Image (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Campus Branding Sustainability Image IPRO 311 Project Plan' F08

The overall aim of the project is to improve and enhance the image of Illinois Institute of Technology, both as an institution and a physical campus, in regards to sustainability and “green” practices. To that end, the current semester is focused on several design projects based on concepts generated in the previous semesters along with input from the current semesters to enhance a new “green” campus. We will also be spreading information how IIT is currently acting in a sustainable fashion and how students on campus can contribute to our image as a sustainable campus.Deliverable

Campus Branding/ Sustainability Image (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Campus Branding Sustainability Image IPRO 311 Brochure F08

The overall aim of the project is to improve and enhance the image of Illinois Institute of Technology, both as an institution and a physical campus, in regards to sustainability and “green” practices. To that end, the current semester is focused on several design projects based on concepts generated in the previous semesters along with input from the current semesters to enhance a new “green” campus. We will also be spreading information how IIT is currently acting in a sustainable fashion and how students on campus can contribute to our image as a sustainable campus.Deliverable

Campus Branding/ Sustainability Image (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Campus Branding Sustainability Image IPRO 311 Poster1 F08

The overall aim of the project is to improve and enhance the image of Illinois Institute of Technology, both as an institution and a physical campus, in regards to sustainability and “green” practices. To that end, the current semester is focused on several design projects based on concepts generated in the previous semesters along with input from the current semesters to enhance a new “green” campus. We will also be spreading information how IIT is currently acting in a sustainable fashion and how students on campus can contribute to our image as a sustainable campus.Deliverable