Assessment of the effects of cadmium, samarium and gadolinium on the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis): A biochemical, transcriptomic and metabolomic approach.

Improving the understanding of how chemicals affect on organisms and assessing the associated environmental risks is of major interest in environmental studies. This can be achieved by using complementary approaches based on the study of the molecular responses of organisms. Because of the known chemical pressures on the environment, regulations on the content of some chemicals, such as cadmium, have been mostly completed.

Trophic transfer of rare earth elements in the food web of the Loire estuary (France).

The increasing use of rare earth elements (REEs) in many industrial sectors and in medecine, causes discharges into the environment and particularly in estuarine areas subjected to strong anthropogenic pressures. Here, we assessed the distribution of REEs along the food web of the Loire estuary. Several species representative of different trophic levels were sampled: 8 vertebrates, 3 crustaceans, 2 mollusks, 3 annelids and 4 algae, as well as Haploops sp.

Study of the ageing and the sorption of polyaromatic hydrocarbons as influencing factors on the effects of microplastics on blue mussel.

The mussels are species with high socio-economic weights and are often used as bioindicators of biological and chemical contamination. In the field and aquaculture, they can intake microplastics during filter-feeding, and the microplastics can have a negative impact on their health, even at low concentrations. The effects of microplastics have yet to be fully examined on the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), considering the factors of ageing and sorption of some polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous environmental contaminants.

Rare earth element organotropism in European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

Rare earth elements (REEs) are metallic elements with electronic, magnetic, optical and catalytic properties which make them essential in many industrial and medical fields. REEs are therefore becoming emerging pollutants and it is important to understand their implications for ecosystem health. However, little knowledge of REE bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms is available and especially on their internal distribution in fish.

Rare earth element bioaccumulation in the yellow and silver European eel (Anguilla anguilla): A case study in the Loire estuary (France).

In the present work, rare earth elements (REEs) were measured in European eel muscles (Anguilla anguilla) from the Loire estuary in France. This study site is characterized by a large anthropogenic pressure with potential activities releasing REEs such as oil refineries, aeronautic and naval industries, wind turbine industries, hospitals with magnetic resonance imaging and coal-fired power plants. These activities may lead to increased REE concentrations in sediments the primary habitat of European eels.

Microplastic abundance and characteristics in French Atlantic coastal sediments using a new extraction method.

The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) has been demonstrated in all environmental compartments in the recent years. They are detected in air, freshwater, soil, organisms and particularly in marine ecosystems. Since sediments are known to be the major sink of many organic and inorganic pollutants, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a fast and cheap methodology to assess the MP contamination in intertidal sediments from the Gulf of Biscay (Pays de la Loire region, France).

Quantification and characterization of microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): protocol setup and preliminary data on the contamination of the French Atlantic coast.

Microplastics (MPs) constitute a main environmental issue due to their threat to marine organisms and so far to humans. The lack of a fast standard protocol in MP isolation and identification from living organisms bring to challenge for the science. In this paper, an optimized protocol using potassium hydroxide 10% (KOH 10%; m/v) for digestion of mussel soft tissues (Mytilus edulis) and multi-steps of sedimentation has been developed.

Is there any consistency between the microplastics found in the field and those used in laboratory experiments?

The ubiquitous presence and persistency of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments are of particular concern since they represent an increasing threat to marine organisms and ecosystems. Great differences of concentrations and/or quantities in field samples have been observed depending on geographical location around the world. The main types reported have been polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene.

Neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects of nonylphenol exposure during gestational and breastfeeding period on F1 rats.

Nonylphenols (NP) are endocrine-disruptors known to be widely present in our environment. This study evaluated the effects of 4-n-NP on neurobehavioral development and memory capacity after perinatal exposure on the offspring rats. Dams were gavaged with 4-n-NP (0, 50 and 200mg/kg/day) from gestational day 5 to postnatal day (PND) 21.