The colonization of an irradiated environment: the case of microbial biofilm in a nuclear reactor.

The investigation of the microbial community change in the biofilm, growing on the walls of a containment tank of TRIGA nuclear reactor revealed a thriving community in an oligotrophic and heavy-metal-laden environment, periodically exposed to high pulses of ionizing radiation (IR). We observed a vertical IR resistance/tolerance stratification of microbial genera, with higher resistance and less diversity closer to the reactor core. One of the isolated strains survived 15 kGy of combined gamma and proton radiation, which was surprising.

Origin and partitioning of mercury in the polluted Scheldt Estuary and adjacent coastal zone.

Estuaries and coastal zones are areas with complex biogeochemical and hydrological cycles and are generally facing intense pollution due to anthropogenic activities. An emblematic example is the Scheldt Estuary which ends up in the North Sea and has been historically heavily contaminated by multiple pollutants, including mercury (Hg). We report here Hg species and their levels in surface waters of the Scheldt Estuary and the Belgian Part of North Sea (BPNS) from different sampling campaigns in February-April 2020 and 2021.

Enhanced mercury reduction in the South Atlantic Ocean during carbon remineralization.

Mercury (Hg) in seawater is subject to interconversions via (photo)chemical and (micro)biological processes that determine the extent of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) (re)emission and the production of monomethylmercury. We investigated Hg speciation in the South Atlantic Ocean on a GEOTRACES cruise along a 40°S section between December 2011 and January 2012 (354 samples collected at 24 stations from surface to 5250 m maximum depth). Using statistical analysis, concentrations of methylated mercury (MeHg, geometric mean 35.

Advances in Understanding Mobilization Processes of Trace Metals in Marine Sediments.

Different mobilization mechanisms control the metal distribution in surface sediments of the Belgium coastal zone (BCZ) and the anoxic Gotland basin (GB). This mobilization was studied using DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films): vertical one-dimensional (1D) profiles of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured at 5 mm intervals, while two-dimensional (2D) high-resolution (100 μm) images of smaller zones of the sediment profile were obtained on separate DGT probes. Removal of dissolved Cd, Cu, and Pb in BCZ sediments caused steep vertical gradients at the sediment-water interface that were well replicated in 1D profiles and 2D images.

Determination of Iron in Environmental Water Samples by FIA-TLS.

The determination of low concentration of iron in natural waters can be difficult due to the complexity of natural water, but primarily because it requires preconcentration of the sample with solvent extraction. In this work we report on results of thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) coupled to flow injection analysis (FIA) as a highly sensitive FIA-TLS method of iron detection. The concentration of iron redox species was determined using 1,10-phenanthroline (PHN), that forms stable complexes with Fe(II) ions which are characterized by an absorption maximum at 508 nm.

Trace metal speciation in North Sea coastal waters.

Most trace metals exhibit a dual role in marine waters, acting as nutrients at low concentration and being toxic at high concentration. But besides concentration range, speciation is also an important factor. They both show both seasonal and spatial variations.

Mercury speciation in various aquatic systems using passive sampling technique of diffusive gradients in thin-film.

Mercury (Hg) is one of the primary health concerns in natural and urbanised environments due to past and present natural and anthropogenic emissions. Its environmental cycle is driven by redox reactions, microbial metabolism and organic matter (OM) interactions, which may all lead to formation of bioaccumulative organic Hg species; methylmercury (MeHg), with damaging consequences for human and ecosystem health. Hence, Hg lability and bioavailability has been the focus of many investigations and assessed with a variety of chemical proxies in order to improve understanding of the conditions that lead to enhanced bioavailability of Hg and its species.

Determination of Dissolved Iron Redox Species in Freshwater Sediment using DGT Technique Coupled to BDS.

In this work we have developed a novel method for determination of iron redox species by the use of diffusive gradients in thin-film (DGT) technique coupled to photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy (BDS). The combination of both methods achieved low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.14 μM for Fe (II) ions.

Spatial and taxonomic variation of mercury concentration in low trophic level fauna from the Mediterranean Sea.

Studies of mercury (Hg) in the Mediterranean Sea have focused on pollution sources, air-sea mercury exchange, abiotic mercury cycling, and seafood. Much less is known about methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in the lower food web. Zooplankton and small fish were sampled from the neuston layer at both coastal and open sea stations in the Mediterranean Sea during three cruise campaigns undertaken in the fall of 2011 and the summers of 2012 and 2013.

Mercury speciation driven by seasonal changes in a contaminated estuarine environment.

In this study, seasonal changes of mercury (Hg) species in the highly variable estuary of Soča/Isonzo River (northern Adriatic Sea) were investigated. Samplings were performed on a seasonal basis (September 2009, May, August and October 2010) and Hg species (total Hg, methylmercury (MeHg), dissolved gaseous Hg (DGM)) in waters, sediments and pore waters were determined. In addition, a range of ancillary parameters were measured (salinity, nutrients, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen species).

Mercury methylation and reduction potentials in marine water: An improved methodology using 197Hg radiotracer.

A highly sensitive laboratory methodology for simultaneous determination of methylation and reduction of spiked inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) in marine water labelled with high specific activity radiotracer ((197)Hg prepared from enriched (196)Hg stable isotope) was developed. A conventional extraction protocol for methylmercury (CH(3)Hg(+)) was modified in order to significantly reduce the partitioning of interfering labelled Hg(2+) into the final extract, thus allowing the detection of as little as 0.1% of the Hg(2+) spike transformed to labelled CH(3)Hg(+).