Microplastics in Morocco's most consumed fisheries: Chemical characterization, ecological traits, and implications for human health.

The pervasive presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is well established, yet many critical questions remain about their distribution and potential impacts on both ecological and human health. To assess the risks that MPs pose, especially through marine ecosystems and human consumption, monitoring their ingestion by fish in natural environments is essential. This study investigated the contamination of 12 fish species, the most commonly consumed in Morocco, collected from the Atlantic Ocean off the Moroccan coast.

Paint particle pollution in aquatic environments: Current advances and analytical challenges.

Paints, coatings and varnishes play a crucial role in various industries and daily applications, providing essential material protection and enhancing aesthetic characteristics. However, they sometimes present environmental challenges such as corrosion, wear, and biofouling which lead to economic losses and ecological harm. Paint particles (PPs), including antifouling/anticorrosive paint particles (APPs), originate from marine, industrial, and architectural activities, primarily due to paint leakage, wear, and removal, thus significantly contributing to marine pollution.

Scenic degradation and visual pollution along the Agadir coastline (Morocco): Analysis and management.

Visual pollution refers to the degradation of landscape aesthetics, manifesting as visible deterioration. On the Agadir coast in Morocco, factors such as urbanization, erosion, marine wracking, litter, sewage, beach driving, and animal waste contribute to this issue, which detracts from coastal scenery. This study employs the coastal scenery evaluation system (CSES) to conduct a scenic assessment of 40 coastal sites, aiming to describe the current state of visual pollution and inform management interventions.

Microplastic characterization and assessment of removal efficiency in an urban and industrial wastewater treatment plant with submarine emission discharge.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant contributors to microplastic (MP) pollution in marine ecosystems when they are inefficient. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of microplastic removal from the effluent of the Anza WWTP (Morocco), which processes industrial and urban wastewater using a lamellar decantation system combined with a submarine emissary for treated water discharge. Additionally, this study investigated the presence of microplastics in the Atlantic seawater where treatment plant effluent is released.

Amyloid Beta Leads to Decreased Acetylcholine Levels and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Survival via a Mechanism That Involves p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Protein Kinase C in a p53-Dependent and -Independent Manner.

Several studies have shown an inverse correlation between the likelihood of developing a neurodegenerative disorder and cancer. We previously reported that the levels of amyloid beta (Aβ), at the center of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology, are regulated by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we examined the effect of Aβ or its fragments on the levels of ACh in A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) NSCLC cell media.

Plastic pollution on Moroccan beaches: Toward baselines for large-scale assessment.

In Africa, Morocco is the 10th largest producer of plastic. The severity of this plastic has attracted increasing amounts of attention in the Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean in recent years. However, at the national level, there is limited knowledge of plastic pollution.

The role of leptin in regulation of the soluble amyloid precursor protein α (sAPPα) levels in lung cancer cell media.

Previously, we found that the levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein α (sAPPα) are regulated, in part, by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in human A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) NSCLC cell lines. In this study, we found regulation of sAPPα levels in the media by leptin, a widely recognized obesity-associated adipokine that has recently been shown to play a possible role in cancer signaling. Increased levels of sAPPα, that were accompanied by lower Aβ40/42 levels in the media of A549 and H1299 cells, were detected upon cell incubation with leptin.

Exploring marine biofouling on anthropogenic litter in the Atlantic coastline of Morocco.

Today, the world is increasingly concerned about marine litter and its interaction with marine biodiversity. However, knowledge concerning the fouling organisms associated with marine litter is very limited in many of the world's marine environments. In this survey, we investigated biofouling on different types of marine litter washed up on all the coasts of the central Atlantic of Morocco.

Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling by Nicotine in a Manner Dependent on Acetylcholine-and/or β-Adrenergic-Receptors in Human Lung Cancer Cells.

In addition to binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), nicotine is known to regulate the β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) promoting oncogenic signaling. Using A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) lung cancer cells, we show that nicotine treatment led to: increased adrenaline/noradrenaline levels, an effect blocked by treatment with the α7nAChR inhibitor (α-BTX) but not by the β-blocker (propranolol) or the α4β2nAChR antagonist (DhβE); decreased GABA levels in A549 and H1299 cell media, an effect blocked by treatment with DhβE; increased VEGF levels and PI3K/AKT activities, an effect diminished by cell co-treatment with α-BTX, propranolol, and/or DhβE; and inhibited p53 activity in A549 cells, that was reversed, upon cell co-treatment with α-BTX, propranolol, and/or DhβE or by VEGF immunodepletion. VEGF levels increased upon cell treatment with nicotine, adrenaline/noradrenaline, and decreased with GABA treatment.

Regulation of Soluble E-Cadherin Signaling in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Nicotine, BDNF, and β-Adrenergic Receptor Ligands.

The ectodomain of the transmembrane protein E-cadherin can be cleaved and released in a soluble form referred to as soluble E-cadherin, or sE-cad, accounting for decreased E-cadherin levels at the cell surface. Among the proteases implicated in this cleavage are matrix metalloproteases (MMP), including MMP9. Opposite functions have been reported for full-length E-cadherin and sE-cad.

Examining the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns on coastal water quality: A study on fecal bacteria levels in Moroccan seawaters.

Fecal bacteria in bathing seawater pose a substantial public health risk and require rigorous monitoring. The unexpected beach closures during the COVID-19 lockdowns have afforded unique opportunities to evaluate the impact of human activities on bathing water quality (BWQ). This study examined the temporal changes in fecal coliforms (FC) and streptococci (FS) within bathing seawater across a popular coastal region in Morocco during two lockdown periods (2020 L and 2021 L), comparing these data with observations from pre-lockdown years (2018, 2019) and post-lockdown periods (2020, 2021, 2022).

Sludge drying and dewatering processes influence the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as high-load receptors of microplastics (MPs) from different sources. However, the influence of specific treatment stanges requires further research. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the abundance and chemical characteristics of MPs in the sludge of two major wastewater treatment plants in the Agadir metropolis (Central Atlantic of Morocco).

Comparative study of pristine and polluted estuaries in Souss Massa National Park (Morocco): Implications for conservation strategies.

Estuaries are among the ecosystems most affected by human actions worldwide. Economic development in Morocco puts pressure on these aquatic systems, making them vulnerable. This study compares the state of benthic communities between a pristine estuary (Massa estuary) and a polluted one (Souss estuary).

Micro- and mesoplastic pollution along the coast of Peru.

Peru suffers from poor solid waste and coastal management, as well as evidenced plastic pollution in various forms. However, studies in Peru focusing on small plastic debris (i.e.

Rajids ovipositing on marine litter: A potential threat to their survival.

Marine litter is a complex environmental issue threatening the well-being of multiple organisms. In the present study, we present an overlooked pathway by which marine litter interaction with certain ovigerous skates (Family: Rajidae) communities could compromise their survival. We propose that skates from the genus Sympterygia deposit their egg capsules on marine litter substrates by accident, which are then washed ashore still unhatched.

Phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by Casein Kinase 2 Blocks Its Interaction with Hyaluronan, Enabling HA-CD44 Signaling Leading to Increased NSCLC Cell Survival and Cisplatin Resistance.

Cisplatin is a platinum agent used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Much remains unknown regarding the basic operative mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance in NSCLC. In this study, we found that phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by CK2 (P-IGFBP-3) decreased its binding to hyaluronan (HA) but not to IGF-1 and rendered the protein less effective at reducing cell viability or increasing apoptosis than the non-phosphorylated protein with or without cisplatin in the human NSCLC cell lines, A549 and H1299.

Binational survey using Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution: Insights into chemical analysis and potential risk on humans.

Microplastic (MP) contamination in edible mussels has raised concerns due to their potential risk to human health. Aiming to provide valuable insights regarding the occurrence, physicochemical characteristics, and human health implications of MP contamination, in the present study, two nationwide surveys of MP contamination in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were conducted in Morocco and Tunisia. The results indicated that MP frequency ranged from 79 % to 100 % in all the analyzed samples.

The halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 as a trap of plastic litter on the Moroccan coast.

Some plant communities of coastal dunes may affect the magnitude and distribution of litter on the ecosystem. In this study, the aim is to assess the aptitude of the halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 to be a trap and sink of plastic litter on the Moroccan Atlantic coast.

Integrated biomarker responses and metal contamination survey in the wedge clam Donax trunculus from the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

In Morocco, the marine environment has always been a major occupation for socioeconomic activities (industry, tourism, urbanization, etc.). Thus, this work displays a case study of Taghazout coast in the central Atlantic part of the country, which becomes the center of several development projects, such as the touristic resort Taghazout Bay.

Occurrence, characteristics, and removal of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants located on the Moroccan Atlantic: The case of Agadir metropolis.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are some of the main sources of microplastics (MPs) in the environment. However, studies on the occurrence and removal efficiency of MPs in WWTPs are still scarce, especially in African countries. Thus, the aim of this work was to study the abundance of MPs in the influent and effluent of two WWTPs (Aourir and M'zar) from the Agadir metropolis (Moroccan Atlantic).

Trace metals in urbanized coasts: The central Atlantic of Morocco as a case study.

This study describes the contamination, accumulation, and ecological risk assessment of five trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cr) in sediments of an urbanized beach in the central Atlantic coastline of Morocco. The two-year investigation (2018 and 2019) included six sampling sites along a 6 km coastal reach. In both years, none of the studied trace metals exceeded the background or the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs).

Opposing Roles of IGFBP-3 and Heparanase in Regulating A549 Lung Cancer Cell Survival.

In this study, we examined the roles of heparanase and IGFBP-3 in regulating A549 and H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival. We found that H1299 cells, known to be p53-null with no expression of IGFBP-3, had higher heparanase levels and activity and higher levels of heparan sulfate (HS) in the media compared to the media of A549 cells. Inhibiting heparanase activity or its expression using siRNA had no effect on the levels of IGFBP-3 in the media of A549 cells, reduced the levels of soluble HS fragments, and led to decreased interactions between IGFBP-3 and HS in the media.

Regulation of Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Cancer Cells by Nicotine, BDNF, and a β-Adrenergic Receptor Blocker.

It is well-recognized that cigarette smoking is a primary risk factor in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), known to account for ~80% of all lung cancers with nicotine recognized as the major addictive component. In investigating the effect of nicotine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the β-adrenergic receptor blocker, propranolol, on sensitivity of NSCLC cell lines, A549 and H1299, to cisplatin, we found increased cell viability, and enhanced cisplatin resistance with nicotine and/or BDNF treatment while opposite effects were found upon treatment with propranolol. Cell treatment with epinephrine or nicotine led to EGFR and IGF-1R activation, effects opposite to those found with propranolol.