Antagonistic cytoprotective effects of C fullerene nanoparticles in simultaneous exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in a molluscan animal model.

The hypothesis that C fullerene nanoparticles (C) exert an antagonistic interactive effect on the toxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been supported by this investigation. Mussels were exposed to BaP (5, 50 & 100μg/L) and C (C-1mg/L) separately and in combination. Both BaP and C were shown to co-localize in the secondary lysosomes of the hepatopancreatic digestive cells in the digestive gland where they reduced lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) or increased membrane permeability, while BaP also induced increased lysosomal lipid and lipofuscin, indicative of oxidative cell injury and autophagic dysfunction.

An integrated approach to determine interactive genotoxic and global gene expression effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on marine mussels: evidence of reverse 'Trojan Horse' effects.

The interactions between carbon-based engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and organic pollutants might enhance the uptake of contaminants into biota. The present integrated study aimed to assess this potential 'Trojan Horse', probing the interactive effects of purpose-made multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), a representative ENP, and benzo[]pyrene (BaP), a ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollutant, on the marine mussel Mussels were exposed to MWCNTs and BaP either alone or in various combinations. The co-exposure of BaP with MWCNTs revealed that the presence of MWCNTs enhanced the aqueous concentrations of BaP, thereby reducing the uptake of this pollutant by mussels as evidenced by lowering BaP concentrations in the tissues.

Antagonistic Interactions between Benzo[a]pyrene and Fullerene (C) in Toxicological Response of Marine Mussels.

This study aimed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of the interaction of fullerene (C) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on the marine mussel, . The uptake of C, B[a]P and mixtures of C and B[a]P into tissues was confirmed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Biomarkers of DNA damage as well as proteomics analysis were applied to unravel the interactive effect of B[a]P and C.

Environmental risks associated with contaminants of legacy and emerging concern at European aquaculture areas.

The contamination of marine ecosystems by contaminants of emerging concern such as personal care products or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances is of increasing concern. This work assessed the concentrations of selected contaminants of emerging concern in water and sediment of European aquaculture areas, to evaluate their co-variation with legacy contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and faecal biomarkers, and estimate the risks associated with their occurrence. The 9 study sites were selected in 7 European countries to be representative of the aquaculture activities of their region: 4 sites in the Atlantic Ocean and 5 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Persistent and emerging pollutants assessment on aquaculture oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from NW Portuguese coast (Ria De Aveiro).

The study aim was to determine a range of relevant persistent and emerging pollutants in oysters produced in an aquaculture facility located in an important production area, to assure their safety for human consumption. Pollutants, including 16 PAHs, 3 butyltins (BTs), 29 flame retardants (FRs, including organophosphate and halogenated FRs), 35 pesticides (including 9 pyrethroid insecticides) and 13 personal care products (PCPs, including musks and UV filters), were determined in oysters' tissues collected during one year in four seasonal sampling surveys. The seasonal environmental pollution on the production site was evaluated by water and sediment analysis.

Understanding and predicting the diffusivity of organic compounds in polydimethylsiloxane material for passive sampler applications using a simple quantitative structure-property relationship model.

The diffusivity of 145 compounds in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material was determined in the laboratory using a film stacking technique. The results were pooled with available literature data, providing a final data set of 198 compounds with diffusivity (D ) spanning over approximately 5 log units. The principal variables controlling the diffusivity of penetrants were investigated by comparing D within and between different homologous series.

Bioaccumulation of persistent and emerging pollutants in wild sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Marine pollution has been increasing as a consequence of anthropogenic activities. The preservation of marine ecosystems, as well as the safety of harvested seafood, are nowadays a global concern. Here, we report for the first time the contamination levels of a large set of 99 emerging and persistent organic contaminants (butyltins (BTs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides including pyrethroids, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPs) and flame retardants) in roe/gonads of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Halogenated and organophosphorus flame retardants in European aquaculture samples.

This work monitors flame retardants in sediment, mussel and water samples from European fish farms. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were detected in 95% of the sediment and mussel samples with mean levels of 8.60±22.

Assessing the impact of Benzo[a]pyrene on Marine Mussels: Application of a novel targeted low density microarray complementing classical biomarker responses.

Despite the increasing use of mussels in environmental monitoring and ecotoxicological studies, their genomes and gene functions have not been thoroughly explored. Several cDNA microarrays were recently proposed for Mytilus spp., but putatively identified partial transcripts have rendered the generation of robust transcriptional responses difficult in terms of pathway identification.

Near-surface distribution of pollutants in coastal waters as assessed by novel polyethylene passive samplers.

We report a novel and inexpensive method to provide high resolution vertical measurements of temporally integrated organic contaminants in surface and sub-surface waters in polluted coastal environments. It employs a strip of polyethylene deployed as a passive sampler. Verifications are confirmed via conventional spot sample analyses and against Performance Reference Compound (PRC) calibration methods.

Calibration and response of an agarose gel based passive sampler to record short pulses of aquatic organic pollutants.

A passive sampler inspired from previous devices was developed for the integrative sampling of a broad range of contaminants in the water column. Our primary objective was to improve the performance of the device to provide accurate and averaged pollutant water concentrations. For this purpose, an agarose diffusive gel was used as the boundary layer that drives the analyte uptake rate.

Integrated biological responses and tissue-specific expression of p53 and ras genes in marine mussels following exposure to benzo(α)pyrene and C60 fullerenes, either alone or in combination.

We used the marine bivalve (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to assess a range of biological or biomarker responses following exposure to a model-engineered nanoparticle, C fullerene, either alone or in combination with a model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzo(α)pyrene [B(α)P]. An integrated biomarker approach was used that included: (i) determination of 'clearance rates' (a physiological indicator at individual level), (ii) histopathological alterations (at tissue level), (iii) DNA strand breaks using the comet assay (at cellular level) and (iv) transcriptional alterations of p53 (anti-oncogene) and ras (oncogene) determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (at the molecular/genetic level). In addition, total glutathione in the digestive gland was measured as a proxy for oxidative stress.

Evaluation of the Genotoxic and Physiological Effects of Decabromodiphenyl Ether (BDE-209) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) Flame Retardants in Marine Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Dechlorane Plus (DP) is a proposed alternative to the legacy flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), a major component of Deca-BDE formulations. In contrast to BDE-209, toxicity data for DP are scarce and often focused on mice. Validated dietary in vivo exposure of the marine bivalve (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to both flame retardants did not induce effects at the physiological level (algal clearance rate), but induced DNA damage, as determined by the comet assay, at all concentrations tested.

Enhanced toxicity of 'bulk' titanium dioxide compared to 'fresh' and 'aged' nano-TiO2 in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Marine bivalves (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed to titanium dioxide (10 mg L(-1)) either as engineered nanoparticles (nTiO2; fresh, or aged under simulated sunlight for 7 days) or the bulk equivalent. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry analyses of mussel tissues showed higher Ti accumulation (>10-fold) in the digestive gland compared to gills. Nano-sized TiO2 showed greater accumulation than bulk, irrespective of ageing, particularly in digestive gland (>sixfold higher).

Compositional properties characterizing commonly transported oils and controlling their fate in the marine environment.

Oil spills relating to shipping incidents remain of substantial concern with respect to marine pollution. Whilst most frequently a reactive approach is adopted in post-incident monitoring (for the specific product involved), this paper reports important physical and compositional characteristics of commonly transported oils and oil products to afford pro-active assessments. These properties include specific gravity, viscosity, elemental composition and, of particular relevance, the relative class compositions between aliphatics, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes.

Post-incident monitoring to evaluate environmental damage from shipping incidents: chemical and biological assessments.

Oil and chemical spills in the marine environment are an issue of growing concern. Oil exploration and exploitation is moving from the continental shelf to deeper waters, and to northern latitudes where the risk of an oil spill is potentially greater and may affect pristine ecosystems. Moreover, a growing number of chemical products are transported by sea and maritime incidents of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) are expected to increase.

Merging nano-genotoxicology with eco-genotoxicology: an integrated approach to determine interactive genotoxic and sub-lethal toxic effects of C(60) fullerenes and fluoranthene in marine mussels, Mytilus sp.

Whilst there is growing concern over the potential detrimental impact of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) on the natural environment, little is known about their interactions with other contaminants. In the present study, marine mussels (Mytilus sp.) were exposed for 3 days to C(60) fullerenes (C(60); 0.

Tissue-specific expression of p53 and ras genes in response to the environmental genotoxicant benzo(α)pyrene in marine mussels.

Marine mussels can develop hemeic and gonadal neoplasia in the natural environment. Associated with these diseases are the tumor suppressor (TS) p53 and the proto-oncogene ras coded proteins, both of which are highly conserved among molluscs and vertebrates. We report, for the first time, tissue-specific expression analysis of p53 and ras genes in Mytilus edulis by means of quantitative RT-PCR.

Integrated assessment of oil pollution using biological monitoring and chemical fingerprinting.

A full assessment of the impact of oil and chemical spills at sea requires the identification of both the polluting chemicals and the biological effects they cause. Here, a combination of chemical fingerprinting of surface oils, tissue residue analysis, and biological effects measures was used to explore the relationship between spilled oil and biological impact following the grounding of the MSC Napoli container ship in Lyme Bay, England in January 2007. Initially, oil contamination remained restricted to a surface slick in the vicinity of the wreck, and there was no chemical evidence to link biological impairment of animals (the common limpet, Patella vulgata) on the shore adjacent to the oil spill.

Antifouling biocides in discarded marine paint particles.

Antifouling paint fragments collected from marinas and leisure boat maintenance facilities and in the vicinity of abandoned boats have been chemically characterised. High concentrations of Cu (23-380mgg(-1)) and Zn (14-160mgg(-1)) in the samples (n=14) are consistent with the use of these metals in the principal biocidal and non-biocidal pigments in contemporary antifouling formulations. Up to about 2% and 7% of the respective metals were solvent-extractable, suggesting that organo-forms of Cu and Zn (e.

Critical evaluation of the determination of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, phenolic endocrine disrupters and faecal steroids by GC/MS and PTV-GC/MS in environmental waters.

An analytical method is described for the determination of a broad range of emerging and priority pollutants, together with sewage molecular markers in environmental waters. The step-by-step study of the GC/MS analyses focuses on the effects of experimental variables using a large volume injection (LVI) technique [a programmed temperature-vaporising (PTV) inlet], the evaluation of a clean-up step using classical and newer sorbents (i.e.

Effects on feeding rate and biomarker responses of marine mussels experimentally exposed to propranolol and acetaminophen.

Environmental risk assessments of human pharmaceuticals and other 'emerging contaminants' should integrate both population-relevant endpoints and biomarkers of potential modes of action in a range of species. Adult Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol or to the anti-inflammatory drug acetaminophen (paracetamol), both commonly used therapeutic drugs present in aquatic ecosystems. Mussels were exposed under semi-static conditions for 10 days to either acetaminophen (CAS number 103-90-2; mean measured concentrations 23 and 403 microg/L) or propranolol hydrochloride (CAS number 318-98-9; mean measured propranolol concentrations 11 and 147 microg/L) at 15 +/- 1 degrees C sea water.

Uptake and biological responses to nano-Fe versus soluble FeCl3 in excised mussel gills.

Nano-Fe particle uptake was experimentally examined in vitro using excised gills and blood cells of the edible blue mussel Mytilus sp. Whole gills were exposed to both Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles and a solution of the hydrated FeCl(3) salt, for up to 12 h, and blood cells for 30 min. Equimolar Fe(+3) in the nano- and the soluble form was estimated under the assumption of dense spherical particles accommodating the same number of Fe(+3) as in the dissolved salt solution, namely: 1,000 microg L(-1) Fe(2)O(3) equivalent to 100 microg L(-1) FeCl(3).

An investigation into the effects of silver nanoparticles on antibiotic resistance of naturally occurring bacteria in an estuarine sediment.

The aim of this study was to test whether silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) released into estuarine environments result in increased antibiotic resistance amongst the natural bacterial population in estuarine sediments. A 50-day microcosm exposure experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of Ag-NPs (50 nm average diameter) on the antibiotic resistance of bacteria in sediments from an estuary in southwest England. Experimental microcosms were constructed using 3.

Inputs and distributions of synthetic musk fragrances in an estuarine and coastal environment; a case study.

Synthetic musks are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Compartmental distributions (dissolved, suspended particle associated and sedimentary) of the compounds throughout an axial estuarine transect and in coastal waters are reported. High concentrations of Galaxolide (HHCB) and Tonalide (AHTN) (987-2098 ng/L and 55-159 ng/L, respectively) were encountered in final effluent samples from sewage treatment plants (STPs) discharging into the Tamar and Plym Estuaries (UK), with lower concentrations of Celestolide (ADBI) (4-13 ng/L), Phantolide (AHMI) (6-9 ng/L), musk xylene (MX) (4-7 ng/L) and musk ketone (MK) (18-30 ng/L).