Multigenerational effects of virgin and sampled plastics on the benthic macroinvertebrate Chironomus riparius.

Although sediments are important reservoirs of plastics, most of the ecotoxicological studies on these contaminants are focused on the organisms living in the water column, while only a smaller number of evidence concerns the plastic impact on benthic species. Therefore, this study compared the multigenerational effects on the sediment-dwelling midge Chironomus riparius exposed to both virgin polystyrene microbeads (22,400-224,000 plastics/kg sediments dry weight), and plastic mixtures (40-420 plastics/kg dry weight) collected from four of the main tributaries of Po River (Ticino, Adda, Oglio and Mincio Rivers, Northern Italy) to evaluate the role played by other characteristics related to these physical contaminants in determining their toxicity as opposed to concentration alone. The modified Chironomid Life-Cycle Toxicity Test (OECD 233) was used to evaluate the multigenerational effects on the Emergence and Development Rates, Fecundity and Fertility.

Ecological Impact of End-of-Life-Tire (ELT)-Derived Rubbers: Acute and Chronic Effects at Organism and Population Levels.

Considering the large amount of tires that reach the end of life every year, the aim of this study was the evaluation of both acute and chronic effects of end-of-life-tire (ELT)-derived rubber granules (ELT-dg) and powder (ELT-dp) on a freshwater trophic chain represented by the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, the crustacean Daphnia magna and the teleost Danio rerio (zebrafish). Adverse effects were evaluated at the organism and population levels through the classical ecotoxicological tests. Acute tests on D.

pp'DDE contamination of the blood and diet in central European populations.

In this study, the actual risk of DDT pollution to two European human populations was assessed by analysing DDT residues in the diet, which is the main route of pollution for man, and in the blood and placenta, which are components affecting organs and new generations, respectively. The Gdańsk region was selected as representative of areas subjected to a recent DDT ban in Europe, while a rural area in Western Germany was considered representative of European regions where DDT use and production ceased many years ago. The results of three food series of food sampling carried out with market basket methods during 2003 showed that pp'DDE, which is by far the main constituent of DDT residues, was present in foods of animal origin and in cereals at rather high concentrations in both countries, and that a risk for human health cannot be excluded.