One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science-policy body on chemicals and waste.

The chemical pollution crisis severely threatens human and environmental health globally. To tackle this challenge the establishment of an overarching international science-policy body has recently been suggested. We strongly support this initiative based on the awareness that humanity has already likely left the safe operating space within planetary boundaries for novel entities including chemical pollution.

Stress under the sun: Effects of exposure to low concentrations of UV-filter 4- methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) in a marine bivalve filter feeder, the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum.

UV filters are a class of emerging contaminants with an annual estimated production of 10,000 tons worldwide that continuously enter aquatic environments. Among UV filters, 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) is an organic camphor derivative used in the cosmetic industry for its ability to protect the skin against UV, specifically UV B radiation. Individuals of the Japanese clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, were exposed to 4-MBC at environmentally relevant and slightly higher concentrations (nominal: 0, 1, 10, 100 μg L) using a semi-static exposure system over a 7-days period followed by a 3-days depuration period (total 10 days) where no 4-MBC was added to the tanks.

Effects of novobiocin and methotrexate on the benthic amphipod Ampelisca brevicornis exposed to spiked sediments.

The marine amphipod Ampelisca brevicornis was used as model organism of benthic macrofauna to assess the possible adverse effects of pharmaceuticals bound to sediments. Organisms were exposed to sediment spiked with novobiocin (NOV) and methotrexate (MTX) for 10 days in order to estimate the acute toxicity (lethal effects) produced by the two compounds. The surviving organisms were pooled and analyzed to determine their sublethal responses associated with different phases of metabolism (enzyme activities in phases I and II), oxidative stress (antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation), and genotoxicity (DNA damage in the form of strand breaks).

Analysis of alcohol polyethoxylates and polyethylene glycols in marine sediments.

Alcohol polyethoxylates (AEOs) are the most commercially important type of nonionic surfactants, used in a wide variety of products such as household cleaning detergents, industrial cleaners, textiles, adjuvants in pesticides, wetting and dispersing agents, and emulsifiers. Our main objective in this work was to develop a methodology for the extraction, isolation and analysis of these compounds and their main degradation products and precursors (polyethylene glycols, PEGs) in solid environmental matrices. First, analytes were extracted by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) using methanol at 120°C as solvent and 3 cycles (5 min per cycle).