Long-term trends (1986-2019) in the physicochemical properties of the Sado Estuary (Portugal) driven primarily by changes in river flow and influenced by marine upwelling.

Estuaries are among the most sensitive systems to climate change. Previous studies have suggested that the Sado Estuary (Portugal) has decreasing trends for water temperature, which is uncommon in a global warming scenario. However, no long-term analysis regarding water column conditions has been conducted on this estuary to date.

Integrating viruses into soil food web biogeochemistry.

The soil microbiome is recognized as an essential component of healthy soils. Viruses are also diverse and abundant in soils, but their roles in soil systems remain unclear. Here we argue for the consideration of viruses in soil microbial food webs and describe the impact of viruses on soil biogeochemistry.

Biohythane production via anaerobic digestion process: fundamentals, scale-up challenges, and techno-economic and environmental aspects.

Biohythane, a balanced mixture comprising bioH (biohydrogen) and bioCH (biomethane) produced through anaerobic digestion, is gaining recognition as a promising energy source for the future. This article provides a comprehensive overview of biohythane production, covering production mechanisms, microbial diversity, and process parameters. It also explores different feedstock options, bioreactor designs, and scalability challenges, along with techno-economic and environmental assessments.

PM-bound trace elements in pan-European urban atmosphere.

Although many studies have discussed the impact of Europe's air quality, very limited research focused on the detailed phenomenology of ambient trace elements (TEs) in PM in urban atmosphere. This study compiled long-term (2013-2022) measurements of speciation of ambient urban PM from 55 sites of 7 countries (Switzerland, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK), aiming to elucidate the phenomenology of 20 TEs in PM in urban Europe. The monitoring sites comprised urban background (UB, n = 26), traffic (TR, n = 10), industrial (IN, n = 5), suburban background (SUB, n = 7), and rural background (RB, n = 7) types.

Oceanic seabirds chase tropical cyclones.

In late summer and autumn, the passage of intense tropical cyclones can profoundly perturb oceanic and coastal ecosystems. Direct negative effects on individuals and marine communities can be dramatic, especially in the coastal zone, but cyclones can also enhance pelagic primary and secondary production. However, cyclone impacts on open ocean marine life remain poorly understood.

Endotoxin, a novel biomarker for the rapid risk assessment of faecal contamination of coastal and transitional waters.

Current methods for testing water for faecal contamination rely on the culture of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB; and ) that take 24-48 h, which leads to delays in taking proactive measures and poses a risk to public health. More rapid methods are therefore required. Here, we have tested a rapid, portable assay (Bacterisk) that detects the bacterial biomarker endotoxin in 30 min to quantify the bacterial biomass present, to evaluate 159 coastal water samples and to compare the results with the traditional culture of FIB.

Tracing the Impact of Domestic Storage Conditions on Antioxidant Activity and Lipid Profiles in the Edible Microalgae and .

The microalgae and are valued for their nutrient-rich content, including lipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). However, little is known about how storage and processing affect their lipid quality. This study aimed to assess the impact of domestic storage and cooking practices in dried biomass of and .

Multilayer biological networks to upscale marine research to global change-smart management and sustainable resource use.

Human activities are having a massive negative impact on biodiversity and ecological processes worldwide. The rate and magnitude of ecological transformations induced by climate change, habitat destruction, overexploitation and pollution are now so substantial that a sixth mass extinction event is currently underway. The biodiversity crisis of the Anthropocene urges scientists to put forward a transformative vision to promote the conservation of biodiversity, and thus indirectly the preservation of ecosystem functions.

Comparative genomics reveals insights into the potential of Lysinibacillus irui as a plant growth promoter.

Members of the genus Lysinibacillus attract attention for their mosquitocidal, bioremediation, and plant growth-promoting abilities. Despite this interest, comprehensive studies focusing on genomic traits governing plant growth and stress resilience in this genus using whole-genome sequencing are still scarce. Therefore, we sequenced and compared the genomes of three endophytic Lysinibacillus irui strains isolated from Canary Island date palms with the ex-type strain IRB4-01.

Unravelling biochemical responses in the species Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to the antineoplastics ifosfamide and cisplatin under different temperature scenarios.

This study investigates the chronic impact of two of the most widely consumed antineoplastic drugs, Ifosfamide (IF) and Cisplatin (CDDP), on the bivalve species Mytilus galloprovincialis under current (17 °C) and predicted warming conditions (21 °C). Accompanying the expected increase in worldwide cancer incidence, antineoplastics detection in the aquatic environment is also expected to rise. Mussels were exposed to varying concentrations of IF (10, 100, 500 ng/L) and CDDP (10, 100, 1000 ng/L) for 28 days.

Toxicity mechanisms of plastic nanoparticles in three terrestrial species: antioxidant system imbalance and neurotoxicity.

The detrimental impacts of plastic nanoparticles (PNPs) are a worldwide concern, although knowledge is still limited, in particular for soil mesofauna. This study investigates the biochemical impact of 44 nm polystyrene PNPs on three soil models- (Oligochaeta), (Collembola) and (Isopoda). Exposure durations of 3, 7 and 14 days (d) were implemented at two concentrations (1.

Wastewater disinfection with photodynamic treatment and evaluation of its ecotoxicological effects.

Research has demonstrated the presence of viruses in wastewater (WW), which can remain viable for a long period, posing potential health risks. Conventional WW treatment methods involving UV light, chlorine and ozone efficiently reduce microbial concentrations, however, they produce hazardous byproducts and microbial resistance that are detrimental to human health and the ecosystem. Hence, there is a need for novel disinfection techniques.

A Dangerous Couple: Sequential Effect of Phosphorus Flame-Retardant and Polyurethane Decrease Locomotor Activity in Planarian .

Understanding the interplay among organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), microplastics, and freshwater organisms is crucial for unravelling the dynamics within freshwater environments and foreseeing the potential impacts of organic pollutants and plastic contamination. For that purpose, the present research assessed the exposure impact of 10 mg L flame-retardant aluminium diethylphosphinate (ALPI), 10 μg mg microplastics polyurethane (PU), and the combination of ALPI and PU on the freshwater planarian . The exposure to both ALPI and PU revealed a sequential effect, i.

Biodegradation of e-waste microplastics by Penicillium brevicompactum.

Electronic and electric waste (e-waste) management strategies often fall short in dealing with the plastic constituents of printed circuit boards (PCB). Some plastic materials from PCB, such as epoxy resins, may release contaminants, but neither potential environmental impact has been assessed nor mitigation strategies have been put forward. This study assessed the biodegradation of microplastics (1-2 mm in size) from PCB by the fungus Penicillium brevicompactum over 28 days, thus contributing to the discussion of mitigation strategies for decreasing the environmental impact of such plastics in the environment.

Integron-associated genes are reliable indicators of antibiotic resistance in wastewater despite treatment- and seasonality-driven fluctuations.

The present study aims to characterize the bacterial community, resistome and integron abundance of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) over the course of 12 months and evaluate the year-long performance of integron-related genes as potential indicators of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in influents and effluents. For that, total DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA-targeted metabarcoding, high-throughput (HT) qPCR (48 targets) and standard qPCR (5 targets). Targets included integrase genes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and putative pathogenic groups.

Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective.

Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention.

Combined effect of SAR-endolysin LysKpV475 with polymyxin B and bacteriophage phSE-5.

Endolysins are bacteriophage (or phage)-encoded enzymes that catalyse the peptidoglycan breakdown in the bacterial cell wall. The exogenous action of recombinant phage endolysins against Gram-positive organisms has been extensively studied. However, the outer membrane acts as a physical barrier when considering the use of recombinant endolysins to combat Gram-negative bacteria.

No sex difference in preen oil chemical composition during incubation in Kentish plovers.

Preen oil, the secretion from the uropygial gland of birds, may have a specific function in incubation. Consistent with this, during incubation, the chemical composition of preen oil is more likely to differ between sexes in species where only one sex incubates than in species where both sexes incubate. In this study, we tested the generality of this apparent difference, by investigating sex differences in the preen oil composition of a shorebird species, the Kentish plover (, formerly , ).

Exposure to DEP Modifies the Human Umbilical Artery Vascular Resistance Contributing to Hypertension in Pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) are the most prevalent diseases during pregnancy. In addition to the already identified risk factors, exposure to environmental contaminants has been also considered a new one. Phthalates, which are classified as priority environmental pollutants due to their ubiquitousness and endocrine disrupting properties, have been implicated in HDP in some epidemiological studies.

Impact of chronic fluoxetine exposure on zebrafish: From fatty acid profile to behavior.

The consumption of antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, has increased over the years and, as a result, they are increasingly found in aquatic systems. Given the increasing use of zebrafish as an animal model in toxicological studies, this work proposed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure, for 21 days, to fluoxetine at environmentally relevant concentrations (1, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/L). The behavioral tests performed did not reveal significant effects of fluoxetine.