Mechanism of Toxicity in Aquatic Life

Chapter 5 is focused on how organisms cope with the environmental conditions that are a direct result of high altitude. Organisms reveal a number of fascinating ways of dealing with a life at high altitude; for example, avoidance and pigmentation as protection against damaging high levels of ultraviolet radiation, accumulation of antifreeze proteins, and metabolic cold adaptation among species encountering low temperatures with the risk of freezing, oxy-regulatory capacity in animals due to low availability of oxygen, and root uptake from the sediment of inorganic carbon by plants living in waters poor in dissolved carbon dioxide. These and more adaptations are carefully described through a number of examples from famous flagship species in addition to the less well-known ones. Harsh environmental conditions work as an environmental filter that only allows the well-adapted species to slip through to colonize high altitude waters.

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Occurrence of caffeine, fluoxetine, bezafibrate and levothyroxine in surface freshwater of São Paulo State (Brazil) and risk assessment for aquatic life protection

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-020-11799-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Raquel Cardoso de Souza ◽

Aline Andrade Godoy ◽

Fábio Kummrow ◽

Thyago Leandro dos Santos ◽

Carlos Jesus Brandão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Paulo State ◽

São Paulo State

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Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Water Using Environmentally Friendly Processes: Photocatalysts Preparation, Characterization, Intermediates Identification and Toxicity Assessment

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11010215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 215

Author(s):

Nina Finčur ◽

Paula Sfîrloagă ◽

Predrag Putnik ◽

Vesna Despotović ◽

Marina Lazarević ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emerging Contaminants ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Toxicity Assessment ◽

Emerging Pollutants ◽

Simulated Sunlight ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Mgo Nanoparticles ◽

Emerging Pollutant ◽

Wheat Germination ◽

Modern Technologies

Pharmaceuticals and pesticides are emerging contaminants problematic in the aquatic environment because of their adverse effects on aquatic life and humans. In order to remove them from water, photocatalysis is one of the most modern technologies to be used. First, newly synthesized photocatalysts were successfully prepared using a sol–gel method and characterized by different techniques (XRD, FTIR, UV/Vis, BET and SEM/EDX). The photocatalytic properties of TiO2, ZnO and MgO nanoparticles were examined according to their removal from water for two antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone) and two herbicides (tembotrione and fluroxypyr) exposed to UV/simulated sunlight (SS). TiO2 proved to be the most efficient nanopowder under UV and SS. Addition of (NH4)2S2O8 led to the faster removal of both antibiotics and herbicide fluroxypyr. The main intermediates were separated and identified for the herbicides and antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Finally, the toxicity of each emerging pollutant mixture and formed intermediates was assessed on wheat germination and biomass production.

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Multispectral Remote Sensing of Wetlands in Semi-Arid and Arid Areas: A Review on Applications, Challenges and Possible Future Research Directions

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12244190 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (24) ◽

pp. 4190

Author(s):

Siyamthanda Gxokwe ◽

Timothy Dube ◽

Dominic Mazvimavi

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Remote Sensing Data ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

Multispectral Imagery ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Sensing Data ◽

Spatial Coverage ◽

Semi Arid

Wetlands are ranked as very diverse ecosystems, covering about 4–6% of the global land surface. They occupy the transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and share characteristics of both zones. Wetlands play critical roles in the hydrological cycle, sustaining livelihoods and aquatic life, and biodiversity. Poor management of wetlands results in the loss of critical ecosystems goods and services. Globally, wetlands are degrading at a fast rate due to global environmental change and anthropogenic activities. This requires holistic monitoring, assessment, and management of wetlands to prevent further degradation and losses. Remote-sensing data offer an opportunity to assess changes in the status of wetlands including their spatial coverage. So far, a number of studies have been conducted using remotely sensed data to assess and monitor wetland status in semi-arid and arid regions. A literature search shows a significant increase in the number of papers published during the 2000–2020 period, with most of these studies being in semi-arid regions in Australia and China, and few in the sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews progress made in the use of remote sensing in detecting and monitoring of the semi-arid and arid wetlands, and focuses particularly on new insights in detection and monitoring of wetlands using freely available multispectral sensors. The paper firstly describes important characteristics of wetlands in semi-arid and arid regions that require monitoring in order to improve their management. Secondly, the use of freely available multispectral imagery for compiling wetland inventories is reviewed. Thirdly, the challenges of using freely available multispectral imagery in mapping and monitoring wetlands dynamics like inundation, vegetation cover and extent, are examined. Lastly, algorithms for image classification as well as challenges associated with their uses and possible future research are summarised. However, there are concerns regarding whether the spatial and temporal resolutions of some of the remote-sensing data enable accurate monitoring of wetlands of varying sizes. Furthermore, it was noted that there were challenges associated with the both spatial and spectral resolutions of data used when mapping and monitoring wetlands. However, advancements in remote-sensing and data analytics provides new opportunities for further research on wetland monitoring and assessment across various scales.

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Improving data to protect aquatic life

Filtration + Separation ◽

10.1016/s0015-1882(21)00018-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 12-13

Keyword(s):

Aquatic Life

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Geochemical and biological controls on the ecological relevance of total, dissolved, and colloidal forms of trace elements in large boreal rivers: review and case studies

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2019-0014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 138-163

Author(s):

C.W. Cuss ◽

C.N. Glover ◽

M.B. Javed ◽

A. Nagel ◽

W. Shotyk

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Trace Elements ◽

Case Studies ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Water Levels ◽

Water Quality Criteria ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Athabasca River ◽

Biological Variables ◽

Boreal Rivers

The concentrations of trace elements (TEs) in large boreal rivers can fluctuate markedly due to changing water levels and flow rates associated with spring melt and variable contributions from tributaries and groundwaters, themselves having different compositions. These fluctuating and frequently high concentrations create regulatory challenges for protecting aquatic life. For example, water quality criteria do not account for changes in flow regimes that can result in TE levels that may exceed regulatory limits, and neither do they account for the markedly different lability and bioaccessibility of suspended solids. This review addresses the geochemical and biological processes that govern the lability and bioaccessibility of TEs in boreal rivers, with an emphasis on the challenges posed by the colloidal behaviour of many TEs, and their relationship to the dissolved fraction (i.e., <0.45 μm in size). After reviewing the processes and dynamics that give rise to the forms and behaviour of TEs in large boreal rivers, their relevance for aquatic organisms and the associated relationships between size and lability and bioaccessibility are discussed. The importance of biological variables and different forms of TEs for limiting lability and bioaccessibility are also addressed. Two case studies emphasize seasonal fluctuations and accompanying changes in the distribution of TE amongst different size fractions and associated colloidal species in large boreal rivers: the Northern Dvina and one of its tributaries, the Pinega River, both in Russia, and the Athabasca River in Alberta, Canada. Water quality in the Athabasca River is briefly discussed with respect to Canadian guidelines.

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Environmental Effects on the Spatiotemporal Variability of Fish Larvae in the Western Guangdong Waters, China

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9030316 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 316

Author(s):

Yuting Feng ◽

Lijun Yao ◽

Hui Zhao ◽

Jing Yu ◽

Zhaojin Lin

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Coastal Upwelling ◽

Fish Larvae ◽

Additive Models ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea Surface Salinity ◽

Spatiotemporal Variability ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Fishery Resources

Spawning grounds occupy an important position in the survival and reproduction of aquatic life, which plays an important role in the replenishment of fishery resources, especially in the China coasts where fishery resources are depleting. This study investigated environmental effects on the spatiotemporal variability of fish larvae in the western Guangdong waters (WGWs), on the basis of generalized additive models (GAMs) and center of gravity (CoG). Satellite data including sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface temperature (SST), and in situ observations for fish larvae from April to June in 2014–2015 were used. Results showed that 40.3% of the total variation in fish larvae density was explained. SST, SSS, and depth showed positive effects in 23–24 °C and 27–30 °C, 24–32 PSU, and 0–60 m, and showed negative effects in 24–27 °C, 32–34.2 PSU, 60–80 m. Based on the stepwise GAMs, the most important factor was month, with a contribution of 10.6%, followed by longitude, offshore distance, depth, and latitude, with contributions of 7.0%, 7.0%, 6.3%, 4.2%, 3.9%, and 1.3%, respectively. Fish larvae CoG shifted northward by 0.6° N and eastwards by 0.13° E from April to June. The distribution of fish larvae in the WGWs was affected by complex submarine topography in the Qiongzhou Strait, coastal upwelling in the WGWs, and runoff from the Pearl River.

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Environmental Risk Assessment Resulting from Sediment Contamination with Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26010116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 116

Author(s):

Grażyna Gałęzowska ◽

Justyna Rogowska ◽

Ewa Olkowska ◽

Wojciech Ratajczyk ◽

Lidia Wolska

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Environmental Risk Assessment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

River Mouth ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Toxicity Tests ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Vistula River

Due to wide use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (e.g., in metal-plating, in fire-fighting foam, lubricants) and their resistance to degradation, they occur widely in the environment. The aim of this study was to estimate the environmental risk resulting from the presence of PFASs in the Gulf of Gdansk. Therefore, 17 PFASs concentrations were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS/MS). Additionally, sediment ecotoxicity was investigated. The results of the chemical analysis were used to asses environmental risk of PFASs. In samples collected around discharge collectors from a wastewater treatment plant and the Vistula mouth, Σ17PFASs values were 0.00403 ÷ 40.6 and 0.509 ÷ 614 ng/g d.w., respectively. In samples collected around discharge collectors, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFHpA, and PFOA were dominating, while at the Vistula River mouth, PFHxS, PFDS, and PFBS were prevalent. For most sediments, no toxic effect was observed in the toxicity tests with Heterocypris inconguens and Aliivibrio ficsheri. There was no observed correlation between the PFASs level and their ecotoxicity. Generally, the results of environmental risk assessment indicate that the PFASs would not generate high impact on the aquatic life (five water samples have shown medium risk related to PFBS and PFDoA).

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