Biomarkers responses in fish (Atherinella brasiliensis) of paranaguá bay, southern Brazil, for assessment of pollutant effects

Paranaguá bay is a complex estuary located in southern Brazil containing three protected areas listed by UNESCO. Historically, the estuary has been affected by urban, industrial, agricultural and harbor activities, and occasional accidents. Specifically, the explosion of the Chilean ship Vicuña in December 2004 spilled methanol and crude and fuel oils which affected both protected and non-protected areas. The present study sought to investigate the pollution threat to aquatic organisms in order to evaluate the potential effects of pollutants. One hundred and twenty adult fish Atherinella brasiliensis were collected from different sites within Paranaguá estuary, including the harbor and open ocean, during summer, autumn and winter of 2005. Among the biomarkers, the somatic index, chemical analysis of bile, biochemical, genetic and morphological parameters were considered. Chemical analysis of bile showed a continuous bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) according to proximity to the harbor site. The histopathological findings have demonstrated aconsiderable incidence of severe pathologies in the liver and gills, corroborated by biochemical disturbances and genetic damage. These findings indicate that more studies are necessary to evaluate both water quality and fish health so as to permit a better analysis of the impact of pollution in Paranaguá estuary.

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Long-term population dynamics of the red deer and European roe deer at the protected and not-protected areas in Mountain Crimea

Ukrainian Journal of Ecology ◽

10.15421/2017_88 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 65-72

Author(s):

V. N. Shmagol' ◽

V. L. Yarysh ◽

S. P. Ivanov ◽

V. I. Maltsev

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Red Deer ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Precipitation Amount ◽

Annual Precipitation ◽

Population Number ◽

The Impact

The long-term population dynamics of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) at the mountain and forest zone of Crimea during 1980-2017 is presented. Fluctuations in numbers of both species are cyclical and partly synchronous. Period of oscillations in the population of red deer is about 25 years, the average duration of the oscillation period of number of roe deer is 12.3 years. During the fluctuations in the number the increasing and fall in population number of the red deer had been as 26-47 %, and roe deer – as 22-34 %. Basing on the dada obtained we have assumed that together with large-scale cycles of fluctuations in population number of both red deer and roe deer the short cycles of fluctuations in the number of these species with period from 3.5 to 7.5 years take place. Significant differences of the parameters of cyclical fluctuations in the number of roe deer at some sites of the Mountainous Crimea: breaches of synchronicity, as well as significant differences in the duration of cycles are revealed. The greatest deviations from the average values of parameters of long-term dynamics of the number of roe deer in Crimea are noted for groups of this species at two protected areas. At the Crimean Nature Reserve the cycle time of fluctuations of the numbers of roe deer was 18 years. At the Karadag Nature Reserve since 1976 we can see an exponential growth in number of roe deer that is continued up to the present time. By 2016 the number of roe deer reached 750 individuals at a density of 437 animals per 1 thousand ha. Peculiarity of dynamics of number of roe deer at some sites proves the existence in the mountain forest of Crimea several relatively isolated groups of deer. We assumed that "island" location of the Crimean populations of red deer and European roe deer, their relatively little number and influence of permanent extreme factors of both natural and anthropogenic origination have contributed to a mechanism of survival of these populations. The elements of such a mechanism include the following features of long-term dynamics of the population: the reduction in the period of cyclic population fluctuations, while maintaining their amplitude and the appearance of additional small cycles, providing more flexible response of the population to the impact of both negative and positive environmental factors. From the totality of the weather conditions for the Crimean population of roe deer the recurring periods of increases and downs in the annual precipitation amount may have relevance. There was a trend of increase in the roe deer population during periods of increasing annual precipitation.

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Review on Sublethal Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041863 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1863 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agata Di Noi ◽

Silvia Casini ◽

Tommaso Campani ◽

Giampiero Cai ◽

Ilaria Caliani

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Anthropogenic Contamination ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Pollination Services ◽

General Decline ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact

Honey bees and the pollination services they provide are fundamental for agriculture and biodiversity. Agrochemical products and other classes of contaminants, such as trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, contribute to the general decline of bees’ populations. For this reason, effects, and particularly sublethal effects of contaminants need to be investigated. We conducted a review of the existing literature regarding the type of effects evaluated in Apis mellifera, collecting information about regions, methodological approaches, the type of contaminants, and honey bees’ life stages. Europe and North America are the regions in which A. mellifera biological responses were mostly studied and the most investigated compounds are insecticides. A. mellifera was studied more in the laboratory than in field conditions. Through the observation of the different responses examined, we found that there were several knowledge gaps that should be addressed, particularly within enzymatic and molecular responses, such as those regarding the immune system and genotoxicity. The importance of developing an integrated approach that combines responses at different levels, from molecular to organism and population, needs to be highlighted in order to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic contamination on this pollinator species.

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Grill Workers Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Levels and Excretion Profiles of the Urinary Biomarkers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010230 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 230

Author(s):

Marta Oliveira ◽

Sílvia Capelas ◽

Cristina Delerue-Matos ◽

Simone Morais

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

High Performance ◽

Principal Component ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Urinary Biomarkers ◽

Analysis Model ◽

Exposed Workers ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact

Grilling activities release large amounts of hazardous pollutants, but information on restaurant grill workers’ exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is almost inexistent. This study assessed the impact of grilling emissions on total workers’ exposure to PAHs by evaluating the concentrations of six urinary biomarkers of exposure (OHPAHs): naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo(a)pyrene. Individual levels and excretion profiles of urinary OHPAHs were determined during working and nonworking periods. Urinary OHPAHs were quantified by high-performance liquid-chromatography with fluorescence detection. Levels of total OHPAHs (∑OHPAHs) were significantly increased (about nine times; p ≤ 0.001) during working comparatively with nonworking days. Urinary 1-hydroxynaphthalene + 1-hydroxyacenapthene and 2-hydroxyfluorene presented the highest increments (ca. 23- and 6-fold increase, respectively), followed by 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (ca. 2.3 times) and 1-hydroxypyrene (ca. 1.8 times). Additionally, 1-hydroxypyrene levels were higher than the benchmark, 0.5 µmol/mol creatinine, in 5% of exposed workers. Moreover, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, biomarker of exposure to carcinogenic PAHs, was detected in 13% of exposed workers. Individual excretion profiles showed a cumulative increase in ∑OHPAHs during consecutive working days. A principal component analysis model partially discriminated workers’ exposure during working and nonworking periods showing the impact of grilling activities. Urinary OHPAHs were increased in grill workers during working days.

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Evaluating the impact of exposure to environmental contaminants on human health

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/42.8.1345 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1345-1349 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

J B Silkworth ◽

J F Brown

Keyword(s):

Chemical Substances ◽

The Public ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Synthetic Chemicals ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Coplanar Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Proportional Contribution ◽

The Impact

Abstract Humans are exposed daily to low concentrations of many different chemical substances, natural and some man-made. Although many of these substances can be toxic at high levels, typical exposures are far below the effect levels. The responses produced by man-made aromatic hydrocarbon receptor agonists, such as dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are also produced, often to greater extents [corrected], by naturally occurring constituents of fried meat, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, cocoa, and curry. Our society seems to be concerned about the health risks associated only with the synthetic chemicals, regardless of their proportional contribution to the total agonist activity, and regulates on the basis of such concerns. It would be more protective of the public health to determine acceptable concentrations for each type of response, regardless of the origin of the inducing agent, and issue advisories or regulations accordingly.

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The impact of biochars on sorption and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils—a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-014-3719-5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 3314-3341 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Chinedum Anyika ◽

Zaiton Abdul Majid ◽

Zahara Ibrahim ◽

Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria ◽

Adibah Yahya

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact ◽

Hydrocarbons In Soils

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Thermal processing contaminants in foodstuffs and potential strategies of control

Czech Journal of Food Sciences ◽

10.17221/10600-cjfs ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 22 (SI - Chem. Reactions in Foods V) ◽

pp. S1-S10 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

A. Studer ◽

I. Blank ◽

R. H Stadler

Keyword(s):

Health Risks ◽

Food Service ◽

Food Product ◽

Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines ◽

Heat Processing ◽

Food Container ◽

Mechanisms Of Formation ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Us Fda ◽

The Impact

Over the past decades, researchers from academia, industry, and National authorities and enforcement laboratories, have gained increasing insight in understanding the presence, formation and potential risk to public health posed by the compounds formed during the domestic cooking and heat-processing of different foods. Compounds already intensively studied are the heterocyclic aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and chloropropanols. Concrete measures have been introduced by the food industry to control certain contaminants, exemplified by the introduction of enzymatic hydrolysis of plant proteins or over-neutralization to reduce concentrations of chloropropanols in savoury flavours. The recent discovery of acrylamide in cooked foods has raised much concern, and sparked intensive scientific studies into the occurrence, analysis, exposure, mechanisms of formation, possible measures of control, and toxicology of the compound. However, since acrylamide formation is directly linked to the desired Maillard reaction that generates important flavour and aroma compounds – as well as chemicals with potentially beneficial health effects – any measures taken must assess the impact on overall quality and consumer acceptance of the food product. In addition, mitigation must be devised in such a way as not to increase the risks for other possibly more severe short and medium to long-term health risks. In this context, understanding the impact of changes in processing on the safety of foods will be of paramount importance. In May 2004 the US FDA published findings of trace levels of furan in different foods, corroborating older data and raising some concerns, albeit without reference to any health risks. Particularly canned and jarred foods that are subject to thermal treatment are apparently affected, as the volatile furan is essentially “trapped” in the food container. Analogous to the acrylamide concern, there is a paucity of knowledge in all scientific domains, i.e. exposure, methods of analysis, mechanisms of formation, toxicology. Finally, a concern that needs to be addressed is the lack of knowledge about the effects of final preparation in food service and domestic situations on the formation of processing contaminants. In essence, consumers should follow sound dietary and health advice by choosing diets based on balance, variety and moderation.

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Speciation of cestoda. Evidence for two sibling species in the complex Bothrimonus nylandicus (Schneider 1902) (Cestoda: Cyathocephalidea)

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000066816 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 97 (1) ◽

pp. 139-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

F. Renaud ◽

C. Gabrion

Keyword(s):

Sibling Species ◽

Definitive Host ◽

Parasite Species ◽

Adult Stage ◽

Life Cycles ◽

The Other ◽

Congeneric Species ◽

Biochemical Genetic ◽

Autumn And Winter ◽

Biological Differences

SUMMARYUsing biochemical genetic methods, we have distinguished 2 sibling species in the complex Bothrimonus nylandicus (Schneider, 1902), which infest 2 congeneric species of sole (Solea lascaris and Solea impar) on European coasts (Atlantic and Mediterranean). Neither of the parasite species is specific for either of the sole species, but one of them is present all year round, whereas the other is absent in the autumn and winter and only appears in the spring, subsequently disappearing at the end of the summer. Only S. impar lives in the Mediterranean, and is equally infested by both cestodes, whereas both species occur in the Atlantic and each of them is preferentially infested by 1 species of cestode. The shortness of the adult stage of the parasite in the definitive host and the presence of 2 life-cycles associated with competition between the 2 hosts in the Atlantic could be responsible for the biological differences observed and for maintaining the sibling species in sympatry.

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Using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to determine post-wildfire contamination and sediment sources in a large watershed in central British Columbia, Canada

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10491 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristen Kieta ◽

Philip Owens ◽

Ellen Petticrew

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Magnetic Susceptibility ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Large Scale ◽

Sediment Samples ◽

Burned Areas ◽

Total Pahs ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact

The Nechako River Basin (NRB) in central British Columbia is a large (52,000 km2), regulated basin that supports populations of sockeye and chinook salmon and the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. These important species are experiencing population declines and one potential cause of this decline is excess sediment, which can clog their spawning habitat and reduce juvenile success. This excess sediment is likely the product of a combination of factors, the most visible being the significant land cover changes that have occurred in the basin, which includes pressure from forestry and agriculture, the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, and large-scale wildfires in 2018. Focusing specifically on the impact of the 2018 wildfires on sediment transport from upland burned areas to adjacent waterways, this research aimed to determine the spatial and temporal contamination of tributaries and the mainstem of the Nechako River with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are produced during the combustion of organic matter and have been identified as toxic to aquatic organisms and to humans. Additionally, this study intended to determine if burned areas were a more significant contributor of sediment than unburned areas and better understand the utility of PAHs as a potential tracer. Source soil samples were collected in 2018 and 2020 from burned and unburned sites, and suspended sediment samples were collected throughout the ice-free period from 2018-2020 in three tributaries and three mainstem sites. All samples were analysed for PAHs, magnetic susceptibility, colour, and particle size. Results from the fall 2018 source samples show a significant difference in PAH concentrations between unburned and burned soils, and while concentrations of PAHs in source soils in 2020 were lower than in 2018, they were still elevated compared to unburned soils. Sediment samples showed that concentrations of total PAHs are higher in the mainstem sites than in the tributaries, with the greatest concentrations consistently found at the most downstream site on the mainstem of the Nechako River. Concentrations across sites were highest in samples taken during the spring snowmelt period in 2019, have decreased throughout the rest of the sampling period (2019-2020), and are well below sediment quality guidelines for total PAHs. In addition to determining the spatial and temporal extent of PAH contamination, this study also aims to use PAHs along with colour and measurements of magnetic susceptibility to trace sediments associated with the 2018 wildfires. The high cost of PAH analysis limits the number of samples that can be analysed and thus, these additional tracers will allow for the use of models such as MixSIAR that improve with a more robust number of samples. As large-scale megafires continue to burn across the globe, understanding their potential to contribute PAHs to local waterbodies and potentially be used as a tracer is as prescient as ever.

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Dams out of the Blue: Mongolia’s Blue Horse Program

10.53014/nfhv6162 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eugene Simonov

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Transboundary Rivers ◽

Water Scarce ◽

The Impact

Mongolia’s Blue Horse Program risks causing irreversible harm to transboundary rivers and internationally recognised protected areas. With 44 dams are planned on 23 of Mongolia’s 25 rivers the impact will be significant in the water-scarce country.

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