1
|
Sartori D, Macchia S, Gaion A. Did you consider ammonium? A possible confounding factor in evaluating the toxicity of marine sediments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:116021. [PMID: 38217915 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.116021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Bioassays are a crucial tool for assessing environmental quality, but they face inherent variability due to unexplored confounding factors in marine ecosystems. Ammonium (NH4+) is a vital form of nitrogen in aquatic environments, but it is also a significant focus due to its toxic effects, particularly on marine invertebrates. This study examines the impact of ammonium toxicity on Paracentrotus lividus embryo-development bioassays, which are widely used to evaluate the environmental quality of dredged sediment. The aim is to establish threshold values (EC01, EC05, EC20, and EC50 values) for the correct application of the P. lividus bioassay. The research reveals that ammonium has a significant impact on larval development (EC50 for NH4+ equivalent to 0.81 mg/L). The results emphasize the ecological implications of elevated NH4+ levels in dredged material and highlight the need for precise assessments in environmental management. This study provides essential data for refining guidelines and understanding the complex interactions of this compound in marine ecosystems, ensuring accurate evaluations of environmental quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sartori
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy.
| | - Simona Macchia
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy
| | - Andrea Gaion
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy; University Centre South Devon, Long Road, Paignton TQ4 7EJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sartori D, Scatena G, Vrinceanu CA, Gaion A. Increased sensitivity of sea urchin larvae to metal toxicity as a consequence of the past two decades of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification in the Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115274. [PMID: 37429181 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea represents a natural laboratory to infer the possible impacts of climate change and ocean acidification. In this article, we report the deteriorating ability of sea urchin larvae (Paracentrotus lividus) to cope with toxicity of a reference contaminant (Cu EC50) over the past 20 years and assessed the influence of 5 environmental factors from satellite measurements. This timeframe was divided in before and after January 2016 (46.57 μg/L vs 28.56 μg/L respectively, p < 0.001). In the second subset of data, correlation of the biological variable with CO2 and pH strengthened compared to the first part (rCO2-EC50: -0.21 vs -0.83 and rpH-EC50: 0.25 vs 0.87 respectively), with a causal link starting from one year and ending 4 months prior to EC50 measurements. Considering the continuous increase in CO2 concentrations recorded recently, this study could reveal a rapid deterioration of the health condition of this population of sea urchins in a coastal ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sartori
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno. Italy
| | - Guido Scatena
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno. Italy
| | | | - Andrea Gaion
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno. Italy; University Centre South Devon, Long Rd, TQ4 7EJ Paignton, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sartori D, Macchia S, Layglon N, D'Onofrio S, Misson B, Piccione ME, Bertolotto RM, Scuderi A, Pilato F, Giuliani S, Pellegrini D, Gaion A. Elutriate preparation affects embryo development test with Paracentrotus lividus: An in-depth study on the differences between two protocols and three different sediment/water mixing times. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 212:112010. [PMID: 33550081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Coastal areas are under continuous and increasing pressure from different human activities. A mixture of contaminants (e.g. hydrocarbons, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), emerging contaminants, and others), originating mainly from populated, industrialised and agricultural areas, can reach the marine environment through different means such as wastewater discharge, soil runoffs, leaching from agriculture, and volatilisation/deposition. In this context, marine sediments have increasingly been considered repositories for a variety of pollutants that can accumulate and be stored for long periods, acting as a secondary source of contaminants during subsequent dredging operation or vessel manoeuvring. Chemical and ecotoxicological analyses of sediments are routinely conducted to evaluate the potential hazard/risk to the environment, either on bulk sediment or elutriate. In general, sediment elutriates are commonly prepared according to ASTM Guide even if alternative protocols are proposed by USACE for the various condition that they have to represent. The goal of the present study was to determine if the toxicological properties of ASTMprepared elutriates are comparable to those obtained from the USACE protocol. Sediment coming from 3 harbours (Olbia, Cagliari, and Toulon), as part of the "Se.D.Ri.Port" Interreg Project, were processed to obtain elutriates according to ASTM Guide and USACE Dredging Elutriate protocol and tested with the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus embryo development test. Moreover, the significance of different stirring times of water/sediment mixture (1 h, 3 h, and 24 h) was tested with both the ASTM and USACE protocol. In addition to the biological analysis, for each sediment sample, heavy metals concentration, granulometry, and organic matter were determined. Even if for the ports of Toulon and Cagliari, the ASTM and USACE elutriates showed comparable results with P. lividus bioassay, for the port of Olbia the two protocols showed different criticalities. Preliminary results show that for the site Olbia elutriates prepared with the USACE protocol resulted in higher toxicity than elutriates obtained with ASTM (p < 0.001). In conclusion, differences in preparation protocols appear to be significant and can lead to different results in biological testing. To overcome this problem and to obtain more reliable evaluations of risk to the environment, standardisation and regulation must be the next goals in sediment management procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sartori
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy.
| | - Simona Macchia
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Nicolas Layglon
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM110, France
| | - Sebastien D'Onofrio
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM110, France
| | - Benjamin Misson
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM110, France
| | - Maria Elena Piccione
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Bertolotto
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente Ligure, ARPAL, Via Bombrini 8, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Alice Scuderi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Fabiano Pilato
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Silvia Giuliani
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - David Pellegrini
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Andrea Gaion
- University Centre South Devon, Vantage Point, Long Road, Paignton TQ4 7EJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Morroni L, Giuliani S, Pellegrini D, Sartori D. In situ embryo toxicity test with sea urchin: Development of exposure chamber for test execution. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 196:354-360. [PMID: 29310072 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In situ toxicity tests represent a technique rarely performed owing to the lack of standard methodologies or to technical or economic problems. Nevertheless, its application would allow for a more realistic interpretation of pollution effects than those obtained by standard laboratory tests. The goal of this study is to develop and validate a specific exposure chamber for in situ exposition of Paracentrotus lividus embryos to obtain a defined methodology to perform the sea urchin embryo toxicity test in field conditions. After a first part of the study to verify the feasibility of the test chamber and the methodology, this approach was used as a tool to investigate whether the cruise ship "Costa Concordia" shipwrecked on Giglio Island (Tuscany, Italy), could have acted as a source of pollution. The results obtained for in situ tests showed, on average, percentages of normal embryos lower than those obtained in laboratory conditions and a greater sensitivity than for those obtained in the laboratory owing to the time-integration of results. Thus the exposure chamber and the in situ methodology so far developed would appear to be suitable tools for future application in the environmental quality evaluation of marine waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Morroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Livorno, Italy.
| | - Silvia Giuliani
- ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Livorno, Italy
| | - David Pellegrini
- ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Livorno, Italy
| | - Davide Sartori
- ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Livorno, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Moreira A, Freitas R, Figueira E, Volpi Ghirardini A, Soares AMVM, Radaelli M, Guida M, Libralato G. Combined effects of arsenic, salinity and temperature on Crassostrea gigas embryotoxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 147:251-259. [PMID: 28846930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The combined effects of different salinity and temperature levels on the toxicity of Arsenic (As) were studied on the embryonic development of the oyster Crassostrea gigas. A standardized embryotoxicity test was performed to assess the interactive effects of these stressors, in a full factorial design experiment including a range of salinities (15, 19, 24, 28 and 32), temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28 and 32°C) and As concentrations (100, 300, 600, 1200, 2400µgL-1). The embryotoxicity endpoint was about the determination of normal larvae development rates at various conditions, and median effect concentration (EC50) determination for each As exposure condition. Results showed that toxicity induced by As was characterized by retardation of embryonic development observing toxic effects at lower concentrations than previously reported studies. The presence of As in seawater resulted in a narrower range of tolerance to both salinity and temperature. These findings bring new insights on the impacts of a common contaminant on an important shellfish species having a planktonic early life stage development, with potential implications for population survival and ecosystem functioning in a changing environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Moreira
- Departmento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Departmento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Etelvina Figueira
- Departmento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Cà Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Departmento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marta Radaelli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Cà Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Marco Guida
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cinthia ed. 7, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Cà Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cinthia ed. 7, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Buttino I, Hwang JS, Romano G, Sun CK, Liu TM, Pellegrini D, Gaion A, Sartori D. Detection of malformations in sea urchin plutei exposed to mercuric chloride using different fluorescent techniques. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2016; 123:72-80. [PMID: 26254716 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Embryos of Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and subtropical Echinometra mathaei were exposed to 5,10, 15 and 20µgL(-1), and to 1, 2, 3 and 4µgL(-1) mercuric chloride (HgCl2), respectively. The effective concentration (EC50) inducing malformation in 50% of 4-arm pluteus stage (P4) was 16.14µgL(-1) for P. lividus and 2.41µgL(-1) for E. mathaei. Two-photon (TP), second (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy techniques, TUNEL staining, propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 33342 probes were used to detect light signals or to stain apoptotic and necrotic cells in fixed and alive plutei. Signals were detected differently in the two species: TP fluorescence, commonly associated with apoptotic cells, did not increase with increasing HgCl2 concentrations in P. lividus and in fact, the TUNEL did not reveal induction of apoptosis. PI fluorescence increased in P. lividus in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a loss of cell permeability. In E. mathaei plutei TP fluorescence increased at increasing HgCl2 concentrations. THG microscopy revealed skeletal rods in both species. Different fluorescent techniques, used in this study, are proposed as early-warning systems to visualize malformations and physiological responses in sea urchin plutei.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Buttino
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA_ STS-Livorno, Piazzale dei marmi 12, 57123, Italy.
| | - Jiang-Shiou Hwang
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Giovanna Romano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Chi-Kuang Sun
- Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ming Liu
- Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - David Pellegrini
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA_ STS-Livorno, Piazzale dei marmi 12, 57123, Italy
| | - Andrea Gaion
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA_ STS-Livorno, Piazzale dei marmi 12, 57123, Italy
| | - Davide Sartori
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA_ STS-Livorno, Piazzale dei marmi 12, 57123, Italy; CAISIAL, Academic Centre for Innovation and Development in the Food Industry, 80055 Portici (Na), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Romeo T, D'Alessandro M, Esposito V, Scotti G, Berto D, Formalewicz M, Noventa S, Giuliani S, Macchia S, Sartori D, Mazzola A, Andaloro F, Giacobbe S, Deidun A, Renzi M. Environmental quality assessment of Grand Harbour (Valletta, Maltese Islands): a case study of a busy harbour in the Central Mediterranean Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:747. [PMID: 26563234 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4950-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Contamination levels by plastic debris, trace elements and persistent organic pollutants were assessed and related to macrobenthic diversity within soft bottoms of Grand Harbour (Malta, Central Mediterranean). Sediment toxicity was evaluated by ecotoxicological method, deploying Bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), Echinodermata (Paracentrotus lividus) and Crustacea (Corophium orientale). Univariate analysis (Pearson's test) was used to test relationships between biodiversity indices, pollutants and grain size. A multivariate approach (PERMANOVA) was applied to investigate for any significant differences among sampling stations concerning plastic abundances and to test the relationship between infaunal abundances and pollutant concentrations (the BIOENV test). Significant differences in the plastic abundances were found between sampling stations. The lowest value for Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index was associated to the highest sediment pollution level. Multivariate analyses suggest that MBT and TBT were factors that most influenced macrozoobenthic abundance and biodiversity. The bivalve Corbula gibba and the introduced polychaete Monticellina dorsobranchialis were the most abundant found species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Romeo
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
| | - Michela D'Alessandro
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy
| | - Valentina Esposito
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Scotti
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy
| | - Daniela Berto
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Chioggia, Italy
| | | | - Seta Noventa
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Chioggia, Italy
| | - Silvia Giuliani
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Livorno, Italy
| | - Simona Macchia
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Livorno, Italy
| | - Davide Sartori
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Livorno, Italy
| | - Angelo Mazzola
- ARPA, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection, UO Siracusa, Italy
| | - Franco Andaloro
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giacobbe
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, Messina, Italy
| | - Alan Deidun
- Physical Oceanography Unit, University of Malta, Msida, Malta, Italy
| | - Monia Renzi
- Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia, 32, Orbetello, Grosseto, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sartori D, Gaion A. Toxicity of polyunsaturated aldehydes of diatoms to Indo-Pacific bioindicator organism Echinometra mathaei. Drug Chem Toxicol 2015; 39:124-8. [PMID: 25945412 DOI: 10.3109/01480545.2015.1041602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Although it is well known suitability of early developmental stages of sea urchin as recommended model for pollutant toxicity testing, little is known about the sensitivity of Indo-Pacific species Echinometra mathaei to polyunsaturated aldehydes. In this study, the effect of three short chain aldehydes, 2,4-decadienal (DD), 2,4-octadienal (OD) and 2,4-heptadienal (HD), normally found in many diatoms, such as Skeletonema costatum, Skeletonema marinoi and Thalassiosira rotula, was evaluated on larval development of E. mathaei embryos. Aldehydes affected larval development in a dose-dependent manner, in particular HD>OD>DD; the results of this study highlighted the higher sensitivity of this species toward aldehydes compared with data registered for other sea urchin species. In comparison with studies reported in the literature, contrasting results were observed during our tests; therefore, an increasing toxic effect was registered with decreasing the chain length of aldehydes. This work could provide new insights in the development of new toxicological assays toward most sensitive species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sartori
- a ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research , Livorno , Italy and
| | - Andrea Gaion
- b Department of Technology Vantage Point , South Devon College , Paignton , UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chiarelli R, Roccheri MC. Marine Invertebrates as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Pollution. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/ojmetal.2014.44011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|