Pollution by endocrine disruptors in a southwest European temperate coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

The influence of temperature rise on the metabolic response of Ruditapes philippinarum clams to 17-α-ethinylestradiol

Untargeted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics was employed to study the effects of warming conditions (17-21 °C) and exposure to 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) on the polar metabolome of Ruditapes philippinarum clams, to identify metabolic markers for monitoring/prediction of deviant environmental conditions. Warming alone triggered changes in alanine/aspartate/glutamate, aromatic amino acids, taurine/hypotaurine and homarine/trigonelline pathways, as well as in energy metabolism, suggesting osmoregulatory adaptations and glycolytic/tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activation, possibly accompanied to some extent by gluconeogenesis to preserve glycogen reserves. At 17 °C, the lowest EE2 concentration (5 ng/L) specifically engaged branched-chain and aromatic amino acids to activate the glycolysis/TCA cycle. Notably, a partial metabolic recovery was observed at 25 ng/L, whereas higher EE2 concentrations (125 and 625 ng/L) again induced significant metabolic disturbances. These included enhanced glycogen biosynthesis and increased lipid reserves, sustained by low-level glutathione-based antioxidative mechanisms that seemed active. At 21 °C, response to EE2 was notably weak at low/intermediate concentrations, becoming particularly significant at the highest EE2 concentration (625 ng/L), suggesting higher protection capacity of Ruditapes philippinarum clams under warming conditions. At 625 ng/L, disturbances in alanine/aspartate/glutamate and taurine/hypotaurine metabolisms were observed, with no evidence of enhanced carbohydrate/protein catabolism. This low energy function profile was accompanied by marked antioxidative mechanisms and choline compounds modulation for cell membrane protection/repair. These results help monitor clams´ response to temperature rise and EE2 exposure, paving the way for future effective guidance and prediction of environmental damaging effects.

Toxic effects of a mixture of pharmaceuticals in Mytilus galloprovincialis: The case of 17α-ethinylestradiol and salicylic acid

The impact of pharmaceuticals on marine invertebrates has been a topic of rising concern, with an increasing number of studies regarding the impacts on bivalves. However, very few investigated the toxicity of mixtures of pharmaceuticals. This knowledge gap was investigated in the present study, where the toxicity of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and salicylic acid (SA) mixture was evaluated. To this end, Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels were chronically subjected to both pharmaceuticals, acting alone and in combination, and the effects at the cellular level were measured. The Independent Action (IA) model was performed aiming to compare obtained with predicted responses. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) index was used to assess the overall biochemical response given by mussels. The results obtained revealed that the most stressful condition was caused by the combined effect of EE2 and SA, with the highest metabolic capacity, antioxidant (catalase activity) and biotransformation (carboxylesterases activity) activation and cellular damage in organisms exposed to the mixture of both drugs in comparison to responses observed when each drug was acting alone. Predicted responses obtained from the IA model indicate that caution should be paid as frequent deviations to observed responses were found. This study highlights the need for future studies considering the mixture of pollutants, mimicking the actual environmental conditions.

Does dietary exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol alter biomarkers related with endocrine disruption and oxidative stress in the adult triploid of Danio rerio?

This study was conducted to investigate a comprehensive effect of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) with the emphasis on endocrine disruption, oxidative stress and detoxification processes at different levels. Adult male triploid zebrafish were exposed to EE2 administered in feed at two concentrations - 10 and 1000 μg/kg for six weeks. The estrogenic potential of EE2 was evaluated using an analysis of vitellogenin, gene expression focused on reproductive disorders and gonad histological examination. The alterations in antioxidant and detoxification status were assessed using analyses of enzyme activities and changes in transcriptional levels of selected genes. The most significant changes were observed especially in fish exposed to a high concentration of EE2 (i.e., 1000 μg/kg). Such high concentration caused extensive mortality (25 %) mainly in the second half of the experiment followed by a highly significant decrease in the length and body weight. Similarly, highly significant induction of vitellogenin level and vtg1 mRNA expression (about 43,000-fold compared to the control) as well as a significant downregulation of gonad aromatase expression (cyp19a1a) and histological changes in testicular tissue were confirmed in this group. In the group exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of EE2 (i.e., 10 μg/kg), no significant differences in vitellogenin were observed, although all fish were positive in the detection of vitellogenin compared to control, where only 40 % of individuals were positive. In addition, the high concentration of EE2 resulted in significant alterations in most monitored antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes with the exception of catalase, followed by strongly significant upregulation in mRNA expression of gsr, gpx1a, cat and cyp1a genes. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the glutathione reductase activity was recorded in fish exposed to 10 μg EE2/kg. To our knowledge, this is the first study which reports the effects of subchronic per oral exposure to EE2 in adult triploid zebrafish.

SPE-UPLC-MS/MS for Determination of 36 Monomers of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates in Tea

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) represent a non-ionic surfactant widely used as adjuvants in pesticide formulation, which is considered to cause an endocrine-disrupting effect. In the current study, we established a detection method for the APEOs residue in tea based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the simultaneous analysis of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) by UPLC-MS/MS. In the spiked concentrations from 0.024 to 125.38 μg/kg for 36 monomers of APEOs (n_EO = 3-20), the recoveries of APEOs range from 70.3-110.7% with RSD ≤ 16.9%, except for OPEO₂₀ (61.8%) and NPEO₂₀ (62.9%). The LOQs of OPEOs and NPEOs are 0.024-6.27 and 0.16-5.01 μg/kg, respectively. OPEOs and NPEOs are detected in 50 marketed tea samples with a total concentration of 0.057-12.94 and 0.30-215.89 µg/kg, respectively. The detection rate and the range of the monomers of NPEOs are generally higher than those of OPEOs. The current study provides a theoretical basis for the rational use of APEOs as adjuvants in commercial pesticide production.

A systematic review on microplastic pollution in water, sediments, and organisms from 50 coastal lagoons across the globe

Coastal lagoons are transitional environments between continental and marine aquatic systems. Globally, coastal lagoons are of great ecological and socioeconomic importance as providers of valuable ecosystem services. However, these fragile environments are subject to several human pressures, including pollution by microplastics (MPs). The aim of this review was to identify and summarize advances in MP pollution research in coastal lagoons across the world. We consider peer-reviewed publications on this topic published in English and Spanish between 2000 and April 21, 2022, available in Scopus and Google Scholar. We found 57 publications with data on MP abundances and their characteristics in 50 coastal lagoons from around the world, 58% of which have some environmental protection status. The number of publications on this type of pollution in lagoons has increased significantly since 2019. Methodological differences amongst studies of MPs in coastal lagoons were nevertheless a limiting factor for wide-ranging comparisons. Most studies (77%) were conducted in single environmental compartments, and integration was limited, hampering current understanding of MP dynamics in such lagoons. MPs were more abundant in lagoons with highly populated shores and watersheds, which support intensive human activities. On the contrary, lagoons in natural protected areas had lower abundances of MPs, mostly in sediments and organisms. Fiber/filament and fragment shapes, and polyethylene, polyester, and polypropylene polymers were predominant. MPs had accumulated in certain areas of coastal lagoons, or had been exported to the sea, depending on the influence of seasonal weather, hydrodynamics, anthropogenic pressures, and typology of MPs. It is advised that future research on MP pollution in coastal lagoons should focus on methodological aspects, assessment/monitoring of pollution itself, MP dynamics and impacts, and prevention measures as part of a sound environmental management.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment: Environmental sources, biological effects, remediation techniques, and perspective

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been identified as emerging contaminants, which poses a great threat to human health and ecosystem. Pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, brominated flame retardants, steroid hormones and alkylphenols are representative of this type of contaminant, which are closely related to daily life. Unfortunately, many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) do not treat EDCs as targets in the normal treatment process, resulting in EDCs entering the environment. Few studies have systematically reviewed the related content of EDCs in terms of occurrence, harm and remediation. For this reason, in this article, the sources and exposure routes of common EDCs are systematically described. The existence of EDCs in the environment is mainly related to human activities (Wastewater discharges and industrial activities). The common hazards of these EDCs are clarified based on available toxicological data. At the same time, the mechanism and effect of some mainstream EDCs remediation technologies (such as adsorption, advanced oxidation, membrane bioreactor, constructed wetland, etc.) are separately mentioned. Moreover, our perspectives are provided for further research of EDCs.

Metabolic and oxidative status alterations induced in Ruditapes philippinarum exposed chronically to estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol under a warming scenario

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is an ongoing concern. However, the information regarding their effects under different climate change scenarios is still scarce. 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) is widely present in different aquatic systems showing negative impacts on aquatic organisms even when present at trace concentrations (≈1 ng/L). Nevertheless, its impact on bivalves is poorly understood, especially considering the influence of climate change factors. This study aimed to assess the toxicological impacts of EE2 under current and predicted warming scenarios, in the edible clam Ruditapes philippinarum. For this, clams were exposed for 28 days to different EE2 concentrations (5, 25, 125, 625 ng/L), under two temperatures (17 °C (control) and 21 °C). Drug concentrations, bioconcentration factors and biochemical parameters, related to oxidative stress and energy metabolism, were evaluated. Results showed that under actual and predicted temperature scenarios EE2 concentrations led to a disturbance in redox homeostasis of the clams, characterized by an increase in oxidized glutathione in contaminated organisms compared to control ones. Nevertheless, clams were capable to cope with the stressful conditions, activating their defence mechanisms (especially at the highest exposure concentration and in particular at increased temperature), and no oxidative damage occured. Although limited effects were observed, the present findings indicate that under both temperatures contaminated clams altered their biochemical performance, which can impair their sensitivity and protection capacity to respond to other environmental changes and/or affect their capacity to grow and reproduce. The results presented here highlight the need for further research on this thematic, considering that climate change is an ongoing problem, and the levels of some pharmaceutical drugs will continue to increase in marine/estuarine environments.

Pardaxin Activates Excessive Mitophagy and Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Cancer by Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species

Most ovarian cancer (OC) patients are diagnosed with stage III or higher disease, resulting in a poor prognosis. Currently, paclitaxel combined with carboplatin shows the best treatment outcome for OC. However, no effective drug is available for patients that do not respond to treatment; thus, new drugs for OC are needed. We evaluated the antimicrobial peptide, pardaxin, in PA-1 and SKOV3 cells. Pardaxin induced apoptosis as determined by MTT and TUNEL assays, as well as activation of caspases-9/3, Bid, t-Bid, and Bax, whereas Bcl-2 was downregulated. The IC₅₀ values for pardaxin were 4.6-3.0 μM at 24 and 48 h. Mitochondrial and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were overproduced and associated with disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory capacity. Additionally, the mitochondrial network was fragmented with downregulated fusogenic proteins, MFN1/2 and L-/S-OPA1, and upregulated fission-related proteins, DRP1 and FIS1. Autophagy was also activated as evidenced by increased expression of autophagosome formation-related proteins, Beclin, p62, and LC3. Enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy indicate that mitophagy was activated. ROS-induced cytotoxicity was reversed by the addition of N-acetylcysteine, confirming ROS overproduction as a contributor. Taken together, pardaxin demonstrated promising anticancer activity in OC cells, which warrants further preclinical development of this compound.

A review of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in surface water across 32 countries: Sources, concentrations, and potential estrogenic effects

17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a synthetic estrogen with very strong estrogenic potency. Due to its wide usage in human and livestock as well as its high recalcitration to biodegradation, it was ubiquitous in different environment. This review summarized EE2 concentration levels in surface waters among 32 countries across seven continents. EE2 concentrations varied greatly in different surface waters, which ranged from not detected to 17,112 ng/L. The top 10 countries ranked in the order of high to low average EE2 concentration in surface water, were Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Laos, Brazil, Argentina, Kuwait, Thailand, Indonesia and Portugal, with the respective mean concentrations of 27.7, 22.1, 21.5, 21.1, 13.6, 9.6, 9.5, 8.8, 7.6 and 6.6 ng/L. Generally speaking, the EE2 concentration levels in surface waters in developing countries were much higher than those in developed countries. EE2 in effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was the dominant source to most countries, which suggested that improving the EE2 removal performance of municipal WWTP is the key to mitigate EE2 contamination to surface water body. Livestock, hospital, pharmacy factory and aquaculture wastewaters were also the important sources, but further work should be performed to elucidate their contribution. Evaluation based on estrogenic effects, the EE2-derived estrogen equivalence in surface waters ranged from 0 to 33 ng E2/L, among which about 65% of surface waters among 32 countries were at risk or high risk, indicating global serious EE2 contamination. MAIN FINDING: EE2 concentration in surface waters across 32 countries were summarized, along which its potential estrogenic effects were evaluated.

Twists and turns of an oyster's life: effects of different depuration periods on physiological biochemical functions of oysters

Aquaculture activities are often established in the vicinity of highly populated, potentially contaminated areas. Animals cultured at such locations, namely bivalves, are frequently used as test organisms in ecotoxicological testing. In this case, a period of depuration is required to allow the normalization of physiological processes, which are likely to be altered after exposure to a multiplicity of waterborne contaminants occurring in the wild. One of the most important species in modern marine aquaculture is the oyster species Crassostrea gigas. The aim of this study was to assess if the current depuration time frame of 24 h (adopted by most aquaculture facilities), is long enough to permit oysters to revert potential toxic effects exerted by environmental contaminants, allowing their use in laboratory-based ecotoxicological studies. The selected approach involved the monitoring of biochemical (antioxidant defence, oxidative damage, phase II metabolism, and neurological homeostasis) and physiological (condition index) parameters, along a period of 42 days. The obtained results showed that a period of 24 h does not revert any of the potential toxic effects caused by environmental contaminants to which animals may have been previously subjected; even a period of 42 days was not long enough for the oysters to completely normalize the levels of their antioxidant defences, namely total GPx activity, which increased over time. Lipid peroxidation was also increased during the depuration period, and the activity of the metabolic isoenzymes GSTs was significantly decreased. Furthermore, AChE activity measured in the adductor muscle of oysters was increased over time. These assumptions suggest that a period of depuration longer than 24 h is mandatory to obtain adequate test organisms of this oyster species, to be used for ecotoxicological testing purposes.

Cell-based assays as an alternative for the study of aquatic toxicity of pharmaceuticals

An increasing number and amount of pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use currently reach the aquatic environment, and the determination of their effects on aquatic organisms becomes of major importance. The 96-h fish lethal test is one of the conventional assays required for environmental hazardous assessment, but it is extremely time-consuming and costly, and it raises ethical concerns. In a broad study, we compared the ability of cell-based assays to detect, in absolute terms, lethal toxicity in fish due to pharmaceuticals in order to select sensitive cell lines to be posteriorly used as an alternative to fish testing. This study also explored the sensitivity of the rat cardiomyoblast H9c2(2-1) cell line and the suitability of the sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay regarding 15 pharmaceuticals belonging to 9 different therapeutic classes. The relation between in vivo and in vitro data was expressed as LC_50,96h/EC₅₀ ratios, and 66% of concordant data were attained. Accordingly, it was possible to conclude that cell-based assays could be considered a suitable alternative to fish lethal testing for pharmaceuticals, which, after validation, may dramatically reduce the number of fish required for environmental hazardous assessment. Several cell lines were selected as promising alternatives, but H9c2(2-1), HepG2, PLHC-1, and RTG-2 could be considered suitable starting cell types for further studies, as relevant results were obtained with low exposure times.

Spatial and seasonal occurrence of micropollutants in four Portuguese rivers and a case study for fluorescence excitation-emission matrices

The European Union (EU) has recommended the monitoring of specific priority substances (PSs, Directive 2013/39) and some contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, Decision 2015/495) in surface waterbodies. The present study provides spatial distributions and temporal variations of a wide range of multi-class PSs and CECs in four stressed rivers in Portugal (Ave, Leça, Antuã, and Cértima). Thirteen micropollutants were found in all four rivers, including the priority pesticide isoproturon (up to 92 ng L^-1), various pharmaceuticals (up to 396 ng L^-1), and the UV-filter 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC, up to 562 ng L^-1) identified in Decision 2015/495. The industrial priority compound perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was found in three rivers (Antuã, Cértima, and Leça) below the method quantification limit, together with four pharmaceuticals not included in these EU guidelines. The already banned priority pesticide atrazine was detected in Ave, Antuã, and Leça (up to 41 ng L^-1) and simazine in Cértima and Leça (up to 26 ng L^-1). Acetamiprid and imidacloprid (included in Decision 2015/495) were only detected during the dry season in the Ave. Leça river was selected as a waterbody case study for assessment of fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). These results matched the spatial distribution trend of micropollutants along the river, with stronger fluorescence response and higher concentrations being found downstream of industrial areas and urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Moreover, the fluorescence signature of surface water collected downstream of an urban WWTP aligned very well with that obtained for the respective WWTP effluent. Thus, actions are needed to preserve a good environmental status of these stressed European waterbodies.

The impact of propranolol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and gemfibrozil on early life stages of marine organisms: effects and risk assessment

Pharmaceuticals are ubiquitously detected in the marine environment at the ng-μg/L range. Given their biological activity, these compounds are known to induce detrimental effects on biota at relatively low exposure levels; however, whether they affect early life stages of marine species is still unclear. In this study, a set of bioassays was performed to assess the effects of propranolol (PROP), 17-α ethinylestradiol (EE2), and gemfibrozil (GEM) on gamete fertilization and embryonic development of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus), and on the survival of seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae. Treatments of PROP (500, 5000, 50,000 ng/L), EE2 (5, 50, 500 ng/L), and GEM (50, 500, 5000 ng/L) were selected to encompass levels comparable or superior to environmental concentrations. Obtained data were tested for dose-response curve fitting and the lowest EC₁₀/LC₁₀ used to calculate risk quotients (RQs) based on the MEC/PNEC. No alteration was induced by PROP on the mussel gamete fertilization, while inhibitory effects were observed at environmental levels of EE2 (500 ng/L) and GEM (5000 ng/L). Fertilization was significantly reduced in sea urchin at all PROP and EE2 dosages. The 48-h exposure to all pharmaceuticals induced the onset of morphological abnormalities in either mussel or sea urchin embryos. Alterations were generally observed at environmentally relevant dosages, except for PROP in mussels, in which alterations occurred only at 50,000 ng/L. A decreased survival of seabream larvae was recorded after 96-h exposure to PROP (all treatments), EE2 (50-500 ng/L), and GEM (500 ng/L). A median RQ > 1 was obtained for all pharmaceuticals, assigning a high risk to their occurrence in marine environments. Overall, results showed that current levels of contamination by pharmaceuticals can impact early stages of marine species, which represent critical junctures in the resilience of coastal ecosystems.

Effect-directed analysis (EDA) of Danube River water sample receiving untreated municipal wastewater from Novi Sad, Serbia

The release of a multitude of pollutants from untreated municipal wastewater (UMWW) to surface waters may have adverse effects on aquatic wildlife including endocrine disruption. For effect-directed analysis (EDA), a Danube river water sample downstream of emission of UMWW in Novi Sad, Serbia was extracted on-site and after processing in the lab was subjected to reporter gene assays which revealed pronounced estrogenic (ERα), androgenic (AR) and oxidative stress response (OSR). The sample was fractionated with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) collecting thirty fractions at two-minute intervals. Biological analysis identified 5 ERα- and 3 AR-active fractions while none of the fractions showed considerable activity with regards to OSR. It appeared that OSR of parent sample (PS) distributed over all fractions. Chemical analysis of active fractions by LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS/MS found female reproductive hormones (estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3)) as cause of ERα activity while male reproductive hormones (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) and gestagens (progesterone and medroxyprogesterone) were active in the AR bioassay. Designed chemical mixtures in concentration ratios detected in the active fractions were tested with the bioassays. The identified chemicals quantitatively explained the observed bioactivity with no substantial contribution attributable to xenobiotics. In terms of bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQs), detected chemicals explained 5-159% of ERα-active fraction's biological effect and 31-147% for AR-active fractions. Estradiol and dihydrotestosterone were the compounds dominating the most of the effect in this study. In summary, androgenic compounds were found to be as potent as estrogenic compounds while OSR was found to be the cumulative effect of the mixture of many compounds present in the sample rather than the mixture effect dominated by individual chemicals. The obtained results stress the importance of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to minimize the pollutant load from UMWW in order to reduce the risk of endocrine disruption to the aquatic life as well as to improve the status of receiving freshwater ecosystem.

Influence of microplastics on the toxicity of the pharmaceuticals procainamide and doxycycline on the marine microalgae Tetraselmis chuii

Microplastics and pharmaceuticals are considered ubiquitous and emergent pollutants of high concern but the knowledge on their effects on primary producers is still limited, especially those caused by mixtures. Thus, the goal of the present study was to investigate if the presence of microplastics (1-5 μm diameter) influences the toxicity of the pharmaceuticals procainamide and doxycycline to the marine microalga Tetraselmis chuii. Bioassays (96 h) to investigate the toxicity of those substances individually and in mixtures (i.e. microplastics-procainamide mixtures and microplastics-doxycycline mixtures) were carried out. Effect criteria were the average specific growth rate (growth rate) and chlorophyll a concentration (chlorophyll). EC₁₀, EC₂₀ and EC₅₀ were determined. Microplastics alone had no significant effects on growth rate up to 41.5 mg/l, whereas chlorophyll was significantly reduced at 0.9 and 2.1 mg/l of microplastics, but not at higher concentrations. The 96 h EC₅₀ (growth rate and chlorophyll, respectively) determined for the other bioassays were: 104 and 143 mg/l for procainamide alone; 125 and 31 mg/l for procainamide in the presence of microplastics; 22 and 14 mg/l for doxycycline alone; 11 and 7 mg/l for doxycycline in the presence of microplastics. Significant differences (p < 0.001) between the toxicity curves of each pharmaceutical alone and in mixture with microplastics were found for procainamide (chlorophyll), and doxycycline (both parameters). Thus, both pharmaceuticals were toxic to T. chuii in the low ppm range, and microplastics-pharmaceutical mixtures were more toxic than the pharmaceuticals alone. Very high decreases of doxycycline concentrations in test media were found, indicating degradation of the antibiotic. Thus, although the biological results are expressed in relation to doxycycline concentration, the effects were likely caused by a mixture of the parental compound and its degradation products. The concentrations of microplastics and pharmaceuticals tested (low ppm range) are higher than those expected to be found in waters of the most part of marine ecosystems (ppt or ppb ranges). However, considering the widespread contamination by microplastics and pharmaceuticals, the concentrations already found in waters, sediments and/or organism of heavily polluted areas, the long-term exposure (over generations) of wild populations to such substances in polluted ecosystems and the possibilities of bioaccumulation and toxicological interactions, these findings are of concern and further research on microplastics-pharmaceuticals toxicological interactions is needed.

A review on environmental monitoring of water organic pollutants identified by EU guidelines

The contamination of fresh water is a global concern. The huge impact of natural and anthropogenic organic substances that are constantly released into the environment, demands a better knowledge of the chemical status of Earth's surface water. Water quality monitoring studies have been performed targeting different substances and/or classes of substances, in different regions of the world, using different types of sampling strategies and campaigns. This review article aims to gather the available dispersed information regarding the occurrence of priority substances (PSs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that must be monitored in Europe in surface water, according to the European Union Directive 2013/39/EU and the Watch List of Decision 2015/495/EU, respectively. Other specific organic pollutants not considered in these EU documents as substances of high concern, but with reported elevated frequency of detection at high concentrations, are also discussed. The search comprised worldwide publications from 2012, considering at least one of the following criteria: 4 sampling campaigns per year, wet and dry seasons, temporal and/or spatial monitoring of surface (river, estuarine, lake and/or coastal waters) and ground waters. The highest concentrations were found for: (i) the PSs atrazine, alachlor, trifluralin, heptachlor, hexachlorocyclohexane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate; (ii) the CECs azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, diclofenac, 17α-ethinylestradiol, imidacloprid and 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate; and (iii) other unregulated organic compounds (caffeine, naproxen, metolachlor, estriol, dimethoate, terbuthylazine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, ketoprofen, atenolol, Bisphenol A, metoprolol, carbofuran, malathion, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and ofloxacin). Most frequent substances as well as those found at highest concentrations in different seasons and regions, together with available risk assessment data, may be useful to identify possible future PS candidates.

A comprehensive evaluation of the environmental quality of a coastal lagoon (Ravenna, Italy): Integrating chemical and physiological analyses in mussels as a biomonitoring strategy

This study aimed at evaluating the environmental quality of a coastal lagoon (Pialassa Piomboni, NW-Adriatic, Italy) by combining analyses of biomarkers of environmental stress and bioaccumulation of contaminants in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) transplanted for 28days to six selected sites. Assessed biomarkers encompassed lysosomal endpoints, oxidative stress and detoxification parameters, specific responses to metals, neuro- and genotoxic substances; chemical analyses focused on PAHs, metals, pesticide and pharmaceuticals. Results showed up to a 67-fold bioaccumulation of 4- to 6-ring PAHs, including pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo(ghi)perylene in transplanted mussels compared to reference conditions (T0). A 10-fold increase of Fe, Cr and Mn was observed, while pesticides and pharmaceuticals were not or slightly detected. The onset of a significant (p<0.05) general stress syndrome occurred in exposed mussels, as outlined by a 50-57.7% decrease in haemocytes lysosomal membrane stability and an increased lysosomal volume (22.6-26.9%) and neutral lipid storage (18.9-48.8%) observed in digestive gland. Data also revealed a diffuse lipofuscin accumulation (86.5-139.3%; p<0.05) in digestive gland, occasionally associated to a catalase activity inhibition in gill, indicating an increased vulnerability toward pro-oxidant factors. Higher levels of primary DNA damage (258%; p<0.05) and PAH accumulation were found in mussels exposed along the eastern shoreline, hosting a petrochemical settlement. Bioaccumulated metals showed a positive correlation with increased metallothionein content (85-208%; p<0.05) observed in mussels from most sites. Overall, the use of physiological and chemical analyses detected chronic alterations of the mussel health status induced by specific toxicological pathways, proving a suitable approach in the framework of biomonitoring programs of coastal lagoons.