1
|
Picone M, Russo M, Distefano GG, Baccichet M, Marchetto D, Volpi Ghirardini A, Lunde Hermansson A, Petrovic M, Gros M, Garcia E, Giubilato E, Calgaro L, Magnusson K, Granberg M, Marcomini A. Impacts of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) discharge waters on planktonic biological indicators. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114846. [PMID: 36965268 PMCID: PMC10152311 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), operating in open-loop mode, continuously release acidic effluents (scrubber waters) to marine waters. Furthermore, scrubber waters contain high concentrations of metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and alkylated PAHs, potentially affecting the plankton in the receiving waters. Toxicity tests evidenced significant impairments in planktonic indicators after acute, early-life stage, and long-term exposures to scrubber water produced by a vessel operating with high sulphur fuel. Acute effects on bacterial bioluminescence (Aliivibrio fischeri), algal growth (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Dunaliella tertiolecta), and copepod survival (Acartia tonsa) were evident at 10 % and 20 % scrubber water, while larval development in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) showed a 50 % reduction at ∼5 % scrubber water. Conversely, larval development and reproductive success of A. tonsa were severely affected at scrubber water concentrations ≤1.1 %, indicating the risk of severe impacts on copepod populations which in turn may result in impairment of the whole food web.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Martina Russo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giuseppe Distefano
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Marco Baccichet
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Davide Marchetto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Anna Lunde Hermansson
- Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Hörselgången 4, 41756 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Mira Petrovic
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C. Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig lluís companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Gros
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C. Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona (UDG), Girona, Spain
| | - Elisa Garcia
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C. Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona (UDG), Girona, Spain
| | - Elisa Giubilato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Loris Calgaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| | - Kerstin Magnusson
- Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Maria Granberg
- Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatic, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia-Mestre, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Picone M, Distefano GG, Marchetto D, Russo M, Baccichet M, Brusò L, Zangrando R, Gambaro A, Volpi Ghirardini A. Long-term effects of neonicotinoids on reproduction and offspring development in the copepod Acartia tonsa. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 181:105761. [PMID: 36206640 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are neurotoxic pesticides acting as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. NEOs' efficacy against pest insects has favoured their spreading use in agriculture, but their proven effectiveness against non-target insects in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems also raised concern over their environmental impact. Crustaceans were often studied for the impacts of NEOs due to their economic values and nervous' system similarity with insects. However, most studies on crustaceans focused on acute effects or exposure of early-life stages, while long-term effects were seldom explored. The present study aimed to assess the potential long-term effects of four commercially available NEOs on the reproduction and offspring of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa, a key species in the food webs of several coastal and estuarine environments. NEOs were confirmed as potent interferents of copepod reproduction. The first-generation compound acetamiprid significantly inhibited egg production and hatching ratio at 10 ng L-1, while larval survival and development were affected at 81 ng L-1. Similarly, the first-generation compound thiacloprid significantly inhibited the hatching ratio and larval development at 9 ng L-1, while it did not affect egg production and larval survival. Second-generation compounds were less toxic than acetamiprid and thiacloprid: clothianidin affected significantly only larval development of the offspring at 62 ng L-1, while thiamethoxam was not toxic at both the tested concentrations (8 ng L-1 and 84 ng L-1). These data evidenced that effects on copepods may occur at concentrations below the chronic aquatic life benchmarks reported by USEPA for acetamiprid (2100 ng L-1) and thiacloprid (970 ng L-1), suggesting that long-term effects of NEOs have been underestimated. A comparison with environmental concentrations evidenced that NEO-mediated effects on copepods are more liable in coastal areas receiving discharge from wastewater treatment plants or diffuse inputs from agricultural land during pesticide application periods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Giuseppe Distefano
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Davide Marchetto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Martina Russo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Marco Baccichet
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Luca Brusò
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Roberta Zangrando
- Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council (ISP-CNR), Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council (ISP-CNR), Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University, Campus Scientifico Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Inhibition of Larval Development of Marine Copepods Acartia tonsa by Neonocotinoids. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10040158. [PMID: 35448419 PMCID: PMC9026078 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10040158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are neurotoxic pesticides widely used in agriculture due to their high effectiveness against pest insects. Despite their widespread use, very little is known about their toxicity towards marine organisms, including sensitive and ecologically relevant taxa such as copepods. Thus, we investigated the toxicity of five widely used NEOs, including acetamiprid (ACE), clothianidin (CLO), imidacloprid (IMI), thiacloprid (THI), and thiamethoxam (TMX), to assess their ability to inhibit the larval development of the copepod Acartia tonsa. The more toxic NEOs were ACE (EC50 = 0.73 μg L−1), TMX (EC50 = 1.71 μg L−1) and CLO (EC50 = 1.90 μg L−1), while the less toxic compound was IMI (EC50 = 8.84 μg L−1). Early life-stage mortality was unaffected by NEOs at all of the tested concentrations. The calculated toxicity data indicated that significant effects due to ACE (EC20 = 0.12 μg L−1), THI (EC20 = 0.88 μg L−1) and TMX (EC20 = 0.18 μg L−1) are observed at concentrations lower than established chronic aquatic life benchmarks reported by USEPA for freshwater invertebrates. Nevertheless, since environmental concentrations of NEOs are generally lower than the threshold concentrations we calculated for A. tonsa, the effects may be currently of concern only in estuaries receiving wastewater discharges or experiencing intense runoff from agriculture.
Collapse
|
4
|
Picone M, Distefano GG, Marchetto D, Russo M, Vecchiato M, Gambaro A, Barbante C, Ghirardini AV. Fragrance materials (FMs) affect the larval development of the copepod Acartia tonsa: An emerging issue for marine ecosystems. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 215:112146. [PMID: 33744517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fragrance materials (FMs) are used in a variety of detergents and cosmetics, including household and personal care products. Despite their widespread use and the growing evidence of their occurrence in surface waters worldwide, very little is known about their toxicity towards marine species, including a key component of the marine food webs such as copepods. Thus, we investigated the toxicity of six of the more long-lasting and stable commercial fragrances, including Amyl Salicylate (AMY), Oranger Crystals (ORA), Hexyl Salicylate (HEX), Ambrofix (AMB), Peonile (PEO), and Benzyl Salicylate (BZS), to assess their ability to impair the larval development of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa. FMs inhibited the development of A. tonsa significantly at concentrations by far lower than the effect-concentrations reported in the literature for aquatic species. The more toxic FMs were HEX (EC50 = 57 ng L-1), AMY (EC50 = 131 ng L-1) and ORA (EC50 = 766 ng L-1), while the other three compounds exerted toxic effects at concentrations higher than 1000 ng L-1 (LOEC at 1000 ng L-1 for PEO and BZS, and at 10,000 ng L-1 for AMB). Early life-stage mortality was unaffected by FMs at all the tested concentrations. A comparison with water concentrations of FMs reported in the literature confirmed that FMs, especially HEX and AMY, may act as contaminants of potential concern in many aquatic habitats, including urban areas and remote and polar environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giuseppe Distefano
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Davide Marchetto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Martina Russo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Marco Vecchiato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council (ISP-CNR), via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council (ISP-CNR), via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Carlo Barbante
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council (ISP-CNR), via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, I-30170 Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Picone M, Delaney E, Tagliapietra D, Guarneri I, Volpi Ghirardini A. Bioaccumulation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins (PCDDs) and Dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in Hediste diversicolor (Polychaeta: Nereididae). Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
6
|
Corami F, Morabito E, Gambaro A, Cescon P, Libralato G, Picone M, Ghirardini AV, Barbante C. Geospeciation, toxicological evaluation, and hazard assessment of trace elements in superficial and deep sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:15565-15583. [PMID: 32078131 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-07784-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the hazard assessment of dredging and disposal of sediments, an in-depth chemical and toxicological characterization of sediments was carried out in Venice Lagoon. The bioaccessible and mobile concentration of trace elements in superficial and deep sediments (in the Holocene-Pleistocene limit) can deeply affect the quality of the aquatic ecosystem. Geospeciation and total concentration of trace elements in sediment cores were assessed and several toxicological tests were carried out. The indices of contamination (e.g., geochemical accumulation index, Igeo, pollution load index, PLI) and of speciation (individual contamination factor, ICF and global contamination factor, GCF) were evaluated. Factor Analysis (FA) was performed to explore possible significant correlations between toxicity data and sediment chemistry. Results underlined that the total concentration of trace elements cannot adequately assess the hazard, while bioavailability, mobility, and toxicity of trace elements allow a thorough evaluation of the environmental threats. The integration of results from chemical characterization ex ante and toxicity assays will provide for a better sustainable handling and management of sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Corami
- Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy.
| | - Elisa Morabito
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Paolo Cescon
- Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Department of Biology, University of Studies Federico II in Naples, via Cinthia-Building 7, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Anna Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Carlo Barbante
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Picone M, Corami F, Gaetan C, Basso M, Battiston A, Panzarin L, Volpi Ghirardini A. Accumulation of trace elements in feathers of the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 179:62-70. [PMID: 31026751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.051] [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: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A non-invasive study of trace element accumulation in tail feathers of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) was performed along the coastline of the northern littoral strip of the Venice Lagoon, with the aim to verify whether contamination may be a factor affecting conservation status of Kentish plover populations. Body burdens in feathers of 11 trace elements including toxic metals/metalloids and essential elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) were quantified by ICP-MS, then concentrations were normalized to feather's age calculated using ptilochronology in order to obtain daily deposition rates. Mercury emerged as a major threat to the conservation of the species, since average feather concentration was clearly above the adverse-effect threshold associated with impairment in the reproductive success in a number of bird species. Also Cd and Se occurred at levels that may impact on the conservation status of the studied species at local scale, even if to a lesser extent than Hg. Gender-related differences in trace element accumulation emerged only for As, although for this element the risks associated to environmental exposure seem to be negligible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Corami
- Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Carlo Gaetan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Battiston
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| | - Lucio Panzarin
- Associazione Naturalistica Sandonatese, c/o Centro Didattico Naturalistico il Pendolino, via Romanziol 130, 30020, Noventa di Piave, Venezia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, I-30170, Mestre, Venezia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Picone M, Corami F, Vendramin S, Volpi Ghirardini A. A Hybrid Phase I-Phase II Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) for the Simultaneous Characterization and Identification of Toxicants of Concern in Coastal and Estuarine Environments. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 77:223-236. [PMID: 31134306 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00639-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A sequential TIE procedure combining in a single framework Phase I manipulations and Phase II methods, including chemical analyses and complementary Phase I treatments, was proposed for characterization and identification of toxicants of concern in estuarine environments. Interstitial water was chosen as test matrix and embryo-larval development with the bivalve Crassostrea gigas as toxicity endpoint. TIE treatments included addition of Ulva rigida and elution through zeolite column for addressing effects due to ammonia, addition of EDTA and elution through a Cation-Exchange Solid-Phase Extraction column for characterize metals, and elution through two different type of polymers (XAD and DPA) with different affinity for polar and nonpolar organic pollutants. Chemical analyses concerned determination of ammonia and trace elements in the untreated sample and after manipulation intended to remove or modify bioavailability of ammonia and metals. The "hybrid" Phase I-Phase II TIE sequence proved to be a reliable and effective tool for the identification of main toxicant of concern in a highly toxic and contaminated interstitial water sample, also in presence of high concentration of potential confounding factors (ammonia). The addition of U. rigida was the more reliable treatment for the removal of ammonia, due to the concurrent release of particles and potentially toxic elements, such as Ba, Rb, and Tl by zeolite column, which may increase toxicity in the post-column sample. The combined use of polymers with different affinity for the various classes of organic pollutants was essential to identify the contribution of polar organic compounds to the observed toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca'Foscari University, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, 30170, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Corami
- Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Torino 155, 30170, Mestre, Venice, Italy
| | - Serena Vendramin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca'Foscari University, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, 30170, Mestre, Venice, Italy
| | - Annamaria Volpi Ghirardini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca'Foscari University, Campus Scientifico via Torino 155, 30170, Mestre, Venice, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Charry MP, Keesing V, Costello M, Tremblay LA. Assessment of the ecotoxicity of urban estuarine sediment using benthic and pelagic copepod bioassays. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4936. [PMID: 29868297 PMCID: PMC5984583 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban estuarine sediments are sinks to a range of contaminants of anthropogenic origin, and a key challenge is to characterize the risk of these compounds to receiving environments. In this study, the toxicity of urban estuarine sediments was tested using acute and chronic bioassays in the benthic harpacticoid Quinquelaophonte sp., and in the planktonic calanoid Gladioferens pectinatus, two New Zealand copepod species. The sediment samples from the estuary tributary sites significantly impacted reproduction in Quinquelaophonte sp. However, results from one of the estuary sites were not significantly different to those from the tributaries sites, suggesting that chemicals other than trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ammonia may be the causative stressors. Sediment elutriate samples had significant effects on reproductive endpoints in G. pectinatus, and on the induction of DNA damage in cells, as shown by the comet assay. The results indicate that sediment contamination at the Ahuriri Estuary has the potential to impact biological processes of benthic and pelagic organisms. The approach used provides a standardized methodology to assess the toxicity of estuarine sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Charry
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
| | | | - Mark Costello
- Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Louis A Tremblay
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|