Multi-matrix approach to microplastic pollution in the bivalve Donax trunculus, sediment and water along the Mediterranean coasts.

The Mediterranean Sea is affected by microplastic contamination, and several methods have been developed to investigate the degree of environmental plastic pollution. Among these, the use of bioindicators is strongly suggested, and in particular bivalves are sensitive sentinel organisms of the level of microplastic contamination. The wedge clams Donax trunculus is an important edible species for the Mediterranean, area but only rudimentary knowledge is available about microplastic contamination in this species, and no data are available about this topic in the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the microplastic accumulation in the wedge clam and in different water samples (seawater and purged water) in the Tyrrhenian Coast from September to June. The microplastics found were characterized by color, shape, and polymer type through micro-FTIR. For the first time, the microplastic contamination in wedge clams of the Mediterranean Sea was recorded. In September was recorded the highest concentration of microplastics in wedge clams (0.56 MPs/individual). Only microfiber shapes of different colors and types of polymers were found in both wedge clams and water samples. Polyethylene terephthalate was the most common polymer in wedge clams, while a diversified composition was found in water samples. The most common size both in wedge clams (42.8%) and water samples (≥50%) was in the range 0.1–1 mm. Our results highlight the presence of microplastics in an edible species widely commercialized in the Mediterranean Basin and the possibility of using this species to assess microplastic pollution.

The paper discusses the (2)H/(1)H, (18)O/(16)O and (13)C/(12)C ratios of 196 authentic Italian extra-virgin olive oils produced in 3 years on the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts. The (2)H/(1)H and (18)O/(16)O ratios were linearly and positively correlated. The year of production influenced mainly (18)O/(16)O in relation to the amount of rainfall and the atmospheric humidity in the period of oil accumulation in the olives. The (2)H/(1)H ratio significantly distinguished the olive oils produced on the Adriatic coast from those on the Tyrrhenian coast in each year. This coast effect is a consequence of the different sources and isotopic compositions of the rainfall and the different climatic conditions on the two coasts. The paper contributes towards understanding the influence of climatic factors on isotopic variability and towards improving the traceability of the geographical origin of olive oils, using (2)H/(1)H as a more innovative parameter.

BackgroundThe Spirorchiidae is a family of blood flukes parasitizing turtles. Spirorchiids may cause a wide range of inflammatory reactions in the vascular system of their host being frequently implicated with stranding and death of sea turtles worldwide. Recent studies revealed the presence of two spirorchiid species in the Mediterranean basin. Our study presents comparative epidemiological data of spirorchiid infections in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded during an eight-year period from Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas, and the first report of Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas).MethodsWe screened a total of 319 carcasses of loggerhead turtles stranded from January 2011 to December 2018 along the Tyrrhenian coast (n = 111) and the north-western Adriatic coast (n = 208) of Italy using traditional (copromicroscopy and histopathology) and molecular assays. Three green turtles from the Tyrrhenian coast were also included in the study.ResultsA total of 56 (17.5%) loggerhead turtles and one green turtle (33.3%) were found to be infected with spirorchiid flukes. Amplification, sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in 51 (16.0%) and 24 (7.5%) loggerhead turtles, respectively, and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in an infected green turtle. Differences in prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were found.ConclusionsThe risk of spirorchiid infection in the Tyrrhenian Sea is lower than in the Adriatic Sea and in general the risk of infection in the Mediterranean is lower than in other geographical locations. Differences in the prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were related to the differences of regional habitats supporting different abundance of spirorchiid intermediate hosts. A systematic monitoring to evaluate the progress of the infection is recommended, as well as studies on the occurrence and distribution of spirorchiid species from other Mediterranean areas.

The Mesothalassia Bike‐Tour: (Re)Discovering Water by Riding With Scientists

Habitat discontinuity and genetic structure in populations of the estuarine species Hediste diversicolor (Polychaeta: Nereididae)

Microplastics and associated organic pollutants in beach sediments from the Gulf of Guinea (SE Atlantic) coastal ecosystems

Paroxetine has been associated with increased rates of suicidality in adolescents treated in antidepressant clinical trials. Regulatory agencies in the United States and the UK have issued warnings that are already changing clinical practice for adolescents. In a pilot analysis, we characterized the extent of risk by investigating paroxetine-associated suicidality in a related high-risk population, younger and adult individuals with bipolar disorder whose rate of suicide attempts approaches 2% per year. A cross-sectional survey and cohort analysis of 1,000 patients followed for at least 1 year under naturalistic conditions in the NIMH-funded STEP-BD network revealed no association of paroxetine with suicidality in those less than or at least 21 years of age. In fact, the younger group showed a trend for decreased suicidality (P = .13). Thus, increased suicidality risk with paroxetine exposure does not extend to this other high-risk mood-disordered population, even among younger individuals. Psychopharmacology Bulletin. 2006;39(1):31-37.

The Southern Grassland biome in Brazil has long been neglected by the government and by the scientific community as well. Lack of studies about the effects of disturbance (mostly fire and grazing) on plant community and populations are the main hindrances for the future management plans, which complicates the conservation of this rich and unique biome. In this study, the population biology of a rosette species, Eryngium horridum (Apiaceae), has been investigated, in order to compare the effects of fire, grazing and abandonment. E. horridum is a very common species and many farmers consider it a nuisance. Two different areas were chosen for the study purposes: Morro Santana and the Research Center Pro-Mata. Areas under different types (fire and grazing) and disturbance histories were compared. Populations were analysed in plots of 25 m2, divided in age-state classes (seedlings, young, adult and reproductive individuals). Both morphological and phenological traits have been investigated. Fire influenced populations in a direct way, whilst grazing showed an indirect effect. Seedlings were found only in areas excluded from disturbance for 3 years on Morro Santana. Due to this, seedling establishment might be more related to environmental conditions than to disturbance regimes. Young individuals were mainly found in recently burned areas, while adult individuals were dominant in areas excluded from disturbance. Additionally, individuals from E. horridum showed a great capacity of resprouting after plant damage. Reproductive individuals also showed the capacity of producing new rosettes after the death of the inflorescence axis. This strategy is probably of great importance for the survival of populations in areas excluded from disturbance. Therefore, vegetative reproduction seemed to be the most important strategy for the maintenance and survival of its populations, allowing longer population persistence over time, even in the absence of disturbance.

Monitoring plastic pellet pollution in coastal environments through handheld Raman spectroscopy: Data from the Mediterranean coasts (Southern Italy)

Comparative leaf ecophysiology and anatomy of seedlings, young and adult individuals of the epiphytic aroid Anthurium scandens (Aubl.) Engl.

Aim: Studies have shown that the prevalence of the periodontal disease among young people is relatively low; however, periodontitis is a public health problem and prevalence among adults has been increasing. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of periodontitis among young adults and adults in Colombia and to propose an alternative approach for early detection of periodontitis. Objectives: To present an alternative approach for the prevention of periodontitis, two different classifications were used to estimate disease prevalence. In addition, periodontitis severity was associated with sociodemographic and clinical risk factors in a logistic regression model. Material and methods: Selected data from 9150 subjects evaluated in the IV National Oral Health Survey (ENSAB IV) from Colombia were used. The ages ranged from 18 to 79 years old. Statistical analysis: Data were subjected to two different disease definition criteria and were evaluated by bivariate and multivariate analysis using a p-value of 5%. Results: The alternative classification approach elucidated an increase in the prevalence of periodontitis in young individuals (26.1%). According to the previous classification, 20.1% of young individuals and 94.3% of adults had mild to moderate periodontitis. The prevalence of moderate and severe cases was similar. Multivariate analysis of the variables age, gender, enrolment in the subsidized socioeconomic program and health care system, and tooth loss were associated with moderate and severe periodontitis (p<0.05). Conclusions: The early identification of mild cases in young individuals may help to identify potentially vulnerable groups. Early diagnosis of periodontitis and timely intervention in individuals with gingivitis, especially for those presenting risk factors, should be reinforced as an alternative approach to prevent disease progression and reduce the prevalence of adults with periodontitis in the future.

Aging is not a matter of choice; it is our fate. The “time-dependent functional decline that affects most living organisms” is coupled with several alterations in cellular processes, such as cell senescence, epigenetic alterations, genomic instability, stem cell exhaustion, among others. Age-related morphological changes in dental follicles have been investigated for decades, mainly motivated by the fact that cysts and tumors may arise in association with unerupted and/or impacted teeth. The more we understand the physiology of dental follicles, the more we are able to contextualize biological events that can be associated with the occurrence of odontogenic lesions, whose incidence increases with age. Thus, our objective was to assess age-related changes in metabolic pathways of dental follicles associated with unerupted/impacted mandibular third molars from young and adult individuals. For this purpose, a convenience sample of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) dental follicles from young (<16 y.o., n = 13) and adult (>26 y.o., n = 7) individuals was selected. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)-based untargeted metabolomics. Multivariate and univariate analyses were conducted, and the prediction of altered pathways was performed by mummichog and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) approaches. Dental follicles from young and older individuals showed differences in pathways related to C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis, bile acid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, androgen and estrogen biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and lipoate metabolism. We conclude that metabolic pathways differences related to aging were observed between dental follicles from young and adult individuals. Our findings support that similar to other human tissues, dental follicles associated with unerupted tooth show alterations at a metabolic level with aging, which can pave the way for further studies on oral pathology, oral biology, and physiology.

Marine pollution and ecosystem health are interlinked with each other. With the increase in marine pollution, the biodiversity and ecosystem health of the most oceans is being affected. The scientific research upholds that the world is rapidly recognizing the value of the blue economy. Concerns about the ocean and coastal regions have encouraged policymakers and academic institutions throughout the world to seek more and better understanding of the blue economy and ocean-based activity. Every nation makes significant decisions in terms of management strategies, ocean environment monitoring, expeditions and blue economy based product creation. In this chapter, these judgments are taken and carried out based on the current situation and future goals for overcoming the challenges of sustainable global blue economy in both developed and developing nations. Because some developing countries, there are some inconsistencies in perception on the sustainable blue economy, they still are needed additional dialogue, and discourse and to increase awareness to build the ocean-based economy, is required. This chapter also covers global marine pollution scenarios, current status of blue economy and ocean health insights, marine pollution sources and their impact on marine ecosystems and blue economies. Also, this chapter deals with marine pollution management approaches for guiding nations’ future plans, leading the world to a sustainable future, and strengthening the global blue economy in developing and small islands countries. There are several management ideas and alternative management options for the growth of the blue economy including identifying and stopping pollution, enhancing global interaction, evaluating and promoting developmental accomplishments, promoting ocean health development and the blue economy. Furthermore, in terms of the scope and richness of our research and assessment, we still have a long way to go.

Local waste management successfully reduces coastal plastic pollution

Introduction. Plastic decomposition is an exceptionally protracted process, requiring urgent measures to reduce environmental pollution, including that of water resources. Current solutions include increasing measures to sort and recycle plastic waste and developing biodegradable and environmentally friendly substitutes. Although plastic is recyclable, not all types are easily recycled. Therefore, most significant efforts are needed to find sustainable solutions. This highlights the importance of analysing the current situation regarding plastic waste and developing specific measures to reduce pollution. Aim and tasks. This study aims to analyse the concern of increasing plastic waste in Bulgaria and to develop strategies for its reduction. In particular, measures to reduce the consumption of plastic products, introduce separate waste collection, and recycle and reuse valuable raw materials are considered, emphasising the contribution of these actions to reducing water resource pollution. Results. This study analysed two main pollution control areas: limiting plastic use and introducing rapidly degradable materials. These approaches do not exclude but complement each other. This study confirms that using biodegradable polymers such as PLA, PHA, and PBS has significant environmental benefits despite their cost and the disadvantages of production technologies. Effective solutions to pollution problems have been shown to require legislative measures and innovations, raising public awareness, and developing a culture of separate waste collection. The research and analysis revealed ways to reduce the pollution of water bodies with plastic and polyethene waste. The effects of this waste on the development of humanity have been examined, and options for solving these problems on a global scale have been proposed. Conclusions. Plastic products and packaging have a significant negative impact on the environment, including reducing pollution of water and marine ecosystems. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of plastic waste management and recycling. Analysis of these data on the pollution of water bodies and adjacent territories showed the need to develop a system for monitoring and collecting information on pollution, including in hard-to-reach areas. To reduce this impact, it is important to combine limiting plastic consumption and using rapidly degradable bioplastics with the active implementation of recycling and reuse programs.