Bioindicators Of Contamination Research Articles

Microbial communities indicate fine differences in pollution levels by emerging contaminants

Aquatic microbial communities are well known to rapidly respond to environmental changes, and to harbor the highest taxonomic and genetic diversity among biological communities. Nevertheless, they remain under-utilized as bioindicators of contamination. Here we applied indicator value analysis (IndVal) to aquatic microbial communities to identify indicators of anthropogenic pressure by emerging contaminants at basin scale. For that, we defined categories of impact according to the Aquatic Quality Index (AQI) based on previous determinations of emerging contaminants (ECs) along an anthropogenic impact gradient. Indicator value analysis (IndVal) was conducted to identify amplicon sequence variants (ASVs; analogous to species in other fields of ecology) associated with each category.It was possible to find combinations of ASV indicators for all impact categories defined by the AQI. Microbial indicators exhibited a high capacity to predict the group membership of the samples within each AQI category and to correctly assign the samples to the appropriate category, employing leave-one-out cross-validation (100 % correctly assigned for streams and coastal sea and 94% for lagoons).This is the first report of emerging contamination indicators based on microbial communities. These results reaffirm the capacity of microbial communities to rapidly adjust their taxonomic composition in response to environmental changes. Therefore, these microscopic entities are promising for the application of environmental management measures and the approximation presented here contributes to the advancement of tools dedicated to monitoring aquatic ecosystems, and the application of more stringent standards for water quality than what is currently implemented.

The Bioaccumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Organs of Phragmites australis and Their Application as Indicators of Pollution (Bug River, Poland)

The bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in aquatic plants is critical in assessing the quality of aquatic environments and the risks associated with anthropogenic activities. This research involved using Phragmites australis as a bioindicator in a comprehensive assessment of the spatial variation in pollution within the Bug River catchment, employing advanced statistical methods to identify pollution sources. The study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PTEs in different parts of the P. australis plant and to evaluate their suitability as bioindicators of contamination. Plant samples were collected from 32 locations in the Bug River catchment, and the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that PTE accumulation was highest in the roots, underscoring their crucial role in monitoring metal concentrations. Metal concentrations differed based on land use within the catchment area, with the highest levels observed in urbanized regions, highlighting the significant impact of human activities like wastewater discharge and transport emissions. The highest concentrations were observed for Fe, Mn, and Zn, while Cd concentrations were notably elevated in agricultural areas. The analyses confirmed that P. australis serves as an effective bioindicator of heavy metal contamination and can be employed in long-term biomonitoring programs.

Evaluating the impact of gadolinium contamination on the marine bivalve Donax trunculus: Implications for environmental health

Gadolinium (Gd), commonly used in contrast agents for medical imaging, has been detected in hospital wastewater and aquatic environments, raising environmental concerns. This study examined the accumulation and cellular impacts of Gd in the clam species Donax trunculus, commonly used as bioindicator of contamination. Gadolinium accumulation in clams increased with exposure and over time. Biological responses varied with Gd levels: low concentrations (10 and 50 µg/L) led to low metabolic activity and glycogen content, but high antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation levels (LPO); high concentrations (250 and 500 µg/L) resulted in increased metabolic activity, while antioxidant enzyme activity was inhibited and LPO levels were the lowest. Metabolic activity decreased after two weeks, suggesting limited long-term metabolic resilience. The study underscores D. trunculus as an effective early warning species for Gd pollution and highlights the ecological risks of rising Gd levels, emphasizing the need for environmental monitoring and regulation.

Faeces of Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as a Bioindicator of Contamination in Urban Environments in Central-West Brazil

Along with exposure to parasites and other biological disease vectors, animal faeces can also contain heavy metals and metalloids. We quantified metals, metalloids, and non-metals in the faeces of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) that live in parks in the city of Campo Grande (Brazil). Quantification of metalloids was obtained after acid digestion using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Higher mean concentrations in mg/kg of aluminium (Al) (140.322), arsenic (As) (0.010), cadmium (Cd) (1.042), chromium (Cr) (26.866), cobalt (Co) (1.946), copper (Cu) (50.764), lead (Pb) (8.762), manganese (Mn) (291.469), molybdenum (Mo) (3.634), nickel (Ni) (5.475), and zinc (Zn) (100.027) were quantified in samples of faeces of capybara that live on the banks of a lagoon that receives input from streams that cross the city. According to the risk assessment, potential risks to the health of children and adults may occur due to the presence of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, and Mn through involuntary oral ingestion of faeces, via inhalation and dermal contact. The hazard index (HI) due to oral ingestion was greater than 1 for children and adults. Therefore, we believe that faeces of H. hydrochaeris can be considered as a bioindicator of environmental pollution in urban parks.

Use of lichens as bioindicators of contamination by agrochemicals and metals.

The presence or absence of lichens serves as an indicator of the condition of an ecosystem and the degree to which it is contaminated by various agents, such as agrochemicals and metals. Evaluating the use of lichens as bioindicators of agrochemical contamination could provide a more comprehensive perspective of current contamination levels. Monitoring was conducted over a 4-month period in two study areas: one was a well-conserved area contaminated by metals, and the other was an area surrounded by agricultural crops contaminated by agrochemicals. Data on the presence and abundance of lichens in each study area were recorded at 10 monitoring points, a procedure that was repeated 16 times (every 15days), and concentrations of heavy metals and "organophosphate" agrochemicals in the lichens collected were measured by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Gas Chromatography (GC), respectively. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess abundance and richness, while general linear mixed models were used to attain Shannon diversity and Simpson dominance indices. Moreover, a multivariate analysis was performed in order to compare the lichen communities in both areas. The results indicated differences between the area contaminated by metals and that contaminated by agrochemicals in terms of abundance and Simpson's dominance index, while no differences were found in the case of the richness and diversity models. The PERMANOVA analysis additionally showed differences between the lichen communities in the two areas. The results also demonstrated that Canoparmelia caroliniana bioaccumulated metals in both areas. The levels of barium, cadmium, and sodium were higher in the area contaminated by metals, while concentrations of chromium and copper were higher in the area contaminated by agrochemicals. Finally, the concentrations of agrochemicals were higher in the area contaminated by agrochemicals and included toxic substances such as Methylparathion and Parathion, which are prohibited in Ecuador. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of lichens as precise indicators of environmental health and contamination by agrochemicals and metals.

RESISTÊNCIA A ANTIMICROBIANOS EM ESCHERICHIA COLI EM AMOSTRAS AMBIENTAIS: UMA BREVE REVISÃO

The antimicrobial resistance of environmental strains has a serious impact on the aquatic ecosystem, as well as on human and veterinary medicine. One way to verify problems related to the presence of drugs in the environment is to carry out monitoring using bacteria that are bioindicators of contamination, such as Escherichia coli. Given this scenario, the objective of this study was to carry out a short review on antimicrobial resistance in pediatric Escherichia coli from environmental samples. Thus, this study constitutes a bibliographic review of an analytical nature, dealing with the theme of antimicrobial resistance in environments; topic that has been much discussed in the academic community. It was defined as inclusion of inclusion: articles published between the years 2016 and 2022, in the PubMed database. As a result, it was found that in the analyzed years, there was an oscillation of publications on themes related to resistance, plasmids and integrons. Thus, we conclude that research on antimicrobial resistance in environmental strains should be increasingly carried out, with the objective of monitoring and verifying which drugs are more present in the environment as the consequences generated are still unknown.

Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality by Bacteriological Diversity Studies on Certain Locations of the Diyala River, Baghdad

With a focus on the impact of the Rustumiya sewage treatment facility, the physio-chemical and indicator bacterial contamination pollution of the Diyala River (Iraq) was examined. The Diyala River in Baghdad was sampled on a monthly basis from March 2022 to February 2023 for surface water and sediment. The findings demonstrated seasonal and geographical variation in physio-chemical parameters (pH, EC, salinity, and TDS) and bacteriological markers (TC, FC, E. coli, and FS). The research procedures and methods showed that some physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS) in sediment exceeded their standard limits concerning aquatic life protection in spring and summer. The level of bacteriological pollution in the water and sediments, evaluated by tracking of faecal indicator bacteria (E. coli and Enterococci), during the autumn and winter seasons had the largest concentration of bacterial contaminants. In this study, the main finding was the majority of the studied stations had water classified as not recommended or unacceptable and sediment classified as acceptable or conservatively accepted. The source of contamination, determined by the ratio value of faecal coliform bacteria to faecal Streptococcus, was from human origin in the majority of studied stations, and from mixed origin during the spring and summer. Bacterial indicators in this research exhibited both quantitative and qualitative fluctuation, suggesting their potential utility as a bio-indicator for contamination of water and sediment in the Diyala River.

Monitoring different sources of marine pollution in the Canarian intertidal zone using Anemonia sulcata as a bioindicator

Sea anemones have often been used as bioindicators of contamination because they are semisessile organisms that rarelly leave their niche, which is why they are conducive to affecting the ecosystem at the local level. The objective of this work is to determine whether the concentrations of heavy metals and trace elements in the anemone Anemonia sulcata vary depending on the source of contamination present. In 2021 seventy specimens were collected at five sampling points and fourteen specimens were collected in each point (Control Zone, Thermal Power Plant, Sewage Pipe, Harbour and Tourism) in 2021, on the island of Tenerife. All the areas studied characterized by a pollution condition had higher concentrations of metals and trace elements than the control area. The anemones from Harbour presented a greater number of metals with a higher concentration than the other study areas.

Honeybee Pollen as a Bioindicator of Contamination: An Overview

Honeybee Pollen as a Bioindicator of Contamination: An Overview

Chemical and Biological Properties of Agricultural Soils Located along Communication Routes

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of agricultural soils, which accumulate additional amounts of heavy metals from fertilization and modify their bioavailability, with the use of interdependencies between their biological and chemical properties conditioned by the distance from communication routes. Our results indicated that heavy metals had an impact on enzyme activity in soils and their accumulation was significantly related to the distance from the edge of the road, location of sampling sites, date of soil sampling, and years of research. It was found that the greatest amounts of zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper were accumulated at a distance of 5–20 m from the edge of the road. The highest enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index values were recorded for Pb, followed by Zn, Cu, and Cd. Principal component analysis and regression models showed that the activities of phosphatase and dehydrogenases seem to be the best bioindicators of contamination of roadside soils used for agricultural purposes. Since their activity is related to soil’s organic carbon content, inputs of organic fertilizers and crop residues should be ensured in the agroecosystems along roadsides.

Levels of Escherichia coli as Bio-Indicator of Contamination of Fish Food and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern Along the Value Chain in Northwest Ethiopia

Microbiological contamination in fish origin foods is the leading risk for public health. Among the range of pathogenic bacterial species that cause fish food borne diseases is Escherichia coli. The pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli cause diarrhea by producing and releasing toxins and can also be the cause of food spoilage in fish. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess hygienic practices of fish handlers, to evaluate bacterial load and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Escherichia coli along the fish value chain in Northwest Ethiopia. Systematic and purposive sampling techniques were used for uncooked and cooked fish samples respectively. From a total of 180 fish samples, 36 (20%) were positive for Escherichia coli. From 115 uncooked and 65 cooked fish samples examined, 27 (23.5%) and 9 (13.8%) had E. coli respectively. The highest mean bacterial count was observed in raw fish samples (6.13 × 105 cfu/g), followed by cooked fish samples (2.81 × 104 cfu/g). Among the interviewed fish handlers, 83.3%, 76.7% and 80% of respondents had good knowledge and attitude towards using a clean cutting-and-filleting board, storing raw and cooked foods separately and using an apron for reducing the risk of fish contamination, respectively. All 36 isolates were 100% sensitive to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin. Of the Escherichia coli isolates subjected to tetracycline, 55.6% were resistant, 8.3% were intermediate and 36.1% were susceptible. This study revealed that there was a lack hygienic practice and high Escherichia coli profiles were observed. Hence, it could be wise to advise the fish harvesters, fish traders, hotels and restaurants about fish food safety practices from harvesting to consumption to improve fish food safety practices and quality standards of fish harvested and sold in northwest Ethiopia.

Respecting catalytic efficiency of soil arylsulfatase as soil Sb contamination bio-indicator by enzyme kinetic strategy.

Antimony (Sb), a toxic metalloid, is ubiquitous in the environment and threatens human and ecological health. Soil arylsulfatase (ARS) activity indicates heavy metal pollution. However, the enzyme's substrate concentration can affect the toxicity evaluation of heavy metals using enzyme activity. Enzyme kinetic parameters directly reflect the potency of heavy metals, and the magnitude of these parameters does not change with the substrate concentration of soil enzyme. In this work, seventeen soils were exposed to Sb contamination to investigate the change of kinetic parameters of soil arylsulfatase under Sb stress. Results showed that Sb inhibited soil arylsulfatase activity. The maximum reaction rate (Vmax) of soil arylsulfatase was reduced by 11.58-46.72% in 16 tested soils and unchanged in S15 when exposed to Sb. The Michaelis constant (Km) presented three trends: unchanged, increased by 28.46-41.27%, and decreased by 19.71-29.91% under Sb stress. The catalytic efficiency (Ka as the ratio of Vmax to Km) decreased by 12.56-55.17% in all soils except for S12 and S16. Antimony acted as a non-competitive and linear mixed inhibitor by decreasing ARS activity in S1-S12, S14, and S17-S18 soils, as an uncompetitive inhibitor in S13 and S16 soils and as a competitive inhibitor in S15. The competitive and uncompetitive inhibition constants (Kic and Kiu) were 0.058-0.142 mM and 0.075-0.503 mM. The ecological dose values of Sb to catalytic efficiency (Ka) of ARS (ED10-Ka) ranged from 50 to 1315 mg kg-1. Soil pH and total phosphorus (TP) contents were the dominant factors responsible for Sb toxicity on Ka by affecting the interaction of inhibitor (Sb) with enzyme-substrate (ES) complex. The findings of this study advance the current knowledge on Sb toxicity to soil enzymes and have significant implications for the risk assessment of Sb in soils.

The influence of the degassing phase of the Tagoro submarine volcano (Canary Islands) on the metal content of three species of cephalopods

Underwater volcanic eruptions are a type of natural contamination that affect all marine organisms at a local level. These eruptions usually begin and end a degassing stage of the volcano that, although they do not affect the magnitude of magma emanation, affect organisms to a lesser degree locally, such as cephalopods that due to their metabolism and trophic level, are good bioindicators of contamination. A total of 180 samples of three species of cephalopods were collected for the study: sixty Sepia officinalis, sixty Octopus vulgaris and sixty Loligo vulgaris in the area of the submarine volcano in El Hierro, Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands (twenty samples per species in each location), and the metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn) in each of the samples were analyzed. All species showed significant differences for all metals in El Hierro compared to Tenerife and Lanzarote.All the analyzed species from El Hierro had higher concentrations of the nine studied metals, this is due to the fact that they were caught near the Tagoro submarine volcano, which at the time was in a state of degassing and discharged many metal-rich compounds.

Heavy Metals and Arsenic in Soft Tissues of the Gastropod Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) Collected on a Mollusk Farm Off Sevastopol (Southwestern Crimea, Black Sea): Assessing Human Health Risk and Locating Regional Contamination Areas.

The gastropod Rapana venosa is an edible mollusk suitable for biomonitoring of sea shelf contamination. In this work, the contents of five elements (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) in foot and in the rest of soft tissues of this mollusk were quantified, and the element contents in the edible foot were found below the maximum permissible levels set in several national and transnational regulations. The estimated daily intake of these elements and the hazard index indicated no likely risks to consumers' health, but the long-term cancer risks due to the arsenic intake were found significant. The arsenic and cadmium contents in soft tissues of this rapawhelk were among highest observed in the Black Sea region in the 2010s, and this suggests the specific arsenic and cadmium contamination of seawater off the southwestern Crimea. For the first time, this mollusk was shown to serve as a seawater contamination bioindicator at the regional level.

Leptodactylus macrosternum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) as a bioindicator of potentially toxic chemical elements in irrigated perimeters in northeastern Brazil

Biomonitoring programs have developed in the last decades, including the toxicity evaluation of endemic organisms in populations from polluted areas. Environmental bioindicators respond to contaminants as predictors of future damage to their population, ecosystem and human. Amphibian are considered very sensitive contamination bioindicators. Researchers in several continents have conducted ecological studies on the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in anuran tissues, especially in mining and agriculture areas. The Jaguaribe River is an important water source in northeastern Brazil, home of agriculture irrigated perimeters; but it also concerns users for increasing the risks of environmental contamination. The objective of this work was to quantify potentially toxic elements in Leptodactylus macrosternum carcasses, evaluating its potential as a contamination bioindicator of agrosystem areas in the Lower Jaguaribe River basin, Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were detected in the L. macrosternum carcasses' samples. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of detected metals by area status; however, analysis of variance suggested that individuals had more constant exposure to Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb in cultivated area status. The cluster analysis of chemicals indicated two optimal element groups, which proposed different compounds from diverse origins. Body index significantly influenced Mn and Pb, while sex influenced Fe and Pb accumulation. The results suggested that the L. macrosternum species is a conceivable local bioindicator for environmental potentially toxic elements. However, other tissues will be tested to improve their sensitivity and validate their capacity to be employed as a biomonitoring tool.

The study of ( Columba livia domestica) Pigeon as bioindicator of contamination with zinc, lead and cadmium in Khartoum state

The objective of the study is to provide evidence that pigeon is a good bioindicator of environmental pollution with Pb and Cd as heavy metals and Zn as trace element. Ninty samples of Columba livia were collected from rural, urban and industrial areas in Khartoum State. The birds were killed and metal concentrations were tested with atomic absorption spectrophotometer after treated by wet ash procedures. The results divided serum and target tissues according to richest with metals in thes order: serum> liver> kidney> feather and the three metals Cd> Pb> Cd respectively. The study showed that industrial areas are the richness area with Zn, Pb and Cd and considers feathers as the best monitor of air pollution in the study area.

Bioremediation assessment, hematological, and biochemical responses of the earthworm (Allolobophora caliginosa) in soil contaminated with crude oil.

Soil contamination with crude oil is a major environmental problem. The aim of this study was to assess whether the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa could improve the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons while enriching soils that were contaminated with crude oil. In addition, the toxic effects of crude oil on earthworms during bioremediation will be assessed. The soil samples were experimentally contaminated with two different quantities of light crude oil 5 or 7.5 ml for 60 days. Activities of A. caliginosa resulted in 33.56% and 54.98% total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) losses from the soil contaminated with 5 ml of crude oil after 22 and 60 days; respectively. While in 7.5 ml crude oil-contaminated soil, there was a loss of 32.24% and 71.05% of TPH over the same period of time. During the experiment, however, there were no signs of improvement in soil physicochemical properties. Earthworm tissue analyses at the end of the experiment showed significant bioaccumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in their tissues and changes in their metabolic and hematological parameters. Earthworms exposed to crude oil showed a significant increase in protein, malondialdehyde, and glutathione but decreased in catalase levels and total antioxidant capacity compared to control earthworm after 60 days of exposure. There was a significant decrease in the Hgb, RBCS, Hct, MCV, MCH, platelet count, and WBCs. As a result, the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa has been shown to be good bioremediator for oil-contaminated soils and also has potential as a bioindicator for contamination.

Analysis of Dechlorane Plus and related compounds in gull eggs by GC-HRMS using a novel atmospheric pressure photoionization source

Here, a new gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-APPI-HRMS) method combined with selective pressurized liquid extraction (sPLE) has been developed for the selective determination of Dechlorane Plus (DP) and its related compounds in gull egg samples used as a bioindicator of contamination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these compounds have been analyzed by GC-MS using atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). Negative ion dopant-assisted APPI using vapors of diethyl ether and a source temperature of 250°C provided high ionization efficiencies and mass spectra characterized by intense in-source fragment ions as well as the presence of molecular ion and characteristic cluster ions containing oxygen atoms in their chemical structure. This made it possible to improve the selectivity in the determination of these compounds compared to that obtained with traditional GC-MS ion sources. Under optimized conditions, the sPLE GC-APPI-HRMS (Orbitrap) method provided high recoveries (> 91%), good precisions (RSD% < 12%), and low method limits of detection (0.1-3.5pgg-1 wet weight). The developed methodology has been applied to the determination of DP and related compounds in eggs of two gull species (L. michahellis and L. audouinii) from several Spanish protected areas. The results obtained showed significant differences in the DP concentration profiles in eggs from different gull breeding locations and between gull species of the same protected area. These results demonstrated the good performance of the GC-APPI-HRMS system to achieve a selective and sensitive determination of DP and related compounds in complex environmental samples.

Trace elements and [formula omitted]C and [formula omitted]N isotopes in sediments, phytoplankton and oysters as indicators of anthropogenic activities in estuaries in the Brazilian Amazon

This study investigated two estuaries on the northern coast of Brazil submitted to different anthropic activities. The main objective was to assess the use of oysters (Crassostrea gasar and Paxyodon ponderosus) and phytoplankton as bioindicators of environmental contamination. Water, sediments, phytoplankton and oysters were chemically analyzed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The source for metal bioaccumulation in oysters and phytoplankton was assessed using BSAF (Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor) and the isotropic relations of stable carbon (δ13C and δ15N). The oyster-sediment BSAF showed bioaccumulation of Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, As, Cd and Ba, which was supported by the correlations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Al, Ba and Pb with the isotopes (δ15N and δ13C), which confirmed bioaccumulation as well as biodilution and biomagnification in oysters and phytoplankton. That reflects the efficiency of organisms in bioconcentrating metals and their capacity as bioindicators of contamination.

Bacterial communities as indicators of environmental pollution by POPs in marine sediments

Decades of intensive discharge from industrial activities into coastal systems has resulted in the accumulation of a variety of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine waters and sediments, having detrimental impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the resident biota. POPs are among the most hazardous chemicals originating from industrial activities due to their biotoxicity and resistance to environmental degradation. Bacterial communities are known to break down many of these aromatic compounds, and different members of naturally occurring bacterial consortia have been described to work in syntrophic association to thrive in heavily contaminated waters and sediments, making them potential candidates as bioindicators of environmental pollution. In this study environmental, sampling was combined with chemical analysis of pollutants and high-resolution sequencing of bacterial communities using Next Generation Sequencing molecular biology tools. The aim of the present study was to describe the bacterial communities from marine sediments containing high loads of POPs and to identify relevant members of the resident microbial communities that may act as bioindicators of contamination. Marine sediments were collected from a coastal bay area of the Baltic Sea historically influenced by intense industrial activity, including metal smelting, oil processing, and pulp and paper production. Different types of POPs were detected at high concentrations. Fiberbank sediments, resulting from historic paper industry activity, were found to harbour a clearly distinct bacterial community including a number of bacterial taxa capable of cellulolytic and dechlorination activities. Our findings indicate that specific members of the bacterial communities thrive under increasing levels of POPs in marine sediments, and that the abundances of certain taxa correlate with specific POPs (or groups), which could potentially be employed in monitoring, status assessment and environmental management purposes.