Ecotoxicological Data Research Articles

Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: probabilistic environmental risk assessment and current knowledge in occurrence and ecotoxicological studies.

Ecotoxicological studies involving microplastics (MPs) conducted on a laboratory scale may not always accurately mirror real environmental conditions (types, sizes, shapes, and concentrations of MPs). This review primarily focused on examining studies that investigated the prevalence of MPs in freshwater environments and accumulation in organisms worldwide, considering important factors such as morphology, particle size, and the specific polymer types involved. This review also encompassed ecotoxicological studies related to MPs, and ecological risk analyses were carried out based on the obtained ecotoxicological data. Based on the extensive dataset collected, we determined the hazardous concentration for 5% of the tested organisms (HC5) and estimated for the first time a predicted noneffect concentration (PNEC) value for two distinct types of MPs polymers: polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), based on the species sensitive distribution (SSD) curves obtained from nonobserved concentration (NOEC) values, with 0.003 mg L-1 for PS and 0.011 mg L-1 for PE. Furthermore, another PNEC value for 7 types of MPs (PE, PS, polyvinyl chloride, PA6, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, and ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EEA copolymer)) was calculated (0.0027 mg L-1 or 2.61 particles L-1). Subsequently, the risk quotient (RQ) was computed utilizing data obtained from the measured environmental concentrations of 18 places. An RQ value of 0.094 was obtained, inferring that MPs have a low-risk potential globally. However, when the RQ values were examined for each country separately, they exhibited significant variability (RQ = 22.06 in Malaysia and 0.000008 in Australia). Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on MP abundance in freshwater environments, the associated ecotoxicological research to reinforce the outcomes derived from the risk analysis, and their accumulation in biota.

Occurrence, dispersal, and associated environmental risk assessment of pesticides and their transformation products in small water bodies of Northeastern France.

The widespread use of pesticides, specifically plant protection products (PPPs), has led to their transformation products (TPs) being increasingly detected in various environmental compartments, notably surface waters. This study integrates field-detected TPs into an environmental risk assessment of lentic small water bodies (LSWBs). For this purpose, measured environmental concentrations (MECs) of PPPs and TPs in 12 LSWBs, influenced by tributaries under varying agricultural pressures, were collected. Ecotoxicological data from multiple sources were compiled to calculate risk quotients (RQs) and identify potentially harmful PPPs and TPs. Among 86 molecules investigated, 17 PPPs and 30 TPs were detected, representing nearly half of those initially targeted. Ponds exhibited diverse PPP and TP compositions and levels with 12 substances posing high pesticide risk, primarily atrazine-2-hydroxy, MCPA, and metolachlor. Various pond conditions indicated moderate to high risk to aquatic organisms at corresponding MECs. Despite diverse agricultural pressures, only one site was deemed low-risk, highlighting widespread contamination risk due to co-occurring molecules. Given the prevalence of TPs in water bodies, urgent efforts are needed to gather ecotoxicological data on these contaminants to enhance environmental risk assessments. This study provides novel insights into pesticide risks in a less-studied yet common European landscape, focusing on TPs.

Sex Difference in Histopathological and Steroidogenesis Metabolism of Zebrafish After Exposure to Spiromesifen.

Spiromesifen (SPM) is widely used for orchard mites and white fly control. The ecotoxicological data suggested that SPM is highly toxic to fish, but the information about its toxic effect on zebrafish is still obscure. In this study, adult zebrafish were exposed to SPM for 21 days. The plasma sex steroid hormone levels reflected the ratio of 17β-estradiol (E2) to testosterone (T) (E2/T) was significantly increased at 0.50 μg/L of SPM in male fish (2.4-fold, p = 0.049). Following 21 days' post exposure, distinct pathological changes were noted in gonad, males were more sensitive than female, which showed the interstitial connective tissue hyperplasia and widener in testis at 15 μg/L of SPM. In male fish, the relative percentage of spermatozoa was 13% decreased at 30 μg/L of SPM (p = 0.041). Which suggest SPM potential role in disrupting male gonad development. qRT-PCR results suggest that expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (fshr) was significantly down regulated in female zebrafish (0.29 fold of control, p = 0.010). Variable importance of projection (VIP) scores indicate the most important features separate in female and male. The different response of steroid level towards SPM between male and female zebrafish may due to the distinct regulation of key genes related in steroidogenesis and metabolism. This study for the first time connects the biochemical and histological to reveal the adverse effects of SPM on adult zebrafish in a sex dependent manner.

Unveiling cadmium toxicity in Etroplus suratensis through endpoint analysis and biomarker profiling: A step towards coastal water quality guideline development

This study contributes to ecotoxicological data essential for establishing water quality standards for cadmium (Cd). The 96-hour median lethal concentration (LC50) of Cd on Etroplus suratensis was 1.56 ± 0.02 mg L−1 with upper and lower confidence intervals of 1.24 to 1.89 mg L−1 respectively. The No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC), Lowest Observable Effect Concentration (LOEC), and chronic values were 0.11, 0.18, and 0.15 mg L−1, respectively. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and total glutathione (TG) increased dose-dependently. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) significantly rose (p < 0.05). Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in the brain and muscle decreased significantly at 0.32 (p < 0.01) and 0.47 (p < 0.001) mg L−1. Energy reserves and electron transport system (ETS) activity dropped in Cd-exposed groups. Cellular energy allocation decreased from controls to the highest exposure group. Behavioral changes such as rubbing, surfacing, jerking, burst swimming, and fin flickering intensified with exposure. Hematological analysis showed a dose-dependent red blood cell (RBC) count decrease and a white blood cell (WBC) count increase. Major gill lesions included lamellar aneurism, lamellar fusion, necrosis, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy. Liver abnormalities featured blood vessel dilation, thrombosis, hemosiderin formation, nuclear pyknosis, and necrosis. Retinular layer damage affected pigment and photoreceptor cells. The integrated biomarker index indicated significant effects on GST, GPx, ETS activity, and LPO content. Also, the high sensitivity of Etroplus suratensis to cadmium confirms its suitability as an indicator species for pollution monitoring.

Environmentally conscious psychopharmacotherapy: Practice recommendations for psychiatrists

Despite the multifaceted negative influences of psychotropic medications on the environment, an overview of such effects and of actions to curtail them is currently lacking. We therefore summarized the most relevant literature on what we refer to as Environmentally Conscious Psychopharmacotherapy (ECP), i.e., prescribing the most appropriate psychotropic medications for patients while at the same time considering the wellbeing of the planet. In our literature appraisal we identified viable actions at the levels of industry, physicians, pharmacists, patients, and policymakers that can reduce the environmental hazards associated with psychotropics. We divided these actions into the following categories: careful treatment selection, curtailing overprescribing, adequate disposal of medication by users, and transparent reporting of environmental risk. For each of these categories, we give examples of practices are in line with ECP, which in turn has the potential to reduce the impact of psychotropic medication prescribing practices on the environment. We note that many such practices result in co-benefits for patients, prescribers and the environment. On the other hand, evidence on environmental impact is lacking for several factors related to these medications, e.g., geographical region of manufacturing, duration of use, pharmacological vs. non-pharmaceutical treatment options, and ecotoxicological data. We conclude that general as well as disorder-specific considerations for clinicians prescribing psychotropics already carry the potential to limit the environmental burden associated with these agents. Future research aimed at filling the knowledge gaps we identified is likely to substantially advance ECP in the near future.

EthoCRED: a framework to guide reporting and evaluation of the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity studies.

Behavioural analysis has been attracting significant attention as a broad indicator of sub-lethal toxicity and has secured a place as an important subdiscipline in ecotoxicology. Among the most notable characteristics of behavioural research, compared to other established approaches in sub-lethal ecotoxicology (e.g. reproductive and developmental bioassays), are the wide range of study designs being used and the diversity of endpoints considered. At the same time, environmental hazard and risk assessment, which underpins regulatory decisions to protect the environment from potentially harmful chemicals, often recommends that ecotoxicological data be produced following accepted and validated test guidelines. These guidelines typically do not address behavioural changes, meaning that these, often sensitive, effects are not represented in hazard and risk assessments. Here, we propose a new tool, the EthoCRED evaluation method, for assessing the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity data, which considers the unique requirements and challenges encountered in this field. This method and accompanying reporting recommendations are designed to serve as an extension of the "Criteria for Reporting and Evaluating Ecotoxicity Data (CRED)" project. As such, EthoCRED can both accommodate the wide array of experimental design approaches seen in behavioural ecotoxicology, and could be readily implemented into regulatory frameworks as deemed appropriate by policy makers of different jurisdictions to allow better integration of knowledge gained from behavioural testing into environmental protection. Furthermore, through our reporting recommendations, we aim to improve the reporting of behavioural studies in the peer-reviewed literature, and thereby increase their usefulness to inform chemical regulation.

Ecotoxicological and metabolomic investigation of chronic exposure of Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820) to yttrium environmental concentrations

In order to estimate the effects on aquatic organisms of long-term exposure to low doses of yttrium (Y) as a potential emerging contaminant, ecotoxicological and metabolomic data were collected on the model organism Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems. Following an initial acute toxicity assessment, a 21-day chronic exposure experiment was conducted using a sublethal concentration of 27 μg L⁻¹ of Y, corresponding to the effective concentrations inducing 10 % effect (EC10) value for mortality endpoint and simulating the environmental Y level in aquatic systems. Results from the 21-day two-factor experiment combining microcrustacean survival, growth and reproduction bioassays and targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) metabolomics indicated significant adverse effects of chronic exposure to Y on D. magna. Daphnids exposed to Y exhibited a significantly lower survival at day 21, delayed the maturity stage, including their first breeding, and decreased clutch size. On the side of metabolomics, a clear and general increase over time of both the number and the level of detected metabolites in the hydroalcoholic extracts of the whole organisms was observed. However, emerging from this broad temporal pattern, several bioactive metabolites were identified (e.g., 2,4-di‑tert‑butylphenol, itaconic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and trehalose) whose levels in extracts are linked to the presence of Y. These results emphasize the necessity of considering low-dose, long-term exposure scenarios in environmental risk assessments of rare earth elements (REEs), which have often been overlooked in favour of higher concentration studies.

Towards an environmental quality standard (EQS) for lithium in fresh water

Lithium (Li), because of its widespread and increasing use in Li-ion batteries, is an element of vital importance to the energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean, renewable energy (green energy). Extraction and refining operations, as well as utilisation in a growing number of applications, are expanding and thus increasing the environmental releases of Li. In order to evaluate consequences of such releases, and to risk assess the accumulation of Li in aquatic ecosystems, environmental quality standards (EQS) are needed so that measured concentrations can be evaluated. Satisfactory EQS for Li are yet to be established and therefore derivation of Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs), or interim EQS, are vital for environmental protection. This study compiled Li freshwater ecotoxicology data from global literature, screened and evaluated it, and then employed it to derive PNECs for short term exposures (i.e. concentrations unlikely to cause harm if their duration is short) and PNECs for standard condition exposures (i.e. concentrations unlikely to cause harm if their duration is continuous) in freshwater ecosystems. The generated dataset comprised 194 individual ecotox endpoints from 31 reference sources, spanning 28 species from 10 separate taxonomic groups (broad organism types). The derived PNECs recommended for consideration in environmental regulation are 0.622 mg/L for short term exposures and 15.2 μg/L for standard condition exposures, but with potential adjustment for site specific water conditions incorporating water hardness, dissolved organic carbon concentration and pH.

Multi-biomarker assessment of chronic toxicity induced by the chemical warfare agent adamsite in Danio rerio

Several hundred thousand tons of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) were disposed of at sea, leading to environmental contamination. Among the most toxic and persistent CWAs is adamsite; however, the ecotoxicological data on this compound is limited. Presented research focuses on the long-term effects of adamsite on fish. A 28-day exposure study was conducted, evaluating the impact of adamsite on life history parameters (body length, body mass, growth rate), tissue accumulation, and the expression/activity of detoxification-related enzymes in the model fish species, Danio rerio. Results indicate that chronic adamsite exposure significantly reduces body length, weight, and growth rate of fish at trace concentrations (0.20 and 0.25 μg × L−1). Adamsite-related compounds accumulate in fish muscle tissues, increasing by approximately 4 μg per gram (dry weight) for every microgram of adamsite per litre of water during chronic exposure. The mRNA expression and activity of detoxification-related enzymes were elevated in the gills of fish, indicating oxidative stress. This study highlights the severe chronic toxicity of adamsite, which could not be anticipated based on acute toxicity. It underscores the need for comprehensive long-term toxicity assays for CWAs and emphasizes the potential ecological and health risks posed by adamsite, necessitating more stringent risk assessments.

Critical Evaluation and Meta-Analysis of Ecotoxicological Data on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Freshwater Species.

Despite the increasing concern regarding the ecological risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a lack of comprehensive understanding of their actual ecotoxicity remains. Through a meticulous examination of 91 peer-reviewed studies investigating effects at a population level and constructing probabilistic species sensitivity distributions (PSSDs), we present a state-of-the-science hazard assessment of PFAS in freshwater species. Using data subsets containing suboptimal data led to an overestimation of the predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) of PFAS. We report PNECs of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) in freshwater to be 4.8-2000 μg/L and 0.4-8.9 μg/L, respectively, derived from high-quality data. Statistical analyses revealed that both functional groups and carbon chain length significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the variations in toxicity observed among different PFAS. This study underscores the importance of obtaining high-quality PFAS ecotoxicity data to comprehend associated hazards. The PNECs of PFAS derived in this study are higher compared to those of micro/nanoplastics and persistent organic pollutants. Our research offers valuable insights into prioritizing the regulation of more toxic PFAS.

Predicting soil ecological criteria of 17 metal(loid)s in China based on quantitative ion character-activity relationship - Species sensitivity distribution (QICAR-SSD) coupled model

Soil pollution caused by metal(loid)s is increasingly serious and poses unexpected risks to terrestrial organisms. Establishing soil quality standards is essential for assessing ecological risks of metal(loid)s and protecting soil ecosystems. However, the limited availability of metal(loid) ecotoxicological data has hampered the development of soil quality standards due to financial and practical constraints on toxicity testing. This study collected 77 normalization equations and 58 cross-species extrapolation equations to calculate the normalized EC10 (the added concentration causing a 10 % inhibition effect) of metal(loid)s under a representative scenario. A set of quantitative ion character-activity relationship (QICAR) models were then constructed using normalized EC10 and nine critical ionic characters (AR, AR/AW, BP, MP, Z/r2, Z/r, Xm, σp, and |Log(KOH)|). Subsequently, these QICAR models were employed to predict ecotoxicological EC10 of 17 metal(loid)s to 12 soil species and coupled with species sensitivity distribution (SSD) to determine Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC). The results demonstrated the coupled QICAR-SSD model could effectively derive terrestrial PNEC for data-poor metal(loid)s, with errors between the predicted PNEC and reported soil standards (excluding soil background levels) from different countries mostly <0.3 orders of magnitude. Finally, soil ecological criteria (SEC) for 17 metal(loid)s were calculated using an added risk approach based on PNEC and national soil background concentration. Overall, the coupled model proposed here can provide a valuable supplement to the development of soil quality standards for numerous metal(loid)s in soil components.

Derivation of site-specific environmental quality guideline values for fuel-contaminated soils on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.

Accidental fuel spills associated with the storage, transfer, and use of diesel fuel for power generation have occurred on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island since the establishment of the island's research station in 1948. An extensive in situ remediation program was implemented by the Australian government from 2009 to 2016 that used nutrient addition and air sparging to enhance the microbial degradation of petroleum products. During this period, a range of ecotoxicological assessments were conducted to better understand the impacts of fuel in soils on native biota and their sensitivity. This study compiles this ecotoxicological data into a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) to establish environmental quality guideline values (EQGVs) for fuels in soils on Macquarie Island. The SSD model includes 13 critical effect concentrations (CECs) selected using an expert judgment approach. These include data from functional and community-based tests as well as traditional single-species toxicity tests using microbes, plants, and invertebrates and representing the range of carbon content (~3%-48%) and fuel composition at various stages of degradation (from fresh to 18 months aged) in soils as occurs at contaminated sites on the island. A protective concentration (PC80) of 97 mg/kg TPH C9-C40 (95% CI 24-283) was derived for special Antarctic blend diesel from the SSD and is recommended as an appropriate site-specific EQGV and potential remediation target for the immediate station area in the vicinity of infrastructure. More conservative PC values are also provided for areas with higher conservation values outside the station footprint. These EQGVs are the first to be produced for fuels in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions. They will be used to inform ongoing environmental management on Macquarie Island and are likely suitable and recommended for use more broadly across the sub-Antarctic. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 Commonwealth of Australia. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

ECOTOXr: An R package for reproducible and transparent retrieval of data from EPA's ECOTOX database

The US EPA ECOTOX database provides key ecotoxicological data that are crucial in environmental risk assessment. It can be used for computational predictions of toxicity or indications of hazard in a wide range of situations. There is no standardised or formalised method for extracting and subsetting data from the database for these purposes. Consequently, results in such meta-analyses are difficult to reproduce. The present study introduces the software package ECOTOXr, which provides the means to formalise data retrieval from the ECOTOX database in the R scripting language. Three cases are presented to evaluate the performance of the package in relation to earlier data extractions and searches on the website. These cases demonstrate that the package can reproduce data sets relatively well. Furthermore, they illustrate how future studies can further improve traceability and reproducibility by applying the package and adhering to some simple guidelines. This contributes to the FAIR principles, credibility and acceptance of research that uses data from the ECOTOX database.

A semi-mechanistic aging model of Pb added to soil by a modified stable isotope dilution technique

The aging of Pb added to soils has not been studied by the isotopic technology because of difficulties in determination of isotopically exchangeable Pb in soil, so that a set of 10 typical agricultural soils in China and a one-year aging experiment with the addition of water-soluble Pb to the soils were carried out. A modified stable isotope dilution technique to determine isotopically exchangeable Pb in soil was developed where 0.2 mM EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) as the extractant. When water-soluble Pb was added to soil, the isotopically exchangeable Pb (Eadd%, the percentage of isotopically exchangeable Pb to total Pb added to soil) initially decreased rapidly and gradually slowly. A semi-mechanistic aging model of Pb added to soils, including precipitation/nucleation (Y1), micropore diffusion (Y2), and organic matter encapsulation processes (Y3) was developed with the root mean square error 8.3% where Y1, Y2, and Y3 accounted for 0.02~26.9%, 1.4~21.8% and 3.8~11.3%, respectively, when the pH 4.0~8.0 and organic matter 2.0~6.0%. Soil pH was a vital factor affecting the aging rate. When the pH increased by 1 unit, the Eadd value decreased by approximately 9%. The model could be used to scale ecotoxicological data of Pb in soil generated in different aging times.

Subcellular effects of imidazolium-based ionic liquids with varying anions on the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis

Green Chemistry involves applying a set of principles aimed at minimizing the use of hazardous substances in the design, production, and application of chemical products. In recent decades, Ionic Liquids (ILs) have emerged as more environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional organic solvents. This preference is primarily due to their low vapor pressure, which results in minimal atmospheric pollution and enhanced industrial safety. However, existing literature highlights the toxicity of ILs towards aquatic invertebrates. Consequently, this study points to assess the biochemical effects of a selection of ILs through an in vitro approach. Specifically, digestive gland and gill cellular fractions (S9) of the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to varying concentrations (0.05–2 μM) of three ILs featuring identical cations but different anions. The ILs tested were 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium octanoate ([EMIM][Oct]), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([EMIM][EtSO4]). The results indicate that [EMIM][Oct] induces higher toxicity in both S9 tissues, highlighting a strong effect of the anion. Overall, antioxidant and biotransformation defenses were significantly altered for all three ILs assessed. While acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly inhibited of about half of control activity, indicating neurotoxic damage as part of the toxicity mode of action of these ILs, neither lipid peroxidation nor alterations to DNA integrity were observed (≥100 %). This study supports the use of in vitro techniques as important tools capable of generating reliable ecotoxicological data, which can be further considered as a screening before in vivo testing and used for in silico modeling.

Occurrence and environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the Mondego river (Portugal)

In this case study pharmaceuticals were analysed in the Mondego river (Portugal) and their environmental risk assessed by means of risk quotients based on an extensive retrieval of ecotoxicological data for freshwater and saltwater species. The Mondego river crosses Coimbra, the most populated city in the Portuguese Centro Region hosting a complex of regional hospitals. Environmentally relevant and prioritised pharmaceuticals were investigated in this study and their potential hazards were evaluated by conducting a separate risk assessment for the freshwater and estuary parts of the examined river section.A target analysis approach with method detection limits down to 0.01 ng L−1 was used to determine pharmaceuticals. Twenty-one prioritised target analytes out of seven therapeutical classes (antibiotics, iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM), analgesics, lipid reducers, antiepileptics, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers) were investigated by applying ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionisation source.The relative pattern of pharmaceuticals along the middle to the lower Mondego showed a quite uniform picture while an approximately 40fold increase of absolute concentrations was observed downstream of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge of Coimbra. The most frequently measured substance groups were the ICM, represented by the non-ionic ICM iopromide (βmin: 3.03 ng L−1 - βmax: 2,810 ng L−1). Environmentally more critical substances such as carbamazepine, diclofenac, and bezafibrate, with concentrations up to and 52.6 ng L−1, 59.8 ng L−1, and 10.2 ng L−1 respectively, may potentially affect aquatic wildlife. Carbamazepine revealed elevated risk quotients (RQs >1) along the middle and lower Mondego with a maximum RQ of 53 downstream of Coimbra. Especially for saltwater species, carbamazepine and clarithromycin pose high potential risks.Especially in periods of low water discharge of the Mondego river, other pharmaceuticals as diclofenac and bezafibrate may pose additional risks downstream of the WWTP.

Ecotoxicity of Pesticides Approved for Use in European Conventional or Organic Agriculture for Honeybees, Birds, and Earthworms

Pesticides affect biota inside and outside agricultural fields due to their intrinsic mode of action. This study investigated whether pesticide active substances (AS) approved for conventional agriculture in Europe differ in their ecotoxicity from AS approved for organic agriculture. The evaluation was based on official ecotoxicological data for surrogate honeybee, bird, and earthworm species, which also serve as a reference for official environmental risk assessments in the pesticide authorization process. In October 2022, 268 chemical-synthetic AS approved for conventional and 179 nature-based AS approved for organic agriculture were listed in the EU Pesticide Database. Ecotoxicological data were only available for 254 AS approved for use in conventional agriculture and 110 AS approved for use in organic agriculture. The results showed a higher ecotoxicity of conventional AS: 79% (201 AS), 64% (163 AS) and 91% (230 AS) were moderately to acutely toxic to honeybees, birds, and earthworms, respectively, compared to 44% (48 AS), 14% (15 AS) and 36% (39 AS) of AS approved for organic agriculture. We have only considered the potential ecotoxicities of individual substances in this assessment; actual exposure in the field, where multiple AS formulations with other chemicals (including impurities) are applied, will be different. Nevertheless, these results emphasize that an increase in organic agriculture in Europe would reduce the ecotoxicological burden on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.

Assessment of potential environmental and human risks for Bisphenol AF contaminant

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is found in high concentrations in aquatic environments due to the increased use of thermal paper and food packaging. However, there have been relatively few toxicological studies and potential risk assessments of BPAF. In this study, the risk quotient (RQ) and hazard quotient (HQ) of BPAF were derived to present the safety standards for environmental risk management and protection in lakes, rivers, bays, and Italian regions. We applied the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method based on the previous ecotoxicological data and the results of supplementary toxicity tests on BPAF. From the SSD curves, the hazardous concentration for 5 % of the species (HC5) values for the acute and chronic toxicity data were 464.75 µg/L and 3.59 µg/L, respectively, and the acute- and chronic-based predicted no-effect concentration were derived as 154.92 µg/L and 1.20 µg/L, respectively. The acute-based RQ (RQA)values of BPAF in all regions were negligible (RQ < 0.1). The chronic-based RQ (RQC) in the Xitang River (XR) and the Central Italy (CI) showed a considerably high ecological risk (12.77 and 1.29) and the Hangzhou Bay (0.21), the South and North Italy (0.79 and 0.27), and the Tamagawa River (0.13) had a medium ecological risk (0.1 < RQ < 1.0). However, the HQ values based on the tolerable daily intake for BPAF over all age groups in these regions was < 0.1, indicating the low health risk. Nonetheless, the result of this study indicates that BPAF contamination is serious in XR and CI, and their use and emissions require continuous monitoring.

Beyond target chemicals: updating the NORMAN prioritisation scheme to support the EU chemicals strategy with semi-quantitative suspect/non-target screening data

BackgroundPrioritisation of chemical pollutants is a major challenge for environmental managers and decision-makers alike, which is essential to help focus the limited resources available for monitoring and mitigation actions on the most relevant chemicals. This study extends the original NORMAN prioritisation scheme beyond target chemicals, presenting the integration of semi-quantitative data from retrospective suspect screening and expansion of existing exposure and risk indicators. The scheme utilises data retrieved automatically from the NORMAN Database System (NDS), including candidate substances for prioritisation, target and suspect screening data, ecotoxicological effect data, physico-chemical data and other properties. Two complementary workflows using target and suspect screening monitoring data are applied to first group the substances into six action categories and then rank the substances using exposure, hazard and risk indicators. The results from the ‘target’ and ‘suspect screening’ workflows can then be combined as multiple lines of evidence to support decision-making on regulatory and research actions.ResultsAs a proof-of-concept, the new scheme was applied to a combined dataset of target and suspect screening data. To this end, > 65,000 substances on the NDS, of which 2579 substances supported by target wastewater monitoring data, were retrospectively screened in 84 effluent wastewater samples, totalling > 11 million data points. The final prioritisation results identified 677 substances as high priority for further actions, 7455 as medium priority and 326 with potentially lower priority for actions. Among the remaining substances, ca. 37,000 substances should be considered of medium priority with uncertainty, while it was not possible to conclude for 19,000 substances due to insufficient information from target monitoring and uncertainty in the identification from suspect screening. A high degree of agreement was observed between the categories assigned via target analysis and suspect screening-based prioritisation. Suspect screening was a valuable complementary approach to target analysis, helping to prioritise thousands of substances that are insufficiently investigated in current monitoring programmes.ConclusionsThis updated prioritisation workflow responds to the increasing use of suspect screening techniques. It can be adapted to different environmental compartments and can support regulatory obligations, including the identification of specific pollutants in river basins and the marine environments, as well as the confirmation of environmental occurrence levels predicted by modelling tools.Graphical

Macroinvertebrate communities respond strongly but non-specifically to a toxicity gradient derived by effect-based methods

Chemical pollution is one of the most important threats to freshwater ecosystems. The plethora of potentially occurring chemicals and their effects in complex mixtures challenge standard monitoring methods. Effect-based methods (EBMs) are proposed as complementary tools for the assessment of chemical pollution and toxic effects. To investigate the effects of chemical pollution, the ecological relevance of EBMs and the potential of macroinvertebrates as toxicity-specific bioindicators, ecological and ecotoxicological data were linked. Baseline toxicity, mutagenicity, dioxin-like and estrogenic activity of water and sediment samples from 30 river sites in central Germany were quantified with four in vitro bioassays. The responses of macroinvertebrate communities at these sites were assessed by calculating 16 taxonomic and functional metrics and by investigating changes in the taxonomic and trait composition. Principal component analysis revealed an increase in toxicity along a joint gradient of chemicals with different modes of action. This toxicity gradient was associated with a decrease in biodiversity and ecological quality, as well as significant changes in taxonomic and functional composition. The strength of the effects suggested a strong impact of chemical pollution and underlined the suitability of EBMs in detecting ecological relevant effects. However, the metrics, taxa, and traits associated with vulnerability or tolerance to toxicity were found to also respond to other stressors in previous studies and thus may have only a low potential as toxicity-specific bioindicators. Because macroinvertebrates respond integratively to all present stressors, linking both ecological and environmental monitoring is necessary to investigate the overall effects but also isolate individual stressors. EBMs have a high potential to separate the toxicity of chemical mixtures from other stressors in a multiple stressor scenario, as well as identifying the presence of chemical groups with specific modes of action.