Indicators Of Anthropogenic Contamination Research Articles

Behavioral and biochemical effects of environmental concentrations of caffeine in zebrafish after long-term exposure

Caffeine (CAF) is widely detected in aquatic environments, serving as an indicator of anthropogenic contamination. Its high consumption, and persistence raise environmental concerns. This study was to evaluate the chronic effects in terms of growth rate, weight, behavior, and biochemical parameters of environmental concentrations of CAF on adult zebrafish. Adult zebrafish were exposed, for 30 d, to 0, 0.5, 1.5, and 300 µg L−1 CAF, with behavior (feeding latency, exploration, aggression, sociability, sound response) and biochemical endpoints (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and cortisol levels) assessed at the end of the exposure. CAF 0.5 µg L−1 increased feeding latency time, while 300 µg L−1 reduced growth and weight. Exposure to CAF affect fish behavior in terms of vertical exploration, aggressiveness, shoaling, and sound responses although were concentration specific. All concentrations tested increased social behavior, with fish swimming closer to the shoal. At a biochemical level, CAF exposed showed reduced AChE activity, while LDH activity, and cortisol levels increased at 300 µg L−1. Low concentrations of CAF caused neurotoxicity in zebrafish which may compromise their feeding behavior, and social interactions in the wild. These changes suggest potential ecological impacts of chronic exposure to CAF, such as impaired feeding and stress responses.

A sensitive microextraction by packed sorbent-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination in Antarctic surface snow

For the first time an eco-friendly method involving microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the determination of the 16 US-EPA priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as indicators of anthropogenic contamination in snow samples collected in polar regions. MEPS was carried out by using C8 sorbent material packed in a barrel insert and needle (BIN) and integrated in the eVol® semi-automatic device. For optimization purposes a Face Centred Design and the multicriteria method of the desirability functions were performed to investigate the effect of some parameters affecting the MEPS extraction efficiency, i.e. the number of loading cycles and the number of elution cycles. The developed MEPS-GC-MS method proved to be suitable for PAHs analysis at ultra-trace level by extracting small sample volumes achieving detection limits for 16 PAHs in the 0.3–5 ng L−1 range, repeatability and intermediate precision below 11% and 15%, respectively, and good recovery rates in the 77.6 (±0.1)–120.8 (±0.1)% range for spiked blank snow samples. Enrichment factors in the 64 (±7)–129 (±18) range were calculated. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in surface snow samples collected in 2020–2021 from four locations of Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Local emission sources such as ships and research stations were found to influence PAHs concentrations in the surface snow.

Concentration of Mobile Forms of Heavy Metals and Magnetic Properties of Soils in the Town of Volsk, Saratov Region, Russia

Aim. Magnetic susceptibility is a fast, inexpensive and reliable technique for estimating and monitoring anthropogenic contamination of soil with heavy metals. However, certain factors affecting magnetic susceptibility need to be determined before applying this technique to environmental studies. The objectives of this study were to investigate: (1) the effect of parent materials and land use on magnetic susceptibility and concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn; and (2) the possible use of magnetic susceptibility as an indicator of anthropogenic heavy metals contamination of soil in the city of Volsk, Saratov region, Russia.Material and Methods. Fifty (50) composite surface soil samples (0–10 cm) were selected. 1M HNO3 extractable concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Concentrations of organic matter in the soil were determined. Magnetic susceptibility at low and high frequency (χlf and χhf) were measured and frequency dependent susceptibility (χfd) was calculated.Results. Magnetic susceptibility varied from 1.34 to 29.6 × 10−7 m3 kg−1. A positive strong correlation (P value = 0.01, r = 0.55) was obtained between Pb and χlf. Significant correlational relationships were observed between Pb with χlf, most likely due to significant effects of anthropogenic activities on magnetic susceptibility, therefore enhancing Pb concentrations in urban soils.Conclusions. In the soils studied, magnetic susceptibility could be employed as an indicator of anthropogenic contamination of soil with heavy metals.

Assessing the impact of leachate plumes on groundwater quality in the Etueffont landfill (Belfort, France)

Located near Belfort (France), the Etueffont landfill was in operation from 1976 to 2002 for the disposal and storage of domestic waste produced by the area’s 47,650 inhabitants. The site is comprised of the original landfill site called the “old landfill,” in operation from 1976 to 1999, and a newer section known as the “new cell” which operated from 1999 to 2002. The objective of this study was to monitor over a four-year period the groundwater quality in the landfill’s surroundings along with its variations in chemical facies using the ion Cl− as an indicator of anthropogenic contamination in groundwater. The results illustrate the influence of the entire landfill site on the upper part of the groundwater layer. In addition, the leachate plume does not exceed the width of the storage zone and is no longer observed 250 m downstream. This demonstrates a weak transversal dispersion except toward the west where diverticulation of the mixture is guided by schistosity and fracturation.

Stream Monitoring using Antibiotic Resistance Detection and Microbial Fingerprinting Methods as Indicators of Anthropogenic Contamination

Stream Monitoring using Antibiotic Resistance Detection and Microbial Fingerprinting Methods as Indicators of Anthropogenic Contamination

Icefish (Salangidae) as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Pollution in Freshwater Systems Using Nitrogen Isotope Analysis

We investigated differences in delta(15)N of seston and icefishes from seven freshwater ecosystems with different trophic states in China. An increase of seston delta(15)N values was accompanied by an increase of total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Significantly positive correlations were observed between delta(15)N of icefishes and delta(15)N of seston, total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. This study demonstrated that icefishes could be preferred indicators of anthropogenic contamination in test systems because they integrated waste inputs over long time periods and reflected the movement of waste through the pelagic food chain.

Incidence of hemocytes and parasites in coastal populations of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)--testing correlations with area, season, and distance to industrial plants.

Blue mussel hemocytes (cells with immunoresponse activities) are suggested as indicators of anthropogenic contamination. We compared hemocyte numbers, granulocytoma (aggregated hemocytes), and parasites among populations of mussels from different areas of Skagerrak (a north and a south), seasons (summer and autumn), and impact levels (close or far from industrial activities). Seasonal hemocyte numbers were larger in the north compared to the south. Northern unimpacted populations had higher hemocyte numbers than populations close to industries, while no differences were found in the south. More uneven tissue distributions were found in populations far from industries in the north area and in populations close to industries in the south area. Parasites were more common in northern mussels than in southern, but no relationship to impact level was found. Mussels with granulocytoma, however, were found in all populations from the impacted sites while in none of the other populations suggesting granulocytoma as a possible indicator of industrial impact.