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Organotin compounds (OTCs), such as tributyltin (TBT), are persistent organic pollutants that are present in water samples (surface water, river water, sea water, waste water, etc.) because of anthropogenic activities (antifouling agents in ship paints, biocides in polymers, etc.). The toxicity and endocrine disruption potential of these chemicals have been demonstrated even at very low levels (, Program of Consolidation and Structuring of Units of Competitive Investigation of the University System of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia) potentially cofinanced by ERDF in the frame of the operative Program of Galicia 2007-2013 (reference: GRC2013-047) and by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (IMPACTA, project reference: CTM2013-48194-C3-2-R, and ARPA-ACUA, project reference: CTM2016-77945-C3-3-R).

Marine ecosystems are nowadays subjected to a massive input of synthetic chemicals from everywhere. Unfortunately only a small portion of them is being monitored, and it is necessary to identify which pollutants can produce adverse impacts in the marine environment. IMPACTA project (CTM2013-48194-C3) is characterizing the distribution of regulated and emerging contaminants and microplastics in marine sediments, and evaluating the biological effects that they can cause (sing sublethal embryotoxicity tests, endocrine disruption and biomarkers). Sensitive and selective analytical methods are being developed and validated for pharmaceuticals, perfluorinated compounds, organophosphorus pesticides, triazines, personal care products, nonylphenols and alkylated PAHs in sediments. Thus, relevant pollutants present in coastal and offshore areas will be identified. Furthermore potential toxic effects of the contaminants present in coastal sediments are being assessed through embryotoxicity bioassays and also the biological effects on different marine species as a consequence of their exposition to specific compounds. Another relevant contribution of this project will be the assessment of the impact of micro-plastics, first time in the Spanish coastal areas. Their potential toxic effects and their role in the transference of pollutants in the marine environment are being assessed. The concentration and composition of microplastics in sediments and demersal fish stomachs are being characterized, and their potential biological effects on marine invertebrates are also being investigated.

Póster presentado al II Congreso Internacional de Ingeniería Civil y Territorio. Agua, Cultura y Sociedad. Vigo, 20 y 21 de mayo de 2013.

In this study we evaluated a new type of passive air sampler, the “mossphere” device, filled with a Sphagnum palustre clone. For this purpose, we compared the atmospheric levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected using this device and those collected in conventional bulk deposition and particulate matter (PM10) samplers. All three types of samplers were exposed at 10 sites affected by different levels of pollution and located in two different climate zones. The bulk deposition/ mossphere comparison yielded a greater number of significant regressions with higher coefficients of determination than the PM10/ mossphere comparison. No significant regressions were observed for 3-ring PAHs in either comparison. The mosspheres explain ca. 50% of the variability of the concentrations of 4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs and total PAHs detected in PM10 and ca. 70% of the corresponding concentrations detected in the bulk deposition. The use of the Sphagnum clone enables standardization of the set-up, thus making the mossphere device a good sampling tool for monitoring 4-, 5- and 6-ring and total PAHs, especially those associated with bulk deposition. The findings indicate the potential usefulness of this innovative technology for mapping PAH levels.

Mosses and lichens are widely used to detect changes in the environmental concentrations of potential contaminants. Several studies have shown the usefulness of transplanted mosses and/or lichens to monitor air depositions of inorganic and organic pollutants at different scales. Here, we present the results of a biomonitoring study carried out in two cities, London (United Kingdom) and Naples (Italy), using four biomonitors (two lichens and two mosses). The lichens, Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf var. furfuracea and Parmelia sulcata Taylor, and mosses, Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. and Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., were exposed in bags in urban streets of Naples and London and in semi-rural and rural areas. Samples were analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn by atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion and for 16 EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry after matrix solid-phase dispersion. For heavy metals, the comparison between the selected mosses indicated that, in all exposure sites, S. capillifolium had a better accumulation performance than H. cupressiforme, whereas for the lichens, it was P. furfuracea which accumulated higher concentrations of metals. Also for total PAHs, S. capillifolium showed a good accumulation capability compared to the other biomonitors investigated, especially compared to H. cupressiforme. It was observed an increasing heavy metal and PAH uptake by biomonitors from rural to urban sites, in both cities.

This work studies airborne quality in a geographical area that has not been investigated broadly: a suburban site nearby A Coruna (Galicia, NW Iberian Peninsula). In contrast to major Spanish cities, the site has Atlantic characteristics: rainy, scarce calm weather and infrequent prolonged sunny periods. The relationships between several gaseous pollutants (NO, NO2, NOx, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) and their temporal trends (daily, monthly and seasonal) were evaluated. The aim was to unravel whether medium- and long-distance sources were impacting upon the site. Univariate studies focused on factorizing the pollutants according to a codifying factor (wind direction, hour of the day, season and month). Multivariate studies (Varimax-rotated factorial analysis) were done separately on both weekdays and weekends. The intensity of the daily maxima for NO, NO2, NOx and CO was lower during the weekends, with O3 behaving opposite. PM average values agreed with previous historical reports for a rural background station relatively close to the site and they decreased daily between 11:00 and 19:00 h, likely because of the marine breeze. With moderate wind speeds the pollutants were associated to medium-distance pollution sources, mainly the city of A Coruna and a combination of industrial pollution sources (a power plant, a solid waste incinerator and a regional airport).