Search

In order to move forward in the acceptance of a novel contaminant monitoring technique (Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films: DGT) for assessment of marine water bodies, sensu the WFD, an Inter-Laboratories Comparison (ILC) exercise (nine Europeans laboratories) was organized in the framework of the Interreg Atlantic Area MONITOOL project, which focused on the use of the DGT technique for the measurement of WFD priority metals (Cd, Ni and Pb). Reproducible results were obtained for each metal by several laboratories, supporting the assertion that DGT analysis can be performed satisfactorily by laboratories experienced in measuring metals at trace levels in marine environments, even if they have limited practice in DGT analysis. According to the Z-score analysis, among the 9 participating laboratories, 3 had 100 % of satisfactory results for Cd, Ni, and Pb, 3 had >80 % satisfactory results and 2 had about 60 % satisfactory results. This work highlights the need to clearly describe the DGT method in order to control sources of contamination during analytical steps, in particular the resin gel retrieval and the elution steps. Such international intercomparison exercise is an important step to develop the laboratory network involved in DGT analysis and contributes to the improvement of data quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study investigates the relationships among Ni, Cd and Pb's different chemical forms determined by different methodologies in coastal and transitional waters across a broad geographical scale. Concentrations were measured in spot samples and through passive sampling (DGT). High variability of metal concentrations was found among sampling sites and methodologies due to natural water fluctuations rather than to a given metal or method. Total dissolved metal concentrations in spot samples were lower than the EQS-WFD values. The labile fractions of Cd and Pb, measured in spot samples by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry and by DGT-ICPMS, were highly correlated. Similar labilities were found for Cd, while for Pb, the ASV labile fraction was ≈50% lower. These results reflect the pool of mobile and labile species available towards each technique kinetic window, and they seem not to be affected by discrete sampling flaws., (Crown Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) were used for monitoring metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb) concentrations in protected and non-protected coastal areas in Sardinia (Western Mediterranean). The deployment of DGTs in relatively undisturbed areas enabled calculation of operational DGT threshold values, which can be used for assessments of the environmental quality of coastal areas. The DGT thresholds were defined as the median metal concentrations that were found in protected areas, which ensured consideration of the natural variability of the different study sites. The calculated DGT thresholds were 11.6 ng L -1 for Pb, 5.1 ng L -1 for Cd, 63 ng L -1 for Cu and 152 ng L -1 for Ni. A comparison of the calculated DGT thresholds with previous DGT studies in the area demonstrated their suitability for identifying sites of environmental concern in the Western Mediterranean., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Passive sampling techniques were used for monitoring trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the seawater surrounding the Costa Concordia shipwreck (Isola del Giglio, Italy). The monitoring lasted two and a half years (2012-2014) and considered all four phases of the "parbuckling project": stabilisation of the wreckage, installation of steel caissons on both sides of the wreck, parbuckling, and refloating. Dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and V) were measured with diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), while freely dissolved PAHs were measured with semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs). Passive sampling allowed to detect very low concentrations of contaminants, and indicated significant differences among the sampling stations and among the different steps for salvaging the wreck. The results suggested that the main source of contamination was the heavy working vessel traffic at the disaster site, rather than the release of contaminants from the wreck., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Trihalomethanes (THMs) - CHCl 3 , CHCl 2 Br, CHClBr 2 and CHBr 3 - are drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs). These compounds can also be absorbed by different types of foods, including ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh vegetables. The potential absorption of THMs during washing of RTE vegetables could pose a potential risk to consumers' health. The concentration of THMs in the water used in the manufacturing process of these products shall not exceed the limit of 100 or 80 µgL -1 according to European Union (EU) and United States legislation, respectively. By contrast, there is little information about the presence of such compounds in the final product. This study evaluated the concentration of THMs in different types of RTE vegetables (carrots, iceberg lettuce, lettuce, mixed salad, parsley, parsley and garlic, rocket salad, valerian) after washing with chlorinated water. In the 115 samples analysed, the average value of total THMs was equal to 76.7 ng g -1 . Chloroform was the THM present in the largest percentage in all the RTE vegetables. These results show that the process of washing RTE vegetables should be optimised in order to reduce the risk for consumers associated with the presence of DBPs.

In the Marine Protected Area of La Maddalena Archipelago, environmental protection rules and safeguard measures for nautical activities have helped in reducing anthropogenic pressure; however, tourism related activities remain particularly significant in summer. With the aim of evaluating their impacts, the biomarker approach using transplanted Mytilus galloprovincialis as sentinel organisms coupled with POCIS deployment was applied. Mussels, translocated to four marine areas differently impacted by tourism activities, were sampled before, during and after the tourist season. Moreover, endocrine disruptors in passive samplers POCIS and the cellular toxicity of whole POCIS extracts on mussel haemocytes were evaluated to integrate ecotoxicological information. Lysosomal biomarkers, condition index and mortality rate, as well as metals in tissues suggested an alteration of the health status of mussels transplanted to the most impacted sites. The cellular toxicity of POCIS extracts was pointed out, notwithstanding the concentrations of the examined compounds were always below the detection limits., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Superficial sediments were taken at the port of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), which includes the oil terminal of one of the largest oil refineries in the Mediterranean. Significant trace metal concentrations were found in the whole port area. Sequential extraction of metals from the different sediment fractions (BCR method) showed a higher risk of remobilisation for Cd, which is mostly bound to the exchangeable fraction. Foraminiferal density and richness of species were variable across the study area. The living assemblages were characterized by low diversity in samples collected close to the port areas. Ammonia tepida and bolivinids, which were positively correlated with concentrations of heavy metals and organic matter content, appeared to show tolerance to the environmental disturbance. The sampling sites characterized by the highest values of biotic indices were located far from the port areas and present an epiphytic and epifaunal biocoenosis., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aqueous concentrations of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in coastal sites of two marine protected areas (MPAs), that is, Asinara and the La Maddalena Archipelago, in Sardinia (Western Mediterranean Sea). The use of semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) enabled the detection of dissolved PAHs and PCBs, even in very low concentrations of (pgL(-1)), in seawater. The results reveal significant differences between the two sampling areas relative to the concentration of the individual PAHs, which provide information concerning the pollution sources affecting relatively pristine environments. The PCBs were generally observed at levels below the detection limits of the utilised method., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were determined in the commonest species of green, red, and brown algae collected from five coastal sites in south-western Sardinia (Italy), an area with a long history of mining and smelting. The usefulness of employing Enteromorpha sp. and Padina pavonica (L.) Thivy to monitor metal pollution was evaluated, while diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) devices were used to measure dissolved metals in seawater. Levels of Cd and Pb were high enough to be of environmental concern in the whole study area. A significant relationship was found between the content of Pb in P. pavonica and DGT-labile Pb in seawater, suggesting that gross elemental concentrations of nonessential metals such as Pb in algal tissues are apparently controlled by the abundance of dissolved metal species in the ambient seawater. The results pointed out the usefulness of using both DGT and algal methods for a better understanding of trace metal availability in coastal waters.