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Climate change is affecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and effects have been already reported for the abiotic compartments of the ecosystems, e.g. ice loss and iceberg calving.

This Deliverable presents a first synthesis on the performed policy advice activities carried out by the EU-PolarNet 2 project within WP5 (“Policy Advice, Dissemination and Communication”). The first section describes the status of the Policy Advisory Board (PAB), including roles, responsibilities, the first meeting and the nomination of the chair and co-chairs. The second section provides a summary of the events organised by the project which can be identified as policy advice actions.

Correction for ‘POPs in Antarctic ecosystems: is climate change affecting their temporal trends?’ by Simonetta Corsolini et al., Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022, 24, 1631–1642, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00273F.

River pollution from different sources can affect ecosystems in different ways with consequences on water quality for both biota and human health. The River Danube was selected to perform chemical and biological analyses. The river was sampled at three different points, one inside Budapest and two just outside. Water samples were collected twice in the same year (April and November 2017) in order to determine metal concentrations, occurrence of ubiquitous contaminants such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some not-yet-regulated pharmaceuticals (17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, estrone, fenoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin). Moreover, the structure of the natural microbial community was also analysed in terms of total microbial abundance and identification of the main bacterial groups by the Fluorescence In Situ method. Finally, the same water samples were tested to assess their possible estrogenic effects using the yeast estrogenic screen (YES). The results show diffuse residual concentrations of both PAHs and pharmaceuticals in the river stretch investigated, with the highest values in April (in line with a lower rainfall input) and at the sampling site inside the city of Budapest. At this latter point, the natural microbial community was less abundant than in the other sites, suggesting detrimental effects of the overall contaminants on its structure. Finally, an estrogenic activity was found in all water samples analysed with higher average values in line with higher amounts of contaminants in the April sampling.

The anionic surfactant sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) is the main component in most foaming agents used for mechanized tunneling excavation. The process produces huge amounts of soil debris that can have a potential impact on ecosystems. The lack of accurate information about SLES persistence in excavated soil has aroused increasing concern about how it is recycled. The objective of this study was to assess SLES biodegradability in two commercial foaming agents (P1 and P2). Microcosm experiments were performed with two different soils collected from a tunnel construction site and conditioned with P1 or P2 (85.0 or 83.0 mg kg −1 of SLES, respectively). At selected times soil samples were collected for assessing the SLES residual concentration using Pressured Liquid Extraction followed by methylene blue active substance analysis (MBAS). Simultaneously, soil microbial abundance (DAPI counts), viability (Live/Dead method), activity (dehydrogenase analysis) and phylogenetic structure (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) were evaluated. SLES halved faster in the silty-clay soil (6 d) than in the gravel in a clay-silty-sand matrix (8–9 days). At day 28 it was degraded in both soils. Its biodegradation was ascribed to the significant increase in Gamma-Proteobacteria. At this time, the spoil material can be considered as a by-product.

Diffuse environmental antibiotic and antibiotic resistance gene contamination is increasing human and animal exposure to these emerging compounds with a consequent risk of reduction in antibiotic effectiveness. The present work investigated the effect of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on growth and antibiotic resistance genes of a microbial community collected from an anaerobic digestion plant fed with cattle manure. Digestate samples were used as inoculum for concentration-dependent experiments using SMX at various concentrations. The antibiotic concentrations affecting the mixed microbial community in terms of growth and spread of resistant genes (sul1, sul2) were investigated through OD (Optical Density) measures and qPCR assays. Moreover, SMX biodegradation was assessed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The overall results showed that SMX concentrations in the range of those found in the environment did not affect the microbial community growth and did not select for antibiotic-resistant gene (ARG) maintenance or spread. Furthermore, the microorganisms tested were able to degrade SMX in only 24 h. This study confirms the complexity of antibiotic resistance spread in real matrices where different microorganisms coexist and suggests that antibiotic biodegradation needs to be included for fully understanding the resistance phenomena among bacteria.

This work aimed to investigate the contamination pattern in Kongsfjorden marine environment (Svalbard, 79°N 12°E) and to disentangle primary and secondary emissions. Surface seawater, sampled in two seasons, was analysed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to detect polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenols (NPs), bisphenol A (BPA) and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In summer, average ΣPAHs, BPA, ΣNPs, ΣPFASs and ΣPCBs concentrations were 17.3 ± 11.1 ng/L, 0.9 ± 0.3 ng/L, 10.0 ± 6.9 ng/L, 0.4 ± 0.7 ng/L and 1.8 ± 1.3 pg/L, respectively; while in winter, they were 13.6 ± 10.1 ng/L, 0.5 ± 0.2 ng/L, 6.8 ± 3.3 ng/L

This work investigates the occurrence of OCPs, such as hexachlorocyclohexane (α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p’-DDT) and its metabolite dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p’-DDE), endosulfan (α- and β-EDS) isomers, chlorpyrifos (CPF), dacthal (DAC) and phenolic compounds, such as 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and its precursors nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NP1EO and NP2EO) and bisphenol A (BPA), in polar cod sampled in and outside Bessel Fjord (NE Greenland). Linear regressions between target contaminants and morphological parameters (age, length, weight, gonad- and hepato-somatic indices and Fulton K) have been also evaluated. Polar cod collected at shelf had higher average concentrations of BPA, NP1EO, NP2EO and 4-NP (muscle: 6.2, 13.2, 8.9 and 1.9 ng/g w.w., respectively; liver: 5.8, 7.5, 5.2 and 0.9 ng/g w.w. respectively), than fjord’s specimens (muscle: 3.5, 9.1, 3.9 and 1.0 ng/g w.w., respectively; liver: 2.4, 5.3, 2.9 and 1.1 ng/g w.w. respectively). ΣHCHs, ΣEDSs, ΣDDTs, CPF and DAC, were more accumulated in the polar cod from the fjord (average amount in muscle: 9.1, 4.8, 7.9, 3.8 and 2.8 ng/g w.w., respectively; average amount in the liver: 11.2, 9.0, 3.8, 5.9 and 4.9 ng/g w.w., respectively) than shelf’s ones (average amount in muscle 3.9, 4.5, 4.2, 0.9 and 1.2 ng/g w.w., respectively; average amount in liver 7.8, 6.3, 2.1, 3.4 and 2.5 ng/g w.w., respectively). The comparison between the concentration of target contaminants and morphologic parameters suggested a different exposure of polar cod occupying the fjord and shelf habitats, due to a combination of genetic and dietary differences, climate change effects and increased human activities.

This work aimed to investigate the contamination pattern in Kongsfjorden marine environment (Svalbard, 79oN 12oE) and to disentangle primary and secondary emissions. Surface seawater, sampled in two seasons, was analysed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to detect polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenols (NPs), bisphenol A (BPA) and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In summer, average ?PAHs, BPA, ?NPs, ?PFASs and ?PCBs concentrations were 17.3 ± 11.1 ng/L, 0.9 ± 0.3 ng/L, 10.0 ± 6.9 ng/L, 0.4 ± 0.7 ng/L and 1.8 ± 1.3 pg/L, respectively; while in winter, they were 13.6 ± 10.1 ng/L, 0.5 ± 0.2 ng/L, 6.8 ± 3.3 ng/L

Alkylethoxysulfate (AES) surfactants are the main component of most commercial products used for soil conditioning in the excavation industry, in particular as lubricants for mechanized tunnelling. Huge amounts of soil debris are produced during the excavation process and their possible re-use as by-products (e.g. land covering) or discharge as waste is a critical question in civil engineering. There can be an environmental impact from the potential ecotoxicity of the residual chemical mixture occurring in the foam-conditioned excavated soil. Chemical analyses are not able on their own to assess the potential hazards for the ecosystem ascribable to inadequate management of this kind of conditioned soil. Ecotoxicological tests, on the other hand, provide useful overall information about the potential effects of conditioned debris on soil and aquatic biota, including synergic ones, whether or not there is a detailed knowledge of the chemical composition of all the components of the commercial foaming products. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the overall ecotoxicity of excavated soil conditioned with two common foaming products containing sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) as the main component, in order to verify their possible re-use as by-products. For this purpose, two soils with different geopedological characteristics were conditioned with the commercial foaming agents at the concentrations utilised for mechanized tunnelling and then used for microcosm laboratory experiments. Soil sub-samples were collected at different times (0, 7, 14, 28 days) of incubation and soil elutriates were produced to assess the effects of the foaming agents on five test species (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Daphnia magna, Danio rerio, Vibrio fischeri and Lepidium sativum). The results of the tests were then compared with SLES residual concentrations in the elutriates, determined with the MBAS (methylene blue active substances) spectrophotometric method. Finally, the data were combined in a battery index, which proved effective at evaluating the overall ecotoxicity in a real-life situation of two different excavated soils conditioned with the two products analysed.

The widespread detection of antibiotics in terrestrial and aquatic systems has engendered significant scientific and regulatory concern. Overall, knowledge concerning the ecotoxicology and sub-lethal effects in water is scarce, but some experimental studies show that antibiotics can induce pathogen resistance and they can also have detrimental effects on natural microbial communities and their key functions. The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the biodegradation and photodegradation processes of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the River Tiber waters, in a stretch highly impacted from human pressure. Two set of microcosms consisting of river water containing the natural microbial community and treated with 500 μg/L of CIP in absence or presence of UV-light were performed. Moreover, some microcosms were filled with river water previously sterilized and then treated with the antibiotic. The combined experimental set made it possible to evaluate if the antibiotic CIP could be photodegraded and/or biodegraded. CIP residual concentrations were measured over time by using HPLC coupled to fluorescence detection (FLD) and the effects of the antibiotic on the natural microbial community were assessed in terms of live cell abundance. The key role of light in CIP disappearance was confirmed, but also its biodegradation in natural river water was demonstrated. In fact, differently from other experiments we found a higher degradation rate (DT 50 = 10.4 d), in presence of both light and the natural river bacterial populations than in the same sterilized river water (DT 50 = 18.4 d). Moreover, even in the dark, a partial CIP biodegradation was also observed (DT 50 = 177 d). The overall results were supported by the increase in live cell numbers with the decrease of CIP concentrations both in the dark and light condition.

Gemfibrozil is a pharmaceutical commonly found in the aquatic compartment and its presence together with a mixture of several other biologically-active drugs raises concern about the possible long-term adverse effects on biota chronically exposed. Most research focus on its effect/degradation in wastewater treatment plant, while few investigations take into account its persistence in receiving aquatic ecosystems and its effects on natural microbial communities. In this context, the present work aims to evaluate gemfibrozil biodegradation, alone or in the co-presence of naproxen, comparing its persistence in the presence/absence of the river natural microbial community. For this purpose, water samples were collected from a river Tiber stretch inside the city of Rome and located downstream from a wastewater treatment plant and used for degradation experiments. Microbiologically active or sterile water microcosms were set up and treated with 100 μg L− 1 of gemfibrozil alone or in the co-presence of naproxen (100 μg L− 1), in order to evaluate gemfibrozil degradation in the different conditions. At fixed times water samplings were collected for both chemical and microbiological analysis. Moreover, the effects of the pharmaceuticals on the microbial community structure in terms of variations in its abundance and composition were also assessed. The overall results showed gemfibrozil to be a quite persistent molecule in the river water microcosms and the natural microbial community had a key role in its biodegradation. The co-presence of naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly co-occurring with gemfibrozil, increased its persistence and affected negatively some bacterial groups presence.

A wide use of foaming agents as lubricants is required in mechanized tunneling. Their main component, the anionic surfactant sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), can remain in residual concentrations in soil debris, influencing their potential reuse as by-product. This study aimed at evaluating the environmental fate and effects of a foaming product used for conditioning soils collected from real excavation sites, in the presence/absence of an anti-clogging polymer, both containing SLES. Soil microcosm experiments were set-up and incubated for 28 days. Over time, soils and their water extracts (elutriates) were collected to perform both ecotoxicological tests (Vibrio fischeri, Lepidium sativum, Eisenia foetida, Hetereocypris incongruens, Danio rerio) and SLES analysis. The results showed that, just after conditioning, SLES did not exert any hazardous effect on the organisms tested except for the bacterium V. fischeri, which was the most sensitive to its presence. However, from day seven the toxic effect on the bacterium was never observed thanks to the SLES decrease in the elutriates (&lt, 2 mg/L). SLES degraded in soils (half-lives from 9 to 25 days) with higher disappearance rates corresponding to higher values of microbial abundances. This study highlights the importance of site-specific studies for assessing the environmental reuse of spoil materials.

Nel presente contributo viene descritto un metodo per la determinazione di due classi di antibiotici, fluorochinoloni e sulfonamidi, sia da matrici solide (suolo, digestato) che liquide (acqua fluviale). Per quanto riguarda le matrici solide, il metodo ha previsto una fase di estrazione liquida pressurizzata (PLE) degli analiti e successiva purificazione tramite estrazione in fase solida (SPE). Per la matrice liquida, l'estrazione e la purificazione degli estratti è avvenuta contestualmente mediante SPE. La determinazione analitica degli antibiotici è stata eseguita tramite cromatografia liquida ad alta prestazione (HPLC) accoppiata alla spettrometria di massaa triplo quadrupolo (MS/MS). La quantificazione è stata eseguita mediante diluizione isotopica con standard di riferimento marcati con isotopi stabili.

There is a growing concern about the simultaneous presence in the environment of different kinds of pollutants, because of the possible synergic or additive effects of chemical mixtures on ecosystems. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate insecticide extensively used in agricultural practices. The anionic surfactant sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) is the main component of several commercial products, including foaming agents used in underground mechanised excavation. Both compounds are produced and sold in high amounts worldwide and can be found in the environment as soil contaminants. The persistence of SLES and CPF in agricultural soils and their possible effects on the natural microbial community was evaluated in microcosms. The experimental set consisted of soil samples containing the autochthonous microbial community and treated with only SLES (70 mg/kg), only CPF (2 mg/kg) or with a mix of both compounds. Control microcosms (without the contaminants) were also performed. Soil samples were collected over the experimental period (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days) and analysed for CPF, SLES and the main metabolite of CPF (3, 5, 6-trichloropyridinol, TCP). The half-life time (DT50) of each parent compound was estimated in all experimental conditions. At the same time, the abundance, activity and structure of the microbial community were also evaluated. The results showed that the co-presence of SLES and CPF did not substantially affect their persistence in soil (DT50 of 11 and 9 days with co-presence and 13 and 10 days, respectively, when alone); however, in the presence of SLES, a higher amount of the metabolite TCP was found. Interestingly, some differences were found in the bacterial community structure, abundance and activity among the various conditions.

The groundwater behavior at a municipal solid waste disposal dump, located in Central Italy, was studied using a multi-parameter monitoring over 1 year consisting of 4 seasonal samples. The hydrological and hydrogeological dynamics of water circulation, microbiological parameters (microbial abundance and cell viability of the autochthonous microbial community), dissolved organic carbon, and several contaminants were evaluated and related to the geological structures in both two and three dimensions and used for geostatistical analysis in order to obtain 3D maps. Close relationships between geological heterogeneity, water circulation, pollutant diffusion, dissolved organic carbon, and cell viability were revealed. The highest cell viability values were found with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) values &le, 0.5 mg/L, above this value, DOC negatively affected the microbial community. The highest DOC values were detected in groundwater at some sampling points within the site indicating its probable origin from the waste disposal dump. Although legislation limits for the parameters measured were not exceeded (except for a contaminant in one piezometer), the 1-year multi-parameter monitoring approach made it possible to depict both the dynamics and the complexity of the groundwater flux and, with &ldquo, non-legislative parameters&rdquo, such as microbial cell viability and DOC, identify the points with the highest vulnerability and their origin. This approach is useful for identifying the most vulnerable sites in a groundwater body.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) regulates freshwater and coastal water quality assessment in Europe. Chemical and ecological water quality status is based on measurements of chemical pollutants in water and biota together with other indicators such as temperature, nutrients, species compositions (phytoplankton, microalgae, benthos and fish) and hydromorphological conditions. However, in the current strategy a link between the chemical and the ecological status is missing. In the present WFD, no microbiological indicators are foreseen for integrating the different anthropogenic pressures, including mixtures of chemicals, nutrients and temperature changes, to provide a holistic view of the freshwater ecosystem water quality. The main aim of this work was to evaluate if natural microbial populations can be valuable indicators of multiple stressors (e.g. chemical pollutants, temperature, nutrients etc.) to guide preventive and remediation actions by water authorities. A preliminary survey was conducted to identify four sites reflecting a contamination gradient from the source to the mouth of a river suitable to the objectives of the European Marie Curie project, MicroCoKit. The River Tiber (Italy) was selected as a pilot case study to investigate the correlation between bacteria taxa and the chemical status of the river. The main physicochemical parameters, inorganic elements, organic pollutants and natural microbial community composition were assessed at four selected sites corresponding to pristine, agricultural, industrial and urban areas for three consecutive years. The overall chemical results indicated a correspondence between different groups of contaminants and the main contamination sources at the selected sampling points. Phylogenetic analysis of the microbial community analyzed by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization method (FISH) revealed differences among the four sampling sites which could reflect an adaptive bacterial response to the different anthropogenic pressures.

The application of anaerobically digested cattle manure on agricultural land for both improving its quality and recycling a farm waste is an increasingly frequent practice in line with the circular economy. However, knowledge on the potential risk of spreading antibiotic resistance through this specific practice is quite scarce. The antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is one of the most heavily prescribed in veterinary medicine. In this study, SMX dissipation and the possible effects on natural microorganisms were investigated in a soil amended with an anaerobically digested cattle manure produced from a biogas plant inside a livestock farm. Microcosm experiments were performed using amended soil treated with SMX (20 mg/kg soil). During the experimental time (61 days), soil samples were analysed for SMX and N4-acetylsulfamethoxazole, microbial abundance, activity and structure. Furthermore, the prevalence of the intI1 gene was also determined. The overall results showed that, although there was an initial negative effect on microbial abundance, SMX halved in about 7 days in the digestate-amended soil. The intI1 gene found in both the digestate and amended soil suggested that the use of anaerobically digested cattle manure as fertilizer can be a source of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) and genes (ARGs) in agroecosystems.

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceutical residues are environmental ubiquitous contaminants of particular concern due to their possible ecotoxicological effects on aquatic ecosystems. In this work, the occurrence and fate of six antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, tylosin, erithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and chlortetracycline) and four phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs, i.e. bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylate) in the influents and effluents of the principal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serving the city of Rome (Italy) were investigated. The aim of the study was to provide information on the persistence of the selected contaminants in the urban WWTPs, to evaluate the removal efficiencies of the investigated plants and to perform a preliminary assessment of the potential ecological risk due to the discharge through the effluents of the residual pollutants into the receiving river waters. The analytes were extracted/concentrated from 24-h composite wastewater samples by solid phase extraction (SPE), and the analytical determination was carried out by HPLC MS-MS for the antibiotics and by HPLC-fluorescence detection for the EDCs. All the contaminants were detected both in the inlet and outlet samples of the WWTPs investigated, with the only exception of the antibiotics tylosin and erythromycin. Overall, the results confirmed that the biological treatments were not able to completely remove either the antibiotic residues or the phenolic EDCs selected with removal efficiencies varying widely in the range 17–96%. As a consequence, concentration values in the effluents ranged from 6 to 897 ng/L for antibiotics and from 0.4 to 205 ng/L for phenolic EDCs, with the highest concentrations detected for chlortetracycline and amoxicillin. Indeed, the highest mass loads (mg/d/1000 inhabitants) discharged daily into the receiving waters were found for these latter antibiotics, probably due to their greater consumption by the resident population, while the lowest removal efficiencies in the WWTPs overall were found for sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin, which thus proved to be the most persistent antibiotics in secondary wastewater treatments. Among the EDCs, bisphenol A and nonylphenol di-ethoxylate occurred at higher concentrations in the effluents, mostly in the WWTPs collecting a mix of urban and industrial wastes. The preliminary environmental risk analysis indicated that, although a dilution of the contaminants could potentially occur, an ecotoxicological risk, once they were in the receiving waters, could not be excluded, especially for the antibiotic residues, while it was found that for the phenolic EDCs the risk for the aquatic environment was quite minor.

At an urban landfill facility located in central Italy, we investigate the processes leading to moderate amounts of VOC in groundwater (benzene), at one downgradient monitoring well. Increased alkalinity and sulfates, lower pH and high levels of redox-sensitive elements (Mn, Fe, As), might support both the hypothesis of leachate loss to groundwater or landfill gas-to-water transfer. In this study, we analyze the available information concerning geochemistry, organic contaminants, environmental isotopes and landfill gas in groundwater to shed light on the possible mass transfer processes. We test the hypothesis that landfill gas migrating from the landfill at the downgradient end of the plant be responsible for high dissolved organic carbon (from methane and other organic compounds), lower pH (due to CO2), and the presence of limited amounts of VOCs transferred from the landfill gas to the groundwater. Periodical groundwater monitoring campaigns have been conducted since 2016 at the site. Field parameters (T, EC, pH, DO, ORP) are measured with probes in a flow-through cell. Groundwater sampling is performed with an in-line device in order to minimize sample disturbance. Lab analysis are performed for major and trace elements. Organic compounds include DOC, PAH, PCB, VOC. Ammonia and sulphide are measured in the field with a portable UV-VIS. Environmental isotopes (18O, 2H, Tritium, 13C) have been assessed twice. The pressure of CH4, CO2, O2 in the piezometer free gas phase are measured in situ with Draeger X-am 7000 (CO2, O2) and laser INSPECTRA® LASER (GAZOMATTM) (CH4); dissolved gas in groundwater is analyzed by gas cromatography on the headspace. Groundwaters are mostly anoxic (DO < 1 mg/L), with neutral to slightly basic pH and calcium-bicarbonate facies. Iron, manganese and arsenic are above national standards for groundwater. PAH, PCB and VOC were always below the standards except benzene at one downgradient well. The downgradient well stands out also for high EC, high alkalinity, low pH, very high As, Fe and Mn, above average DOC. Preliminary results on the landfill gas measurements indicate that methane is present both in the free phase in the wells' headspace and as dissolved phase in groundwater. The high values of methane support the hypothesis of a gas-phase transport of VOC localized at the downgradient end of the facility. Landfill gas CO2 might enhance the dissolution of carbonate minerals and increase alkalinity. The reducing capacity of CH4 favours the high levels of redox sensitive elements in groundwater. While the plant manager has already improved the gas extraction system, a sampling campaign is planned in spring 2019 to further investigate the impact of landfill gas on groundwater and verify the efficacy of the gas recovery measures.

Antarctic seabirds well adapted to extreme environments often deal during their life cycle with sub-optimal conditions and occasionally with severe environmental stress. Climate changes, pollution, habitat loss, increasing human presence can all significantly affect organism’s health status from molecular to individual up to population level. In the present study, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) and white blood cells (WBCs) differential were investigated in 19 adults of Adelie penguin (Pygoscelisadeliae) breeding at Edmonson Point, Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA n. 165) in the Ross Sea. Micronuclei (MN) accounted for 10.50% of observed abnormalities in penguin erythrocytes while kidney-shaped nucleus (KSN) was the most abundant (20.88%). Heterophils (HE) were the most common WBC (36.93%) in agreement with the generic avian leukocytes profile while eosinophils (EO) were the lowest (7.45%). A low number of lymphocytes were detected resulting in a higher heterophils to lymphocytes ratio. ENAs and H:L ratio are confirmed as reliable indexes of penguin’s health status since they reflect their individual adaptation during breeding season. These baseline data will be useful for future studies as indicators of penguin’s health status mainly as response to environmental changes.

Coastal systems represent primary receptors of land-derived nutrients and pollutants, thus playing a crucial role in carbon burial and marine productivity processes. A closer look into potential effects of river floods and following seawater quality modifications is fundamental to specifically explore the links between the marine contamination patterns and the planktonic microbial processes involved in carbon fluxes. Here we investigated the effects of an extreme flood event (8603 m3 s−1) from a large river (Po River, Italy) on the physical and chemical seawater properties, along with the responses of phytoplanktonic and heterotrophic microbial communities to riverine inputs. Following a multidisciplinary oceanographic survey conducted across three sampling transects perpendicular to the Italian coastline, marine waters differently impacted by the river flood could be discriminated according to the variation patterns of relevant seawater properties (i.e., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended matter). The concentrations of major nutrients and the organic matter composition (i.e., particulate and dissolved organic carbon, stable carbon isotopic composition, chromophoric dissolved organic matter) were significantly higher in waters at high river flood impact levels. The total dissolved organic carbon and the concentrations of selected inorganic and organic pollutants (i.e., heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were unaltered by riverine inputs, showing values similar or lower than those reported at regular flow conditions. Moreover, the phytoplanktonic and heterotrophic microbial communities showed significant changes linked to river flood, as revealed by a net increase of Chlorophyll-b concentrations (related to the occurrence of freshwater algal taxa), higher prokaryotic C production rates, and shorter prokaryotic cell turnover times in highly impacted waters. In conclusion, our results showed that an extreme river flood event could represent a source of energy for the microbial metabolism involved in OM transformation processes, with consequences on the microbially-driven C-flux and to the overall productivity of coastal marine systems.

Lagoons in river deltas are highly productive systems that receive high loads of organic matter and nutrients. Among the major environmental stress factors and human health-related issues, the anthropogenic contamination is of particular concern, since coastal lagoons are intensively exploited for aquaculture activities. Although microbial communities constitute the most abundant fraction of the benthic biomass, also providing valuable ecosystem services, the links between sediment quality and microbial processes were largely disregarded. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether different levels of riverine influence could provide favourable or adverse environmental conditions to sustain microbial diversity and processes. Sediments collected from four lagoons of the Po River delta were analysed to assess biochemical composition (biopolymeric carbon, Bio-PC), target organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs; nonylphenols; bisphenol A), and microbial community properties (bacterial community composition, prokaryotic biomass, prokaryotic carbon production rate, PCP, community respiration rate, CR, extracellular enzyme activities, EEAs). The major physical and chemical sediment properties allowed identifying two statistically distinct groups of sediments with relatively low (LI) and high (HI) riverine influence. HI sediments were characterised by higher Bio-PC and PAHs concentrations, along with relatively high PAHs potential toxicity estimated by the Toxic Equivalent concentration approach. Contrasting results were obtained by linking the occurrence of dominant bacterial taxa (i.e.,Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfobacteraceae families) to sediment contamination patterns. Notably, the increasing pollution levels were likely to positively affect the occurrence of the Desulfuromonadales Sva1033 family, whereas detrimental effects were found against the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae. In addition, the concurrent increase of PCP/CR ratio along with key EEAs, highlighted that the benthic microbial community could consistently contribute to accelerate the degradation of persistent organic pollutants, with potential implication on the sediment self-purification processes.

Sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin are among the most prescribed antibiotics and are frequently detected in surface water ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the role of a riverine natural microbial community in sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation in presence and absence of ciprofloxacin (CIP). River samples were collected from a stretch of the Tiber River highly impacted by human pressure. An experimental set up was performed varying some abiotic (dark/UV-light) and biotic (presence/absence of microorganisms) conditions that can affect antibiotic degradation. The residual concentrations of SMX and CIP were measured (HPLC-MS or HPLC-UV/FLD) and the effects on the natural microbial community were assessed in terms of microbial number (N. live cells/mL) and structure (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization - FISH). Finally, the occurrence of the antibiotic resistance sul1 gene was also verified using quantitative PCR (qPCR). In 28 days, in the presence of both UV-light and microorganisms SMX disappeared (

Marine sediments are part of the hydrological cycle and the ultimate storage compartment of land-derived organic matter, including pollutants. Since relevant microbially-driven processes occurring at benthic level may affect the quality of the overall aquatic system, the necessity for incorporating information about microbial communities functioning for ecosystem modelling is arising. The aim of this field study was to explore the links occurring between sediment contamination patterns by three selected class of organic pollutants (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs, Nonylphenols, NPs, Bisphenol A, BPA) and major microbial properties (Prokaryotic Biomass, PB; total living biomass, C-ATP; Prokaryotic C Production rate, PCP; Community Respiration rate, CR) across a gradient of anthropogenic pollution. Sediments were sampled from 34 sites selected along 700 km of the western coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Organic contamination was moderate (PAHs

IRSA-CNR è stato incaricato dalla Regione Lazio della supervisione dell'adeguamento della rete di monitoraggio delle acque sotterranee, campionamenti e analisi nel sito relativo alla discarica di rifiuti non pericolosi della società MAD s.r.l. in località Cerreto nel Comune di Roccasecca (Frosinone, Lazio). Le attività includono la supervisione alla realizzazione di piezometri e monitoraggio periodico delle condizioni della falda per parametri inorganici e organici previsti dalla normativa. Il monitoraggio viene integrato a fini di ricerca con studi relativi alla ecologia microbica, la composizione isotopica delle acque, la presenza di gas disciolti allo scopo di individuare le relazioni tra la componente chimico-fisica e le comunità microbiche residenti delle acque sotterranee. Questo report intermedio descrive i risultati della campagna di monitoraggio di Settembre 2018.

The presence of pharmaceutical active products (PPs) in the aquatic environment is principally due to insufficient removal at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Although PPs and their metabolites are often found in waters at trace levels, they can maintain a high biological activity with potential adverse effects on biotic communities. The development of accurate and sensitive methods is therefore necessary for their detection in aquatic ecosystems. In this context, the aim of this study was to validate a simple and reliable analytical procedure for determining selected pharmaceuticals in wastewaters and surface waters by applying solid phase extraction (SPE) using polymeric Strata X extraction cartridges and HPLC with simultaneous UV and fluorescence detection. Nine selected PPs belonging to different therapeutic classes (carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, clofibric acid, fenofibrate, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, and diclofenac) and three steroid hormones (17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and estrone) were considered. The method, validated on spiked real water samples (river water, influent and effluent from a WWTP), showed satisfactory accuracy and sensitivity, with average recoveries in the 65–104% range and relative standard deviations (RSD) ≤ 16%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 10 to 1100 ng/L for all spiked matrices. The optimized method has been successfully applied to the detection of the selected compounds in environmental waters, such as two contaminated sites along the urban stretch of the River Tiber in the city of Rome (Italy) and from both the influent and effluent from a municipal WWTP close to Rome. The method developed is proposed for routine analysis of PPs in polluted waters as it is a useful and affordable alternative when more sophisticated techniques are not available.

The ecological features of the Ross Sea trophic web are peculiar and different from other polar food webs, with respect to the use of habitat and species interactions; due to its ecosystem integrity, it is the world's largest Marine Protected Area, established in 2016. Polar organisms are reported to bioaccumulate lipophilic contaminant, viz persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Legacy POPs and flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) were studied in key species of the Ross Sea (Euphausia superba, Pleuragramma antarctica) and their predators (Dissostichus mawsoni, Pygoscelis adeliae, Aptenodytes forsteri, Catharacta maccormicki, Leptonychotes weddellii). Gaschromatography revealed the presence of PCBs, HCB, DDTs, PBDEs in most of the samples; HCHs, dieldrin, Eldrin, non-ortho PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs were detected only in some species. The average ∑PBDEs was 0.19–1.35 pg/g wet wt in the key-species and one-two order of magnitude higher in the predators. Penguins and skuas from an area where a long-term field camp is located showed higher BDE concentrations. The ΣDDTs was higher in the Antarctic toothfish (20 ± 6.73 ng/g wet wt) and in the South Polar skua (5.911 ± 3.425 ng/g wet wt). The TEQs were evaluated and the highest concentration was found in the Weddell seal, due to PCB169, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF, and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF. There was no significant relationship between the trophic level and the POP concentrations. Although low concentrations, organisms of the Ross Sea trophic web should be further studied: lack of information on some ecotoxicological features and human impacts including global change may distress the ecosystem with unpredictable effects.

Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs) of nonylphenols (NPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ruditapes philippinarum from the Venice Lagoon (Italy) were determined with the aim to verify whether the routine biomonitoring studies are reliable in contaminated sites. Clams and sediments were collected in field campaigns (October 2003 to June 2004) in three sites of the Venice Lagoon. Results showed that Marghera and Campalto sediments were more contaminated by NPs and PAHs than Poveglia. Different trends were observed in the contamination of clams with the highest BSAFs found at Poveglia. BSAF trend appeared to be inversely related to the contaminant pressure on the sites. These results suggest that clam bioaccumulation is not always representative of the chemical pressure on aquatic biota. The direct correlation between sediment and biota concentrations in contaminated sites can be lost as a function of the site-specific conditions such as sediment toxicity and food availability.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) of the European Union provides protection from chemical pollutants through the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) Directive (2008/105/EC), which sets EQSs for priority substances (PSs) and certain other pollutants, according to the requirements set out in Article 16(8) of the WFD. For organic PSs, these EQSs are expressed as total concentrations in the whole-water sample. Total concentrations can be obtained by direct analysis of the whole-water sample or by separate determinations on filterable and solid phases. Both solutions have their advantages and drawbacks, which we critically discuss in the present review. Analysis of data in the literature and experience from standardization activities show that it is possible to find a simple extraction method for analyzing whole water without time-consuming separation steps. The solid-phase extraction disk is now subject to standardization efforts as the most promising technique to achieve this goal. We discuss limitations of this approach in the light of the consequences for chemical-status assessment.

Under climate-change conditions, temporary rivers will be the dominant surface-water bodies of the Mediterranean region. In order to manage this kind of water body appropriately, it is necessary to understand the chemical and ecological processes that involve hazardous substances in these environments. The processes during the dry phase have an important influence on the mobility and the availability of hazardous substances. This critical review presents the state of knowledge on the fate and the monitoring of hazardous substances in temporary rivers and highlights future trends in research in this field.

Quest'indagine è finalizzata alla definizione dei valori di fondo geochimico naturale dei parametri inorganici previsti dalla tabella 2 dell'allegato 5 del D.lgs. 152/06, con particolare riferimento a ferro, manganese, alluminio ed arsenico, che hanno presentato in passato concentrazioni maggiori delle relative CSC nel sito in esame. Questa attività si colloca nell'ambito del supporto tecnico-scientifico che IRSA-CNR sta dando alla Regione Lazio, Direzione Regionale Territorio, Urbanistica, Mobilità e Rifiuti - Area Ciclo integrato dei Rifiuti, riguardanti delle indagini preliminari ad ampio spettro nel territorio delle Regione Lazio per la definizione dei valori di fondo geochimico naturale di elementi potenzialmente tossici/nocivi, con particolare riferimento agli elementi considerati nelle leggi che codificano le procedure per la caratterizzazione e la bonifica dei siti contaminati. Le aree prioritarie sono state indicate dalla Regione Lazio stessa, perché al loro interno risiedono siti contaminati per i quali sono previste procedure d'urgenza. Al momento della stesura di questo report sono state completate le indagini di dettaglio per i siti delle discariche dell'Inviolata (Guidonia, RM), Malagrotta (Roma), per le quali sono stati proposti Valori di Fondo Naturale (VFN) per alcuni parametri inorganici che eccedevano i valori previsti dalle normative vigenti. E' stato realizzato inoltre uno studio per il sito in località Cerreto (Roccasecca, FR), dove sono in corso degli ulteriori approfondimenti alla scala dell'impianto. La Società Acea Risorse e Impianti per l'Ambiente S.r.l. è titolare di una Autorizzazione Integrata Ambientale (G 00063) relativa ad un impianto di termovalorizzazione sito nel Comune di San Vittore del Lazio (FR). Nell'ambito di un monitoraggio straordinario dei sei piezometri installati nell'area del termovalorizzatore, ARPA Lazio riscontrava dei superamenti dei limiti di Tab.2 Allegato 5 alla parte IV del D.Lgs 152/06 e s.m.i. relativamente ad alcuni parametri inorganici. La Direzione Regionale Territorio, Urbanistica, Mobilità e Rifiuti - Area Ciclo integrato dei rifiuti della Regione Lazio, nell'ambito del Tavolo Tecnico del 9/12/2015, ha comunicato alla suddetta Società che intende avviare a riesame l'impianto esclusivamente ai fini della determinazione dei valori di fondo. La Società ACEA nello stesso Tavolo Tecnico ha fatto presente che è disponibile ad effettuare tale determinazione affidandosi a IRSA-CNR.

Temporary rivers are characterized by dry-wet phases and represent an important water resource in semi-arid regions worldwide. The fate and effect of contaminants have not been firmly established in temporary rivers such as in other aquatic environments. In this study, we assessed the effects of sediment amendment with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on benthic microbial communities. Experimental microcosms containing natural (Control) and amended sediments (2 and 20 mg PAHs kg(-1) were incubated for 28 days. The PAH concentrations in sediments were monitored weekly together with microbial community structural (biomass and phylogenetic composition by TGGE and CARD-FISH) and functional parameters (ATP concentration, community respiration rate, bacterial carbon production rate, extracellular enzyme activities). The concentration of the PAH isomers did not change significantly with the exception of phenanthrene. No changes were observed in the TGGE profiles, whereas the occurrence of Alpha- and Beta-Proteobacteria was significantly affected by the treatments. In the amended sediments, the rates of carbon production were stimulated together with aminopeptidase enzyme activity. The community respiration rates showed values significantly lower than the Control after 1 day from the amendment then recovering the Control values during the incubation. A negative trend between the respiration rates and ATP concentration was observed only in the amended sediments. This result indicates a potential toxic effect on the oxidative phosphorylation processes. The impoverishment of the energetic resources that follows the PAH impact may act as a domino on the flux of energy from prokaryotes to the upper level of the trophic chain, with the potential to alter the temporary river functioning.

Bioremediation is an effective technology to tackle crude oil spill disasters, which takes advantage of the capacity of naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons under a range of environmental conditions. The enzymatic process of breaking down oil is usually more rapid in the presence of oxygen. However, in contaminated sediments, oxygen levels are typically too low to sustain the rapid and complete biodegradation of buried hydrocarbons. Here, we explored the possibility to electrochemically manipulate the redox potential of a crude oil-contaminated marine sediment in order to establish, in situ , conditions that are conducive to contaminants biodegradation by autochthonous microbial communities. The proposed approach is based on the exploitation of low-voltage (2 V) seawater electrolysis to drive oxygen generation (while minimizing chlorine evolution) on Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA) placed within the contaminated sediment. Results, based on a laboratory scale setup with chronically polluted sediments spiked with crude oil, showed an increased redox potential and a decreased pH in the vicinity of the anode of ‘electrified’ treatments, consistent with the occurrence of oxygen generation. Accordingly, hydrocarbons biodegradation was substantially accelerated (up to 3-times) compared to ‘non-electrified’ controls, while sulfate reduction was severely inhibited. Intermittent application of electrolysis proved to be an effective strategy to minimize the energy requirements of the process, without adversely affecting degradation performance. Taken as a whole, this study suggests that electrolysis-driven bioremediation could be a sustainable technology for the management of contaminated sediments.

Many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pose serious health hazards to both the environment and human. Among these, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are probable human carcinogens and can also pose non-cancer health hazards to intellectual functions and the nervous, immune and reproductive systems. The risks and hazards associated with POP residues in tissues are a function of the dioxin-like compound toxicity and an individual's exposure. Fish consumption might become a serious problem because of bioaccumulation as revealed in many studies worldwide. We report data concerning the accumulation and pattern of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p , p ′-DDE and PCBs in edible tissues of commercial fish species (bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus , swordfish Xiphias gladius , Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus ) from Italian Seas and of the Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni from the Ross Sea (Antarctica). The species analyzed are part of the human diet. 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalents (TEQs) and tolerable weekly intake (TWI) were also calculated to evaluate the toxic hazard for the population that include them in their diet. Gaschromatography revealed 0.16±0.24 and 0.4±0.2 ng/g wet wt of HCB in Antarctic toothfish and bluefin tuna, respectively. p , p ′-DDE concentrations were 38±29 and 31±38 ng/g wet wt in swordfish and bluefin tuna muscle, respectively, and 0.66±0.57 ng/g wet wt in the Antarctic toothfish. PCBs showed higher concentrations and they were 89±82, 80±86 and 5.2±4.0 ng/g wet wt in the muscle of swordfish, bluefin tuna and Antarctic toothfish, respectively. In Mediterranean fish, the most abundant congeners were the most persistent PCB numbers 153, 138, 180, 118 and 170, which accounted for 51% and 47% of the total PCB residue in tuna fish and swordfish, respectively, and 18% in the Antarctic toothfish. TEQs were 1.97 and 4.65 pg/g wet wt in bluefin tuna muscle and gonads, respectively, and 0.11 pg/g wet wt in Antarctic toothfish. The TEQ weekly intake was calculated and values ranged 197–465 pg TEQ /week when consuming 100 g of Mediterranean fish and therefore lower than the recommended TWI. Those values were higher (788–1860 pg TEQ /week) than the recommended TWI, if 400 g of fish/week was consumed (with the exception of Antarctic fish).

Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) stomach contents, krill (Euphausia superba and E. crystallorophias) and silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) from the Ross Sea were analysed to determine several persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In discussing the data, the prey-predator linkage between these species was taken into account. Sampling was carried out during the 1995/96 and 1999/00 Italian Antarctic Expeditions. Fifty four polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and p,p’-DDE and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were quantified in stomach contents of penguins nesting at Edmonson Point (Victoria Land) and in whole specimens of silverfish and krill from the Ross Sea. Xenobiotic concentrations in organisms were low compared to data reported for many marine species of lower latitudes and ranged from 0.22 ng g−1 wet wt p,p’-DDE in krill to 161 ng g−1 wet wt PCBs in silverfish. Fingerprints and class of isomer patterns showed a predominance of low chlorinated PCBs, mainly in pelagic organisms. Average input of these POPs through the diet was also evaluated. Concentrations of the most toxic non-ortho PCBs, IUPAC nos 77 (3,3′,4,4′), 126 (3,3′,4,4′,5) and 169 (3,3′,4,4′,5,5′), were 1.63 pg g−1, 7.31 pg g−1 and 0.23 pg g−1 wet wt, respectively, in stomach content samples. Stomach contents had 0.037 pg g−1 wet wt TEQ (Toxic Equivalents) of which penta-CB126 accounted for most of the toxicity.

Remote areas including the Polar regions were considered to be pristine until contamination was first documented in the 1970's. Given the fact that the xenobiotics detected in polar ecosystems are persistent and toxic, investigating the presence of these chemicals in a pristine environment such as Antarctica has become a priority. In specimens of the most important key species of Antarctic marine food web, Euphausia superba and Pleuragramma antarcticum sampled in the Ross Sea, we evaluated concentrations of the following persistent organic pollutants: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and p,p′-DDE. Sampling was carried out in the framework of the Italian National Program for Research in Antarctica (PNRA) from 1999 to 2000. PCB concentrations were higher than HCB and p,p′-DDE by two orders of magnitude; levels of HCB and p,p′-DDE, in the range of 1–5 ng/g wet weight, were low compared to those reported for species in lower latitude marine environments. PCBs values were comparable to those determined in moderately contaminated areas. PCB fingerprints and patterns of isomer classes showed a predominance of low-chlorinated PCBs: tri-, tetra- and penta-CB congeners constituted more than 50% of the total residue in krill and larvae and less than 50% in adult silverfish. The pattern seems common to that of Kanechlor, a technical mixture used mostly in Japan and other Eastern Asian countries that are roughly at the same longitude of the Ross Sea.

Solid phase extraction performed with commercial polymer beads to treat soil contaminated by chlorophenols (4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) as single compounds and in a mixture has been investigated in this study. Soil-water-polymer partition tests were conducted to determine the relative affinities of single compounds in soil-water and polymer-water pairs. Subsequent soil extraction tests were performed with Hytrel 8206, the polymer showing the highest affinity for the tested chlorophenols. Factors that were examined were polymer type, moisture content, and contamination level. Increased moisture content (up to 100%) improved the extraction efficiency for all three compounds. Extraction tests at this upper level of moisture content showed removal efficiencies ≥70% for all the compounds and their ternary mixture, for 24 h of contact time, which is in contrast to the weeks and months, normally required for conventional ex situ remediation processes. A dynamic model characterizing the rate and extent of decontamination was also formulated, calibrated and validated with the experimental data. The proposed model, based on the simplified approach of “lumped parameters” for the mass transfer coefficients, provided very good predictions of the experimental data for the absorptive removal of contaminants from soil at different individual solute levels. Parameters evaluated from calibration by fitting of single compound data, have been successfully applied to predict mixture data, with differences between experimental and predicted data in all cases being ≤3%.

The present work aims at evaluating the ability of the River Tiber natural microbial community to degrade naproxen in water samples collected downstream from a wastewater treatment plant. For this purpose, different water microcosms were set up (microbiologically active vs sterile ones) and treated with naproxen (100 μg/L) alone or in the co-presence of gemfibrozil in order to evaluate if the co-presence of the latter had an influence on naproxen degradation. The experiment was performed in the autumn and was compared with the same experimental set performed in spring of the same year to highlight if seasonal differences in the river water influenced the naproxen degradation. Pharmaceutical concentrations and microbial analysis (total cell number, viability, and microbial community composition) were performed at different times in the degradation experiments. The overall results show that the natural microbial community in the river water had a key role in the naproxen degradation. In fact, although there was a transient negative effect on the natural microbial community in all the experiments (3 h after adding the pharmaceutical), the latter was able to degrade naproxen within about 40 days. On the contrary, no decrease in the pharmaceutical concentration was observed in the sterile river water. Moreover, the co-presence of the two drugs lengthened the naproxen lag phase. As regards the natural microbial community composition detected by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization, Alpha and Gamma-Proteobacteria increased when the pharmaceutical halved, suggesting their role in the degradation. This study shows that with the concentration studied, naproxen was degraded by the natural microbial populations collected from a river chronically contaminated by this pharmaceutical.

Flood and drought events of higher intensity and frequency are expected to increase in arid and semi-arid regions, in which temporary rivers represent both a water resource and an aquatic ecosystem to be preserved. In this study, we explored the variation of two classes of hazardous substances (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Nonylphenols) and the functioning of the microbial community in river sediments subject to hydrological fluctuations (Candelaro river basin, Italy). Overall, the concentration of pollutants (∑ PAHs range 8–275 ng g − 1 ; ∑ NPs range 299–4858 ng g − 1 ) suggests a moderate degree of contamination. The conditions in which the sediments were tested, flow (high/low) and no flow (wet/dry/arid), were associated to significant differences in the chemical and microbial properties. The total organic carbon contribution decreased together with the stream flow reduction, while the contribution of C-PAHs and C-NPs tended to increase. NPs were relatively more concentrated in sediments under high flow, while the more hydrophobic PAHs accumulated under low and no flow conditions. Passing from high to no flow conditions, a gradual reduction of microbial processes was observed, to reach the lowest specific bacterial carbon production rates (0.06 fmol C h − 1 cell − 1 ), extracellular enzyme activities, and the highest doubling time (40 h) in arid sediments. In conclusion, different scenarios for the mobilization of pollutants and microbial processes can be identified under contrasting hydrological conditions: (i) the mobilization of pollutants under high flow and a relatively higher probability for biodegradation; (ii) the accumulation of pollutants during low flow and lower probability for biodegradation; (iii) the drastic reduction of pollutant concentrations under dry and arid conditions, probably independently from the microbial activity (abiotic processes). Our findings let us infer that a multiple approach has to be considered for an appropriate water resource exploitation and a more realistic prevision of the impact of pollutants in temporary waters.

This paper provides data on the occurrence of selected human pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, fenofibrate, fenoprofen, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen) including steroid hormones (17?-estradiol, 17?-ethinylestradiol, and estrone) in influents/effluents to/from the four principal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serving the city of Rome (Italy), in two different sampling campaigns. Target compounds were also analyzed in the receiving River Tiber and River Aniene. Analytical determination was carried out by LC-MS/MS after sample cleanup and concentration by off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE). The aim of the study was to increase the information currently available on the presence and persistence of pharmaceuticals in Italian urban wastewaters and to evaluate the environmental impact of the pharmaceutical residues discharged through effluents into the receiving rivers. Results indicated that after the treatment processes, most of pharmaceuticals were not completely eliminated, as average removal efficiencies were in the 14-100 % wide range during both sampling periods, with higher yields in spring than in winter. Levels detected in overall samples ranged from 5 to 2,230 ng/L in influents and from 5 to 1,424 ng/L in effluents. Carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and gemfibrozil showed the highest persistence to removal. Concentrations in the receiving waters were about one order of magnitude lower than in effluents, with a tendency to increase progressively through the urban tract of the river. Finally, an environmental risk analysis showed that carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, and estrone can pose a high risk at the concentrations detected in effluents and a medium risk in rivers, highlighting their potential hazard for the health of the aquatic ecosystem.