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The present study was aimed at identifying geospatial patterns of pollutants including concentrations and toxicity as complex environmental mixtures, in topsoil samples close to petrochemical facilities in the heavily industrialized area of Augusta and Priolo in south-eastern Sicily (Italy). Elemental analysis of soil was conducted by ICP-MS for 23 metals and 16 rare earth elements (REEs). Organic analyses were primarily focused on poly- cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (16 parent homologs) and total aliphatic hydrocarbons (C10–C40). Topsoil samples were tested for toxicity in multiple bioassay models including: 1) developmental defects and cytogenetic anomalies in sea urchinSphaerechinus granularisearly life stages; 2) growth inhibition of diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum; 3) mortality in nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans; and 4) induction of mitotic abnor- malities in onionAllium cepa. Samples collected at sites closest to defined petrochemical facilities were highest in select pollutants and correlated with biological effects in different toxicity endpointthe increased level of total REEs in sites closest to petrochemical facilities, suggesting their contributions to identifying petrochemical sources of pollutants to the environment. The combined data obtained in the different bioassays allowed exploration of geospatial patterns of effect in biota as a function of contaminant levels. In conclusion, this study provides consistent data of soil toxicity, metal and REE contamination at Augusta-Priolo sampling sites, and may provide an appropriate baseline for epidemiological studies on high incidences of congenital birth defects in the area and identification of at-risk localities.

This study aims to investigate the effects of temperature alterations on zinc and cadmium toxicity on early development of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). For this reason, P. lividus embryos incubated in 18 degrees C (standard temperature), 21 degrees C and 24 degrees C for 72 hours, were exposed to Zn (10(-7) M-10(-5) M) and Cd (10(-6) M-3x10(-4) M). The EC50 values for zinc were found to be 0.48 (0.43-0.54) mg L-1 at 18 degrees C; 0.19 (0.16-0.23) mg L-1 at 21 degrees C and 0.19 (0.17-0.22) mg L-1 at 24 degrees C. The EC50 values for cadmium were found to be 1.88 (1.80-1.96) mg L-1 at 18 degrees C; 1.26 (1.04-1.54) mg L-1 21 degrees C and 0.72 (0.63-0.83) mg L-1 at 24 degrees C. These results confirm that the sublethal embryotoxic effects of cadmium and zinc increased with increasing temperatures. Zinc was found to be more toxic than cadmium at all temperatures tested on the embryonic development of P. lividus., Ege University Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Marine -Inland Waters Science and Technology, Izmir, Turkey, This work was supported by Ege University Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Marine -Inland Waters Science and Technology, Izmir, Turkey.

Microplastics in the marine environment has become an important issue in contemporary ecotoxicology due to their potential to cause harm to biota. There is still relatively little data available on the roles polymer microparticle size and chemical identity play in causing deleterious effects in a range of aquatic organisms. Thus, the present study was focused towards determining if microplastics could negatively impact on early embryo development in the sea urchin species Paracentrotus lividus. Urchin sperm or zygotes were exposed to virgin polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene microparticles in the size range 1-230 μm diameter and at concentrations of 0.1 to 10 mg/L. The zygotes brought in contact with the microplastics only after fertilisation did not display a significant increase of developmental defects after 72 h. In contrast to embryo exposures, exposure of P. lividus sperm to the microplastics for 1 h resulted in modest, yet significant, effects. The spermiotoxicity test indicated a decreased fertilisation rate, and increase of transmissible damage to offspring after 72 h. Plutei larvae were noted to have ingested 10 μm polymethylmethacrylate microparticles although ingestion of polystyrene microparticles was not observed. Such ingestion may play a role in polymethylmethacrylate microparticles causing greater toxicity than the corresponding polystyrene microparticles as noted in the present work. Ultimately, the relatively mild effects of these polymer microparticles on embryogenesis in P. lividus indicate that species sensitivity is an important factor to consider in view of the greater toxicity reported for similar microplastics on embryonal development in the sea urchin Sphaerechinus granularis.

Microplastics represent one of the most significant environmental issues in today’s world. In addition to mechanical damage, microplastics can have deleterious effects on organisms due to the leaching of residual monomers, oligomers, and additives but also as vectors for other pollutants that may be simultaneously present in urban wastewater streams. Thus, the effects of two microplastics, polystyrene (PS ; 10 μm) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA ; 10 μm) with either adsorbed bactericidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs ; 40 nm) or the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin (Cyp), on fertilisation and embryogenesis in the sea urchin Arbacia lixula were investigated. Physicochemical analysis indicated high concentrations of AgNPs and Cyp adsorbed on the microplastics. Adsorbed AgNPs (10 and 50 μg/L) or Cyp (10 and 1000 μg/L) on either of the two microplastics (50 mg/L) did not significantly affect either the embryonal development of the treated zygotes or the fertilisation ability of pre-treated sperm. However, a modest reduction in the quality of the offspring of pre-treated sperm was noted, suggesting transmissible damage to the embryos. The unexpectedly low toxicity of AgNPs and Cyp may derive from the sequestration of these toxicants, including silver ions released from the AgNPs, by the polymer microparticles. Interestingly, while ingestion of virgin microparticles was noted, for embryos co-exposed to AgNPs and microparticles no such ingestion was observed. While antagonistic effects may be ascribed to reduced toxicity of surface adsorbed AgNPs, the cause of reduced ingestion is less clear and may be related to mechanisms that suppress feeding rather than the ability to differentiate between microplastics and natural food.

The present study was aimed at evaluating sediment pollution and toxicity in the Bay of Pozzuoli (BoP) (Tyrrhenian Sea, southern Italy), characterized by high anthropic pressure and by previous industrial facilities. Analyses were carried out to evaluate the content of metals, total hydrocarbons (C10 - C40) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples collected along five transects from the coast. Sediment samples were tested for toxicity as whole sediment (WS) suspensions to sea urchins (Arbacia lixula), or as elutriate (EL) in diatoms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). WS-exposed sea urchin embryos and sperm underwent significant increase of developmental defects (DD), or inhibition of fertilization success and increased DD in the offspring of WS-exposed sperm. Diatoms were reared in sediment EL and the effects were evaluated as growth inhibition. Different pollution and toxicity patterns were observed along the five sediment sampling transects, without a monotonic trend vs. distance from coast, suggesting increased sediment toxicity in samples collected at intermediate distances.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are key constituents of modern technology and play important roles in various chemical and industrial applications. They also are increasingly used in agricultural and zootechnical applications, such as fertilizers and feed additives. Early applications of REEs in agriculture have originated in China over the past several decades with the objective of increasing crop productivity and improving livestock yield (e.g., egg production or piglet growth). Outside China, REE agricultural or zootechnical uses are not currently practiced. A number of peer-reviewed manuscripts have evaluated the adverse and the positive effects of some light REEs (lanthanum and cerium salts) or REE mixtures both in plant growth and in livestock yield. This information was never systematically evaluated from the growing body of scientific literature. the present review was designed to evaluate the available evidence for adverse and/or positive effects of REE exposures in plant and animal biota and the cellular/molecular evidence for the REE-associated effects. the overall information points to shifts from toxic to favorable effects in plant systems at lower REE concentrations (possibly suggesting hormesis). the available evidence for REE use as feed additives may suggest positive outcomes at certain doses but requires further investigations before extending this use for zootechnical purposes., Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II within the CRUI-CARE Agreement, Open access funding provided by Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.

WOS: 000368271800005, Aquatic toxicity of municipal wastewater was evaluated in an acute toxicity test using water flea, Daphnia magna as an freshwater aquatic experimental animal model. Toxicity test were performed on samples of both untreated (raw) and treated wastewaters were collected Manisa municipal effluents. Undiluted untread and treated effluents were very toxic to D. magnaand cause to death of all exposed daphnids. Dilution of wastewaters was observed to decrease percentage of influence of biological toxicity based on dilutional rate. Acute toxic effect of untreated wastewater on D. magnawas more than that of treated wastewater. In addition, the longer the period of exposure to D. magna, the more significantly toxic effect increased., Celal Bayar UniversityCelal Bayar University [BAP - FEF 2006-088], The authors would like to thank Celal Bayar University (Project Code: BAP - FEF 2006-088) for providing financial support for the project.

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WOS: 000339166300010, The present study achieved cadmium bioaccumulation ability using growth kinetics and ICP-OES for Cd measurements in marine diatom Thalassiosira allenii Takano. T. allenii cells were exposed to different cadmium concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg. Cd L-1) for 4 days. T. allenii cells were seen to have bioaccumulation ability both in cells and cellular surfaces. The cadmium uptake of T. allenii species followed a linear trend for most of days for 25 mg L-1Cd. T. allenii removed much of cadmium by taking it into the cells in, Ege University Scientific Research Projects Funds (BAP) TurkeyEge University [07-SUF-021], We thank Directorate of Kirklareli Ataturk Soil, Water and Agricultural Meteorological Station, especially to Dr. M. Ali GURBUZ, for their assistance in ICP-MS analysis. This study was suported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Funds (BAP Project No: 07-SUF-021) Turkey.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate marine contamination and toxicity in sediment and pore water from the areas of Izmir Bay (Turkey) and Mytilene Harbor (Greece). The evaluation was performed in terms of selected toxic-metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAR) and toxicity to sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) early development and fertilization. Significantly higher levels of metals and total PAR were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest contamination was detected in Izmir Bay innermost sites. Bioassays were carried out in P. lividus embryos and sperm, by evaluating developmental defects and changes in fertilization success by exposing sea urchin embryos or sperm to sediment/seawater suspensions. Whole sediment (WS) showed a higher toxicity of Izmir vs. Mytilene samples both in terms of developmental defects and of spermiotoxicity. Pore water (PW) and solid phase (SP) were separated by WS centrifugation and tested on embryos or sperm. The induction of developmental defects showed a significantly higher toxicity of WS compared to SP and, even more so, to PW. A significant decrease in fertilization success was observed following sperm suspension in SP from both Izmir and Mytilene sediment samples, whereas PW-exposed sperm failed to display any decrease of fertilization success vs. controls. The use of WS bioassays is suggested as a default procedure in sediment toxicity testing, especially in a topographic characterization of polluted sediments., Bu çalışmanın amacı, İzmir Körfezi (Türkiye) ve Midilli Limanı (Yunanistan) bölgelerinden alınan sediment ve gözenek suyunda denizel bulaşmanın ve toksisitenin değerlendirilmesidir. Değerlendirme seçilmiş toksik metaller, polisiklik aromatik hidrokarbon (PAH) bileşikleri ve deniz kestanesi (Paracentrotus lividus) erken gelişimi ile fertilizasyonu üzerine toksisitesi açısından yapıldı. Midilli’ye göre İzmir sedimentlerinde daha yüksek metal ve toplam PAH değerleri tespit edildi. En fazla kirlenme İzmir Körfezi’nin iç bölgelerinde belirlendi. Biyodeneyler, sediment/deniz suyu karışımlarına maruz kalan deniz kestanesi embriyoları ve spermlerinin gelişim bozuklukları ve fertilizasyon başarısındaki değişiklikler değerlendirilerek P. lividus embriyo ve spermleri ile gerçekleştirildi. Hem gelişim bozuklukları ve hem de spermiyotoksisite açısından tüm sediment (TS), Midilli’ye göre İzmir örneklerinde daha yüksek toksisite gösterdi. Gözenek suyu (GS) ve katı faz (KF), TS’in santrifüjü ile ayrılarak embriyolar ve spermlerle test edildi. Gelişim bozukluklarının indüksiyonu KF ve hatta GS ile karşılaştırıldığında TS önemli derecede yüksek toksisite gösterdi. Hem İzmir ve hem de Midilli KF sediment örneklerine maruz kalan spermlerde döllenme başarısında belirgin bir azalma gözlenirken GS’na maruz kalan spermlerin döllenme başarısında ve kontrollerde herhangi bir azalma görülmedi. TS biyoteslerinin kullanımı özellikle kirli sedimentlerin topografik karakterizasyonu için sediment toksisitesinin test edilmesinde varsayılan bir yöntem olarak önerilmektedir.

IV ÖZET SELENAT, SELENİT VE SELENO-DL-METİONÎNfİN Paracentrotus Hvidııs (LAMARCK, 1816) ÜZERİNE EMBRİYOTOKSİK VE GENOTOKSİK ETKİLERİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASI ORAL, Rallime Doktora Tezi, Biyoloji Anabilim Dalı Tez Yöneticisi : Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uysal Eylül 1997, 100 sayfa Antropojenik aktiviteler sonucunda denizel ekosisteme giren selenyum miktarları son yıllarda artış göstermektedir. Bu nedenle özellikle nehir ağızlan ile endüstriyel deşarjlara yakın kıyışa! bölgeler bu elementten olumsuz yönde etkilenmektedir. Bu çalışmada selenat (SeC>4), selenit (SeOj) ve seleno-DL- metioninin (C5HnN02Se) artan konsantrasyonlarını (10`7M-3xl0`5M) karşılaştırmalı embriyotoksik ve genotoksik etkileri Akdeniz'de ve Atlantik Okyanusu'nun kuzeydoğusunda dominant ekinoid türü olan ve littoral bölgede yaşayan Paracentrotus Uvidus'wL gamet ve embriyoları kullanılarak belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Sonuçlar : a) larval bozukluklar; b) gelişim geriliği; c) embriyonik / larval ölüm; d) sperm fertilizasyon başarısı; e) mitotik aktivitede sayısal ve morfolojik değişikliklere bakılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Veriler, test edilen tüm konsantrasyonlarda önemli farklılık göstermeyecek şekilde selenyumun tüm kimyasal formlarının P. lividus spermlerinin fertilizasyon başarısını stimüle ederek, fertilizasyon oranım yaklaşık % 17 arttırdığım göstermiştir. Bununla birlikte aynı spermlerin 72 saat süreyle optimum koşullarda yetiştirilen döllerinde kontrollere oranla özellikle iskelet bozukluklarına sahip pluteus larvası yüzdesinde önemli artışların olduğu gözlenmiş ve embriyotoksik analizler sonucunda bu tür için spermiyotoksik seviye selenat için 10`6 M, selenit için 3x1 0`7 M, ve seleno-DL-metionin için 10`7. M olarak belirlenmiştir, fakat aynı türiçin embriyotoksik seviye İO^.M selenat, 3xlO`7M selenit ve seleno-DL-metionin olarak saptanmıştır. Embriyolojik analizler sonucunda selenyumun tüm formlarının düşük konsantrasyonlarının genellikle iskelet sisteminde deformasyonlar oluştururken yüksek konsantrasyonlarının bölünmeyi engelleyerek embriyoların erken safhalarda (blastula ve gastrula) gelişiminin durdurulmasına neden olduğu gözlenmiştir. Sitogenetik analizler ise selenyumun tüm formlarının artan konsantrasyonlarına paralel olarak mitotik endeksi azalttığı buna karşılık interfaz embriyo yüzdesini arttırarak sayısal ölçütlerde değişikliklere neden olduğu bununla birlikte özellikle kalan kromozom, anafaz köprüsü ve serbest kromozom olmak üzere çeşitli mitotik bozuldukların artışına neden olduğu görülmüştür. P. lividus embriyoları ile gerçekleştirilen tüm denemeler sonucunda selenyumun karşılaştırmalı toksisitesinde seleno-DL- metionin > selenit > selenat sıralaması görülmüştür. Tüm bu veriler ışığında selenyumun P. lividus'xm üreme ve embriyonik gelişimi üzerinde görülen bu zararlı etkilerinin selenyumun bu türü populasyon seviyesinde etkilemesi nedeniyle ekolojik önem taşıdığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Anahtar kelimeler : Selenat, selenit, seleno-DL-metionin, Paracentrotus lividus, spermiyotoksisite, embriyotoksisite, genotoksisite, VI ABSTRACT INVESTIGATION OF EMBRYOTOXIC AND GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF SELENATE, SELENITE AND SELENO-BL-METHIONINE ON Paracentrotus lividus (LAMARCK, 1816) ORAL, Rahime DSc. in Biology Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uysal September 1997, 100 pages As a result of antropogenic activities, selenium input to the marine ecosystem has been increased in the recent years. Therefore, especially the river mouths and the coastal areas nearby of industrial discharge outfalls are affected negative way by this element. In this study comparative embryotoxic and genotoxic effects of increasing concentrations (10`7M-3xlO`5M) of selenate (Se04), selenite (SeOa) and seleno-DL-methionine (CsHnNC^Se), were tested on the gametes and embryos of Paracentrotus lividus, living in the littoral areas, which are the dominant echionoid species in the Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic Ocean. Results were evaluated by observing : (a) larval malformations; (b) developmental arrest; (c) embryonic / larval mortality; (d) sperm fertilization success, (e) quantitative and morphologic changes in mitotic activity. Data indicated stimulation in fertilization success of Paracentrotus lividus increase in. the fertilization ratios by about 17 % all tested concentrations without any significant variations of all chemical forms of selenium. However, it was observed significant increases on the pluteus larvae percentages, having especially skeleton malformations on the offspring of the same sperms cultured for 72 hours under optimum conditions compared with control base, and as a result of embryotoxic analysis, the spermiotoxic level were determined to be 10`6 M for selenate, 3xl0`7 M for selenite and 10`7 M for seleno-DL-methionine for this species. But, the embryotoxic level for the same species were determined tovıı be 10`6 M for selenate, 3xl0`7 M for selenite and seleno-DL-methionine. Result of embryological analysis, while low concentrations of all selenium forms generally caused malformations in skeleton systems, it was observed that high concentrations stopped the growth of embryos at the early stages (blastula and gastrula) by preventing mitosis. Cytogenetic analysis indicated that the mitotic indexes were decreased with increasing concentrations of all selenium forms and in opposition to this they caused quantitative parameters by increasing interphase embryo rations. Also it was observed that various mitotic aberrations were increased as especially lagging chromosomes, anaphase bridges and scattered chromosomes. The arrangement of comparative selenium toxicity of seleno-DL- methionine > selenite > selenate was observed during all the tests on P. lividus embryos. Under the light of all these data, it has been reached the conclusion that selenium affects the P. lividus during reproduction and embryonic growth stages at the population level and therefore ecologically important. Key Words : Selenate, selenite, seleno-DL-methionine, Paracentrotus lividus, spermiotoxicity, embryotoxicity, genotoxicity. 100