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The utilization of mechanical life support due to respiratory insufficiency and serious cardiac pathologies have been increasing. Anticoagulation to prevent clot formation is mandatory and unfractioned heparin is the standard therapy in use. But rarely heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) might develop as an immunologic side effect of heparin. Development of thrombosis as a result of HIT increases the morbidity and mortality. We present a neonate with HIT treated successfully with fondaparinux under extracorporeal life support.

In aquatic ecosystems, environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, food quality, water quantity...) are seldom optimal and change overtime. Though these variations may affect organisms' capacity to cope with chemical contamination, they are rarely taken into account in classical ecotoxicological tests and most of the regulation on chemicals is based on single substance test performed under optimal conditions. Nevertheless, different environmental conditions (e.g. food quality) can modify the characteristics of an organism (e.g. nutritional status) and thus can influence both the entrance of chemicals within this organism and its ability to cope with it. In particular, in fish, fatty acid composition can modulate membrane fluidity and thus influence contaminant uptake. Due to their different antioxidant properties, fatty acids are also likely to influence cells' sensibility to oxidative stress induced by contaminants. Fish fatty acid profile is influenced strongly by nutrition and temperature, thus, fish from the same species may present strong differences in their fatty acid profile and may respond differently to contamination. Few studies have been exploring this hypothesis therefore an in vitro approach was set up to better explore the role of a wide range of fatty acids in fish response to contaminants such as metals. Fish hepatocytes from the same cell line (RTL-W1) but with up to 7 different fatty acid profiles were then obtained by enriching the growth medium with 6 different fatty acids of interest. Though these cells were from the same cell line; the modification of their fatty acid profile changed certain of their properties (e.g. membrane fluidity) and modified their response to increasing concentrations of mercury (HgCl2 or CH3HgCl) or cadmium (CdCl2). For instance, cells enriched with the omega-3 fatty acid: alpha-linolenic acid showed a stronger resistance to organic mercury (EC50CH3HgCl = 6.6 µM) than non-enriched cells (EC50CH3HgCl = 2.9 µM) but a similar resistance to cadmium and inorganic mercury. The use of a fish cell line allowed screening the influence of various types of fatty acid profiles on heavy metals' sensitivity of fish. Based on these result, the multiple stress scenarios more likely to present a risk for the environment have been selected for further mechanistic (in vitro) and ecotoxicologic (in vivo) investigation.

Shipping traffic has an impact on the marine environment and biodiversity. Within the framework of the BIODIVALUE project, co-financed by the EU through a regional funding programme involving Malta and Sicily, an assessment of shipping-mediated impacts on the water column, sediments and the macrobenthos within the port environment has been conducted. The major industrial port in the Maltese Islands – the Grand Harbour – was chosen for this purpose. During June 2013, the soft bottom in-fauna of the port was sampled by means of a van Veen grab (with a total of 20 replicate samples at 6 different sampling stations), with collected sediment being also characterised for granulometric properties, heavy metal (Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, Pb), PCB, PAH and plastic debris content. Evaluation of the biological impact of such pollution, using a rapid and sensitive method to obtain specific information on sediment toxicity, was conducted through the application of a bioassay battery composed of bacterial species Vibrio fischeri (Microtox system), the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the crustacean Corophium orientale. Fouling communities within the same ports were sampled by means of scraping. Multivariate analysis were performed using PRIMER6 &PERMANOVA+ (Anderson, 2008; Clarke and Warwick, 2001). Granulometric analysis show homogeneous results in all stations with the predominance of very fine sand (silt). For PCBs, identified congeners were represented by highly chlorinated PCB species and values < 5 μg/Kg d.w. have been recorded. Sampling stations MP01, MP04 and MP05 represented higher concentrations of Hg, Cu, Pb, As, Ni, Cr. At the same stations high levels of ΣPAHs have been detected and high toxicity levels for P.lividus were recorded in every stations. C. Orientale bioassay showed a critical condition in several tested sample whereas microtox test recorded slight toxicity only at MPBN1 and MPBN4 station. The macrozoobenthic infauna was composed predominantly of polychaetes (F=88,89 %), molluscs (F=72,22%) and crustaceans (F=55,56%). A total of 1385 specimens belonging to 41 families were recorded. Cirratulidae, Corbulidae, Spionidae and Capitellidae were the most abundant families. Station MP04 shows the lowest value of biodiversity (H’=0). Micro, macro and plastic fragments have been detected. All these results are indicative of a degraded port marine environment as a result of multifarious human activities within the same port., N/A

International audience; Isothiazolinones are a family of broad-spectrum biocides widely used in industry and consumer products. Chloro- and methyl-isothiazolinones (CMIT and MIT) are documented as strong irritants, yet they are still used in a wide variety of applications, including cosmetics, cleansers, hygiene products and various industrial applications. The subsequent substantial release of these molecules from urban sources into freshwater environments, and their potential impacts on aquatic species, have nevertheless received little attention so far, with few studies reporting on the toxicity of either CMIT or MIT to non-target organisms. The present work addresses this current knowledge gap by evaluating CMIT/MIT (3:1) and MIT acute toxicity to Daphnia pulex (Cladocera), the two formulations most commonly used by manufacturers. Additionally, genetic diversity is known to be a major component of variability in phenotypic responses, although it is largely overlooked in typical toxicity tests. Subsequently the potential range of responses inherent to genetic diversity is rarely considered. Therefore, to account for intraspecific variation in sensitivity, the design involved eight clonal lines of D. pulex stemming from distinct natural populations or commercial strains. Clones exhibited strong variation in their responses, with lethal concentrations (LC50) ranging from 0.10 to 1.84 mg/L for the mixture CMIT/MIT, and from 0.68 to 2.84 mg/L for MIT alone. These intraspecific ranges of LC50 challenge the use of single clones of daphnids in standard ecotoxicological tests and the predictions based on their results. The present study brings new evidence that assessing ecological risk of chemicals while ignoring genotype diversity is neither ecologically relevant, nor a representative evaluation of the diversity of potential adverse outcomes.

International audience

National audience; Environmental pollution from plastics and microplastics (MPs) is a threat to the environment and wildlife on multiple aspects regarding exposition of different hazards. One of them is due to the chemical impact of the organic plastic additives (OPAs). Various additives can be added to polymers during the manufacturing process to modify and improve their physical properties. The analysis of OPAs has shown a growing importance since their use has become controversial as some of the additives were found to be toxic to marine organism and humans. In order to have a better understanding of the chemical impact of those additives, it is important to identify and, ideally quantify the additives included in the polymeric matrices. The analysis of OPAs and polymers is an analytical challenge due to the diversity of their chemical composition, the fact that they are most of the time mixed, and the numerous steps needed for the sample preparation with “conventional” approaches such as solvent extraction (SE). Thus, implementing easy and quick screening analysis methods, able to analyse plastic additives, have become a focus of interest. Pyrolysis coupled to a gas chromatography and a high-resolution mass spectrometer (Py-GC-HRMS) is an analytical tool that enable a relatively quick and easy analysis. This technique minimize or even remove the steps for sample preparation, limiting their potential contamination prior the analysis.The goal of this study is to develop a method using Py-GC-HRMS to identify and, if possible, quantify OPAs included in a polymeric matrix. A single method for the analysis of various selected plastic additives has been implemented and benefits the constitution of a database in GC/MS-Orbitrap with a wide variety of plastic additives. This method has shown its ability to characterise several additives is plastic packaging samples. The development of the quantitative method is still on going.

According to Eurostat, the total production of cementitious materials in the EU was estimated to be 163 million tonnes in 2016, corresponding to an estimated turnover of €15.2 billion. Currently, the annual production of cement in Croatia is around 4.4 million tons. At the same time, the global average CO2 emission per tonne of cement is estimated to be around 0.83 tonnes. Considering the expected rapid population growth and production increase, if no actions are taken by 2050, the production of cementitious materials alone could contribute to 24% of total global CO2 emissions. There is no other construction material (natural or man-made) that is produced in such high quantity as concrete, therefore a phase-out strategy for cementitious binders in concrete is highly unlikely. In East & south-east Europe (ESEE) countries today, the main cementitious binders used are those with a significant amount of industrial by-products from heavy industry, such as slags from the steel industry and fly ash from coal combustion. However, for these industrial by-products to work, they must have a certain quality and stability in production quantities. Since these criteria cannot be met with regional industry, most industrial by-products are currently imported from countries such as Turkey or China. Such heavy reliance on the import of secondary raw materials poses risks: supply insecurity due to scarcity, regulations and/or geopolitical factors and price volatility of industrial by-products, depending on regulations and market opportunities. Transformation of the construction industry into low-environmental and resource-efficient ones is possible through greater circularity of the different types of waste streams that are still disposed of in landfills. This includes opening new value chains and industrial symbiosis, adapting and redesigning solutions, and creating a framework and standardisation for wider use of construction products incorporating waste materials. LCA presents an important and efficient tool in the affirmation process for faster uptake of these products. This research shows two different LCA examples of different local available wastes used as reactive binders in the construction sector and a comparison of their environmental impact with existing commercial cement. In addition, the greatest challenges and barriers (social and technical) of accepting new materials in the construction sector have been identified through interviews with the key stakeholders.

International audience; As a result of anthropic pressures, soil contamination is increasing and, consequently, compromising soil functions and impacting crop yields worldwide. Among all contaminants, potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are some of the most common and important, being able to negatively affect the growth and development of plants. Nanotechnology, an emerging field in technological sciences, offers multiple tools that can be used for this purpose. In this way, this work aimed to evaluate the potential of Fe2O3 nanomaterials (nano-Fe2O3) to alleviate metalinduced stress in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.), focusing on bioaccumulation patterns and on the redox homeostasis. To achieve this goal, plants grew under two agricultural soils, contaminated with different levels of PTEs, collected from an industrial area, and previously treated or not, with 1% (w/w) nano-Fe2O3. After 14 days of growth, biometric parameters, PTE bioaccumulation and biochemical endpoints, especially those related to the induction of redox disorders, were evaluated. The effectiveness of nano-Fe2O3 to reduce available PTEs in soil solution was also assessed. After exposure to contaminated soils, plant development was greatly affected, as evidenced by significant decreases in root length and fresh weight of roots and leaves. However, upon co-treatment with nano-Fe2O3 this phytotoxicity was partially recovered, with less inhibitory effects on biometric parameters, especially on the less contaminated soil. This pattern was also noticed for levels of total chlorophylls and carotenoids. Regarding the oxidative damage, both soils led to increases in Lipid Peroxidation (LP), though H2O2 levels were only increased in the most contaminated soil. In response to the co-treatment with nano- Fe2O3, barley plants exhibited less oxidative damage, which is evidenced by the decrease of H2O2 and LP in both soils. The present study revealed that nano-Fe2O3 can enhance the tolerance of barley plants to contaminated soils, possibly by limiting the occurrence of oxidative stress, through a set of modifications in the PTE (bio)availability.

International audience

Due to the growing impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems, it is important to carry out biomonitoring programmes and assess the ecological status of waters in order to adequately protect aquatic ecosystems. The hyporheic zone (HZ) is a linking ecotone between surface and groundwater bodies. It is exposed to constant anthropogenic influences, which can affect the quality of surface running waters as well as aquifers. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of metals in the stygophilous crustacean species Synurella ambulans (F. Müller, 1846) in order to assess its potential as a bioindicator of water quality in HZ. Amphipods were sampled by Bou-Rouch pump in the HZ of the Sava River gravel bar on the average depth of cca 50 cm once per season in winter 2018, spring, summer and autumn 2019 at two localities. First was located about 3 km upstream from the wastewater outlet of the town of Zaprešić, and second about 13 km downstream from the outlet situated in the city of Zagreb. Through the sewerage system of the town of Zaprešić treated wastewaters from the pharmaceutical industry are discharged together with treated municipal wastewaters. Measured concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe and Mn in the interstitial water of HZ, were not significantly different between two locations in most seasons, while Pb and Zn were below the detection limit of the method. Ni was significantly elevated at downstream location, and Al at upstream location in most seasons. According to the environmental quality standards, the metal concentrations in the interstitial water of the Sava River do not exceed the maximum permitted concentrations for groundwater. Concerning the bioaccumulated concentrations, it was found that Pb, Ni, Cr and Al were significantly elevated in S. ambulans at downstream location, while for Cd, Cu, Co, Zn, Mn and Fe no difference was observed between locations in most seasons. Elevated concentrations of metals in S. ambulans compared to the interstitial water of HZ indicate their high bioaccumulation in organisms. Because of their capacity to bioaccumulate metals, stygophilous amphipods may be useful in research on the long-term risk of metal discharges into subterranean habitats. In conclusion, biomonitoring of HZ is crucial for protection of this transitional ecosystem and S. ambulans can be used as potential bioindicator of metal pollution.

International audience

International audience; Research on pesticides and their impacts has increased in recent decades because of pollution and impacts generated by pesticides for the environment. Experimental data can be interpreted differently, depending on experimental design, sources (for example, unpublished studies and/or peer-reviewed studies), values and conflicts of interest. This can then influence decisions made on a scientific basis, or simply reduce the credibility of science. Is destroying biodiversity and ecosystems a sustainable strategy? Because research on neonicotinoid insecticides is one of the best documented, because these relatively new insecticides are used prophylactically (preventive treatment) and not as a last resort, neonicotinoids illustrate the issue of mass use of pesticides as opposed to sustainability. Science is often a contradictory process where data must be accumulated before a general consensus can be reached. Several meta-analysis are presented on these insecticides. They illustrate the impacts of neonicotinoids on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Paradoxically, these ecosystem services include the services needed for agriculture (for example, soil quality and pollination). Therefore, the current use of these pesticides needs to be critically examined. The assessment should not be limited to private and short-term benefits, but also to a more comprehensive approach which includes increasing pest resistance, limited resilience of the nature, and quality and richness of our environment. Agronomic alternatives must be favoured because they have proved their effectiveness in a vast majority of cases. In addition, it seems increasingly risky to claim that what destroys biodiversity would have no effect on our health.

International audience; River-sea systems (RSS) comprise river catchments, estuaries/deltas, lagoons and coastal seas and provide a vast array of valuable services ranging from food supply and flood protection to aesthetic value. Human uses can have several negative impacts on RSS including eutrophication, pollution by microcontaminants, altered river morphology and hydrology, and overall loss of ecosystem services. Our ability to understand and manage such impacts has been constrained by disciplinary boundaries and a lack of interdisciplinary initiatives to undertake, develop and apply the necessary fundamental and integrated research. The International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems (DANUBIUS-RI) will be a pan-European distributed research infrastructure dedicated to supporting interdisciplinary studies of RSS. An associated European Coordination and Support Action project is currently being funded to develop a coherent, effective and relevant scientific agenda for RSS. The DPSIR framework (Drivers, Pressures, State Changes, Impact and Human Response) has been used to identify overarching challenges that the research community will have to address to ensure that RSS remain functional over a long period. Climate change and extreme events along with activities linked to basic human needs and societal functioning (e.g., fisheries, transport, agriculture, power generation, tourism, urbanisation) were identified as key drivers in determining the various pressures affecting RSS and the associated state changes, impacts and possible human responses. Based on the complex network of relationships and feedbacks identified by the DPSIR approach, four overarching challenges in making (or maintaining) RSS functions have been identified: climate change, water sufficiency, sediments and their management, and ecosystem health. This scientifically and societally relevant general framework will allow definition of research questions, needs and practical aspects for preserving RSS and the services they provide.

International audience

International audience; Studies addressing the contamination of soils with microplastics (MP) are few and the impacts on soil biota are poorly known. Less than 10% of peer-reviewed publications covering the period between 1972 and 2019 addressed studies related to microplastics and terrestrial environments. Some questions can arise related with this significant environmental issue, and its impacts on soils and terrestrialecosystems, mainly whether MPs could transport contaminants (e.g. agrochemicals) on the soil matrix and if they could be carriers of pesticides to soil organisms through ingestion. In order to contribute to the understanding of these issues, earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed for 14 days to OECD soils containing MPs with two different sizes [large MPs (5 mm) and small microplastics (0.250 -1 mm)], previously sprayed or not with chlorpyrifos following the dose recommended by the supplier (4 L ha-1). This agrochemical is a broad-spectrum organophosphorothionate pesticide with several agricultural applications to a variety of food and feed crops, and it is used worldwide. Acetylcholinesterase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were measured to track the exposure of earthworms to the MPs alone or combined with chlorpyriphos. The behaviour of earthworms in the test containers was also assessed, as well as the movement of MPs on the soil. The concentration of chlorpyrifos in soil after 14 days differed between treatments with MPs of different sizes [17.9 ng g-1 and 2442 ng g-1 for large (5mm) and small MPs (1 mm), respectively]. Despite the ability of the MPs to release chlorpyrifos to the soil, the earthworms have firmly avoided the 1mm MPs treatment. At the lowest concentration of chlorpyrifos provided by large MPs, earthworms avoided it, but the contact time with contaminated soil was higher, as shown by the enhanced level of TBARs and acetylcholinesterase inhibition.

International audience

Among pollutants widespread in the environment, mercury (Hg) is well recognised for its toxicity, mobility and bioaccumulation potential. In coastal areas the presence of this element generates conflicts with important resources of profitable value such as fisheries and aquaculture. The Marano and Grado Lagoon (Adriatic Sea) experienced a double Hg impact. The first is due to the mining activity conducted at Idrija (western Slovenia) for approximately 500 years, whereas the second is the result of discharge of a chlor-alkali plant effluents. Fish farming is a historical activity covering 14% of the total lagoon area. Recently, one fish farm was long-term monitored in order to understand the role of the sediment-water interface in recycling Hg and to estimate benthic fluxes and Hg mobility in the water column. An important further step toward a better comprehension of the Hg biogeochemical cycling in the lagoon environment, is represented by the estimate of its evasional fluxes, as gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), at the water-air interface. A dynamic flux chamber coupled with a real-time atomic adsorption spectrometer (Lumex-RA 915+) has been used to measure GEM and to estimate the diurnal evasion flux at the water-air interface during three seasonal campaigns in four selected sites: two in a lagoon fish farm, one in the open lagoon environment highly impacted by Hg mining activities and the last one in an uncontaminated area of the Gulf of Trieste, the Bay of Piran (Slovenia). Accomplished to these measurements the regional background level of atmospheric GEM was determined together with the main chemico-physical parameters influencing Hg behaviour. This new insights will be of help for future estimates of Hg mass balance in one of the most contaminated areas in the Adriatic Sea.

Saltmarshes are important constituents of marine-coastal transitional environments that provide several services to the ecosystem. Due to anthropogenic activities, several contaminants are increasingly introduced into these environments where are disperse and can accumulate in the saltmarsh sediments. The Marano and Grado Lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea) is affected by Hg contamination, which mainly coming from historical regional mining activities (Idrija, western Slovenia) and, subordinately, from more recent industrial input due to a chlor-alkali plant. Several studies have also demonstrated the Hg contamination of saltmarsh sediments and halophyte vegetation that cover them. Moreover, saltmarshes not only trap contaminated sediments, but can act as a secondary source of contamination. This work aims at determining the potential role of the tidal flat-saltmarsh (TF-S) system as a sink or secondary source of Hg in this coastal lagoon in relation to the chemical-physical processes leading their remobilisation. The main objective was to understand the role played by periodic flow of tide in a TF-S pilot site in terms of transport, accumulation and release of Hg. Tidal flows and water chemistry were measured at the mouth of a principal tidal creek which collect the waters of a dense channel network draining a 5.5-ha tidal flat-saltmarsh system. Tidal fluxes were estimated by combining discrete hourly tidal flow measurements with weighted measurements of particulate (PHg) and dissolved (DHg) mercury obtained by water samples. The highest values of DHg and PHg were recorded during ebb tide and the quantitative fluxes estimated for all parameters highlighted a tendency for metal to be exported from the TF-S system due to the tidal flows in ebb tide conditions. The results obtained for the PHg fluxes, in particular, are in agreement with those observed on a macro-scale at one of the lagoon tidal inlets considering an annual mass-balance of PHg performed via several water column sampling campaigns. A simple estimation provides a negative sedimentary budget for the TF-S system, which loses PHg towards the main lagoon channel during a tidal semi-cycle thus confirming other evidence of serious morphological deterioration of this critical coastal environment.