NIVA Open Access Archive
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Microplastics in arctic invertebrates- Status on occurrence and recommendations for future monitoring
Get PDFFew studies have been published on occurrence and distribution on microplastics (MPs) in invertebrates from the Arctic. We still need to develop harmonised methods to enable good comparison between studies taking into account recovery rates, size ranges, shapes and polymer types. Here, we review studies on MPs in invertebrates from the Arctic and present suggestions on sampling protocols and potential indicator species. Since information on MPs in Arctic invertebrates is vastly lacking, we recommend to at least include suspension feeding bivalves like mussels in monitoring programmes to function as indicator species in the Arctic. Mussels have also been suggested as indicator species for MP monitoring in coastal regions further south. Although we recognise the challenge with particle selection and egestion in mussels as well as the relatively low concentrations of MPs in Arctic waters, uptake levels seem to represent recent exposures. More research is needed to understand these selection processes and how they affect the bioaccumulation processes. Future research should include studies on whether different functional groups of invertebrates have different exposures to MPs, e.g., if there are differences between sessile versus motile species or different feeding strategies. More knowledge on monitoring strategies for pelagic and benthic species is needed.Microplastics in arctic invertebrates- Status on occurrence and recommendations for future monitoringpublishedVersio
Application of AOPs to assist regulatory assessment of chemical risks – Case studies, needs and recommendations
Get PDFWhile human regulatory risk assessment (RA) still largely relies on animal studies, new approach methodologies (NAMs) based on in vitro, in silico or non-mammalian alternative models are increasingly used to evaluate chemical hazards. Moreover, human epidemiological studies with biomarkers of effect (BoE) also play an invaluable role in identifying health effects associated with chemical exposures. To move towards the next generation risk assessment (NGRA), it is therefore crucial to establish bridges between NAMs and standard approaches, and to establish processes for increasing mechanistically-based biological plausibility in human studies. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework constitutes an important tool to address these needs but, despite a significant increase in knowledge and awareness, the use of AOPs in chemical RA remains limited. The objective of this paper is to address issues related to using AOPs in a regulatory context from various perspectives as it was discussed in a workshop organized within the European Union partnerships HBM4EU and PARC in spring 2022. The paper presents examples where the AOP framework has been proven useful for the human RA process, particularly in hazard prioritization and characterization, in integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA), and in the identification and validation of BoE in epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, several limitations were identified that hinder the optimal usability and acceptance of AOPs by the regulatory community including the lack of quantitative information on response-response relationships and of efficient ways to map chemical data (exposure and toxicity) onto AOPs. The paper summarizes suggestions, ongoing initiatives and third-party tools that may help to overcome these obstacles and thus assure better implementation of AOPs in the NGRA.publishedVersio
Exploring the Adsorption of Pb on Microalgae-Derived Biochar: A Versatile Material for Environmental Remediation and Electroanalytical Applications
Get PDFBiochar, a carbon material obtained by pyrolysis of biomasses, is increasingly applied in environmental remediation and sensing thanks to its functional properties, cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. The adsorption capacity of biochar, strictly dependent on its specific surface area, heteroatom doping and surface functional groups, is crucial for these applications. Here, biochar produced at low temperature (350 °C) from a marine microalga (Nannochloropsis sp.) is proposed as an efficient adsorbent of lead (II) ions in aqueous solution; this production strategy promotes the natural self-doping of biochar without requiring harsh conditions. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process, as well as the effect of pH, ionic strength and dissolved organic matter on the adsorption efficiency were systematically assessed. The microalgae-derived biochar shows superior adsorption performances compared to a nutshell-derived one (used as a reference of lignocellulosic feedstocks) under all the tested conditions. The microalgae-derived biochar was finally used to decorate screen-printed carbon electrodes to improve the electroanalytical performances towards the voltammetric detection of lead (II) ions. A two-fold increase in sensitivity was obtained compared to the unmodified electrode thanks to the enhanced electron transfer and adsorption properties provided by biochar. These results highlight the potentialities of microalgae-derived biochar for environmental and sensing applications.publishedVersio
Ecosystem service benefits and costs of deep-sea ecosystem restoration
Get PDFDeep-sea ecosystems are facing degradation which could have severe consequences for biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal populations. Ecosystem restoration as a natural based solution has been regarded as a useful means to recover ecosystems. The study provides a social cost-benefit analysis for a proposed project to restore the Dohrn Canyon cold water corals and the deep-sea ecosystem in the Bay of Naples, Italy. By incorporating ecosystem service benefits and uncertainties related to a complex natural-technological-social system surrounding restoration activities, the study demonstrated how to evaluate large-scale ecosystem restoration activities. The results indicate that an ecosystem restoration project can be economic (in terms of welfare improvement) even if the restoration costs are high. Our study shows the uncertainty associated with restoration success rate significantly affects the probability distribution of the expected net present values. Identifying and controlling the underlying factors to improve the restoration successful rate is thus crucial.publishedVersio
Estimating nutrient thresholds for eutrophication management: Novel insights from understudied lake types
Get PDFNutrient targets based on pressure-response models are essential for defining ambitions and managing eutrophication. However, the scale of biogeographical variation in these pressure-response relationships is poorly understood, which may hinder eutrophication management in regions where lake ecology is less intensively studied. In this study, we derive ecology-based nutrient targets for five major ecoregions of Europe: Northern, Central-Baltic, Alpine, Mediterranean and Eastern Continental. As a first step, we developed regressions between nutrient concentrations and ecological quality ratios (EQR) based on phytoplankton and macrophyte communities. Significant relationships were established for 13 major lake types; in most cases, these relationships were stronger for phosphorus than for nitrogen, and stronger for phytoplankton than for macrophytes. Using these regressions, we estimated the total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations at which lakes of different types are likely to achieve good ecological status. However, in the very shallow lakes of the Eastern Continental region, relations between nutrient and biological communities were weak or non-significant. This can be attributed to high nutrient concentrations (in the asymptotic zone of phosphorus-phytoplankton models) suggesting other factors (light, grazing) limit primary production. However, we also show that fish stocking is a major pressure on Eastern Continental lakes, negatively affecting ecological status: lakes with low fish stocking show low chlorophyll-a concentrations and good ecological status despite high nutrient levels, while the lakes with high fish stocking show high chlorophyll-a and low ecological status. This study highlights the need to better understand lakes in biogeographic regions that have been, for historical reasons, less studied. This, in turn, helps reveal factors that challenge the dominant paradigms of lake assessment and management.publishedVersio
From Conventional Disinfection to Antibiotic Resistance Control—Status of the Use of Chlorine and UV Irradiation during Wastewater Treatment
Get PDFExtensive use of antibiotics for humans and livestock has led to an enhanced level of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are regarded as one of the main sources of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the aquatic environment. A significant amount of research has been carried out to understand the microbiological quality of wastewater with respect to its antibiotic resistance potential over the past several years. UV disinfection has primarily been used to achieve disinfection, including damaging DNA, but there has been an increasing use of chlorine and H2O2-based AOPs for targeting genes, including ARGs, considering the higher energy demands related to the greater UV fluences needed to achieve efficient DNA damage. This review focuses on some of the most investigated processes, including UV photolysis and chlorine in both individual and combined approaches and UV advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using H2O2. Since these approaches have practical disinfection and wastewater treatment applications globally, the processes are reviewed from the perspective of extending their scope to DNA damage/ARG inactivation in full-scale wastewater treatment. The fate of ARGs during existing wastewater treatment processes and how it changes with existing treatment processes is reviewed with a view to highlighting the research needs in relation to selected processes for addressing future disinfection challenges.publishedVersio
Seasonal Variability of the Carbonate System and Air–Sea CO2 Flux in the Outer Changjiang Estuary, East China Sea
Get PDFThree field surveys were conducted in the outer Changjiang Estuary on the inner shelf of the East China Sea in March, July, and October, 2018. Observations of total-scale pH (pHT), total alkalinity (AT), and calculated total dissolved inorganic carbon (CT), the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), and the air–sea CO2 exchange flux (FCO2) were studied in the surface waters. The results showed that the Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) area was a source of atmospheric CO2 in July and October (4.97 and 8.67 mmol CO2/m2/day, respectively). The oversaturation of CO2 was mainly ascribed to the respiration of terrestrial organic and inorganic materials sourced from the Changjiang River discharge, overwhelming the CO2 uptake due to primary productivity despite the high phytoplankton biomass in summer. The air–sea CO2 flux was greater in October than in July in the CDW, which is attributed to the increasing wind speed. In contrast, the Yellow Sea Water (YSW) and the East China Sea Shelf Water (ECSSW) were a weak CO2 sink in March (–0.71 and –2.86 mmol CO2/m2/day, respectively) and July (–1.28 mmol CO2/m2/day in the ECSSW) following the CO2 uptake of phytoplankton production, however, they were a CO2 source by October (3.30 mmol CO2/m2/day in the YSW and 1.18 mmol CO2/m2/day in the ECSSW). The cooling effect during the cold season reduced the sea surface pCO2, resulting in a CO2 sink in the CDW, YSW, and ECSSW areas in March. However, the regions became a source of atmospheric CO2 in October, possibly driven by vertical mixing, which brought CT-enriched bottom water to the surface and increased the pCO2. The study region was a net CO2 sink in March and a net CO2 source in July and October with an average FCO2 of –1.25, 1.71, and 3.06 mmol CO2/m2/day, respectively.publishedVersio
Overvåking og kartlegging av fremmed ferskvannsfisk ved bruk av miljø-DNA 2021
Get PDFProsjektleder Anette EngesmoDet ble samlet miljø-DNA prøver fra Akersvannet og Virikbekken som ble analysert for gjedde og ørret. Resultatene viste et forutsigbart mønster i Virikbekken, med størst konsentrasjon av gjedde DNA øverst og størst konsentrasjon av ørret DNA nederst mot fjorden. Grense Jakobselv, samt tre lokasjoner på Svalbard ble prøvetatt for å analysere for pukkellaks og sameksisterende anadrome laksefisk (ørret, atlantisk laks og røye). Analysene ble utført med tre prøvetakningsreplikater og seks tekniske replikater for å gi statistisk relevans for å analysere resultatene kvantitativt. Videre ble det utviklet nye deteksjonssystemer for ørekyt (tentativt validert til nivå 4) og sørv (validert til nivå 3).publishedVersio
Vurdering av miljøeffekter fra utslipp av thallium til sjø fra Boliden Odda
Get PDFNy versjon av rapport 7694-2022Rapporten gir en samlet miljøvurdering av Bolidens utslipp av thallium (Tl) til Sørfjorden. Utslippet forventes utelukkende å gå til sjø som vannløselig Tl(I), men selv tett opp mot utslippet ligger Tl(I) lavere enn PNEC marin i vannprøver. Målte vannkonsentrasjoner er omtrent som forventet basert på utslippskonsentrasjon og modellert fortynning av utslippet. Tl(I) sedimenterer hovedsakelig i vannvolumet øst for Eitrheimsneset. Det er ikke identifisert Tl(I) over PNEC sediment på stasjoner i Sørfjorden, men spesiering av thallium i sediment er fortsatt usikker. Beregninger gir en forventning om at 13% av totalt thallium i sedimenter foreligger som biotilgjengelig Tl(I). Thalliumanalyser i blåskjell og tang viser at Tl(I) har begrenset bioakkumuleringspotensial omtrent som andre tungmetaller. Vurderingen viser at spill fra lossing av sink-konsentrat på kai er en viktig kilde til thalliumforurensing i Sørfjorden. Som konklusjon er det i 2021 ikke framkommet data som peker i retning at thalliumutslippet gir toksiske effekter i biota. Analyser i vann- og sedimentprøver viser derimot, at utslippet fra Boliden kan spores over store deler av Sørfjorden. Noen inngangsdata som er brukt i vurderingen, særlig spesiering av thallium i sediment, bør imidlertid revurderes.publishedVersio
Screening Programme 2020, Part 1 and 2: Plastic Additives and REACH Compounds
Get PDFProject manager Bert van BavelI screening 2020 gjennomført av Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA) og NILU-Norsk institutt for luftforskning i fellesskap ble det satt søkelys på forekomst og mulige miljøproblemer av 160 kjemikalier. Forbindelser som er valgt ut til Screening 2020 inkluderer tilsetningsstoffer til plast og nylig registrerte stoffer i REACH registeret.publishedVersio