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Are alternatives to polyethylene less toxic than conventional polyethylene? A case study of MP toxicity on Scrobicularia plana using an Integrative Biomarker Response index (IBR-T)
No full textInternational audienceMicroplastics (MP) are now widely contaminating multiple ecosystems. To mitigate this pollution, the developmentof plastic alternatives is being promoted. However, scientific data on the absence of toxicity of thesealternatives is still lacking. The present study assesses the impact of petroleum-based fragmentable MP, oxopolyethylene(oxoPE), and biobased biodegradable MP, polylactic acid (PLA), on the bivalve Scrobiculariaplana. Clams were exposed for 21 days to environmental concentrations (0.008, 10 and 100 μg L⁻¹) of both PLAand oxoPE MP and impacts were evaluated from individual to molecular levels. The effects of alternative MPwere then compared with polyethylene MP ones, resulted from a previous study. An Integrative BiomarkerResponse - Threshold index (IBR-T) was calculated to assess the differences in toxicity between alternative andconventional plastics. An impact of PLA and oxoPE MP was shown on energy reserves, with a reduction inglycogen concentration in organisms exposed to the highest concentration (100 μg L⁻¹). A decrease in burrowingwas also reported in S. plana exposed to 0.008 and 100 μg L⁻¹ of PLA MP. At cellular and molecular levels,catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferases (GST) activities decreased after exposure to PLA MP (10 and 100μg L⁻¹ respectively) suggesting a disruption of antioxidant and detoxication systems, while no impact was notedon DNA damage, whatever the biodegradable MP. Analysis using IBR-T revealed greater effects of PLA (100 μg L⁻¹) on S. plana physiology compared to the different types of PE MP tested, while oxoPE MP showed limited toxicity. These findings support the importance of assessing the toxic effects of biodegradable and fragmentable MP to evaluate whether they can really be considered as a reliable alternative to conventional plastics
Parameters Impacting Brake Wear Particle Emissions: A Literature Review
No full textInternational audienceWith the implementation by the European Union since the 1980s of strict measures to reduce emissions of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NH3, CH4, O3, NOX, SOX, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), etc.), these emissions have fallen from a total of nearly 65 million tons in 1990 to around 20 million tons in 2021, according to data from the European Environment Agency. In the road transport sector, the implementation of the first European emissions standard in 1992 and the electrification of vehicles have made it possible to reduce exhaust emissions. As non-exhaust emissions increased, the European Commission introduced thresholds for braking systems for certain vehicle categories in the future Euro 7 standard. Car manufacturers are looking for solutions to reduce brake particle emissions, including the modification of the composition of the brake pads and discs. This literature review aims to present the state of the art of a set of parameters that can influence brake particle emissions. The parameters highlighted here include the raw materials and manufacturing process parameters of the brake pads, the composition of brake discs, some test parameters, and some characteristics of brake pads and discs. A brief analysis of the tribological mechanisms that could be involved in particle emissions is also described
Measurement report: Lessons learned from the comparison and combination of fine carbonaceous aerosol source apportionment at two locations in the city of Strasbourg, France
No full textInternational audienceAbstract. Source apportionment analyses of carbonaceous aerosol were conducted at two neighboring urban sites in Strasbourg, France, during the winter of 2019/2020 using ACSMs (Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors; for non-refractory submicron aerosols), aethalometers (AE33; for equivalent Black Carbon – eBC) and filter-based offline chemical speciation. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to organic aerosols (OA) following two strategies: (i) analyzing each site individually, (ii) combining both sites into a single dataset. Both methods resolved five OA factors: hydrocarbon-like (HOA), biomass burning (BBOA), cooking-like (COA-like), oxygenated (OOA), and an amine-related OA (58-OA) factor. The latter factor, accounting for ∼ 4 % of the total OA mass at each site, showed clear diel profiles and a distinct origin marked by specific wind directions, suggesting a unique local source, potentially linked to industrial emissions. The present study also highlights the challenge of attributing a cooking-only origin to the COA-like factor, which exhibited a diel cycle similar to biomass burning OA at the background site. The combined PMF analysis improved the apportionment of cooking emissions at nighttime, especially for the traffic site, compared to individual PMF analyses, but it did not enhance the other OA factors due to instrumental specificities (i.e., different fragmentation patterns) leading to differences in OA mass spectra between the two instruments. Overall, this study argues for careful inspection of instrumental peculiarities in ACSM and AE33 data treatment and provides hints to benefit from their use at various locations at the city scale. It also allows comparison between different types of PMF analyses, showing that combined PMF may not be appropriate for improving the consistency of OA factors in some cases such as the one presented here
The BIOMASP+ project on biosphere-atmosphere exchanges and their role in air pollution in the subtropical megacity of São Paulo: motivations, methods and preliminary observations
No full textInternational audienceAir pollution, especially in urban areas, is the result of a complex mixture of natural and anthropogenic emissions and their atmospheric processing. It causes millions of premature deaths worldwide and affects plant metabolism, which in turn alters the emissions of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound (BVOCs) by plants. By taking the subtropical Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) as a natural laboratory, the BIOMASP+ project (BIOsphere-atmosphere interactions in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo - plus) a ims to evaluate the interplay between the biosphere and secondary pollution (ozone and SOA formation and aging). The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) is the target ecosystem as the fifth biodiversity hotspot in the world. Here we present the scientific motivations of the project, its methodology and the preliminary observations from the Special Observation Periods of year 2023 (SOP1, 2, 3 and 4). BIOMASP+ is (i) integrative, by combining in-situ/remote/laboratory observations andmodeling, (ii) multidisciplinary, addressing micrometeorology, urban climate, atmospheric chemistry and biology. The project involves multiple nested scales: from leaf to above-canopy levels, from very short time (microseconds) to multi-year scale, from few millimeters (turbulence scale) to synoptic scale. In particular, the experimental effort relies on the implementation of two contrasting supersites (primary forest and urban forest) with a 30-m and 20-m flux towers, respectively, and a variety of state-of-the-art instruments. Ambient observations and the quantification of BVOC emissions have highlighted the complex interactions between meteorology, atmospheric composition of pollution, biogenic emissions of representative remnants of the Atlantic Forest and anthropogenic emissions
Millimeter-wave high frequency 5G (26 GHz) electromagnetic fields do not modulate human brain electrical activity
No full textInternational audienceThe deployment of 5G networks utilizing millimeter-wave frequencies such as 26 GHz has raised concerns aboutpotential neurophysiological effects. However, no controlled studies have investigated the impact of 26 GHzexposure on human brain electrical activity.We conducted a randomized, triple-blind crossover study in 31 healthy young adults (18 men, 14 women,mean age 26.1 ± 5.2 years). Participants underwent two sessions (real and sham exposure) separated by oneweek, with 26.5-min exposure to 26 GHz electromagnetic fields at 2 V/m. EEG activity was recorded before,during, and after exposure. Power spectral density was computed for delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12Hz), and beta (12–35 Hz) frequency bands. Statistical analysis employed mixed-effects models with baselinecorrection, examining exposure effects across temporal phases and electrode clusters.No significant modulation of EEG frequency bands was observed during eyes-closed conditions following 26GHz exposure. Mixed-effects modeling revealed no significant main effects or interactions for exposure conditionsacross all frequency bands and electrode clusters.This first controlled investigation of 26 GHz 5G effects on human EEG activity found no detectable alterationsin brain electrical activity under regulatory-compliant exposure conditions. These findings contribute importantpreliminary safety data for 5G millimeter-wave technology deployment, though further research across diversepopulations and exposure scenarios remains warranted
Uncovering hidden sensitivity: Inter-individual growth variation in earthworms under fungicide exposure
No full textInternational audienceEnvironmental risk assessments (ERAs) of chemicals typically rely on standardized ecotoxicological tests that overlook inter-individual variability, despite its importance in ecological resilience and evolutionary success. Contaminants can disrupt individual differences by altering life-history traits, amplifying fitness disparities, favoring certain phenotypes, and reducing genetic diversity, ultimately impacting population dynamics and adaptability. However, the extent to which pollutants influence inter-individual variability and its population-level consequences remains poorly understood. To address this, our study examines the inter-individual variability of growth trajectories in the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa in response to sublethal exposure to the two active substances of Swing® Gold fungicide. Using a longitudinal design with 30 exposed and 30 unexposed individuals, we compared mean and inter-individual growth rate variability. While the fungicide had a weak effect on the cohort’s mean growth rate, we observed a three-fold increase in inter-individual variability in the exposed group. This increase highlighted a subset of highly sensitive individuals, whose growth was reduced by up to 10% compared to the average response. Our results suggest that focusing solely on population mean effects could overlook impacts on sensitive individuals, who could serve as early indicators of environmental stress. Incorporating individual variability into ecotoxicological studies is challenging due to the labor-intensive nature of individual monitoring and the need for larger datasets. Nonetheless, these efforts are essential for refining higher-tier ERA frameworks, improving safety factors for intraspecies variability, and defining regulatory thresholds. A better understanding of how contaminants affect inter-individual variation will enhance the accuracy and ecological relevance of risk assessments, ultimately capturing the long-term implications for population and ecosystem dynamics
2D analytical solution of a multilayered hollow cylinder subjected to non-uniform loads
No full textInternational audienceIn this paper, a new analytical solution has been developed using the recursive method to assess stresses,strains and displacements in the cross-section of an elastic multilayered hollow cylinder subjected to nonuniforminternal and external loads. Using Michell's analysis of the stress function and Hooke's law, wederived the analytical solution and compared it to the numerical results obtained using FDM software. Theanalytical and numerical results are in perfect agreement and lead to the conclusion that the nonuniformityof the loading significantly influences the amplitudes of the orthoradial stresses. Theseorthoradial stresses may not always be equal to the maximum principal stress, depending on the positionwithin the layer. This result suggests that it is not possible to find an analytical solution in the elastoplasticframework where the fracture criterion is expressed in terms of principal stresses, σ1 = σrr or σθθ, depending on the position considered. The present study makes it possible to deduce the non-uniform loading at theinterface of 2 layers by minimizing the deviations with stress and / or strain measurements in one of thelayers of the hollow cylinder. This study should also help to understand the influence of a low stiffnessmaterial interspersed between rigid materials
Long-term exposure to particulate air pollution and components in relation to breast cancer risk: A nested case-control study in the E3N-Generations cohort
No full textInternational audienceBackground: Previous studies on the association between airborne particulate matter(PM), particularly PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, and breast cancer have shown inconsistent results,potentially due to variations in particle composition. To address this, we investigatedthe relationship between breast cancer and exposure to individual PM2.5 and PM10components, as well as their combined effects, in the French E3N-Generation.Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study within the cohort (1990–2011),including 5,222 incident breast cancer cases matched to 5,222 controls. Annual meanconcentrations (μg/m³) of pollutants at residential addresses were estimated usingthe CHIMERE chemistry-transport model from 1990 to the index date. Exposureassessment included nine PM components: ammonium, sulfates, black carbon,polychlorobiphenyl-153 (PCB153), nitrates, benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium, dioxins, andSaharan dust. We evaluated single-pollutant effects using simple and logisticregression, and mixture effects using Quantile G-computation (QGC) and BayesianKernel Machine Regression (BKMR).Results: Significant positive associations with breast cancer (Odds Ratios andconfidence intervals for one SD increase (controls distribution) were found forammonium (OR=1.19; 95%CI:1.05–1.35, sulfate (OR=1.17; 95%CI:1.02–1.34), PCB153(OR=1.16; 95%CI:1.08–1.26), nitrate (OR=1.15; 95%CI:1.01–1.32,black carbon(OR=1.12; 95%CI:1.05–1.19), cadmium (OR=1.05; 95%CI:1.00–1.11). QGC showed apositive association with breast cancer for a one-quartile increase in joint exposure(OR=1.22; 95% CI:1.00–1.50) with cadmium and nitrate as major contributors. BKMRconfirmed a significant positive association between the mixture and breast cancer.Conclusion: The consistency between single-pollutant and mixture analyses supportsa role for multiple PM components acting jointly on breast cancer risk. These resultssuggest that the chemical composition of PM, rather than individual pollutants alone,is a key determinant of breast cancer risk, highlighting the importance of consideringpollutant composition in air pollution research
Particulate matter measurement in residential wood combustion: method comparison and introduction of a novel approach
No full textInternational audienceResidential wood combustion (RWC) is a major source of atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Yet, the diversityof PM emission measurement methods used for RWC appliances often leads to inconsistent and non-comparableresults. This study compares two PM measurement techniques: a dilution-based method combining a porous tubediluter (PTD) and an ejector diluter (ED), and the heated filter method defined in EN 16510–1:2022 standard. Anovel hybrid method was also introduced, integrating the EN standard with a PTD to separately quantify solidand condensable PM fractions. For the method comparison, emissions from six RWC appliances were measuredacross different combustion phases. Results show that both appliance type and combustion phase significantlyaffect emission composition, particularly the organic matter (OM) content, which in turn influences methodcomparability. The dilution method generally yielded higher PM concentrations, except when OM content waslow. Due to the strong dependence on emission composition, universal conversion factors between methods werenot feasible. The findings underscore the need for harmonized PM measurement protocols that account forcondensable organic particles. The proposed hybrid method offers a more comprehensive assessment and ispotential for future regulatory use
Passive sampling in support of biota monitoring of hydrophobic substances under the Water Framework Directive
No full textInternational audienceThis paper presents an approach to apply aquatic passive sampling (PS) in regulatory chemical water quality monitoring in Europe. Absorption-based passive sampling is well developed and suitable for the sampling of hydrophobic chemicals, some of which are European Water Framework Directive priority substances with Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) derived for biota. Considering a chemical activity approach to chemical risk assessment, we propose equilibrium concentration in lipids (from passive water sampling) as a reference value for measured concentrations in biota. Through existing PS-fish datasets, we show a growing body of evidence supporting the use of lipid-based contaminant concentrations at equilibrium with water derived from PS as a conservative proxy of levels of these chemicals in fish. We propose a procedure that includes PS as a first, animal-free screening step of a tiered approach, followed by more conventional fish analyses when PS indicates these are needed to confirm EQSbiota exceedance. This paper reviews fish-passive sampler datasets, provides a reasoning for the proposed procedure and discusses how to broadly put it into monitoring practice. PS offers the possibility of well-defined standardised monitoring approaches that can help overcome the natural variability challenges associated with measurements in biota across member states and simplify EQSbiota compliance