1,721,032 research outputs found
Gli effetti dei contaminanti sulla vita delle api
No full textL'agricoltura influisce in maniera significativa sul nostro benessere e su quello degli ecosistemi. Purtroppo, negli ultimi cinquant'anni il massiccio utilizzo della chimica ha favorito una produzione intensiva orientata più alla massimizzazione delle rese che alla qualità. Oggi, però, nel nostro paese è in corso una trasformazione radicale, guidata da una rete di produttori pionieri, esempio di sostenibilità ed eccellenza del made in Italy. Se infatti l'agroecologia è stata a lungo tenuta al margine delle politiche nazionali ed europee, grazie anche alle strategie Farm to Fork e Biodiversità 2030 della Commissione Europea negli ultimi anni si è imposta come una delle realtà più promettenti nel contrasto ai cambiamenti climatici e per la tutela della biodiversità. Attraverso i contributi di docenti universitari, professionisti del settore e le testimonianze di 30 tra le aziende italiane innovative, "Agroecologia circolare" analizza gli aspetti fondamentali di un settore agroalimentare rispettoso dell'ambiente e capace di produrre cibo sano ed equo. Inoltre, attraverso la valorizzazione degli scarti, l'utilizzo di materiali eco-compatibili, lo sviluppo delle rinnovabili e di nuove tecnologie, riesce a favorire la resilienza delle comunità e a trasferire l'amore per la terra alle nuove generazioni
Biomarkers responses in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) exposed to commercial fungicides: laboratory and field toxicity assessment
No full textThe use of pesticides in agriculture is a common practice to protect crops all over the world. However, pesticides potentially affect soil macro-and microorganism because only 0.1% of an applied pesticides reaches the target organism. Earthworm is a model organism in ecotoxicological research and it is a useful bioindicator of chemical toxicity in terrestrial ecosystem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential toxic effects of commercial fungicides (two foliar and two ear diseases with double and single active substance) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826). E. fetida was exposed to sub lethal concentration of fungicides in laboratory and field condition and a set of biomarkers were investigated. In laboratory experiments, animals were exposed in a filter paper test to increasing concentration of the four fungicides. Field investigations were conducted transplanting E. fetida in cages in the soil of wheat and durum wheat fields during treatment with different combinations of the four fungicides. All the E. fetida were analysed to evaluate vitality, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, total glutathione, Comet assay and lysozyme activity. Laboratory studies with the fungicide with double active substances showed alterations in organism’s vitality which increased with increasing treatment doses. Significant alteration of GST enzymes with respect to controls were detected at environmentally relevant doses
of ear deseases fungicide. The laboratory treatment with foliar fungicides caused an alteration of LPO which increased with increasing treatment doses, and an increase inhibition of lysozime activity. All the fungicides showed a total glutathione levels decrease probably due to a cellular degeneration caused by oxidative stress. The Comet assay showed the highest DNA fragmentation values in the experiment with fungicides with double active principle. In the field studies, the test proved that leaf fungicides have greater toxicity compared to those applied to the ears. Foliar fungicide with double active substances revealed to have the most toxic effects, inhibiting the lysozyme activity and determining high levels of GST and LPO. This study represents a first step towards a better understanding of commercial fungicides toxicological potential to non-target organisms and a wide set of biomarkers allowed to investigate the main toxicological effect on these organism
Messa a punto di un approccio integrato per la valutazione della tossicità e genotossicità delle acque reflue
No full textToxicity of Four Commercial Fungicides, Alone and in Combination, on the Earthworm Eisenia fetida: A Field Experiment
Full text linkThis study investigated the sub-lethal effects of four commercial fungicides—two foliar (Amistar®Xtra and Mirador®) and two ear fungicides (Prosaro® and Icarus®)—applied alone and in combination to wheat crops on caged earthworms (Eisenia fetida). We measured biomarkers that included detoxification responses (glutathione S-transferase, GST), oxidative stress levels (lipid peroxidation, LPO, and catalase, CAT), DNA damage (comet assay), energy reserves (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH), and immune response (lysozyme activity, LYS). The absence of significant differences in catalase and lipid peroxidation levels suggested no oxidative stress due to fungicide exposure. However, the foliar fungicide Amistar®Xtra induced the highest GST activity and DNA fragmentation, suggesting synergistic effects between its active ingredients and undisclosed co-formulants. Similar effects observed with the Amistar®Xtra-Prosaro® mixture confirmed the greater toxicity of Amistar®Xtra. This study provides novel insights into the sub-lethal effects of single and combined commercial fungicides on a standard toxicity test organism, shedding light on the ecological implications of fungicide use in agroecosystems and reinforcing the need for pesticide reduction
First application of comet assay in blood cells of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
No full textThe aim of this study was to validate the comet assay in erythrocytes of Caretta caretta, a species never investigated for genotoxicity. We studied 31 loggerhead sea turtles from three Italian marine rescue centres. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all the animals and the comet assay applied. All comet cells were analysed using two methods: visual scoring and computer image analysis. The % DNA in tail mean value±SD and Damage Index were 21.56±15.41 and 134.83±94.12, respectively. A strong and statistically significant statistically correlation between the two analytical methods was observed (r=0.95; p<0.05). These results demonstrate that the comet assay is a useful method to detect the possible effects of genotoxic agents in loggerhead sea turtle and to increase the knowledge about the ecotoxicological health status of this threatened species
Biomarker responses in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio) experimentally exposed to cadmium.
No full textA multi-trial approach for estimating potential ecotoxicological effects of an industrialized area.
No full textAbundance and characterization of floating microplastics along the Tuscany coast (Italy): the first aplication of the MSFD monitoring proticol
No full textDue to the increasing use of plastic and its dispersion in the marine environment andaccumulation in all habitats, the issue of plastic debris needs to be deeply investigated [1]. In particular, despite the Mediterranean sea is one of the hot spot area in the world for plastic debris accumulation [2], the knowledge on distribution and occurrence of floating microplastics is still lacking. Microplastics can affect marine biota increasing the likelihoodof ingestion of plastics by marine organisms entering the food web. For this reason the European Union has promoted the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) with the aim of reaching the "Good Environmental Status" by 2020. This work has been carried out as part of implementation of the Descriptor 10.1.3 [3] of the MSFD in Tuscany (Italy), with the aim to gain information on abundance and distribution of microplastics. Sampling has been realized in two seasons (winter and spring) using a manta trawl (330 μm mesh size). Samples were collected along 4 transects 100 km far from each other, located from the estuary of Arno river to the promontory of Argentario. Each transect was divided into 4 stations located at increasing distance from the coast (20 km, 10 km, 5 km, 0.5 km). The analysis were performed according to the MSFD protocol. All data was normalized to the total volume of water filtered and expressed as items/m3 and microplastics were characterized by colour, shape and size. A total of 2670 microplastics were isolated in the 72 samples, white was the predominant color; the majority of items are fragments and the most of microplastics fall in the measured from 1 to 2.5mm size class. In the winter, the highest values of microplastics have been found in the station at 20 km from the coast with a gradient decreasing in the stations closer to coast; whereas in spring, the highest was found in the station at 10 km. This work represents the first application of the MSFD protocol in the monitoring of microplastics in Tuscany and will allow to understand the distribution and abundance of microplastics in the Tuscany coastal waters
Cytochrome P450 induction in crustaceans (barnacles and crabs) as a diagnostic tool in the ecotoxicological assessment of offshore gas extraction: a review of two monitoring studies.
No full textThe present work constitutes part of two more extended research projects called “Biomare” and “Biodiversity” developed by the Department of Environmental Science at University of Siena and supported by ENI-Exploration and Production. Since 1960’s Italian gas offshore activity is predominantly on the northern sector of the Adriatic sea, in which are operating about 30 installations. During year 2008 the total amount of natural gas production averaged 191,000 barrels oil equivalent per day (boe/day) and represented approximately 70% of hydrocarbon production in Italy. Natural gas fields located in the Adriatic Sea collectively accounted for 54%. Produced water is the largest wastewater stream in the oil and gas exploration and production processes. Toxicological effects of produced water on living organisms may be due to adsorption of water soluble components through their surface epithelia (e.g. body surface and gills) and/or to oral ingestion and digestion of particulate material. Several studies were carried out on toxicological effects of produced waters on marine fauna such as fish and invertebrates. In this aspect, a majority of the published works are concerned with bivalve molluscs, particularly mussels but there is very little information available in other marine invertebrates like lower order crustaceans, a large, diverse and complex group of animals.
The aim of this work was to propose a suite of biomarkers (Benzopyrene monoxygenase activity (BPMO), NAD(P)H Reductases activity, Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), Porphyrins, Antioxidant enzymes), PAHs levels and heavy metals as potential diagnostic tools in the ecotoxicological monitoring of extractive offshore activities, applied in marine invertebrates, the barnacles Balanus perforatus and Balanus trigonus and the crab Liocarcinus depurator proposed as new bioindicators.
Previous studies carried out by this Department demonstrated that barnacles Balanus perforatus and Balanus trigonus and the crab Liocarcinus depurator are the most common species of crustaceans identified in macrobenthic assemblages along the piles of offshore installations.
In order to validate the use of crustaceans in ecotoxicological monitoring of offshore activities, two experimental phases were carried out: a laboratory and a field study. During phase 1 B. perforatus and B. trigonus were experimentally exposed to water containing increasing doses of gasoline (a liquid mix of hydrocarbons extracted with gas, and produced water) to check the sensitivity of selected bioindicators and identify the most suitable biomarkers for each experimental design. Laboratory phases were followed by field studies to validate the use of multi trial biomarkers approach in a real environmental situation. Specimens of B. perforatus, B. trigonus and L. depurator were collected along the piles of 4 different platforms in two different areas: north Adriatic and Ionian sea. Laboratory studies showed high sensitivity of response in barnacles for all biomarkers tested, particularly MFO and esterases, and high bioaccumulation capacity. Field results showed differences in biomarker responses and PAH levels between the two sites for barnacles and crabs. Moreover a different sensitivity of response between the two species of barnacles was also found. In conclusion, this study provided innovative results for the use of the selected bioindicators and for the responses generated after chronic and acute exposure to petroleum derivatives.
These results suggest that barnacles and crabs could be used in future biomonitoring programs to evaluate both the effects of petroleum derived contamination, and the level of contamination itself
Biotransformation, oxidative stress and genotoxicity biomarkers in mosquito fish exposed to PW.
No full textProduced water (PW) is a complex mixture containing residual hydrocarbons, trace elements, naturally occurring radioactive material and potentially toxic treatment chemicals such as biocides, dispersants, detergents and scale inhibitors used in hydrocarbon production. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of CYP1A with PAH bile metabolites, phase II, oxidative stress and genotoxicity biomarkers to evaluate the PW toxicity in mosquito fish. This research is part of the ENI S.p.a. project entitled “Advanced Processes for Oily Water Treatment”. The test organism, mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), was divided into male and female groups and exposed for 8 and 30 days to PWs from an Italian on-shore oil plant and from an Italian off-shore gas platform. Specimens were also exposed to water and sediment from an Italian ship canal (Navicelli Channel). The induction of phase I (EROD, BPMO activity) and phase II (GST activity) biotransformation systems, FACs, LPO, enzymatic antioxidants (GPX, GR, CAT), a non-enzymatic antioxidant (glutathione—GSH) were investigated. DNA damage was evaluated in erythrocytes by single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay). The experimental groups showed significantly higher EROD and BPMO activity compared with the control group during the exposure to PWs from gas and oil installations. A decrease of CYP activities was observed, in comparison with control, during the exposure to water and sediment from ship canal, probably due to high concentration of lipophilic contaminants. The CYP1A responses were also compared with the other biomarkers, in particular positive Spearman correlations between EROD (or BPMO) activity and PAH metabolites in bile and Comet assay were observed
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