Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 16769

Special Issue Editors

CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: aquatic ecotoxicology; climate change; multiple stressors; metals; emerging contaminants; water quality; forest fires; environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
1. Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand
2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, P.O. Box 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Interests: biomarkers; bioindicators; mechanisms of toxicity; effects directed analysis (EDA); multiple stressors; emerging contaminants; hazard characterisation; community engagement; life cycle assessment; biomonitoring; one health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic systems are the receptacle for many of the contaminants released into the environment by a range of anthropogenic land-based activities. There is increasing concern about the impacts of more persistent contaminants on exposed aquatic biota, and investigation into the adverse effects of contaminants on aquatic biota is underway; nonetheless, there are still many knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. These include the toxicity of mixtures of contaminants and the ecotoxicological effects at the water–sediment interface. A better understanding of the effects of contaminants on ecosystems is required to better inform and support environmental managers, helping them to make decisions and develop sustainable policy.

For this Special Issue, we seek manuscripts that will contribute to our knowledge of the ecotoxicological effects of single contaminant or mixtures on aquatic biota across multiple levels of biological organization. Papers may include—but are not limited to—assessment of the toxicity of single chemicals, mixtures, and environmental extracts on pelagic or benthic species, evaluation of ecotoxicological effects at the individual, sub-individual, and community level, and ecological risk assessment. Papers that investigate the implementation of ecotoxicological data into environmental management framework and policy will also be considered.

Authors are invited to submit original research papers, reviews, and short communications. We would also welcome the submission of commentaries, reviews, and meta-analyses.

Dr. Fatima Jesus
Dr. Louis A. Tremblay
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ecotoxicology
  • environment
  • aquatic contaminants
  • aquatic biota
  • sediments
  • benthic species
  • freshwater
  • risk assessment

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 225 KiB  
Editorial
Key Challenges to the Effective Management of Pollutants in Water and Sediment
by Fátima Jesus and Louis A. Tremblay
Toxics 2022, 10(5), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10050219 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
The intensification of human activities is placing increasing pressure on the ecosystems of riverine, estuarine, and coastal waters, as these compartments are sinks for many anthropogenic contaminants [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 5712 KiB  
Article
Case Study of Diesters of o-Phthalic Acid in Surface Waters with Background Levels of Pollution
by Alexander Gorshkov, Tatyana Grigoryeva, Yurij Bukin and Anton Kuzmin
Toxics 2023, 11(10), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100869 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1121
Abstract
Lake Baikal was studied as a model for elucidating the general pattern of o-phthalic acid diester (PAE) distributions in surface waters with background pollution levels. The influence of factors including congeners, concentrations, sampling points, seasons, years, and potential sources was considered and [...] Read more.
Lake Baikal was studied as a model for elucidating the general pattern of o-phthalic acid diester (PAE) distributions in surface waters with background pollution levels. The influence of factors including congeners, concentrations, sampling points, seasons, years, and potential sources was considered and the environmental risk for various hydrobionts was established. Priority PAEs in Baikal waters are represented by dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalates (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Statistically valuable average concentrations and ranges for DMP, DEP, DnBP, and DEHP were 0.02 (0.01–0.02), 0.07 (0.06–0.09), 0.55 (0.47–0.66), and 0.30 (0.26–0.34) µg/L, respectively. The main factors determining PAE concentrations were the year and season of sampling, whereas sampling points were not among the factors influencing PAE levels. The distribution of PAEs in the water body was characterized by (i) an even distribution of minor hydrophilic DMP and DEP congeners in the whole water body, (ii) a maximum concentration of hydrophobic DnBP and DEHP congeners in the upper and near-bottom layers of the water column, and (iii) a low concentration of hydrophobic congeners in the near-shore area. The main PAE source was found to be the atmospheric transfer of polluted air masses, while the supply of PAEs from coastal sources to the pelagic zone was low. The contribution of biogenic sources to the background level of PAEs in the surface waters of Lake Baikal was established. The ecological risk of the background concentration level of PAEs for Lake Baikal biota was estimated. It was found that (i) DMP and DEP congeners do not represent a risk, or represent a very low risk, (ii) the concentration levels of dominant DnBP and DEHP congeners represent a low risk for crustaceans and fishes but (iii) a rather high risk for algae at a DEHP concentration of 0.30 µg/L. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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30 pages, 2057 KiB  
Article
Impact of Arieş River Contaminants on Algae and Plants
by Adela Halmagyi, Anca Butiuc-Keul, Martin Keul, Cristina Dobrotă, László Fodorpataki, Adela Pintea, Aurel Mocan, Valeria Pop and Ana Coste
Toxics 2023, 11(10), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100817 - 28 Sep 2023
Viewed by 974
Abstract
The Arieş River (Western Romania) represents one of the most important affluents of the Mureş River, with great significance in the Mureş Tisza basin. The environmental quality of the Arieş basin is significantly affected by both historic mining activities and contemporary impacts. Thus, [...] Read more.
The Arieş River (Western Romania) represents one of the most important affluents of the Mureş River, with great significance in the Mureş Tisza basin. The environmental quality of the Arieş basin is significantly affected by both historic mining activities and contemporary impacts. Thus, an evaluation of the effects of the main contaminants found in water (organochlorine pesticides—OCPs, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—MAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs, and metals) on cyanobacteria and plants was performed. Among OCPs, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and derivatives were detected in plants while admissible concentrations were detected in water. Among MAHs, high levels of benzene were detected both in water and in plants. The levels of PAHs exceeded the allowable values in all samples. Increased concentrations of metals in water were found only at Baia de Arieş, but in plants, all metal concentrations were high. The pH, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates, as well as metals, pesticides, and aromatic hydrocarbons, influenced the physiological characteristics of algae, test plants, and aquatic plants exposed to various compounds dissolved in water. Considering that the Arieş River basin is the site of intense past mining activities, these data provide information about the impact on water quality as a consequence of pollution events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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22 pages, 2844 KiB  
Article
Multiple Assays on Non-Target Organisms to Determine the Risk of Acute Environmental Toxicity in Tebuconazole-Based Fungicides Widely Used in the Black Sea Coastal Area
by Lucica Tofan, Victor Niță, Magda Nenciu, Valentina Coatu, Luminița Lazăr, Nicoleta Damir, Daniela Vasile, Dan Răzvan Popoviciu, Alina-Giorgiana Brotea, Angela Maria Curtean-Bănăduc, Sorin Avramescu and Florin Aonofriesei
Toxics 2023, 11(7), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11070597 - 07 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
The widespread use of Tebuconazole-based fungicides in phytosanitary treatments on a wide range of crops, on the one hand, and the lack of official reports on the amount of fungicide residues in nearby water basins, on the other hand, may lead to uncontrolled [...] Read more.
The widespread use of Tebuconazole-based fungicides in phytosanitary treatments on a wide range of crops, on the one hand, and the lack of official reports on the amount of fungicide residues in nearby water basins, on the other hand, may lead to uncontrolled and hazardous contamination of water sources used by the resident population, and to serious effects on the environment and public health. Our study explores the acute toxicological risk of this fungicide on various organisms, from bacteria and yeast to fish, using a battery of tests (standardized Toxkit microbiotests and acute semi-static tests). By investigating the interaction between Tebuconazole and bacteria and yeast organisms, we observed that Gram-negative bacteria displayed a strong tolerance for Tebuconazole, while Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts proved to be very sensitive. The fish experiment was conducted on Chelon auratus juveniles exposed to five concentrations of the fungicide Tebustar EW (Tebuconazole, 250 g/L as active substance). After 96 h of exposure, the LC50 for C. auratus was 1.13 mg/L. In the case of the Toxkit microbiotests’ application, the following results were recorded: Spirodela polyrhiza EC50 = 2.204 mg/L (after 72 h exposure), Thamnocephalus platyurus EC50 = 0.115 mg/L (after 24 h), and Daphnia magna EC50 = 2.37 mg/L (after 24–48 h). With the exception of bacteria and yeast, the same response pattern was observed for all non-target species tested; the response range expressed by concentrations causing growth inhibition or mortality was small, ranging between very close values that are quite low, thereby demonstrating the high toxicity of Tebuconazole-based fungicides to the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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14 pages, 1970 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Groundwater from Campania Plain: Spatial Distribution, Source Attribution and Health Cancer Risk Evaluation
by Paolo Montuori, Elvira De Rosa, Pellegrino Cerino, Antonio Pizzolante, Federico Nicodemo, Alfonso Gallo, Giuseppe Rofrano, Sabato De Vita, Antonio Limone and Maria Triassi
Toxics 2023, 11(5), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11050435 - 06 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1434
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 1168 groundwater samples of the Campania Plain (Southern Italy), taken using a municipal environmental pressure index (MIEP), and to analyze the distribution of these compounds to determine [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 1168 groundwater samples of the Campania Plain (Southern Italy), taken using a municipal environmental pressure index (MIEP), and to analyze the distribution of these compounds to determine source PAHs using ratios of isomers diagnostic. Lastly, this study also aimed to estimate the potential health cancer risk in groundwaters. The data indicated that the highest concentration of PAHs was found in groundwater from Caserta Province and the contents of BghiP, Phe, and Nap were detected in the samples. The spatial distribution of these pollutants was evaluated using the Jenks method; moreover, the data indicated that incremental lifetime cancer risk ILCRingestion ranged from 7.31 × 10−20 to 4.96 × 10−19, while ILCRdermal ranged from 4.32 × 10−11 to 2.93 × 10−10. These research findings may provide information about the Campania Plain’s groundwater quality and aid in the development of preventative measures to lessen PAH contamination in groundwater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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21 pages, 5096 KiB  
Article
Enrichment Characteristics of Hazardous Trace Elements in Feed Coal and Coal Ash in Huaibei Area under Leaching
by Degao Wang, Jianwei Lu, Jian Wu, Bo Li and Ndhlovu Kataza Nyasha
Toxics 2023, 11(4), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11040308 - 26 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1074
Abstract
This research focused on the hazardous elements in the main coal seam of Huaibei coalfield, China. Through collecting 20 feed coal samples from different coal seams of nine coal mines in the region, and combining with XRF, XRD, ICP-MS, and sequential chemical extraction, [...] Read more.
This research focused on the hazardous elements in the main coal seam of Huaibei coalfield, China. Through collecting 20 feed coal samples from different coal seams of nine coal mines in the region, and combining with XRF, XRD, ICP-MS, and sequential chemical extraction, the mineral composition and the contents of major elements and HEs for feed coal were analyzed. Compared with previous research results, the enrichment characteristics of HEs in feed coal were revealed. The leaching behaviors of Se, Hg, and Pb in feed coal and coal ash under different leaching conditions were analyzed in depth by using a leaching device independently developed. Results showed that, compared with Chinese coals and World coals, the content of other elements, except Se, Sb, Hg, and Pb, in feed coal of Huaibei coalfield were at the “Normal” level, and no “Low” level elements were found; as the acidity of leaching solution decreased, the relative leaching rate of Se (LSe) was gradually increasing, while the LHg and LPb were not obvious; the LSe in feed coal and coal ash had a great relationship with the modes of occurrence of Se. The difference in the Hg content in the ion exchange state in feed coal may be an important reason for the difference in Hg leaching behavior. However, the content of Pb in feed coal had little influence on its leaching behavior. The modes of occurrence of Pb determined that the LPb in feed coal and coal ash was not high. The LSe increased with the increase in acidity of leaching solution and leaching time. The leaching time was the main influencing factor of the LHg and LPb. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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19 pages, 2219 KiB  
Article
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Blood and Eggs Organochlorine Pesticides Concentrations and Embryonic Development in a Nesting Area (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico)
by Patricia I. Salvarani, Luis R. Vieira, Jaime Rendón-von Osten and Fernando Morgado
Toxics 2023, 11(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11010050 - 03 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
Environmental contaminants with chemical origins, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have major impacts on the health of marine animals, including sea turtles, due to the bioaccumulation of those substances by transference throughout the food chain. The effects of environmental pollution on the health [...] Read more.
Environmental contaminants with chemical origins, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have major impacts on the health of marine animals, including sea turtles, due to the bioaccumulation of those substances by transference throughout the food chain. The effects of environmental pollution on the health of marine turtles are very important for management strategies and conservation. During recent decades, the south Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula have suffered from increasingly frequent disturbances from continental landmasses, river systems, urban wastewater runoff, port areas, tourism, industrial activities, pesticides from agricultural use, and other pollutants, such as metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and hydrocarbons (from the oil industry activities), which contaminate water and sediments and worsen the environmental quality of the marine ecosystem in this region. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of OCPs in the blood and eggs of 60 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at the Punta Xen turtle camp, and their effects on the nesting population’s reproductive performance: specifically, maternal transfer and embryonic development were analyzed. Hematologic characteristics, including packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin levels, and plasma chemistry values, including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose, were also measured. The general health of the turtles in this study, as well as their levels of urea, serum creatinine, glucose, uric, acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride, fell within normal ranges and was similar to other normal values, which could indicate the turtles’ good energy levels and body conditions for nest-building activity, with all of the turtles able to successfully come ashore to nest. All the same, the obtained results also indicate that OCPs affect the nesting and reproductive performance of the hawksbill turtles, as well as their fertility and the development of the population of eggs and reproductive performance, specifically in terms of maternal transference and embryonic development. There were significant differences in the concentrations of OCPs (ΣHCHs and ΣDienes) between maternal blood and eggs, indicating that these chemicals are transferred from nesting females to eggs and, ultimately, to hatchlings. OCPs may, therefore, have an effect on the health and reproductive performance of hawksbill turtles, both in terms of their fertility and egg development. Conservation strategies need to be species-specific, due to differences in feeding, and address the reasons for any decline, focusing on regional assessments. Thus, accurate and comparable monitoring data are necessary, which requires the standardization of monitoring protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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19 pages, 2823 KiB  
Article
Ozonation of Selected Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Secondary Effluent—Degradation Kinetics and Environmental Assessment
by Fátima Jesus, Eva Domingues, Carla Bernardo, Joana L. Pereira, Rui C. Martins and João Gomes
Toxics 2022, 10(12), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120765 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
The efficiency of ozonation depends on the water matrix and the reaction time. Herein, these factors were addressed by assessing the removal of five pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) by ozonation. The main aims were: (i) to assess the effects of the [...] Read more.
The efficiency of ozonation depends on the water matrix and the reaction time. Herein, these factors were addressed by assessing the removal of five pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) by ozonation. The main aims were: (i) to assess the effects of the water matrix on the degradation kinetics of PPCPs, individually and in mixture, following ozonation; and (ii) to assess the ecotoxicological impact of the ozone reaction time on the treatment of a spiked municipal wastewater (MW) added the five PPCPs over several species. The degradation of the PPCPs was faster in ultrapure water, with all PPCPs being removed in 20 min, whereas in the MW, a 30 min ozonation period was required to achieve a removal close to 100%. Increasing the number of PPCPs in the water matrix did not affect the time required for their removal in the MW. Regarding the ecotoxicity assessment, Raphidocelis subcapitata and Daphnia magna were the least sensitive species, whereas Lemna minor was the most sensitive. The temporal variation of the observed effects corroborates the degradation of the added PPCPs and the formation of toxic degradation by-products. The removal of the parent compounds did not guarantee decreased hazardous potential to biological species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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15 pages, 4418 KiB  
Article
Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Changes in Gills and Kidneys of Cyprinus carpio following Exposure to Benzethonium Chloride, a Cationic Surfactant
by Stefania Gheorghe, Miruna S. Stan, Daniel N. Mitroi, Andrea C. Staicu, Marius Cicirma, Irina E. Lucaciu, Mihai Nita-Lazar and Anca Dinischiotu
Toxics 2022, 10(5), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10050227 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2046
Abstract
One cationic surfactant with a wide spectrum of microbiocidal activity is benzethonium chloride (BEC). Despite being widely used, the toxicity data on vertebrate organisms are limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate within this study the acute toxicity of BEC on the gills and [...] Read more.
One cationic surfactant with a wide spectrum of microbiocidal activity is benzethonium chloride (BEC). Despite being widely used, the toxicity data on vertebrate organisms are limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate within this study the acute toxicity of BEC on the gills and kidneys of Cyprinus carpio (European carp). An alteration of the antioxidant enzymes activities (glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase) was noticed after 96 h of exposure, along with an elevation of lipid peroxidation and decreased concentration of reduced glutathione, which confirmed that BEC was able to induce toxicity to these tissues. These metabolic effects were correlated with unspecific structural changes observed in gills and kidneys, having moderate degree of severity (such as an increase of melanomacrophages aggregation incidence and cytoplasm vacuolation of goblet cells in collecting tubules) and generally being compatible with life for the exposure time studied. The most severe structural effects were observed in gills after 96 h, noticing a lamellar aneurysm, hemorrhages and lamellar epithelium disruption due to the blood vessels and pillar cells damages and increased blood flow inside the lamellae. By our research we can confirm the utility of biochemical and histological analyses in the fish organs as tools for monitoring the water quality and ecotoxicological potential of chemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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Review

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21 pages, 357 KiB  
Review
Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review
by Louis A. Tremblay, Anthony A. Chariton, Meng-Shuo Li, Yong Zhang, Toshihiro Horiguchi and Joanne I. Ellis
Toxics 2023, 11(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11030277 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1968
Abstract
Coastal areas provide important ecological services to populations accessing, for example, tourism services, fisheries, minerals and petroleum. Coastal zones worldwide are exposed to multiple stressors that threaten the sustainability of receiving environments. Assessing the health of these valuable ecosystems remains a top priority [...] Read more.
Coastal areas provide important ecological services to populations accessing, for example, tourism services, fisheries, minerals and petroleum. Coastal zones worldwide are exposed to multiple stressors that threaten the sustainability of receiving environments. Assessing the health of these valuable ecosystems remains a top priority for environmental managers to ensure the key stressor sources are identified and their impacts minimized. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of current coastal environmental monitoring frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region. This large geographical area includes many countries with a range of climate types, population densities and land uses. Traditionally, environmental monitoring frameworks have been based on chemical criteria set against guideline threshold levels. However, regulatory organizations are increasingly promoting the incorporation of biological effects-based data in their decision-making processes. Using a range of examples drawn from across the region, we provide a synthesis of the major approaches currently being applied to examine coastal health in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, we discuss some of the challenges and investigate potential solutions for improving traditional lines of evidence, including the coordination of regional monitoring programs, the implementation of ecosystem-based management and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and participatory processes in decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Contaminants in Water and Sediment)
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