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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 28925

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Loredana Manfra

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Guest Editor

1. Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy
2. Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
Interests: ecotoxicology and nano(eco)toxicology; environmental contamination assessment and monitoring; bioremediation; ecological risk assessment; emerging contaminants; standard and alternative bioassays; molecular and genomic tools; multidisciplinary approaches

Dr. Alice Rotini

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Guest Editor

Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy
Interests: marine ecology; microbiology; environmental contamination and bioremediation; ecological risk assessment; ecotoxicology; bioassays and biomarkers; emerging contaminants: marine and coastal ecosystems; seagrass monitoring; molecular and genomic tools; marine plant ecophysiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The environmental pollution presents a global challenge due to the interactions among conventional pollutants (e.g., persistent organic compounds, metals), emerging contaminants (e.g., nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc.) and the increasing environmental stressors (e.g., climate changes, invasive species, eutrophication).

The (eco)toxicology investigates the adverse effects of potentially toxic agents or other stressors on biological targets, from cellular to ecosystem level. The inland, coastal and marine waters appear as the final destination for most of contaminants, thus, understanding toxicity mechanisms and interactions associated with multiple chemical exposures is crucial to preserve the functional integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

Recently, many researches have focused on the ecological and safety issues of (nano)materials and commercial products to assess and reduce the risk of their environmental toxicity. Bioremediation systems and eco-friendly technologies are constantly promoted. Biological responses in case of chronic exposures have been increasingly investigated, beside the acute ones.

Nevertheless, due to the complexity of this research field, the multiple chemical interactions, adverse effects of pollutants at the molecular and genetic level, as well as the implications on biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics remain too little explored. Finally, the development and optimisation of alternative methods, which could replace, reduce or refine the use of fish in ecotoxicity tests are cutting-edge issues, considering the animal welfare regulations.

This special issue “Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment” welcomes research and review papers dealing with ecotoxicological studies, with particularly focus on marine data and above-mentioned aspects.

Dr. Loredana Manfra
Dr. Alice Rotini
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Aquatic ecotoxicity
(Nano)ecotoxicity
Conventional and emerging pollutants
Environmental contamination
Mechanisms of toxicity
Ecological risk assessment
Bioaccumulation
Biomonitoring
Biomarkers
Bioassay

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic and Gene Expression Profiles of Embryo Development of the Ascidian Ciona robusta Exposed to Dispersants

by Maria Concetta Eliso, Ilaria Corsi, Loredana Manfra and Antonietta Spagnuolo

Water 2022, 14(10), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101539 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1865

Abstract

Within EU approval policies, most dispersant ecotoxicity testing considers lethal concentrations for marine adult species, overlooking the embryotoxicological effects. Here we studied the ecotoxicity of two commercial dispersant formulations (dispersant A and B) on the embryogenesis of the ascidian Ciona robusta. Embryotoxicity and phenotypic alterations stated that dispersant B resulted more toxic than A (EC₅₀ value of 44.30 and 160 μg mL⁻¹, respectively) and induced severe larvae malformations at lower concentrations. Furthermore, the analysis of genes involved in different cellular response pathways indicated that those belonging to biotransformation were upregulated by dispersant A treatment, likely related to the presence of hydrocarbons. Instead, dispersant B induced cas8 gene downregulation, probably as a result of the prolonged exposure to mixture components. Our preliminary findings support the use of the C. robusta embryotoxicity test as a valuable tool for dispersant approval procedures, by providing sub-lethal responses on marine invertebrates closely related to vertebrates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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11 pages, 3179 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Ecotoxicological Effects of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on Parturition Time, Survival Rate, Reproductive Success and Blood Parameters of Adult Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops) and Their Larvae

by Sara Vali, Nava Majidiyan, Ahmad Mohamadi Yalsuyi, Mohammad Forouhar Vajargah, Marko D. Prokić and Caterina Faggio

Water 2022, 14(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14020144 - 6 Jan 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3598

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) can display toxicological effects on aquatic organisms. This study investigates ecotoxicological effects of Ag-NPs on reproductive and blood parameters of adult common molly (Poecilia sphenops) and their larvae. During the LC50 96 h test, female fish were exposed to concentrations of 0, 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 60 mg L⁻¹ of Ag-NPs, while larvae were exposed to 0, 3, 5, 10 and 15 mg L⁻¹. Finally, we aim to evaluate the effects of 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg L⁻¹ of Ag-NPs on parturition time, reproductive success and hematological parameters of the mature fish exposed to sub-lethal concentration during a 62-day period. We also evaluated the survival rate of larvae. The results show a positive correlation between mortality rate and Ag-NP concentration. Values for LC50 96 h in adult fish and larvae were 26.85 mg L⁻¹ and 6.22 mg L⁻¹, respectively. A lack of parturition and reproductive success were seen in fish that underwent chronic exposure to Ag-NPs (15 mg L⁻¹). The results show that RBC, WBC and hematocrit were significantly decreased in fish exposed to Ag-NPs. In addition, the serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in fish submitted to Ag-NPs (concentrations of 5–15). In conclusion, submitting a fish to higher concentration than 10 mg L⁻¹ has adverse effects on reproductive system and blood parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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14 pages, 1889 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Do Single-Component and Mixtures Selected Organic UV Filters Induce Embryotoxic Effects in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)?

by Jana Cahova, Jana Blahova, Lucie Plhalova, Zdenka Svobodova and Caterina Faggio

Water 2021, 13(16), 2203; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162203 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 3811

Abstract

UVs are important ingredients in common cosmetic products (e.g., sunscreens, hairsprays, soap). After their use, they can enter the aquatic ecosystem and negatively affect non-target aquatic organisms. The aim of our study was to evaluate acute embryotoxicity of selected organic UVs 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), octocrylene (OC), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) and benzophenone-3 (BP-3). The chemicals were tested both as a single substance and their mixtures. The types of mixtures were chosen as follows: the combination of OC and 4-MBC; the combination of PBSA, EHMC and BP-3 and the combination of all five UV filters. The embryotoxicity was evaluated using a modified method of the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity Test-OECD guideline 236 and zebrafish (Danio rerio) was selected as a suitable fish model organism. The toxic effects were studied by assessing mortality, hatching and the occurrence of malformations at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post fertilization. The obtained results indicate that especially the mixture of OC and 4-MBC presents a potential risk of embryotoxicity for zebrafish due to a significant increase in mortality, which was 41.7% in the experimental group exposed to 10 μg/L at 96 h post fertilization. Based on our results, the most effected sub-lethal endpoints were hatching and malformation (e.g., edema of pericard, bent spine, yolk edema), but with no statistically significant effect. These results differ within groups with single UVs and with their mixtures, suggesting the interaction of these substances when they are exposed together. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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17 pages, 3106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Antidepressants Citalopram and Venlafaxine on the Big Ramshorn Snail (Planorbarius corneus)

by Michael Ziegler, Helene Eckstein, Heinz-R. Köhler, Selina Tisler, Christian Zwiener and Rita Triebskorn

Water 2021, 13(13), 1722; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13131722 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4198

Abstract

Depression is a serious health issue and, being such, treatment for it has become a topic of increasing concern. Consequently, the prescription rates of antidepressants have increased by about 50% over the past decade. Among antidepressants, citalopram and venlafaxine are the most frequently prescribed in Germany. Due to the high consumption and low elimination rates of both antidepressants during wastewater purification, they are frequently found in surface waters, where they may pose a risk to the aquatic environment. For the present study, we conducted experiments with the big ramshorn snail, which we exposed to environmentally relevant and explicitly higher concentrations (1–1000 µg/L) of the antidepressants citalopram and venlafaxine. We investigated apical endpoints, such as weight, mortality, behavioural changes, B-esterase activity, Hsp70 stress protein level and superoxide dismutase activity, as well as the tissue integrity of the hepatopancreas in the exposed snails. Citalopram and venlafaxine had no effects on the B-esterase activity, Hsp70 level and superoxide dismutase activity. Citalopram exposure resulted in weight reduction and tissue reactions in the hepatopancreas of snails exposed to 1000 µg/L. In contrast, venlafaxine did not induce comparable effects, but impacted the behaviour (sole detachment) of snails exposed to 100 µg/L and 1000 µg/L of the antidepressant. These results revealed that venlafaxine can affect snails at concentrations 10 times lower than citalopram. For this, in 2020 venlafaxine was introduced in the “Surface Water Watch List”, a list of potential pollutants that should be carefully monitored in surface water by the EU Member States. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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22 pages, 43892 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Weight of Evidence (WOE) Approach to Assess Environmental Hazard of Marine Sediments from Adriatic Offshore Platform Area

by Loredana Manfra, Chiara Maggi, Giuseppe d’Errico, Alice Rotini, Barbara Catalano, Silvia Maltese, Ginevra Moltedo, Giulia Romanelli, Giulio Sesta, Giuseppe Granato, Pasquale Lanera, Marina Amici, Giacomo Martuccio, Fulvio Onorati, Rossella Di Mento, Maria T. Berducci, Gianluca Chiaretti, Olga Faraponova, Francesco Regoli and Andrea Tornambè

Water 2021, 13(12), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13121691 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3414

Abstract

European legislative framework supports a multidisciplinary strategy of environmental monitoring because the environment is a complex system of abiotic and biotic interactions, and it should not be studied and protected by looking at one single aspect. The resulting heterogeneous data request to be carefully processed, and the application of Weight of Evidence (WOE) approaches is, thereby, an integrated validated tool. In this perspective, the present study aims to: (i). apply a specific model (Sediqualsoft) based on the WOE approach for processing multidisciplinary data related to four Lines Of Scientific Evidence (LOEs: chemical analyses, ecotoxicological bioassays, bioaccumulation tests and biomarkers) regarding sediments from an area of the Adriatic Sea; (ii). evaluate the usefulness of this specific integrated approach to estimate the potential environmental hazard due to the presence of gas production platforms respect to the traditional approach of sediment chemical characterization. This latter recognized a more contaminated area within 100 m of the platforms in which the Sediqualsoft model showed the presence of a chemical hazard, ranging from moderate to severe, and identified the contaminants (e.g., some metals, benzo(a)pyrene and acenaphthene) most responsible for it. A significant hazard also appeared in some of the sampled stations by analyzing the LOEs dedicated to the biological responses. The choice of different reference values (regulatory limits, threshold values or concentrations measured in the control area) influenced only the chemical hazard but not the overall integration with other LOEs, showing a moderate hazard for the majority of stations. Here, the concentrations measured in a control area are firstly proposed as possible reference values in Sediqualsoft model applications; this could be of particular relevance when Sediment Quality Guidelines are not available for all the measured substances. Moreover, the limitations of a conventional pass-to-fail approach or worst-case scenario were overcoming interpreting whole chemical and ecotoxicological results. All data analyzed and discussed confirm Sediqualsoft as a suitable tool for processing environmental data, including those first processed here on a monitoring scenario of gas platforms that discharge Produced Water into the sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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14 pages, 47947 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Assessing the Ecotoxicity of Copper and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Comparison of Effects on Paracentrotus lividus and Botryllus schlosseri, as Alternative Bioassay Methods

by Chiara Gregorin, Luisa Albarano, Emanuele Somma, Maria Costantini and Valerio Zupo

Water 2021, 13(5), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050711 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3288

Abstract

Adult sea urchins and their embryos are ideal targets to investigate the medium- and long-term effects of various toxic agents, such as organic and inorganic pollutants, to forecast and mitigate their environmental effects. Similarly, small colonial tunicates such as Botryllid ascidians may reveal acute toxicity processes and permit quick responses for the management of contaminants impacting coastal waters, to preserve the functional integrity of marine ecosystems. This investigation compares the functional responses of two model invertebrates, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the sea squirt Botryllus schlosseri, to chronic and acute exposures to organic and inorganic toxic agents. Such heavy metals as copper produce both acute and chronic effects on marine biota, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mainly produce chronic effects at the concentrations ordinarily measured in marine coastal waters. Both models were tested over a range of concentrations of copper and PAHs. Copper triggered a clear effect in both species, producing a delay in the embryo development of P. lividus and a rapid death of sea squirts. B. schlosseri was less sensitive to PAHs than P. lividus. The results on both species may synergistically contribute to assess the toxicity of organic and inorganic compounds at various concentrations and different physiologic levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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28 pages, 776 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Seagrass Holobiont: What We Know and What We Still Need to Disclose for Its Possible Use as an Ecological Indicator

by Chiara Conte, Alice Rotini, Loredana Manfra, Marco Maria D’Andrea, Gidon Winters and Luciana Migliore

Water 2021, 13(4), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040406 - 4 Feb 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7153

Abstract

Microbes and seagrass establish symbiotic relationships constituting a functional unit called the holobiont that reacts as a whole to environmental changes. Recent studies have shown that the seagrass microbial associated community varies according to host species, environmental conditions and the host’s health status, suggesting that the microbial communities respond rapidly to environmental disturbances and changes. These changes, dynamics of which are still far from being clear, could represent a sensitive monitoring tool and ecological indicator to detect early stages of seagrass stress. In this review, the state of art on seagrass holobiont is discussed in this perspective, with the aim of disentangling the influence of different factors in shaping it. As an example, we expand on the widely studied Halophila stipulacea’s associated microbial community, highlighting the changing and the constant components of the associated microbes, in different environmental conditions. These studies represent a pivotal contribution to understanding the holobiont’s dynamics and variability pattern, and to the potential development of ecological/ecotoxicological indices. The influences of the host’s physiological and environmental status in changing the seagrass holobiont, alongside the bioinformatic tools for data analysis, are key topics that need to be deepened, in order to use the seagrass-microbial interactions as a source of ecological information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment)

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