| 891. |
- Pettersson, M., et al.
(författare)
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Fish bile used to detect estrogenic substances in treated sewage water
- 2006
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 366:1, s. 174-186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endocrine disrupting effects on fish associated with sewage treatment effluents have been demonstrated in several studies. To investigate if the effluents from two modem Swedish sewage treatment plants contained estrogenic substances, juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to sewage water before and after the last treatment step which is a sand filter. As a biomarker for estrogenic effect, vitellogenin was analysed in the blood plasma of the exposed fish. To identify substances possibly responsible for the effect, bile fluid from the exposed fish were analysed with GUMS. Elevated levels of vitellogenin were only seen in the fish exposed at one of the sewage treatment plants, the one with shorter residence time in the biological treatment steps, which suggests that the residence time is of importance for the ability to reduce the amount of estrogenic substances in the sewage water. The highest elevation of vitellogenin was seen in the fish exposed to water before the sand filter, which indicates that the sand filter contributes to further reduction of estrogenic substances in the sewage water. In bile from the same group of fish, considerably higher concentrations of estrone, bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol (4.0 mu g/g bile, 23 mu g/g bile and 24 mu g/g bile, respectively) were observed compared to bile from control fish (< 0.04 mu g/g bile, 0.21 mu g/g bile, and 3.5 mu g/g bile, respectively). The more potent steroidal estrogens were suggested to be major contributors to the observed estrogenic effect, although xenoestrogens were detected at higher concentrations in the bile fluid. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 892. |
- Piccini, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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Dung beetles as drivers of ecosystem multifunctionality: Are response and effect traits interwoven?
- 2017
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rapid biodiversity loss has emphasized the need to understand how biodiversity affects the provisioning of ecological functions. Of particular interest are species and communities with versatile impacts on multiple parts of the environment, linking processes in the biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere to human interests in the anthroposphere (in this case, cattle farming). In this study, we examine the role of a specific group of insects - beetles feeding on cattle dung - on multiple ecological functions spanning these spheres (dung removal, soil nutrient content and greenhouse gas emissions). We ask whether the same traits which make species prone to extinction (i.e. response traits) may also affect their functional efficiency (as effect traits). To establish the link between response and effect traits, we first evaluated whether two traits (body mass and nesting strategy, the latter categorized as tunnelers or dwellers) affected the probability of a species being threatened. We then tested for a relationship between these traits and ecosystem functioning. Across Scandinavian dung beetle species, 75% of tunnelers and 30% of dwellers are classified as threatened. Hence, nesting strategy significantly affects the probability of a species being threatened, and constitutes a response trait. Effect traits varied with the ecological function investigated: density-specific dung removal was influenced by both nesting strategy and body mass, whereas methane emissions varied with body mass and nutrient recycling with nesting strategy. Our findings suggest that among Scandinavian dung beetles, nesting strategy is both a response and an effect trait, with tunnelers being more efficient in providing several ecological functions and also being more sensitive to extinction. Consequently, functionally important tunneler species have suffered disproportionate declines, and species not threatened today may be at risk of becoming so in the near future. This linkage between effect and response traits aggravates the consequences of ongoing biodiversity loss.
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| 893. |
- Piecha, Marc, et al.
(författare)
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Plant roots but not hydrology control microbiome composition and methane flux in temperate fen mesocosms
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 940
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rewetting of formerly drained peatlands can help to counteract climate change through the reduction of CO2 emissions. However, this can lead to resuming CH4 emissions due to changes in the microbiome, favoring CH4-producing archaea. How plants, hydrology and microbiomes interact as ultimate determinants of CH4 dynamics is still poorly understood. Using a mesocosm approach, we studied peat microbiomes, below-ground root biomass and CH4 fluxes with three different water level regimes (stable high, stable low and fluctuating) and four different plant communities (bare peat, Carex rostrata, Juncus inflexus and their mixture) over the course of one growing season. A significant difference in microbiome composition was found between mesocosms with and without plants, while the difference between plant species identity or water regimes was rather weak. A significant difference was also found between the upper and lower peat, with the difference increasing as plants grew. By the end of the growing season, the methanogen relative abundance was higher in the sub-soil layer, as well as in the bare peat and C. rostrata pots, as compared to J. inflexus or mixture pots. This was inversely linked to the larger root area of J. inflexus. The root area also negatively correlated with CH4 fluxes which positively correlated with the relative abundance of methanogens. Despite the absence or low abundance of methanotrophs in many samples, the integration of methanotroph abundance improved the quality of the correlation with CH4 fluxes, and methanogens and methanotrophs together determined CH4 fluxes in a structural equation model. However, water regime showed no significant impact on plant roots and methanogens, and consequently, on CH4 fluxes. This study showed that plant roots determined the microbiome composition and, in particular, the relative abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs, which, in interaction, drove the CH4 fluxes.
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| 894. |
- Pierozan, Paula, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Persistent immunosuppressive effects of dibutyl phthalate exposure in adult male mice
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 878
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increased exposure to manmade chemicals may be linked to an increase in immune-related diseases in humans and immune system dysfunction in wildlife. Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) suspected to influence the immune system. The aim of this study was to characterize the persistent effects on leukocytes in the blood and spleen, as well as plasma cytokine and growth factor levels, one week after the end of five weeks of oral treatment with dibutyl phthalate (DBP; 10 or 100 mg/kg/d) in adult male mice. Flow cytometry analysis of the blood revealed that DBP exposure decreased the total leukocyte count, classical monocyte and T helper (Th) popula-tions, whereas it increased the non-classical monocyte population compared to the vehicle control (corn oil). Immuno-fluorescence analysis of the spleen showed increased CD11b+Ly6G+ (marker of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells; PMN-MDSCs), and CD43+staining (marker of non-classical monocytes), whereas CD3+ (marker of total T cells) and CD4+ (marker of Th cells) staining decreased. To investigate the mechanisms of action, levels of plasma cytokines and chemokines were measured using multiplexed immunoassays and other key factors were ana-lyzed using western blotting. The observed increase in M-CSF levels and the activation of STAT3 may promote PMN-MDSC expansion and activity. Increased ARG1, NOX2 (gp91phox), and protein nitrotyrosine levels, as well as GCN2 and phosphor-eIRF alpha, suggest that oxidative stress and lymphocyte arrest drive the lymphocyte suppression caused by PMN-MDSCs. The plasma levels of IL-21 (promotes the differentiation of Th cells) and MCP-1 (regulates mi-gration and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages) also decreased. These findings show that adult DBP exposure can cause persistent immunosuppressive effects, which may increase susceptibility to infections, cancers, and immune dis-eases, and decrease vaccine efficacy.
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| 895. |
- Pierozan, Paula, et al.
(författare)
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Tumorigenic activity of alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) : Mechanistic in vitro studies
- 2022
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental contaminants including long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to cancer, which is a central cause of mortality in humans and many wildlife species. Today shorter-chain PFAS are extensively used as replacement compounds and commonly found in the environment. Mechanistic studies are important for a better understanding of their toxicological potential and possible role in cancer etiology. Here, we treated normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) with 500 pM to 500 μM of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX), perfluoro 3,6 dioxaoctanoic acid (PFO2OA), heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) for 72 h to investigate potential effects on cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation. PFHxA, GenX, PFO2OA, HFBA and PFBS induced no alterations compared to controls at any of the concentrations tested. Exposure to 100 μM PFHxS on the other hand was shown to affect important regulatory cell-cycle proteins (cyclin D1, CDK6, p27, p53 and ERK) and induced cell proliferation, at least in part through activation of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). PFHxS also altered histone modifications and induced cell malignance by reducing the levels of adhesion proteins (E-cadherin and β-integrin) and promoting cell migration and invasion. These results demonstrate that five out of six alternative PFAS tested are clearly less harmful to MCF-10A cells than previously studied PFOS and PFOA, but raise concerns about PFHxS that also has been associated with breast cancer in epidemiological studies.
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| 896. |
- Pihl Karlsson, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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Atmospheric deposition and soil water chemistry in Swedish forests since 1985 – Effects of reduced emissions of sulphur and nitrogen
- 2024
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - Göteborg : IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 913, s. 169734-169734
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Trends for the atmospheric deposition of sulphur (S) and inorganic nitrogen (inorg-N) to forests and changes in the forest soil water chemistry in Sweden have been assessed since 1985, with special focus on the last 25 years, based on measurements within the Swedish Throughfall Monitoring Network (SWETHRO). The reductions in the deposition of S and inorg-N in the southern part of Sweden corresponded relatively well with the pollutant emission reductions for S and inorg-N from both EU27 + UK and Sweden during 1996/97–2021/22. For northern Sweden the deposition of S and inorg-N decreased to a lesser extent than both European and Swedish emissions.The bulk deposition of NO3-N has decreased more than the deposition of NH4-N over the last 25-year period, which is consistent with the much larger emission reductions for NOx compared to NH3 from EU27 + UK and Sweden. The S concentrations in the soil water, at 50 cm below soil surface, have decreased during the last 25 years, however somewhat less than the S deposition. At sites with low ANC and pH in the beginning of the period, the increase in ANC was generally greater and the increase in pH was smaller, but at sites with high pH and ANC above zero, the increase in pH was dominant, in line with the nonlinear relationship between pH and ANC in the soil water. The incidence of elevated concentrations of NO3-N in the soil water was highest in southwest Sweden, ranging between 4 and 19 % of all measuring occasions since 1985/86. The reduced deposition of N over the 35-year period was not reflected in the incidence of elevated concentrations of NO3-N in the soil water over time.
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| 897. |
- Pilotto, Francesca, et al.
(författare)
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Decline in niche specialization and trait β-diversity in benthic invertebrate communities of Central European low-mountain streams over 25 years
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 810
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biotic homogenization is one of the key aspects of the current biodiversity crisis. Here we analyzed the trends of three facets of niche homogenization, i.e. niche specialization, trait α-diversity and spatial β-diversity, over a period of 25 years (1990–2014) using a large dataset of 3782 stream benthic invertebrate samples collected from central European low-mountain streams. We studied a set of traits describing the ecological niche of species and their functions: body size, feeding groups, substrate preferences, flow preferences, stream zonation preferences and saprobity. Trait composition changed significantly during the study period, and we identified an overall increase in niche homogenization. Specifically, community niche specialization significantly decreased by 20.3% over the 25-year period, with declines ranging from −16.0 to −40.9% for zonation-, flow-, substrate-preferences, body size and feeding traits. Trait diversity did not change significantly, although we recorded significant decreases by −14.2% and −10.2% for flow- and substrate-preference and increases by 5.8% and 22.6% for feeding traits and zonation preference over the study period. Trait spatial β-diversity significantly decreased by −53.0%, with substrate-preference, feeding groups and flow-preference traits declining from −61.9% to −75.3% over the study period. This increased niche homogenization is likely driven by the increase of down-stream typical taxa, which are favored by warming temperatures. Further, it is in apparent contradiction with the recorded increase in abundance (+35.9%) and taxonomic richness (+39.2%) over the same period. Even such increases do not safeguard communities from undergoing niche homogenization, indicating that recovery processes may differ with regard to community taxonomic composition and traits. Our results emphasize the complexity of community responses to global change and warrant caution when founding conclusions based solely on single community metrics.
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| 898. |
- Pilotto, Francesca, et al.
(författare)
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Is the body condition of the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) enhanced through attachment to native freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionidae)?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 553, s. 243-249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The invasion of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, into Western Europe and North America has driven widespread ecological change. Attachment of zebra mussels to the shell of native unionoid mussels has resulted in reductions in unionoid abundance and, in extreme cases, their localised extirpations. While the impacts of zebra mussels on infested unionoids are well documented, the possible benefits of the association to the zebra mussel have been little considered. We collected zebra mussels attached to unionoids and to inanimate structures. Zebra mussels attached to unionoids had significantly larger shells, higher standardized body mass and glycogen content than those attached to inanimate substrates, suggesting that D. polymorpha benefits from settling upon unionoids. The body condition of individual zebra mussels was negatively correlated with the number of zebra mussels attached to the unionoid, indicating intraspecific competition. Therefore, zebra mussels seem positively affected through attachment to unionoid mussels, but that these benefits decrease at higher densities of fouling. This association may offer advantages to the spread of zebra mussels within unionoid-rich systems, especially at sites with soft substrates and at the early stages of the invasion process where intraspecific competition is likely to be lower and benefits to the zebra mussels are higher.
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| 899. |
- Pinkney, Alfred E., et al.
(författare)
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Tumor prevalence and biomarkers of genotoxicity in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) in Chesapeake Bay tributaries
- 2011
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 410, s. 248-257
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We surveyed four Chesapeake Bay tributaries for skin and liver tumors in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus). We focused on the South River, where the highest skin tumor prevalence (53%) in the Bay watershed had been reported. The objectives were to 1) compare tumor prevalence with nearby rivers (Severn and Rhode) and a more remote river (Choptank); 2) investigate associations between tumor prevalence and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylating agents; and 3) statistically analyze Chesapeake Bay bullhead tumor data from 1992 through 2008. All four South River collections exhibited high skin tumor prevalence (19% to 58%), whereas skin tumor prevalence was 2%, 10%, and 52% in the three Severn collections; 0% and 2% in the Choptank collections; and 5.6% in the Rhode collection. Liver tumor prevalence was 0% to 6% in all but one South River collection (20%) and 0% to 6% in the three other rivers. In a subset of samples. PAR-like biliary metabolites and (32)P-DNA adducts were used as biomarkers of exposure and response to polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Adducts from alkylating agents were detected as O6-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (O6Me-dG) and O6-ethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (06Et-dG) modified DNA. Bullheads from the contaminated Anacostia River were used as a positive control for DNA adducts. (32)P-DNA adduct concentrations were significantly higher in Anacostia bullhead livers compared with the other rivers. We identified alkyl DNA adducts in bullhead livers from the South and Anacostia, but not the Choptank. Neither the PAH-like bile metabolite data, sediment PAR data, nor the DNA adduct data suggest an association between liver or skin tumor prevalence and exposure to PACs or alkylating agents in the South, Choptank, Severn, or Rhode rivers. Logistic regression analysis of the Chesapeake Bay database revealed that sex and length were significant covariates for liver tumors and length was a significant covariate for skin tumors.
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| 900. |
- Pinto, Luis, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental and socioeconomic factors influencing the use of urban green spaces in Coimbra (Portugal)
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 792
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Urban green spaces (UGS) deliver a wide range of regulating, provisioning and cultural ecosystem services (CES), relevant to support the achievement of some United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities, and Goal 3: good health and well-being). However, knowledge of preferences and uses of UGS by urban dwellers is still lacking. This study assesses the CES perceived by different users in five distinct urban parks located in Coimbra, Portugal: Manuel Braga (secular park), Botanical garden, Choupal national forest, Mondego green park (large area placed next to the river), and Vale das Flores (linear park located in a residential area). A questionnaire survey was performed in each park to investigate the activities performed and their relevance for the users, users' motivations to develop the activities on that specific UGS, the perceived benefits regarding physical and emotional well-being and social interactions, and users' perception about disservices. The results showed that walking, meeting people, practicing and doing activities with children are the activities performed by most users and are perceived as beneficial for physical and emotional well-being. Multifunctionality is a characteristic of all parks and highly appreciated by the users. Significant differences in socio-demographic characteristics of the users and motivations are recorded between parks. The tranquillity of space and landscape beauty are the main motivations to use Manuel Braga Park and the Botanical garden. Distance to the park and transportation means are particularly important for Botanical garden and Vale das Flores park users. Age group and average monthly income were associated in both Choupal national forest, Mondego green park and Vale das Flores park, denoting that older and wealthier users are more able to enjoy these parks. Users' problems or ecosystem disservices were not identified, although plagues (e.g., mosquitoes) and dangerous animals recorded average concerns in the Choupal national forest and in the Vale das Flores and Mondego green parks. This work's findings can help decision-makers better understand users' needs and expectations, thus improving UGS design and management to attract more citizens.
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