Distribution of chlorinated organic pollutants in harbor sediments of Livorno (Italy): a multivariate approach to evaluate dredging sediments

First report on organochlorine pesticides in water in a highly productive agro-industrial basin of the Central Valley, Chile

The Ñuble River flows through an agricultural area in the central zone of Chile in which different types of fruits are grown. The objective of this study was to identify the levels and source of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the surface waters of the Ñuble River. Surface water samples were collected at 10 sampling points and analyzed for 19 organochlorine pesticides during the dry (spring-summer) and wet (autumn-winter) periods of 2013 and 2014. The results revealed that concentrations of total OCPs in surface waters ranged from 0.12 to 26.28 ng/l. Endosulfan and lindane were the main OCPs in the water. The maximum OCP levels were found in the dry period, while significantly lower concentrations were recorded in the wet period. This indicates that patterns of OCPs have varied in the last 10 years as this study found low concentrations of DDT and metabolites but significantly increased concentrations of α-endosulfan. Given the fact that OCPs were withdrawn from agricultural used many years ago, their presence indicates that they may be still in use clandestinely. Findings of significant concentrations of endosulfan and lindane in this study lead to the conclusion that the chemical fallow practices contribute to runoff into the river and surface water infiltration into groundwater. Because no studies have previously measured OCP levels in agricultural basins in Chile, this study is an important contribution to the knowledge of organochlorine contaminants present in surface water in Chile.

Bioremediation of contaminated marine sediments can enhance metal mobility due to changes of bacterial diversity

Bioremediation strategies applied to contaminated marine sediments can induce important changes in the mobility and bioavailability of metals with potential detrimental consequences on ecosystem health. In this study we investigated changes of bacterial abundance and diversity (by a combination of molecular fingerprinting and next generation sequencing analyses) during biostimulation experiments carried out on anoxic marine sediments characterized by high metal content. We provide evidence that the addition of organic (lactose and/or acetate) and/or inorganic compounds to contaminated sediments determines a significant increase of bacterial growth coupled with changes in bacterial diversity and assemblage composition. Experimental systems supplied only with organic substrates were characterized by an increase of the relative importance of sulfate reducing bacteria belonging to the families Desulfobacteraceae and Desulfobulbaceae with a concomitant decrease of taxa affiliated with Flavobacteriaceae. An opposite effect was observed in the experimental treatments supplied also with inorganic nutrients. The increase of bacterial metabolism coupled with the increase of bacterial taxa affiliated with Flavobacteriaceae were reflected in a significant decrease of Cd and Zn associated with sedimentary organic matter and Pb and As associated with the residual fraction of the sediment. However, independently from the experimental conditions investigated no dissolution of metals occurred, suggesting a role of bacterial assemblages in controlling metal solubilization processes. Overall results of this study have allowed to identify key biogeochemical interactions influencing the metal behavior and provide new insights for a better understanding of the potential consequences of bio-treatments on the metal fate in contaminated marine sediments.