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37 pages, 3897 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Phytoplankton in the Assessment of the Ecological State of the Floodplain Lakes of the Irtysh River, Kazakhstan

by Elena Krupa, Yerkezhan Argynbayeva, Sophia Barinova and Sophia Romanova

Environments 2025, 12(9), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090322 - 12 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Floodplain lakes play a significant role in maintaining biological diversity and providing a food base for aquatic organisms. In 2023–2024, for the first time, we studied phytoplankton of five floodplain lakes of the transboundary Irtysh River in Kazakhstan. A total of 149 species [...] Read more.

Floodplain lakes play a significant role in maintaining biological diversity and providing a food base for aquatic organisms. In 2023–2024, for the first time, we studied phytoplankton of five floodplain lakes of the transboundary Irtysh River in Kazakhstan. A total of 149 species and forms of planktonic algae were recorded, with a low level of similarity between the lakes. The ratio of indicator species (predominance of eutraphents and meso-eutraphents), abundance (3301.6–168,961.1 thou. cells L⁻¹), biomass (2.41–83.67 mg L⁻¹) of phytoplankton communities, and composition of dominant phyla and species (Cyanobacteria: Microcystis pulverea, M. aeruginosa, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; Chlorophyta: Volvox globator; Dinoflagellata: Ceratium hirundinella and others) testified to a high level of organic pollution of floodplain lakes. Chemical variables (nitrogen compound content, PI) supported this conclusion. Analysis of the RDA revealed that the biomass of Cyanobacteria was controlled by nitrate nitrogen, while phosphates controlled that of Chlorophyta. The applied integrated approach showed an improvement in the trophic status of lakes in a high-water year and can be useful in assessing the ecological state of aquatic ecosystems in other regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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19 pages, 1939 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genotoxic Effects of Water in Aquatic Ecosystems with Varying Cyanobacterial Abundance Assessed Using the Allium Test

by Svetlana Kurbatova, Dmitry Pesnya, Andrey Sharov, Igor Yershov, Ekaterina Chernova, Roman Fedorov, Ivan Semadeni and Galina Shurganova

Environments 2025, 12(9), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090321 - 12 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic ecosystems are a major global environmental concern. While the mutagenic and mitosis-disrupting properties of isolated cyanobacterial toxins are well documented, evidence of cytogenotoxic effects resulting from cyanobacterial blooms in natural aquatic ecosystems remains limited. In this study, water genotoxicity [...] Read more.

Cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic ecosystems are a major global environmental concern. While the mutagenic and mitosis-disrupting properties of isolated cyanobacterial toxins are well documented, evidence of cytogenotoxic effects resulting from cyanobacterial blooms in natural aquatic ecosystems remains limited. In this study, water genotoxicity was evaluated in microcosms simulating cyanobacterial blooms of varying abundance. In microcosms with initially high cyanobacterial abundances (4.6 × 10⁷ and 2.2 × 10⁷ cells L⁻¹) and biomass (58 mg L⁻¹ and 20 mg L⁻¹), significant toxic, cytotoxic, mitosis-disrupting, and mutagenic effects were observed: root elongation was inhibited by up to 49.6% (Day 1), the mitotic index decreased by ~33% (Treatment I, Day 42) vs. Control, and total chromosomal aberrations and lagging chromosomes increased by ~2.5-fold on Day 1 (Treatment I) and ~4.7-fold on Day 42 (Treatment I) vs. Control; micronuclei increased ~10-fold on Day 42 in Treatment I and II. In microcosms with lower cyanobacterial abundance (1.2 × 10⁷ cells L⁻¹) and biomass (9 mg L⁻¹), significant reductions were observed only in root growth and in the mitotic index compared with Control. Future research should aim to identify a broader spectrum of cyanobacterial toxins and to investigate their environmental fate and persistence in aquatic ecosystems, particularly since genotoxic effects were detected even during the post-bloom period: on Day 42 extracellular microcystins in water were <LOQ in Treatments I and III (and 0.025 µg L⁻¹ in Treatment II), yet chromosome lagging and micronuclei remained elevated. The observed genotoxicity associated with cyanobacterial metabolites underscores the need for thorough risk assessments of cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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17 pages, 3006 KB

Open AccessArticle

Plasticizers and Bisphenols in Sicilian Lagoon Bivalves, Water, and Sediments: Environmental Risk in Areas with Different Anthropogenic Pressure

by Giuseppa Di Bella, Federica Litrenta, Angela Giorgia Potortì, Salvatore Giacobbe, Vincenzo Nava, Davide Puntorieri, Ambrogina Albergamo and Vincenzo Lo Turco

Environments 2025, 12(9), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090305 - 30 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Plasticizers and bisphenols are contaminants of concern in the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Bivalve molluscs are effective bioindicators due to their benthic nature, their ability to filter water, and their capacity to bioaccumulate persistent pollutants. This study analyzes plasticizers and bisphenols in [...] Read more.

Plasticizers and bisphenols are contaminants of concern in the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Bivalve molluscs are effective bioindicators due to their benthic nature, their ability to filter water, and their capacity to bioaccumulate persistent pollutants. This study analyzes plasticizers and bisphenols in three native clam species (Ruditapes decussatus, Cerastoderma glaucum, and Polititapes aureus) from two Sicilian lagoons under different levels of anthropogenic pressure: the urbanized Capo Peloro lagoon (Ganzirri Lake) and the less impacted Oliveri–Tindari lagoon. The clams, together with water and sediment samples, were collected in winter 2023. Both groups of clams from the two sampling areas contained phthalates such as DMP, DEP, DiBP, and DEHP, as well as non-phthalate plasticizers such as DEHT, DBA, DEA, and DEHA. The sum of non-phthalate plasticizers (NPPs) was consistently higher than the sum of phthalates in all clam samples, confirming the emerging trend of NPPs. This trend was also observed in the water and sediment samples, regardless of the sampling area. The presence of structural analogues of bisphenol A (BPA) highlights the growing prevalence of BPA-like structures in aquatic environments. Given the increasing evidence of widespread and persistent contamination of aquatic environments by plasticizers and bisphenols, it is evident that these substances pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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14 pages, 877 KB

Open AccessArticle

Low Concentrations of Ibuprofen Had No Adverse Effects on Deleatidium spp. Mayfly Nymphs: A 7-Day Experiment

by Niña Sarah P. Batucan, Louis A. Tremblay, Grant L. Northcott and Christoph D. Matthaei

Environments 2025, 12(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12040102 - 27 Mar 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 590

Abstract

Concerns over pharmaceutical contaminants are increasing due to their high biological activity and ubiquity, with wastewater being the main source. Ibuprofen is extensively used worldwide and commonly detected in freshwaters due to its low degradability during wastewater treatment. Daphnia magna is the most-used [...] Read more.

Concerns over pharmaceutical contaminants are increasing due to their high biological activity and ubiquity, with wastewater being the main source. Ibuprofen is extensively used worldwide and commonly detected in freshwaters due to its low degradability during wastewater treatment. Daphnia magna is the most-used model taxon for toxicity testing of ibuprofen, but this crustacean is known to be less sensitive to some contaminants than several freshwater insect groups. Our study assessed the toxicity of ibuprofen (nominal concentration range 2.0–2147.5 µg/L) to a native New Zealand mayfly, Deleatidium spp., in a 7-day static renewal experiment, with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (1.4 µg/L) as a reference toxicant. Test concentrations of ibuprofen included three field-realistic and four higher concentrations that might occur in severely polluted streams. Mayfly responses indicated some negative trends (decreased survival and moulting propensity, increased impairment and immobility), but all patterns were non-significant. The imidacloprid control also had no significant impacts but tended to increase mayfly impairment. Overall, Deleatidium nymphs were largely unaffected by the entire range of experimental ibuprofen concentrations, suggesting that ibuprofen may be a relatively benign stressor for these organisms, although longer-term exposure experiments are needed to confirm if they demonstrate susceptibility to chronic exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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12 pages, 2499 KB

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Metal Toxicity on Daphnia magna

by Paula Cojocaru, Maria-Cătălina Pastia, Gabriela Biali and Cristian Cojocaru

Environments 2025, 12(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12030070 - 24 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1985

Abstract

This study analyzes the acute toxicity of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ on water fleas. The hatching rate of D. magna ephippia was monitored under the influence of the pollutant at concentrations of 0.1 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, [...] Read more.

This study analyzes the acute toxicity of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ on water fleas. The hatching rate of D. magna ephippia was monitored under the influence of the pollutant at concentrations of 0.1 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, and 1.0 mg/L over an exposure period of 42 h−67 h. The mortality rate of newborns was determined comparing with the control sample at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h, as well as with the lethal concentration 50% (LC50). The results showed that Zn²⁺ appears to be less toxic to D. magna compared to Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺, even at high concentrations, suggesting a greater tolerance of the ephippia to this metal. Newborn mortality increased significantly with higher concentrations and longer exposure times, with Cd²⁺ causing mortality rates of up to 100% after 48 h. In contrast, Zn²⁺ exhibited lower toxicity, although mortality increased with high concentrations and extended exposure periods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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13 pages, 1637 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Fish and Seafood Consumption in the Adult Population of an Italian Coastal Region and Health Risk Perception from Exposure to Methylmercury

by Anna Maria Spagnolo, Cristiana Maurella, Marina Sartini and Elena Bozzetta

Environments 2025, 12(2), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12020066 - 17 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1314

Abstract

Fish is a nutrient-rich food important for the well-being of all age groups. However, through fish ingestion, organisms are also exposed to various contaminants such as mercury, which can be biomagnified to reach the highest levels of concentration in predatory fishes. The aim [...] Read more.

Fish is a nutrient-rich food important for the well-being of all age groups. However, through fish ingestion, organisms are also exposed to various contaminants such as mercury, which can be biomagnified to reach the highest levels of concentration in predatory fishes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of fish and seafood products in the population of an Italian coastal region and to investigate the perception of risk by consumers. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered for this purpose. Regarding the habit of eating fish and seafood products, 92% of the interviewees reported consuming these regularly. Fresh, frozen, and canned products were eaten one to three times a week by 55.0%, 52.1%, and 65.6% of participants, respectively. Swordfish and tuna, species at high risk of methylmercury contamination, were consumed one or more times a month by 79.5% of respondents. Only 37.4% showed awareness of the possible health risk, with 81% citing chemical causes (e.g., methylmercury). Combined actions are needed to contain the risk of exposure to contaminants, such as mercury, through the ingestion of fish and seafood products, including greater consumer information on species to be limited, fisheries monitoring, and controls on contaminant emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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11 pages, 2836 KB

Open AccessArticle

Electric Field-Based Ozone Nanobubbles in Tandem with Reduced Ultraviolet Light Exposure for Water Purification and Treatment: Aquaculture and Beyond

by Niall J. English

Environments 2024, 11(12), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120292 - 18 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2196

Abstract

Micro- and nanobubbles are tiny gas bubbles that are smaller than 100 μm and 1 μm, respectively. This study investigated the impact of electric field ozone nanobubbles (EF-ONBs) on the purification of both deionised and aquaculture water bodies, finding that heightened reactive oxygen [...] Read more.

Micro- and nanobubbles are tiny gas bubbles that are smaller than 100 μm and 1 μm, respectively. This study investigated the impact of electric field ozone nanobubbles (EF-ONBs) on the purification of both deionised and aquaculture water bodies, finding that heightened reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxygen reduction potential (ORP) are correlated to a higher production of EF-ONBs. In particular, it was found that there were substantially reduced ultraviolet light requirements for aquaculture when using EF-ONBs to maintain aquaculture purification standards. It is clear that the approximately exponential decay is slowed down by almost ten times by EF-ONBs even without UV applied, and that it is still roughly six times longer than the ‘control’ case of standard O₃ sparging in water (i.e., meso- and macro-bubbles with no meaningful level of dispersed-phase, bubble-mediated dissolution beyond the standard Henry’s law state—owing mostly to rapid Stokes’ law rising speeds). This has very positive implications for, inter alia, recirculation aeration systems featuring an ozonation cycle, as well as indoor agriculture under controlled-light environments and malting, where ozonation cycles are also often used or contemplated in process redesign strategies. Such promising results for EF-ONBs offer, inter alia, more sustainable aquaculture, water sterilisation, indoor farming, and malting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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16 pages, 3733 KB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Characteristics of Zirconium Chloride and Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles Driving Toxicity on Lemna minor

by Mohamadou Diallo and David Dewez

Environments 2024, 11(10), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11100222 - 12 Oct 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2462

Abstract

The increasing global production and utilization of zirconium (Zr) compounds, including zirconium chloride (ZrCl₄) and zirconium oxide nanoparticles (NPs-ZrO₂), raises concerns about their potential environmental impact. This study investigated the toxicity mechanisms of ZrCl₄ and NPs-ZrO₂ on [...] Read more.

The increasing global production and utilization of zirconium (Zr) compounds, including zirconium chloride (ZrCl₄) and zirconium oxide nanoparticles (NPs-ZrO₂), raises concerns about their potential environmental impact. This study investigated the toxicity mechanisms of ZrCl₄ and NPs-ZrO₂ on the aquatic plant Lemna minor. The physicochemical properties of NPs-ZrO₂ in the test medium were characterized, revealing concentration-dependent changes in the hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and solubility over time. The analysis of Zr speciation showed the predominance of Zr(OH)₄(aq) species from ZrCl₄. Plants of L. minor exposed to ZrCl₄ and NPs-ZrO₂ exhibited differential Zr bioaccumulation, growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and antioxidant responses. ZrCl₄ induced a higher toxicity than NPs-ZrO₂, with bioaccumulation strongly correlating with adverse effects. The differential toxicity impact between these two Zr-compounds was also determined by the lowest observed-effect doses for growth and biochemical parameters. The scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed internalization of NPs-ZrO₂ and Zr uptake in the L. minor plant. Therefore, these findings highlighted the importance of chemical speciation, environmental transformations, and biological responses in assessing the ecological impact of Zr-compounds for effective risk assessment and management strategies for protecting aquatic ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Risk Assessment of Aquatic Environments)

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