Embryotoxicity characterization of the flame retardant tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP) in the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis.

Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP) is the most common chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardant in seawater. Due to its chemical features and abundance, TCPP has been classified as a high hazard, and restrictions of use have been set in multiple countries. Despite TCPP being highly present in the marine environment, only a few studies have explored the TCPP impact on the development of marine invertebrates. Ascidians are important invertebrate members of benthic marine communities and reliable model systems for ecotoxicological research. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse effects of TCPP exposure on the embryogenesis of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Our results showed that this pollutant affected both muscles and nervous system development. Malformations appeared similar to those reported in other animal models for other flame retardants, suggesting that these molecules could share a common mechanism of action and induce a mixture effect when simultaneously present in the aquatic environment even at sub-teratogenic concentrations.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance lavandulylsenecioate.

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State Italy for the pesticide active substance lavandulylsenecioateare reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses evaluated as a pheromone comprising manual applications to control Planococcusficus (vine mealybug) populations by mating disruption in table grape, wine grape, raisins and any other crops where P. ficus may be a pest in Southern Europe. The reliable endpoints,appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessmentare presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.Concerns are identified.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance mancozeb.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the United Kingdom and co-rapporteur Member State Greece for the pesticide active substance mancozeb are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of mancozeb as a fungicide on wheat (winter/spring), grapevine, potatoes and tomatoes. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Bisphenol A affects neural development of the ascidian Ciona robusta.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic pollutant derived from plastic degradation that has numerous and variable adverse effects on human health and wildlife. In particular, it has been reported that BPA can alter reproductive processes and nervous system development in vertebrates. Considering BPA presence in marine environment and the scant data available on its interaction with nervous system development, we analyzed the effect of BPA exposure on sperm viability, fertilization, embryogenesis, and neural differentiation of the ascidian Ciona robusta. Ascidians are members of the Phylum Tunicata, the sister group of Vertebrata, sharing with them fundamental developmental processes. Our results showed that first cell division was altered starting from 5 µM concentration. Lethal concentration (LC 50 ) was estimated to be 5.2 µM. Larvae developed from treated embryos showed specific malformations to the pigment cells even at 0.1 µM, corresponding to the highest environmental concentration reported so far. Moreover, GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons proved to be target organs of BPA teratogenic action, in accordance with similar results reported in vertebrate animal models. Overall, our results suggest that BPA can exert its effects on nervous system acting on different pathways and underline that C. robusta is a valuable invertebrate animal model for preliminary screenings of effects of pollutants on vertebrates.

Nervous system characterization during the development of a basal echinoderm, the feather star Antedon mediterranea.

Neural development of echinoderms has always been difficult to interpret, as larval neurons degenerate at metamorphosis and a tripartite nervous system differentiates in the adult. Despite their key phylogenetic position as basal echinoderms, crinoids have been scarcely studied in developmental research. However, since they are the only extant echinoderms retaining the ancestral body plan of the group, crinoids are extremely valuable models to clarify neural evolution in deuterostomes. Antedon mediterranea is a feather star, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. Its development includes a swimming lecithotrophic larva, the doliolaria, with basiepithelial nerve plexus, and a sessile filter-feeding juvenile, the pentacrinoid, whose nervous system has never been described in detail. Thus, we characterized the nervous system of both these developmental stages by means of immunohistochemistry and, for the first time, in situ hybridization techniques. The results confirmed previous descriptions of doliolaria morphology and revealed that the larval apical organ contains two bilateral clusters of serotonergic cells while GABAergic neurons are localized under the adhesive pit. This suggested that different larval activities (e.g., attachment and metamorphosis) are under the control of different neural populations. In pentacrinoids, the analysis showed the presence of a cholinergic entoneural system while the ectoneural plexus appeared more composite, displaying different neural populations. The expression of three neural-related microRNAs was described for the first time, suggesting that these are evolutionarily conserved also in basal echinoderms. Overall, our results set the stage for future investigations that will reveal new information on echinoderm evo-devo neurobiology.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for the active substance sulfoxaflor in light of confirmatory data submitted.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the co-rapporteur Member State the Czech Republic for the pesticide active substance sulfoxaflor are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of confirmatory ecotoxicology data. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of sulfoxaflor as an insecticide on fruiting vegetables (field and greenhouse application), cucurbits (field and greenhouse application), spring and winter cereals (field application) and cotton (field application). The reliable endpoints concluded as being appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, derived from the available studies and literature in the dossier peer reviewed, are presented. For the field and non-permanent structure greenhouses, a high risk to honeybees and bumble bees was identified related to some pertinent scenarios (treated crop scenario except after flowering period, weed scenario, field margin scenario). A low risk was concluded for honeybees, bumble bees and solitary bees in case of permanent structure greenhouse provided the low exposure in such scenarios.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fenamiphos.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Greece and co-rapporteur Member State Cyprus for the pesticide active substance fenamiphos are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of fenamiphos as a nematicide in fruiting vegetables (i.e. tomato, aubergine, cucumber, pepper and courgette), herbaceous ornamentals and in nursery stock (both perennial and herbaceous species). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance Verticillium albo-atrum strain WCS850.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Sweden and co-rapporteur Member State the Netherlands for the pesticide active substance Verticillium albo-atrum strain WCS850 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative use of Verticillium albo-atrum strain WCS850 as a fungicide on elm trees. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance thiacloprid.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the United Kingdom and co-rapporteur Member State Germany for the pesticide active substance thiacloprid are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of thiacloprid as an insecticide on oilseed rape foliar use and maize seed treatment. The peer review also provided conclusions on whether exposure of humans to thiacoprid can be considered negligible, taking into account the European Commission's draft guidance on this topic. Confirmatory data following the review of existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 were also assessed in this conclusion. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. An evaluation of data concerning the necessity of thiacloprid as an insecticide to control a serious danger to plant health which cannot be contained by other available means, including non-chemical methods is presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance pyriproxyfen.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the Netherlands and co-rapporteur Member State Spain for the pesticide active substance pyriproxyfen and the assessment of applications for maximum residue levels (MRLs) are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of pyriproxyfen as an insecticide on citrus fruit, pome fruit (apple, pears), tomatoes, ornamentals (field use) and tomatoes, ornamentals (greenhouse application). MRLs were assessed in citrus fruits. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment and the proposed MRLs, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Updated peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for the active substance terbuthylazine in light of confirmatory data submitted.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, for the pesticide active substance terbuthylazine are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of confirmatory data on groundwater metabolites. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of terbuthylazine as a herbicide on maize and sorghum and taking into account the scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR) on the setting of health-based reference values for metabolites of the active substance terbuthylazine. The reliable endpoints concluded as being appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, derived from the available studies and literature in the dossier peer reviewed, are presented. Concerns are identified.

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on early stages of two marine invertebrates with different feeding strategies.

Nowadays, microplastics represent one of the main threats to marine ecosystems, being able to affect organisms at different stages of their life cycle and at different levels of the food web. Although the presence of plastic debris has been reported in different habitats and the ability to ingest it has been confirmed for different taxa, few studies have been performed to elucidate the effects on survival and development of marine animals. Thus, we explored the effects of different environmental concentrations of polystyrene microbeads on the early stages of two invertebrate species widespread in the Mediterranean shallow waters: the pelagic planktotrophic pluteus larvae of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the filter-feeding sessile juveniles of the ascidian Ciona robusta. We evaluated the effects on larvae and juvenile development and determined the efficiency of bead ingestion. The feeding stages of both species proved to be extremely efficient in ingesting microplastics. In the presence of microbeads, the metamorphosis of ascidian juveniles was slowed down and development of plutei altered. These results prompted the necessity to monitor the populations of coastal invertebrates since microplastics affect sensitive stages of life cycle and may have consequences on generation recruitment.

Improving the Conservation of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans: The ELASMOMED DNA Barcode Reference Library.

Cartilaginous fish are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors and environmental change because of their K-selected reproductive strategy. Accurate data from scientific surveys and landings are essential to assess conservation status and to develop robust protection and management plans. Currently available data are often incomplete or incorrect as a result of inaccurate species identifications, due to a high level of morphological stasis, especially among closely related taxa. Moreover, several diagnostic characters clearly visible in adult specimens are less evident in juveniles. Here we present results generated by the ELASMOMED Consortium, a regional network aiming to sample and DNA-barcode the Mediterranean Chondrichthyans with the ultimate goal to provide a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library. This library will support and improve the molecular taxonomy of this group and the effectiveness of management and conservation measures. We successfully barcoded 882 individuals belonging to 42 species (17 sharks, 24 batoids and one chimaera), including four endemic and several threatened ones. Morphological misidentifications were found across most orders, further confirming the need for a comprehensive DNA barcoding library as a valuable tool for the reliable identification of specimens in support of taxonomist who are reviewing current identification keys. Despite low intraspecific variation among their barcode sequences and reduced samples size, five species showed preliminary evidence of phylogeographic structure. Overall, the ELASMOMED initiative further emphasizes the key role accurate DNA barcoding libraries play in establishing reliable diagnostic species specific features in otherwise taxonomically problematic groups for biodiversity management and conservation actions.