Multispecies and multibiomarker assessment of fish health from Iguaçu River reservoir, Southern Brazil.

This study investigated the impact of micropollutants on fish health from Segredo hydroelectric reservoir (HRS) along the Iguaçu River, Southern Brazil, contaminated by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities. This is the first comprehensive study assessment in the river after the severe drought in the 2020s in three fish species from different trophic levels Astyanax spp. (water column depth/omnivorous), Hypostomus commersoni (demersal/herbivorous), and Pimelodus maculatus (demersal/omnivorous). Animals, water, and sediment samples were collected from three distinct sites within the reservoir: Floresta (upstream), Iratim (middle), and Station (downstream). The chemical analysis revealed elevated concentrations of metals (Al, Cu, Fe) and the metalloid As in water, or Cu, Zn, and As in sediment, surpassing Brazilian regulatory limits, while the organic pollutants as DDT, PAHs, PCBs, and PBDEs were found under the Brazilian regulatory limits. The metal bioaccumulation was higher in gills with no significant differences among sites. The species Astyanax spp. and H. commersoni displayed variations in hepatosomatic index (HSI) and P. maculatus in the condition factor index (K) between sites, while adverse effects due to micropollutants bioaccumulation were observed by biochemical, genotoxic, and histopathological biomarkers. The principal component analysis and integrated biomarker response highlighted the upstream site Floresta as particularly inhospitable for biota, with distinctions based on trophic level. Consequently, this multifaceted approach, encompassing both fish biomarkers and chemical analyses, furnishes valuable insights into the potential toxic repercussions of micropollutant exposure. These findings offer crucial data for guiding management and conservation endeavors in the Iguaçu River.

Microelements, Fatty Acid Profile, and Selected Biomarkers in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Muscle Tissue: Seasonal Variations and Health Risk Assessment.

The study assesses associations between microelement levels, fatty acid composition, and oxidative stress markers in grass carp muscle in the summer and autumn seasons. Additionally, various factors were considered, including the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ), and metal pollution index (MPI), to evaluate potential health risks for consumers. The microelements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and total mercury was determined using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS). Fatty acid profiling was realized using gas chromatography (GC) detection with a flame ionization detector (FID). The overall tendency of microelement levels was as follows: Fe > Zn > Al > Sr > Ba > Ni > Se > Cr> Cu > Mn > Pb > As > Li > Hg;

Temporal trends in exposure to parabens, benzophenones, triclosan, and triclocarban in adult females in Kyoto, Japan, from 1993 to 2016.

Products used in daily life can contain chemicals such as parabens, benzophenones, triclosan, and triclocarban that have potential endocrine-disrupting effects. Little is known about the temporal trends of exposure levels to some of these chemicals in Japan. Our study assessed the intake and risk associated with exposure to commonly used chemicals. We measured the concentrations of five parabens, four benzophenones, and triclosan and triclocarban in 133 single spot urine samples. The urine samples were collected in 1993, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2016 from healthy female residents in Kyoto, Japan. With the exception of methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben, there were no significant fluctuations in the concentrations of target chemicals over the study period; however, methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben showed temporal changes in concentrations. Methylparaben concentrations peaked in 2003 with a median value of 309 µg/g creatinine, ethylparaben concentrations peaked in 1993 with a median value of 17.3 µg/g creatinine, and butylparaben showed a decline, with the median values becoming non-detectable in 2009 and 2016. We calculated estimated daily intakes and hazard quotients for each chemical. In the analysis of total samples, 2.3% (3 samples) for butylparaben and 0.8% (1 sample) for propylparaben were found to surpass a hazard quotient of 1. Overall, 3% (n = 4) of the study participants exceeded a hazard index of 1. The potential health risks associated with exposure to butylparaben and propylparaben emphasize the need for further monitoring and research.

Determination of ecological statuses of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin using composition and ecological characteristics of diatoms.

The present study aimed to evaluate the interactions between diatoms and ecological factors in various streams and to test the suitability of diatom indices to evaluate the ecological status of 44 streams in the Ceyhan River Basin during the spring and autumn periods of 2021 and the summer of 2022. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated the significant effects of electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) on the distribution of diatom species of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin. Of the streams, Aksu and Erkenez streams were associated with high EC, BOD5, and TP and characterized by pollution-tolerant species. Pollution-sensitive species showed close integration with Aksu Spring Brook, Gözpinar Creek, Göksun Creek, and Yesilgöz Spring Brook, which related to a high dissolved oxygen gradient. Different eco-regional diatom indices displayed different scores, representing from bad to high ecological status in the Ceyhan River basin. Among the diatom indices, Trophic Index Turkey (TIT) proved to be the more suitable metric to assess the ecological status of streams. TIT indicated deterioration of water quality in Karasu (S06), Erkenez (S07) streams, and downstream areas of the Ceyhan River and the least distributed sampling stations in the basin. Results suggested that eco-regionally developed diatom indices, like TIT, are required to more accurately assess the ecological status of streams in the Mediterranean region. The study provides a fundamental assessment of the ecological status of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin using an appropriate diatom index before the Pazarcik-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023. Findings allow someone to assess the impact of the earthquake on diatom communities and ecological factors in the region in the future studies.

Towards global insect biomonitoring with frugal methods.

None of the global targets for protecting nature are currently met, although humanity is critically dependent on biodiversity. A significant issue is the lack of data for most biodiverse regions of the planet where the use of frugal methods for biomonitoring would be particularly important because the available funding for monitoring is insufficient, especially in low-income countries. We here discuss how three approaches to insect biomonitoring (computer vision, lidar, DNA sequences) could be made more frugal and urge that all biomonitoring techniques should be evaluated for global suitability before becoming the default in high-income countries. This requires that techniques popular in high-income countries should undergo a phase of 'innovation through simplification' before they are implemented more broadly. We predict that techniques that acquire raw data at low cost and are suitable for analysis with AI (e.g. images, lidar-signals) will be particularly suitable for global biomonitoring, while techniques that rely heavily on patented technologies may be less promising (e.g. DNA sequences). We conclude the opinion piece by pointing out that the widespread use of AI for data analysis will require a global strategy for providing the necessary computational resources and training. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Systematic challenges and opportunities in insect monitoring: a Global South perspective.

Insect monitoring is pivotal for assessing biodiversity and informing conservation strategies. This study delves into the complex realm of insect monitoring in the Global South-world developing and least-developed countries as identified by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development-highlighting challenges and proposing strategic solutions. An analysis of publications from 1990 to 2024 reveals an imbalance in research contributions between the Global North and South, highlighting disparities in entomological research and the scarcity of taxonomic expertise in the Global South. We discuss the socio-economic factors that exacerbate the issues, including funding disparities, challenges in collaboration, infrastructure deficits, information technology obstacles and the impact of local currency devaluation. In addition, we emphasize the crucial role of environmental factors in shaping insect diversity, particularly in tropical regions facing multiple challenges including climate change, urbanization, pollution and various anthropogenic activities. We also stress the need for entomologists to advocate for ecosystem services provided by insects in addressing environmental issues. To enhance monitoring capacity, we propose strategies such as community engagement, outreach programmes and cultural activities to instill biodiversity appreciation. Further, language inclusivity and social media use are emphasized for effective communication. More collaborations with Global North counterparts, particularly in areas of molecular biology and remote sensing, are suggested for technological advancements. In conclusion, advocating for these strategies-global collaborations, a diverse entomological community and the integration of transverse disciplines-aims to address challenges and foster inclusive, sustainable insect monitoring in the Global South, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation and overall ecosystem health. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Measuring the state of aquatic environments using eDNA-upscaling spatial resolution of biotic indices.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates, including many aquatic insect orders, are a diverse and ecologically relevant organismal group yet they are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities. As many of these taxa are highly sensitive to environmental change, they offer a particularly good early warning system for human-induced change, thus leading to their intense monitoring. In aquatic ecosystems there is a plethora of biotic monitoring or biomonitoring approaches, with more than 300 assessment methods reported for freshwater taxa alone. Ultimately, monitoring of aquatic macroinvertebrates is used to calculate ecological indices describing the state of aquatic systems. Many of the methods and indices used are not only hard to compare, but especially difficult to scale in time and space. Novel DNA-based approaches to measure the state and change of aquatic environments now offer unprecedented opportunities, also for possible integration towards commonly applicable indices. Here, we first give a perspective on DNA-based approaches in the monitoring of aquatic organisms, with a focus on aquatic insects, and how to move beyond traditional point-based biotic indices. Second, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept for spatially upscaling ecological indices based on environmental DNA, demonstrating how integration of these novel molecular approaches with hydrological models allows an accurate evaluation at the catchment scale. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Comprehensive assessment of the UV-filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate and its phase I/II metabolites in urine by extended enzymatic hydrolysis and on-line SPE LC-MS/MS.

2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) is used as a UV filter in personal-care products, such as sunscreen, to prevent skin damage through UV radiation. The application of EHS-containing products leads to systemic EHS absorption, metabolization and excretion. To measure EHS and its corresponding metabolite levels in urine, a comprehensive analytical procedure based on an extended enzymatic hydrolysis, on-line-SPE, and UPLC-MS/MS was developed. The method covers a large profile of seven metabolites (including isomeric structures) as well as EHS itself in a run time only of 18 min. Easy sample preparation, consisting of a 2-h hydrolysis step, followed by on-line enrichment and purification, add to the efficiency of the method. An update, compared to a previous method for the determination of EHS and metabolites in urine, is that, during hydrolysis, both glucuronide and sulfate conjugates are considered. The method was furthermore applied to urine samples after a real-life exposure scenario to EHS-containing sunscreen. The method is highly sensitive with limits of detection ranging from 6 to 65 ng/L. Moreover, it is characterized by good precision data, accuracy, and robustness to matrix influences. Application of the method to urine samples following dermal exposure to an EHS-containing sunscreen revealed EHS as the main biomarker after dermal exposure, followed by the major biomarkers 5OH-EHS, 5cx-EPS, 4OH-EHS and 5oxo-EHS. The expansion and optimization of this method decisively contributes to the research on the dermal metabolism of EHS and can be applied in exposure studies and for human biomonitoring.

Human biomonitoring follow-up study on PFOA contamination and investigation of possible influencing factors on PFOA exposure in a German population originally exposed to emissions from a fluoropolymer production plant.

BACKGROUND: In the past, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was produced and applied as an emulsifier in a fluoropolymer production plant in the Altötting district, southern Bavaria (Germany). This chemical was released directly into the environment, resulting in the contamination of the local drinking water. During a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey in 2018, increased median PFOA blood serum levels, compared to a normally exposed control group with no known source of PFOA exposure from Munich, Germany, were detected in the resident population (23.18 µg/l in the general population, 20.71 µg/l in the children's group). The follow-up study aimed to investigate whether purification of the drinking water as the main PFOA exposure source has been successful in reducing internal PFOA exposure and to estimate the association of internal PFOA exposure with possible influencing factors. METHODS: Only individuals who had already participated in the HBM study in 2018 were included. For the determination of the PFOA serum concentration, 5 ml of blood was drawn from each participating person. Blood samples were collected in the period from June to August 2022. Furthermore, information on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, dietary behaviour and other lifestyle factors were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. To examine the association of PFOA blood serum levels with possible influencing factors, such as age, gender and consumption of fish and game meat, a logistic regression model with a PFOA value > 10 µg/l as outcome was used. RESULTS: A total of 764 individuals participated in the follow-up study in 2022. Analyses were performed separately for the general population (n = 559), women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) (n = 120), and children under 12 years old (n = 30). Median PFOA blood levels have decreased by 56.9% in the general population, by 59.8% in the group of women of reproductive age and by 73.4% in the group of children under 12 years old. In the general population, a higher probability of a PFOA value > 10 µg/l was found for those aged 40-59 years (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.33 (95%CI: 1.23 to 4.43, p = 0.01) and those aged 60 years and older (OR = 5.32, 95%CI: 2.78 to 10.19, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In all study groups, the median PFOA serum levels decreased as expected after a half-life of four years, which confirms that contamination via drinking water has ceased. Furthermore, our study identified age as a significant predictor of internal PFOA exposure, while no influence was found for the consumption of fish and game meat. Further investigations are needed to quantify in a more detailed way the influence of dietary habits on PFOA exposure.

Monitoring human exposure to four parabens and triclosan: comparing silicone wristbands with spot urine samples as predictors of internal dose.

BACKGROUND: People are exposed to a variety of chemicals each day as a result of their personal care product (PCP) use. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine if silicone wristbands provide a quantitative estimate of internal dose for phenols commonly associated with PCPs, with a focus on triclosan and four parabens: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparaben. Uptake of these compounds into wristbands and correlations with internal dose were assessed. METHODS: Ten adults from central North Carolina wore five silicone wristbands, with one wristband removed each day for 5 days. Each participant provided a 24 h urine sample and a random spot urine sample each day, in which paraben and triclosan metabolites were evaluated. RESULTS: All parabens and triclosan were detected frequently in wristbands and, except for butylparaben, in urine samples. Wristband and spot urine concentrations of parabens and triclosan were both compared to a measurement of internal dose (i.e., the total metabolite mass excreted over 5 days as a measurement of internal dose). IMPACT STATEMENT: The two most hydrophobic compounds investigated, butylparaben and triclosan, displayed significant linear uptake in wristbands over 5 days, whereas concentrations of methyl- and ethylparaben displayed a steady state concentration. In general, wristbands and spot urine samples were similarly correlated to internal dose for frequently detected parabens and triclosan.  However, wristbands have additional advantages including higher detection rates and reduced participant burden that may make them more suitable tools for assessing exposure to PCPs.

Design, Methods, and Participation in Riksmaten Young Children-A Swedish National Dietary Survey.

Background: National dietary surveys provide essential data for risk benefit assessments of foods and nutrients, for management and policy development. Physical activity measurement and biomonitoring can provide important complementary data but are less commonly included. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the study design and methods of the cross-sectional Swedish national dietary survey Riksmaten Young Children (Riksmaten småbarn), of children aged 9 mo, 18 mo, and 4 y. Participation/dropout rates for the 2 older age groups are also presented. The impact of different recruitment strategies is discussed. Methods: Children (N = 16,655) were randomly selected from the population register; invitations to guardians were sent by post and where possible, followed up by telephone. Food intake was assessed by a 2-d food diary and/or questionnaire. Height and weight were reported after measurement. Physical activity (accelerometery, 7 d) and stool, blood, and urine samples were assessed in subgroups. Results: Food consumption data were collected in 1828 children (11% of the invited; 18 mo: n = 1078, and 4 y: n = 750). Of participants also in subgroups, 71% provided physical activity data (n = 1307), 60% stool samples (n = 630), and 51% blood and/or urine samples (n = 593). The study population represented all geographic regions and types of municipalities in Sweden, but participating households had both higher education level and higher income than the target population. Only minor differences were seen in participation rates between recruitment via post and telephone compared with those through post only (12% compared with 10%). Repeated contact attempts were needed for the majority of participants (65%). Despite the low-participation rate, 99% of the participants completed the study once started. Conclusions: Although it was a challenge to recruit participants, Riksmaten Young Children provides a substantial amount of information at national level, representative in terms of sex, geography, and family structure. The underrepresentation of households with lower socioeconomic position must be considered when generalizing results.

Real-Time Detection of Yeast Growth on Solid Medium through Passive Microresonator Biosensor.

This study presents a biosensor fabricated based on integrated passive device (IPD) technology to measure microbial growth on solid media in real-time. Yeast (Pichia pastoris, strain GS115) is used as a model organism to demonstrate biosensor performance. The biosensor comprises an interdigital capacitor in the center with a helical inductive structure surrounding it. Additionally, 12 air bridges are added to the capacitor to increase the strength of the electric field radiated by the biosensor at the same height. Feasibility is verified by using a capacitive biosensor, and the change in capacitance values during the capacitance detection process with the growth of yeast indicates that the growth of yeast can induce changes in electrical parameters. The proposed IPD-based biosensor is used to measure yeast drop-added on a 3 mm medium for 100 h at an operating frequency of 1.84 GHz. The resonant amplitude of the biosensor varies continuously from 24 to 72 h due to the change in colony height during vertical growth of the yeast, with a maximum change of 0.21 dB. The overall measurement results also fit well with the Gompertz curve. The change in resonant amplitude between 24 and 72 h is then analyzed and reveals a linear relationship with time with a coefficient of determination of 0.9844, indicating that the biosensor is suitable for monitoring yeast growth. Thus, the proposed biosensor is proved to have potential in the field of microbial proliferation detection.

Monitoring Mycotoxin Exposure in Food-Producing Animals (Cattle, Pig, Poultry, and Sheep).

Food-producing animals are exposed to mycotoxins through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact with contaminated materials. This exposure can lead to serious consequences for animal health, affects the cost and quality of livestock production, and can even impact human health through foods of animal origin. Therefore, controlling mycotoxin exposure in animals is of utmost importance. A systematic literature search was conducted in this study to retrieve the results of monitoring exposure to mycotoxins in food-producing animals over the last five years (2019-2023), considering both external exposure (analysis of feed) and internal exposure (analysis of biomarkers in biological matrices). The most commonly used analytical technique for both approaches is LC-MS/MS due to its capability for multidetection. Several mycotoxins, especially those that are regulated (ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins, fumonisins, T-2, and HT-2), along with some emerging mycotoxins (sterigmatocystin, nivalenol, beauvericin, enniantins among others), were studied in 13,818 feed samples worldwide and were typically detected at low levels, although they occasionally exceeded regulatory levels. The occurrence of multiple exposure is widespread. Regarding animal biomonitoring, the primary objective of the studies retrieved was to study mycotoxin metabolism after toxin administration. Some compounds have been suggested as biomarkers of exposure in the plasma, urine, and feces of animal species such as pigs and poultry. However, further research is required, including many other mycotoxins and animal species, such as cattle and sheep.

Comparison of active measurements, lichen biomonitoring, and passive sampling for atmospheric mercury monitoring.

The number of atmospheric mercury (Hg) monitoring stations is growing globally. However, there are still many regions and locations where Hg monitoring is limited or non-existent. Expansion of the atmospheric Hg monitoring network could be facilitated by the use of cost-effective monitoring methods. As such, biomonitoring and passive monitoring offer a unique alternative to well-established monitoring by active measurements, since they do not require a power supply and require minimal workload to operate. The use of biomonitoring (lichens and mosses) and passive air samplers (PASs) (various designs with synthetic materials) has been reported in the literature, and comparisons with active measurement methods have also been made. However, these studies compared either biomonitoring or PASs (not both) to only one type of active measurement. In our work, we used transplanted (7 sampling sites) and in situ lichens (8 sampling sites) for biomonitoring, two PASs from different producers (3 sampling sites), and two different active measurement types (continuous and discontinuous active measurements, 1 and 8 sampling sites, respectively) to evaluate their effectiveness as monitoring methods. In the 9-month sampling campaign, 3 sampling locations with different characteristics (unpolluted, vicinity of a cement plant, and vicinity of a former Hg mine) were used. The results obtained with lichens and PASs clearly distinguished between sampling locations with different Hg concentrations; using both PASs and lichens together increased the confidence of our observations. The present work shows that biomonitoring and passive sampling can be effectively used to identify areas with elevated atmospheric Hg concentrations. The same can be said for discontinuous active measurements; however, the discrepancy between atmospheric Hg concentrations derived from PASs and discontinuous active measurements should be further investigated in the future.

Environmental phenol exposures in 6- to 12-week-old infants: The Infant Feeding and Early Development (IFED) study.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to phenols, endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in personal care and consumer products, is widespread. Data on infant exposures are limited despite heightened sensitivity to endocrine disruption during this developmental period. We aimed to describe distributions and predictors of urinary phenol concentrations among U.S. infants ages 6-12 weeks. METHODS: The Infant Feeding and Early Development (IFED) study is a prospective cohort study of healthy term infants enrolled during 2010-2013 in the Philadelphia region. We measured concentrations of seven phenols in 352 urine samples collected during the 6- or 8- and/or 12-week study visits from 199 infants. We used linear mixed models to estimate associations of maternal, sociodemographic, infant, and sample characteristics with natural-log transformed, creatinine-standardized phenol concentrations and present results as mean percent change from the reference level. RESULTS: Median concentrations (µg/L) were 311 for methylparaben, 10.3 for propylparaben, 3.6 for benzophenone-3, 2.1 for triclosan, 1.0 for 2,5-dichlorophenol, 0.7 for BPA, and 0.3 for 2,4-dichlorophenol. Geometric mean methylparaben concentrations were approximately 10 times higher than published estimates for U.S. children ages 3-5 and 6-11 years, while propylparaben concentrations were 3-4 times higher. Infants of Black mothers had higher concentrations of BPA (83%), methylparaben (121%), propylparaben (218%), and 2,5-dichorophenol (287%) and lower concentrations of benzophenone-3 (-77%) and triclosan (-53%) than infants of White mothers. Triclosan concentrations were higher in breastfed infants (176%) and lower in infants whose mothers had a high school education or less (-62%). Phenol concentrations were generally higher in summer samples. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread exposure to select environmental phenols among this cohort of healthy U.S. infants, including much higher paraben concentrations compared to those reported for U.S. children, supports the importance of expanding population-based biomonitoring programs to infants and toddlers. Future investigation of exposure sources is warranted to identify opportunities to minimize exposures during these sensitive periods of development.

First Detection of Thiamethoxam in a Free-Ranging Insectivorous Bird After its Agricultural Use Ban in Spain.

Neonicotinoids are insecticides used worldwide in phytosanitary and biocidal products and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Recently, some restrictions and bans have been imposed due to their adverse effects on nontarget invertebrates, including pollinators. Although they may have direct and indirect effects on wild vertebrates, few studies have assessed exposure to these compounds in wild birds, so our knowledge remains limited. In the present pilot study we have assessed the prevalence of seven neonicotinoid insecticides and some of their metabolites in whole blood samples from 19 European roller (Coracias garrulus) nestlings and five adult common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in an area treated with neonicotinoids to control the palm weevil (Rynchophorus ferrugineus) in southeastern Spain. One European roller nestling born in a palm tree was positive for thiamethoxam, with a concentration of 2.26 ng mL-1, but no residues of neonicotinoids or their metabolites were found in adult common kestrels. Future studies are needed to elucidate potential exposure to neonicotinoids at different times of the year. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of thiamethoxam residues in whole blood of a wild bird species after its ban in Spain. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-8. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

What potential do mosses have as biomonitors of POPs? A comparative study of hexachlorocyclohexane sorption.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pose a significant global threat to human health and the environment, and require continuous monitoring due to their ability to migrate long distances. Active biomonitoring using cloned mosses is an inexpensive but underexplored method to assess POPs, mainly due to the poor understanding of the loading mechanisms of these pollutants in mosses. In this work, Fontinalis antipyretica (aquatic moss) and Sphagnum palustre (terrestrial moss) were evaluated as potential biomonitors of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs: α-, ß-, γ-, δ-HCH), crucial POPs. Moss clones, grown in photobioreactors and subsequently oven-dried, were used. Their lipid composition and distribution were characterized through molecular and histochemical studies. Adsorption experiments were carried out in the aqueous phase using the repeated additions method and in the gas phase using an active air sampling technique based on solid-phase extraction, a pioneering approach in moss research. F. antipyretica exhibited greater lipid content in the walls of most cells and higher adsorption capacity for all HCH isomers in both gaseous and liquid environments. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of POP loading mechanisms in mosses and open the door to explore other species based on their lipid content.

A method for studying the influence of Mn oxyhydroxides on the trace element content of aquatic bryophytes.

The main objective of this study was to develop and test a method of separating externally deposited Mn oxyhydroxides and co-precipitated elements from samples of aquatic moss (the moss Fontinalis antipyretica). The method, which uses 0.1 M hydroxylamine to dissolve the oxyhydroxides, was tested with samples collected in rivers with slightly acidic, well­oxygenated waters, where high rates of Mn precipitation occur. The method was effective (it extracted up to 84 % of the Mn) and selective (Fe oxyhydroxides were not extracted). The elements Ba, Cd, Zn and Ni were associated with the Mn oxyhydroxides, while Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg and Pb were not. Deposition of Mn therefore increased the concentration of some elements in the moss samples. However, as Mn precipitation depends on Eh and pH, which are independent of the concentrations of the elements in water, the relationship between water and moss element concentrations is not clear (i.e. the data are noisy). This is a problem in biomonitoring studies, which assume a close relationship between element concentrations in moss and water. The value of the proposed extraction method is that it can be used to correct the effect of Mn deposition. We present an example of this correction applied to the Cd concentrations in the test data. We found that the noise introduced by the Mn, including age-related effects (observed by comparing concentrations in 0-2.5 and 2.2-5.0 cm sections from the shoot apex), can be reduced. Additionally, the correction revealed recent increases in Cd concentrations in one site that were not observed in the uncorrected data. Another finding of interest was the low content of total Mn and different extractability (of most elements) observed in moss samples collected in alkaline waters. Finally, we discuss how future studies designed for different environmental scenarios can benefit from application of the proposed method.

Hibernating vesper bats are a weak source for biomonitoring of coronaviruses.

Background: Our study explores the role of bats as reservoirs of coronaviruses. Methods: We conducted virological screening of bats hibernating in military bunkers at the Natura 2000 site "Nietoperek" in Western Poland collecting oral and anal swab samples from 138 bats across six species to apply a combination of pan-coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 specific PCR assays. Results: Only one anal swab tested positive for coronavirus. No SARS-CoV-2 was detected in any of the samples. The low prevalence of coronavirus in the studied colony contrasts with higher rates found in other regions and may be influenced by hibernation. Conclusions: Hibernating bats may show a low prevalence of coronavirus, potentially due to the hibernation process itself. This finding indicates that hibernating bats may not be the most optimal subjects for screening zoonotic pathogens. However, biomonitoring of bats for emerging and reemerging diseases is recommended for comprehensive epidemiological insights.

Automated identification of aquatic insects: A case study using deep learning and computer vision techniques.

Despite huge attention in other domains, deep learning is only very slowly beginning to be applied in biodiversity research. Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera), often abbreviated as EPT, are frequently used for freshwater biomonitoring due to their large numbers and sensitivity to environmental changes. However, the unambiguous morphological identification of EPT species is a challenging, but fundamental task. Morphological identification of these freshwater insects is therefore not only extremely time-consuming and costly, but also often leads to misjudgments or generates datasets with low taxonomic resolution. Here, we investigated the application of deep learning to increase the efficiency and taxonomic resolution of biomonitoring programs. Our database contains 90 EPT taxa (genus or species level), with the number of images per category ranging from 21 to 300 (16,650 in total). Upon completion of training, a CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) model was created, capable of automatically classifying these taxa into their appropriate taxonomic categories with an accuracy of 98.7 %. For the extensive set of 68 tested taxa, our model achieved a perfect classification rate of 100 %. We achieved noteworthy classification accuracy with morphologically closely related taxa within the training data (e.g., species of the genus Baetis, Hydropsyche, Perla). Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) visualized the morphological features responsible for the classification of the treated species in the CNN models. In the Ephemeroptera, the head was the most important feature, while the thorax and abdomen were equally important for the classification of Plecoptera taxa. For the order Trichoptera, the head and thorax were almost equally important. Our database is recognized as the most extensive aquatic insect database, notably distinguished by its wealth of included categories (taxa). Our approach can help solve long-standing challenges in biodiversity research and address pressing issues in monitoring programs by saving time in sample and data processing.