Preliminary inter-port study of the quality of environments using physiological responses of invertebrates exposed to chronic trace element and organic contamination in Corsica (Mediterranean Sea).

Port areas are socio-ecosystems impacted by chronic mixture pollution. Some marine species benefit from living there and may be studied to define the ecological state of such environments. In this study, the risks of chronic chemical contamination and its consequences on three marine molluscs were evaluated in North Corsica (France) port areas. Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, tubular sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa and Mediterranean limpet Patella sp. were sampled in three port areas and a reference location. A set of biomarkers was analysed to evaluate oxidative stress, detoxification, energetic metabolism, neurotoxicity, immunity and bioaccumulation (metallic trace elements and organic pollutants). The objectives were to assess pollution-induced effects in organisms, to determine the best bioindicator species for the selected locations and to validate a "pool" sampling technique (when the analysis is done on a single pool of samples and not on individual samples). The results validate the sampling techniques as "pool" for management purposes. St-Florent was demonstrated as the most contaminated location. All the other locations present a low contamination, below the recommended threshold values (for metallic trace elements and organic pollutants). Finally, the limpet appears to be the best bioindicator for the selected locations. Mussel and sea cucumber are inappropriate due to their absence in this oligotrophic region and the lack of responses observed, respectively.

Air pollution mixture associated with oxidative stress exacerbation and symptoms deterioration in allergic rhinitis patients: Evidence from a panel study.

With allergic rhinitis (AR) on the rise globally, there has been a growing focus on the role of environmental pollutants in the onset of AR. However, the potential mechanisms by how and which these pollutants exacerbate AR conditions remain unknown. This panel study of 49 patients diagnosed with AR over one year aimed to assess the individual and combined effects of short-term exposure to multiple ambient pollutants on oxidative stress, symptoms, and quality of life among patients with AR. All participants underwent four repeated assessments of health conditions and personal environmental exposures (PM2.5, O3, SO2, and NO2) over warm and cold seasons during 2017-2018. We evaluated two oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde [MDA], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) via nasal lavage. We collected information on self-reported symptoms and quality of life using the Rhinitis Symptom Scale (SRS), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) through in-person interviews. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to evaluate the joint effects of pollutant mixture and identify key contributors. The results revealed a significant association of the pollutant mixture when all four pollutants were at or above their median levels, with increased oxidative stress. This was evidenced by elevated MDA and reduced SOD. We found a joint detrimental effect of the pollutant mixture on AR symptoms with a strong association with increased SRS scores, but a non-significant positive association with VAS and RQLQ scores. PM2.5, O3, and SO2 presented as the potentially primary contributors to the adverse health effects associated with the pollutant mixture in Taiyuan city. Patients with AR exposed to short-term air pollutant mixture are more likely to have greater nasal symptoms and worse quality of life from increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity. Further research is warranted to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms.