Céline Surette

Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metal concentrations in mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Baie des Chaleurs, New Brunswick, Canada.

Previous studies on heavy metal contamination of the Baie des Chaleurs focus only on industrial centers and overlooked the ecosystem as a whole. To fill this gap, the objective of this study is to establish a baseline of the spatio-temporal distribution of heavy metals in mussels from the Baie des Chaleurs based on the ecosystem approach. Our results show, for the first time, a cadmium contamination in mussels across the south coast of the Baie des Chaleurs and not only in industrial centers. Our results also confirm previous studies showing heavy metal contamination of the Belledune area. This study demonstrates that the use of the ecosystemic approach is essential to obtain a comprehensive picture of environmental contamination in marine ecosystems.

Application of molecular technologies to monitor the microbial content of biosolids and composted biosolids.

Disposal of human biosolids is a source of concern for public health and the environment. Composting appears to be an interesting alternative to traditional disposal methods as it can decrease the load of human pathogenic microorganisms often present in biosolids and yield an end-product rich in nutrients for use as a soil supplement. Assessing the exact microbial content of biosolids, both for biosafety and operational reasons, has traditionally relied on the use of standard microbiological methods. Recent developments in molecular-based technologies now offer more rapid and specific monitoring of microorganisms in biosolids than culture-based methods. In this study, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was adapted to monitor the succession of bacteria in composted biosolids through different steps of compost production. Secondly, a TaqMan quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) approach was developed to detect and quantify the presence of Salmonella species, a model human pathogenic bacterium, susceptible to be found in biosolids. DGGE results indicated that the bacterial content of composted biosolids of different ages belongs to various taxa and significantly changes with age. qPCR results indicated that the quantity of Salmonella species found in composted biosolids ranging from 1 to 24 months significantly decreases with composting time.

Quantification of 226Ra at environmental relevant levels in natural waters by ICP-MS: Optimization, validation and limitations of an extraction and preconcentration approach

Radium (Ra) at environmental relevant levels in natural waters was determined by ICP-MS after an off-line pre-concentration procedure. The latter consisted of Ra selective elution from potential interfering elements (i.e. other alkaline earth cations: Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Mg2+) on a series of two different ion exchange resins (AG50W-X8 and Sr-resin). The overall analytical method was optimized according to the instrumental performance, the volume of water sample loaded on resins, and the sample salinity. Longer acquisition time (up to 150 s) was required to ensure stable measurement of Ra by ICP-MS at ultra trace level (1.0pgL-1). For a synthetic groundwater spiked with Ra at 10.0pgL-1, the analytical procedure demonstrated efficient separation of the analyte from its potential interfering elements and a complete recovery, independent of the sample volume tested from 10 up to 100mL. For synthetic seawater spiked at a level of 10.0pgL-1 of Ra, the total load of salts on the two resins should not exceed 0.35g in order to ensure a complete separation and recovery of Ra. The method was validated on natural waters (i.e. groundwater, freshwater and seawater samples) spiked with Ra at different levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0pgL-1). Absolute Ra detection limits were determined at 0.020pgL-1 (0.73mBqL-1) and 0.12pgL-1 (4.4mBqL-1) respectively for 60.0mL of freshwater sample and for 10.0mL of seawater.

Low level exposure to manganese from drinking water and cognition in school-age children

HighlightsMeasured Mn in drinking water, childrens saliva, hair, and toe nails.Assessed neurodevelopment in children.Mn concentrations in drinking water are very low.Higher toe nail Mn associated with poorer Performance IQ scores only in girls.Higher Mn in water associated with better Performance IQ scores only in boys. Background: Manganese (Mn) is an element found in the environment and certain geographic areas have elevated concentrations in soil and water du to natural conditions or anthropic activities. A growing body of data suggests that exposure to manganese in drinking water could be neurotoxic. Objective: Firstly, we aimed to examine the association between exposure to manganese from drinking water and cognition in children consuming well water. Secondly, we also aimed to examine the relation between cognition and manganese concentrations in childrens hair, nail, and saliva. Methods: A total 259 children from 189 households consuming well water were included in the present study (ages 5.9 to 13.7 years). We assessed childrens cognition with the WISC‐IV, and we used five indicators of manganese exposure: concentration in tap water, intake from the consumption of water divided by childs weight, manganese concentration in childrens hair, toe nail, and saliva. We used General Estimating Equation analysis to assess the relation between manganese exposure indicators and IQ scores, adjusting for potential confounders, and taking into account family clusters. Results: Drinking water manganese concentrations were generally low, with 48% of children consuming water <5 &mgr;g/L, 25% >50 &mgr;g/L, and 4% >400 &mgr;g/L. Results differed by sex. In girls, higher manganese concentration in water, hair, and toe nail were associated with poorer Performance IQ scores but this was significant only for toe nail (for a 10‐fold increase in manganese, &bgr;: −5.65, 95% CIs: −10.97, −0.32). Opposite associations were observed in boys, i.e., better Performance IQ scores with higher manganese concentration hair, toe nail, and water, the latter being significant (&bgr;: 2.66, 95% CIs: 0.44, 4.89). Verbal IQ scores did not seem to be associated with manganese exposure indicators. Conclusions: Drinking water manganese levels were considerably lower than in previous studies reporting neurotoxic effects. There was no clear indication of an association between exposure to manganese and cognitive development in this sample of school‐age children although the data suggest there might be sex‐specific associations. Given the low levels of exposure and sex‐specific associations, a larger sample size would have been required to increase the statistical power and better characterize the relations.

Assessment of saliva, hair and toenails as biomarkers of low level exposure to manganese from drinking water in children

HighlightsMeasured Mn in drinking water, childrens saliva, hair and toenails.Mn concentrations in drinking water are very low.Mn in hair and toenail reflect reasonably well Mn exposure from drinking water.Mn in saliva correlates less strongly to Mn in drinking water. ABSTRACT We evaluated hair, toenails, and saliva (whole and supernatant) as biomarkers of exposure to manganese (Mn) in 274 school age children (6–13 years) consuming well water in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. Mn concentrations in tap water ranged from <0.03 to 1046 &mgr;g L−1 (geometric mean 5.96 &mgr;g L−1). The geometric mean of Mn intake resulting from the consumption of water was 0.25 (0–34.95) &mgr;g kg−1 day−1. Both Mn concentration in water and Mn intake were significantly correlated with Mn in hair (r = 0.60 and r = 0.53, respectively), Mn in toenail (r = 0.29 and r = 0.37 respectively) and to a lesser extent with Mn in saliva supernatant (r = 0.14 and r = 0.18, respectively). Mn in whole saliva did not correlate with Mn in water or Mn intake. Both Mn in hair and Mn in toenail allowed to discriminate the most exposed group from the least exposed group, based on Mn in water and Mn intake from water. In this group of children with low level Mn exposure, Mn concentrations in hair, and toenails reflected reasonably well Mn exposure from drinking water, whereas Mn content in saliva correlated less strongly.

Connections for Health, Ecosystems and Society leading to Action and Change

The theme of connections has been integral to the field of ecohealth since its inception. At its core, ecohealth is about relationships and systemic interactions between issues, topics and approaches that are too often treated in isolation. As a central theme for EcoHealth 2014, the 5th biennial conference of the International Association for Ecology & Health (IAEH), the emphasis on connections reminds us that we cannot reach our shared goal of ecosystem sustainability, resilience and health— for humans and all species—alone. By focusing on the spaces in between, we are challenged to consider how the meeting of all forms of knowledge can not only increase understanding of complex problems affecting health, ecosystems and society, but also be mobilised to lead to actions to address these issues. Arriving in Montreal in 2014 for an ecohealth gathering prompts reflection on how these confluences and convergences have developed and expanded 10 years since the Montreal EcoHealth Forum in 2003. One indication of this can be gleaned from the range of presenters assembling at the conference. At Ecohealth 2014, the programme not only includes researchers from natural, social and health sciences but also has very explicit inclusion of arts and other forms of practice, as well as representation of private and public sectors, NGOs and community groups. People from over 60 countries, spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Oceania and the Middle East, will present their work at the conference. Of particular note is the renewal and intergenerational spread, ranging from an increasingly strong presence of emerging scholars and practitioners, to an ongoing engagement with ecohealth pioneers. For those interested in connections, reflecting on developments since the 2003 Montreal EcoHealth Forum is less about defining progress and more about identifying consistent patterns of interactions and challenges that a field like ecohealth continues to face. In 2003, just as with all of the biennial conferences of the IAEH (Madison 2006, Merida 2008, London 2010, Kunming 2012), we assembled because of our need for integrative research, education and practice. The continuing excitement and dynamism of ecohealth arise not so much from any one area of expertise but in the fertile terrain of innovation that occurs when we come together to explore other ways of thinking and acting. That anthropogenic environmental degradation impacts human and animal health is increasingly uncontroversial. Ecohealth scholars are tasked with both collecting and synthesizing information to better understand that core relationship. In addition, however, we face the more difficult task of defining what to do with that knowledge. And so in 2014, we challenge ourselves to revisit and make explicit the important features of our ongoing aspiration towards connections. What can we learn from past connections? What types of conceptual and methodological connections are still needed to address the challenging domain that unites human and animal health, ecosystems and society? Whither the humanities as an integral contribution to ecohealth? EcoHealth2014 was proposed as a conference that will address these questions by contributing to ‘the critical development of the field as well as to an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral conversation about environment (natural and social) and health’. The motivation to leave the comfort of disciplinary or sectoral domains extends beyond interest in the richness of conversations or a commitment to the advancement of knowledge. Rather, we argue that interest in Authors are members of Canadian Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health (CoPEH-Canada). Correspondence to: Johanne Saint-Charles, e-mail: saint-charles.johanne@uqam.ca EcoHealth 11, 279–280, 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0945-8

Sex determination in blue mussels: Which method to choose?

Sexing methods of blue mussels are mostly based on the presence or absence of gametes, and do not take into account reproductive cycle stages. Exposure effects can be affected by the sex of mussels, thus the aim of this study is to determine an efficient sex determination protocol taking into account the reproductive cycle stage. Eight mussel sexing methods were compared. This study demonstrates that the first step in discerning sex in blue mussels should be assessing the reproductive stage, which can be done by mantle histology. During gametogenesis, histology allows the differentiation of males from females by the observation of gametes. However, when mussels are in sexual rest, the only method that should be used is the sex-specific gene method.

Where Go the Plastics? And Whence Do They Come? From Diagnosis to Participatory Community-Based Observatory Network

J. Baztan, E. Broglio, A. Carrasco, O. Chouinard, F. Galgani, J. Garrabou, T. Huck, A. Huvet, B. Jorgensen, A. Liria, A. Miguelez, S. Pahl, I. Paul-Pont, R. Thompson, P. Soudant, C. Surette and J.-P. Vanderlinden Université de Versailles SQY, Guyancourt, France Marine Sciences For Society Institut de Ciències del Mar, Barcelona, Spain Observatorio Reserva de Biosfera, Arrecife, Spain Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada IFREMER, Bastia, France UBO-CNRS-LPO, Brest, France IFREMER, Plouzané, France Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States Asociación para el desarrollo sostenible y biodiversidad (ADS Biodiversidad) Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom IUEM, CNRS/UBO, Plouzané, France University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC ), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Protected Shores Contaminated with Plastic: From Knowledge to Action

As the rate of plastic production increases globally, we see the problem of plastic debris in oceans and coastal zones also increasing, even in areas under rigorous environmental protection. Drawing from a case study situated within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, this chapter shares the example of an ongoing, collaborative partnership between community members, researchers, and decision makers, working together to confront the problem of plastic pollution locally. Since plastic debris is a complex global issue, it cannot be resolved at the local level alone. Here we also introduce a burgeoning regional working group, Communities-Based Observatories Tackling Marine Litter (COASTAL). The goal of COASTAL is to coordinate community-based efforts underway to address plastic pollution at various sites within the larger North Atlantic–Mediterranean system, and thereby expand our understanding of the plastic debris problem, and its potential solutions, at regional and local scales.

Radium geochemical monitoring in well waters at regional and local scales: an environmental impact indicator-based approach

To assess radium (226Ra) as a potential indicator of impact in well waters, we investigated its behavior under natural conditions using a case study approach. 226Ra geochemistry was investigated in 67 private wells of southeastern New Brunswick, Canada, a region targeted for potential shale gas exploitation. Objectives were to i) establish 226Ra baseline in groundwater; ii) characterize 226Ra spatial distribution and temporal variability; iii) characterize 226Ra partitioning between dissolved phase and particulate forms in well waters; and iv) understand the mechanisms controlling 226Ra mobility under natural environmental settings. 226Ra levels were generally low (median = 0.061 pg L-1, or 2.2 mBq L-1), stable over time, and randomly distributed. A principal component analysis revealed that concentrations of 226Ra were controlled by key water geochemistry factors: the highest levels were observed in waters with high hardness, and/or high concentrations of individual alkaline earth elements (i.e. Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), high concentrations of Mn and Fe, and low pH. As for partitioning, 226Ra was essentially observed in the dissolved phase (106 ± 19%) suggesting that the geochemical conditions of groundwater in the studied regions are prone to limit 226Ra sorption, enhancing its mobility. Overall, this study provided comprehensive knowledge on 226Ra background distribution at local and regional scales. Moreover, it provided a framework to establish 226Ra baselines and determine which geochemical conditions to monitor in well waters in order to use this radionuclide as an indicator of environmental impact caused by anthropogenic activities (e.g. unconventional shale gas exploitation, uranium mining, or nuclear generating power plants).