Biomarkers of Exposure and Effects for Assessing Toxicological Risk of Endocrine Disrupters in Top Predators of the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to alter hormone pathways that regulate reproductive processes in wildlife and fisheries. In this research the unexplored hypothesis that Mediterranean top predator species (such as large pelagic fish and marine mammals) are potentially at risk due to EDCs is investigated. In the Mediterranean environment, top predators accumulate high concentrations of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) and toxic metals, incurring high toxicological risk. Here we illustrate the need to develop sensitive biomarkers for evaluation of toxicological risk in top marine predators (Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus thynnus) and non-lethal techniques, such as non-destructive biomarkers, for the hazard assessment of threatened species exposed to EDCs, such as marine mammals ( Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Delphinus delphis and Balaenoptera physalus ).     

The local structure of Ca-Na pyroxenes. I. XANES study at the Na K-edge

 X-ray absorption Na K-edge spectra have been recorded on synthetic endmember jadeite and on a series of natural Ca-Na pyroxenes compositionally straddling the Jd-Di join. The C2/c members of the series are systematically different from the P2/n members. Differences can be interpreted and explained by comparing the experimental spectra with theoretical spectra. These have been calculated by the multiple-scattering formalism from the atomic positional parameters determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure refinement on the same samples. In the full multiple scattering region of the spectra (1075 to 1090 eV) C-pyroxenes exhibit three features which reflect the 6-2 configuration of the O back-scattering atoms around the Na absorber located at the center of the cluster (site M2 of the jadeite structure). P-pyroxenes show more complicated spectra in which at least four (possibly five) features can be recognized; they reflect the two types of configuration (6-2 and 4-2-2) of O around Na in the two independent M2 and M21 eight-fold coordinated sites of the omphacite structure. A weak, sometimes poorly resolved peak at 1079 eV is diagnostic and discriminates C- from P-pyroxenes. The Garnet Ridge C2/c impure jadeite exhibits a spectrum which is intermediate between those of jadeite and omphacite. The Hedin-Lundqvist potential proves best for these insulating materials and allows multiple-scattering calculations agreeing well with experiments. Received: July 11, 1996/Revised, accepted: October 21, 1996     

Assessing wave climate trends in the Bay of Biscay through an intercomparison of wave hindcasts and reanalyses

The Bay of Biscay, located in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, is exposed to energetic waves coming from the open ocean that have crucial effects on the coast. Knowledge of the wave climate and trends in this region are critical to better understand the last decade’s evolution of coastal hazards and morphology and to anticipate their potential future changes. This study aims to characterize the long-term trends of the present wave climate over the second half of the twentieth century in the Bay of Biscay through a robust and homogeneous intercomparison of five-wave datasets (Corrected ERA-40 (C-ERA-40), ECMWF Reanalysis Interim (ERA-Interim), Bay Of Biscay Wave Atlas (BOBWA-10kH), ANEMOC, and Bertin and Dodet 2010)). The comparison of the quality of the datasets against offshore and nearshore measurements reveals that at offshore locations, global reanalyses slightly underestimate wave heights, while regional hindcasts overestimate wave heights, especially for the highest quantiles. At coastal locations, BOBWA-10kH is the dataset that compares the best with observations. Concerning long time-scale features, the comparison highlights that the main significant trends are similarly present in the five datasets, especially during summer for which there is an increase of significant wave heights and mean wave periods (up to +15 cm and +0.6 s over the period 1970–2001) as well as a southerly shift of wave directions (around ?0.4° year^?1). Over the same period, an increase of high quantiles of wave heights during the autumn season (around 3 cm year^?1 for 90th quantile of significant wave heights (SWH₉₀)) is also apparent. During winter, significant trends are much lower than during summer and autumn despite a slight increase of wave heights and periods during 1958–2001. These trends can be related to modifications in the wave-type occurrence. Finally, the trends common to the five datasets are discussed by analyzing the similarities with centennial trends issued from longer time-scale studies and exploring the various factors that could explain them.     

LA COMPOSITION MINERALOGIQUE ET CHIMIQUE DES ROCHES ERUPTIVES ET PARTICULIEREMENT DES LAVES MESOZOIQUES ET PLUS RECENTES DE LA CHINE ORIENTALE Par A. Lacroix.

Au cours d'un voyage en Chine, effectue en decembre 1927, j'al eu I'honneur et le plaisir d'etre recu a Peking par la Societe geologique de Chine et d'etre ainsi le temoin de sa grande activite scientifique. Aussi, je tiens a lui offrir le resultat de l'etude mineralogique et chimique des roches que j'ai     

Geochemistry and quality of the groundwater from the karstic and coastal aquifer of Geropotamos River Basin at north-central Crete, Greece

In Geropotamos River Basin, located on the north-central part of Crete, Greece, two main factors were believed to be affecting the geochemistry of the groundwater with high salt contents: seawater intrusion and/or Miocene evaporates. To identify the origin of the high salinity in groundwater, a hydrogeochemical and isotopic study was performed. Water samples from 22 wells and 2 springs were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters, major ions analysis, as well as stable isotopes (??¹⁸O, ??D). From the present survey, in which detailed hydrogeochemical investigation was conducted, the uncertainty of the contamination sources was decreased in the northern part of Geropotamos Basin. The results complement the scenario in which seawater and the widespread human activities are the principal sources of groundwater contamination. Moreover, the results of the stable isotopes analyses (??¹⁸O and ??D) support the same hypothesis and make seawater intrusion the most probable cause for the highest salinity waters. It is indicated that saline intrusion is likely to occur along fractures in a fault zone through otherwise low-permeability phyllite?Cquartzite bedrock, which demonstrates the critical role of fracture pathways in salination problems of coastal aquifers.     

Experimental Evidences of the Effect of Fibres in Reinforcing a Sandy Gravel

Studies regarding fibre-reinforcement are restricted to clays, silty and sandy soils. No information is available on gravels. It is worth checking the effect of randomly oriented discrete fibres also on such soils to see if they can be beneficial and to get a better insight into the grain to soil interaction mechanism. In this paper, the effect of a small amount of fibres having high aspect ratio on a sandy gravel was analysed by means of tests carried out in a large triaxial apparatus. Specimens of both natural and fibre-reinforced sandy gravel were prepared by wet tamping at different relative densities, and were tested along monotonic and cyclic stress paths. The results show that the addition of a small amount of fibres causes a slight increase in peak strength and a larger increase in ultimate strength at small confining stress, with an overall more ductile behaviour. The cyclic tests at small confining stress and intermediate strain levels show that, for the lowest applied strain (of the order of 10⁻²%), the stiffness was larger for the reinforced specimens, with a much sharper decrease at larger strains and final values similar for the reinforced and non-reinforced materials.     

Study of a triple emission nebula in Orion

The Hii regions S254, 255 and 257 in the constellation of Orion are close together on the sky and appear like a triple object. Fabry-Pérot radial velocities of the Hii regions as well asUBV photo-electric magnitudes of their exciting stars are obtained. The data show that (1) all three nebulae are at a distance of 2.5 kpc; (2) an excess extinction is observed in S255 and S257 while S254 shows no excess extinction; (3) S255, identified as an IR and a molecular source, is the youngest object of the group. It is concluded that the three Hii regions are at different evolutionary stages.     

PCBs in Central Vietnam coastal lagoons: levels and trends in dynamic environments

PCBs were analysed in surficial sediments and selected sediment cores collected between 2002 and 2008 in Central Vietnam coastal lagoons. The aim was to determine contamination levels and trends, and to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic pressures and natural events. Samples were mostly fine-grained with low total PCB concentrations (0.367-44.7 μg kg⁻¹). Atmospheric transport and post depositional processes modify to some degree the fingerprint of PCB inputs to the environment favouring the predominance of 3, 4 and 5 chlorinated congeners. The similarity of congener distributions in contemporary surficial samples also suggests the presence of a unique source over the entire study area, probably connected to mobilisation and long range transports from land-based stocks. The removal of consistent sediment layers is hypothesised based on repeated samplings of the same area. Natural meteorological events (such as typhoons) are suspected to be responsible for these sediment losses.