•PFCs were measured for first time in 10 species of Mediterranean fish/shellfish.•Almost all samples contained detectable levels of PFCs.•The most prominent PFC was PFOS, found in levels up to ...22ngg−1.•PFC concentrations were generally higher after frying or grilling of fish samples.•Human exposure by consumption of these fish species is below limit proposed by EFSA.
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were analyzed in several species of small Mediterranean fish and shellfish, all of which are popular in Greek diet. Analysis was conducted in raw samples and in samples cooked by the two ways preferred in Greek cuisine, i.e. fried in olive oil and grilled. PFCs above the detection limit were found in all raw samples except sardine, mussel and squid. The predominant PFC was PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), the highest concentration of which was measured in picarel (20.4ngg−1 fresh weight). The PFOS values for the rest of the samples were between <LOD and 5.66ngg−1 fw. The concentrations of the detected PFCs were in most cases higher after frying or grilling, this increase being statistically significant. Based on these results, the Tolerable Daily Intake for PFOS and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) through consumption of fish and seafood was well below the values proposed by EFSA.
Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with integrated sensors are a tool valuable to several monitoring strategies, offering enhanced temporal and spatial coverage over specific timeframes, ...allowing for targeted examination of sites or events of interest. The elaboration of environmental monitoring programs has relied so far on periodic spot sampling at specific locations, followed by laboratory analysis, aiming at the evaluation of water quality at a catchment scale. For this purpose, automatic telemetric stations for specific parameters have been installed by the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (IMBRIW-HCMR) within several Greek rivers and lakes, providing continuous and temporal monitoring possibilities. In the present work, USVs were deployed by the Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) as a cost-effective tool for the environmental monitoring of surface water bodies of interest, with emphasis on the spatial fluctuations of chlorophyll α, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH, observed in Koumoundourou Lake and the rivers Acheloos, Asopos and Kifissos. The effectiveness of an innovative heavy metal (HM) system installed in the USV for the in situ measurements of copper and lead was also evaluated herewith. The results obtained demonstrate the advantages of USVs, setting the base for their application in real-time monitoring of chemical parameters including metals. Simultaneously, the requirements for accuracy and sensitivity improvement of HM sensors were noted, in order to permit full exploitation of USVs' capacities.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been associated with environmental pollutants. The scope of this study is to assess any potential relation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their ...hydroxylated derivatives, and trace elements with heart failure via their direct determination in human serum of Greek citizens residing in different areas. Therefore, we analyzed 131 samples including cases (heart failure patients) and controls (healthy donors), and the respective demographic data were collected. Significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) were observed in cases’ serum regarding most of the examined PAHs and their derivatives with phenanthrene, fluorene, and fluoranthene being the most abundant (median of >50 μg L−1). Among the examined trace elements, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb were measured at statistically higher concentrations (p < 0.05) in cases’ samples, with only Cr being significantly higher in controls. The potential impact of environmental factors such as smoking and area of residence has been evaluated. Specific PAHs and trace elements could be possibly related with heart failure development. Atmospheric degradation and smoking habit appeared to have a significant impact on the analytes’ serum concentrations. PCA–logistic regression analysis could possibly reveal common mechanisms among the analytes enhancing the hypothesis that they may pose a significant risk for CVD development.
The assessment of the ecological status of natural surface water, in terms of dominant trace metals, within an area subject to various sources of pollution including a non-ferrous metal ore mining, ...such as the West Rhodope Mountain, Bulgaria, is significant. The present study estimates the ecological status of river body waters at industrial areas of the West Rhodope Mountain, Bulgaria, simultaneously evaluating the possibility of state forecasting, together with assessing the potential risks, through the study of scenarios focusing on (i) possible variations of physicochemical parameters such as pH, concentration levels of trace metals, sulphates, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of surface water and (ii) consideration of potential spontaneous precipitation reactions in the studied waters. The ecological status of river body waters was assessed through a combination of experimental field, laboratory, and computational techniques. Al, Mn, Zn, and Pb were found to be the dominant pollutants with a variety of chemical species and distribution. The most significant difference characterizing the chemical species distribution in light of total spontaneous crystallization in the systems was found for Pb, followed by Zn and Mn, with the differences being more significant at lower trace metal levels. The calculated species were discussed on the basis of HSAB (hard and soft acids and bases) principle.
This research aims to determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics, origin, and geochemical evolution of the Cr enriched alkaline waters in the ultramafic rock-related water bodies of Loutraki ...basin in Northeast Peloponnese, Greece. The significance of the particular research lies in the fact that Cr occurrence raises concerns with respect to health risks associated with the utilization of such aquifers for drinking water supply. Therefore, the investigation of water–rock interaction processes leading to Cr mobilization in such environments is of great importance. A total of 41 water samples including groundwater from the alluvial and fractured aquifers as well as surface water were collected and analyzed for major and trace elements during the wet and dry seasons of 2015. Solid samples including soils, sediments and rocks were also collected to provide evidence of elemental mobilization due to water–rock interaction, with special focus on Cr. Τhe main Cr-bearing minerals identified were Cr-spinel, ferrichromite, magnetite, clinopyroxene, chlorite and serpentine. The observed dissolution textures within the magnetite rim and across the magnetite–chromite boundary indicate that these latter can be also active sources of Cr(III). Both groundwater and surface waters are of Mg–HCO
3
type due to CO
2
-driven dissolution of serpentine minerals and Mg-carbonates/hydroxides. The formation of hydromagnesite aggregates is attributed to precipitation from Mg
2+
-rich alkaline waters. The highest Cr(VI) concentrations were measured in the alluvial aquifer (6.7–74.3 μg L
−1
) and the lowest in the fractured ophiolitic aquifer (1.9–14.3 μg L
−1
); while in surface water, the maximum measured Cr(VI) concentration was up to 3.9 μg L
−1
. Finally, the identification of Mn-rich hematite indicates that the oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) is probably performed by manganese–iron oxides.
The holistic approach of Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) methodology was applied to selected Cr(VI) impacted groundwater bodies of Central Greece. The main driving forces in the study ...areas are agricultural activities, urban and industrial development as well as tourism. The main pressures induced by the anthropogenic activities are fertilizer use, uncontrolled urban sewage disposal and industrial effluents discharges. Groundwater stress is caused by the qualitative degradation due to Cr(VI), NO
3
−
, Cl
−
and SO
4
2−
contamination. Hexavalent chromium occurrence is attributed to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. The maximum Cr(VI) concentration (11.7 mg/L) was measured in Oinofyta area. Important impacts are the deterioration of groundwater body chemical status as well as the decline of groundwater use efficiency. Based on the applied DPSIR, a management framework is proposed in order to address the complex environmental issue of Cr(VI) in the study areas.
Complex formation is among the mechanisms affecting metal bioaccessibility. Hence, the quantification of organic metal complexation in food items is of interest. Organic ligands in solutions of ...environmental and/or food origin function as buffering agents against small changes in dissolved metal concentrations, being able to maintain free metal ion concentrations below the toxicity threshold. Organic matter in vinegars consists of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, Maillard reaction endproducts, etc., capable of complexing metal ions. Furthermore, transition metal ions are considered as micronutrients essential for living organisms exerting a crucial role in metabolic processes. In this study, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), a sensitive electrochemical technique considered to be a powerful tool for the study of metal speciation, was applied for the first time in vinegar samples. The concentrations of Cu complexing ligands (
) in 43 vinegars retailed in Greece varied between 0.05 and 52 μM, with the highest median concentration determined in balsamic vinegars (14 μM), compared to that of common vinegars (0.86 μM). In 21% of the vinegar samples examined,
values were exceeded by the corresponding total Cu concentrations, indicating the presence of free Cu ion and/or bound within labile inorganic/organic complexes. Red grape balsamic vinegars exhibited the highest density of Cu ligands per mass unit of organic matter compared to other foodstuffs such as herbal infusions, coffee brews, and beers. Among the 16 metals determined in vinegars, Pb is of particular importance from a toxicological point of view, whereas further investigation is required regarding potential Rb biomagnification.
Physical and chemical soil properties are affected by wildfires. Post-wildfire runoff may contain nutrient loads and particulate matter that negatively impact soil, surface water, and groundwater. ...According to data from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, devastating wildfires on Northern Euboea Island, Greece, in August 2021 destroyed more than 50,910 ha. Coniferous and broad-leaved forests mostly covered the affected area, according to CORINE. Topsoil and subsoil samples were collected from burned areas and analyzed for physicochemical parameters: pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon. After digestion with aqua regia, the Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, and As ‘pseudo total’ contents were determined. Leaching experiments were conducted to evaluate the levels of potentially toxic elements leaching from soils and the impact of environmental conditions. The leachates were analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, As, Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Overall, most of the concentrations of the studied elements were higher in fire-affected soils than in unburned ones. Similar findings for element concentrations have been confirmed between topsoils and subsoils, with the latter exhibiting lower values. The increased ‘pseudo total’ values of Cr, Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn in all the soil samples, along with the medium to high positive correlations between them, indicate that geogenic factors play a major role in controlling element enrichment. High concentrations of Mn, Ni, and As in soil leachates exceeded the EU maximum permissible limits, indicating a potential ecological risk to natural water quality and, subsequently, to human health. The correlation coefficients between elements in fire-affected and unburned soils suggested that their geogenic origins were mainly associated with the ultramafic rocks and related ores of the study area. The elements’ concentrations in the leachates were significantly lower than their ‘pseudo total’ contents in soil, with no correlation between them. The reducing order of elements leachability did not coincide with the decreasing order of elements ‘pseudo total’ median values in soils. The decreasing order of element abundance in soil leachates coincides with their relative extractability and differs from the decreasing order of their ‘pseudo total’ median values in soils. Neutral to alkaline, soil pH conditions and organic carbon content, which substantially influence the retention and mobility of elements, presented different patterns among the studied elements, with only Mn, Cr, and Co showing correlations. The increased content of organic matter in fire-affected soils suggests that the combustion of vegetation was incomplete.
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