The presence and fate of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater represent a subject of major concern, as wastewater is one of the main inputs of MPs to the environment. This study deals with the ability ...of horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (CWs), as tertiary treatment, to reduce the MPs concentration of secondary effluents. Different locations of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) including raw wastewater, CW influent and final effluent, were sampled. Macroinvertebrates were collected from the CW to evaluate their potential role in the MPs distribution along the wetland. The global WWTP efficiency for MPs removal was 98%. MPs removal efficiency by CW was on average 88%, causing a significant reduction of the MPs concentration from 6.45 to 0.77 MP/L (p < 0.05), thus preventing them from entering vulnerable aquatic systems. The areal removal rate and the first order areal rate coefficient (kA) were estimated to be 3120 MPs/m2/d and 1.70 m/d, respectively. The most abundant size fraction was the one comprising MPs between 75 and 425 μm (51%), while the other size ranges analysed (40–75 and 425–5600 μm) accounted for 25 and 24%, respectively. Fiber was the most abundant shape in the WWTP influent (75%), the CW influent (54%) and effluent (71%). Non-significant differences were found between sites regarding size and shape distributions (p > 0.05). Macroinvertebrates can ingest a non-negligible quantity of MPs, with an average content of 166.2 MPs/g or 0.13 MPs/individual. Therefore, they could play a certain role in the MPs distribution inside CWs. Fiber was the most abundant shape for macroinvertebrates as well (89%), so attention should be paid to reduce their contamination at source. This study provides the first results on MPs removal in CWs as tertiary treatment and assesses the potential role of macroinvertebrates in their distribution along the CW, thus filling this gap of knowledge.
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•First data on microplastics removal in tertiary treatment wetlands•CWs are efficient filters for MPs and prevent them from entering aquatic systems.•Design parameters for CW aimed at removing MPs are provided.•Macroinvertebrate ingest a non-negligible quantity of MPs.
Some epidemiological studies suggest that increased consumption of anthocyanins is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension. Also, high consumption of ...anthocyanin-rich fruit, such as berries, is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this review, we briefly yet critically assess the available evidence in support of an anti-diabetic role of anthocyanins derived from berries, especially bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., also known as European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry and blaeberry) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, native to the United States). Further, cellular and molecular mechanisms are discussed and the "pharma-nutrition" use of anthocyanin-based preparations for the prevention and treatment of T2D is examined. We conclude that animal and in vitro studies strongly indicate that bilberry and blueberry have the potential to ameliorate T2D and its cardio-metabolic outcomes. However, appropriate clinical trials are lacking and will eventually clarify whether these foods (either as such or formulated as nutraceuticals) might be added to the current pharma-nutritional armamentarium.
Purpose
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, which can transport different molecules, including nucleic acids. Dietary habits may induce gene regulation through the modulation of ...exosomal RNAs. We aimed at characterizing exosomal lncRNAs, mRNA and miRNAs modulation after a 1-year adherence to a low-fat diet (LFD) or to Mediterranean-based diets enriched in extra-virgin olive oil (MedDiet + EVOO) or in a mixture of nuts (MedDiet + Nuts).
Methods
Plasma samples were collected, at baseline and after 1 year of dietary interventions, from 150 participants included in the PREDIMED study (Reus Center). LncRNAs, mRNAs and miRNAs were isolated from plasma exosomes and screened. RT-qPCR validation was performed for miRNAs.
Results
Compared with LFD, 413 lncRNAs and 188 mRNAs, and 476 lncRNAs and 235 mRNAs were differentially modulated in response to the MedDiet + EVOO and MedDiet + Nuts interventions, respectively. In addition, after 1 year of dietary interventions, 26 circulating miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed between groups. After 1 year of intervention, 11 miRNAs significantly changed in LFD group, while 8 and 21 were modulated in response to the MedDiet enriched with EVOO or nuts, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses of differentially expressed miRNAs and their validated target genes suggest certain metabolic pathways are modulated by LFD (PI3K-Akt and AMPK), MedDiet + EVOO (PI3K-Akt, NF-kappa B, HIF-1, and insulin resistance), and MedDiet-Nuts (FoxO, PI3K-Akt, AMPK, p53 and HIF-1) interventions.
Conclusion
Results show that 1-year MedDiet + Nuts and MedDiet + EVOO dietary interventions modulate exosomal RNA content, with the former affecting a higher number of miRNAs. The modulation of exosomal RNAs could help explain how the adherence to a Mediterranean diet may lead to beneficial effects and deserves further investigation.
Permeable pavements are part of stormwater management practices known as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). This study describes the influence of several environmental variables, such as the ...rainfall regime or the pollution build-up level, on the hydraulic and water quality performance of permeable pavements. Four infiltrometers with different configurations of pavement layers were used to study the influence of two rainfall regimes (Atlantic and Mediterranean) and two rainfall intensities (0.5 and 2.2mm/min). The influence of the progressive pollution build-up level was studied by dry sprinkling of road deposited sediments collected with a mechanical street sweeper with a dose of 5g/m2/d. The results show that permeable pavements retained a significant rainwater volume and improved the infiltrated water quality in terms of suspended solids, organic matter and nutrients when compared to the corresponding surface runoff potentially generated from an impervious pavement. The volume of rainwater retained inside them varied between 16 and 66% depending on the variables studied. The water infiltrated from permeable pavements subjected to a Mediterranean rainfall regime contained, in general, higher concentrations of organic matter (22 to 89mg Chemical Oxygen Demand/l) and nutrients (0.6 to 2.1mg Total Nitrogen/l and 0.05 to 0.45mg Total Phosphorus/l) than those under Atlantic regime. However, the latter infiltrated higher loadings in terms of mass. Nitrogen was the substance that infiltrated the most, reaching a 25% of the total mass of nitrogen deposited on the pavements surface. The concentration and mass loading in infiltrated water increased as the pollution build-up level did. The leachability of nutrients and organic matter was greater for high rainfall intensities. The results suggest that it is essential to carry out an adequate cleaning in dry conditions, especially when high intensity rainfall events are foreseen, because of its greater capacity to mobilize pollutants.
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•Permeable pavements control runoff production at source.•The potential negative impact on the receiving water bodies is reduced.•The pollutant load discharged is reduced: lower concentration and lower volume.•Different rainfall regimes (Atlantic, Mediterranean) and intensities are tested.•Heavy rainfalls have a greater capacity for pollutant mobilization and infiltration.
Many studies have reported conventional wastewater treatment plants as one of the main sources of microplastics (MPs). However, constructed wetlands (CWs) as a nature-based wastewater treatment ...system have received little attention. This study investigated the influence of biofilm, media type and earthworms on the fate and removal of MPs in a short-term (45d) experiment with unplanted lab-scale vertical flow CWs (VFCWs). In sand-filled VFCWs, MPs were retained in the first 10 cm, and the removal efficiency was 100%, regardless of the presence of a biofilm. When gravel was used as filling material, the removal efficiency of MPs was stable at 96%, but the MPs were distributed throughout the 80 cm high VFCWs. In the presence of earthworms, the maximum depth that MPs reached within sand-filled VFCWs increased from 10 to 15 cm. Furthermore, the MPs concentration at a depth of 3–6 cm and 6–10 cm increased 2 and 10 fold respectively compared to the same VFCWs without earthworms. Although no MPs were detected in the sand from deep layers (15–80 cm), transport of MPs from top to the bottom by earthworms was found, and a few MPs were detected in the effluent, leading to a removal efficiency of 99.8%. This study indicated that both a higher media grain size and the presence of earthworms have a small effect on the removal efficiency of MPs in VFCWs, but the effect on the distribution of MPs was considerably. Longer-term studies in full-scale CWs are advised to perform under the influence of more practical factors.
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•Porous media of vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) can remove microplastics.•Small size and spherical microplastics showed higher mobility in lab-scale VFCWs.•Microplastics were distributed throughout the full height of gravel-filled VFCWs.•Sand-filled VFCWs retained more than 98.8% of microplastics in the top 10 cm layer.•Earthworms can transport microplastics to the bottom of VFCWs and egest them.
The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MP) in urban environments has raised concerns over their negative effects on ecosystems and human health. Stormwater runoff, and road dust and sediment, ...act as major vectors of these pollutants into natural water bodies. Sustainable urban drainage systems, such as permeable pavements, are considered as potential tools to retain particulate pollutants. This research evaluates at laboratory scale the efficiency of permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) and porous concrete pavements (PCP) for controlling microplastics, including tire wear particles (TWP) which constitute a large fraction of microplastics in urban environments, simulating surface pollution accumulation and Mediterranean rainfall conditions. Microplastic levels in road dust and sediments and stormwater runoff inputs were 4762 ± 974 MP/kg (dry weight) and 23.90 ± 17.40 MP/L. In infiltrated effluents, microplastic levels ranged from 2.20 ± 0.61 to 5.17 ± 1.05 MP/L; while tire wear particle levels ranged between 0.28 ± 0.28 and 3.30 ± 0.89 TWP/L. Distribution of microplastics within the layers of PICP and PCP were also studied and quantified. Microplastics tend to accumulate on the pavements surface and in geotextile layers, allowing microplastic retention efficiencies from 89 % to 99.6 %. Small sized (< 0.1 mm) fragment shaped microplastics are the most common in effluent samples. The results indicate that permeable pavements are a powerful tool to capture microplastics and tire wear particles, especially by surface and geotextile layers. The study aims to shed light on the complex mobilisation mechanisms of microplastics, providing valuable insights for addressing the growing environmental concern of microplastic pollution in urban areas.
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•Permeable pavements retain microplastic and tire wear particles efficiently.•Fibres and fragments <0.1 mm represent challenging particles to retain.•Geotextile and surface layers are key in microplastic capture.•Geotextiles do not contribute to microplastic pollution.•Frequent surface cleaning is key to control microplastic pollution.
Sedimentary records help chronologically identify anthropogenic contamination in environmental systems. This study analysed dated sediment cores from L’Albufera Lake (Valencia, Spain), to assess the ...occurrence of heavy metals (HMs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), pesticides and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The results evidence the continuing vertical presence of all types of contaminants in this location. The sediment age was difficult to establish. However, the presence of shells together with an historical estimation and the knowledge of sedimentary rates could help. HMs contents are higher in the upper layer reflecting the most recent increase of the industrial and agricultural practices in the area since the middle 20th century. Higher availability index of these HMs in the upper sediment layers is associated with point and diffuse contamination sources in the area. PAHs and OPFRs were homogeneous distributed through the sediments with few exceptions such as phenanthrene in the North and fluoranthene in the South. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) were detected throughout the sediment core while short-chain PFASs (except perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)) were detected only in the top layer. Pesticides and PPCPs showed appreciable down-core mobility. The vertical concentration profiles of organic contaminants did not exhibit a clear trend with depth, then, it is difficult to develop a direct relationship between sediment age and contaminant concentrations, and to elucidate the historical trend of contamination based on dated sediment core. Consequently, linking contaminant occurrence in sediments directly to their historical use is somewhat speculative at least in the conditions of L’Albufera Lake.
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•HMs, PAHs, PFASs, OPFRs, pesticides, PPCPs were detected in sediment cores.•Challenging to study historical trends due to compound properties and area dynamics.•PFOS increase sharply in the upper layers of sediments.•L'Albufera Lake sediment cores exhibit homogeneous distribution of contaminants.•Need of better sediment characteristics definition for contamination chronology.
Consumption of highly processed foods, such as those high in trans fats and free sugars, coupled with sedentarism and chronic stress increases the risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders, while ...adherence to a Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with the prevalence of such diseases. Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. Data accumulated thus far show consumption of extra virgin, (poly)phenol-rich olive oil to be associated with specific health benefits. Of note, recommendations for consumption based on health claims refer to the phenolic content of extra virgin olive oil as beneficial. However, even though foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, such as olive oil, are healthier than foods rich in saturated and trans fats, their inordinate use can lead to adverse effects on health. The aim of this review was to summarize the data on olive oil consumption worldwide and to critically examine the literature on the potential adverse effects of olive oil and its main components, particularly any effects on lipid metabolism. As demonstrated by substantial evidence, extra virgin olive oil is healthful and should be preferentially used within the context of a balanced diet, but excessive consumption may lead to adverse consequences.
Urban runoff is considered an important source of microplastic pollution. This review provides an in-depth analysis of studies that assess the role of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) as ...nature-based solutions, to tackle this worldwide problem. Sedimentation-based systems, such as wetlands or ponds, and filtration-based systems, such as bioretention cells or gardens, as well as permeable pavements have been shown to effectively retain a significant number of MPs. Nevertheless, it is considered that efficiencies can be enhanced through some design improvements, proposed in this review. Polypropylene, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polyethylene and Polystyrene, are the most frequent and abundant polymers in urban runoff, due to high consumption in a wide variety of urban products and activities. Smaller particles and fibers are the most challenging fraction. Maximum rainfall intensity, antecedent dry days, rainfall depth, land use, dwelling density, imperviousness, hydraulic loading, SUDS age, and the presence of forebays or gross pollutant traps have been influential variables on the abundance of MPs in some of the studies, although not always statistically significant. The assessment of the fate of MPs by some studies indicates that they are more concentrated in the sediment or filter media near the inlet, as well as in the shallower layers. The existence of a similar behaviour and a correlation between total suspended solids and microplastic concentration, makes them a potential indicator of microplastic pollution. A wide variability of microplastic detection methods and reporting data format has been found, which makes it difficult to draw global conclusions. Measures to reduce microplastic pollution in urban areas and subjects for further research are finally suggested.
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•Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) efficiently remove microplastics.•Filtration and sedimentation-based SUDS solutions efficiently remove microplastics.•Polypropylene is the most abundant polymer in water and sediment samples.•Fibers, fragments and films are detected by greater number of studies.•Small size MPs are the most prevalent in water, sediment and fauna.
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and its bioactive compounds are associated with beneficial health effects, which might be enabled, at least in part, through miRNA regulation, despite recent ...controversial studies suggesting that exogenous dietary miRNAs may reach host circulation and target cells to regulate gene expression. Here, a computational analysis was performed to explore the processes and pathways associated with genes targeted either by (1) host-expressed miRNAs (endogenous) modulated by the bioactive compounds in broccoli or (2) miRNAs derived from broccoli (exogenous). In addition, the stability of exogenous miRNAs from broccoli was assessed after broccoli was subjected to the usual processing methods and in vitro digestion-simulating gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. Overall, bioinformatic results show that the anticarcinogenic and cancer-preventive properties attributed to cruciferous vegetables might be mediated, at least in part, through miRNA-related mechanisms. Moreover, results show that broccoli-derived miRNAs can survive common food-processing conditions and GI digestion.
