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- Efficacy of slow sand filtration enriched with trichoderma atroviride in the control of fusarium oxysporum in soilless cultivation systemsPublication . Matias, Pedro; Guerreiro David Coelho, Luísa Isabel; Reis, MárioOn a planet intending to move toward carbon neutrality while ensuring food security, maximizing water and nutrient use efficiency in agriculture is essential. Soilless cultivation offers a promising solution for food production, yet in substrate-based systems, excess nutrient solution (drainage) is often discarded to maintain phytosanitary safety, resulting in considerable water and nutrient waste. Reusing this drainage requires disinfection to eliminate pathogens. Among available methods, slow sand filtration (SSF) is ecological, economical, and simple, showing strong biological control potential, though not always fully effective against Fusarium oxysporum. Trichoderma atroviride, an antagonistic fungus, may enhance SSF performance. Its antagonistic capacity was evaluated in vitro via direct confrontation assays and in vivo using a closed-loop soilless cucumber cultivation system with eight treatment combinations of SSF, T. atroviride, and F. oxysporum. SSF reduced F. oxysporum incidence by approximately 48%, T. atroviride in irrigation by 44%, and SSF enriched with T. atroviride reached 58% disease incidence reduction, though this increase was not statistically significant. These results confirm that both SSF and T. atroviride can partially suppress F. oxysporum, but further optimization is needed for consistent and complete pathogen control.
- Factors influencing access to advanced sanitation service level and drinking-water quality in healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a convergent sequential studyPublication . Retta, Mulumebet Tadesse; Gari, Sirak Robele; Alemu, Bezatu Mengistie; Ambelu, ArgawThis study investigates factors influencing access to advanced sanitation services and drinking water quality in healthcare facilities (HCFs) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Despite the critical role of sanitation and safe water in preventing healthcareassociated infections, many facilities face significant challenges. A convergent sequential study was conducted in 382 healthcare facilities, which involved observations of sanitation facilities, interviews with facility managers, and water quality tests of 382 samples. Additionally, five water samples from reservoirs and distributors were collected, and eight key informant interviews were conducted purposively. In this investigation, only 14.5% of healthcare facilities had advanced sanitation service, while 23.2% had basic sanitation services. Over half (62.3%) of the facilities provided limited sanitation services. Additionally, 22.7% of water samples tested positive for enterococci, 26% for Escherichia coli, 35% for fecal coliforms, and 38.8% for total coliforms. All samples analyzed for fluoride, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) were below permissible limits, except for 6.6% of the samples that exceeded the pH level of 8.5. In contrast, all water samples from reservoirs and distributors were free from bacterial contaminations, and their fluoride, conductivity, and TDS levels were within the standard. Factors such as having infection prevention committee (IPC)(AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.07-7.52), trained managers on sanitation safety plan (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.10-7.94), managers trained in infection prevention (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.25-10.48), having sanitation standards (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.06-11.64), availability of sufficient budget for sanitation services (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.14-9.15), having specific annual sanitation plan (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.52-8.58), using updated WASH guidelines (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.05-11.20), absence of a sanitation safety plan (AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.05-0.91), lack of regular monitoring and evaluation (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07- 0.83), and managers who did not involve in leading renovation of WASH infrastructure (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35-0.70) were significantly associated with access to advanced sanitation service level. Access to advanced and basic sanitation services is low in HCFs of Addis Ababa. Several core factors affecting access to advanced sanitation service level has been identified. Many water samples from healthcare facilities were contaminated by bacteria. Enhancing training programs for healthcare managers and securing adequate funding are critical steps toward improving sanitation and water quality.
- Impact of trace elements of wastewater from steel and iron industry on benthic communities of Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia)Publication . Jaziri, Sayda; Said, Olfa Ben; Mahmoudi, Ezzeddine; Duran, Robert; Strungaru, Stefan-Adrian; Plavan, Oana; Nicoara, Mircea; Plavan, Gabriel; Chicharo, LuisThe metallurgical industry is amongst the most water-intensive industrial sectors. It generates significant quantities of trace elements (TEs) in wastewater, which are largely discharged into the aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of TEs in wastewater effluent (WWF) from the Tunisian Iron and Steel Company "EL FOULADH" on the Bizerte Lagoon ecosystem. To this end, it entailed collecting samples of EL FOULADH WWF, Bizerte Lagoon water, and sediments from seven stations located both adjacent and far (-0.12, 0.34, 5.37, 7.58, 8.26, 8.65, 11.96 m) from WWF discharge points and measuring their TEs contents. Additionally, sediment contamination indices were estimated and bacterial and meiofaunal community assemblages were analyzed. Both univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA/CCA/Cluster) analysis revealed significant dissimilarities in the distribution of TEs, meiofaunal, and bacterial communities between downstream and upstream WWF discharge points. The comparison of abiotic and biotic variables revealed specific benthic assemblages for the station closest to the WWF discharge points. Interestingly, these sediments are distinctively characterized by the total disappearance of copepods. These findings offer us valuable information, pointing out to specific meiofauna and bacterial taxa, TEs sediment content affects the benthic assemblage of Bizerte lagoon via modeling trophic relationships.
- Matrix solid-phase dispersion procedure for determination of antibiotics and metabolites in mussels: application in exposure bioassaysPublication . Mejías, Carmen; GARCIA DA FONSECA, TAINÁ; García-Criado, Noelia; Martín, Julia; Santos, Juan Luis; Aparicio, Irene; Alonso, EstebanAbstract: The presence of antibiotics in seafood for human consumption may pose a risk for consumers. Furthermore, some marine organisms, such as mussels, can result in appropriate bioindicators of marine contamination. In this work, a multiresidue analytical methodology suitable for the determination of antibiotics and metabolites in mussels is proposed. The target compounds include three sulphonamides and trimethoprim (TMP) and six of their main metabolites. Sample treatment involves extraction and clean-up in a single step using matrix solid-phase dispersion with acetonitrile. Analytical determination was carried out by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Good linearity (R2 > 0.99), accuracy (from 80.8 to 118%), and limits of quantification (lower than 5 ng g−1 (dry matter, dm)) were obtained for all selected compounds. The method was applied to the determination of antibiotics in mussel samples from an exposure assay with contaminated seawater with TMP and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Both antibiotics were detected in the analysed samples with concentrations up to 77.5 ng g−1 dm. TMP was bioconcentrated to a higher extent than SMX, attributable to its higher hydrophobicity. None of the metabolites were detected. These results demonstrate that Mytilus galloprovincialis is a suitable bioindicator to assess marine pollution.
- Metal ecotoxicity in sea anemones: accumulation, effects, and knowledge gapsPublication . Vilke, Juliano Marcelo; Power, Deborah Mary; Vieira de Sousa, Cármen Sofia; Mestre, NéliaMetals are a major class of legacy pollutants that end up in marine ecosystems, posing a significant threat to marine biota, including sea anemones. The current review critically synthesises studies published over the last 50 years on the uptake, tissue distribution, and biological effects of 20 metals across 18 sea anemone species in both field and laboratory settings, including interactions with climate change stressors (salinity and pH). Field studies have focused on bioaccumulation and report the high capacity of sea anemones to accumulate metals, mainly iron and barium, primarily in the pedal disk. Laboratory exposure studies reveal a dose- and timedependent accumulation and highlight that symbionts take up and store essential metals (Cu, Fe, and Mn) due to their key biological roles. Available data point to Exaiptasia pallida as a promising model for metal ecotoxicology. Across studies, metals elicit alterations at molecular to behavioural/morphological levels, including transcriptome reprogramming, oxidative stress, and detoxification failures, as well as genotoxicity, cellular injury, immune dysfunction, metabolic and morphological disruption, reproductive impairment, and bleaching, which are generally amplified by climate change stressors. Ultimately, this review identifies key knowledge gaps and outlines future research directions on metal ecotoxicity in sea anemones. Collectively, these insights position sea anemones as informative sentinels of metal contamination in marine ecosystems.
- Microplastics hot spots at the South Iberian MarginPublication . Bebianno, Maria; Cristina, Sónia; Nathan, Justine; Goela, Priscila; Dias Duarte Fragoso, Bruno; Icely, John David; Moura, DelmindaThe persistent accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in sediments poses ecological risks to benthic organisms and contributes to the broader issue of marine pollution. This study quantitatively analysed MPs in sediments, water and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from eleven sites of the South Portuguese coast in two contrasting climatic seasons (summer and winter). MPs were detected in sediments, water, and M. galloprovincialis at all study sites, although their abundance, colour, size, and type varied across compartments, locations, and seasons. Three hot spots of MPs contamination were identified at the South Portuguese coast. In these areas, the concentration of MPs in sediments was three orders of magnitude higher than water and mussels. The MPs identified had distinct colour patterns: transparent particles dominated in sediments, while blue was the most common in water and mussels. A size-dependent accumulation pattern was observed in the sediments, suggesting selective retention of MPs according to natural particle size, and a relationship was observed between MP levels in sediments and in mussels. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were dominant polymers in sediments while PP, PE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were consistently present in water and mussels. Polybuthyl methachrylate (PBMA) was also detected in surface water and ingested by mussels. These findings suggest that variability in MPs abundance and polymer composition is linked to differences in local human activities. They also provide strong evidence for the importance of controlling land-based sources of MPs, particularly those transported to the coastal area by transported by rivers.
- Seasonal, spatial, and high-frequency monitoring of dissolved oxygen and net ecosystem metabolism in a shallow coastal lagoon, Ria Formosa – PortugalPublication . Correia, Cátia; Jacob, José; Cravo, AlexandraThis study provides a detailed assessment of dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics and net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, highlighting how spatial and temporal variability shape mesotidal ecosystems. Complementary approaches were applied: short-term (24 h) diel oxygen open-water method at two stations (eastern and western boundaries) in comparison with the bottle incubation method, and a 2.5-year high-frequency dataset at an inner station lagoon. DO showed clear seasonal patterns, largely driven by photosynthesis and respiration, but strongly modulated by water circulation and hydrodynamics. Sporadic hypoxic events (DO ≤ 2 mg L−1) were observed but do not represent a risk. The boundary stations are shallower and colonized by submerged vegetation, displayed stronger diel fluctuations than at the inner station, underscoring the role of biological processes in lagoon metabolism. NEM estimates revealed strong spatial contrasts: the western station was autotrophic, while the eastern station predominantly attributed to restricted water exchange. Long-term records from the inner station indicated a slightly heterotrophic status, reinforcing the value of sustained high-frequency monitoring for capturing ecosystem trends overlooked by short-term approaches. The results also highlight lagoon–coastal ocean connectivity, suggesting dual exchanges: local production may be exported offshore to sustain adjacent coastal areas, while coastal processes, such as upwelling, can also influence lagoon metabolism. Methodological comparisons confirmed that bottle incubation method underestimated NEM relative to diel oxygen open-water method, emphasizing the role of hydrodynamics in mesotidal system metabolism. Although sampling focused on western and eastern boundaries and inner lagoon, the strong tidal renewal in the main and secondary channels suggests Ria Formosa overall is close to metabolic balance, with spatial heterogeneity shaped by hydrodynamics, vegetation, and coastal forcing. By integrating short-term, high-frequency, and long-term observations, this study advances understanding of metabolism in coastal lagoons, offering key insights for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change and for guiding management of vulnerable coastal environments.