Effect-directed analysis of endocrine-disrupting compounds in multi-contaminated sediment: identification of novel ligands of estrogen and pregnane X receptors
Effect-directed analysis (EDA)-based strategies have been increasingly used in order to identify the causative link between adverse (eco-)toxic effects and chemical contaminants. In this study, we report the development and use of an EDA approach to identify endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in a multi-contaminated river sediment. The battery of in vitro reporter cell-based bioassays, measuring estrogenic, (anti)androgenic, dioxin-like, and pregnane X receptor (PXR)-like activities, revealed multi-contamination profiles. To isolate active compounds of a wide polarity range, we established a multi-step fractionation procedure combining: (1) a primary fractionation step using normal phase-based solid-phase extraction (SPE), validated with a mixture of 12 non-polar to polar standard EDCs; (2) a secondary fractionation using reversed-phase-based high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) calibrated with 33 standard EDCs; and (3) a purification step using a recombinant estrogen receptor (ER) affinity column. In vitro SPE and HPLC profiles revealed that ER and PXR activities were mainly due to polar to mid-polar compounds, while dioxin-like and anti-androgenic activities were in the less polar fractions. The overall procedure allowed final isolation and identification of new environmental PXR (e.g., di-iso-octylphthalate) and ER (e.g., 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-alpha-methoxy-p-cresol) ligands by using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry with full-scan mode acquisition in mid-polar fractions. In vitro biological activity of these chemicals was further confirmed using commercial standards, with di-iso-octylphthalate identified for the first time as a potent hPXR environmental agonist.
(Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. vol. 405, n° 1618-2642, pp. 2553-2566, 22/04/2026)
INERIS, LPTC, UB, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IRCM - U896 Inserm - UM1, UM1, INSERM, UM
L’argent (Ag, Nanoag) comme contaminant émergent dans l’estuaire de la Gironde : Evaluations scientifiques et gouvernance des risques
Cet article présente les résultats d'une recherche pluridisciplinaire (géochimie, sociologie) portant sur l'accroissement observé des concentrations d'argent sous la forme particulaire et nanoparticulaire (Ag et nanoAg) dans les milieux aquatiques de l'estuaire de la Gironde. Il propose conjointement d'analyser les risques d'une contamination des milieux aquatiques par l'argent et d'observer le processus de construction sociale et politique de ce risque par les gestionnaires de l'eau, les autorités sanitaires, les agences et comités d'expertise et d'évaluation des risques, des associations environnementales et des industriels utilisateurs d'argent. La mise à jour de quatre types de construction du risque permet de comprendre les différentes logiques d'argumentation mobilisées. Cette coopération scientifique pluridisciplinaire ouvre des perspectives sur les problématiques santé-environnement en diffusant des savoirs pour l'action et en favorisant la réflexivité des acteurs locaux confrontés au problème émergent de la concentration de l'argent dans les milieux aquatiques. / This article presents the results of multidisciplinary research (geochemistry, sociology) into the increasing concentrations of silver (Ag and nanoAg) in the environment and their potential impact on aquatic environments. We investigate simultaneously the risk of contamination of these environments by silver and the process of the social and political construction of this risk by water managers, health authorities, agencies and committees responsible for expert evaluations, environmental associations, and potential users of silver or nano-silver. Four updated models of risk construction allow us to understand the logic of arguments mobilized at this stage of the emerging risk. This interdisciplinary cooperation opens up possibilities for dealing with some environmental health issues; it highlights the benefits of an approach aiming to disseminate knowledge to enable action and to promote awareness and analysis by the local stakeholders and officials who face this emerging problem.
(Environnement, Risques & Santé. vol. 12, n° 1635-0421, pp. p. 317 - p. 327, 22/04/2026)
UR ADBX, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IFREMER
Were the 2.1-Gyr fossil colonial organisms discovered in the Francevillian basin (Palaeoproterozoic, Gabon) buried by turbidites?
The Francevillian series (Gabon) in which the Earth's oldest large colonial organisms were recently discovered (El Albani et al., 2010) were deposited 2 Gyr ago. These series are usually interpreted as a fining-upward basin-fill sequence composed by five superimposed lithological terms noted FA to FE. New studies initiated by AREVA, allowed new data to be collected on the southwestern edge of the Francevillian basin, particularly on newly excavated outcrops. Facies interpretations show that the Poubara sandstones and associated shales and black shales (upper part of FB,FB2a), correspond to turbidites deposited on an upper slope rather than one a shelf, submitted to tidal currents or storm wave action. These new interpretations based on facies association, sedimentary geometries, and basin evolution show that the depositional environment could be a turbidite lobe set at a palaeobathymetry deeper than 200 m.
(Comptes Rendus. Géoscience. vol. 345, n° 1631-0713, pp. 101-110, 22/04/2026)
AREVA-BU Mines, GR, UR, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Role of short and long-wave interaction on wave celerity in the surf zone of a low-sloping beach
A good prediction of wave celerity is essential for wave propagation modeling in the nearshore. Previous studies have been focusing on the analysis of wave celerities averaged over several waves, neglecting the intra-wave variability due to long-wave transformation for instance. This paper is devoted to a study of individual wave transformation in the surf zone of a low-sloping beach, based on the analysis of a high-resolution laboratory dataset. The variability of the individual wave celerity in the surf zone is quantified and is seen to relate with the local elevation of the long waves normalized by the mean water depth. Lastly, individual wave celerities are compared to the predictions given by several linear and non-linear models.
(pp. 1677 - 1686, 22/04/2026)
LEGOS, IRD, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LEGI, UJF, Grenoble INP, CNRS
Orbital-scale climate forcing of grassland burning in southern Africa
(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. vol. 110, n° 0027-8424, pp. 5069-5073, 22/04/2026)
PACEA, UB, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CNRS
Physical modeling of three-dimensional intermediate beach morphodynamics
Experiments have been performed in a large wave tank in order to study the morphodynamics of rip current systems. Both accretive and erosive shore-normal wave conditions were applied, the beach evolving through all the states within the intermediate beach classification, under the so-called down-state (accretive) and up-state (erosive) morphological transitions. Results show that any prescribed change in the wave conditions drastically increases the rate at which the morphology changes. The surf zone morphology tends toward a steady state when running a given wave climate for a long duration. We quantitatively describe a full down-state sequence characterized by the progressive evolution of an alongshore-uniform bar successively into a crescentic plan shape, a bar and rip channel morphology, and a terrace. From the analysis of a large data set of dense Eulerian measurements and bathymetric surveys, we depict several feedback mechanisms associated with wave-driven rip current circulation, wave nonlinearities and the seabed evolution. At first, a positive feedback mechanism drives a rapid increase in the rate of morphological change, beach three-dimensionality, and rip intensity. By the time the sandbar evolves into a bar and rip morphology, a negative feedback mechanism, characterized by a decaying beach change rate and an increasing beach alongshore uniformity, overwhelms the former mechanism. An erosive sequence characterized by both an overall offshore bar migration and an increase in beach three-dimensionality is also described.
(Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. vol. 118, n° 2169-9003, pp. 1045-1059, 22/04/2026)
LEGI, UJF, Grenoble INP, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR HHLY, IRSTEA
Physiological effects on zebrafish offspring following dietary parental exposure to a pyrolytic PAH mixture
(22/04/2026)
BE, IFREMER, UB, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, ULR, LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, LPGP, INRA, Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique
Direct exposure to PAH-spiked gravels induces developmental defects in Oncorhynchus mykiss early life stages
(22/04/2026)
UB, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LPGP, INRA, Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique, BE, IFREMER
Devenir des micropolluants dans les traitements tertiaires
Zone humide artificielle : un outil d’épuration et de préservation du milieu Vendredi 11 octobre 2013 de 13 h 30 à 17 h LabEx COTE – Séminaire commun avec le LyRE Salle de conférence de l’ISM – Université Bordeaux 1, bât. A12, 3ème étage Est Programme : Le séminaire est animé par Hélène Budzinski (CNRS, UMR EPOC), co-directrice du LabEx COTE • 13 h 30 accueil des participants • 14 h Introduction : o Les micropolluants : enjeux pour l’épuration, Hélène Budzinski (CNRS, UMR EPOC) • Présentations : o Les traitements tertiaires disponibles : analyse comparée, Jean-Marc Choubert (Irstea – Centre de Lyon, UR MAEP) o Les zones artificielles humides, Eric Blin (Lyonnaise des eaux) o Le devenir des micropolluants o Relations nappe/rivière ou zone humide/nappe : des échanges complexes, Alain Dupuy (ENSEGID, EA Géoressources et Environnement) o Le point de vue d’une collectivité, Sabine Jeandenand (Syndicat intercommunal du Bassin d'Arcachon) o Les leviers socio-économiques • 16 h : Discussion
(pp. 15, 22/04/2026)
UR MALY, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Devenir des micropolluants adsorbables à travers les procédés de séchage et de compostage des boues de stations d’épuration
Devenir des micropolluants adsorbables à travers les procédés de séchage et de compostage des boues de stations d’épuration.
(pp. 14, 22/04/2026)
UR MALY, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS