Chemical characterization and stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons issued from combustion of 10 Mediterranean woods
The objectives of this study were to characterize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from particulate matter emitted during wood combustion and to determine, for the first time, the isotopic signature of PAHs from nine wood species and Moroccan coal from the Mediterranean Basin. In order to differentiate sources of particulate-PAHs, molecular and isotopic measurements of PAHs were performed on the set of wood samples for a large panel of compounds. Molecular profiles and diagnostic ratios were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and molecular isotopic compositions (δ13C) of particulate-PAHs were determined by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Wood species present similar molecular profiles with benz(a)anthracene and chrysene as dominant PAHs, whereas levels of concentrations range from 1.8 to 11.4 mg g−1 OC (sum of PAHs). Diagnostic ratios are consistent with reference ratios from literature but are not sufficient to differentiate the species of woods. Concerning isotopic methodology, PAH molecular isotopic compositions are specific for each species and contrary to molecular fingerprints, significant variations of δ13C are observed for the panel of PAHs. This work allows differentiating wood combustion (with δ13CPAH = −28.7 to −26.6‰) from others origins of particulate matter (like vehicular exhaust) using isotopic measurements but also confirms the necessity to investigate source characterisation at the emission in order to help and complete source assessment models. These first results on woodburnings will be useful for the isotopic approach to source tracking.
(Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. vol. 13, n° 1680-7316, pp. 2703-2719, 19/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LCE, AMU, INC-CNRS, CNRS
Optical properties and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation of dissolved organic matter from the arcachon bay (French Atlantic Coast)
Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy was used to investigate spatial and temporal variability in the optical properties of dissolved organic matter in the Arcachon Bay and its main tributaries. Seasonal effects and different trends in composition as well as in size of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were observed for samples collected from the Arcachon lagoon. We do not observe such a variability for the samples collected from the nine main tributaries of the Arcachon Bay. DOM quality was however specific for each tributary site. \textcopyright 2013 Zhejiang University Press and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights are reserved.
(. vol. 9789400756342, pp. 153--158, 19/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Caged Gammarus fossarum (crustacea) as a robust tool for the characterization of bioavailable contamination levels in continental waters. Toward the determination of threshold values
We investigated the suitability of an active biomonitoring approach, using the ecologically relevant species Gammarus fossarum, to assess trends of bioavailable contamination in continental waters. Gammarids were translocated into cages at 27 sites, in the Rhône-Alpes region (France) during early autumn 2009. Study sites were chosen to represent different physico-chemical characteristics and various anthropic pressures. Biotic factors such as sex, weight and food availability were controlled in order to provide robust and comparable results. After one week of exposure, concentrations of 11 metals/metalloids (Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, As, Se and Ag) and 38 hydrophobic organic substances including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyles (PCBs), pentabromodiphenylethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine pesticides, were measured in gammarids. All metals except Ag, and 33 organic substances among 38 were quantified in G. fossarum, showing that this species is relevant for chemical biomonitoring. The control of biotic factors allowed a robust and direct inter-site comparison of the bioavailable contamination levels. Overall, our results show the interest and robustness of the proposed methodological approach for assessing trends of bioavailable contamination, notably for metals and hydrophobic organic contaminants, in continental waters. Furthermore, we built threshold values of bioavailable contamination in gammarids, above which measured concentrations are expected to reveal a bioavailable contamination at the sampling site. Two ways to define such values were investigated, a statistical approach and a model fit. Threshold values were determined for almost all the substances investigated in this study and similar values were generally derived from the two approaches. Then, levels of contaminants measured in G. fossarum at the 27 study were compared to the threshold values obtained using the model fit. These threshold values could serve as a basis for further implementation of quality grids to rank sites according to the extent of the bioavailable contamination, with regard to the applied methodology.
(Water Research. vol. 47, n° 0043-1354, pp. p. 650 - p. 660, 19/04/2026)
UR MALY, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
On the use of the radon transform in studying wave dynamics
In nearshore studies, there is an increasing interest for describing wave-by-wave dynamics. Most existing methods compute bulk parameters for celerity and the separation of incoming and outgoing waves. In this paper we address the use of the Radon Transform for studying wave dynamics. The Radon Transform is a projection of a bidimensional field (e.g. spatiotemporal wave signal) into polar coordinates which can be back projected at given angles. The method is applied to laboratory low-sloping beach and non-linear waves GLOBEX dataset. The separation of incoming from outgoing long waves using Radon is tested and compared to the method described in Guza et al., (1984). Components are retrieved, even at standing long wave nodes. Individual short wave celerity derived from Radon is found in agreement with celerity derived from tracked individual crest.
(pp. 73-82, 19/04/2026)
LEGOS, IRD, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, INSU - CNRS, CNES, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LEGI, UJF, Grenoble INP, CNRS, PUC, IMAU
Climatic facilitation of the colonization of an estuary by Acartia tonsa
Global change has become a major driving force of both terrestrial and marine systems. Located at the interface between these two realms, estuarine ecosystems are probably the place where both direct and indirect effects of human activities conspire together to affect biodiversity from phytoplankton to top predators. Among European estuarine systems, the Gironde is the largest estuary of Western Europe and many studies have provided evidence that it has been affected by a variety of anthropogenic stressors such as thermal and chemical pollution, physical alterations and exploitation, especially for maritime traffic. In such a context, species introduction is also a current major issue with the establishment of strong competitive species that could lead to ecosystem reorganization with potential decrease or even disappearance of native species. In the Gironde estuary, this hypothesis was proposed for the invasive shrimp species Palaemon macrodactylus as a decrease in the native species abundance was observed at the same time. Although species introduction often takes place via ballast water, the influence of climate-driven changes on the establishment of new species remains a key issue. The calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa, observed in the Gironde estuary for the first time in 1983, have since colonized most part of the estuary, reaching a level of abundance comparable to the dominant native species Eurytemora affinis. In this study, using both the concept of the ecological niche sensu Hutchinson (fundamental and realized niches) and statistical models, we reveal that the dynamics of the colonization of A. tonsa was facilitated by environmental conditions that have become closer to its environmental optimum with respect to temperature and salinity.
(PLoS ONE. vol. 8, n° 1932-6203, pp. e74531, 19/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LOG, INSU - CNRS, ULCO, CNRS, IRD [Ile-de-France]
Sedimentary cycles in the architecture of the Quaternary Congo turbidite system: Nature and origin.
(19/04/2026)
LDO, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS, GM, IFREMER, iSTeP, UPMC, CNRS, CNRS, SPE, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Global biomass burning : a synthesis and review of Holocene paleofire records and their controls
(Quaternary Science Reviews. vol. 65, n° 0277-3791, pp. 5-25, 19/04/2026)
PACEA, UB, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, SAGES, UOR, CPCC, UOR, OCCR, UNIBE, UNIBE, LCE, CNRS, UFC, UBFC
Biodiversité marine : chapitre 6
A l'échelle du golfe de Gascogne et de ses zones côtières et littorales, les suivis de la biodiversité montrent d'importantes variations annuelles d'abondance e de répartition géographique des espèces en relation avec le climat. Les tendances actuelles montrent que la biodiversité va évoluer vers une augmentation de représentativité des espèces tempérées chaudes, une modification de la phénologies des espèces et de la productivité des écosystèmes.
(pp. 173-188, 19/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR EPBX, IRSTEA, LERAR, COAST, IFREMER, IRSTEA, IFREMER, MNHN, UPMC
Benthic and Planktic Foraminifera as Indicators of Late Glacial to Holocene Paleoclimatic Changes in a Marginal Environment: An Example from the Southeastern Bay of Biscay.
Benthic and planktic foraminiferal assemblages from two sediment cores (2,000 m depth, 44 degrees 33'N, 2 degrees 45'W) were analyzed to first compare modern and dead faunas and next to study changes in the hydrology of the southeastern Bay of Biscay (SE BoB) over the last 12.8 cal ka BP. Considering benthic ecosystem characteristics, the first part of the paleorecord (12.8-7.6 cal ka BP) is composed of laminated sediments that may have resulted from turbiditic overflow events, whereas occurrences of transported species (e. g. Nonionella sp., Cassidulina carinata) attest of continental influence at the core location. After 7.6 cal ka BP, the sediment becomes bioturbated concomitantly to the stabilization of the sea-level. The benthic foraminiferal fauna is largely dominated by Uvigerina peregrina suggesting a high seasonality with seasonal pulsed organic matter fluxes to the seafloor. On the other hand, the planktic foraminiferal composition indicates that surface water masses were under the influence of the polar front in the early record, which retreated at about 11.5 cal ka BP. The early Holocene is characterized by relatively warm and stratified water masses at 8.4-4.8 cal ka BP. The last 4.8 cal ka BP records a gradual sea surface water cooling trend and enhanced foraminiferal production from similar to 2.6 cal ka BP until present. The early (12.8-10.5 cal ka BP) and late (2.3-1.7 cal ka BP) Holocene are characterized by the presence of the planktic species Globigerinoides ruber probably caused by intrusions of the Iberian Poleward Current (IPC), and a negative state of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
(Acta Protozoologica. vol. 52, n° 0065-1583, pp. 161-180, 19/04/2026)
BIAF, UA, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, PALEOCEAN, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Use of integrative samplers for the determination of the efficiency of wastewater advanced treatments: case of pharmaceuticals compounds
Introduction. The general objective of the ECHIBIOTEB research program (“Innovating tools for sampling, chemical and biological analyses for the diagnosis of wastewater advanced tertiary treatments and sludge treatments”, 2011-2014, financed by the French National Research Agency) is introduced in a previous presentation. Briefly it consists in developing new tools for the determination of the efficiency of advanced treatments, especially for the sampling. This presentation will describe the potential of Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) for the monitoring of pharmaceuticals in water, compared to grab sampling. Analytical methodology. Until today, two campaigns were performed in order to follow the efficiency of ozone (O3) treatment, alone and coupled with Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) by exposing 20 POCIS before and after the wastewater treatment during 28 days. Each triplicate, associated to a field blank, is dedicated to a kind of analysis (pharmaceuticals, alkylphenols, and biological analysis, for example). In parallel, grab samplings were achieved after 0, 14 and 28 days of POCIS exposition in order to compare these two approaches. 104 molecules belonging to several therapeutic classes such as antibiotics, -blockers, antineoplastics, antivirals, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE 5), analgesics, broncholidators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and psychiatric drugs, lipid regulators and stimulants, were analysed. Therefore, in order to determine the in-situ rate constants of exposed POCIS, 3 Reference Performance Compounds (PRC) were previously added in the adsorbant phase: salbutamol-d3, caffeine-13C and desisopropylatrazin-d5 (DIA d5) and laboratory calibration on pharmaceuticals were performed. Solid Phase Extractions (SPE) were carried out on the different samples depending on compound classes and, then, analyses were performed by liquid phase chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results. Among targeted compounds, 39 molecules were not detected in any samples of wastewater, in the dissolved phase and 32 molecules in any POCIS samplers. As illustrated in Figure 1a, concentrations upstream from the treatments are higher than those downstream; whatever is the nature of wastewater process. Betablockers, macrolides, psychiatric drugs, fluoroquinolones and quinolones are the most abundant compounds upstream these processes and downstream, only two classes (Betablockers and stimulants) remain present as relatively high concentrations. Therefore, it seems that GAC and GAC+O3 treatments involve a drastic reduction of micropollutant concentrations in wastewaters. Regarding concentrations determined in the adsorbant phase of passive samplers (Figure 1b), the tendency between upstream and downstream coincides well with the one of wastewater samples, in terms of pharmaceutical abundances and between samples too. Figure 2 shows that the number of detected targeted compounds depends on the place of sampling (up or downstream) and on the way of sampling (POCIS vs. grab sampling). For the process using granular activated carbon, based on the measurements of 103 molecules, 13 extra compounds are detected in the adsorbant phase of POCIS compared to the dissolved phase, upstream and downstream the process. Until today, regarding the analysis of 93 molecules for ozone+GAC process, the trend is also observed with the detection of 23 and 17 extra compounds, upstream and downstream respectively. These results show the real interest of this sampling mode by the improvement of methodology sensitivity. Laboratory calibration of passive samplers allow to determine rate constants for more than 25 of target compounds and so, to compare directly the results between integrative and grab sampling in terms of concentrations. This methodology of sampling reveals its interest for the quantification of targeted compounds and has been also applied to the analysis of non-targeted compounds in order to complete the knowledge on the efficiency of such process. The presence of pharmaceuticals and non-targeted compounds could explain the potential toxicity of these samples (wastewater and POCIS extracts). Acknowledgements. The authors wish to thank the program ECOTECH-ECHIBIOTEB, the Aquitaine Region and the European Union (CPER A2E project) for financial support. Europe is moving in Aquitaine with the European Regional Development Fund.
(pp. 36, 19/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR MALY, IRSTEA