The chemokine CCL2 protects against methylmercury neurotoxicity.
Industrial pollution due to heavy metals such as mercury is a major concern for the environment and public health. Mercury, in particular methylmercury (MeHg), primarily affects brain development and neuronal activity, resulting in neurotoxic effects. Because chemokines can modulate brain functions and are involved in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, we tested the possibility that the neurotoxic effect of MeHg may interfere with the chemokine CCL2. We have used an original protocol in young mice using a MeHg-contaminated fish-based diet for 3 months relevant to human MeHg contamination. We observed that MeHg induced in the mice cortex a decrease in CCL2 concentrations, neuronal cell death, and microglial activation. Knock-out (KO) CCL2 mice fed with a vegetal control food already presented a decrease in cortical neuronal cell density in comparison with wild-type animals under similar diet conditions, suggesting that the presence of CCL2 is required for normal neuronal survival. Moreover, KO CCL2 mice showed a pronounced neuronal cell death in response to MeHg. Using in vitro experiments on pure rat cortical neurons in culture, we observed by blockade of the CCL2/CCR2 neurotransmission an increased neuronal cell death in response to MeHg neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we showed that sod genes are upregulated in brain of wild-type mice fed with MeHg in contrast to KO CCL2 mice and that CCL2 can blunt in vitro the decrease in glutathione levels induced by MeHg. These original findings demonstrate that CCL2 may act as a neuroprotective alarm system in brain deficits due to MeHg intoxication.
(Review of Economic Dynamics. vol. 125, n° 1094-2025, pp. 209-18, 01/01/2012)
UPMC, INSERM, CNRS, UNIL, UPMC, INSERM, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, SU, CRICM, UPMC, INSERM, CNRS
Natural and anthropogenic trace metals in sediments of the Ligurian Sea (Northwestern Mediterranean)
(Chemical Geology. vol. 291, n° 0009-2541, pp. 141-151, 01/01/2012)
MIO, IRD, AMU, INSU - CNRS, UTLN, CNRS, IFREMER, LEP, EEP, IFREMER, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LOV, OOVM, UPMC, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UPMC, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Comparison of kernel density estimators with assumption on number of modes
(29/08/2026)
LMBA, UBS, UBO EPE, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CQFD, IMB, UB, Bordeaux INP, CNRS, Inria, IMB, UB, Bordeaux INP, CNRS
Canyon morphology on a modern carbonate slope of the Bahamas: Evidence of regional tectonic tilting
New high-quality multibeam data presented here depict the northern slope of the Little Bahama Bank (Bahamas). The survey reveals the details of large- and small-scale morphologies that look like siliciclastic systems at a smaller scale, including large-scale slope failure scars and canyon morphologies, previously interpreted as gullies and creep lobes. The slope exhibits mature turbidite systems built by mass-fl ow events and turbidity currents. The sediment transport processes are probably more complex than expected. Slope failures show sinuous head scarps with various sizes, and most of the scars are fi lled with recent sediment. Canyons have amphitheater-shaped heads resulting from coalescing slump scars, and are fl oored by terraces that are interpreted as slump deposits. Canyons rapidly open on a short channel and a depositional fan-shaped lobe. The entire system extends for ~40 km. The development of these small turbidite systems, similar to siliciclastic systems, is due to the lack of cementation related to alongshore current energy forcing the transport of fi ne particles and fl ow differentiation. Detailed analyses of bathymetric data show that the canyon and failurescar morphology and geometry vary following a west-east trend along the bank slope. The changing parameters are canyon length and width, depth of incision, and canyon and channel sinuosity. Accordingly, failure scars are larger and deeper eastward. These observations are consistent with a westward tectonic tilt of the bank during the Cenozoic.
(Geology. vol. 40, n° 0091-7613, pp. 771-774, 29/08/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, FRE 2761, CNRS, GR, UR, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Spatial and long-term changes in the functional and structural phytoplankton communities along the French Atlantic coast
Spatial and interannual variations of phytoplankton diversity were characterized along the French Atlantic Coast in relation to physical factors and large-scale climatic indices using phytoplankton surveys conducted from 1993 to 2010 in four geographical areas. This study relates phytoplankton diversity to oyster recruitment success by comparing a 'specific' versus a 'functional' diversity approach. Functional diversity was represented by functional groups of different phytoplanktonic functional traits (size, shape, toxicity), relevant for oyster feeding during growth, reproduction and larval development. Phytoplankton diversity patterns along the French Atlantic coast corresponded to a geographical distribution mainly driven by a latitudinal gradient and hydrodynamic features as confirmed by the functional characteristics of the indicator species recorded for each geographical area (C-S-R strategies of Reynolds, specific habitat). This geographical typology was less clear for functional diversity. Only few functional groups were explained by physical factors: the non-toxic small and solitary cells were in particular related to temperature, with high densities observed in the southern areas. Even if temporal variation was less important in explaining the phytoplankton diversity patterns, the main drivers explaining the interannual pattern were the large-scale climatic indices, mainly the Atlantic Multidecennal Oscillation. Functional groups were readily explained by climatic indices than species even if the relationships cannot be applied generally because of the non-linearity of the correlations (local and temporal variations). However, the potentially toxic, small and linear phytoplankton were anticorrelated to NAO. The functional approach thus brings constructive elements concerning the relationships between the prey assemblage of oysters and their physical drivers. Redundancy and co-inertia analyses appeared as complementary analyses in investigating phytoplankton pattern of variation, being particularly useful in analyzing geographical and temporal diversity fluctuation, respectively. © 2012.
(Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. vol. 108, n° 0272-7714, pp. 37--51, 29/08/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IFREMER, LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, DYNECO, IFREMER, BOREA, UNICAEN, NU, MNHN, IRD, SU, CNRS, UA, CNRS, UNICAEN, NU, NU
Tracking atmospheric and riverine terrigenous supplies variability during the last glacial and the Holocene in central Mediterranean
The objectives were to retrace the eolian and fluvial terrigenous supplies in a sediment core from the Sicilian-Tunisian Strait by coupling mineralogical, grain-size and geochemical approaches, in order to get informations on the atmospheric versus riverine 5 contributions to sedimentation on the southern side of central Mediterranean since the last glacial. The eolian supply is dominant over the whole interval, excepted during the sapropel S1 when riverine contribution apparently became significant, and particles provenance has been modified since Last Glacial. Saharan contribution increased during the Bølling-Allerød, evidencing the persistence of aridity over North Africa although the northern Mediterranean already experienced moister and warmer conditions. The Younger Dryas is marked by proximal dust inputs highlighting intense regional eolian activity. A southward migration of dust provenance toward Sahel occurred at the onset of the Holocene, likely resulting from a southward position of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, probably associated with a large-scale atmospheric reorganization. Finally, a peculiar high terrigenous flux associated with drastic modifications of the mineralogical and geochemical sediment signature occurred during the sapropel S1, suggesting the propagation of fine-particles derived from major floodings of the Nile River – resulting from enhanced rainfall on northeastern Africa – and their transportation across the Sicilian-Tunisian Strait by intermediate water-masses.
(pp. 2921–2968, 29/08/2026)
LOG, INSU - CNRS, ULCO, CNRS, IRD [Ile-de-France], LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, GEOPS, UP11, CNRS
A new insight for micropollutants in activated sludge: variability of influent concentrations and effects of operating parameters on removal performances
We investigated how variable were concentrations in raw wastewater for 6 beta-blockers and 10 metals. Measured concentrations suggested a different consumption of 4 beta-blockers according to the season. We observed the same variability for metals. During a day, influent concentrations were not constant. However, daily concentrations seemed to be similar for consecutive days. So a robust understanding of a treatment process implied the knowledge of influent concentrations. We studied also the influence of operating conditions on micropollutant removal. We observed that a higher temperature, a lower MLSS concentration and a higher ammonium oxidation promoted micropollutant removal.
(pp. 5, 29/08/2026)
UR MALY, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UMR Qualisud, Cirad, UM1, UM2, Montpellier SupAgro, AU, UR, UM, Montpellier SupAgro
Canyon Heads and River Plumes: How Might They Influence Neritic Planktonic Foraminifera Communities In The SE Bay of Biscay?
The present study discusses the distribution of living planktonic foraminifera (LPF) in a neritic environment from the SE Bay of Biscay. Four sites, located at the head of Capbreton Canyon and near the Adour River mouth, were sampled during four cruises between June 2006 and July 2008. Each site was sampled with a plankton net (>100 μm) to characterize the LPF communities. The four onshore stations are here compared to three offshore stations located along a bathymetric transect on the Plateau des Landes to document the influence of submarine canyon bathymetry and river input on LPF communities. Five major species were observed: Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinella calida-G. bulloides complex, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma dextral, Globorotalia inflata, and Turborotalita quinqueloba. Late spring (mid-June 2006) standing stocks showed a decreasing trend toward the coast, whereas fall (late November 2007) and summer (mid-July 2008) standing stocks showed higher values at the canyon head and onshore stations. High standing stocks dominated by specimens from the G. calida-G. bulloides complex were recovered in late November 2007 at neritic stations and could be related to upwelling and/or strong tidal currents in the submarine Capbreton Canyon. Their distribution and production in the SE Bay of Biscay is affected by the Adour River turbidity discharge and also by mesoscale upwelling events induced around the Capbreton Canyon head.
(Journal of Foraminiferal Research. vol. 42, n° 0096-1191, pp. 257 - 269, 29/08/2026)
BIAF, UA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LPG-ANGERS, LPG, UA, UN UFR ST, UN, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Biogeochemical dynamics related to seasonal changes and biomass-density patterns in rhyzosphere sediments of a Zostera noltii meadow
(29/08/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LPG-ANGERS, LPG, UA, UN UFR ST, UN, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CJB, UA, IRD, UB
Evaluation of advanced tertiary treatments for the reduction of refractory micropollutants in treated wastewater
Some refractory micropollutants remain in treated wastewater after secondary treatments. In order to reduce their concentration in treated water, tertiary treatments can be used such as advanced oxidation processes and activated carbon. The efficiency of granular activated carbon in a long term is not well known and advanced oxidation processes have mostly been studied at laboratory scale. Advanced oxidation processes and granular activated carbon pilots were studied in two different wastewater treatment plants in order to determine their efficiency on numerous micropollutants. Both processes were efficient (>90%) on beta blockers and other drugs. The removal of alkylphenols was not complete with UV and hydrogen peroxide. Activated carbon was still efficient after six months functioning 24/24.
(pp. 4, 29/08/2026)
IRSTEA, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR MALY, IRSTEA