OntoPFAS: An Ontology for the Forever Chemicals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds used widely for fundamental everyday products such as textiles, household products, cosmetics, or food processing, thanks to their resistance to heat, water, and oil. However, it has recently been acknowledged that they represent a threat to human health and the environment, given their ability to persist and spread across multiple living organisms (including mammals, plants, and other fauna). They have been linked to different types of health issues, such as tumors and cancers. Given some recent availability of data, this manuscript presents OntoPFAS, the first formal ontology related to PFAS and their rela- tions with the environment and human exposure. The result of this work extensively reuses existing knowledge from different domains, is capable of answering relevant questions, and is compliant with the first PFAS measurements information available. We describe the reasons for this work, its design methodology, the quality of the proposed conceptualization, and the impact in terms of applications for several communities. The resource is available under a free access license: https://github.com/davide1797/PFAS.git.
(. vol. 16550, pp. 21-38, 08/05/2026)
UM, MISTEA, INRAE, Institut Agro, LIB, UBE, LIS, AMU, UTLN, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, PRODIG (UMR_8586 / UMR_D_215 / UM_115), UP1, IRD, SU, CNRS, UPCité
Which benefits of fluvial annex sediment analysis for quantifying and tracing industrial pollution along the Saône River?
In the context of river ecological restoration in Europe and in order to achieve a “good” ecological and chemical status in watercourses, it is essential to quantify the volumes of contaminated sediment accumulated in fluvial annexes, which may be remobilized during floods or human interventions. These assessments not only allow the evaluation of ecotoxicological risks, but also help to assess the ecological functions associated with reconnection to the main channel. The Saône River (France), the main tributary of the Rhône River in terms of hydro-sedimentary contributions, has been little studied from this perspective, despite numerous developments (dykes) that have profoundly altered the lateral connectivity of its main channel. A more in-depth knowledge of the Saône River is therefore clearly needed to guide effective and safe ecological restoration actions.The volumes of sediments accumulated in three fluvial annexes distributed along the Saône River were estimated by combining ground-penetrating radar (GPR) transects with sediment cores sampling. These sediment archives were characterized (grain-size, organic matter content, trace metal content) to reconstruct the temporal trends of metal accumulation, based on ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb dating. Depending on the site, these sediment sequences provide six to eight decades of records, extending back to the 1940s for the longest. These data allow quantification of contaminants stocks (trace metals) and estimation of the annual load of contaminated suspended matters by the river in each site.The study sites exhibit contrasting morphologies and varying levels of lateral connectivity with the main channel. These differences influence the sediment storage volumes within the fluvial annexes, ranging from 8,000 m³ to 100,000 m³. These results reveal metal enrichment since the 1940s, with a clear and well-documented increase in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn during the post‑World War II economic expansion (1950s), reaching maximum concentrations during the 1970s. Their concentrations subsequently declined in the 1990-2000s before stabilizing at lower plateau values.A specific feature concerns the contamination history of Ag, most likely driven by the photographic industry, which presented a three-phase pattern: (i) regular increase in the 1970s and 1980s, (ii) successive peaks between 1986 and 1994, and (iii) a marked decline in the late 1990s-2000s, with the decline of silver. This typical signal was observed at all studied sites along the river, despite hydrological connectivity differences. These sedimentary record complement monitoring data, especially for trace metals that were difficult to quantify in the past. This study highlights the major influence of historical contamination sources that released polluted sediments at the basin scale over several decades. This reconstruction also has national-scale implications and complements records obtained by other research works (such as on the Seine or Garonne rivers), highlighting the extent and persistence of pollution linked with photographic product manufacturing in Western Europe before 2000. Together, these results provide an integrated understanding of sediment dynamics and contamination, offering key insights for future river management and restoration strategies.
(04/05/2026)
LEHNA, UCBL, ENTPE, CNRS, ENTPE, ENTPE, LEHNA IAPHY, LEHNA, UCBL, ENTPE, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, EVS, ENS de Lyon, Mines Saint-Étienne MSE, IMT, UL2, UJML, INSA Lyon, INSA, UJM, UJM EPE, ENTPE, ENSAL, CNRS, ALLHiS, UJM, UJM EPE
Climatic mechanisms underlying a southwestern French Neanderthal refugium at the onset of the last glaciation
(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. vol. 123, n° 0027-8424, pp. e2610884123, 04/05/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, PACEA, UB, CNRS, SapienCE, UiB
New insights into subaqueous paleoseismology from the preserved imprints of paleo-earthquake markers on a normal fault scarp (Roseau Fault Lesser Antilles, France)
Assessment of seismic and tsunami hazards along coastlines requires knowledge of past earthquakes and their recurrence times along active submarine faults. To this end, subaqueous paleoseismological studies are performed and are based on sediment cores and seismic reflection images of faults. However, local site conditions sometimes preclude coring or seismic surveys and, even when possible, the resulting data may be limited. In addition to traditional geophysical and sedimentological data, seafloor geophysical data from submersibles can help elucidate the paleoseismic history of submarine faults. Here, we conducted a near-bottom geological survey using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) along the Roseau normal fault (Lesser Antilles, France) to study the fine morphology and paleoseismic history of an active submarine fault scarp. This fault hosted the Mw 6.3 2004 Les Saintes earthquake and shows a coseismic ribbon at its base. We used the submersible data to map and characterize several scarp morphologies including abrasion bands, notches, roughness changes, dark bands, and uplifted sediments along the fault scarp. We propose that these markers, which all formed at the seafloor, can ultimately be used to reconstruct the exhumation history of the fault scarp, because they are linked to base level changes (i.e. sedimentation and tectonic exhumation). At one site along the Roseau fault, the scarp’s detailed morphology can be explained by the occurrence of three earthquakes coupled to several episodes of rapid sedimentation. The penultimate earthquake may have generated a vertical offset of 3 m, where at the same location the 2004 event slipped by ~1.4 m. The penultimate earthquake was at least as energetic as the 2004 event, the Roseau fault being able to host a M7 event if broken entirely. Sediment rates from cores sampled near the fault show that the penultimate earthquake probably occurred within the past ~2.8 kyr. These observations highlight the potential of studying offshore faults with ROV optical imagery to better understand the seismic history of crustal faults.
(03/05/2026)
GEOAZUR 7329, INSU - CNRS, UniCA, CNRS, IRD [Occitanie], IRD, UniCA, IPGP - UMR_7154, INSU - CNRS, IGN, UR, IPG Paris, CNRS, UPCité, LGENS, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, ENS-PSL, PSL, GFZ, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, iSTeP, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, CY
High winter precipitation in Southern Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum as inferred from pollen sequences
(Quaternary Science Reviews. vol. 380, n° 0277-3791, pp. 109906, 01/05/2026)
GEOTOP, EPM, UdeM, UQAT, UQAR, UQAM, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IACT, CSIC, UGR, HNHP, MNHN, UPVD, CNRS
Monitoring mineralogical and porosity transformations in modern Hebron ceramics caused by salt whitening agent using non-invasive methods
A field investigation conducted among potters in Hebron (Palestinian Territories) revealed the use of salt in clay pastes to produce white ceramics. An initial study (Teodorescu et al., 2022) sought to understand and explain this phenomenon. In addition to the visible whiteness, the potters also emphasised other qualities, such as porosity. This research aims to explore how the addition of salt influences the material’s properties to meet both the aesthetic and functional criteria valued by the potters. At the outset, raw materials and finished products were sampled directly from workshops in Hebron. A series of test briquettes were then produced in the laboratory following a protocol that allowed for precise control of both salt concentration and firing temperatures, based on the raw materials used by the Hebron potters. The goal was to assess the role of temperature and salt concentration in the development of the material’s pore structure. Firing temperatures were estimated from the reflectance spectral response obtained in the short-wave visible range (400–800 nm) and the infrared range (1000–2500 nm), using a hyperspectral camera (HSI). At the same time, the material’s porosity was examined through X-ray micro-tomography. The results indicated an increase in porosity with increasing temperature. More significantly, the addition of salt led to a redistribution of pores, favouring the formation of macropores. Furthermore, the results revealed that hyperspectral imaging is a highly promising non-destructive tool for estimating the firing temperature of ancient ceramics.
(Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. vol. 71, n° 2352-409X, pp. 105660, 01/05/2026)
CEALEX, CNRS, UB, UBM, CNRS, PACEA, UB, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, TEMPS, UP1, UPN, CNRS
Optimization of a novel continuous treatment of viticultural wastewater using pulsed light technology
A continuous Pulsed Light (PL) treatment was optimized for the degradation of pesticides in viticultural wastewater. PL uses high-intensity polychromatic light pulses to break down chemical compounds.
Optimization was performed on an aqueous solution of 20 pesticides using response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken experimental design. Pesticides and degradation products were monitored using HPLC-MS/MS. Optimal conditions, 50 mL/min flow rate, 3 Hz frequency, and 7 treatment cycles, reduced all 20 pesticides from ~300 µg/L to below quantification limits (LOQs). Dimethomorph was the most resistant to degradation. Kmeans clustering determined that 72 out of the 81 degradation products monitored were also degraded by the PL treatment.
The optimal PL treatment was then applied to 3 viticultural effluents. In wastewater 1, the concentrations of 5 out of 12 pesticides were reduced to below their LOQ, with 6 others degraded over 50%. In wastewater 2 and 3, all compounds except ametoctradin fell below LOQs. After PL treatment, 17 degradation products originating from 6 parent pesticides were detected.
Acute toxicity tests were conducted on bacteria (Aliivibrio fischeri), microalgae (Raphidocelis subcapitata), and fish larvae (Oryzias latipes). Although initial toxicity varied between the three viticultural wastewaters, PLtreatment reduced substantially toxicity up to 6 times for bacteria, up to 2 times for algae, and from 100% mortality to no toxic effects for fish in one effluent. However, acute toxicity remained high in all treated samples, likely due to high trace metal concentrations, particularly copper (7-50 mg/L) used extensively in organic and conventional viticulture.
(Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances. vol. 22, n° 2772-4166, pp. 101165, 01/05/2026)
OENO, UB, INRAE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
MAGEST: Rapport scientifique sur les données 2025
L'objectif de ce rapport scientifique est de présenter l'évolution saisonnière de la qualité physico-chimique des eaux des estuaires nord-aquitains (Charente, Seudre, Charente), qualifiée par la température, la salinité, la charge en matière en suspension et l'oxygénation, pour l'année 2025. Il s'appuie sur les données acquises par le réseau MAGEST (https://magest.oasu.u-bordeaux.fr/) et les données de débits de la Charente, de la Garonne, de la Dordogne et de l'Isle @HydroPortail, https://hydro.eaufrance.fr/). Cette année, le rapport inclut également les données du Département de la Charente-Maritime, issues de deux stations situées en l’aval et juste en amont du barrage de Saint-Savinien. L’année 2025 se classe au 4ème rang des années les plus chaudes depuis le début du XXème siècle derrière les années 2022, 2023 et 2020, devant 2024. Après une année 2024 très excédentaire, le cumul des précipitations de l’année 2025 est légèrement déficitaire (- 8 % en Nouvelle Aquitaine), avec de forts contrastes saisonniers (source : Météo France). Les faits marquants du réseau MAGEST en 2025 sont : - des températures moyennes journalières de l’eau comprises entre 4.8 et 28.9 °C, avec un début d’été 2025 parmi les plus chauds jamais enregistrés par MAGEST ; - une intrusion saline, définie par une salinité (moyenne journalière) supérieure à 0.5, d’intensité et de durée moyennes : 118 jours à Tonnay-Charente et 75 jours à Bordeaux ; - une arrivée mi-juin et un départ automnal (fin octobre - début novembre) du bouchon vaseux à l’aval de la Charente, de la Dordogne et de la Garonne ; - une baisse estivale de l’oxygénation de l’eau prononcée à Bordeaux et à Libourne, avec des périodes d’hypoxie à Tonnay-Charente. Les objectifs de la disposition oxygène du SAGE Estuaire de la Gironde n’ont pas été atteints à Bordeaux, avec 31 jours sous le seuil objectif de 5 mg/L (moyenne journalière), dont 21 jours consécutifs du 11 au 31 août. À Libourne, il y a eu 7 jours sous ce seuil. Tonnay-Charente a enregistré 68 jours sous le seuil objectif, dont 11 entre 1.6 et 3 mg/L. Enfin, un article récent sur une analyse des conditions estuariennes influençant les migrateurs dans des estuaires de la façade atlantique française est brièvement présenté.
(01/05/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Testing a new approach to quantify intracellular trace metal contents in microphytoplankton using sequential selective extraction
Current methodologies used to quantify intracellular trace metal (TM) contents in microphytoplankton rely on the assumption that samples consist exclusively of phytoplankton cells, with no contribution from inorganic particles. Therefore, the present study aimed to propose a sequential selective extraction protocol for suspended particulate matter that preserve the cellular integrity of phytoplankton until the final Aqua Regia extraction. Seawater was collected in the Arcachon Bay and filtered through polycarbonate membranes (PC; Isopore™, 2 μm pore size). These membranes were put in contact with various extractants to isolate specific TM fractions. A subset of membranes was used for observation with scanning electron microscope (SEM) to assess the impact of the extractants on phytoplankton integrity. Among the tested solutions (i.e. ascorbate, 0.1 M NaOH, hydrogen peroxide, EDTA, 1 M HCl), only hydrogen peroxide was found to be destructive for the phytoplankton cells. Accordingly, a four-step sequential extraction was established: (1) ascorbate solution, (2) 0.1 M NaOH, (3) EDTA, (4) 1 M HCl, in order to selectively remove TM associated with inorganic phases or organic matter. Subsequently, PC membranes were digested by Aqua Regia to break down the phytoplankton cells and quantify the intracellular TM contents. The established protocol proves to be robust and effective to quantification the minimal TM content in diatoms and silicoflagellates cells. Results showed that Al, V, Mn, Fe, Cu, As, Pb, and Th were present in low proportion in the Aqua Regia solution (less than 20 % of the total content), suggesting limited internalization. In contrast, Cr (93 ± 3 %), Co (74 ± 23 %), and Ni (79 ± 17 %) fractions were dominantly present in the intracellular fraction suggesting they play major roles in TM biogeochemical cycles involving phytoplankton.
(Marine Environmental Research, n° 0141-1136, pp. 108113, 01/05/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Impact of combined atmospheric and marine heatwaves on the filtration activity of the invasive Asian date mussel, Arcuatula senhousia.
The Asian date mussel, Arcuatula senhousia, originated from East Asia, is a highly invasive species that severely affects ecosystem functioning and biodiversity in various ecosystems in America and Europe. In recent decades, heatwave events have increased in severity and frequency, causing additional stress for intertidal organisms living in one of the most thermally challenging habitats. Therefore, understanding the impact of stressful environmental conditions on species' behavioural responses is essential for predicting the effects of biological invasions in the context of climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the response of A. senhousia filtration activity under two levels of realistic combined marine and atmospheric short-term heatwaves (strong and extreme), performed during spring and summer conditions. Although numerous intertidal organisms have been shown to suffer greatly from heatwaves, the results indicate that A. senhousia is able to withstand short-term heatwaves. The results showed that, for all intensities and seasons, heatwaves had no significant effect on the clearance rate. Although there was no distinct general trend regarding the influence of heatwaves on the behaviour of valve opening in spring, strong heatwave conditions significantly increased the valve gaping activity (e.g., increasing valve opening and time of active filtration) during the summer experiment without significant difference on the clearance rate. This highlights the importance of considering the season when attempting to understand and predict the impacts of heatwaves. Therefore, this species exhibits a high filtration rate as well as tolerance to heatwaves. However, future investigations should investigate if this resistance have an impact on the species growth and survival at a longer term. In the context of climate change, this species may have advantage over native ones, and its abundances may significantly rise, leading to important ecological consequences in terms of communities structures and habitat modifications.
(Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. vol. 332, n° 0272-7714, pp. 109767 (14p.), 01/05/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, PatriNat, MNHN, IRD, CNRS, OFB - DSUED, OFB, LERAR, COAST, IFREMER