Genotoxic effects of exposure to waterborne uranium, dietary methylmercury and hyperoxia in zebrafish assessed by the quantitative RAPD-PCR method
Release of chemicals and fluctuation in oxygen content in the aquatic environment represent hazards for fish health. The present study aims at assessing the genotoxic impact of low concentration exposures to waterborne uranium (U), dietary methyl mercury (MeHg) and hyperoxia in zebrafish by using the RAPD-PCR quantitative method. A significant increase of the number hybridization sites was observed in fish exposed to 30 μg U/L and 100 μg U/L and hyperoxia. In fish exposed to MeHg (13.5 μg Hg/g, dry weight) no change in the number of hybridization sites were found, however, the frequency of PCR products showed significant variation. The mechanisms of toxicity leading to DNA damage in fish exposed to waterborne uranium, mercury and hyperoxia are discussed and the results from the literature given by the comet assay, micronucleus test and RAPD-PCR method compared. The study provides new data regarding the genotoxic effects of MeHg, hyperoxia and low U concentrations (30 μg U/L) in fish. The present work highlights the use of the RAPD-PCR as a sensitive method in the assessment of chemically-induced DNA damage in animals.
(Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. vol. 755, n° 1383-5718, pp. 55-60, 26/06/2026)
LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LECO, IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, IRSN
Vulnerability of sandy coasts to climate variability
The main objective of the VULSACO (VULnerability of SAndy COasts to climate change and anthropic pressure) project was to investigate present day and potential future vulnerability of sandy coasts at the 2030 horizon, i.e. on a time scale related to climate variability. The method, based on a multidisciplinary approach bringing together geologists, geographers, physicists, social psychologists, engineers and stakeholders, was structured around 4 axes: field data analysis; numerical modelling; analysis of governance and stakeholder perceptions; and development of vulnerability indexes. This approach was designed to investigate vulnerability at a local scale and was applied to 4 contrasting beaches located in France: Sète Lido (Mediterranean Sea), Truc Vert and La Tresson beaches (Atlantic Ocean), and Dewulf (English Channel). The results focus on decadal and multi-annual beach trends at the Truc Vert beach site. There is almost no trend in beach volume at Truc Vert beach, although there is a variation in this parameter on a cycle of 2 to 3 yr, with variations related to wave energy and probably to indexes of climate variability. Numerical modelling identified the sensitivity of beach responses to changes in wave height and direction, especially in terms of subtidal morphology and the potential development of shoreline instability. Together with the observed offshore wave angle at the Biscay Buoy, these model results suggest that a potential change in wave angle due to climate variability could significantly modify the bars’ morphology. The combination of data analysis and numerical modelling contributed to the development of vulnerability indexes designed for sandy coasts, which take into account climate-dependant variables such as waves. This allowed the differentiation of the sites in terms of vulnerability to erosion: Sète Lido and Truc Vert beach were the most and least vulnerable sites, respectively. These indexes help in identifying the dominant components of beach vulnerability, and provide potential for the study of how anthropogenic factors affect vulnerability. The study of stakeholder perceptions and decision-making with regard to climate-related risk also highlighted potential anthropogenic effects on beach vulnerability, and identified possible site-specific outcomes.
(Climate Research. vol. 57, n° 0936-577X, pp. 19-44, 26/06/2026)
BRGM, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UAG, INSU - CNRS, UM, CNRS, UPC, CEFREM, UPVD, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LETG, UNICAEN, NU, UA, EPHE, PSL, UBO EPE, UR2, CNRS, IGARUN, UN, UC / UniCan, LOG, INSU - CNRS, ULCO, CNRS, IRD [Ile-de-France], ULCO, LEGI, UJF, Grenoble INP, CNRS
Deglacial and Holocene vegetation and climatic changes in the southern Central Mediterranean from a direct land–sea correlation
Despite a large number of studies, the long-term and millennial to centennial-scale climatic variability in the Mediterranean region during the last deglaciation and the Holocene is still debated, including in the southern Central Mediterranean. In this paper, we present a new marine pollen sequence (core MD04-2797CQ) from the Siculo-Tunisian Strait documenting the regional vegetation and climatic changes in the southern Central Mediterranean during the last deglaciation and the Holocene. The MD04-2797CQ marine pollen sequence shows that semi-desert plants dominated the vegetal cover in the southern Central Mediterranean between 18.2 and 12.3 ka cal BP, indicating prevailing dry conditions during the deglaciation, even during the Greenland Interstadial (GI)-1. Across the transition Greenland Stadial (GS)-1 -Holocene, Asteraceae-Poaceae steppe became dominant till 10.1 ka cal BP. This record underlines with no chronological ambiguity that even though temperatures increased, deficiency in moisture availability persisted into the early Holocene. Temperate trees and shrubs with heath underbrush or maquis expanded between 10.1 and 6.6 ka, corresponding to Sapropel 1 (S1) interval, while Mediterranean plants only developed from 6.6 ka onwards. These changes in vegetal cover show that the regional climate in southern Central Mediterranean was wetter during S1 and became drier during the mid-to late Holocene. Wetter conditions during S1 were likely due to increased winter precipitation while summers remained dry. We suggest, in agreement with published modeling experiments, that the early Holocene increased melting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in conjunction with weak winter insolation played a major role in the development of winter precipitation maxima in the Mediterranean region in controlling the strength and position of the North Atlantic storm track. Finally, our data provide evidence for centennial-scale vegetation and climatic changes in the southern Central Mediterranean. During the wet early Holocene, alkenone-derived cooling episodes are synchronous with herbaceous composition changes that indicate muted changes in precipitation. In contrast, enhanced aridity episodes, as detected by strong reduction in trees and shrubs, are recorded during the mid-to late Holocene. We show that the impact of the Holocene cooling events on the Mediterranean hydroclimate depend on baseline climate states, i.e. insolation and ice sheet extent, shaping the response of the mid-latitude atmospheric circulation.
(Climate of the Past. vol. 9, n° 1814-9324, pp. 767-787, 26/06/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, PALEOCEAN, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, FSS, BTP, LOCEAN, IPSL, ENS-PSL, UVSQ, UPMC, CEA, INSU - CNRS, X, CNES, CNRS, MNHN, IRD, UPMC, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LCE, CNRS, UMLP, UBFC, GEOPS, UP11, CNRS, CNRS
Occurrence of selected micropollutants in treated wastewater and removal with optimised tertiary treatments
Two tertiary treatments were studied at pilot scale in three different plants. An advanced oxidation processes pilot was tested in two plants with two different upstream treatment processes: a membrane bioreactor and a low load activated sludge followed by a sand filter. An activated carbon pilot was tested in one plant, a low load activated sludge followed by a sand filter and an ozone reactor. 64 micropollutants were analysed in the samples of this study. The tertiary treatments studied, ozone, AOP and activated carbon, were efficient for the removal of most of the micropollutants analysed in this study, except metals.
(pp. 3 p., 26/06/2026)
CIRSEE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR MALY, IRSTEA
Contamination et physiologie des poissons exposés à des polluants
(26/06/2026)
LPGP, INRA, Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique, IFREMER, UB, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UB, ULR, LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, ULH, NU, BGMCD, IP, CNRS, PAnTher, Oniris VetAgroBio, INRAE
Direct exposure to PAH-spiked gravels induces developmental defects in Oncorhynchus mykiss early life stages
(26/06/2026)
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, 26/06/2026)
UR MALY, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Qualité de l’eau : chapitre 8.2
Etat de l'art concernant les grandes ressources naturelles de la région Aquitaine.
(pp. 249-264, 26/06/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR REBX, IRSTEA, UPMC
Effets de mélanges environnementalement réalistes de pesticides sur des biofilms naturels ayant des historiques d'exposition différents
Localisée dans la région viticole du Beaujolais (Est de la France), la Morcille est soumise à une pression viticole forte conduisant à la contamination de la rivière par une gamme d'herbicides et de fongicides. L'objectif de cette étude est d'utiliser des extraits d'échantillonneurs passifs pour mettre en évidence les effets de mélanges réalistes de pesticides sur des biofilms naturels avec des antécédents d'exposition diversifiés. Les impacts chroniques et aigus des pesticides en mélange sur les biofilms ont été évalués à l'aide d'extraits de POCIS (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers) préalablement immergés à l'aval du cours d'eau (site le plus contaminé). Leurs effets sur des communautés issues de l'amont (site de référence) et de l'aval (contaminé) ont été étudiés en canaux artificiels, dans lesquels les biofilms ont été placés dans des conditions non contaminées pendant 13 jours, ou exposés à des extraits de POCIS afin de reproduire une pression toxique réaliste (observée in situ). Après 13 jours d'exposition, des impacts significatifs de la contamination ont été observés sur les paramètres liés à la biomasse, à la croissance et à la physiologie des biofilms. Une diminution significative de la densité de diatomées a été observée pour les biofilms exposés, par rapport aux témoins, quelle que soit l'origine du biofilm. Les analyses taxonomiques ont révélé des impacts des mélange de pesticides sur la composition des diatomées, la structure des communautés amont divergeant avec l'exposition ou non (avec des abondances accrues de Nitzschia palea et Eolimna minima pour la modalité contaminée). Les communautés aval, exposées ou non, se sont avérées présenter une composition, soulignant l'importance des processus d'immigration dans la récupération des assemblages de diatomées. Afin d'évaluer la tolérance initiale de biofilms au mélange de pesticides, des tests de toxicité aiguë ont été réalisés en début d'expérience, révélant une tolérance nettement plus élevée des biofilms originaires du site en aval, par rapport aux biofilms amont. Cette différence de tolérance aux extraits d'échantillonneurs passifs peut s'expliquer par les compositions taxonomiques très différentes selon l'origine du biofilm, elle reflète l'adaptation des communautés par les processus de sélection des espèces et illustre le concept PICT (Blanck et al, 1988.). Nos résultats soulignent des effets des mélange de pesticides marqués sur la croissance du biofilm, la composition diatomique, et sur la tolérance des biofilms naturels aux facteurs auxquels ils sont exposés. Cette étude met en évidence l'utilisation potentielle des extraits d'échantillonneurs passifs, combinés avec des tests de toxicité aiguë, pour l'expérimentation des impacts d'expositions chroniques plus réalistes sur les biofilms naturels, et offre des perspectives d'applications prometteuses pour l'évaluation du risque écologique lié aux pesticides.
(pp. 1, 26/06/2026)
UR REBX, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UR MALY, IRSTEA
Climate-Caused Abrupt Shifts in a European Macrotidal Estuary
Although many consequences of climate change on marine and terrestrial ecosystems are well documented, the characterisation of estuarine ecosystems specific responses and the drivers of the changes are less understood. In this study, we considered the biggest Southwestern European estuary, the Gironde, as a model of a macrotidal estuary to assess the effects of both large- (i.e., North Atlantic basin-scale) and regional-scale climate changes. Using a unique set of data on climatic, physical, chemical and biological parameters for the period 1978–2009, we examined relations between changes in both the physical and chemical environments and pelagic communities (plankton and fish) via an end-to-end approach. Our results show that the estuary experienced two abrupt shifts (!1987 and !2000) over the last three decades, which altered the whole system. The timing of these abrupt shifts are in accordance with abrupt shifts reported in both marine (e.g., in the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic) and terrestrial (e.g., in European lakes) realms. Although this work does not allow a full understanding of the dynamical processes through which climate effects propagate along the different compartments of the ecosystem, it provides evidence that the dynamics of the largest estuary of Southwest Europe is strongly modulated by climate change at both regional and global scales.
(Estuaries and Coasts. vol. 36, n° 1559-2723, pp. 1193-1205, 26/06/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LOG, INSU - CNRS, ULCO, CNRS, IRD [Ile-de-France], UR EPBX, IRSTEA