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Internal levels of selected endocrine disruptors (EDs) (i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA)) were analyzed in blood/serum of infertile and fertile men from metropolitan, urban and rural Italian areas. PFOS and PFOA levels were also evaluated in seminal plasma. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of same subjects, gene expression levels of a panel of nuclear receptors (NRs), namely estrogen receptor α (ERα) estrogen receptor β (ERβ), androgen receptor (AR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) were also assessed. Infertile men from the metropolitan area had significantly higher levels of BPA and gene expression of all NRs, except PPARγ, compared to subjects from other areas. Subjects from urban areas had significantly higher levels of MEHP, whereas subjects from rural area had higher levels of PFOA in both blood and seminal plasma. Interestingly, ERα, ERβ, AR, PXR and AhR expression is directly correlated with BPA and inversely correlated with PFOA serum levels. Our study indicates the relevance of the living environment when investigating the exposure to specific EDs. Moreover, the NRs panel in PBMCs demonstrated to be a potential biomarker of effect to assess the EDs impact on reproductive health.

This study estimated for the first time the total loads of plastic litter (macro- meso- and micro-plastics) in sediments of different habitat types from the Northern Adriatic Sea. Samples were collected in March 2016. The sampling sites were settled in shoreline, on the C. nodosa bottoms, Amphioxus sands, and Mäerl bed habitats. Microplastics items were present in all sampling site and ranging within 137-703 items/kg d.w. from Mäerl bed habitat to the shoreline. In C. nodosa bottoms 170 items/kg d.w. were found, while in Amphioxus sands were recorded on average 194 items/kg d.w. Due to the absence of statistical associations among litter levels and abundance of B. lanceolatum in the study area, this research present the needs to develop a new method and more research to for the evaluation of how much the interrelation between sensible habitats and microplastic exist.

During two surveys in 2015 and 2016, sediments samples were collected along the Ombrone river (Maremma Regional Park, province of Grosseto, Italy), in particular at its mouth and in the marine area in front of it, in order to quantify, identify and categorize plastic items (macro, meso and micro-plastics and colour, material etc.) and evaluate their potential sources. The Albegna and Osa rivers were identified as external areas of comparison. The results of the analysis showed different situations, especially as regards fluvial inputs, in addition to evidencing local provisions of plastic material derived from agricultural activities. The microplastics values per kg of sediment and the prevailing type of items found largely varied between the investigated sites (45–1069 items/kg dry sample).

This paper reports baseline levels of litter (macro, meso and microplastics) in sediments collected from different areas of the Croatian MPA of the Natural Park of Telaščica bay (Adriatic Sea, GSA n. 17). The distribution of total abundance according to size, for all analysed locations evidences that microplastics are the dominant fraction concerning item's numbers. In all analysed samples no macroplastics were found, while microplastics are 88.71% and mesoplastics are 11.29% of the total.

Degassing activity from marine shallow-water hydrothermal vents represents a natural important source of trace elements of particular ecotoxicological concern, such as Hg, Cd, Pb, and As. In 2002, on November 3 rd , a submarine area of the Aeolian Archipelago (Italy) was affected by an exceptional hydrothermal activity, presumably associated to a significant trace element release. This study developed in the highest impacted area, was focused on different environmental matrices (water, sediment, primary producers, and fishes) with the aim to evaluate on a statistical basis temporal dynamics involving trace elements closed to the emission source. Results evidenced that this event produced significant changes in water column, modifying the general assessment of the chemical descriptors selected (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, Br, SO 2- 4 , HCO - 3 ). Furthermore, the degassing activity represents a significant input of Hg, Cd, Pb, and As for all of the sampled matrices, being it responsible of the higher levels observed in the study area compared to controls. Concentrations measured in sediments and biota ( Cystoseira compressa , Serranus cabrilla ) at temporal intervals of ten months distanced, supported the occurrence of different time scale dynamics which are both element and matrix-dependent. In particular, levels of Cd and As measured in liver tissues of S. cabrilla evidenced a significant trend to increase with the time, allowing to exclude a quick recovery of the study area. Measured values in edible fishes tissues are, also, notably higher than risk limits proposed by the 2001/22/CE Directive for human consumption, so, local-based caught have to be accurately regulated to avoid the occurrence of diet over-exposure.

Synthetic chemical compounds, such as organochlorines, are known for their persistence and toxicity. The diet represents, for the general population, the main route of exposure to these contaminants, because organochlorines in food constitute a significant health risk, and olive oil has a high consumption rate among people of the producing countries; the control of residues in olive oil is of great importance. In this study, the presence of residues of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was assessed in samples of extra-virgin olive oil from Tuscany (central Italy). The analyses revealed the presence of HCB in concentrations below the detection limit; DDT and PCBs were instead present in all samples tested, and PCB concentrations were always higher than those of DDT, from 1.24 to 29.35, and from 0.01 to 1.83 ng/g wet weight, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Because organochlorines in food constitute a significant health risk, and olive oil has a high consumption rate among people of the producing countries, the control of residues in olive oil is of great importance. For the first time here, we present data on organochlorine pollution in oil samples collected in Tuscany, and assess the intake ranges of pollutants related to consumption of the oils analyzed. Showing the low contamination levels of Tuscan olive oil, we wish to confirm the high quality of this kind of food lipid.