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Measurements of acid volatile sulphide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in sediments are used to assess the toxicity of metals to native benthic organisms. The AVS is obtained from the sulphides contained in the sediments by addition of acid and the SEM are the metals extracted during the AVS treatment. The AVS/SEM method reflects a more precise estimation of sediment toxicity to benthic organisms than "total" metal values (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc) by measuring a "bioavailable" fraction of the metals present. Sediment toxicity is assessed by calculating the sum of the SEM (µmol/g dry weight) divided by the AVS concentration (in the same units): a ratio less than or equal to 1 indicates that the metals in the sediment are not bioavailable, while a ratio greater than 1 indicates that the metals are bioavailable.In this case, they are applied to soils containing mining waste and marine sediments that were buried under these inputs in Portman Bay (SE Spain) and compared with the values obtained from the ecotoxicity tests used: microtox, ostracodes and gambarus for sediments and phytotoxicity tests for topsoil samples.The results confirm the ecotoxic characteristics of some of the samples evaluated and also allow an approximation to be made of the impact that neighbouring materials may have if subjected to AMD, when there is intense precipitation and the waters of the wadis reach the bay with the runoff from the neighbouring mining areas.

In order to predict the future behaviour of technosols designed for the remediation of sites contaminated with mining waste, a pilot experiment was carried out in containers under an enclosed building.One-metre cubic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containers were used and filled with soil of the different types that are abundant on the site. Four soil types were selected with different textures (sandy to silty-clay), different mineralogy and different PTE content. Soil mixtures were also prepared with limestone filler at different proportions (30, 40 and 50 %).These containers were subjected to a humidity and drying process, simulating the rainfall conditions that the site receives as an average annual value, in 10 successive cycles, maintaining the experience for 4 years. The drains obtained were analysed and their corresponding crystallised phases were obtained and characterised by XRD and electron microscopy. The metals determined were Fe, Cd, Cu, Pb, As and Zn.This experiment allows us to differentiate the behaviour of the selected soils with respect to humidity, since the untreated soils with a clayey loam texture are AMD producers, with very low pH and a high mobilisation of metals. In contrast, sandy textured soils and soils containing 30 % or more limestone filler have a pH close to 7 and small metal contents close to the limit of quantification.Efflorescences are more abundant in those leachates rich in Zn and Fe, being copiapite, hexahydrite, bianchite and gypsum the main soluble phases associated with these leachates. Finally, the percolates with a higher salt load correspond to the third percolation carried out approximately nine months after the start of the experiment.

The use of indicators for soil monitoring is a long-established methodology that can be applied in the context of climate change. It makes it possible to establish the state of the variable to be measured and to obtain an objective signal of the changes that occur over time. Obtaining a climate adaptation indicator (CAI) for Mediterranean rainfed soils is a very useful monitoring tool for decision-making and for the incorporation of mitigation measures.Within the LIFE AMDRYC4 project, a framework has been outlined in which a) environmental indicators of the chemical degradation of soils (salinity, alkalinity, fertility, phytotoxicity) and the erosion indicator, b) biodiversity indicators (vegetation indices, Shannon-Weaver indices, Simpson, ...) and c) organic carbon indicator have been used. These primary indicators can be summarized resulting in a higher rank one represented by the soil ecosystem services indicator (SESI) which reflects the soil global condition obtained from the base data for each established monitoring point. By combining the SESI with a transformative indicator such as the one calculated on the basis of the increase of organic C in the soil (mitigation indicator, MI), the indicator of climate adaptation is obtained, using a procedure based on fuzzy methodology.In the calculation of the phytotoxicity indicator, the assimilable values of selected trace elements that can cause phytotoxicity are determined and their variation over time is monitored. The selected trace elements, in this case Pb, Cd and B, may vary from one area to another depending on the geochemical background of the soil. The results obtained for several soil plots that have been subjected to organic matter incorporation treatments (sewage sludge, manure from different animals, composted plant remains) and their untreated counterparts (blank) clearly show an improvement of the soil characteristics after the application of the mentioned soil treatment strategies. The soils are not affected by the polluting processes, both in terms of potentially toxic elements and other emerging pollutants. The experimental data obtained indicate that the remediated soils can be useful to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and represent a good tool for combating climate change.The authors are grateful to LIFE16 CCA/ES/000123-LIFE AMDRYC4 Project for the financial support

Arsenic is a Potentially Toxic Element (PTE), which is present in the soils/sediments of abandoned mining areas, such as the Sierra Minera de Cartagena La-Unión and the mining site of Mazarron (SE Spain) and its areas of influence. In order to assess the risk to human health and the ecosystem, it is necessary to know the nature of the materials that contain this PTE, their alterability and their speciation.On the one hand, there is a geogenic relationship between this element and materials rich in phyllosilicates and Fe minerals. These minerals can constitute primary mineralisation such as sulphide veins (pyrite, arsenopyrite, etc.) or secondary mineralisation such as haematite, goethite, siderite, jarosite, etc., and can even be found as a mineral phase forming various arsenates. Another very important aspect is the climatology of the area, which coincides with a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with infrequent but very heavy rainfall.The As concentration range in the studied areas is very wide (5000 -70 mg.Kg-1), with an average value of 150 mg.Kg-1, being As (V) the predominant species. Only soils located in wetland areas with permanent waterlogging can show significant concentrations of As(III). The As content in surface waters, such as runoff water, is low, only reaching significant values (>2 mg.L-1) when these waters are acid mine drainage and have pH values Particulate As is associated both with Fe oxides and hydroxides, through surface adsorption processes on Fe(OH)3 particles, and with carbonates, through precipitation reactions as calcium arsenate. These reactions are evident in some places such as wadis that transport particulate and dissolved materials from areas affected by mining, and mainly take place both in the riverbed and in flooding areas when rainfall events occur.For an appropriate understanding of the main processes involved, a detailed scheme is given. It should be noted that the dynamics of this PTE is of a particular interest in the zones studied due to the proximity of urban sites.

Dithiocarbamate Fungicides (DTFs) are widely analyzed and studied mainly due to the fact that they play an important role in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. This manuscript aims to display the results of a bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science© database, performed in the DTF and food research area. A total of 374 publications were examined. The most scientific production was concentrated between 2012 and 2021, showing a decrease of 32% over the last two years. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, India, and Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology were the most productive journal, country, and institution, respectively. Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy index showed a decrease of 95% in the last last years studied. Finally, current and future trends should focus on keywords such as individual DTF (Mancozeb, Thiram and Maneb), metabolites (Ethylenethiourea, Propilenthiourea) and a change in the analysis methodology: HPLC versus traditional GC.

Southern Mediterranean lagoons are considered among the systems most vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. In its present condition, the Mar Menor lagoon in south-eastern Spain must be considered as degraded as a result of the pressures to which its shoreline is exposed. These include the transport of arsenic from nearby mining areas, linked to soluble or particulate run-off following rainfall events and flooding. This work studies the solubility and bioavailability of arsenic in the soils of watercourses that drain into the Mar Menor, using nine single chemical extractions with different reagents. The values obtained for As, as well as for Fe and Mn, throw light on the interactions of these metals with As and predict future behaviour patterns for different scenarios. The mineral composition is seen to significantly influence the mobility of the studied elements and shows the relation between the soils and materials of mining origin. It has been suggested that the sediments deposited in the in the watercourses or "ramblas" that transport these materials may act as foci of dispersion.

Abandoned mining areas are a clear example of the failure of the different administrations to solve the environmental problems they pose, due to the lack of unified legislation and management and the activity of geological processes. It is therefore important to have a clear vision of the environmental problems that occur and the possible actions to solve them.The Sierra Minera (Cartagena, SE Spain) presents situations of risk of soil contamination that coincide with those areas with the highest content of soluble and/or bioavailable PTEs (potentially toxic elements) for the health of people and ecosystems, especially in those sites of concentration of polluting sources (flotation mud pools and heterogeneous dumps), with a very fine texture. These areas present numerous points with an urgent need for risk management due to the possible mobilization in different environmental conditions of arsenic and heavy metals, with a control of both soluble and particulate dispersion. Special interest presents arsenic mobilisation in an acidic environment together with reducing situations and the presence of organic matter (waterlogged marshes).The recovery technologies to be applied in the Sierra Minera require a great diversity of techniques, depending on the uses of the land. In the contamination foci it is necessary to carry out actions with containment, stabilisation and solidification technologies in situ. Phytoremediation techniques, given the high content of PTEs present, may not all be appropriate in the different situations. Phytoextraction should only be applied in areas with low concentrations of PTEs, and by plants that do not transfer to their aerial part, to avoid the risk of ingestion by animals. Phytostabilisation will be important in combined techniques, in order to ensure that contaminants are not transferred to the environment, and by non-accumulating plants in the aerial part. Wetlands can be a complementary solution to the projects developed at the heading of wadis, providing a double purpose, natural attenuation of contamination and lamination of turbulence and floods.A generic overview is given of the most important regeneration approaches from a geochemical point of view, without going into structural solutions, selecting those technologies that are most suitable to the environment in which they are located, trying to imitate natural attenuation processes and using eco-efficient and sustainable materials.

“Rambla”are temporary watercourses, which are characteristic of mediterranean and semi-arid climates, with low rainfall and sporadic torrential rain. A few times a year, when the rainfall exceeds 80 mm in less than an hour, they are capable of evacuating high flows of water mixed with particulate material of different granulometries to the sea.The Sierra Minera of Cartagena (Murcia, Spain) has two marine slopes, one of short distance and steep slope towards the Mediterranean Sea, and another of a greater extent that affects the Mar Menor, a specially protected saltwater lagoon.The processes that can take place in the course of the ramblas that begin in the Sierra Minera, when water is present, are those of transport of particulate and soluble material, processes of dissolution, hydrolysis, redox, complexation, carbonation and precipitation among others. When the rainy season ends and the Surface water disappears, the sediments that have been left in the riverbed are subject to other secondary processes that lead to the formation of very particular mineralogical species, efflorescence of hydrated sulphates, carbonates and oxydroxides. This is due to the pore water which can remain for a long period of time in the sediments of the rambla bed. Depending on the degree of influence of the current mining sediments in the rambla, the water it transports can have an acid pH (3.5-5.5), being qualified as acid mine drainage.The Rambla del Beal is one of the various watercourses that cross the Sierra and flow into the Mar Menor next to a wetland that is an Special Protection Area (SPA), which makes the study more interesting. Like other ramblas in the area, during different periods, it carried the waste from the mineral floatation plants to the sea, as if it were a natural pipe, so along its route there are abundant terraces formed by this waste. This is in addition to the materials dumped and the materials eroded from the ponds and dumps that are in its receiving basin.A selective sampling has been carried out along the riverbed to its mouth, analysing the content of potential toxic elements (PTEs), granulometry, general characteristics and mineralogy.The bioavailability and mobility of the different PTEs (As, Pb, Zn, Cd and Fe) and their relationship with the mineralogy have also been studied.The results show that only in the central part of the rambla can sediments not affected by primary pollution be found (they are secondary pollution), and that the Rambla del Beal itself can be considered a focus or primary source of pollution by PTEs.

The use of phytostabilizing plants in remediation projects of areas affected by mining activities is one of the valid strategies for recovering the ecosystem. It is often used to obtain biodiversity with the aim of restoring the environment, but the possible risk represented by the ingestion of the plants by the fauna and the consequent passage of As to the trophic chain is forgotten.The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental risk posed by arsenic when revegetation occurs in an area with high levels of this element. To this end, the transfer of arsenic in different plant species that grow spontaneously in an abandoned mining area (Sierra Minera de Cartagena) is analysed, as well as the contribution of these plants to the intake of mammals in the area. In order to make a comparison with the risk analysis applied to human intake, the wild boar is selected since this mammal has a digestive physiology very similar to that of humans. For this purpose, a gastric solution is prepared according to the standard operating procedure (SOP) developed by the Solubility/ Bioavailability Research Consortium (SBRC). Two phases, namely, stomach (AsA) and intestinal (AsN), are considered.In this way, it is possible to discriminate between plant species with high, non-bioaccessible contents in the aerial part and plant species with the opposite.For this study, 21 plant species that grow naturally in the soils of the Sierra Minera and their corresponding rhizospheres were collected.The physical-chemical properties were obtained using the usual procedures. To determine the arsenic content, the soil samples and plant materials were digested in a microwave system and the arsenic concentration was determined using atomic fluorescence spectrometry with an automated continuous flow hydride generation system. Soils are classified into three groups: Low (group 1) (7-35 mg/kg), medium (group 2) (35-327 mg/kg) and high (group 3) (> 327 mg/kg), according to their As content. The descriptive statistical analysis of the population of plants studied shows that the range of As in the roots were from 0.31 to 150 mg/kg, while the concentrations in the leaves were lower (0.21 to 83.4 mg/kg). The possible risk of As entering the food chain through plant species is evaluated. The route of exposure considered is the oral ingestion, calculating the contribution of the plant to the daily dose based on the concentration of arsenic (total and bioaccessible) in the leaves of the analyzed plantsIn general, the bioaccessible fraction by intake is low, although it is higher in the areas most influenced by primary and secondary pollution sources. The availability of bioaccessible As in the leaves of the plants is highly influenced by the mineralogical composition of the soils on which it grows.

A study was carried out to evaluate the absorption of potentially toxic elements from mining Technosols by three types of vegetable plants (broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and onion (Allium cepa)), the different parts of which are intended for human and farm animal consumption (leaves, roots, edible parts). The preliminary results obtained highlight the importance of the design of the mining Technosols used for agricultural purposes, obtained from soils and sediments of mining origin and amended with residues of high calcium carbonate concentrations (limestone filler and construction and demolition wastes). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, and the total metal(loid)s concentration (As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) of the soil, rhizosphere, aqueous leachates and plant samples was monitored, the translocation and bioconcentration factors (TF and BCF, respectively) being calculated. The characterization of the soils included a mobilization study in media simulating different environmental conditions that can affect these soils and predicting the differences in behavior of each Technosol. The results obtained showed that the levels of potentially toxic elements present in the cultivated species are within the range of values mentioned in the literature when they were cultivated in soils with calcareous amendments. However, when the plants were grown in contaminated soils, the potentially toxic elements levels varied greatly according to the species, being higher in onions than in lettuce. Experiments with the use of lime filler or construction and demolition wastes for soil remediation result in crops that, in principle, do not present health risks and are similar in development to those grown on non-contaminated soil.

The modification of environmental conditions and the subsequent evolution of the ecosystems results in soil degradation or desertification, which is also caused by the abandonment of the countryside, poor agricultural practices and the socio-economic dynamics that nowadays presents the rural environment. Land degradation leads to loss of fertility, nutrients and vegetation cover and increased erosion, pollution, salinization and alkalinization. The effects derived from this situation aggravate, in turn, climate change, in a strongly intertwined dynamics that feeds back.Degraded soils are recoverable through various strategies, among them good agricultural practices being especially relevant. In this paper, the degree of desertification of several plots of soil that have undergone treatments for the incorporation of organic matter (sewage sludge, manure from different animals, composted plant remains) and their untreated counterparts (blank) is evaluated. To this end, desertification indicators (salinization, organic matter, phosphorus content) included in the LIFE AMDRYC4 Project have been used to monitor soil neutrality, as a measure of the global desertification suffered by a plot.The results obtained clearly show an improvement in the soil characteristics following the application of the mentioned strategy for soil treatment. It is therefore concluded that soil degradation is mitigated by good agricultural practices, which leads to a decrease in erosion and salinization and an increase in organic matter, nutrient content, plant cover and the ability to sequester dioxide carbon. Soils are not affected by polluting processes both in terms of potentially toxic elements and other emerging pollutants. The experimental data obtained indicate that soils in this way remediated can be used to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and represent a good tool to fight against climate change.

When dealing with restoration and remediation projects of zones contaminated by waste and activities derived from mining operations, all the aspects that affect the neighbouring areas dedicated to the cultivation of vegetables are especially relevant, and should be carefully considered. According to previous studies carried out, the areas of mining influence affect to a very different extent the bordering areas depending not only of the characteristics of the soil but also of the type of mining activity that was developed, and so of the primary mineralogy involved, and even of the particular type of vegetable that is being cultivated. The diversity and complexity of these factors suggest the convenient of studying the process by clarifying the mechanisms of transfer of potentially toxic elements from the soil to the biotic environment, with the soil-plant-biotic chain sequence.In this work an experimental study was carried out with this purpose making use of experiments carried out at the greenhouse scale in order to find a model that could clarify the processes that could take place in restored soils. Construction and demolition residues (CDRs) as well as other residues containing high concentrations in limestone filler were used to prepare technosols, and the transfer factors (TF) and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of potentially toxic elements were measured for the selected plant species (chard and broccoli). In this way, in addition to the soil remediation, benefit can be obtained of the re-valorization of such type of easily available, low cost residues. For the realization of the tests in the greenhouse, four technosols were prepared and experiments were planned in duplicate, which constituted eight experimental units, each one containing 21 large pots disposed in such a way that leachates were poured in the same storing tank. The technosols were prepared as follows:Vegetable soil or reference soil. (T1) Contaminated soil: 50% reference soil + 50% mine residue (T2). Amended Land 1: 75% contaminated soil + 25% CDR (T3). Amended soil 2: 75% contaminated soil + 25% Limestone filler (T4). A statistical study was carried out to evaluate the relationships between the levels of potentially toxic elements (Pb and Cd) found in rhizospheres and root contents and the levels present in the technosols prepared. Conclusions could be obtained as regards the mobility of these elements, the characteristics of the technosols and the type of cultivation. The data allows a model to be outlined that could be translated at a higher scale for an effective remediation of large zones.

Objective To identify factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) among outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in Neurology and Internal Medicine in Spain. Methods Cross-sectional and multicenter study, from the ALADIN database, of outpatients with NVAF treated with VKA and attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Spain. Rates of anticoagulation control were determined with the direct and Rosendaal methods, considering data from the 6 months before the inclusion. Results Out of 1337 patients included in the ALADIN study, 750 were taking VKA, and complete information about INR values in the last 6 months was available in 383 patients. Mean scores of Charlson Index, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were 1.94 ± 1.54; 3.10 ± 1.26; 4.63 ± 1.54, and 2.20 ± 0.90, respectively. 46.2% and 47.0% of patients had an adequate anticoagulation control according to the direct and Rosendaal methods, respectively. Inadequate anticoagulation control according to the direct method was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.511; 95% CI: 1.144–5.659), prior labile INR (OR: 35.371; 95% CI: 15.058–83.083) and the determination of >6 INR controls in the last 6 months (OR: 4.747; 95% CI: 2.094–10.759), and according to the Rosendaal method, with prior labile INR (p Conclusions Despite the high thromboembolic risk, only a little more than a half of patients were well controlled. Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control were diabetes, labile INR, >6 INR controls and HAS-BLED.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar los factores asociados con el mal control de la anticoagulacion con antagonistas de la vitamina K (AVK) en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular no valvular (FANV) atendidos en consultas de Neurologia y Medicina Interna de Espana. Metodos Estudio transversal, multicentrico, anidado en el estudio ALADIN, de sujetos con FANV, tratados con AVK, atendidos en consultas de Medicina Interna o Neurologia de Espana. El grado de control de la anticoagulacion se estudio mediante el metodo directo y el de Rosendaal, considerando los 6 meses previos a la inclusion. Resultados De los 1.337 pacientes incluidos en ALADIN, 750 estaban tratados con AVK, con informacion completa sobre el INR de los ultimos 6 meses en 383 pacientes. Las puntuaciones medias del indice de Charlson, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc y HAS-BLED fueron 1,94 ± 1,54; 3,10 ± 1,26; 4,63 ± 1,54 y 2,20 ± 0,90, respectivamente. El 46,2% y el 47,0% de los pacientes presentaban un control adecuado de la anticoagulacion por los metodos directo y Rosendaal, respectivamente. El control inadecuado de la anticoagulacion se asocio por el metodo directo con diabetes (OR: 2,511; IC 95%: 1,144-5,659), antecedentes de INR inestable (OR: 35,371; IC 95%: 15,058-83,083) y la realizacion de > 6 controles en los ultimos 6 meses (OR: 4,747; IC 95%: 2,094-10,759), y por el metodo de Rosendaal, con los antecedentes de INR inestable (p Conclusiones Pese al alto riesgo tromboembolico, solo estaban bien controlados algo mas de la mitad. Los factores asociados al mal control de la anticoagulacion fueron la diabetes, INR inestable, > 6 controles de INR y el HAS-BLED.

Biomarkers have become crucial tools in modern environmental assessment as they can help to predict magnitude of pollution. The head-kidney (HK) and liver (hematopoietic and xenobiotic metabolism organs, respectively) are the key organs in all fish toxicological studies, although the skin has received less attention in this respect. The impact of two different types of polluted sediment collected from Portman Bay (Spain) on HK, liver and skin gene expression in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed for two weeks to the sediments was determined by real time-PCR. The expression levels of different antioxidant enzyme genes [superoxide dismutase (sod) glutathione reductase (gr) and catalase (cat)] and immune-related genes [interleukin -1β (il-1b), immunoglobulin M (igm), T-Cell receptor (tcr-b), cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2), colony-stimulating factor 1-receptor (csf-1r) and hepcidin (hep)] was analysed. Expression varied depending on both the organ and gene studied: tcr-b, csf-1r and hep genes were down-regulated in HK, as were gr, tcr-b and il-1b in liver and gr and il-1b in skin, while cox-2 was up-regulated in skin after exposure to both sediments. Concomitantly, histopathological alterations were also studied in HK, liver and skin. While no significant changes were detected in skin cells of fish reared in aquaria with polluted sediments marked changes in the general morphology of HK and liver were observed, accompanied by a substantial degree of cell death and melano-macrophage centre disorganization. The present study suggests that the biomarkers studied in gilthead seabream could be useful for assessing the impact of pollution in coastal environments.

This study discusses an estimate of the risk associated with the intake of soil contaminated by lead, based on the nature of the source, through a detailed study of the parameters that can influence the bioaccessibility of the element from soil intake. Statistical variables that are related to the solubility and bioavailability of lead are used for this purpose. This includes considering the values of pH, electrical conductivity, particle size, mineralogical composition and the bioaccessibility/bioasimilability of lead. Obtaining an algorithm, represented by different probability distributions of the parameters considered, needs a thorough knowledge of the source materials, which may allow estimating/evaluating the intake health risk provided by the concentration of the metal present. The selected materials are from sites affected by mining activities in the Region of Murcia (SE of Spain) and soils in nearby areas, using a total of 186 samples. Soil samples, once screened and homogenized, were parameterized by determining pH, electrical conductivity, granulometry, both total and water-extractable Pb content. Oral bioaccessibility tests were also performed, and a detailed mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction was carried out.

A bibliographic review was carried out to establish the state of knowledge of a mining area with several centuries of exploitation and currently abandoned. The selected case study, the Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La Union (Spain), has a long history of mining activity, ending in 1990. The area is rich in metallic sulphide (lead, zinc and iron), with underground mines and quarries. The zone is very close to important populations and affects protected sites of special ecological value. It is also adjacent to areas dedicated to agriculture and important centres of tourist interest. It is a territory that meets the requirements to be classified as a critical area, as it is in a state of unstable physical and geochemical equilibrium, giving rise to possible risks to human health and ecosystems. A literature review was carried out according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology criteria, consulting a large number of related publications. The results obtained using the Source-Pathway-Receptor model make it possible to identify the main impacts caused by the contamination sources, the main routes of contamination, as well as the transfer to the biota and the influence on adjacent agricultural soils. In this study, lead, cadmium, zinc, arsenic, copper and manganese were considered as potential toxic elements (PTEs), and data were obtained on concentrations in soil, water and air as well as in fauna and flora. Finally, once the receptors and the associated risks to the ecosystem and human health were identified, a conceptual model of the contamination was drawn up to consider a management proposal to tackle the problems associated with this area, which would also be applicable to critical mining zones.

Background The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies throughout the world, and available epidemiological data suggest a progressively increasing prevalence of MS in Spain. The objective of this study was to calculate MS prevalence in Health District III of the autonomous community of Murcia in Spain. Methods This is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study. The prevalence of MS in Health District III in the Region of Murcia, which includes the municipalities of Lorca, Totana, Aguilas, Puerto Lumbreras and Aledo, was calculated from the total population (171,040 inhabitants), and among native Spanish citizens only (137,659 persons). Healthcare and demographic data were obtained from three sources: 1) OMI-AP: the local primary care computer system containing the medical records of all subscribers; 2) the medical record database of the Hospital Rafael Mendez (the single hospital in the district); and 3) the records of the AEMA III Multiple Sclerosis Association to which patients from this healthcare district belong. Data from these three sources were combined to check the accuracy and completeness of the patient records. Results The prevalence of MS among the general population of this district, including non-Spanish individuals, was 71.9 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI=60–85). Prevalence among the native Spanish population was 82.0 per 100,000 (95% CI=68–98). Considering prevalence by sex, it was 118.1 per 100,000 (95% CI: 95–146) in the female native Spanish population, and 45.4 per 100,000 (95% CI: 31–64) in the male native Spanish population. The prevalence in the native Spanish population in this district was calculated by sex and age (grouped by decades). A peak was observed among women aged between 20 and 29 years: 234.2 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI: 151–361). Conclusion Our results suggest that the population in this healthcare district presents a risk of MS similar to that recently reported in other regions of Spain, which is higher than in previous decades.

The mining activity that has taken place in the mining district of the Sierra Minera of Cartagena-La Union in the SE Spain has caused a great dispersion of potentially dangerous elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), which requires zoning of the affected area as the basis for correct management. These elements include the arsenic (As) which is considered a carcinogen, mutagen and teratogen and it causes the public health problems. The arsenic content of the soil was chosen for a survey in which both total values and those obtained in different mobilisation trials have been taken into account. The results show that there is spatial variability in the contents of As (5000–15 mgkg−1) depending on the distance to the emitting sources of contamination. Based on these data, a classification is made into four categories of action: maximum, medium, minimum and no priority, coinciding with classes IV, III, II and I, respectively. Slope areas covered in mining tailings in the Sierra Minera, Technosols and Leptosols, as well as the channels of the temporary watercourses, with their high contents in arsenic and heavy metals, constitute the priority areas for the management of soil recovery programmes. These are areas that act as pathways from the primary sources of contamination to coastal zones of the Mar Menor lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea.

A total of 120 sediments from 12 cores of Portman Bay (SE Spain) were studied to assess the degree of contamination and ecological risk related to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by combining a geochemical and mineralogical characterization with the assessment of the bioavailable forms of trace metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn). With this purpose, sediment contamination was assessed by total and water-soluble content, and potential bioavailability by the simultaneously extracted metals and acid-volatile sulphides (SEM-AVS) approach, and by an oral bioaccessibility extraction procedure. The sediments are essentially sandy (>80%). The most important minerals are: iron phases such as siderite, iron oxides and hydroxides and pyrite; clay minerals such as clinochlore, greenalite and biotite; and quartz. Occasionally, jarosite and carbonates (calcite and dolomite) appear. The total PTEs content is high whereas the sediments generally have a very low soluble PTE content. The SEM/AVS ratio is less than unity in most samples, indicating that there is enough sulphur so that if there was a release of metals, they could precipitate as sulphides. After the bioaccessibility extraction, the results showed that zinc and cadmium are more bioaccessible in the intestinal environment (alkaline) while the rest of the elements have greater availability in the stomach (acid). Supplementary material: values of pH (1:1 extract) and concentration of different metals and arsenic in the sediments studied is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4272176

Inorganic arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic pollutants in the water. We have studied their effects on the marine teleost European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) at 2 and 10 days of 5 μMofAs2O3 (sub-lethal doses) waterborne exposure. Arsenic accumulates in liver and gill tissues. The expression profile of five genes (bax, blc2, casp3, casp8 and casp9) involved in apoptosis cell death confirmed apoptotic effects in liver, slight changes in gill and no effects in skin according with the histopathology findings. Total IgM level and peroxidase activities were increased at 2 and 10 days, respectively. The bactericidal activity was decreased at 2 days after As exposure. A general decrease of cellular immune activities with significant differences in the case of respiratory burst activity was observed after 2 and 10 days of exposure. This work describes for the first time the effects of As exposure on European sea bass., SI

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a waste product of the phosphoric acid production process and contains, generally, high activity concentrations of uranium series radionuclides. This study is a contribution towards a risk assessment in areas affected by phosphate industry in SW Spain, integrating information from soil physicochemical characteristics, total and soluble potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, As and Fe), mineralogical composition and ecotoxicological evaluation. The applied bioassays confirmed the soil toxicity categorisation and then, it is highly recommended to complement the results from environmental chemistry with results from bioassays, in order to provide a more complete and relevant information on the bioavailability of contaminants and to characterise the risk of contaminated areas.

The leachability and ecotoxicity of potentially toxic elements (PTE) eluting from technosols formed of soils affected by mining activities and limestone filler were evaluated. A total of four contaminated soils affected by opencast mining were selected and mixed with limestone filler at three percentages: 10, 20 and 30 %, providing 12 stabilised samples. Total and soluble PTE content (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) was determined in all the samples and the Microtox® bioassay was applied to determine the ecotoxicological effect. The stabilised material had a neutral pH and low soluble PTE concentration. Moreover, the ecotoxicological assay indicated the presence of low toxicity levels in the stabilised samples. The applied bioassay can be considered a good tool for the screening of PTE contamination in areas affected by mining activities, while providing information about possible attenuation processes.

The objective of this work was to evaluate processes affecting soil samples in Portman Bay in order to establish a preliminary zonation of the affected area. For this aim, a complete physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of sediments, both in surface and at depth was carried out. Portman bay is situated close to the mining region of La Union., located in the province of Murcia, south-eastern Spain. The entire area around the bay was subject to mining from the time of the Roman Empire to 1991. Since 1957, the wastes from mining operations were discharged directly into the sea in the inner part of the bay, while later on, they were also discharged to sea at a distance of the shore. These wastes mainly consisted in ore materials (galena, pyrite and sphalerite), phyllosilicates, in addition to siderite, iron oxides and sometimes alteration products such as jarosite, alunite, kaolinite and greenalite. Mining activities have produced great amounts of wastes, characterized by high trace elements content, acidic pH and minerals from weathering processes. The results of the applied characterization allowed a preliminary zoning of the risk in the area to be established, and this was the starting point to outline the remediation project.

Studies in fish have demonstrated that Cd-exposure produce skeletal deformities and alterations in tissue morphology, enzyme activities, stress response, ion regulation and immune response. In the present work, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) specimens were exposed to waterborne Cd (5 μM CdCl2 or 1 mg L(-1)) for 2, 10 or 30 days. Organo-somatic changes, Cd accumulation, liver histology and humoral and cellular immune responses were determined. Results showed that exposure of seabream specimens to Cd induced no alterations on spleen and liver organo-somatic indexes whilst produced progressive deleterious morphological alterations in liver and exocrine pancreas that correlated with the hepatic Cd-accumulation. Regarding the immunotoxicological potential, strikingly, Cd-exposure produced a reduction in the serum complement activity and leucocyte respiratory burst to a significant extent after 10 and 30 days whilst the serum peroxidase activity and leucocyte phagocytosis were increased at different sampling times. On the other hand, serum IgM levels and leucocyte peroxidase activity resulted unaltered. The present results seem to indicate that seabream exposed to Cd in the present conditions suffer toxicity.

Arsenic (As) has been associated with multitude of animal and human health problems; however, its impact on host immune system has not been extensively investigated. In fish, there are very few works on the potential risks or problems associated to the presence of arsenic. In the present study we have evaluated the effects of exposure (30 days) to sub-lethal concentrations of arsenic (5 μM As₂O₃) in the teleost fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), with special emphasis in the innate immune response. The arsenic concentration was determined using atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) in liver and muscle of exposed fish showing As accumulation in the liver after 30 days of exposure. The hepatosomatic index was increased at significant extent after 10 days but returned to control values after 30 days of exposure. Histological alterations in the liver were observed including hypertrophy, vacuolization and cell-death processes. Focusing on the immunological response, the humoral immune parameters (seric IgM, complement and peroxidase activities) were no affected to a statistically significant extent. Regarding the cellular innate parameters, head-kidney leucocyte peroxidase, respiratory burst and phagocytic activities were significantly increased after 10 days of exposition compared to the control fish. Overall, As-exposure in the seabream affects the immune system. How this might interfere with fish biology, aquaculture management or human consumers warrants further investigations. This paper describes, for the first time, the immunotoxicological effects of arsenic exposure in the gilthead seabream, which is a species with the largest production in Mediterranean aquaculture.

The zones affected by long-term mining activities are currently of special interest since they represent a contamination focus influencing large areas. These particular sites are usually abbreviated as CAMAs (critical abandoned mining areas). Sierra Minera of Cartagena-La Union is a CAMA with an interesting and valuable ecosystem that needs adequate management tools. Suitable management should be based on the results of a risk assessment procedure, based on proximity to populations or the use that a specific space may have. The risk assessment needs to consider human health and/or ecosystems. The most serious concern in this respect is the behavior and fate of potentially toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, zinc and arsenic, which were present in the raw materials and may be bioavailable. Remediation measures would be based on the natural attenuation of impacts that have occurred in this area and would include neutralization of the acid mine drainage, increase of the natural vegetation favoring the growth of tolerant species (even with low transference factors), and gully regulation in order to avoid spills on crops or at sea.

A review of the historical events that caused a serious environmental impact in a zone affected by mining activities was carried out. Portman Bay, located in southeast Spain, is one of the greatest points of mining-metallurgical contamination of the Mediterranean Sea. After an intense mining exploitation, starting in Roman times, the activity ended in 1991, with more than 60 MT of steriles filling the bay. The decision to recover the bay started in 2007, and studies characterizing and analyzing the risks of materials in surface and depth were carried out. At the same time, a pilot project was designed with two experimental areas using Technosols as an in situ recuperation technology, considering both urban and residential use. In addition, an experimental center for the optimization of proposed technology was constructed, and different analyses, such as marine ecotoxicity techniques or artificial wetland experiences, were carried out. Currently the environmental recovery work is being carried out by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Arsenic is a carcinogenic metalloid and the risks of accidental ingestion should therefore be borne in mind when assessing areas with high levels of this element. In this work, the concentrations of bioaccessible As in mining-influenced soils, in SE Spain are determined. The risk posed by the accidental ingestion is studied in two soil fractions (

The aims of this study were to assess arsenic concentrations and solubility in soils, and its uptake by plant species growing in an area strongly affected by mining activities in Murcia (SE, Spain) paying attention to the mineralogical composition of the soils and the relation of the same with the bioavailability of this element. For this, extractions were made with several chemical reagents, to determine the bioavailability of the element in different environmental conditions (natural or potential) and, especially, the arsenic bioavailable for the plant uptake. Maximum extraction was achieved using the Mehra and Jackson procedure, while the least effective extractant was an ammonium sulphate solution. The strongest relationship between the As determined by soil chemical extractions and the As measured in plant biomass was found using the oxidisable-organic matter extraction procedure.

A study about antimony distribution and mobility in soils located in the surroundings of an abandoned mining site is carried out. The mineralogical composition of the soils is obtained, and the samples classified into three groups attempting to correlate antimony level and behavior with the main mineral phases present. The total antimony concentrations are measured (5–40 mg kg−1), and mobility of the metalloid is assessed by using selective extractants. Maximum mobility is obtained when extracting with a reducing-complexing medium which, taking into account the characteristics of the zone, means antimony availability to plants should be low. This is verified by analyzing both roots and leaves of vegetation growing in the area. The maximum level present in the leaves is 1.5 mg kg−1 dry matter, but most of the samples show antimony concentrations below 0.5 mg kg−1. The results indicate that plants represent an effective barrier to antimony that is incorporated only in small proportions, and so the risk posed to biota is low.

Heavy metals incidence in the aquatic environment and its accumulation in fish are under constant review. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) specimens were exposed for two weeks to sediments highly concentrated in metals, collected at the Portman Bay (Murcia, Spain). The metals bioaccumulation was tested in liver, muscle and skin. The potential of the sediment exposure to induce variation of the stress biomarkers genes was conducted in liver and skin. Results revealed that sediments were highly contaminated with metals. However, following 2 weeks exposure to the sediments, Cd accumulates only in liver. Interestingly, the expression of the genes mta, hsp 70 and hsp 90 were significantly down-regulated in skin. Nevertheless, cyp1a1 gene was up-regulated only in liver. Results uphold that the stress response magnitude was organ-dependent and the skin was the most responsive tissue to metal stress conditions. These results suggest that skin should be considered as target organ for biomarkers analysis in fishes.

Arsenic and antimony, metalloids that cause environmental and human health problems, display similar characteristics in the environment. In this work, the bioaccumulation of As and Sb in Dittrichia viscosa (L) Greuter from soils polluted by mining activities located in Sierra Minera, (SE Spain) were investigated. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether this plant species that spontaneously colonizes these contaminated soils can be used for revegetation purposes. Hydride generation-atomic fluorescence analysis showed that the total Sb content in soils was lower than that of As. Soils had a larger range of water extractable As than of water extractable Sb concentrations, and in all soils the water extractable As concentration exceeded that of Sb. In plants, the As concentrations in leaves and roots were far higher than those of Sb. D. viscosa can be considered a suitable plant for phytoremediation and revegetation since it transfers arsenic and antimony from the soil to the root but does not translocate them in large quantities to the aerial parts, which are those eaten by animals. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Numerous studies have tested for associations between an intronic polymorphism (rs165932) of presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but results have been conflicting. To throw light on this issue, we investigate the possible involvement of PS-1 genotype in a case-control study based on a relatively stable population in Spain and a meta-analysis of published studies. An examination was conducted of 85 patients with probable or possible AD, along with controls from the same community, by using an chi(2) test for homogeneity and a binary logistic regression model. For comparison purposes, a meta-analysis of data from all available published studies was assessed. In our patients, homozygosity of the allele 2 in the PS-1 gene increased for late-onset AD (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.07-5.29, P