We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Seine River Basin: Overview of Recent Research
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers summarized over 30 years of pollution monitoring in the Seine River basin, finding widespread contamination from microplastics, industrial fluorinated chemicals (PFAS), disease-causing microbes, antibiotics, and antibiotic-resistant genes. Urban rivers were identified as hotspots where resistance traits concentrate in bacterial communities, posing risks to both ecosystems and public health.
Abstract For over 30 years, the sources and the transfer dynamics of micropollutants have been investigated in the PIREN-Seine programme. Recent works included a wide range of chemicals and biological contaminants of emerging concern (i.e. contaminants whose occurrence, fate and impact are scarcely documented). This chapter presents a brief overview of research recently conducted on contaminants as diverse as macro- and microplastics, poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pathogenic protozoa, antibiotics and the associated antibiotic resistance. The multiscalar study of plastics and PFASs at a large spatial scale is rare; the results produced in recent years on the Seine River catchment have provided an original contribution to the investigation of the dynamics of these contaminants in urban environments. The results also highlighted that pathogenic protozoa are ubiquitous in the Seine River basin and that the contamination of bivalves such as Dreissena polymorpha could reflect the ambient biological contamination of watercourses. The widespread occurrence of antibiotics in the Seine River was demonstrated, and it was shown that the resistome of biofilms in highly urbanised rivers constitutes a microenvironment where genetic support for antibiotic resistance (clinical integrons) and resistance genes for trace metals are concentrated.
More Papers Like This
Caractérisation de l’état de contamination de l’axe Seine
AI summary Read the abstract
A multidisciplinary study of the Seine River in France used passive samplers, caged organisms, and direct water and sediment sampling to characterize contamination across the basin, documenting microplastics, PFAS, antibiotics, pesticides, and metals in both water and biota. Microplastic concentrations were measured in river water and flood deposits, and results showed a clear upstream-to-downstream contamination gradient driven by Paris-region urbanization. The dataset provides one of the most comprehensive multi-contaminant profiles of a major European river system.
Microplastic contamination in the Seine River estuary
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the Seine River estuary in France, contributing to the growing body of evidence that major European rivers are significant conduits for transporting plastic pollution from inland areas to coastal marine environments.
Impact of Urbanization on Antibiotic Resistome in Different Microplastics: Evidence from a Large-Scale Whole River Analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a large-scale river survey across urbanization gradients and characterized antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics from each zone, finding that urbanization level strongly predicted the diversity and abundance of resistance genes on plastic surfaces.
Historical trends of microplastic pollution in the Seine River (France) from 1960 to 2020 through the study of sedimentary archives
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reconstructed the spatial and temporal history of microplastic pollution in the Seine River basin from 1960 to 2020 using sedimentary archives, characterizing contamination trends across the watershed to provide a long-term pollution record for a major European river system.
Microplastic Contamination of Sediment and Water Column in the Seine River Estuary
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic contamination is documented throughout the Seine River estuary in both water and sediments, with particle concentrations varying by tidal cycle and proximity to urban discharge points. Estuaries act as transitional accumulation zones where riverine microplastics concentrate before entering the marine environment, amplifying exposure for estuary-dwelling species.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.