Participatory environmental health research: A tool to explore the socio-exposome in a major european industrial zone.

OBJECTIVES: We show that participatory research approaches can be a useful tool across disciplines and data collection methods to explore the socio-exposome near one of the largest industrial harbors in Europe. We analyzed resident involvement in each project and their capacity to affect structural changes. METHODS: Longitudinal participatory environmental monitoring studies on lichens, petunias, aquatic systems and groundwater were conducted under the program VOCE (Volunteers for the Citizens' Observation of the Environment), which mobilized nearly 100 volunteers to collect and report data. A community-based participatory health survey, Fos EPSEAL was also carried out during the same period. We describe citizens' involvement in each study following Davis and Ramirez-Andreotta's (2021) 'best practice' grid. We also use residents' insights to refine understanding of the socio-exposome. RESULTS: The region is significantly impacted by industrial pollution and fenceline communities are disproportionately exposed. The community-based participatory health survey documented negative health outcomes among the residents, including a higher prevalence of chronic symptoms and diabetes (e.g., 11.9%) in the Fos-Berre Lagoon region than in other communities. This methodology shows the benefits of the co-production of knowledge in environmental health: not only does it enable epistemological transformations favorable to the vulnerable population, but it also triggered public action (i.e., media and public authorities' attention leading to official expertise reports, filing of collective complaints before the courts). CONCLUSION: This body of multiple participatory research studies over time is a useful approach to better understand the socio-exposome and health issues in an industrial zone.

Assessment of the contamination by 2,4,6-tribromophenol of marine waters and organisms exposed to chlorination discharges.

2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) is implied in the production of brominated flame retardants but is also a major chlorination by-product in seawater. A growing number of studies indicate that TBP is highly toxic to the marine biota, but the contribution of anthropogenic sources among natural production is still under question concerning its bioaccumulation in marine organisms. Here, several water sampling campaigns were carried out in the industrialized Gulf of Fos (northwestern Mediterranean Sea, France) and clearly showed the predominant incidence of industrial chlorination discharges on the TBP levels in water, at the 1-10 ng L-1 level in average and reaching up to 580 ng L-1 near the outlets. The bioaccumulation of TBP was measured in 90 biota samples from the Gulf of Fos. The concentrations found in European conger muscle tissues (140-1000 ng g-1 lipid weight, in average), purple sea urchin gonads (830-880 ng g-1 lipid weight, in average), and Mediterranean mussel body (1500-2000 ng g-1 lipid weight, in average) were above all published references. Significant correlations with fish length (European conger) and gonad somatic index (purple sea urchin) were also identified. Comparatively, fish, urchins and mussels from other Mediterranean sites analyzed within this study showed a lower bioaccumulation level of TBP, consistently with what found elsewhere. Industrial outflows were thus identified as hotspots for TBP in seawater and marine organisms. The environmental risk assessment indicated a high potential toxicity in the industrial Gulf of Fos, in particular near the outlets, and a limited threat to human but toxicological references are lacking.

Influence of environmental and dietary exposures on metals accumulation among the residents of a major industrial harbour (Fos-sur-Mer, France).

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether the residents living closer to the core industrial zone (Fos-sur-Mer) had higher trace metals blood and urinary levels than residents who lived further away (Saint-Martin-de-Crau). MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of The INDEX study, we measured the following trace metals into blood and urine samples of 138 participants (80 in the core industrial zone and 58 in the reference area): Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Mercury, Nickel, Lead and Vanadium. Participants were recruited using a stratified random sampling method and had to meet the following inclusion criteria: 30-65 years old, living in the area since at least 3 years, not working in the industrial sector, non-smoker. We used single-pollutant multivariate linear regression models, using substitution when censored data were under 15 % and Tobit models alternatively, adjusting for personal physiological, social, dietary, housing characteristics and leisure activities. We also measured these trace metals in samples of lichens (Xanthoria parietina) and atmospheric particles (PM2.5). RESULTS: We showed higher lichen and air levels of several metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Ni and Pb) in the exposed area. Living close to the core industrial zone was significantly associated with an increase in blood levels of lead (adjusted geometric mean = 17.2 [15.8-18.7] vs 15.1 [13.7-16.7] µg.L-1, p < 0.05). We report significant increase of some metals urinary levels among residents of the industrial port zone, as the result of the use of the environment, itself contaminated by industrial activities: dietary history of self-consumption of vegetables (Cadmium), eggs and poultries (Vanadium). However, Vanadium levels were greater among self-consumers of poultry in the reference area and gardeners had circulatory levels of Lead greater than non-gardeners only in the reference area. Consumption of non-local sea-products increased the level of Cadmium. CONCLUSIONS: These results brought interesting clues, in complement to national programs, regarding the exposure to trace metals of residents living in a major industrial harbor.

Specificity Re-evaluation of Oligonucleotide Probes for the Detection of Marine Picoplankton by Tyramide Signal Amplification-Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization.

Oligonucleotide probes are increasingly being used to characterize natural microbial assemblages by Tyramide Signal Amplification-Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (TSA-FISH, or CAtalysed Reporter Deposition CARD-FISH). In view of the fast-growing rRNA databases, we re-evaluated the in silico specificity of eleven bacterial and eukaryotic probes and competitor frequently used for the quantification of marine picoplankton. We performed tests on cell cultures to decrease the risk for non-specific hybridization, before they are used on environmental samples. The probes were confronted to recent databases and hybridization conditions were tested against target strains matching perfectly with the probes, and against the closest non-target strains presenting one to four mismatches. We increased the hybridization stringency from 55 to 65% formamide for the Eub338+EubII+EubIII probe mix to be specific to the Eubacteria domain. In addition, we found that recent changes in the Gammaproteobacteria classification decreased the specificity of Gam42a probe, and that the Roseo536R and Ros537 probes were not specific to, and missed part of the Roseobacter clade. Changes in stringency conditions were important for bacterial probes; these induced, respectively, a significant increase, in Eubacteria and Roseobacter and no significant changes in Gammaproteobacteria concentrations from the investigated natural environment. We confirmed the eukaryotic probes original conditions, and propose the Euk1209+NChlo01+Chlo02 probe mix to target the largest picoeukaryotic diversity. Experiences acquired through these investigations leads us to propose the use of seven steps protocol for complete FISH probe specificity check-up to improve data quality in environmental studies.