Calattini Isabella, Campani Tommaso, Leonzio Claudio, Giani Dario, Ancora Stefania, Fiaschi Tiberio, Centorrino Pietro, Marsili Letizia, Fossi Maria Cristina, Angiolini Claudia, Casini Silvia
Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli, 4, 53100, Italy.
Associazione LaGorà, Colle Di Val d'Elsa (Siena), Via Garibaldi 82/84, 53034, Italy.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Jun;32(29):17618-17636. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-36696-7. Epub 2025 Jul 3.
Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity conservation, pollution mitigation and climate regulation. However, anthropogenic pressures, including agricultural and industrial activities and urbanisation, degrade water quality and ecological status. This study assessed the health of the Elsa River, a tributary of the Arno in Tuscany (Italy), through an integrated and holistic methodology combining chemical, ecological and ecotoxicological parameters. Water quality (nitrate, phosphate, ammonium concentrations and pH) was assessed through a citizen science project. This initiative actively involved local communities and high schools, fostering the sharing of local knowledge to identify sampling sites and address territorial challenges. Ecological status was assessed using the Extended Biotic Index (EBI) and Fluvial Functionality Index (FFI). Italian chubs (Squalius squalus) were employed as bioindicators to investigate microplastic ingestion, contaminant levels (heavy metals, organochlorines) and a battery of biomarkers for evaluating genotoxic, neurotoxic effects, oxidative stress, metabolic stress and the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites. The results showed a progressive decline in water quality and ecological status from upstream to downstream, particularly after the urbanised area and the river park, where microplastic ingestion in fish peaked at 2.5 items/individual. A genotoxic effect was highlighted, significantly correlated with the presence of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and benzo(a)pyrene's metabolites. This holistic approach, integrating physico-chemical analysis, ecological assessments and ecotoxicological effects on biota, provided a comprehensive understanding of the river's health. It enabled the identification of contaminants and hypothesised their sources, like illegal urban waste disposal, vehicular traffic and polluted tributaries.
淡水生态系统对于生物多样性保护、污染缓解和气候调节至关重要。然而，包括农业和工业活动以及城市化在内的人为压力正在降低水质和生态状况。本研究通过结合化学、生态和生态毒理学参数的综合整体方法，评估了意大利托斯卡纳地区阿尔诺河支流埃尔萨河的健康状况。通过一个公民科学项目评估了水质（硝酸盐、磷酸盐、铵浓度和pH值）。该倡议积极让当地社区和高中参与进来，促进当地知识的共享，以确定采样地点并应对地域挑战。使用扩展生物指数（EBI）和河流功能指数（FFI）评估生态状况。以意大利雅罗鱼（Squalius squalus）作为生物指示物，调查微塑料摄入、污染物水平（重金属、有机氯）以及一系列用于评估遗传毒性、神经毒性作用、氧化应激、代谢应激和多环芳烃（PAH）代谢物存在情况的生物标志物。结果显示，从上游到下游，水质和生态状况逐渐下降，特别是在城市化地区和河滨公园之后，那里鱼类体内微塑料摄入量达到峰值，为2.5个/个体。突出显示了一种遗传毒性效应，与汞、多氯联苯和苯并(a)芘代谢物的存在显著相关。这种综合物理化学分析、生态评估以及对生物群的生态毒理学效应的整体方法，提供了对河流健康状况的全面理解。它能够识别污染物并推测其来源，如非法城市垃圾处理、车辆交通和受污染的支流。
