Papers by Alessio Gomiero
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 17, 2022
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 17, 2022
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a recognized worldwide concern, and new approaches are crucial to ... more Microplastic (MP) pollution is a recognized worldwide concern, and new approaches are crucial to meet the increasing demands for standardized, fast, and reliable measurements. Previously published studies showed high concentrations of MP in an urban fjord, Byfjorden, Bergen, Norway sampled in 2015. In the present work, the same sample area is investigated: two discharge sites for wastewater and three deposition sites in deep regions of the fjord. Two methods of extraction by density separation are compared with marine sediments. Method 1 used the Microplastic Sediment Separator (MPSS) with 30 L of ZnCl2, and Method 2 used a setup of four beakers with 700 mL ZnCl2 and ¼ of the sediment sample per beaker (FP4 Portable Flocculation Tester, Jar-test). The samples were then treated by identical protocols of enzymatic and oxidizing purification at NORCE Plastlab, Stavanger before analysis with Py-GC/MS. The comparison of results will be presented and indicate small differences between the two methods. The cost-efficient Jar method may be suitable for monitoring highly contaminated sediments such as urban harbors in order to follow trends of MP contamination through monitoring programs. The comparison of extraction methods will be discussed, and possible future developments outlined. If mandatory monitoring for chemical and ecological status (following the Water Framework Directive, WFD) would include MP quantification, this opens the possibility to observe changes in MP pollution over time. At this stage, MPs are not included for monitoring in the WFD. Analysis of sediment samples from 2016 and 2019, before and after the installation of secondary WWTP respectively, will create a timeline that may show the potential effect of WWT after a few years. However, to know whether the requirements of SDG14.1 to reduce marine debris are met, monitoring is a necessity, either at the outlets or at the recipient.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 17, 2022
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 17, 2022
Microplastic (MP) ingestion by marine organisms has been well documented in the last decade, incl... more Microplastic (MP) ingestion by marine organisms has been well documented in the last decade, including in coastal Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Bioaccumulation of MP has however not been well investigated. If bioaccumulation occurs, one expects older individuals to have higher concentrations of the contaminant in one or several tissues, provided exposure to the contaminant. The study area is a heavily plastic-polluted area in the Sotra region in western Norway. These areas receive and trap large amounts of marine debris transported with the coastal current. The cod is a central species in the Norwegian coastal food web, and spends its lifecycle in one area, eating polychaetes, crustaceans and fish, and is thus likely exposed to plastic through both water and food. We used muscle tissue (93.50±21.82g) of 23 healthy cod (k-factor =1.05±0.18) with a length of 40-73cm and an estimated age of 3-5 years old was used. The dissection, extraction by gentle enzymatic and oxidative treatments, and chemical identification of MP (> 20µm) were performed in NORCE PlastLab based on previously published methods. Particle size and polymer types were determined using µFTIR. 36 MP particles, dominated by fragments, (175.11±222.11µm) were observed in nine of the 23 examined fish. Six polymers were detected, PP and PE dominating with 33.3% and 30.6%, respectively. MP particles were found in fish from 40 and 56cm. Zero MP was also observed in fish of all sizes. This study did not find evidence of MP bioaccumulation in cod muscle tissue after 3-5 years old, in a plastic-polluted area, suggesting either that bioaccumulation does not occur or that there may be other primary target organs for MP bioaccumulation in cod. Wet traps showed low levels of MP particles (n=2), suggesting the PlastLab is sufficient to reduce airborne contamination.
Denne studien undersøker forekomst og distribusjon av mikroplast i de umiddelbare omgivelsene til... more Denne studien undersøker forekomst og distribusjon av mikroplast i de umiddelbare omgivelsene til et lakseoppdrett, prøvetaking av sedimentene, vannsøylen og fisken. Prosesser som mistenkes å produsere og/eller frigjøre mikroplast i miljøet, blir spesielt undersøkt, for eksempel å bruke vann med høyt trykk for fjerning av bioforurensning fra nettene
Arctic Science
The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme has published a plan and guidelines for the monito... more The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme has published a plan and guidelines for the monitoring of litter and microplastics (MP) in the Arctic. Here, we look beyond suggestions for immediate monitoring and discuss challenges, opportunities, and future strategies in the long-term monitoring of litter and MP in the Arctic. Challenges are related to environmental conditions, lack of harmonization and standardization of measurements, and long-term coordinated and harmonized data storage. Furthermore, major knowledge gaps exist with regard to benchmark levels, transport, sources, and effects, which should be considered in future monitoring strategies. Their development could build on the existing infrastructure and networks established in other monitoring initiatives in the Arctic, while taking into account specific requirements for litter and MP monitoring. Knowledge existing in northern and Indigenous communities, as well as their research priorities, should be integrated into co...
Arctic Science
Marine litter in the Arctic Basin is influenced by transport from Atlantic and Pacific waters. Th... more Marine litter in the Arctic Basin is influenced by transport from Atlantic and Pacific waters. This highlights the need for harmonization of guidelines across regions. Monitoring can be used to assess temporal and spatial trends but can also be used to assess if environmental objectives are reached, for example to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Seafloor monitoring by trawling needs substantial resources and specific sampling strategies to be sufficiently robust to demonstrate changes over time. Observation and visual evaluation in shallow and deep waters using towed camera systems, ROVs and submersibles are well suited for the Arctic environment. The use of imagery still needs to be adjusted through automation and image analyses, including deep learning approaches and data management, but will also serve to monitor areas with a rocky seafloor. We recommend developing a monitoring plan for seafloor litter by selecting representative sites for visual inspection tha...
Environmental Management, 2017
Multidisciplinary monitoring of the impact of offshore gas platforms on northern and central Adri... more Multidisciplinary monitoring of the impact of offshore gas platforms on northern and central Adriatic marine ecosystems has been conducted since 1998. Beginning in 2006, 4-5 year investigations spanning the period before, during, and after rig installation have explored the effects of its construction and presence on macrozoobenthic communities, sediment, water quality, pollutant bioaccumulation, and fish assemblages. In this study, sediment samples collected at increasing distance from an offshore gas platform before, during and after its construction were subjected to chemical analysis and assessment of benthic communities. Ecological indices were calculated to evaluate the ecological status of the area. Ecotoxicological analysis of sediment was performed to establish whether pollutants are transferred to biota. The study applied a before-after control-impact design to assess the effects of rig construction and presence and provide reference data on the possible impacts of any further expansion of the gas extraction industry in the already heavily exploited Adriatic Sea. Only some of the metals investigated (barium, chromium, cadmium, and zinc) showed a different spatial and/or temporal distribution that may be platform-related. In the early phases, the sediment concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were below the detection limit at all sites; they then became detectable, but without significant spatial differences. The present findings suggest that the environmental effects of offshore gas platforms may be difficult to quantify, interpret, and generalize, because they are influenced by numerous, often local, abiotic, and biotic variables in different and unpredictable ways.
CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Nov 17, 2022
Arctic Science
The pollution of the environment with plastics is of growing concern worldwide, including the Arc... more The pollution of the environment with plastics is of growing concern worldwide, including the Arctic region. While larger plastic pieces are a visible pollution issue, smaller microplastics are not visible with the naked eye. These particles are available for interaction by Arctic biota and have become a concern for animal and human health. The determination of microplastic properties includes several methodological steps, i.e. sampling, extraction, quantification and chemical identification. This review discusses suitable analytical tools for the identification, quantification and characterization of microplastics in the context of monitoring in the Arctic. It further addresses quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) which is particularly important for the determination of microplastic in the Arctic, as both contamination and analyte losses can occur. It presents specific QA/QC measures for sampling procedures and for the handling of samples in the laboratory, either on land ...
Marine Pollution Bulletin
The WCM programme was performed at the Troll field where the potential biological effects of oper... more The WCM programme was performed at the Troll field where the potential biological effects of operational discharges were investigated. The 2012 WCM programme focused on caged mussels allowing for an increased number of sampling stations and biological effects endpoints to be measured. Therefore, the programme involved 13 mussel stations including 2 reference stations and 11 exposure stations. The positions of the 11 exposure stations at 500 m, 1000 m and 2000 m from the Troll C platform were positioned with respect to the predicted, and later confirmed, plume direction (Fig 1). Mussels (Mytilus spp.) were held at a depth of 15 m at all stations and retrieved after an exposure period of 6 weeks. The current meter data confi1med the expected dominant direction of the PW plume, and the stations selected for the biomarker analysis were in the PW plume axis direction
Arctic Science
The atmosphere and cryosphere have recently garnered considerable attention due to their role in ... more The atmosphere and cryosphere have recently garnered considerable attention due to their role in transporting microplastics to and within the Arctic, and between freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments. While investigating either in isolation provides valuable insight on the fate of microplastics in the Arctic, monitoring both provides a more holistic view. Nonetheless, despite the recent scientific interest, fundamental knowledge on microplastic abundance, and consistent monitoring efforts, are lacking for these compartments. Here, we build upon the work of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme’s Monitoring Guidelines for Litter and Microplastic to provide a roadmap for multi-compartment monitoring of the atmosphere and cryosphere to support our understanding of the sources, pathways, and sinks of plastic pollution across the Arctic. Overall, we recommend the use of existing standard techniques for ice and atmospheric sampling and to build upon existing monitoring...
Universidad Central *Marta Abreu* de Las Villas, Mar 1, 2017
7635, 2021
This project contained development of a new solution for removal of hydrogen peroxide after delou... more This project contained development of a new solution for removal of hydrogen peroxide after delousing usage to minimise the environmental impact from one of the pharmaceutical de-lice treatments available in Norway today. Ecotoxicological experiments, modelling of spreading and risk assessment have also been included to assess the potential impact this technique could have on the environment. The treatment solution is patent pending and hence, the present report do not contain all methodological details. The solution development was conducted by NIVA and Akvaplan-niva. Ecotoxicological experiments were conducted by NORCE, while risk assessment and modelling were conducted by Akvaplan-niva. Results and information in the present report will hopefully be a useful tool for further risk assessments of hydrogen peroxide usage, as well as providing results and technologies which after an up-scaling of dimensions can be implemented as risk reducing measurements in the aquaculture industry.
Arctic Science, 2022
Lack of knowledge on levels and trends of litter and microplastics in the Arctic, is limiting our... more Lack of knowledge on levels and trends of litter and microplastics in the Arctic, is limiting our understanding of the sources, transport, fate, and effects is hampering global activities aimed at reducing litter and microplastics in the environment. To obtain a holistic view to managing litter and microplastics in the Arctic, we considered the current state of knowledge and methods for litter and microplastics monitoring in eleven environmental compartments representing the marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Based on available harmonized methods, and existing data in the Arctic, we recommend prioritization of implementing litter and microplastics monitoring in the Arctic in four Priority 1 compartments—water, aquatic sediments, shorelines, and seabirds. One or several of these compartments should be monitored to provide benchmark data for litter and microplastics in the Arctic and, in the future, data on spatial and temporal trends. For the other environ...
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 2021
Oil spill clean-up measures using in situ burning can potentially result in seafloor contaminatio... more Oil spill clean-up measures using in situ burning can potentially result in seafloor contamination affecting benthic organisms. To mimic realistic exposure and measure effects, ovigerous Northern shrimp were continuously exposed for two weeks to the water-soluble fraction of oil coated on gravel followed by two weeks in clean seawater. North Sea crude oil (NSC) and field generated in situ burn residue (ISBR) of NSC were used (Low: 3 g/kg gravel, Medium: 6 g/kg gravel and High: 12 g/kg gravel). The concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water resulting from NSC were higher compared to ISBR. No mortality was observed in any treatment and overall moderate sublethal effects were found, mostly after exposure to NSC. Feeding was temporarily reduced at higher concentrations of NSC. PAH levels in hepatopancreas tissue were significantly elevated following exposure and still significantly higher at the end of the experiment in NSCHigh and ISBRHigh compared to control. Mild...
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Papers by Alessio Gomiero