Anthropogenic climate change is rapidly altering marine environments primarily through ocean warming, acidification, and hyposalinity, posing significant challenges for marine calcifying organisms. This study investigated the short-term effects of these stressors on the Mediterranean bivalve Chamelea gallina, a key fishery species in the Adriatic Sea, by integrating skeletal, mechanical, and mineralogical responses. Adult clams of commercial size were exposed for 21 days to eight experimental treatments manipulating two levels of temperature (18 °C vs. 22 °C), pH (8.0 vs. 7.9), and salinity (35 vs. 32), chosen to reproduce near-future climate projections and the freshwater-driven variability typical of the Adriatic Sea. Despite the short exposure duration, the combined exposure to low pH, high temperature, and reduced salinity weakens the shell of Chamelea gallina at multiple levels, compromising shell integrity, by making shells less dense, more porous, more fragile, and more susceptible to fracture, and increasing mortality. Microstructural analysis revealed smaller aragonite crystallites and lower calcium content, indicative of early impairments in the calcification process. The study highlights the occurrence of synergistic effects among stressors and reveals the vulnerability of Chamelea gallina to near-future ocean conditions, with potential cascading consequences for ecosystem functioning and fishery sustainability, given the species' key ecological role and commercial relevance in the Adriatic Sea.

This study analyzed 100 honey samples from Central Italy to evaluate their physicochemical and elemental characteristics and assess their potential for botanical classification using multivariate analysis. Parameters including pH, color, electrical conductivity, moisture, sugars, and content of 13 elements were measured. Floral origin strongly influenced honey composition: darker honeys such as chestnut and false indigo exhibited higher pH, absorbance, conductivity, and mineral levels, while acacia honey was the least mineralized. Elemental analysis revealed wide variability in essential and toxic elements, though the majority of toxic metals remained within safety limits, with the exception of a single Pb concentration exceeding the recommended threshold. Electrical conductivity emerged as a supportive indicator of botanical type, particularly distinguishing chestnut honey and honeydew from the other honeys. Chemometric analyses based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted variation in physicochemical and elemental profiles corresponding to botanical origin of honeys. The results are based on a regionally focused dataset and should be interpreted within this geographical context.

Artificial sweeteners (ASs) are low-calories additives which utilization has increased in the last decades, reaching an economic revenue of ca. 26 billion US dollars in 2024. Through direct discharge or inadequate treatment of wastewater, they can spread in soil and reach the marine environment. Although the concrete risk of pollution deriving from these substances, their influence on coastal benthic communities is still unknown. We tested the effects of two ASs (aspartame and saccharin) through a chronic toxicity test on the cnidarian model species Aurelia coerulea polyps. We exposed polyps to a solution of aspartame and saccharine with filtered seawater (100 mg/l according to the REACH legislation for xenobiotics (Regulation 1272, Supplement No. 1, 2008), and measured their health status, asexual reproduction, somatic growth and mortality rates at 3-days intervals for ca. 60 days. Spectrophotometric analysis showed the degradation of aspartame, while saccharine remained unvaried indicating stability in water solution. Saccharin induced a moderate slowdown of growth, not impacting reproduction and health, while aspartame affected polyps by arresting growth, asexual reproduction, and triggering regression process. Afterwards, a full regeneration was reported with registered values similar to control group, suggesting acclimatization. Even though no mortality was observed, a delay in budding and growth rates could result in a carry-over effect on ephyrae production and adult populations. Since polyps are recognized as primary responsible driving jellyfish outbreaks, their altered physiological processes could affect the population dynamics of planktonic life-stages and consequently the trophic relationships of the habitat both at small and large scale.

Sharks are highly susceptible to heavy metals and metalloids bioaccumulation due to their high trophic position within marine ecosystems. However, heavy metal(oid)s concentration have been reported for few species, and their biological effects remain poorly understood. Here we report the concentration of 14 heavy metal(oid)s from kidney, liver, brain and muscle tissues of targeted blackspotted smooth-hound sharks from the Southern Adriatic Sea. Males exhibited significantly higher levels of silver and mercury than females, and kidney and liver tissues showed higher concentrations than muscle and brain tissues. No correlation was found between metal(oid) concentrations and body size and morphometric indices. The levels of mercury consistently exceeded regulatory maximum limit for by the EU suggesting danger to the consumer, which was further highlighted by the health risk assessment following the US EPA 2000 guidelines.

Intensive agriculture has over-exploited natural resources and altered the functioning of soil systems, mainly because of the abuse of synthetic products to increase yields. To improve sustainability, the European Commission has adopted the New Green Deal program, which aims to reduce the use of synthetic products by 50% and restore biodiversity by limiting human impact. Essential oils (EOs) can be sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides for crops and agricultural products protection against pests and diseases and, therefore, are attracting increasing interest from the scientific community. However, while most studies have focused on in vitro effects on target organisms (i.e., soil borne-phytopathogens, insects, phytoparasitic nematodes), the impact of EOs on natural soil communities remains unexplored. This study employed a field experiment using the Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) approach to investigate the potential effects of basil EO on nematode communities. Chickpea seeds were coated with a high concentration (25% v/v) of Ocimum basilicum EO in different formulations, with the basil EO and chitosan combination standing out for its potential applicability as a seed-coating treatment for future crop use. The results demonstrated that the basil EO and chitosan seed coating had no significant negative impact on nematode taxonomic diversity or functional indices. Furthermore, the taxonomic community structure-recognized as the most sensitive detection metric-revealed that the observed effects were primarily influenced by temporal changes, likely reflecting the natural progression of the crop system rather than the EO treatment itself. These findings are particularly promising, as they suggest that EO-based coatings can be compatible with maintaining soil health.

Mercury (Hg) contamination in marine species is a critical environmental and public health issue, particularly for commercially important resources like mantis shrimp, Squilla mantis. This study assessed Hg levels in muscle and gonadal tissues of 64 female S. mantis from the Adriatic Sea, assessed into pre-spawning, spawning, and post-spawning reproductive stages. Hg concentrations in S. mantis varied across reproductive stages, with the highest levels in muscle during spawning and the lowest during post-spawning. An opposite trend was found in gonadal tissue. Muscle consistently contained more Hg than gonads, and significant positive linear correlations between the two tissues were observed across reproductive stages. Hg accumulation in muscle was also related to carapace length and gonad weight in specific stages. Hg concentrations measured in muscle and gonad tissues (0.110 ± 0.006 and 0.035 ± 0.001 mg kg-1 wet weight, respectively) were below the maximum limits established by the European Union for seafood safety (0.5 mg kg-1).

Acheta domesticus, commonly known as the house cricket, is widely consumed due to its significant content of high-quality proteins, and essential nutrients. However, its lipid profile, rich in saturated fatty acids, presents health concerns. This study aimed to produce crickets with a reduced saturated fatty acid content and an enriched profile of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, compared to crickets currently available on the food market. For this purpose, Acheta domesticus was fed a diet enriched with 20 % and 40 % of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum. AN supplementation significantly reduced AD weight, yield (total cricket per crate) and feed conversion ratio, whereas it had no effect on the survival rate. Results showed that seaweed-enriched diets significantly decreased the lipid content, while reducing saturated fatty acids and increasing unsaturated fatty acids content in crickets fed seaweed-enriched diets compared to the control group, making these species a more nutritious and wholesome resource. Additionally, crickets maintained a high protein content with amino acid profile meeting essential amino acid requirements. Overall, the nutritional quality indices indicated that house crickets fed an eco-friendly diet provided optimal values for both fatty acids and amino acids profile.

This report presents the activities and outcomes of an educational project aimed at promoting sustainable food awareness among high-school students in Italy through the active contributions from young researchers, profit partners and school educators. The project involved two final-year classes—one from a scientific lyceum and one from a technical chemistry institute—and integrated theoretical lessons, laboratory activities, and experiential learning focused on planetary boundaries, sustainable diets, and alternative proteins such as from algae and insects. To assess the impact of the project, pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were administered and are here discussed. The intervention significantly enhanced the students’ cognitive and affective engagement both during the sessions and in the immediate aftermath, as evidenced by elevated levels of satisfaction and retention of key concepts. Overall, the project fostered great environmental awareness and openness to sustainable food choices, demonstrating the potential of targeted hands-on educational programs to influence both attitudes and behaviours in younger generations of western high-income countries. The project serves as a replicable model of a transdisciplinary approach for integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and education for Planetary Health into secondary school curricula.

Understanding the distribution of essential and toxic elements across biological tissues is crucial for comprehending their transport mechanisms and monitoring their potential contamination. Odontocetes, as apex predators and long-lived organisms, are particularly vulnerable to element accumulation. This study focuses on analyzing 14 essential and toxic elements in ten different tissues sampled from a young male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coast of Forio (Ischia Island, Naples, Italy) in 2018. Results highlighted how the highest amounts were accumulated in liver and kidney, with stomach and testis serving as secondary storage tissues. Our findings highlight the significance of monitoring toxic contaminants in stranded sperm whales, as they act as sentinels of environmental pollution.

In recent years, insects have emerged as a nutritious and eco-sustainable alternative food source, with the house cricket (Acheta domesticus, AD) recently authorized by the European Commission as a novel food. However, the presence of harmful substances in insects poses potential health risks. This study investigated the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and aluminium (Al) in Acheta domesticus fed diets enriched with graded levels of the red seaweed Palmaria palmata or the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum in two feeding trials. Chemical analyses were carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for all elements except Hg, which was analyzed by thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that PTE content in the diets was below the legal limits for feed. The PTEs in AD ranged (mg kg−1 dry matter) as follows: Cd (0.069 ± 0.005–0.127 ± 0.002), As (0.08 ± 0.01–0.36 ± 0.03), Pb (0.05 ± 0.01–0.12 ± 0.01), Hg (0.0065 ± 0.0002–0.0141 ± 0.0010), Ni (0.64 ± 0.06–1.20 ± 0.10), Cr (0.16 ± 0.02–0.58 ± 0.01), and Al (17 ± 2–61 ± 1). AD bioaccumulated As and Hg; however, the PTE levels remained below European Union food safety limits. The absence of non-carcinogenic risk for consumers suggests that AD fed seaweed-enriched diets are a safe, healthy, and low-chemical risk food for humans.

The Hg evolution and relation with sediment grain-size and depositional environment are studied in four sediment cores collected along areas of present active pelitic sedimentation located in the western part of the middle and south Adriatic Sea. The four cores exhibited different Hg concentrations, ranging from 0.120 +/- 0.016 to 0.040 +/- 0.010 mg/kg, with higher content in northern areas than in southern and deeper areas, and decreasing concentrations from the upper to the lower core sections. Hg content was always below the limit of 0.3 mg/kg set by the Italian sediment quality guidelines. The positive correlation found between Hg and silt marks the importance of the silty fraction for the Hg adsorption and distribution in the Western Adriatic and its continental origin. The Sediment Accumulation Rates obtained from the literature allowed a preliminary core dating. This dating suggests that the evolution of Hg content over time reflects both historical periods of industrial growth and war activities, as well as different input areas. Therefore, Hg could be considered as a proxy for Anthropocene in industrialized areas. In particular, Hg reflects discharges from ore exploitation of Idrija mines (Slovenia), industry of Ravenna Harbour, as well as bombings and movements during WWII. All these anthropogenic activities produced high Hg rich particulates that were deposited, reworked, transported, and accumulated by the hydrodynamics of the Adriatic Sea. This study suggests Hg contamination in Adriatic Sea sediments as a potential marker for defining the Anthropocene epoch in middle and southern Adriatic sediments, contributing to the ongoing debate on its definition.

The house cricket ( Acheta domesticus) ) is considered one of the most promising farmed insect to be used as novel food, thanks to its attractive nutritional profile and its great taste. To the best of our knowledge, crickets in Europe are reared on soybean meal-rich feed which won't be sustainable in the long run. Insect producers have shown interest in using more environmentally friendly substrates for cricket's rearing. Among these, seaweed has been investigated as feed ingredients for insect rearing. However, no studies on crickets are available. We aimed to evaluate the potential use of the alga Palmaria palmata in the diet of house crickets (5%, 10% and 20% of the diet), in terms of insect performances and nutritional composition (protein, lipid, amino acids and fatty acids). Crickets fed seaweed-enriched diets showed good performance parameters (individual weight, cricket yield and survival) compared to crickets fed the control diet without presenting statistically significant differences (P P > 0.05), while their nutritional composition changed significantly for some components. Protein content of the crickets increased when more seaweed was added to their diets (P P = 0.0115), while the fat content decreased (P P = 0.0451). Also, the amino acid composition of the crickets remained stable between dietary groups, except for histidine, methionine and lysine which increased in crickets fed more seaweed in the diet (P P = 0.0430, P = 0.0342, P = 0.0302, respectively). Finally, the presence of seaweed in the diet led to a transfer of the omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid from the seaweed to the crickets (P P < 0.0001), which are naturally lacking this fatty acid. Based on this study, we conclude that the red alga Palmaria Palmata is a suitable substrate for cricket mass rearing up to 20 g/100 g of the diet. However, higher seaweed inclusion and longer dietary administration time could affect the nutritional composition of the house cricket differently, therefore they should be investigated.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the elemental profiles of tea leaves coming from plants grown in several European gardens, with a focus on the bioaccumulation of essential and potentially toxic trace elements in relation to processing and location of tea garden. Samples were collected from various gardens across Europe, including Portugal, the Azores, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Elemental analysis was conducted on fresh tea leaves, dried leaves, and leaves processed for the production of green and black tea, along with soil samples from the root zones of tea plants. The results reveal no significant differences in elemental content based on the processing of tea leaves. However, distinct elemental profiles were observed among tea leaves of plants grown in gardens from different European regions. Utilizing chemometric and machine learning tools, the study highlights the potential of these elemental profiles for enhancing the traceability of tea products.

This research investigates the dynamics of contaminant exposure in European hake (Merluccius merluccius, L. 1758) from the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) by examining the levels of total mercury (THg) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the muscle fish tissues. The study explores the correlations between these pollutants and somatic indexes to identify the early warning signals of pollution and ecological effects. The levels of pollutants are influenced by season and sex. Lipids appear to have a minimal effect on the PAH levels, whereas they exhibit a positive correlation with mercury levels in the muscle. No significant relationships between the pollutants and condition indexes were observed, except for a positive correlation between THg and the gonadosomatic index, indicating a potential impact on the reproductive health of fish. In contrast, PAHs showed no meaningful correlation with condition indexes. Differences in contaminant accumulations and lipid levels between sexes reflect variations in metabolic activity, reproductive costs, and adaptive strategies to seasonal changes and energy demands. This study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring to improve pollution management, environmental conservation, and the protection of marine organisms’ health.

The house cricket (Acheta domesticus, AD) is one of the most consumed insect species worldwide due to its significant content of high-quality proteins, and essential nutrients. However, its notably high lipid presence, primarily characterized by a significant percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), presents health concerns. This study aimed to produce low-fat crickets, with a lower SFA content and an enriched profile of healthy fatty acids, particularly the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) known for health-promoting properties, in comparison to crickets currently available on the food market. For this purpose, AD was fed a diet enriched with the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum at 20 % and 40 %. The results showed a significant reduction of the lipid content, accompanied by a decrease of SFAs and an increase of UFAs in crickets fed seaweed-enriched diets compared to crickets fed the control diet, making these species a more nutritious and wholesome resource for human.

Human activity has led to increased concentrations of mercury (Hg) in the world's oceans. Mercury can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in animal tissues via trophic transfer, thus, becoming most pronounced in larger and older predators. Here, we measured Hg concentrations and their relationship with stable isotopes-based proxies of trophic level (δ13C and δ15N values) in multiple tissues of Mustelus spp. from the Mediterranean Sea. We found higher Hg concentrations in muscle than in liver and fin tissues. The relationship between Hg concentrations and δ15N values in muscle suggested repeated foraging for low trophic level and Hg-poor prey, and biomagnification of Hg at higher trophic levels. Seasonal variations in δ13C values could indicate shifts in primary production sources and/or in local prey availability. The HBVSe index suggested no risk to human health, however the safe meal limit recommendations are 4.5 and 2.2 portions per month for adults and children, respectively.

The increasing global concern over microplastic pollution has driven a surge in research efforts aimed at detecting microplastics across various ecosystems. Airborne microplastics (MPs) have been identified in remote environments worldwide, including Antarctica. However, data on bulk atmospheric deposition remain scarce. From January to December 2020, atmospheric deposition was directly collected using passive samplers placed in eight sites across Victoria Land. Using Raman Microspectroscopy, MPs were identified in six out of the seven samples collected (one sample was lost due to the extreme weather conditions). The average daily MP deposition for Victoria Land was 1.7 +/- 1.1 MPs m(-2) d(-1), with values ranging from 0.76 to 3.44 MPs m(-2) d(-1). The majority (53 %) of MPs found in the atmospheric deposition were in the size class of 5-10 mu m, and the main shape of MPs was fragments (95 %). The predominant plastic type was polypropylene (31 %), followed by polyethylene (19 %) and polycarbonate (12 %). Polystyrene, polyester, styrene and polyethylene terephthalate each accounted for similar to 6 %. Microplastics identified in the coastal sites may have local origins, potentially associated with scientific activities at research stations. Conversely, a backward trajectories analysis suggested a potential contribution of atmospheric transport to microplastic deposition at Larsen Glacier and Tourmaline Plateau, the two most remote sites of the study area, where the highest MP concentrations were detected. Our findings present the first evidence of microplastics in the Antarctic atmospheric deposition directly collected via passive samplers, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and research to assess the environmental impact of MPs, particularly in sensitive and remote ecosystems like Antarctica.

Well-conserved herbarium specimens of marine macroalgae represent a valuable resource for multiple types of investigation. When algal herbaria host specimens collected over long time spans from a certain geographic area, they have the potential to document historical changes in the benthic vegetation of that area. In this study, historical changes in the macroalgal vegetation of a central Mediterranean coast (Conero Riviera, Adriatic Sea) were assessed based on a critical re-examination of the herbarium of Irma Pierpaoli (collection period 1925–1951) and the phycological herbarium of the Polytechnic University of Marche (ANC ALG, collections made mostly in the period 1999–2024). For both herbaria, the identifications of many specimens were revised based on the current species circumscriptions. The comparison indicates that some major changes occurred between the two collection periods: a switch in the morphological functional structure of the vegetation (increase in the number of filamentous species, decrease in leathery macrophytes, and the near disappearance of calcareous articulated algae), local extinction of some species (at least 23, possibly more), and introduction of 11 species of non-indigenous seaweeds. Anthropogenic impacts (habitat destruction, increase in sediment load, and impacts of port activities and maritime traffic) are considered the main factors responsible for these changes.

A multidisciplinary approach, involving geochemical, sedimentological and oceanographic analyses, was employed to examine the distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a strongly anthropized area of the marginal Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean basin). The investigation into PAH distribution considered the grain size and biogeochemical properties of the sediments, as well as in relation to the main oceanographic processes and river inputs. Both biogeochemical and hydrographical inputs regulated the sedimentation of organic particles, influencing the distribution of PAHs. The results indicated PAH levels in 116 marine surface sediments ranging from 4 to 235 ng g−1 (average 55 ng g−1). The distribution of PAHs in Adriatic Sea surface sediments aligned with a higher clayey sedimentation in the deeper basin areas of the Middle Adriatic Depression.

Honey is a natural product made by honeybees (Apis mellifera) from nectar or honeydew. It is a very popular and appreciated product all over the world as it represents a rapidly available energy source and exerts several beneficial properties for humans. However, it has been demonstrated that honey can be contaminated by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) of natural or anthropogenic origin. Among them, mercury (Hg) represents one of the most dangerous for its toxicity and its capacity to biomagnify along the trophic web. In the present study, 100 honey samples from the Marche Region (Central Italy) produced in the year 2021, were analyzed by thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the Hg content. The overall mean concentration was 0.2 +/- 0.2 mu g kg-1. The results showed that no statistically significant differences were found in Hg content among honey from different pollen origin, but honeydew had a significantly higher Hg content with respect to all other honey samples (0.6 +/- 0.3 mu g kg-1). The Hg content in honey depends mainly on local pollution, while geographical origin did not play a key role. Furthermore, considering the regulatory limits and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWIs) identified by FAO/WHO, the Hg Hazard Quotient (HQ) measurement revealed that this product is safe for human consumption.