Publications by authors named "Carlo Pretti"

Skincare is an increasing concern, as ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes skin diseases and photoaging, increasing demand for photoprotective personal care products (PCPs). PCPs contain UV filters, namely ecamsule (ECA), 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) and octocrylene (OC), and parabens, such as propylparaben (PPb) and methylparaben (MPb). These enter the environment, posing toxicity risks to marine species.

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Fipronil (FIP) and imidacloprid (IMID) are two of the most commonly used ectoparasiticides to control parasites in pets. Compared with those of farm animals, their environmental risks have generally been considered low because of their limited use; however, the growing pet population and evolving treatment practices make this assumption challenging. To assess these risks, water samples were collected at an animal shelter in Italy to monitor the abundance of ectoparasiticides in aquatic environments.

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This review provides current knowledge of the potential benefits of native Mediterranean seagrasses for human health, specifically focusing on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The four main species examined-, , , and -are integral components of marine ecosystems, providing essential habitats and supporting biodiversity. Recent studies highlight their rich bioactive compounds that show significant therapeutic potential against oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which are prevalent in various health disorders.

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Ports are hot spots of pollution; they receive pollution from land-based sources, marine traffic and port infrastructures. Marine ecosystems of nearby areas can be strongly affected by pollution from port-related activities. Here, we investigated the microbiomes present in sea floor sediments along a transect from the harbour of Livorno (Central Italy) to a nearby marine protected area.

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The growing use of products containing rare earth elements (REEs) may lead to higher environmental emissions of these elements, which can potentially enter aquatic systems. Praseodymium (Pr) and europium (Eu) are widely used REEs with various applications. However, their ecotoxicological impacts remain largely unexplored, with poorly understood risks to wildlife.

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Neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) are among the most commonly used rare earth elements (REEs) worldwide, leading to their increased concentrations in aquatic environments, with potential impacts on organisms. Additionally, organisms are also subjected to environmental stressors, such as salinity shifts, which can not only directly impact their health but also modulate the impacts of contaminants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of Nd and Dy on adult mussels and sperm of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis after 28 days and 30 min of exposure, respectively.

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Ionic Liquids (ILs) are currently applied in a wide variety of fields, with promising outcomes in microalgae high value biocompounds extraction. The occurrence of these compounds in natural water systems, with their characteristic stability and low biodegradability, becomes a threat worthy of attention. In the present study, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Isochrysis galbana and Rhinomonas reticulata were exposed to 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM] TfN) for 72, 168 and 264 h, at 20 and 25 °C.

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Marine and coastal environments are constantly subjected to increasing pressures associated with population growth, industrialization development, pollution and higher demand feeding society's consumerism. Among these pressures, there has been an increasing concern towards UV filters occurrence in aquatic ecosystems due to a greater use of personal care products (PCPs). 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is one of the most used UV filters in sunscreen formulations, yet few reports address its effects in biota.

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Article Synopsis
  • Understanding the combined effects of multiple environmental stressors, like UV-filters and ocean acidification, on marine species is crucial for addressing ecological challenges.
  • The study focused on two UV-filters (4-MBC and BP-3) and their impacts on the reproductive health and performance of mussels under different pH levels, with findings indicating that low pH significantly worsened the effects of these contaminants.
  • Results showed that while sperm cells could adapt somewhat to low pH, adult mussels faced severe physiological and biochemical declines, emphasizing the need for further research on long-term consequences for mussel populations and their ecosystems.
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The study aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Enrofloxacin (ENR) and Danofloxacin (DAN) on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations. In vitro exposure was performed on subcellular fractions of the digestive gland and gills through a multi-biomarker approach, which included the assessment of cellular damage, antioxidant and biotransformation enzyme activities, neurotoxicity, and DNA single-strand breaks (DNAssb). Results showed a decrease in protein carbonyl content in the gills when exposed to all concentrations of ENR.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The research examines how these contaminants, alongside rising water temperatures due to climate change, affect the reproductive health and overall performance of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels.
  • * Key findings indicate that exposure to UV-filters can lead to significant physiological disturbances, including decreased sperm motility and increased oxidative stress, suggesting a threat to mussel populations and their reproductive success under combined environmental stressors.
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Green Chemistry involves applying a set of principles aimed at minimizing the use of hazardous substances in the design, production, and application of chemical products. In recent decades, Ionic Liquids (ILs) have emerged as more environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional organic solvents. This preference is primarily due to their low vapor pressure, which results in minimal atmospheric pollution and enhanced industrial safety.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined how europium exposure, warming, and their combination affect the health of Mytilus galloprovincialis (a type of mussel) over 28 days, along with assessing the impact on sperm after 30 minutes of exposure.
  • Warming increased mussel metabolism and activated protective enzymes but caused cellular damage; europium exposure also led to similar damage, with the worst effects occurring from the combination of both stressors.
  • For sperm, warming reduced harmful reactive oxygen species but increased lipid damage, while europium exposure severely impaired sperm velocity and function, highlighting the critical need to explore the effects of rare earth elements alongside climate change factors.
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Consistent information and standardization procedures regarding the time of storage for frozen samples and the effects of storage time on enzyme activity are still missing in the literature. Thus, we evaluated the effects of different storage temperatures (-20 °C and - 80 °C), three repetitive freeze/thaw cycles, and 24-h mimic transportation on the activities of PON1 (paraoxonase and arylesterase), enzymes involved in the protection and detoxification processes of reactive molecules. PON1 enzymes' activity was validated on serum and heparinized plasma in horses.

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Biofouling on marine surfaces causes immense material and financial harm for maritime vessels and related marine industries. Previous reports have shown the effectiveness of amphiphilic coating systems based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) against such marine foulers. Recent studies on biofouling mechanisms have also demonstrated acidic microenvironments in biofilms and stronger adhesion at low-pH conditions.

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Being a crucial element for technological development, praseodymium (Pr) has been increasingly used, leading to a rise in its concentration in aquatic systems. However, its potential threats to organisms remain poorly understood. Besides contamination, organisms are also threatened by climate change-related factors, including warming.

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The use of rare earth elements (REEs) has been increasing and one of the most used is neodymium (Nd). Being an emergent contaminant, its negative impacts are poorly understood. Aquatic organisms are also threatened by climate change-related factors, as is the case of warming, which can change the effects of REEs.

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Sessile benthic organisms can be affected by global changes and local pressures, such as metal pollution, that can lead to damages at different levels of biological organization. Effects of exposure to marine heatwaves (MHWs) alone and in combination with environmentally relevant concentration of copper (Cu) were evaluated in the reef-forming tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus using a multi-biomarker approach. Biomarkers of cell membrane damage, enzymatic antioxidant defences, metabolic activity, neurotoxicity, and DNA integrity were analyzed.

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Antimicrobial prescriptions of the University of Pisa and their compliance with prudent use recommendations were investigated over 11 years (2011-2021). At least one antimicrobial was always prescribed in surgical prophylaxis for the suture of wounds and in 33% of horses with signs of disease of a body system. Antimicrobials were administered in monotherapy (48%) in fixed dose combinations (21%) and empirical combinations (31%).

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The global effort to achieve carbon neutrality has led to an increased demand for renewable energy technologies and their raw materials, namely rare earth elements (REEs). These elements possess unique properties and are used in various applications. However, the increased use of REE-based technologies has resulted in higher amounts of electronic waste, leading to elevated REEs concentrations found in the aquatic environment, with poorly understood threats to wildlife.

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Article Synopsis
  • Caulerpin (CAU) is a bioactive compound from invasive green algae, while caffeine (CAF) is a common water pollutant and psychoactive substance. Both can accumulate in aquatic life and in human diets.
  • The study used mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to explore potential interactions between CAU and CAF, finding that CAF induced toxic effects, but CAU did not worsen these effects or cause cumulative damage.
  • The results suggest CAU may help reduce CAF toxicity due to its potential role in detoxification processes, encouraging more research into its possible use as a food additive for clearing pollutants from the body.
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Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) have raised concerns in the last decade due to their increased consumption and inadequate elimination during discharge, resulting in their introduction into water systems and potential significant threats to non-target organisms. However, few studies have investigated the sublethal impacts of PhAC exposure on marine invertebrates. Thus, the present study aimed to assess tissue-specific responses in Mytilus galloprovincialis to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), salicylic acid (SA), and caffeine (CAF) (4.

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Despite the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on seagrasses have been widely investigated, predictions of seagrass performance under future climates need to consider multiple environmental factors. Here, we performed a mesocosm study to assess the effects of OA on shallow and deep Posidonia oceanica plants. The experiment was run in 2021 and repeated in 2022, a year characterized by a prolonged warm water event, to test how the effects of OA on plants are modulated by thermal stress.

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Ionic liquids (ILs) have been considered eco-friendly alternatives to conventional organic solvents. However, several studies have reported that ILs exert toxicity towards aquatic invertebrates. Applying in vitro methodology, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of three ILs on the biochemical performance of exposed Mytilus galloprovincialis digestive gland and gills cellular fractions.

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