These results show that the resistome of biofilms in highly urbanised rivers, such
as the Seine River, constitutes a microenvironment where genetic support for
antibiotic resistance (i.e. clinical integrons) is concentrated. It would be advantageous to determine whether antibiotic concentrations within these biofilms are
consistent with increased mutagenesis and genetic transposition events. Biofilms
would then constitute micro-niches or “hotspots” that are favourable for the transfer
of genes and thus for the dissemination of the genes involved in antimicrobial
resistance, within indigenous communities.
6 Conclusions and Perspectives
Research undertaken within the PIREN-Seine programme over 30 years has considerably improved the understanding of the sources and dynamics of a wide range of
chemical and biological contaminants in the Seine River basin. A few examples of
recent research were briefly exposed in this chapter.
In the near future, research prospects should include the investigation of additional contaminants of emerging concern or recently regulated chemicals; upon
prioritisation, the list of newly targeted chemicals could encompass, for instance,
chlorinated paraffins, novel flame retardants, biocides, antimony, manufactured
nanoparticles and nanoplastics, etc. Further studies should better investigate the
fate (i.e. transfer processes and fluxes) of micropollutants in relation to the hydrodynamic conditions, especially during extreme events related to climate change,
such as floods or low flow/drought. To this end, it is anticipated that modelling
approaches (1) would greatly improve the quantitation of gross fluxes transported by
the Seine River, (2) could prove useful to better assess future contamination trends
based on contaminant emission and hydrological scenarios and (3) would help
estimate the exposure of biota and humans while enabling the investigation of key
factors controlling this exposure.
Whenever possible, a more systemic approach should be implemented at the river
basin scale, including various environmental compartments, to achieve a more
holistic view of contaminant fate. In particular, the atmosphere–soil–river–estuarine
continuum should be taken into consideration. The global impact of this chronic
multi-contamination should be assessed at different levels of biological organisation,
and human and social science should also be considered to address such issues in a
more holistic way. An original approach, derived from territorial ecology, would
consist in interpreting chemical fluxes at the basin scale by considering the connections between material production, trade or consumption of agricultural and household goods, emissions, stocks constituted in environmental compartments and
transfers between compartments.
New methodological approaches should also be implemented. Suspect or nontarget
screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry would greatly help characterise the
chemical fingerprints of diverse environmental compartments and their temporal and
spatial variability, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the human and biota
374
P. Labadie et al.
as the Seine River, constitutes a microenvironment where genetic support for
antibiotic resistance (i.e. clinical integrons) is concentrated. It would be advantageous to determine whether antibiotic concentrations within these biofilms are
consistent with increased mutagenesis and genetic transposition events. Biofilms
would then constitute micro-niches or “hotspots” that are favourable for the transfer
of genes and thus for the dissemination of the genes involved in antimicrobial
resistance, within indigenous communities.
6 Conclusions and Perspectives
Research undertaken within the PIREN-Seine programme over 30 years has considerably improved the understanding of the sources and dynamics of a wide range of
chemical and biological contaminants in the Seine River basin. A few examples of
recent research were briefly exposed in this chapter.
In the near future, research prospects should include the investigation of additional contaminants of emerging concern or recently regulated chemicals; upon
prioritisation, the list of newly targeted chemicals could encompass, for instance,
chlorinated paraffins, novel flame retardants, biocides, antimony, manufactured
nanoparticles and nanoplastics, etc. Further studies should better investigate the
fate (i.e. transfer processes and fluxes) of micropollutants in relation to the hydrodynamic conditions, especially during extreme events related to climate change,
such as floods or low flow/drought. To this end, it is anticipated that modelling
approaches (1) would greatly improve the quantitation of gross fluxes transported by
the Seine River, (2) could prove useful to better assess future contamination trends
based on contaminant emission and hydrological scenarios and (3) would help
estimate the exposure of biota and humans while enabling the investigation of key
factors controlling this exposure.
Whenever possible, a more systemic approach should be implemented at the river
basin scale, including various environmental compartments, to achieve a more
holistic view of contaminant fate. In particular, the atmosphere–soil–river–estuarine
continuum should be taken into consideration. The global impact of this chronic
multi-contamination should be assessed at different levels of biological organisation,
and human and social science should also be considered to address such issues in a
more holistic way. An original approach, derived from territorial ecology, would
consist in interpreting chemical fluxes at the basin scale by considering the connections between material production, trade or consumption of agricultural and household goods, emissions, stocks constituted in environmental compartments and
transfers between compartments.
New methodological approaches should also be implemented. Suspect or nontarget
screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry would greatly help characterise the
chemical fingerprints of diverse environmental compartments and their temporal and
spatial variability, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the human and biota
374
P. Labadie et al.