Our study incorporated a comprehensive suite of parameters (i.e., body size, age, diet and trophic position) to investigate mercury concentration in dusky groupers Epinephelus marginatus. This study was carried out in rocky bottoms in littoral and neritic habitats along the Southern Brazilian coast. We also determined spatial variation in mercury concentrations in individuals inhabiting both zones, which may provide insights into how dietary differences or potential pollution sources affect bioaccumulation. A total of 244 dusky groupers was analyzed to determine total mercury concentrations. Our study revealed that when considering similar body sizes, individuals inhabiting littoral rocky habitats had higher concentrations of mercury probably due to proximity to pollution sources associated with human activities in the estuary and its drainage basin. Furthermore, large individuals (>650mm and >8years old) showed mercury contamination levels that are potentially harmful for this endangered fish species and above the acceptable limits for human consumption.

The drivers behind microplastic (up to 5mm in diameter) consumption by animals are uncertain and impacts on foundational species are poorly understood. We investigated consumption of weathered, unfouled, biofouled, pre-production and microbe-free National Institute of Standards plastic by a scleractinian coral that relies on chemosensory cues for feeding. Experiment one found that corals ingested many plastic types while mostly ignoring organic-free sand, suggesting that plastic contains phagostimulents. Experiment two found that corals ingested more plastic that wasn't covered in a microbial biofilm than plastics that were biofilmed. Additionally, corals retained ~8% of ingested plastic for 24h or more and retained particles appeared stuck in corals, with consequences for energetics, pollutant toxicity and trophic transfer. The potential for chemoreception to drive plastic consumption in marine taxa has implications for conservation.

The environmental quality differences between two groups of reefs in the Veracruz Reef System were evaluated. The North group of reefs is very close to Veracruz, an urban and port zone, whereas the South group is more isolated, with minor anthropogenic disturbances. To prove the hypothesis that the North group is more affected by anthropogenic activities, the concentrations of hydrocarbons in liver, metals and metalloids such as Se, As, Ba, Cd, Hg and V in muscle, and PAH metabolites in bile were evaluated, and related to biomarkers (transcript abundance of cytochrome P4501A, Vitellogenin, and Glutathione-S-transferase) in two species of fish: Haemulon aurolineatum and Ocyurus chysurus. H. aurolineatum presents the highest concentrations for many pollutants, but O. chysurus shows the most significant differences in pollutant concentrations and biomarkers between the two reef groups, suggesting that this species could be used as a sentinel in future studies in the Gulf of Mexico.

Glyphosate-based herbicides include active matter and adjuvants (e.g. polyethoxylated tallow amines, POEAs). In addition to a previous investigation on the effect of glyphosate on oysters, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposures (35days) to three concentrations (0.1, 1 and 100μgL−1) of Roundup Express® (REX) and POEAs on oysters belonging to the same age group. Low mortality rates were calculated, and only few significant differences (i.e. shell length) between exposure conditions were observed at a given date. However, when comparing the biomarker's temporal variations, some different patterns (e.g. condition index, reproduction, parameters of oxidative stress) were observed depending on the molecules and concentrations. These results suggest that a longer exposure to an environmental concentration (0.1μgL−1) of REX and POEAs could induce harmful effects on oysters.

A comprehensive review is reported on the extent of release of ultrafine and nanoparticles from vehicular exhaust on Indian roads, the mechanism of evolution of these particles and the influence of key fuel and meteorological parameters on their evolution and dispersion. Consolidated understanding developed based on the available literature on nanoparticle formation and transformation processes is presented pictorially in the form of a schematic diagram. Influence of various parameters on the evolution of nanoparticles is elaborated using the present scientific understanding of dispersion mechanisms in the near and far field of vehicular exhausts. Inferences are drawn for the influence of Indian road conditions and atmospheric conditions on the dispersion of these evolved nanoparticles. Broad based suggestions are outlined for the Indian regulatory authorities so as to minimize the hazardous influence of such particulate emissions to urban population.

Recovery of vegetation on a Long Island, NY salt marsh was investigated after the removal of hurricane-deposited large wooden debris through managed clean-ups involving volunteers. Two years after the removal of the debris, vegetation cover and species composition were not significantly different from controls. There was no significant difference in vegetation recovery among fall and spring debris removal treatments. Initial vegetation cover of the experimental and control plots was 95.8% and 1.2%, respectively; after two growing seasons cover was 78.7% and 71.2%, respectively. The effects of trampling by volunteers during debris removal were monitored and after one growing season, trails used during a single clean-up effort had a mean vegetation cover of 67% whereas those that were used during multiple clean-up efforts had only 30% cover. We use the results of this study to offer guidance for organizing effective salt marsh clean-up efforts.

Ethylene is a ubiquitous industrial gas that is emitted by a wide variety of biogenic, biomass burning, and anthropogenic sources, so the opportunity for human exposure is widespread. We believe that a comprehensive exposure assessment of ethylene from emissions sources has not specifically been evaluated so this study was conducted to estimate the relative contribution of different sources on atmospheric concentrations in the Greater Houston area.Source attribution modeling shows that when averaged over the full modeling domain, inclusive of industrial, urban, rural and water areas, ethylene concentrations are dominated by natural source emissions (fires and biogenic) with an annual mean of 69% of total ethylene concentration. Of the anthropogenic sources, which account for the remaining 31% of the annual ethylene concentration, the largest contribution was from area/non-road sources (annual mean of 16%) with industrial source (annual mean of 11%) and on-road motor vehicle (annual mean of 4%) sources showing relatively lower concentration contributions.

Pb/Ca profiles were measured on ten live collected Ostrea edulis from three sites characterized by different levels of lead content. Intra-shell and inter-shell reproducibility were tested comparing several Pb/Ca profiles measured by LA-ICP-MS within a specimen, and within specimens from the same site. Results indicate that signals recorded are reproducible and mean shell Pb/Ca values are site-dependent. Second order variability is explained either by smoothing effects, biological effects or micro-environmental heterogeneities in lead distribution. Mean Pb contents measured in marine bivalve shells are reviewed here. Ranging from 0 to 50ppm, they show a strong relationship with the environmental level of local lead contamination, and do not appear species-dependent. Our measurements show a linear relationship between mean shell Pb/Ca and surface sediment Pb concentrations, making marine bivalves and particularly O. edulis a potential accurate bio-monitoring tool able to monitor bioavailable lead along European coasts since Mesolithic, with an annual resolution.