Activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in sand samples collected from the coastal beaches surrounding Penang Island have been measured using conventional γ-ray spectrometry, while in-situ γ-ray doses have been measured through use of a portable radiation survey meter. The mean activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K at different locations were found to be less than the world average values, while the Miami Bay values for 226Ra and 232Th were found to be greater, at 1023±47 and 2086±96Bqkg̶ 1 respectively. The main contributor to radionuclide enrichment in Miami Bay is the presence of monazite-rich black sands. The measured data were compared against literature values and also recommended limits set by the relevant international bodies. With the exception of Miami Bay, considered an elevated background radiation area that would benefit from regular monitoring, Penang island beach sands typically pose no significant radiological risk to the local populace and tourists visiting the leisure beaches.

Anthropogenic debris results in detrimental interactions with many marine species. Several seabirds include debris items in their nests, which can lead to entanglement of chicks and adults, resulting in injury or death. Anthropogenic debris was found in 4–67% of kelp gull Larus dominicanus nests in seven colonies in the Western Cape, South Africa. Nests contained two types of litter: items included in the nest structure during construction (mainly ropes and straps), and regurgitated items (mainly bags and food wrappers) that probably accumulate primarily during the chick-rearing period. Debris used in nest construction was more likely to injure gulls, and was found mainly at coastal sites where there was little natural vegetation for construction. Distance to the nearest urban waste landfill significantly affected the occurrence of debris items in nests, especially dietary-derived items. The amount of debris in kelp gull nests highlights the need for improved debris management in South Africa.

South Atlantic studies referring to non-native taxa are mostly restricted to Argentinean, Brazilian, and South African coasts. In this study we examined the literature to provide a list of sessile marine invertebrates along the Angolan coast, to infer its introduction status according to their biogeographical distribution and natural history. We reported 29 non-native and 7 cryptogenic species, a small number when compared to other South Atlantic regions of similar extension. Half of the non-native species were reported for Luanda. The majority of the introduced species had a northern hemisphere origin, a consequence of the main introduction route being from the North Atlantic/Mediterranean Sea during the Portuguese colonization. This is the first comprehensive assessment of this kind for the Angolan coast and the diversity of introduced species is certainly underestimated. Regular and rigorous assessments and monitoring of introduced marine species will help to understand the vectors, routes and time of introductions.

Surface sediment samples from the coastal zone of Qatar were collected and analyzed to determine the characteristics, and sources of anthropogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons. The main compounds in these surface sediments included n-alkanes, methyl n-alkanoates, diterpenoids, hopanes, steranes, phthalate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and unresolved complex mixture (UCM). Their total concentrations ranged from 18.7±3.7–81.1±7.5ng/g (3.7±0.6–10.4±4.8%) for n-alkanes, 8.3±2.3–51±3.4ng/g (3.0±2.0–5.6±2.0%) for methyl n-alkanoates, 1.8±0.1–10.5±1.0ng/g (1.0±0.5–0.4±0.1%) for diterpenoids, 0.0–79.3±7.4ng/g (0.0–7.9±0.6%) for hopanes, 0.0–32.9±7.9ng/g (0.0–6.5±1.0%) for steranes, 0.7±0.1–36.3±3.4ng/g (0.1±0.1–1.9±3.4%) for phthalates, 0.30±0.2–7.8±0.7ng/g (0.02±0.04–0.42±0.72%) for PAHs, and 38±9–609±57ng/g (38.5±13.4–56.5±13.4%) for UCM. The major sources of these lipids were anthropogenic petroleum residues and plasticizers (80–89%), with lesser amounts from natural higher plants and microbial residues (11–20%). Petroleum residues and plasticizer inputs to the coastal sediments of Qatar likely affect the marine ecosystems and associated species groups as well as shallow coastal nursery and spawning areas.

In this work, Erythromycin A(EA)- degrading bacteria was isolated from the contaminated soil obtained from a pharmaceutical factory in China. The isolate designated as strain WX-J1 was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. by sequence analysis of its 16S rDNA gene. It can grow in a medium containing EA as the sole source of carbon and its optimal growth pH and temperature were 6.5 and 32°C, respectively. Under these conditions, when the initial Erythromycin A concentration was 100mg·L−1, 97% of Erythromycin A has been degraded. HPLC–MS analyses indicated that Erythromycin A degradation produced intermediates contained the following three substances: 3-depyranosyloxy erythromycin A, 7,12-dyhydroxy-6-deoxyerythronolide B, 6-deoxyerythronolide B and propionaldehyde. Since Erythromycin A-degrading Ochrobactrum sp. strain rapidly degraded Erythromycin A, this strain might be useful for bioremediation purposes.

Water Soluble Bulk Deposition (WSBD) and Water Soluble Leaching (WSL) from Pseudevernia furfuracea thalli transplanted in a anthropized zone were separately collected in four locations where weather stations were set up for monitoring rainfalls rate and daily temperature.The thalli were exposed for three months during which 13 major rainfalls took place. The concentrations of 15 elements (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pb, As, Cd, Ti, Sn, Sb) were measured as well in WSBD and WSL as in the lichen thalli at the end of the exposure period. The total bioaccumulation of each element was significantly correlated with its % representation in both the lichen input (WSBD) and output (WSL). Elements with a small water-soluble input-pool were mostly taken up by the thalli (output/input < 1). Among the elements with a high input-pool, Zn was nearly systematically taken up while Al and Mn were lost (output/input > 1). Al showed a significant direct correlation with the increase in mm and hours of rainfall (i.e. transition from net loss to net uptake) while Mn showed an inverse correlation (transition from net uptake to net loss), which may be due to element competition modulated by water-stimulated lichen physiology. Al was strongly bioaccumulated while Mn showed a slight increase in exposed thalli. This suggests that rainfall-induced loss can result in an underestimation by lichen biomonitoring of element concentrations in atmospheric deposition and an increase in the bioavailability of potential toxic elements for other environmental compartments.

The distribution and sources of PAHs and n-alkanes were determined in the surface sediments from 202 locations in Shadegan international wetland with 537,700ha. The concentrations of total n-alkanes and PAHs ranged from 395.3 to 14933.46μgg−1dw and 593.74 to 53393.86ngg−1dw, respectively. Compared with other worldwide surveys, the concentration and contamination of sedimentary hydrocarbons were classified very high. A common petrogenic hydrocarbon source was strongly suggested in all sites by n-alkanes' profile with a Cmax at n-C20, Pr/Ph and CPI ratios<1 in all sites, and high percentage of UCM. Typical profile of petrogenic PAHs with alkyl-substituted naphthalenes and phenanthrenes predominance, various PAH ratios and multivariate analysis indicated that PAHs were mainly derived from petrogenic source. Naphthalene-derived compounds in all sites were significantly above their ERL, and adversely affected benthic biota. 92% of the sites had mean ERM values<0.1, indicating high ecological risk on the wildlife of the wetland.

Corexit, an EPA-approved chemical dispersant, was intensively used during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Current studies surrounding Corexit have mainly focused on its toxicity and oil removal capacity. The potential impact of Corexit on the surface ocean carbon dynamics has remained largely unknown. The spontaneous assembly of DOM (dissolved organic matter) polymers into microgels (POM, particulate organic matter) was demonstrated previously that it can influence various critical processes, such as colloidal pump, microbial loops, and nutrition availability in the surface ocean. Here, we report that Corexit alone can significantly inhibit DOM microgel formation and reduce the stability of pre-existing microgels. However, Corexit and oil, Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fraction (CEWAF), could effectively facilitate DOM microgel formation. The unanticipated disturbance of Corexit and oil spills on the critical DOM-POM continuum warrant particular caution and thus should be considered for future application of Corexit during oil spills.

This study investigated the state of the art on trace elements in Mediterranean seagrasses, and their close environment (seawater and sediment). The analyzed species were Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Halophila stipulacea, Zostera marina and Zostera noltei. All these species showed high tolerance to pollution and high capacity of accumulation of trace elements. Seagrasses also showed similar patterns of accumulation: the highest concentrations of As, Hg and Pb were found in the roots, whereas those of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn were found in the leaves. Phytotoxic levels in seagrasses are unknown for most trace elements. The accumulation of trace elements in seagrasses is widely recognized as a risk to the whole food web, but the real magnitude of this risk is still uncertain. Seagrasses are known to act as trace element bioindicators, but this potential is still poorly valued for the creation of biomonitoring networks.

In this study marine litter (ML) surveys were conducted in 8 beaches along the Bulgarian Black Sea coastline within 4 seasons for 2015–2016. The monitoring applied OSPAR guideline, classifying ML in eight categories and 167 types. The results exhibited predominance of artificial polymer materials - 84.3%. ML densities ranged from 0.0587±0.005 to 0.1343±0.008 n/m2, highest on the urban beaches. The seasonal dynamics of most top 10 ML showed highest quantities in summer than the other seasons, as the differences are of high statistical significance (0.001≤P≤0.05). Top 1 ML item for most of the beaches was cigarette butts and filters reaching 1008±10.58 nos. in summer and from 19±3.41 to 89±7.81 nos. during the rest of the seasons (P<0.001). For the pronounced seasonality contributed the recreational activities, increased tourist flow and the wild camping. The investigation will enrich data scarcity for Descriptor 10 “Marine litter”.