Historical environmental pollution in a semi-enclosed coastal bay was investigated using high-resolution sedimentary records for Cₒᵣg, Nₜₒₜ, CaCO₃, δ¹³C, and δ¹⁵N signatures, and trace metals. A temporal increase in organic matter might have been attributable to enhanced primary marine productivity, presumably caused by increased anthropogenic nutrient inputs in the semi-enclosed, eutrophic system. Metal accumulation occurred in three stages: a preindustrial stage before the 1930s with natural concentrations of metals, an industrialization stage (1940s–1970s) with the highest concentrations, and a postindustrial stage (post 1970s) with stable or decreasing concentrations. However, Hg exhibited a different accumulation history, with concentrations increasing in the early 1900s and accelerating after the 1920s, probably in response to coal burning.

Cultured and native brown mussels (Perna perna Linnaeus 1758) were used to evaluate the contamination by PAHs in the SE Brazilian coastal zone. Mean concentrations of total PAH (38 parental and alkylated compounds) and cluster analysis revealed that: (i) mussel farms (32.7–70.1ngg⁻¹) are located in uncontaminated areas; (ii) coastal rockyshore areas (89.7±25.8ngg⁻¹) have low level of contamination; and (iii) the Guanabara Bay (760.9±456.3ngg⁻¹) is chronically contaminated by hydrocarbons, which is consistent with previous results. PAH profiles and diagnostic ratios suggested mixed petrogenic and pyrolitic sources for group (ii) and petrogenic sources for group (iii). The levels of PAH in the cultured and native mussels are below threshold values for safe food, even in Guanabara Bay, and thus in such cases other contaminants and pathogens should be considered in order to evaluate the quality of shellfish for human consumption.

The dispersants Corexit 9527 and Corexit 9500 were extensively used during the response to the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010. In addition to the monitoring programs established by federal and state governments, local communities also conducted studies to determine if chemical constituents from these dispersants impacted nearshore and inland waters. One community (the City of Orange Beach, Alabama) collected water samples between September, 2010 and January, 2011, and found the dispersant-related chemicals propylene glycol, 2-butoxyethanol, and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate at nearshore and inland water sampling sites. In this paper, we examine their dataset in an attempt to discern the origin of these chemicals. Our assessment indicates that these compounds are unlikely to be present as a result of the use of Corexit dispersants; rather, they are likely related to point and non-point source stormwater discharge.

This article assesses the ecological and economic impacts of land reclamation and dredging through consulting recent environmental impact assessment reports. Geographic features of Bahrain during 1963–2008 are produced using Geographical Information System. Extensive but inexpensive shallow coastal areas and tidal flats have been reclaimed particularly from 1997 to 2007 at a high rate of 21km²/year. Formal records show the increase in the original land mass by the year 2008 to be 91km². An estimated total cumulative loss of major habitats resulting from 10 reclamation projects was around 153.58km². Also much larger scale impacts should be considered resulting from the borrow areas used for the extraction of sand or infill materials. A number of key habitats and species are affected in the vicinity of these projects. The study attempts to assign a monetary value to the marine ecosystem functions. There is a need for efficient coastal zone management to regulate a sustainable use of the marine resources.

The published literature on marine pollution monitoring research in South Africa from 1960 to present was evaluated. There has been a general decline in the number of papers from the 1980s and this can be linked to the absence of a marine pollution monitoring programme in South Africa. General trends observed were that contaminant exposure monitoring of metals predominates the research conducted to date. Monitoring results indicate that there has been a general decrease in metal concentrations in South African coastal waters and concentrations of metals and most organics in mussels are lower than in other industrialised nations. This is reflected in the general pristine nature and high biodiversity of the South African coastline. The establishment of a national marine pollution monitoring framework would stimulate marine pollution research.

Oil exposure has been shown to be detrimental to several salt marsh plants however little information is available for Juncus roemerianus. Thirty-two mesocosms were established with J. roemerianus sod and replicate marshes were exposed to Louisiana sweet crude oil to test oil dose (6, 12, and 24Lm⁻²) and weathering (oil weathered for 0days, 3days, and 3weeks). Juncus were monitored following oil exposure for culm survival, photosynthetic rates, and C-assimilation rates. Oil dosage had a significant effect among wetlands with low-dose (6Lm⁻²) mesocosms having higher culm survival, photosynthetic rates, and C-assimilation rates than medium or high dose wetlands (12 or 24Lm⁻²). Oil weathering did not elicit significant differences between treated wetlands however full strength wetlands (un-weathered oil) consistently had the lowest culm survivorship, photosynthetic rates, and C-assimilation rates. From our results, J. roemerianus marshes may be very susceptible to oil exposure.

Microalgal blooms can result from anthropogenic nutrient loadings in coastal ecosystems. However, differentiating sources of nutrients remains a challenge. The response of phytoplankton and benthic microalgae (BMA) to nutrient loads was compared across tropical tidal creeks with and without secondary treated sewage. Primary productivity in the water column was limited by nitrogen availability in absence of sewage, with nitrogen saturation in the presence of sewage. Phytoplankton primary productivity rates and chlorophyll a concentrations increased in response to sewage, and there was a greater response than for BMA. There was no change in algal pigment proportions within the phytoplankton or BMA communities. Concentrations of the sewage marker, coprostanol, were higher near sewage discharge points decreasing downstream, correlating with a decline in nutrient concentrations. This suggests that sewage was the main source of nitrogen and phosphorus. This study highlights the scale and type of response of algal communities to sewage nutrients.

Marine waters from six sites around Hong Kong with varying levels of sewage pollution were examined for noroviruses (NoVs) by PCR cloning and sequencing of a highly-variable N-terminal region of the VP1 capsid gene, at the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoV. Phylogenetic analysis of genogroups GI- and GII-specific PCR clones obtained from different marine sites indicated that human NoV GI.1 and GII.4 strains are the most prevalent genotypes circulating in Hong Kong waters. GI- and GII-specific TaqMan-based real-time PCR assays targeting the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoVs were used to quantify NoV particles in marine water samples in parallel with total Escherichia coli counts which were enumerated on TBX medium. No correlation of any significance between NoV and E. coli counts was observed which highlighted the inadequacy in using E. coli as a fecal indicator to predict the level of NoVs in marine waters to protect public health.

The biofiltration capacity, biomass-yield and accumulation of N- and C-compounds of Hydropuntia cornea were analyzed. Algae were grown in different conditions for 28d: outdoor and indoor, with or without fishpond effluents. N-uptake efficiency of these effluents was higher than 95% after 7d both outdoors and indoors. N-enriched conditions reduced the extent of photoinhibition and increased the maximal quantum yield in H. cornea. The biomass-yield was higher in outdoor grown-algae after 7d and decreased independently of the treatment after 28d. N, acid polysaccharide (AP) and mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA)-yields decreased throughout the experiment in all conditions. The highest MAA-yield was observed in fishpond effluent outdoor-grown algae, indicating a positive effect of increased radiation on MAA accumulation. However, APs were higher under N-depleted conditions. The use of MAAs as UV-screening and antioxidants, and the use of AP as immunostimulants are discussed.

The development of oil sorbents with high sorption capacity, low cost, scalable fabrication, and high selectivity is of great significance for water environmental protection, especially for oil spillage on seawater. In this work, we report nanoporous polystyrene (PS) fibers prepared via a one-step electrospinning process used as oil sorbents for oil spill cleanup. The oleophilic–hydrophobic PS oil sorbent with highly porous structures shows a motor oil sorption capacity of 113.87g/g, approximately 3–4times that of natural sorbents and nonwoven polypropylene fibrous mats. Additionally, the sorbents also exhibit a relatively high sorption capacity for edible oils, such as bean oil (111.80g/g) and sunflower seed oil (96.89g/g). The oil sorption mechanism of the PS sorbent and the sorption kinetics were investigated. Our nanoporous material has great potential for use in wastewater treatment, oil accident remediation and environmental protection.