Particle number concentrations and size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles were measured in the range 6560nm by a fast mobility particle sizer in Toledo, Spain, and in the outskirts of nearby small villages within the area of influence of a cement factory, quarries and ceramic industries. Several measurement campaigns have been carried out in different days in Toledo (April, May and July) and one campaign in “Comarca de la Sagra” in July. In each campaign, measurement of 10–15 min has been achieved in several different points. In addition, a campaign of continuous measurements has been carried out in Toledo. The average number concentration in Toledo are consistent with other urban measurements, with lower values during the night–time ranging from 3×103 to 1×104 particles/cm3 and higher average levels during daytime ranging from 5×103 to 4×104 particles/cm3 depending on the measurement site and date. The measurement sites show similar background profiles of the particle size distributions with two clear particle modes centered in the sizes ranges 10–15 and 40–50nm. Road traffic is postulated as the main source of submicron particles, giving lower level of particles during the summer time. Results from continuous measurements have been analyzed. On the other hand, the low total concentrations obtained in the “Comarca de la Sagra” campaign, ranging from 1.5×103 to 3.1×103 particles/cm3 with an average value of 2.3×103 particles/cm3, show a negligible influence of the different building materials industries on the total submicron particle concentration in the surrounding area and in Toledo.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) face many challenges in their aim to effectively conserve marine ecosystems. In this study we analyze the extent of pollution exposure on the global fleet of MPAs. This includes indicators for current and future pollution and the implications for regionally clustered groups of MPAs with similar biophysical characteristics. To cluster MPAs into characteristic signature groups, their bathymetry, baseline biodiversity, distance from shore, mean sea surface temperature and mean sea surface salinity were used. We assess the extent at which each signature group is facing exposure from multiple pollution types. MPA groups experience similar pollution exposure on a regional level. We highlight how the challenges that MPAs face can be addressed through governance at the appropriate scale and design considerations for integrated terrestrial and marine management approaches within regional level networks. Furthermore, we present diagnostic social-ecological indicators for addressing the challenges facing unsuccessful MPAs with practical applications.

A mathematical model was developed to simulate the oxidation of total sulfite in the holding tank of ammonia-based flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system. The model could provide predictions of the oxidation ratio of total sulfite at different operating condition such as pH, concentration of total sulfur, air flow and residence time. The calculation results of an ammonia-based FGD system for 2 × 150 MW boilers by this model were compared to that of corresponding measured values. The comparison results show that the simulated oxidation ratio of total sulfite agrees well with the measured data. The difference between calculated values and measured data is below 4.2%. This model appears to be beneficial for optimizing design and operation of total sulfite oxidation of an ammonia-based FGD system.

The bioremediation efficiency of China’s largest scale Porphyra yezoensis cultivation for removing dissolved nutrients and controlling harmful algae was studied in the radial sandbanks waters of Jiangsu Province in the year 2012–2013. Mean nutrient concentration values in the P. yezoensis cultivation area were significantly lower than those in the non-cultivation area, especially during the cultivation season (p<0.05). Tissue nitrogen and phosphorus contents of seaweeds were 5.99–0.80% (dry weight (DW)) and 0.16–0.19% (DW), respectively. Production of P. yezoensis was 58950.87tons DW. Based on these values, 3688.15tons of tissue nitrogen and 105.61tons of tissue phosphorus were removed by harvesting P. yezoensis. The richness index of the red tide species Skeleton emacostatum declined from 0.32 to 0.05 during the P. yezoensis cultivation season. These results indicate that large-scale cultivation of P. yezoensis can be used to efficiently alleviate eutrophication and control harmful algae blooms in open sea.

Marine organisms are exposed to low doses of anthropogenic contaminants during their entire life. Authorized amounts of radionuclides are discharged in the Channel by nuclear facilities. The Pacific oyster was used to investigate the potential impact of chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. Though we exposed larvae and spat for two weeks to much higher concentrations than those encountered near nuclear facilities, oyster growth and expression of 9 selected stress genes were not significantly changed. To determine potential DNA damage, 2year old oysters were exposed for two weeks to tritiated water. The comet assay was used to evaluate the level of DNA strand breaks in haemocytes, whilst the ‘clearance rate’ was used as a measure of physiological effects. Whilst other parameters did not alter, DNA damage significantly increased. Our results highlight the significance of the observed DNA damage and their potential consequences at higher levels of biological organization.

The spatial distribution of dinoflagellate cysts was studied to understand the impact of industrial pollution on the surface sediment of Izmir Bay, Turkey. Forty two dinoflagellate cyst morphotypes belonging to 12 genera were identified and qualified at 12 sampling points. The cyst of Gymnodinium nolleri dominated the bay and had the highest abundance in most of the stations, following Spiniferites bulloideus and Lingulodinium machaerophorum. The highest cyst concentration was recorded in the inner part of the bay. Cyst concentration ranged between 384 and 9944cystg−1 dry weight of sediment in the sampling area. Sediment metal concentrations were determined. Heavy metal levels in Izmir Inner Bay were higher than the Middle and Outer Bay. L. machaerophorum, Dubridinium caperatum and Polykrikos kofoidii showed significant positive correlation with some metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) and organic carbon content. However, there was no significant correlation between dinoflagellate cyst abundance and sediment type.

The objectives of this work were to investigate trimethylamine (TMA) removal by thermophilic biotrickling filtration (TBTF) and to examine the microbial community developed at 56 °C. TMA removal efficiency in the TBTF system was up to 99.9%. At a bed contact time of 25.8s, the elimination capacity at 56 °C in the TBTF was 375.2g TMAm−3 h−1, which was higher than that of mesophilic biotrickling filtration. TBTF was able to quickly recover from a normal temperature shutdown period of a month. The thermophilic bacterial communities in the TBTF which were assessed by polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE), play the dominant role in the thermophilic biological processes of metabolism, ammoxidation, nitrification, denitrification and carbon oxidation. These results show that TBTF is achievable and open new possibilities for applying biotrickling filtration to hot odorous gas streams from sewage sludge drying.

The Ixtoc-I oil spill occurred in 1979 in shallow waters (50m) of the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. Although it is known that a large portion of the released oil from this second largest accidental marine oil spill in history reached the surface, to date there has been no attempt to document the surface footprint and trajectory of the released oil. Our study attempts to fill this knowledge gap using remote sensing data collected by Landsat/MSS and CZCS. Both showed the same general patterns of oil trajectory to the northwest and north, nearly parallel to the coastline of the western Gulf of Mexico (GoM) with possible oil landing on Mexican and Texas beaches. Field observations at selected beaches and islands along the coast of the western and southern GoM during and after the spill confirmed these satellite-based findings, which were also used to help in planning a recent field campaign to collect sediment samples in the southern GoM.

Synergetic use of in–situ measurements, remote sensing observations and model simulations can provide valuable information about atmospheric chemistry and air quality. In this work we present for the first time a qualitative comparison between modeled NO2 concentrations at ground level using dispersion model METI–LIS and tropospheric NO2 columns obtained by mobile DOAS technique. Experimental and modeling results are presented for a Romanian city, Braila (45.26 ° N, 27.95 ° E). In–situ observations of NO2 and meteorological data from four ground stations belonging to the local environmental agency were used to predict the concentration of NO2 at ground level by atmospheric dispersion modeling on two days when mobile DOAS measurements were available. The mobile DOAS observations were carried out using a UV–VIS spectrometer mounted on board a car. The tropospheric Vertical Column Density (VCD) of NO2 is deduced from DOAS observations. The VCD was obtained using complementary ground and space observations. The correlation between model and DOAS observations is described by a correlation coefficient of 0.33. Also, model results based on averaged in–situ measurements for a period of 5 years (2008–2012) are used for an overview of the background NO2 evolution in time and space for the selected urban area.

This study analyzed the microbial diversity colonizing the surface of an oil sample during its contact with water, off the Trindade Island coast and simulated the efficiency of eight different bioremediation strategies for this environment. The diversity analysis was performed using acrylic coupons that served as the support for an oil inclusion at sea. The coupons were sampled over 30days, and T-RFLP multiplex was employed to access the diversity of fungi, Bacteria and Archaea present on the oil surface. The bioremediation strategies were simulated in a respirometer. The results showed that the bacterial domain was the most dominant in oil colonization and that the richness of the species attached to the oil gradually increases with the exposure time of the coupons. The combination of biostimulation and bioaugmentation with a native population was proven to be an effective strategy for the remediation of oil off the Trindade Island shoreline.