Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) composition data from the Speciation Trends Network (STN) site in San Jose, CA, were analyzed by positive matrix factorization (PMF) using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PMF version 5.0. These data were 24–h average mass concentrations and compositions obtained from samples taken every third day from October 2002 to February 2012. The eight identified sources include secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate, fresh sea salt, aged sea salt, diesel emission, road salt, gasoline vehicles, and wood combustion. The contributions to PM2.5 of these eight sources were 13.1%, 20.0%, 5.5%, 7.8%, 9.4%, 5.1%, 14.8, and 24.3%, respectively. The Ni–related industrial source, which was detected in previous PMF analysis, was not identified in our study and a sharp decrease in Ni concentrations was observed after the end of 2004. The contribution of road dust source decreased significantly after 2004 (Mann–Whitney test, p<0.01), which is probably the result of the city wide enhanced street sweeping programs starting in 2005. A 40% reduction in the wood combustion PM2.5 contribution between winter 2008 and winter 2009 was found. This decrease could be attributed to the San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) wood burning rule implemented in July 2008. In the future, the effectiveness and benefits of the wood burning rule could be evaluated using the multi–wavelength aethalometer delta–c method.

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments sets requirements to prevent organism transfers. Vessels on certain routes can be exempted from such requirements based on risk assessment (RA). As the convention nears its entry into force, the interest in exemptions increases. Such RA should be conducted according to the International Maritime Organization G7 Guidelines. We present a RA study for exemptions applied to intra-Baltic shipping considering different RA methods, i.e., environmental matching, species specific method including target species and species biogeographical aspects. As reliable species data in the ports considered are unavailable and following the precautionary principle, no exemptions should be granted. To ensure data reliability, port baseline surveys and regular monitoring programs should be undertaken during the exemption period as new species found influence the RA result. The RA model prepared is considered as of value to other areas worldwide.

Investigations on setting benthic macroinvertebrates reference conditions in natural waters have increased recently. Under the European Water Framework Directive, importance is given to research in morphological heavily-modified water bodies (HMWBs), which are very common in countries with high human pressure. However, research has not been undertaken on setting the maximum ecological potential (MEP), as a reference in HMWB. The objective of the present investigation is to set the MEP of two metrics (diversity and richness), used in assessing the ecological status in different benthic indices. The Oiartzun estuary (Basque Country) is used as a case study, which changed morphologically in the 19th Century, following harbour construction. Data obtained from 1874 and the present were used to model changes in currents, water residence time, salinity, volume, and intertidal area. Benthic macroinvertebrate data, from 1995 to 2011, were used to predict 19th Century and present MEP. Changes in the estuary were described: loss of all of the intertidal areas; doubling of the volume; residence time, changing from 2 to 95days; current velocity reduced by 50%; salinity increase. All these factors have led to changes in the benthic communities and the structural variables. Predicted richness and diversity, for 1874, were lower (48–76%) than those at present. Taking into account the differences between natural and modified waters, it is proposed to utilize 75% of the natural reference conditions, as the MEP values for Basque HMWB.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies involve localized acidification of significant volumes of seawater, inhabited mainly by planktonic species. Knowledge on potential impacts of these techniques on the survival and physiology of zooplankton, and subsequent consequences for ecosystem health in targeted areas, is scarce. The recent literature has a focus on anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, leading to enhanced absorption of CO2 by the oceans and a lowered seawater pH, termed ocean acidification. These studies explore the effects of changes in seawater chemistry, as predicted by climate models for the end of this century, on marine biota. Early studies have used unrealistically severe CO2/pH values in this context, but are relevant for CCS leakage scenarios. Little studied meso- and bathypelagic species of the deep sea may be especially vulnerable, as well as vertically migrating zooplankton, which require significant residence times at great depths as part of their life cycle.

Metal contamination causes multiple biological dysfunctions, including impairment of key physiological functions by targeting enzymes. This feature is a matter of concern, since it may imply significant disturbances in energy allocation, behaviour, reproduction, and survival. Inhibition of the cholinesterase (ChE) activity of aquatic organisms by metals has been described, and systematically used in biomonitoring studies as effect criterion of environmental exposure to these compounds. The present paper addresses the feasibility of using ChE inhibition to quantify the adverse acute and chronic effects of metals (copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium) on nervous tissue of Gambusia holbrooki. With the exception of acute exposure to copper, ChE activity was not significantly impaired. The meanings of the reported findings are further discussed, aiming at a more comprehensive use of this biomarker in environmental assessment. Based on the obtained results, the role of ChE inhibition in environmental metal contamination scenarios should be questioned or even discarded.

Plastic pellets may serve as a carrier of toxic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Considering that beach morphodynamics and pellet distribution varied along the shore, and that contaminant sources may vary on different scales, it is expected that this variability is reflected in the concentration and composition of contaminants. This hypothesis was tested through a sampling of plastic pellets at 30 sites along the shore in Santos Bay (Brazil). The total PAH concentrations and the priority PAHs showed high variability, with no clear pattern. Their composition differed among the sampling sites; some of the compounds represent a potential risk to organisms. The sources of contamination, as indicated by the isomer ratios, were also variable among sites. The high small-scale spatial variability found here has implications for estimating the plastic pellet contamination on beaches, since a sample from a single site is unlikely to be representative of an entire beach.

The Northern San Jorge Gulf (NSJG) was designated Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park “Patagonia Austral” in 2008 with the objective of conserving biodiversity and natural resources. Metals released to the environment can be accumulated by organisms and can be toxic in some cases, making it necessary to evaluate their presence and biological risk. This study examined concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb in intertidal sediments of the NSJG, and was the first study of its kind to be conducted in this area. Concentrations of all metals fell below biological risk levels. Anthropogenic enrichment was only found for Ni around the Aristizábal lighthouse and was attributed to the frequent oil spills that impact this particular area.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) have been quantified for surface sediments collected from the East China Sea (ECS). Our results showed that relatively high levels of PAHs and AHs occurred in both the inner and outer mud areas, while their concentrations at the control site were much lower. AHs for all samples were dominated by the unresolved complex mixture (UCM). Results from diagnostic ratios revealed that sedimentary PAHs were mainly originated from mixed combustion residues of biomass, coal, and petroleum. Combustion residues of petroleum and oil were responsible for the presence of high AHs concentrations. We also conducted factor analysis (FA) to further characterize the PAH and AH sources. Four factors were identified based on the loading of components and attributed to coal and wood combustion (Factor 1), traffic-related sources (Factor 2), petrogenic source (Factor 3) and natural gas combustion (Factor 4).

A new bacterial strain that is capable of using diesel as the sole carbon source was isolated from the petroleum-contaminated soil of Xinjiang oil field, Northwest China. This bacterium was identified on the basis of its morphological and physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and it showed the greatest similarity with Acinetobacter beijerinckii 302-PWB-OH1 (99.86%). In order to enhance degradation efficiency, single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to optimize the nutrients used in artificial seawater. The results of this study revealed that 2.05gL−1 (NH4)2SO4, 1.46gL−1 Na2HPO4, and 14mgL−1 yeast extract in artificial seawater resulted in increasing the diesel degradation rate of the bacterial strain from 20.87% to 80.40% within 7days. The actual experimental results were in agreement with the prediction.

Coral, fish, plankton, and detritus samples were collected from coral reefs in Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS) and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (VICR) to assess existing contamination levels. Passive water sampling using polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) and semi-permeable membrane devices found a few emerging pollutants of concern (DEET and galaxolide) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Very little persistent organic chemical contamination was detected in the tissue or detritus samples. Detected contaminants were at concentrations below those reported to be harmful to aquatic organisms. Extracts from the POCIS were subjected to the yeast estrogen screen (YES) to assess potential estrogenicity of the contaminant mixture. Results of the YES (estrogen equivalency of 0.17–0.31ng/L 17-β-estradiol) indicated a low estrogenicity likelihood for contaminants extracted from water. Findings point to low levels of polar and non-polar organic contaminants in the bays sampled within VICR and VIIS.