Hydrophobic organic contaminants in marine water are mostly adsorbed onto (partitioned into) sediment organic matter (SOM). To study the impact of SOM diagenesis on sediment adsorption properties, artificial sediment with rich SOM content was incubated for more than 120days. The sediment was sampled every week, and batch sediment adsorption tests were conducted with bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) as the model pollutants. The results show that the amount of organic matter loaded in the sediment decreased by nearly 80% during incubation. For the incubated sediment, the BPA partition coefficient, Kd, decreased whereas the organic normalized partition coefficient, Kₒc, more than doubled. The experiments with NP show an even greater increase in Kₒc. Organic matter diagenesis shows a profound effect on the adsorption behavior of sediment, as the SOM residue has an increasing affinity and partition capacity for organic contaminants.

While many surface foraging seabirds ingest plastic, the spatial overlap of these far-ranging predators with debris aggregations at-sea is poorly understood. We surveyed concurrent distributions of marine birds and debris along a 4400km cruise track within a debris accumulation area in the North East Pacific Ocean using line and strip transect methods. Analysis of debris and bird distributions revealed associations with oceanographic and weather variables at two spatial scales: daily surveys and hourly transects. Hourly bird abundance (densities; 0–9 birds km⁻²) was higher in lower wind and shallower water. Hourly debris abundance (densities; 0–15,222 pieces km⁻²) was higher in lower wind, higher sea-level atmospheric pressure and deeper water. These results suggest that debris and seabird abundance and community structure are influenced by similar environmental processes, but in opposing ways, with only three far-ranging seabird species (Black-footed Albatross, Cook’s Petrel and Red-tailed Tropicbird) overlapping with high debris concentrations over meso-scales.

The resistance of bacteria to 12 different antibiotics was investigated in shrimp farms on Donghai Island, China. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found to be widespread in shrimp farms, indicating a high environmental risk. Further, significant differences were found in bacterial strains among farms (ANOVA, p<0.05), showing resistance to antibiotics such as ampicillin, trimethoprim, compound sinomi, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and cefazolin. No significant differences in antibiotic resistance were found among 6 hatcheries evaluated in this study (ANOVA, p>0.05), between exalted and traditional shrimp ponds (ANOVA, p>0.05), and between cultural ponds and corresponding control water source sites (T-test, p>0.05). In cultural ponds, no significant difference in bacterial resistance to antibiotics was found between water and sediment (T-test, p>0.05), and antibiotic resistance of bacteria from water showed a significant positive correlation with that from sediment (p<0.05). Therefore, our study indicates that bacterial multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) is more widespread in shrimp hatcheries than ponds.

The study reports for the first time on the heavy metal contamination of the waters surrounding a shipwreck lying on the sea floor. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry has been used for a survey of the total and dissolved Cd, Pb and Cu contents of the seawater at the site of the sinking of the Nicole M/V (Coastal Adriatic Sea, Italy). Results show that the hulk has a considerable impact as regards all three metals in the bottom water, especially for the particulate fraction concentrations, which increased by factors of ∼9 (Cd), ∼3 (Pb) and ∼5 (Cu). The contaminated plume extended downstream for about 2miles. Much lower contamination was observed for dissolved bottom concentrations; nevertheless Pb (0.56±0.03nmol/L) is higher than the Italian legal limits established for 2015 and Cd (0.23±0.03nmol/L) is very close the limit of Cd will be exceeded if the hulk is not removed.

This study investigated the responses of marine nematodes to crude oil contamination in polluted and relatively uncontaminated sites in Dalian Xingang, China, 40days after an oil spill. Samples were taken at different tide levels on the beach and at different positions along the beach. We present the results of a comparison of nematode assemblages from undisturbed sediment from the Xiajiahezi Bathing Beach with those from sediment from the Xinghai Bathing Beach contaminated with crude oil. A total of 1666 nematodes from 26 genera were found in this study. Results showed significant differences in nematode assemblages between samples from undisturbed controls and those from the polluted area. Nematode abundance, number of species, diversity and species richness decreased significantly with increasing levels of crude oil contamination. Fifteen genera were eliminated and seemed to be composed of species intolerant to crude oil contamination; only the abundance of Marylynnia sp. increased slightly.

Fucus ceranoides tolerates abiotic conditions encountered across the full range of estuarine salinities. We examined the bioaccumulation of metals in individuals and metal concentrations in accompanying sediment samples collected at different locations along estuaries of South West England. Intra- and inter-estuarine variations in metal accumulation by F. ceranoides, after correction for particulate contamination using Fe as a proxy, were attributed to variations in the availabilities and concentrations of aqueous metals. Greatest accumulation was observed in estuaries that remain most heavily impacted by historical mining activities and for metals that were mobilised to the greatest extent during these operations (As, Cu, Sn, Zn). Arsenic concentrations displayed a seaward increase in estuaries in which multiple samples were taken, whereas Cd concentrations were always greatest in samples collected from the most landward locations. Ongoing research aims to better understand the mechanisms and kinetics of metal interactions with F. ceranoides and their dependence on salinity.

Methoxylated brominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-BDEs) in aquatic environments have been found to be primarily of natural origin in the marine environment and not from biotransformation of synthetic PBDEs. Two of the eight MeO-PBDEs (2′-MeO-BDE-68 and 6-MeO-BDE-47) that were detected in anchovy from the Yangtze River Delta, were natural products from marine organisms. So 2′-MeO-BDE-68 and 6-MeO-BDE-47 were chosen to study the potential to modulate androgen, estrogen, or thyroid hormone receptor- (AR, ER, ThR) mediated responses by use of reporter gene assays. 2′-MeO-BDE-68 was antiandrogenic at 50μM, estrogenic at 10μM and antiestrogenic at 10 and 50μM (IC₅₀=4.88μM). 2′-MeO-BDE-68 enhanced luciferase expression by 5nM T3 at 50μM. 6-MeO-BDE-47 exhibited potent antiandrogenicity at 1μM and greater (IC₅₀=41.8μM) and possessed estrogenic activity at 10μM and antiestrogenic activity at 10 and 50μM (IC₅₀=6.02μM).

The present work reports biological neutralization of chlor-alkali industrial effluent by an alkaliphilic bacterium, isolated from the Gujarat coast, which was identified as Enterococcus faecium strain R-5 on the basis of morphological, biochemical and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolate was capable of bringing down the pH of waste water from 12.0 to 7.0 within 3h in the presence of carbon and nitrogen sources, with simultaneous reduction in total dissolved solutes (TDS) up to 19–22%. This bacterium produced carboxylic acid, as revealed by FT-IR analysis, which facilitated neutralization of alkaline effluent. The presence of unconventional raw materials viz. Madhuca indica flowers or sugar cane bagasse as carbon and nitrogen sources could effectively neutralize alkaline effluent and thus making the bioremediation process economically viable. The time required for neutralization varied with size of inoculum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on biological neutralization of a chlor-alkali industrial effluent.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of oxidative stress biomarkers of pollution in native mussels Mytilus edulis chilensis from the Beagle Channel. Spatial and seasonal variations of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and lipid peroxidation in gills and digestive gland were analyzed in relation to environmental parameters, heavy metals in sediment and in tissue. Four sites with anthropogenic impact and a control site were selected and monitored during the four seasons of 2007. We found significant differences among sites in concentrations of dissolved nutrients and heavy metals in sediments, with the highest values recorded at sites with anthropogenic pressure. Different patterns were observed between concentrations of metals in tissues and in sediments suggesting differences in bioavailability. There were also significant differences in biomarker responses among sites, despite the strong seasonal variability. Our results showed relatively moderate levels of pollution in the study area as a result of urban influences.

Knowledge of oil-induced impacts from the literature and experts were used to develop a Bayesian network to evaluate the biological consequences of an oil accident in the low-saline Gulf of Finland (GOF). Analysis was carried out for selected groups of organisms. Subnetworks were divided into subgroups according to a predicted response to oil exposure. Two scenario analyses are presented: the most probable and the worst-case accident. The impact of the most probable accident in the GOF is rather small. In most of the groups studied oil-induced long-term effects are evaluated to be minor at least from the perspective of the whole GOF. After the worst-case accident negative effects are more likely. The model predicts that the most vulnerable groups are auks and ducks. Amphipods, gulls and to a lesser extend littoral fishes and seals may show delayed recovery after an accident. Also annual plant species may be susceptible to oil-induced disturbances.