Heavy metal concentrations and physicochemical parameters in seawater were measured in Guangdong coastal waters, South China. Results showed that the concentrations and distribution of heavy metals varied spatially and seasonally. Generally, heavy metal concentrations in the east regions were higher than in the west. Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr in wet seasons were generally higher than in dry seasons owing to the seasonal differences of the river discharge, rainfall and seawater intrusion. Principal component (PC) analysis showed that PC1, PC2 and PC3 in the east were correlated to Pb+Cr+Zn+Cd, As+Cd and Cu, respectively, and they were correlated to Pb+Cr, Zn+Cu+Cd and As+Cu, respectively, in the west. That was maybe due to the differences of local heavy metal sources. The anthropogenic activities contributed more to the main sources of heavy metals, and contamination factors indicated that Zn and Pb pollution was serious in study area.

In order to understand the effect of different culture systems on Cd and Pb accumulation, suspended long-line and bottom cultures of Argopecten purpuratus were conducted during January until April 2010 (120days). The Cd tissue levels were the highest at the middle of the experiment (30-d till 70-d) for suspended-cultured individuals, while bottom-cultured individuals showed an increasing trend. Gonad Pb levels were also higher during the same period for all cultures, while adductor muscle exhibited no considerable variations. Cd and Pb tissue concentrations were mainly greater in deeper cultures. There were no significant differences in Cd and Pb accumulation between individual sizes. The Cd and Pb levels in edible tissue (gonad+adductor muscle) did not exceed the EU and FDA maximum levels. Based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the provisional tolerance weekly intake (PTWI), no risk (THQ<1 and %PTWI<30) was found for human consumption.

Fungi of the Ascomycota phylum were isolated from oil-soaked sand patties collected from beaches following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To examine their ability to degrade oil, fungal isolates were grown on oiled quartz at 20°C, 30°C and 40°C. Consistent trends in oil degradation were not related to fungal species or temperature and all isolates degraded variable quantities of oil (32–65%). Fungal isolates preferentially degraded short (<C18; 90–99%) as opposed to long (C19–C36; 7–87%) chain n-alkanes and straight chain C17- and C18-n-alkanes (91–99%) compared to their branched counterparts, pristane and phytane (70–98%). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were also degraded by the fungal isolates (42–84% total degraded), with a preference for low molecular weight over high molecular weight PAHs. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the capacity of fungi to degrade oil in the coastal marine environment.

Elemental composition of PM2.5 and PM10 was measured from 16 locations in Greater Kolkata in Eastern India. Sampling was carried out in the winter months of 2013–2014. PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations ranged from 83–783μg/m3 and 167–928μg/m3 respectively. 20 elements were measured with an Agilent 7700 series ICP–MS equipped with a 3rd generation He reaction/collision cell following closed vessel microwave digestion. In both size fractions Fe, Na, Al, K, Ca were present in high concentrations (>1 000ng/m3), Mn, Zn and Pb demonstrated medium concentrations (>100ng/m3), and Sc, V, Co, Ni, Mo, Cd, Sn and Sb had low concentrations (<100ng/m3). Ca, Al, Mg, Sc, Ti, Mn and Fe were concentrated in the PM10 fraction, while the toxic metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn, Sb, V, Co, Cu, Cd and Pb) were concentrated in the PM2.5 fraction. Al normalized Enrichment Factors (EF) showed EF<10 for Ti, Mg, Sc, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Ca, V, Co which is indicative of crustal sources, 100>EF>10 for Ni, Cr, Cu is possibly industrial influence and 1 000>EF>100 for Sn, Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Cd is related to industrial, high temperature combustion and vehicle sources. Factor analysis identified three possible sources for PM10; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust, exhaust gases of car and municipal waste incineration (2) industrial emissions, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting and three possible sources for PM2.5; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust and industrial emissions (2) exhaust gases of cars and municipal waste incineration, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting. In a risk evaluation using a U.S. EPA IRIS, chromium was found to have the highest excess cancer risk.

The present study analyzes spatial distribution and typology of marine litter on the seabed in the FAO Geographical Sub-Area 17 (northern and central Adriatic Sea). Two surveys were conducted during fall 2011 and 2012 and 67 stations were sampled each year. Litter items were collected using the “rapido” trawl, a modified beam trawl commonly used by the Italian fishermen to catch flat fish and other benthic species. Marine litter in the catches was sorted and classified in 6 major categories (plastic, metal, glass, rubber, wood, other). Plastic litter was further subdivided in 3 sub-categories based on its source: fishing nets, aquaculture nets and other. Plastic was dominant in terms of weight followed by metal and other categories. The highest concentration of litter was found close to the coast likely as a consequence of high coastal urbanization, river inflow and extensive navigation associated with the morphological and hydrological features of the basin.

A bioassay method using the early life stages (germlings) of macroalgae was developed to detect toxicity of anti-fouling paint biocides. A laboratory based bioassay using Ulva intestinalis and Fucus spiralis germlings was performed with 4 common anti-fouling biocides (tributyltin (TBT), Irgarol 1051, Diuron and zinc sulphate), over a range of environmentally relevant concentrations (0.0033–10μgl−1). Comparison between the two species showed that germlings of U. intestinalis were better adapted for in-situ monitoring, as germlings of F. spiralis appeared to be too robust to display sufficient growth differences. The response of U. intestinalis germling growth appeared to reflect environmental biocide concentrations. Overall the developed method showed potential for the assessment of the sub-lethal effects of anti-fouling biocides on the early developmental stages of U. intestinalis.

This study classifies Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) according to the combined result of pressure level and protection. Six major marine environment pressures were considered: pressures from fish farms, fishing, marine litter, pressures from marinas, pollution from maritime transport, and climate change. MPA protection was assessed through legal protection and management effort. Most MPA area in the Mediterranean is under relatively high pressure level and afforded low protection. Inshore areas show higher pressure levels. Five marine ecoregions, nine countries and nineteen MPA designation categories have over 50% of their MPA area under major concern. The mean number of cumulative pressures occurring in priority MPAs ranges between three and four, although the mean combined intensity of those pressures is low. However, these figures are most likely underestimated, especially for the southern Mediterranean. The most concerning pressures to MPAs regarding extent and intensity were: climate change, fishing and pollution from maritime transport.

An important priority for any organism is to maintain internal cellular homeostasis including acid–base balance. Yet, the molecular level impacts of changing environmental conditions, such as low pH, remain uncharacterised. Herein, we isolate partial Na+/H+exchangers (NHE), carbonic anhydrase (CA), and calmodulin (CaM) genes from a polychaete, Platynereis dumerilii and investigate their relative expression in acidified seawater conditions. mRNA expression of NHE was significantly down-regulated after 1h and up-regulated after 7days under low pH treatment (pH 7.8), indicating changes in acid–base transport. Furthermore, the localisation of NHE expression was also altered. A trend of down regulation in CA after 1h was also observed, suggesting a shift in the CO2 and HCO3− balance. No change in CaM expression was detected after 7days exposure to acidified seawater. This study provides insight into the molecular level changes taking place following exposure to acidified seawater in a non-calcifying, ubiquitous, organism.

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.