Biomonitoring studies, based on pollutant accumulation analyses in tree leaves, allow evaluating the impact caused by air–dispersed pollutants on ecosystems, providing useful data, complementary to those obtained by instrumental monitoring. In particular, leaves of sclerophylls present morphological characteristics, such as the presence of hairs and of a tick cuticle, making them particularly useful in bioaccumulation studies. The first aim of this research was to compare heavy metal (HM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) leaf accumulation capabilities of two Mediterranean tree species. The second aim was to evaluate the impact of a cement plant and/or of other anthropogenic activities occurring in industrial and urban areas on HM and PAH depositions. For these purposes, holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves collected along a transect industrial–urban–remote sites in southern Italy were employed. A different accumulation degree was observed for the two species. For HMs, Q. ilex leaves had the highest concentrations. The results showed that the influence of the cement plant emissions on pollutant concentrations was substantial in the area closer to clinker production and storage with the highest Pb, Ni, V, Cr, Fe, indeno(1,2,3–c,d)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and benzo(a)anthracene leaf concentrations. However, Q. ilex leaves showed high HM and PAH concentrations also in the urban site, in relation to vehicular traffic emissions and depositions. The comparison of the results of the present study with those from the literature indicates that the overall air quality of the studied sites is not particularly compromised, also in proximity of the cement production. The use of holm oak should be preferred in biomonitoring due to its wider distribution compared to O. europaea.

Seagrasses have substantial capacity to survive long periods of light reduction, but how acclimation to chronic low light environments may influence their ability to cope with additional stress is poorly understood. This study examines the effect of temporal light reduction by adding two levels of shading to Halophila ovalis plants in two meadows with different light histories, one characterized by a low light (turbid) environment and the other by a relatively high light (clear) environment. Additional shading resulted in complete mortality for both shading treatments at the turbid site while the clear site showed a pattern of decreased shoot density and increased photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) with increased shading. These contrasting results for the same species in two different locations indicate that acclimation to chronic low light regimes can affect seagrass resilience and highlights the importance of light history in determining the outcome of exposure to further (short-term) stress.

A multidisciplinary approach was used to estimate the pollution level of the marine environment in the North Eastern Adriatic by measurement of the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C, δ15N), metal/metalloids analyses (Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb, including As speciation) in the Mytilus galloprovincialis, as well by using metallothioneins (MT) concentrations, micronuclei (MN) in gill cells and biological parameters (condition index and gonadosomatic index). Concentrations of MT were in the range from 44 to 175μgg−1 wet matter tissue and were higher at the end of the winter season. The frequency of MN did not indicate an elevated level. Sewage sludge pollution was not confirmed. Elevated As concentrations in mussel are related to salinity and low nutrients concentrations and not to pollution. Elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb were found in the Bay of Koper in comparison with the Bays of Strunjan and Piran.

The effects of precipitation on the hygienic quality of water and blue mussels collected from five different localities in the urban areas in the Inner Oslofjord were investigated, with samples analysed for Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Vibrio spp., Norovirus, Sapovirus, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis. The sampling sites were located at varying distances from the outlet of combined sewer overflows (CSO)-impacted rivers/streams. In general, 1–3 log10 increases in fecal indicator bacteria and human pathogens were observed after heavy rainfalls. Blue mussels appeared to be a useful indicator of the impact of sewage at these sites, and generally a good correlation was identified between concentrations of E. coli and other human pathogens in the mussels. Provision of general advice to the public of avoiding areas near the outlets of CSO-impacted rivers after heavy rainfall may reduce the risk of gastroenteritis by bathers and others that may swallow water during recreational activities.

A sorbent for oil spill cleanup was prepared through a novel strategy by treating polyurethane sponges with silica sol and gasoline successively. The oil sorption capacity, oil/water selectivity, reusability and sorption mechanism of prepared sorbent were studied. The results showed that the prepared sorbent exhibited high sorption capacity and excellent oil/water selectivity. 1g of the prepared sorbent could adsorb more than 100g of motor oil, while it only picks up less than 0.1g of water from an oil–water interface under both static and dynamic conditions. More than 70% of the sorption capacity remained after 15 successive sorption–squeezing cycles, which suggests an extraordinary high reusability. The prepared sorbent is a better alternative of the commercial polypropylene sorbent which are being used nowadays.

The revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD) introduces more stringent standards for microbial water quality and promotes more pro-active management of the beach environment through the production of a bathing water profile (BWP). The aim of this study was to determine whether living seaweeds in the littoral zone are colonised by faecal indicator organisms (FIOs), and to quantify the survival dynamics of waterborne Escherichia coli in microcosms containing senescing seaweeds. Living seaweed (Fucus spiralis) was not associated with FIO colonisation, although could be providing a protected environment in the underlying sand. Senescing seaweeds enhanced waterborne E. coli survival compared to plastic debris, with the brown seaweed Laminaria saccharina facilitating greater E. coli persistence than either Chondrus crispus or Ulva lactuca. This has important implications for FIO survival on bathing beaches as the majority of beach-cast biomass is composed of brown seaweeds, which could support significant levels of FIOs.

This study investigated the spatial distribution of Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax resting cysts in recently-deposited sediment of Bizerte lagoon (South-Western Mediterranean, Tunisia). This lagoon is the subject of many anthropogenic impacts, such as holding important fishing and aquaculture activities. A. pseudogonyaulax has been shown to produce Goniodomin A, which is a biologically-active compound. We showed that this dinoflagellate produces two types of resting cysts, which could be distinguished by the presence or the absence of a paratabulate wall. The average cyst density across the whole lagoon was rather high, reaching 639cystsg−1 of dry sediment (DS). Cyst densities varied widely among the sampled stations, with the highest density of 1685cystg−1DS being recorded at station 51 near a mussel farm. With respect to sediment characteristics, the highest cyst densities were found within silty sediments with high water content values. The distribution of A. pseudongoyaulax cysts in Bizerte lagoon appears to be related to hydrodynamic factors.

Studies on remote, uninhabited, near-pristine reefs have revealed surprisingly large populations of large reef fish. Locations such as the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, northern Marianas Islands, Line Islands, U.S. remote Pacific Islands, Cocos-Keeling Atoll and Chagos archipelago have much higher reef fish biomass than islands and reefs near people. Much of the high biomass of most remote reef fish communities lies in the largest species, such as sharks, bumphead parrots, giant trevally, and humphead wrasse. Some, such as sharks and giant trevally, are apex predators, but others such as bumphead parrots and humphead wrasse, are not. At many locations, decreases in large reef fish species have been attributed to fishing. Fishing is well known to remove the largest fish first, and a quantitative measure of vulnerability to fishing indicates that large reef fish species are much more vulnerable to fishing than small fish. The removal of large reef fish by fishing parallels the extinction of terrestrial megafauna by early humans. However large reef fish have great value for various ecological roles and for reef tourism.

This study assessed the level of contamination of the topsoil by Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Zn and the spatial distribution of these heavy metals around a cement factory. Thirty–eight composite soil samples were collected around the cement factory and subjected to nitric–perchloric acid digestion. Total metal contents of the soil were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) and the data generated were analyzed statistically. Spatial mapping of the distribution of heavy metals was done through the use of Inverse Distance Weighted technique (IDW) of ArcGIS 10. The results showed that the contamination domain of Cd was in the extreme domain while Pb and Cu levels in the soil were in the severe and moderate contamination domains. Zn and Cr posed no potential environmental hazard because of their low level in the soil. The spatial mapping of the heavy metals indicated Pb and Cu enrichment of the soil not only to come from cement production activities but also from vehicular activities while Cd enrichment of the soil was mainly from the cement production. Mapping of Zn and Cr distribution showed that their enrichments in the soil were from cement production activities. From these findings, it is highly recommended that environmental auditing of the cement production line be carried out to reduce the release of pollutants. It is also important that remediation activities be carried out on the soil to reduce the levels of Cd, Pb and Cu to avert potential ecological disasters.

Trace element concentrations in surface intertidal sediments were analyzed to assess the level of contamination along the western side of Moreton Bay (Australia). The environmental risks posed by metals were evaluated using sediment quality guidelines, the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) and enrichment relative to background levels. Chromium, Ni, and Cu are the main contributors to sediment pollution. Sediments are also enriched in Zn, Cd and Pb by 1.5–3 times the regional background. Zinc, Cd and Co may pose high to very high risk to the aquatic biota due to their potential bioavailability, while Ni, As, Cu, Pb and Cr may pose medium risk at some of the investigated sites. Results emphasize the importance of using different methods for the assessment of sediment pollution at an estuarine site.