30 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coasts of the North Sea between January and February 2016. The gastro-intestinal tracts of 22 of the carcasses were investigated. Marine debris including netting, ropes, foils, packaging material and a part of a car were found in nine of the 22 individuals. Here we provide details about the findings and consequences for the animals. While none of the items was responsible for the death of the animal, the findings demonstrate the high level of exposure to marine debris and associated risks for large predators, such as the sperm whale.

Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous in the world's oceans, and studies have shown macroplastic and microplastic pollution of beaches in several East Asian countries. However, to our knowledge, no study of microplastic pollution has been conducted in Taiwan yet. Therefore, we collected sand samples from four beaches along the northern coast of Taiwan in 2015 and extracted microplastic particles using a saturated NaCl solution. Microplastic particles were identified using synchrotron-based FTIR spectroscopy. We recovered 4 to 532 particles from eight 0.0125m3 samples, with a total of 1097 particles weighing 0.771g. A negative trend between the size of the particles and their numbers was documented. We thus established that microplastic pollution was ubiquitous along Taiwan's northern coast. Future research should more comprehensively sample beaches around the entirety of Taiwan's coast, and special emphasis should be placed on identifying different sources and movements of microplastic.

A novel approach combining gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure laser ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-APLI-MS) with the micrometeorological eddy covariance (EC) technique is demonstrated to quantify particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mass fluxes above a central European city. During the case study, 18 different PAH compounds could be identified in two one-hour particle samples and, in combination with size-resolved particle deposition velocities obtained from EC measurements, inferred particulate PAH mass fluxes for two respective size fractions (0.060–0.108 μm and 0.170–10 μm) were quantified. Maximum concentrations and fluxes (in the order of 0.9 ± 0.09–17 ± 8 ng m−2 hr−1) were estimated for the 5-ring PAHs benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and perylene. Fingerprints of PAH concentrations suggest strong pyrogenic sources, particularly wood burning.

A total of 59 categories of litter items were found at 20 beaches (13 mechanically cleaned, 7 non-cleaned) in the Cádiz tourist environment, Spain. Cluster Analysis and Principal Components Analysis were used to highlight similarities and contrasts between sites and/or associations between litter categories. Multivariate analyses separated beaches according to the total numbers of litter items present. Non-cleaned sites showed a variety of litter category abundance with distinct origins and abundant, ubiquitous items (plastic and glass fragments). Of the 7 non-cleaned beaches (49 litter categories) river-mouth sites were distinct due with high numbers of litter items. The sheltered inner part of Cádiz Bay beaches had a wide range of litter type. Many sites were associated with locally deposited recreational litter categories; while industrial/commercial/fishing categories were abundant only at a few sites, indicating items transported onto the shore from the Guadalete river.

The management of dredged marine sediment is an issue for many harbours, particularly when contaminant concentrations prevent disposal at sea. The stabilisation/solidification of the sediments with hydraulic binders for a use in road subgrade layer is a potential alternative solution. However, the environmental acceptability is not yet fully established. This paper presents the results of a case study to comprehensively determine the stabilisation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. After demonstrating that stabilisation/solidification affects the microstructure of the sediment, a mobility study is realised (single, sequential and kinetic extractions). According to the regulatory/technical guidelines the studied elements do not pose a risk to the environment. However, results from more complex mobility studies reveal that stabilisation in the short term is only effective for Ni while other elements are mobilised after treatment by at least one type of extraction. Stabilisation in the long term is not universally effective.

Due to a combination of factors, such as a new coastal/aerosol band and improved radiometric sensitivity of the Operational Land Imager aboard Landsat 8, the atmospherically-corrected Surface Reflectance product for Landsat data, and the growing availability of corrected fDOM data from U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations, moderate-resolution remote sensing of fDOM may now be achievable. This paper explores the background of previous efforts and shows preliminary examples of the remote sensing and data relationships between corrected fDOM and Landsat 8 reflectance values. Although preliminary results before and after Hurricane Sandy are encouraging, more research is needed to explore the full potential of Landsat 8 to continuously map fDOM in a number of water profiles.

The present work was carried to decipher the trace element accumulation in surface sediments of Palk Strait, southeast coast of Tamil Nadu, India. The elemental concentration and correlation results suggest that fine fractions with CaCO3 content followed by organic matter (OM) of the surface sediments control the trace element accumulation in the study area. In addition, Fe and Mn concentration is chiefly contributed from riverine process and controlled by the mangrove ecosystem. The other elements are derived into marine environment through confluence of untreated industrial pollutants into the river system. The EF result shows that the studied marine sediments are enriched by Ni, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, followed by Zn. The order of the pollution intensity with respect to geo-accumulation index suggests the following ascending order: Ni>Mn>Fe>Cu>Pb>Cd>Cr>Zn. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values reveal that all the samples are falling under moderately to unpolluted category.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) mass fractions were determined in mussel samples collected from 6 locations around Thermaikos Gulf in north Greece. PBDEs were present in all sampling sites and the average total (ΣPBDEs) ranged from 17.7 to 32.3ng/g l.w., characterising Thermaikos as low polluted, a fact further supported by congener ratios and literature comparison. Distribution was even among stations with one exception. Congener profiles exhibited predominance of penta-/octa-BDEs as well as BDE-209. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in pollution levels between the two types of mussel cultures. No variations were observed for mussel bunch position or between cultures and natural population. Congener correlation analysis suggested different pollution sources between higher and lower brominated congeners as well as different metabolic/degradation processes. Bioaccumulation factors indicated that an increase in congener bromination degree leads to bioaccumulation capacity reduction. Consumption of mussels from Thermaikos gulf area poses no threat for public health concerning PBDEs.

We analyzed plastic ingestion by Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) from 806 pellets collected between 2011 and 2013. Employing a Raman spectroscopy, we characterized those polymers used to produce the plastics ingested. Debris was recorded in 143 pellets (%FO=17.7%, n=202, 92.58g). Plastic was found in 119 pellets (%FO=83%) and non-plastic occurred in 56 pellets (%FO=39%). The most important debris category was plastic film with 55.3% (n=79). Plastic bags were observed in 19 pellets (%FO=2.4%, weight=25.02g). Glass was the second most important component (%FO=18.9%) followed by plastic fragments (%FO=17.8%). Plastic debris represented the 65.3% of the debris fragments (n=132, weight=58.84g), and was composed by polyethylene (52%), polypropylene (26%), polyamide (12%), polystyrene (6%), polyvinyl chloride (2%), and polyethylene terephthalate (2%). How plastics were obtained by gulls and the effects on individuals are discussed, as well as environmental considerations about plastic pollution on coastal environments.

A risk based approach to assessing compliance with EU limit values is described, using the advanced chemical transport model CMAQ to determine the regional component of NO2 and particulate matter under various conditions over the UK. A new air quality data analysis retrieval tool AirDART is used to extract concentrations for selected areas of the country. Roadside concentrations in a street canyon are then calculated using a dispersion model. The two model calculations need to be combined to obtain concentrations in future years assuming appropriate changes in emission. To merge the local and regional contributions exactly requires assumptions regarding parameterisations and is computationally expensive. From a risk based viewpoint not every possible condition need be considered in order to make policy decisions. Instead future trends under typical conditions are estimated, allowing the direct effect of local action plans and of national measures to be assessed. The approach is applied to London, this being a worst case UK example, to demonstrate the procedure.