Although pollutant emission is the main cause of environmental quality deterioration, regional environmental quality may not be consistent with pollutant emission volume. To investigate the relationship between environmental quality and pollutant emission in Chinese provinces, a spatial mismatch index model and a barycenter model were established. NOx emissions and NO2 concentrations for the period 2006–2012 were used to verify the models. Results showed that regional differences in emission intensity were found; total NOx emissions for the nine highest-emission provinces accounted for 61.7% of the national total. Spatial distributions of NO2 pollution remained stable. Areas below Grade II of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) were mainly in the eastern coastal region, especially the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Spatial mismatches could be found between NOx emission and NO2 concentration, with the spatial mismatch index ranging 29.6–32.7, while barycenter distance for these two variables ranged 45.4–138.5 km. Spatial mismatches between NOx emission and NO2 concentration have decreased gradually over time. Our findings enhance understanding of the link between environmental quality and pollutant emission and should be taken into account when establishing regional environmental goals.

Pb concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions (total and acid-extractable) in the core sediments collected from Western Xiamen Bay, China, were determined to investigate the Pb pollution history and trace the Pb sources. Pb concentration showed an increasing trend (from 40.3 to 64.2mgkg−1) with obvious fluctuation from 1967 to 2013, reflected by the core sediments. The enrichment factors of Pb were between 2 and 5, indicating a moderate enrichment. The relative contributions of Pb-Zn deposit and parent material to total Pb in the core sediments were 51%–62% and 38%–49%, respectively. Acid-extractable Pb isotopic signature was more sensitive than total Pb isotopic signature in identifying anthropogenic Pb sources due to the substantial variability of acid-extractable Pb isotopic ratios exhibited in the core sediments. Based on the acid-extractable Pb isotopic ratios, Pb-Zn deposit and industrial emission were regarded as the main anthropogenic Pb contributors.

The uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their cellular effects were investigated in the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Seedlings were subjected to sediment oiling for three weeks. In the oiled treatment, the ƩPAHs was higher in roots (99%) than in leaves (1%). In roots, PAHs included phenanthrene (55%), acenaphthene (13%), fluorine (12%) and anthracene (8%). In leaves, PAHs possessed two to three rings and included acenaphthene (35%), naphthalene (33%), fluorine (18%) and phenanthrene (14%). In the roots, oil caused disorganization of cells in the root cap, meristem and conducting tissue. Oil contaminated cells were distorted and possessed large and irregularly shaped vacuoles. Ultrastructural changes included loss of cell contents and fragmentation of the nucleus and mitochondrion. In the leaves, oil caused dilation and distortion of chloroplasts and disintegration of grana and lamellae. Oil targets critical organelles such as nuclei, chloroplasts and mitochondria which are responsible for cell vitality and energy transformation.

To analyze the distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and evaluate their potential ecological risks, the concentrations of 16 PAHs were measured in 43 surface sediment samples from the Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean. Total PAH (tPAH) concentrations ranged from 36.95 to 150.21ng/g (dry weight). In descending order, the surface sediment tPAH concentrations were as follows: Canada Basin>northern Chukchi Sea>Chukchi Basin>southern Chukchi Sea>Aleutian Basin>Makarov Basin>Bering Sea shelf. The Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean mainly received PAHs of pyrogenic origin due to pollution caused by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The concentrations of PAHs in the sediments of the study areas did not exceed effects range low (ERL) values.

Several species of tuna fish were analyzed for 210Po content in their edible muscle tissues. This study was carried out as a part of baseline data generation around a large nuclear power plant situated at Kudankulam, southeast coast of India. The concentration of 210Po in the muscle tissue ranged from 40.9±5.2 to 92.5±7.9Bq/kg of fresh fish, and the highest activity was recorded for the tuna Euthynnus affinis and the lowest for Auxis thazard. The committed effective dose to the local residents was calculated to be 62.7–141.8μSvyear−1.

An exploration of historical data suggested that eutrophication patterns might drive long-term fluctuations in Cystoseira populations along the west Istrian Coast (northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia). The regimes of northern Italian rivers, which flow approximately 100km west of the study area, mainly modulate the eutrophication levels of the northern Adriatic Sea. A regression of Cystoseira populations from the 1970s through the 1990s corresponded to increased levels of eutrophication in the study area. During the late 1990s, the density of sea urchins, which are efficacious macroalgal predators, decreased, likely due to an intense formation of pelagic mucilage aggregates that resulted in mass mortality episodes of macrozoobenthic species. During the 2000–2013 period, an oligotrophication of the northern Adriatic formed the basis for the recovery of Cystoseira taxa, whose abundances from 2009 to 2013 were similar to those characterising the most flourishing Mediterranean Cystoseira assemblages.

Oil slicks were detected using satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in 2011. We investigated potential origins and regional and seasonal features of oil slick in the Bohai Sea. Distance between oil slicks and potential origins (ships, seaports, and oil exploitation platforms) and the angle at which oil slicks move relative to potential driving forces were evaluated. Most oil slicks were detected along main ship routes rather than around seaports and oil exploitation platforms. Few oil slicks were detected within 20km of seaports. Directions of oil slicks movement were much more strongly correlated with directions of ship routes than with directions of winds and currents. These findings support the premise that oil slicks in the Bohai Sea most likely originate from illegal disposal of oil-polluted wastes from ships. Seasonal variation of oil slicks followed an annual cycle, with a peak in August and a trough in December.

Fecal sterols in sediments were used to assess the degree of sewage contamination in Ria de Aveiro lagoon and Mondego River estuary for the first time. Coprostanol, the major fecal sterol, averaged 1.82±4.12μgg−1, with maxima of 16.6μgg−1. The northwestern sector of the Ria and a marina at Mondego estuary showed the highest level of sewage contamination. This scenario was confirmed by several diagnostic ratios based on fecal sterols and other phytosterols. Our data revealed that in spite of the improvements achieved in the last decades, there is still a need for control the organic inputs into the aquatic environment in the studied regions.

Excess nutrients are potential factors that drive phase shifts from seagrasses to macroalgae. We carried out a manipulative field experiment to study the effects of macroalgae Ulva pertusa loading and nutrient addition to the water column on the nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) contents (i.e., fast indicators) as well as on the morphology and structure (i.e., slow indicators) of Zostera marina. Our results showed rapid impact of increased macroalgae and nutrient load on Z. marina C/N ratios. Also, macroalgae addition resulted in a trend of decreasing belowground biomass of seagrasses, and nutrient load significantly decreased above to belowground biomass ratio. Although some morphological/structural variables showed relatively fast responses, the effects of short-term disturbance by macroalgae and nutrients were less often significant than on physiological variables. Monitoring of seagrass physiological indicators may allow for early detection of eutrophication, which may initiate timely management interventions to avert seagrass loss.