Port baseline surveys (PBS) provide species inventories in and around ports, with a focus on non-indigenous species that may have been introduced by vessels, primarily via ballast water. PBS are an essential tool to support effective management strategies for non-indigenous as well as native harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP). This paper describes the methodology of PBS that were conducted in 12 Adriatic ports. The PBS employed existing protocols that were adapted to meet the characteristics of the Adriatic sites. Their results are reported in several papers included in this special issue, each of which is devoted to a specific community. An overview of existing surveys protocols – which provide valuable support to decision-making and to design effective monitoring of non-indigenous species – is also supplied.

Pollution by microplastics (MPs) is currently a global problem in the coastal and marine environment. Transfer of MPs from land to sea and their inclusion in the food web has a significant adverse effect on the marine life and human health. The present study was carried out at the fishing harbour of Chennai, southeast coast of India. The possible MPs were isolated from the soft tissues of the commercially important bivalve Perna viridis and examined by microscopic and DXR Raman spectroscopic methods. The MPs were identified as to be polystyrene polymers in the soft tissues. This investigation revealed that size and color are the major factors affecting the bioavailability of MPs to bivalves in the study area. The presence of colorants in organisms revealed an anthropogenic origin through the use of a wide array of applications. Hence, coastal zones are a hotspot for pollution by MPs, and filter feeding bivalves are at the highest risk. Therefore, further studies are required to understand the accumulation rates and residence time of MPs across the food webs.

The interaction of microplastic (MP) with marine organisms is crucial for understanding the significant effect that MP and its additives may have on marine environments. However, knowledge regarding the magnitude of these pollutants in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the tropical Red Sea is still scarce. Here we examined the levels of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) and MP in Herdmania momus and Microcosmus exasperatus sampled along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel. High levels of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2‑ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in ascidians at the majority of sampling sites, and MP particles were found in ascidians at all sites. As efficient filter-feeders and being widely-distributed, invasive ascidians present fundamental opportunities for the environmental monitoring of microplastic and its additives worldwide. The high levels of pollutants revealed emphasize the need for further research into the magnitude and effects of MP and PAEs in these regions.

Microplastics are new pollutants considered a source of concern for the oceans worldwide. This research reports the concentrations of trace metals on microplastics collected on beaches from Cartagena, an industrialized city in the Caribbean. Mercury (Hg) was quantified using a Hg analyzer and forty-seven trace elements were assessed by ICP/MS. Most abundant microplastics in beaches were those with the lower degree of surface degradation features (SDF), categorized as white-new polyethylene pellets, followed by secondary microplastics (SM). Greater Hg levels were found in SM, white-degraded (WDP) and black pellets. Trace elements concentrations were linked to the degree of SDF registered in examined pellets, with larger concentrations in WDP. Compared to white-new pellets, Ba, Cr, Rb, Sr, Ce, Zr, Ni, Pb were the most accumulated elements in WDP, as their surface enhance the sorption processes. Microplastic pollution represents a toxicological hazard because its ability to accumulate and transport toxic elements.

In the present study, 13 endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and their transformation products (TPs) were monitored in Jiulong River and its estuary, China in different seasons. The analytes included antimicrobials [triclosan (TCS) and triclocarbon (TCC)]; estrogens [estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and ethinylestradiol (EE2)]; alkylphenol ethoxylates [4-n-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-n-octylphenol (OP)] and the TPs [methyl triclosan (MeTCS), carbanilide (NCC), dichlorocarbanilide, 4-hydroxy estrone (4-OH E1) and 4-hydroxy estradiol (4-OH E2)]. A significant seasonal variation was observed for most EDCs. Approximately, 79% of the total E2 residues were detected in the normal season in comparison with the wet season to indicate recalcitrant behavior of E2 during the normal season. Risk assessment revealed that E2 was most potent among the EDCs to cause highest risk to both vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic species, whereas, E1, EE2, MeTCS and TCS also showed relatively high risk for some surface water aquatic species.

Argonauta nouryi Lorois, 1852 is an octopod that inhabits the holopelagic zone, the objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of buoyant fibers adhering to the body and mantle cavity of A. nouryi females found in the stomach contents from Euthynnus lineatus (skipjack), Coryphaena hippurus (dolphinfish), and Istiophorus platypterus (sailfish). Stomach contents from 224 individuals were examined. All female evaluated presented fibers adhering to the mantle cavity; 92.6% of the fibers measured 0.25 to 5 mm in length and hyaline was the dominant color (72%). The amount of fibers in the fish stomach contents with A. nouryi was significantly greater than in stomachs without; this suggests that the fibers might be introduced via A. nouryi. Findings of this work could be related to the discharge of solid materials in the water column.

This study aims to reveal microplastic pollution. It is the first to be conducted in the South Aegean Region and one of the limited numbers of such studies in Turkey. To this aim, in September 2018 microplastic particles (MP's) pollution was evaluated on the sandy beaches along the coastline of the Datça Peninsula (Southern Aegean coast of Turkey) located at the intersection of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. MP's were analyzed using standard operating procedure along with some experimental techniques. Prior to the identification process, microplastics ranging from 1 to 5 mm were exposed to an experimental pre-treatment and efficient polymer scanning. The results showed that fragments (72%) were the dominant category from all the beaches exposed to dominant winds and surface currents and that MP contamination in the Datça Peninsula was higher than that reported in the literature from similar locations around the world (1154.4 ± 700.3 particles kg⁻¹ dw). More specifically the highest contamination was found in Aktur Beach (2073.3 ± 648.6 particles kg⁻¹ dw) which could be considered as a hotspot for the whole region in terms of MP pollution. As a result of the study, as sampling stations are remote from major cities and industrial zones, maritime activities increase during summer season and tar has been observed on particles during analyses, it can be asserted that the pollution may be caused by marine resources.

The complexity and scale of the sources, types and environmental impacts of persistent solid waste pollution (PSWP) continue to overwhelm the capabilities of government and private efforts to control it. Global cumulative production of virgin plastics is expected to quadruple by 2050 with a concomitant doubling of plastic waste. All nations must take significant steps to realize eventual mitigation of PSWP. These will include adopting a long-term PSWP elimination policy, creating an overarching authority to lead and coordinate a comprehensive national solid waste management program, and creating an International Convention for the Prevention of PSWP to enable global solutions for this global pollution. Initiating these changes will necessitate major, coordinated efforts on the part of environmental organizations, their supporting foundations and concerned citizens.

This research attempted to investigate the plant/soil concentration ratios (CRs) of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in plants that grow on the Anzali Lagoon of the Caspian coast, Iran. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K were measured in soil samples, annual plants (Echinochloa crus-galli, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Trifolium repens), and perennial plants (Phragmites australis, and Cynodon dactylon). The relationship of activity concentration with soil particle density, and pH of soil samples, CR, and ¹³⁷Cs/⁴⁰K discrimination factor (DF) were determined. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in the soil, annual plants, and perennial plants ranged between 12- and 124 (Bq/kg dry weight), 2- and 17 (Bq/kg dw), and 2 - and 14 (Bq/kg dw), respectively. The geometric mean (GM) values of DF in annual and perennial plants were 0.57 and 0.55, respectively. The CR for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K varied as a non-linear relation in annual plants and perennial plants. This study showed that the CRs for ¹³⁷Cs in annual plants were higher than the CRs for perennial plants.

Given the implications of microplastics contamination in aquatic ecosystems and information scarcity about microplastic abundances in estuarine sediments, this study aimed to quantify and describe the microplastics in the sublittoral sediments from Guanabara Bay. Sediment samples were collected at four sites and three months, microplastics were separated and classified according to type, color, size, and polymer composition. High abundances of microplastic (160 to 1000 items kg⁻¹ or 4367 to 25,794 items m⁻²) occurred independent of area or period, indicating microplastics are widely spread in Guanabara Bay. The dominant microplastic in the sediment was the translucent polyester microfiber of <1 mm size; which is a secondary microplastic, possibly coming from washing machines wastes. The extremely high availability of microplastics in Guanabara Bay, compared to the majority of studies around the world, suggests high risk of contamination to benthic organisms and demersal fish, as they may be ingesting microplastics.