Concerns have been raised in regards to the environmental impact of the more used organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). In this study, to better understand the relationship between molecular structural features of OPFRs and binding affinity for the tumor suppressor p53, an integrated experimental and in silico approach was used. From docking analysis, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were found to be the dominant interactions, which implied the binding affinities of the compounds. The binding constants of 5 OPFRs were determined by surface plasmon resonance technology (SPR). Based on the observed interactions, appropriate molecular structural parameters were adopted to develop a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model. The developed QSAR model had good robustness, predictive ability and mechanism interpretability. The interactions between the OPFRs and p53 (Ebinding) and the partition ability of the OPFRs into the bio-phase are main factors governing the binding affinities.

Nineteen pairs of air and seawater samples collected from the equatorial Indian Ocean onboard the Shiyan I from 4/2011 to 5/2011 were analyzed for PCBs and HCB. Gaseous concentrations of ∑ICESPCBs (ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) and HCB were lower than previous data over the study area. Air samples collected near the coast had higher levels of PCBs relative to those collected in the open ocean, which may be influenced by proximity to source regions and air mass origins. Dissolved concentrations of ∑ICESPCBs and HCB were 1.4–14pgL−1 and 0.94–13pgL−1, with the highest concentrations in the sample collected from Strait of Malacca. Fugacity fractions suggest volatilization of PCBs and HCB from the seawater to air during the cruise, with fluxes of 0.45–34ngm−2d−1 and 0.36–18ngm−2d−1, respectively.

Concentrations of carbonyl compounds were evaluated on places impacted by emissions from different fuels and vehicles. In order to evaluate the concentrations, four campaigns during the winter and summer of 2011 and 2012 were performed, inside a covered parking area in a commercial establishment where mainly gasohol and ethanol vehicles are in circulation. Also, measurements were done inside a semi–closed bus station, which is the direct source of emissions from heavy duty vehicles (i.e. buses) burning B3–diesel (3% biodiesel and 97% diesel). The results indicated that acetaldehyde is the main aldehyde emitted by light vehicles due to large use of ethanol in Brazil by these vehicles. In addition, the concentrations found in the bus station revealed that B3–diesel fuel increases the emissions of carbonyl compounds and that of acetaldehyde when compared with results from B0–diesel at same bus station. Possible impacts of changing diesel to B3–diesel indicate an increase of ozone formation. In terms of health, a lower impact was estimated considering only the changes in formaldehyde concentrations.

Levels of marine debris, including microplastics, are largely un-documented in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Broad scale monitoring efforts are required to understand the distribution, abundance and ecological implications of microplastic pollution. A method of continuous sampling was developed to be conducted in conjunction with a wide range of vessel operations to maximise vessel time. Transects covering a total of 12,700km were sampled through continuous monitoring of open ocean sub-surface water resulting in 470 samples. Items classified as potential plastics were identified in 94% of samples. A total of 2315particles were identified, 89% were less than 5mm in length classifying them as microplastics. Average plastic abundance in the Northeast Atlantic was calculated as 2.46particlesm−3. This is the first report to demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and to present a potential method for standardised monitoring of microplastic pollution.

Radionuclides levels were determined in indigenous and transplanted mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from Turkish marine environment. Radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs, 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Po and 210Pb were determined in the soft tissues of the mussel samples collected in Bosphorus Strait, Coasts of Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Aegean Sea. Mussel transplantation was carried out by using mussel cages in Levantine Sea coast since M. galloprovincialis did not naturally adapt along the coast. The average activity concentrations of 137Cs, 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Po and 210Pb in the coastline of Turkey were found to be 0.7±0.1, 469±24, 0.9±0.1, 1.0±0.1, 122±4 and 10.9±0.9Bqkg−1 in dry weight (dw), respectively. The average of 210Po/210Pb ratio was found to be ∼14. Total annual effective 210Po dose was calculated to be in the range of 0.25–3.30 μSv due to mussel consumption. Radioactivity and dose levels were compared with those of similar studies carried out in Mediterranean countries.

We determined the concentrations of 12 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in sewage effluents collected from three different sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Hong Kong, and found 4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were the most abundant EDCs. Effluent concentrations of NP and BPA were higher in dry season than in wet season, but opposite seasonal changes of NP were observed in receiving waters, probably due to the surface runoff. The two secondary STPs showed higher removal efficiency for these compounds than the preliminary STP, while having higher removal efficiency in wet season. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the preliminary STP and improve the EDC removal efficiency in dry season. Seawaters from the Cape D’ Aguilar Marine Reserve adjacent to these STPs also exhibited elevated NP levels with a hazard quotient >1. Furthermore, diluted effluents from the STPs elicited significant transcriptional responses of EDC-related genes in the marine medaka fish.

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was studied on homogenates of particulate material in relation to the concentrations of AP-hydrolysable (DOPpa) and AP-non hydrolysable (DOPr) phosphorus. AP activity had high and low Km components. The high affinity activity came from ectoenzymes. It was negatively and significantly correlated with DOPr as with the sum of DIP and DOPr, but not with DOPpa. However negative correlations with DOPpa existed when DIP concentrations decreased. Significant correlations with the sum of DIP and DOPpa attest of additive effects of DIP and DOPpa. The low affinity activity came from “endoenzymes”. This activity was also negatively correlated with DOP (DOPpa and DOPr). DOPpa and to a lesser extent DOPr influenced also positively the protein and/or Chlorophyll biomasses of the particulate material. We hypothesize that the correlations of the AP activity with DOP come from regenerated phosphate sequestered in cells and not released in the environment with DIP.

Fifteen crude oil degrading bacteria were isolated from oil contaminated sites in the Persian Gulf at Khorramshahr provenance. These bacteria were screened with two important factors such as growth rate on crude oil and hydrocarbon biodegradation, and then three strains were selected from 15 isolated strains for further study. One strain (PG-Z) that show the best crude oil biodegradation was selected between all isolates. Nucleotides sequencing of the gene encoding for 16S rRNA show that strain PG-Z belong to Corynebacterium variabile genus. This strain was efficient in degrading of crude oil. This strain was capable to degraded 82% of crude-oil after one week incubation in ONR7a medium. The PG-Z strain had high emulsification activity and biosurfactant production between all isolates. GC–MS analysis shows that C. variabile strain PG-Z can degrade different alkanes in crude oil.

In a review of the literature on impacts of spilled oil on marshes, 32 oil spills and field experiments were identified with sufficient data to generate recovery curves and identify influencing factors controlling the rate of recovery. For many spills, recovery occurred within 1–2 growing seasons, even in the absence of any treatment. Recovery was longest for spills with the following conditions: Cold climate; sheltered settings; thick oil on the marsh surface; light refined products with heavy loading; oils that formed persistent thick residues; and intensive treatment. Recovery was shortest for spills with the following conditions: Warm climate; light to heavy oiling of the vegetation only; medium crude oils; and less-intensive treatment. Recommendations are made for treatment based on the following oiling conditions: Free-floating oil on the water in the marsh; thicker oil (>0.5cm) on marsh surface; thinner oil (<0.5cm) on marsh surface; heavy oil loading on vegetation; and light to moderate oil loading on vegetation.