We report here an interannual survey (2006–2012) of coral cover in the northwestern lagoon of New Caledonia, to assess the impact of an important dredging operation (August 2008–February 2010) associated with the construction of the largest nickel mining site in the Pacific. A BACI (Before-After Control-Impact) analysis failed to detect any significant interaction between period (before, during, and after dredging) and the category of the stations (impact vs. control). Among the 31 stations surveyed, only seven showed decreasing coral cover during the study period, mainly due to a decline in Acroporidae. However, the relationship between the dredging and this decrease was highly plausible only for one station, situated 0.9km from the dredging site. High hydrodynamism in the study area, the abundance of resistant corals and efficient protective measures during the dredging operation might explain these localised and limited impacts.

Persistent thermohaline pollution at a site along the northern coast of Israel, due to power and desalination plants, is used as a natural laboratory to evaluate the effects of rising temperature and salinity levels on benthic foraminifera living in shallow hard-bottom habitats. Biomonitoring of the disturbed area and a control station shows that elevated temperature is a more significant stressor compared to salinity, thus causing a decrease in abundance and richness.Critical temperature thresholds were observed at 30 and 35°C, the latter representing the most thermally tolerant species in the studied area Pararotalia calcariformata, which is the only symbiont-bearing species observed within the core of the heated area.Common species of the shallow hard-bottom habitats including several Lessepsian invaders are almost absent in the most exposed site indicating that excess warming will likely impede the survival of these species that currently benefit from the ongoing warming of the Eastern Mediterranean.

A novel PbO2/graphite felt electrode was constructed by electrochemical deposition of PbO2 on graphite felt and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The prepared electrode is a viable technology for inactivation of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Artemia salina as indicator organisms in simulated ballast water treatment, which meets the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Regulation D-2. The effects of contact time and current density on inactivation were investigated. An increase in current density generally had a beneficial effect on the inactivation of the three species. E.faecalis and A.salina were more resistant to electrochemical disinfection than E. coli. The complete disinfection of E.coli was achieved in <8min at an applied current density of 253A/m2. Complete inactivation of E. faecalis and A.salina was achieved at the same current density after 60 and 40min of contact time, respectively. A. salina inactivation follows first-order kinetics.

The goal of the current study was to evaluate different genotoxicity tools in order to assess a marine protected area (MPA) affected by former mining activities and urban settlements. A catfish (Cathorops spixii) was analyzed for genotoxic effects at the (i) molecular and at the (ii) chromosomal levels. Through factor analysis, genotoxicity was found to be linked to levels of metals bioaccumulated and PAH metabolites in the bile. Micronucleus and nuclear alteration were less vulnerable to the effects of confounding factors in mildly contaminated areas since they were more frequently associated with bioaccumulated metals than the DNA analysis. The different genotoxicity responses allowed for the identification of sources of pollution in the MPA. This approach was important for detecting environmental risks related to genotoxic contaminants in a mildly contaminated MPA.

On January 31, 2014, an oil spill accident occurred in Yeosu, South Korea. A total 800–899kl of oil from the pipeline was spilled into the sea. After the oil spill, the KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) researched PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various media, but sedimentary PAHs were not analyzed despite their longer persistency than in other media. Therefore, this study examined PAH levels in intertidal sediments around Gwangyang Bay and identified PAH sources using oil fingerprinting. PAH residual levels showed a dramatic decrease during the four months after the accident and then remained at a relatively constant level. Analysis through regression equations indicate that this study area is likely to be restored to the PAH levels prior to the accident. Furthermore, the source analysis and oil fingerprinting analysis showed that PAH contamination in this study was unlikely to have originated from the spilled oil.

This review summarizes the legislation applied to pesticides and highlights the physicochemical properties of the past and recently listed PPs under Water Framework Directive (WFD). It reports important information regarding the analysis, occurrence and long-term screening of PPs in sediments of European coastal lagoons. Among the entire list of PPs, those analyzed have been the organochloride insecticides, such as lindane, hexachlorobenzene and DDT. Although flood events pointed to the possible redistribution of pesticides, which may increase under climate change conditions, few studies are available concerning PPs screening in sediments of European coastal lagoons. Data is scarce not only in terms of the number of listed PPs that have been analyzed but also in terms of their long-term screening. This lack of data on PP concentrations is probably a consequence of the fact that less importance is given to the sediments contamination/quality.

Contamination by heavy metals causes serious effects in marine systems. Nowadays, the combination of chemical and biological data is recommended in monitoring programs. Metallothioneins (MT) are early-warning signals of metal exposure and are widely used in biomonitoring. The present research evaluates the heavy metals levels in sediments and the MT synthesis in the crab Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE). Then, the recovery capabilities of N. granulata followed by a depuration phase are assessed. Results demonstrate a slow decline in the level of metals in the study area. In relation to MT, female crabs showed elevated MT when compared to males. Furthermore, MT synthesis diminished after the depuration phase. These data constitute the first MT information in organisms from the BBE and may be considered as baseline for future studies in this matter. Although pollution level found was low, further biomonitoring considering both types of data is recommended.

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.

Rare earth elements (REE) are a homogenous group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table that are key to many modern industries including chemicals, consumer electronics, clean energy, transportation, health care, aviation, and defense. Moreover, in recent years, they have been used in agriculture. One of the consequences of their worldwide use is the possible increase of their levels in various environmental compartments. This review addresses major topics concerning the study of REE in the soil environment, with special attention to the latest research findings. The main sources of REE to soils, the contents of REE in soils worldwide, and relevant information on the effects of REE to plants were explored. Ecological and human health risk issues related to the presence of REE in soils were also discussed. Although several findings reported positive effects of REE on plant growth, many questions about their biological role remain unanswered. Therefore, studies concerning the actual mechanism of action of these elements on cellular and physiological processes should be further refined. Even more urgent is to unveil their chemical behavior in soils and the ecological and human health risks that might be associated with the widespread use of REE in our modern society.

This study reviews recent research on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from motorized vehicle sources by means of online mass spectrometry. Chemical ionization is a powerful tool that usually permits soft ionization of chemical species and it allows the time-resolved measurement of multiple VOCs, even in complex samples where many kinds of VOCs coexist. The vehicular exhaust gasses are investigated using H₃O⁺, NO⁺, Hg⁺, and CH₃C(O)O⁻ as a reagent ion in online chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The proton transfer using H₃O⁺ as a reagent ion was used for the detection of nitro-organic compounds such as nitromethane and nitrophenol. The time-resolved measurement of the nitro-organic compounds in the laboratory experiments with a chassis dynamometer system revealed their emission properties, such as the dependence of the emissions as a function of vehicular velocity and acceleration/deceleration, as well as the effect of various types of exhaust gas treatment. The data regarding the nitromethane and nitrophenol emissions obtained in the field measurements were consistent with the results of the laboratory experiments done with a chassis dynamometer system. In the experiments involving evaporative emissions from gasoline-powered cars, NO⁺ was used as a reagent ion. Online measurements showed that the adsorption of hydrocarbons in a sealed housing evaporative determination unit could result in emissions being underestimated, if the concentrations are monitored only before and after a diurnal breathing loss test. The composition analysis gave an estimated ozone formation potential (OFP) approximately 20 % higher for breakthrough emissions and refueling emissions than for the gasoline that was tested, but the OFP for the permeation emissions was almost the same as the OFP for the test fuel.