Posidonia oceanica is a marine angiosperm endemic from the Mediterranean. Despite their protection, its meadows are regressing. The economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) assesses the contribution of ecosystems to human well-being and may provide local policy makers help in territorial development. To estimate the economic value of P. oceanica seagrass and the meadows that it forms to better account its presence in coastal development, identification and assessment of ES provided are first performed. Then goods and benefits (GB) and their economical values are estimated. In total, 25ES are identified and 7GB are economically evaluated. The economic value of GB provided by P. oceanica ranges between 25.3 million and 45.9 million€/year which means 283–513€/ha/year. Because of the lack of existing available data, only 7GB linked to 11/25ES have been estimated. Despite this overall undervaluation, this study offers a value for coastal development policies to take into account.

The blowout of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) drill-rig produced a surface oil layer, dispersed micro-droplets throughout the water column, and sub-surface plumes. We measured stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in mesopelagic fishes and shrimps in the vicinity of DWH collected prior to, six weeks after, and one year after the oil spill (2007, 2010 and 2011). In 2010, the year of the oil spill, a small but significant depletion of δ13C was found in two mesopelagic fishes (Gonostoma elongatum and Chauliodus sloani) and one shrimp (Systellaspis debilis); a significant δ15N enrichment was identified in the same shrimp and in three fish species (G. elongatum, Ceratoscopelus warmingii, and Lepidophanes guentheri). The δ15N change did not suggest a change of trophic level, but did indicate a change in diet. The data suggest that carbon from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was incorporated into the mesopelagic food web of the Gulf of Mexico.

Unusual peaks in turbidity were detected in two branches of the Whittard Canyon in June 2013. Enhanced nepheloid layers (ENLs) were defined as layers with concentrations of suspended particulate matter exceeding those of nepheloid layers typically observed in a given region. Here, ENLs had peaks in turbidity and elevated suspended particulate matter concentrations exceeding ~1mgL−1 with the largest ENLs measuring between ~2–8mgL−1. The ENLs measured ~100–260m in vertical height and were detected in water depths of between 640 and 2880m. Vessel Monitoring System data showed that high spatial and temporal activity of potential bottom trawling vessels coincided with the occurrence of the ENLs. Molar C/N ratios of the suspended organic material from the ENLs showed a high degree of degradation. Regular occurrences of such events are likely to have implications for increased sediment fluxes, burial of organic carbon and alteration of benthic and canyon ecosystems.

Using monthly otter-trawl deployments, spatial and temporal variability among the relative densities of marine debris were assessed in the Paranaguá estuarine complex; a subtropical World Heritage Listed area in southern Brazil. During 432 deployments over 12months, 291 marine debris items were identified; of which most (92%) were plastic, and more specifically shopping bags, food packages, candy wrappers and cups typically >21mm long. The most contaminated sectors were those closest to Paranaguá city and the adjacent port, and had up to 23.37±3.22 pieces ha−1. Less urbanized sectors had between 12.84±1.49 and 9.32±1.10 pieces ha−1. Contamination did not vary between dry or wet seasons, but rather was probably affected by consistent urban disposal and localized hydrological processes. Marine debris might be minimized by using more environment friendly materials, however a concrete solution requires adequately integrating local government and civil society.

The offshore wind power industry is relatively new but increasing globally, hence it is important that the whole life-cycle is managed. The construction–operation–decommissioning cycle is likely to take 20–30years and whilst decommissioning may not be undertaken for many years, its management needs to be addressed in both current and future marine management regimes. This can be defined within a Drivers–Activities–Pressures–State Changes–Impacts (on human Welfare)–Responses framework. This paper considers the main decommissioning options – partial or complete removal of all components. A SWOT analysis shows environmental and economic benefits in partial as opposed to complete removal, especially if habitat created on the structures has conservation or commercial value. Benefits (and repercussions) are defined in terms of losses and gains of ecosystem services and societal benefits. The legal precedents and repercussions of both options are considered in terms of the 10-tenets of sustainable marine management. Finally a ‘renewables-to-reefs’ programme is proposed.

The indoor environment of schools where children stay for long periods of time is a matter of primary concern due to the vulnerability and sensibility of children to air pollutant exposure. The aims of this study were to characterize the indoor air quality of elementary schools in Seoul, Korea, to compare the indoor levels according to the surrounding environments and year of remodeling. The air pollutants, including particle matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), total bacteria count (TBC), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO), were sampled during autumn from classrooms and laboratories at 116 elementary schools employing natural ventilation. The schools were selected based on their surrounding environments: surrounded by buildings (SB), roadways (RW), and mountains (MT). The indoor air quality measured at elementary schools in Seoul, Korea showed generally low levels of pollutants due to low occupancy and adequate ventilation and the indoor levels of PM10 and TBC in schools near roadways were significantly lower than other surrounding environments due to dispersion of pollutants, without obstruction by buildings and mountains. TVOC and HCHO concentrations of schools remodeled within a year were significantly higher. Therefore, suitable management for school building characteristics is needed.

Nickel and chromium accumulation from the air in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) is presented in this paper. Plants were exposed at five sites varying in environmental characteristics. Four one-month series were performed during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Chromium and nickel concentrations in leaves were analysed after every series and compared to control plants. The lowest levels of both trace elements were found in samples collected from control sites. Canonical variate analysis revealed differences among sites and the control, and on this basis we found the lowest values in the suburban area. The lowest trace element concentrations of Cr in leaves were observed at the beginning of the growing season and the highest from mid-June to mid-August, while Ni concentrations varied among series and years. Accumulation of both trace elements in Italian ryegrass was at a comparable level or lower than results obtained in similar investigations in other countries. Moreover, the higher concentrations of both elements were probably connected with increased traffic and elevated small industry activities in urban and rural areas.

The intrinsic features of the temporal evolution of the air pollution are of crucial importance for its reliable modeling. In this regard, Varotsos et al. (2012) suggested that the surface ozone fluctuations at Athens since 1900, exhibit long-range dependence (long-memory), despite its present-day doubling. We herewith establish the long-memory in surface ozone concentrations that assumed in Varotsos et al. (2012), by employing recent analytical tools.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are promoted in China to ease increasing pressures of urban air pollution and oil security. In this paper, we measured two Toyota Prius HEVs by using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) to evaluate their real–world performance with regard to gaseous emission factors and fuel consumption. Our results indicated that their average exhaust emission factors of CO, THC, NOX and CO2 were 0.25±0.08 gkm–1, 0.015±0.002 gkm–1, 0.009±0.005 gkm–1 and 136±21 gkm–1 (i.e., 5.81±0.90 L 100km–1 for fuel consumption) respectively, while driving the averaged on–road traffic pattern. Compared to conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles, the tested HEVs demonstrated significant advantages in simultaneously mitigating major air pollutants (e.g., NOX), greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) and fuel consumption. For example, average CO2 emission factors are reduced by approximately 35% and 15% relative to conventional gasoline and diesel cars in Macao. Unlike conventional gasoline and diesel cars, relative CO2 emission factors of HEVs were much less sensitive to speed change, while their relative NOX emission factors were reduced as average speed became lower. This indicates significant environmental and energy benefits from HEVs under congested driving conditions. Our assessment suggests that HEVs are a competitive technology option for the taxi fleet in Macao with strong advantages in saving fuel cost for taxi drivers and mitigating NOX emissions.

Elemental composition of PM2.5 and PM10 was measured from 16 locations in Greater Kolkata in Eastern India. Sampling was carried out in the winter months of 2013–2014. PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations ranged from 83–783μg/m3 and 167–928μg/m3 respectively. 20 elements were measured with an Agilent 7700 series ICP–MS equipped with a 3rd generation He reaction/collision cell following closed vessel microwave digestion. In both size fractions Fe, Na, Al, K, Ca were present in high concentrations (>1 000ng/m3), Mn, Zn and Pb demonstrated medium concentrations (>100ng/m3), and Sc, V, Co, Ni, Mo, Cd, Sn and Sb had low concentrations (<100ng/m3). Ca, Al, Mg, Sc, Ti, Mn and Fe were concentrated in the PM10 fraction, while the toxic metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn, Sb, V, Co, Cu, Cd and Pb) were concentrated in the PM2.5 fraction. Al normalized Enrichment Factors (EF) showed EF<10 for Ti, Mg, Sc, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Ca, V, Co which is indicative of crustal sources, 100>EF>10 for Ni, Cr, Cu is possibly industrial influence and 1 000>EF>100 for Sn, Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Cd is related to industrial, high temperature combustion and vehicle sources. Factor analysis identified three possible sources for PM10; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust, exhaust gases of car and municipal waste incineration (2) industrial emissions, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting and three possible sources for PM2.5; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust and industrial emissions (2) exhaust gases of cars and municipal waste incineration, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting. In a risk evaluation using a U.S. EPA IRIS, chromium was found to have the highest excess cancer risk.