Hydrostatic pressure (HP) increases linearly with depth in aquatic environments, so that many fish species routinely experience moderate-to-high HP levels (i.e., from a few to dozens of MPa). Biological effects of this thermodynamic variable are evidenced by a reduced functionality of many biomolecular systems, even in barotolerant and barophilic species. It is likely that environmentally-relevant HP levels (i.e., above atmospheric) could also modulate the responsiveness to and toxic effects of pollutants in fish. Still, only a few laboratories have investigated this possibility. The already-published ecobarotoxicological studies have brought strong support to the notion that HP can indeed modulate pollutant response in shallow-water and deep-sea animals. A careful reassessment of toxicity responses is therefore required. To quantify the exact influence of HP in marine fish toxicology, a research framework is proposed that should ensure the collection of meaningful data for risk assessment, using standard toxicity testing and mechanistic approaches.

The direct effect of atmospheric turbulence on plume rise in the current research work is studied through examining the turbulence intensity parameter. A hybrid unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) numerical approach is applied with a new mixed scale sub-grid parameterization technique in the commercial ANSYS Fluent software in order to simulate the buoyant plume behavior in a turbulent crossflow. The accuracy of the simulation method is crosschecked against the wind tunnel data available in the literature. The numerical simulation results in various operating conditions are used to derive a new plume rise formula in which the direct effect of atmospheric turbulence intensity at stack height (IAir) is explicitly introduced in the plume rise formula. Furthermore, the buoyancy parameter of the flue gas is determined at some distances upstream of the stack top surface to include the whole effects of source buoyancy on the plume rise. The value of IAir at stack height is obtained by measuring the standard deviation of wind velocity at stack height. The sensitivity analysis showed that by increasing the atmospheric turbulence intensity, the final plume rise decreases because of the updraft and downdraft motions of turbulence and it has been found that there is a linear dependency between the plume rise and (IAir)−1.22. The quantile-quantile plots show that the new model can predict the simulated plume rise with a deviation factor of 1.0025 whereas the conventional models overestimate the final plume rise at least by a factor of 2.2.

Sharks are long-lived apex predators which can accumulate toxic metals such as mercury and arsenic. Samples of Sphyrna lewini and Carcharinus porosus were collected from two commercial fish landing sites in Trinidad. Heavy metal concentrations were determined in the muscle, dorsal fin, vertebrae and liver using atomic absorption spectrometric. The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were determined to assess the potential health risks to consumers. Mercury levels ranged between 74–1899μg/kg in S. lewini and 67–3268μg/kg in C. porosus. Arsenic levels ranged between 144–2309μg/kg in S. lewini and 762–6155μg/kg in C. porosus. Cadmium levels generally ranged between 0.27–27.29mg/kg in S. lewini and 0.6–29.89mg/kg in C. porosus. Lead levels generally ranged between 0.14 and 208.81mg/kg in S. lewini while C. porosus levels ranged between 0.30 and 459.94mg/kg. The PTWI and THQ values suggest that consumption of these shark species can therefore be a major source of exposure to lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in humans and is likely to have potential health risk over long term exposure.

In this study, the concentration and sources of aliphatic and petroleum markers were investigated in 105 samples of Anzali, Rezvanshahr and Astara cores from the southwest of Caspian Sea. Petroleum importation was diagnosed as a main source in most depths of cores by the results of unresolved complex mixture, carbon preference index and hopanes and steranes. From the chemical diagnostic parameters, petroleum inputs in sediment of cores were determined to be different during years and the sources of hydrocarbons in some sections differed than Anzali and Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan oils. Diagenic ratios in most sediments of upper and middle sections in Astara core were determined to be highly similar to those of Azerbaijan oil, while the presence of Turkmenistan and Anzali oils were detected in a few sections of Anzali and Rezvanshahr cores and only five layers of downer section in Anzali core, respectively.

The toxicity of the antifouling biocides Irgarol 1051, Diuron, Chlorothalonil, Dichlofluanid, Sea-nine 211, Copper pyrithione, Zinc pyrithione, Ziram and Zineb were evaluated on Nitzschia pungens and Artemia larvae. Results showed that EC50 for Irgarol 1051 was 0.586μgl−1 was the strongest effect on N. pungens following by Copper pyrithione (4.908μgl−1), Ziram (5.421μgl−1), Zinc pyrithione (5.513μgl−1), Diuron (6.640μgl−1), Zineb (232.249μgl−1), Sea-nine 211(267.368μgl−1), Chlorothalonil (360.963μgl−1) and Dichlofluanid (377.010μgl−1) in 96h. In Artemia larvae, the biocides were evaluated the LC50 for larval survivals at 48h. Sea-nine 211 and Copper pyrithione were 0.318 and 0.319mgl−1. Chlorothalonil, Zinc pyrithione and Ziram were 2.683, 3.147 and 4.778mgl−1. Irgarol 1051, Diuron, Zineb and Dichlofluanid were 9.734, 30.573, 41.170 and 154.944mgl−1. These results provide baseline data concerning the toxicity of antifouling biocides against marine environment.

This study reports the first ever application of the trace element pollution index (TEPI) along a coastal, urban gradient using trace element concentrations (Ti, Mn, Co, Cu, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Zn and Se) in the amphipod crustacean Talitrus saltator. Samples were collected from 10 sites in Galway Bay (Ireland) and concentrations of Pb showed the greatest spatial variation, likely due to the proximity of some sites to a former landfill and busy harbour. The TEPI used alongside the quartile method allowed for the assigning of sites to contamination level categories. Mapping these class levels allowed for straightforward visualisation of trace element contamination along the urban gradient. In addition, this study presents trace elements levels in T. saltator form the Atlantic Coast of Europe for the first time and the concentrations observed were comparatively lower than previously reported for T. saltator from the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.

Enrichment of heavy metals was assessed in the Thi Vai Estuary and in the Can Gio Mangrove Forest (SE, Vietnam). Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn contents in water and in sediments were measured. Total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and C/N ratios were determined. Cu and Cr values were higher than threshold effect level of toxicity, while Ni exceeded probable effect level, indicating the risk of probable toxicity effects. Enrichment factors (EF), contamination factor (CF) and Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) were determined. CF reveals moderate to considerable pollution with Cr and Ni. EF suggests anthropogenic sources of Cr, Cu and Ni. I-geo indicates low contamination with Co, Cu and Zn and moderate contamination with Cr and Ni. Overall metal contents were lower than expected for this highly industrialized region, probably due to dilution, suggesting that erosion rates and hydrodynamics may also play a role in metal contents distribution.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are biological pollutants that cause detrimental ecological, economic, and human-health effects in their introduced communities. With increasing globalization through maritime trade, ports are vulnerable to AIS exposure via commercial vessels. The Cuban Port of Mariel is poised to become a competitive transshipment hub in the Caribbean and the intent of this study was to evaluate present and potential impacts AIS pose with the likely future increase in shipping activity. We utilized previous assessment frameworks and publicly accessible information to rank AIS by level of threat. Fifteen AIS were identified in Cuba and one, the Asian green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), had repeated harmful economic impacts. Five species associated with trade partners of Port Mariel were considered potentially detrimental to Cuba if introduced through shipping routes. The results presented herein identify species of concern and emphasize the importance of prioritizing AIS prevention and management within Cuba.