The effect of multiple stressors on marine ecosystems is poorly understood. To partially bridge this knowledge gap we investigated the relative contribution of environmental variables to density and diversity dynamics of the zooplankton community in the Belgian part of the North Sea. We applied multimodel inference on generalized additive models to quantify the relative contribution of chlorophyll a, temperature, nutrients, salinity and anthropogenic chemicals (i.e. polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) to the dynamics of calanoid copepod species in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Temperature was the only predictor consistently showing a high importance in all models predicting the abundances of the selected copepod species. The relative contribution of other predictors was species-dependent. Anthropogenic chemicals were important predictors for three out of six species indicating that chemical mixtures at low concentrations should not be left unattended when performing risk assessments in a natural environment.

The aim of the study is to select a cellulosic waste material from paper industry solid wastes and process it for sorbent production. Four different solid wastes were collected from a local paper production facility and rejects were selected due to its sorption capacity and processability. Oil sorption experiments were conducted according to the ASTM F 726-12 method. Effect of sorbent dosage, contact and dripping time, recovery of the oil, reusability of the sorbent and sorption from the water surface were also determined. Maximum oil sorption capacity was determined as 9.67, 12.92 and 12.84g/g for diesel oil, 0W30 and 10W30 motor oils respectively for the static test and 8.27, 10.45 and 11.69g/g for the dynamic test. An efficient and low-cost sorbent was produced from paper industry rejects that can be used on land and on water.

Phytoplankton assemblages related to environmental factors and ecological status of the Gemlik Gulf were investigated between June 2010 and May 2011. A total 155 phytoplankton species were detected and 6 taxa (Amphisolenia laticincta, Archaeperidinium minutum, Cochlodinium sp., Gynogonadinium aequatoriale, Heterocapsa rotundata and Metaphalacroma sp.) were new records for the Turkish Seas. The lowest and highest total phytoplankton abundance among the sampling units (depths) was recorded in April 2011 (7.4×103cellsL−1) and July 2010 (251.8×103cellsL−1). Local small patches of visible red tide events were detected especially in the gulf, although a phytoplankton bloom was not observed. The water column was well stratified in the early autumn and well mixed in the early spring according to stratification index values. Surface nutrient concentrations increased especially at stations located inside of the gulf. The limiting effect of silicate was observed in early, mid-summer and early winter periods while the nitrogen was the limiting nutrient in the gulf during the whole sampling period. In the Gulf, low water quality-high mesotrophic and bad water quality-eutrophic status, high quality and low trophic level were generally detected according to Chl a, dissolved oxygen and trophic index. However, indices developed to determine the trophic level and water quality of the Mediterranean Sea can give unexpected results about the current environmental quality status when it is applied to the Marmara Sea which has limited photic zone by the halocline-pycnocline and thermocline.

In this study, 228 daily Particulate matter (PM) filters (57 Quartz and 57 Teflon samples for both PM2.5 and PM10, respectively) were collected from an urban site in Zhengzhou in typical months from 2014 autumn to 2015 summer representing the four seasons. PM concentrations, water-soluble inorganic ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon, and elements were determined, and positive matrix factorization was used for source apportionments. Health risks of toxic elements in PM2.5 and PM10 were also evaluated. The annual mean values of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher than the standards in China, and the highest seasonal concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were in winter. Secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAs) were the major component, with the ratio of SIAs/PM highest in summer. The seasonal concentrations of SO42− were high in winter and summer. Crustal elements mainly existed in PM2.5–10; however, elements from anthropogenic sources (i.e., Zn, Pb, Cu, As, Cd, and Mo) were more abundant in fine particles than in the coarse fraction. The main pollution sources were dust, SIAs, coal combustion, vehicle and road dust, and industry, accounting for 10%, 26%, 25%, 20% and 15% in PM2.5 and 32%, 14%, 24%, 18% and 8% in PM10, respectively. Dust source has the highest contribution in PM10; however, SIAs source has the highest content in fine particles. The carcinogenic risks of As to children through the daily intake pathway in PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the acceptable level. Noncarcinogenic risks of As and Cd in PM2.5 and PM10 to children via the daily intake pathway were significant. Moreover, the sum of noncarcinogenic risks in PM10 via inhalation exposure for local residents and that via dermal absorption for children were significant. The details of the pollution characteristics and the results of source apportionments and health risks assessment of PM2.5 and PM10 in this study can play an important role for the government to formulate reasonable and effective policy to mitigate the atmospheric pollution of PM. To our knowledge, this systematic study is the first to investigate the chemical characterizations, source apportionments, and health effects of PM2.5 and PM10 in Zhengzhou.

Previous studies suggested that the removal of Ulva microscopic propagules (UMP) from cradle water might restrict the formation and expansion of green tides in the Yellow Sea, China. In this study, the distribution characteristics of UMP in the southern Yellow Sea was investigated, and then a flocculation experiment of UMP using modified clay (MC) was conducted at a selected station of the research cruise. The results indicated that the distribution of green algae thalli is one of the main factors that directly influence UMP distribution. UMP density was strongly negatively correlated with the distance between the sampling station and the centre of the area containing floating Ulva (r=−0.618***, n=83). >80% of the UMP was removed from the water column after MC application at a concentration of 0.1g/L, and MC applied at a concentration of 0.5g/L reduced the germination rate to 0.3%.

Raindrops falling on the sea surface produce turbulence. The present study examined the influence of rain-induced turbulence on oil droplet size and dispersion of oil spills in Douglas Channel in British Columbia, Canada using hourly atmospheric data in 2011–2013. We examined three types of oils: a light oil (Cold Lake Diluent - CLD), and two heavy oils (Cold Lake Blend - CLB and Access Western Blend - AWB). We found that the turbulent energy dissipation rate produced by rainfalls is comparable to what is produced by wind-induced wave breaking in our study area. With the use of chemical dispersants, our results indicate that a heavy rainfall (rain rate>20mmh−1) can produce the maximum droplet size of 300μm for light oil and 1000μm for heavy oils, and it can disperse the light oil with fraction of 22–45% and the heavy oils of 8–13%, respectively. Heavy rainfalls could be a factor for the fate of oil spills in Douglas Channel, especially for a spill of light oil and the use of chemical dispersants.

Imposex is decreasing worldwide after the total ban on tributyltin (TBT) from antifouling paints. In order to assess improvement in the NE Atlantic, the OSPAR Convention designed an Ecological Quality Objective (EcoQO) based on the VDSI (vas deferens sequence index, an agreed measure of imposex) in the rock snail Nucella lapillus; wherever this is not available, the mud snail Nassarius reticulatus was proposed as a proxy. We determined VDSI in Galician populations of rock (n≥34) and mud (n≥18) snails at regular intervals from pre-ban times until 2009 and 2011, respectively. While imposex in the former started decreasing in 2006 and by 2009 the EcoQO had been met in the area, VDSI in the latter was not significantly reduced until 2011 and values contradict such an achievement. This suggests that the OSPAR imposex bi-species scheme may not be of direct application in the current post-ban scenario.

The Straits of Malacca is one of the world's busiest shipping routes where frequent oil spills occur. Rapid development in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia is the other major source of petroleum pollution in this narrow waterway. In order to identify occurrence and origin of hydrocarbons in the Straits, mangrove oysters (Crassostrea belcheri) were collected from five sampling locations and analysed for n-alkanes and biomarkers. Soxhlet apparatus and two step column chromatography were used for extraction, purification and fractionation of the oysters. Petroleum origin n-alkanes were detected in majority of the sampling locations which is indicative of anthropogenic activities in this region. Using source and maturity diagnostic ratios for hopanes revealed used crankcase oil as the main source of petroleum hydrocarbons in oysters from all sampling locations except for the Pulau Merambong where signature of South East Asia crude oil (SEACO) was detected.

In this study the online meteorological and chemical transport model “Weather Research and Forecasting coupled with Chemistry” (WRF/Chem) is implemented over Cyprus and evaluated against ground-based air quality and meteorological observations. Hourly O3 concentrations are strongly overestimated and a reduction in the lateral boundaries of ozone by 30% improved model agreement with observations. Utilization of grid spacing closer to the resolution of the emission data leads to an improvement in the simulation of air pollutants, while further reduction of the grid spacing mostly impacts the model performance related to meteorological parameters. The method of speciation of volatile organic compounds can also affect model results. Reduction of NOx emissions can reduce fine particulate (PM2.5) levels relatively effectively due to the important role of nitrate over Cyprus. The present case study indicates that the performance of the WRF/Chem model is reasonable for air quality and meteorological variables over Cyprus when boundary conditions are cautiously adjusted or improved, while there is a need to pursue a high-resolution local emission inventory.

XAD-resin based passive air samplers were deployed at 10 sites in the Quequén Grande River watershed in Argentina during three periods to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of pesticides and PCBs in the atmosphere. Endosulfan and chlorpyrifos were the most prevalent pesticide because of their continued usage in Argentina, while DDTs, HCHs, chlordanes, dieldrin and heptachlors registered lower levels, reflecting their use in the past. Atmospheric endosulfan levels were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher during the application period (application: 800–12,000 pg/m3, pre- and post-application: <2–350 pg/m3), suggesting that its use in the area continued even after a ban came into effect. The remaining organochlorine pesticides also reached higher concentrations during this period, which is more likely attributable to temperature controlled air-surface exchange than current applications. The highest concentrations of chlorpyrifos were recorded during the application period, in particular at agricultural sites, where its use is wide-spread on soybean fields. The fungicide chlorothalonil was found predominantly at urban sites and in proximity to Quequén harbor, suggesting that its use might be domestic and as a biocide in antifouling paints. A different temporal pattern was observed for the herbicide trifluralin, suggesting its use in the early stages of the wheat-growing season during winter. Limited spatial variations in PCBs levels indicate a diffuse contamination source in the study area, while their relatively high correlation with temperature suggests re-volatilization from local sources. Relative enrichment of lighter PCBs congeners could be attributed to re-evaporation from secondary sources as well as atmospheric transport from urban sites.