Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Its main source of entry into the human body is the consumption of fish and seafood. Within the past few decades a new species of crab has appeared in the food web of the southern Baltic: Rhithropanopeus harrisii. The aim of the present study was to estimate the level of total and labile mercury concentrations in this species collected from the southern Baltic Sea. Analyses were performed using the thermodesorption method. The share of organic mercury fraction, as well as the Hgtot, increased with the size class of the crabs. Due to the increasingly common occurrence of R. harrisii and the low HgTOT concentration in its body, and assuming that it is bound to become a more and more common component of the diet of fish, it can be supposed that the load of toxic mercury entering the food web is likely to decrease.

The major and trace metal (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, Ni, Li, and Co) concentration profiles along a 60.2-m-long sediment core are investigated to assess their depositional trends and contamination levels in the Jiangsu coastal area, China. All of the metals, except Cd, had similar profiles that exhibited increasing concentrations during the Holocene. Their enrichment factors indicate that the metals were naturally sourced throughout the observed depositional period, with the exception of As, Hg, and Li, which may have also had anthropogenic sources. Their geoaccumulation indices indicate that the sediments were not contaminated by any metals prior to the Holocene, whereas they were contaminated by As, Hg, and Li throughout the Holocene (11–0 ka), and by Pb, Cr, and Zn since 2 ka.

In recent years, there is great concern about plastic pollution due to the identification of several environmental risks associated with microplastics (<5 mm). This study investigated microplastic and macroplastic accumulation patterns in a newly formed Spartina alterniflora colonized saltmarsh of an estuary in southeastern China. Abundance of microplastic and macroplastic particles was in the range of 9600–130725 and 200-4350 n/m², respectively. Abundances of microplastics and macroplastics were highest at the saltmarsh edge, but the mass of macroplastics was highest in the saltmarsh interior. Mass of microplastics and macroplastics in bareflats was significantly lower than vegetated areas. Although microplastics accounted for 96.3% of total plastic abundance, macroplastics accounted for 90% of total plastic mass. Results showed that S. alterniflora dominated saltmarshes have a strong ability to trap plastic debris, especially macroplastics. Thus, coastal saltmarshes may serve as a transformer of macroplastics to microplastics and consequently as a source of microplastics to the ocean.

Marine bioinvasions and other rapid biodiversity changes require today integrating existing monitoring tools with other complementary detection strategies to provide a more efficient management. Here we explored the efficacy of fishermen observations and traditional port surveys to effectively track the occurrence of both indigenous and non-indigenous megafauna in the Adriatic Sea. This consisted mainly of mobile taxa such as fishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Port surveys using traps and nets within 10 major Adriatic harbours, were compared with the information obtained from 153 interviews with local fishermen. Information gathered by traps and nets varied significantly and generally resulted of limited efficacy in exotic species detection. Interviews allowed tracking the occurrence of new species through time and space, providing complementary knowledge at the low cost. This combined approach improves our capability of being informed on the arrival of species of different origin, providing a more rational, improved basis for environmental management and decision making.

Plastics may leach out harmful chemicals, such as plastic additives and monomers, to the environment. This study focused on three intrinsic plastic-derived contaminants, viz. bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), and styrene, based on surface (0–5 cm) sediment samples taken from transition areas located in the human-impacted coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea. The concentrations of DEHP in the sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Szczecin Lagoon ranged from 38 to 228 ng/g d.w. and from 494 to 807 ng/g d.w., respectively. The levels of sedimentary BPA varied from <1 to 32 ng/g d.w., whereas styrene was not detected in any of the samples studied. Compared to worldwide data, the levels of plastic-derived contaminants in the sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Szczecin Lagoon were generally not high. However, according to sediment quality guidelines, some adverse environmental effects are probable.

Plastic pollution is a pervasive problem to marine life. This study aimed (1) to investigate levels of microplastic in wild and farmed mussels (Perna perna), and (2) to assess the effectiveness of depuration in reducing microplastics. Wild and farmed mussels were sampled from Guanabara Bay (Southwestern Atlantic). Four treatments were compared (N = 10 mussels/treatment): wild non-depurated mussels, wild depurated mussels, farmed non-depurated mussels, and farmed depurated mussels. Up to 31.2 ± 17.8 microplastics/mussel (≥0.45 μm) were detected (means ± SD), and microplastics were present in all 40 individuals analyzed. Nylon fibers were more abundant than polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fragments. Blue, transparent, and red nylon fibers were more abundant in both wild and farmed mussels. Although 93 h-depuration significantly reduced microplastics (ANOVA, p = 0.02) in both wild (46.79%) and farmed mussels (28.95%), differences between farmed and wild mussels were not significant (p > 0.05). Depuration was more effective in removing blue fibers. Our results highlight the importance of depuration in reducing microplastic pollution in seafood.

Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) can cause obstructions for nesting marine turtles and hatchlings, increase their exposure to toxicants, and potentially alter the incubating environment of clutches. Given the potential impacts of AMD on marine turtles, this study provides baseline information on the abundance and distribution of AMD at the ten highest density nesting beaches in Florida used by the Northern Gulf of Mexico Loggerhead Recovery Unit. Monitoring for AMD at nesting beaches was conducted in 2017 following protocols from the International Coastal Cleanup. AMD was present at all the nesting beaches, with the majority of AMD observed at the westernmost sites beginning with St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (363 AMD/km) with a gradual decrease of abundance to the easternmost site, Alligator Point (16 AMD/km). Plastic and foam items accounted for 92% (n = 13,566) of all AMD found.