We determined total mercury (Hg) distribution in muscle and liver of ten ray species and assessed health risk considering Hg levels in muscle and average consumption of rays in Mexico. Rays were collected from five sites in NW Mexico between March and November 2012. Hg concentrations ranged from 4.465μgg−1 in muscle of the longtail stingray Dasyatis longa to 0.036μgg−1 in liver of the diamond stingray Dasyatis dipterura. Considering all the individuals, Hg in muscle (1.612±1.322μgg−1) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than in liver (0.745±0.616μgg−1). Regarding local health risk assessment, none of the ray species may cause adverse effects on consumers.

The hydrodynamic action of wind and the distribution of biomass of seagrass meadows in a non-tidal eutrophic lagoon (Orbetello Lagoon, Tuscany, Italy) were analysed for correlations by simulation with a Wave Exposure Model (WEMo) on 5-year data series. WEMo and statistical analysis established a weak direct correlation between the areas that the model identified as being subject to resuspension and transport of sediment and those actually colonised by seagrass. A significant difference was found between surface and bottom hydrodynamics. The areas that the model identified as exposed to higher energy surface hydrodynamics proved to be inversely correlated with seagrass biomass. Multivariate statistical analysis ordered the model variables according to their relative importance. The model indicated the need for further study, demonstrating its utility for environmental management of eutrophic lagoons.

This study reveals potential accumulation of trace metals in the sea and groundwater due to ship breaking activities which take place along the Bay of Bengal in Sitakund Upazilla, Chittagong, Bangladesh. When compared with WHO and Bangladesh domestic standards for water quality, it is revealed that seawater was strongly polluted by Fe and Hg, moderately by Mn and Al, and slightly by Pb and Cd. Groundwater was strongly polluted by Fe, Pb and Hg, moderately by Mn and Al, and slightly by As. Trace element concentrations of all seawater samples exceeded the average concentration of elements in the Earth’s seawater. The application of Principal Components Analysis identified two sources of pollution–marine and ship breaking. The mechanism of groundwater pollution inferred that if seawater is polluted, nearby groundwater is also polluted with trace metals due to the influence of seawater intrusion.

The European seas are under anthropogenic pressures impacting the state of water quality, benthic habitats and species. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires the Member States to assess the impacts of pressures and make a programme of measures leading to good environmental status (GES) by 2020. This study presents a method for assessing the quantity and distribution of anthropogenic impacts on benthic habitats in the Baltic Sea by using spatial data of human pressures and benthic habitats. The southern sub-basins were more extensively impacted than the northern sub-basins. Over the entire sea area, deep sea habitats were more impacted than shallower infralittoral and circalittoral habitats. Sand and coarse sediments were the seabed types relatively most impacted in the Baltic Sea scale. A comparison against tentative thresholds for GES showed that in the sub-basin scale only one third of the habitat types was in GES.

The triazole fungicide epoxiconazole is extensively used to control fungi on crops and may present some potential risk from runoff on coastal ecosystems located close to agricultural areas. Phytotoxicity assessments were conducted on the marine diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans using both the active ingredient and its formulated product (Opus). The 3-day EC50 using cell count was 2.31 mg/L for epoxiconazole active ingredient and 2.9 mu g/L for epoxiconazole-formulated. The fungicide produced an increase of cellular volume, pigment (chlorophylls a, c, and carotenoids) content, ATP synthesis, and rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Progressive algal cell recovery from epoxiconazole effects occurred after 3 days, with the increasing cell density. Differences in cell age, light, and nutrient composition induced changes in epoxiconazole sensitivity. Since these parameters affect cellular division rates, the cellular density is an important parameter in toxicity tests.

International audience | Accumulated sediments in a 32,000-m3 detention basin linked to a separate stormwater system were characterized in order to infer their health hazards. A sampling scheme of 15 points was defined according to the hydrological behaviour of the basin. Physical parameters (particle size and volatile organic matter content) were in the range of those previously reported for stormwater sediments. Chemical analyses on hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs and heavy metals showed high pollutant concentrations. Microbiological analyses of these points highlighted the presence of faecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci) and actinomycetes of the genus Nocardia. These are indicative of the presence of human pathogens. E. coli and enterococcal numbers in the sediments were higher at the proximity of the low-flow gutter receiving waters from the catchment. These bacteria appeared to persist over time among urban sediments. Samples highly contaminated by hydrocarbons were also shown to be heavily contaminated by these bacteria. These results demonstrated for the first time the presence of Nocardial actinomycetes in such an urban context with concentrations as high as 11,400 cfu g-1.

We investigated the effects of river floods on the macrobenthic community of the intertidal flat in the Ohta River Estuary, Japan, from 2005 to 2010. Sediment erosion by flood events ranged from about 2–3cm to 12cm, and the salinity dropped to 0‰ even during low-intensity flood events. Cluster analysis of the macrobenthic population showed that the community structure was controlled by the physical disturbance, decreased salinity, or both. The opportunistic polychaete Capitella sp. was the most dominant species in all clusters, and populations of the long-lived polychaete Ceratonereis erythraeensis increased in years with stable flow and almost disappeared in years with intense flooding. The bivalve Musculista senhousia was also an important opportunistic species that formed mats in summer of the stable years and influenced the structure of the macrobenthic community. Our results demonstrate the substantial effects of flood events on the macrobenthic community structure.