Microplastic pollution has received increased attention over the last few years. This study documents microplastic ingestion in three commercially relevant demersal fish species from the Spanish Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, the European hake Merluccius merluccius and the red mullet Mullus barbatus. Overall 212 fish were examined, 72 dogfish, 12 hakes and 128 red mullets. The percentage of fish with microplastics was 17.5% (15.3% dogfish, 18.8% red mullets and 16.7% hakes), averaging 1.56±0.5 items per fish, and the size of the microplastics ranged from 0.38 to 3.1mm. These fish species are used currently as biomonitors for marine pollution monitoring within the Spanish Marine Pollution Monitoring Programme (SMP), and may be as well suitable candidates for monitoring spatial and temporal trends of ingested litter. The data presented here represent a baseline for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive descriptor 10 in Spain.

Elevated sediment loads within the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) of coral reefs can increase coral mortality and inhibit herbivory. Yet the composition, distribution and temporal variability of EAM sediment loads are poorly known, especially on inshore reefs. This study quantified EAM sediment loads (including organic particulates) and algal length across the reef profile of two bays at Orpheus Island (inner-shelf Great Barrier Reef) over a six month period. We examined the total sediment mass, organic load, carbonate and silicate content, and the particle sizes of EAM sediments. Throughout the study period, all EAM sediment variables exhibited marked variation among reef zones. However, EAM sediment loads and algal length were consistent between bays and over time, despite major seasonal variation in climate including a severe tropical cyclone. This study provides a comprehensive description of EAM sediments on inshore reefs and highlights the exceptional temporal stability of EAM sediments on coral reefs.

This study investigated accumulation of Escherichia coli and aerobic colony count in three types of shellfish species. The results indicated that the capability of accumulating E. coli and aerobic colony count for Sinonovacula constricta was stronger than that for Meretrix meretrix and Tegillarca granosa, and capability of accumulating E. coli for M. meretrix was slightly stronger than that for T. granosa. However, no significant difference was observed in the capability of accumulating aerobic colony count between M. meretrix and T. granosa. Moreover, accumulation of E. coli in S. constricta is affected by contaminated seawater and E. coli were accumulated much faster and more in S. constricta when the seawater contaminated more serious. Meanwhile, the results suggested that the populations of E. coli in S. constricta changed in accordance with the weather. This is the first study to investigate the differences of accumulating E. coli in three types of shellfish species.

Japan experienced severe environmental problems including water pollution and damages to aquatic organisms and fishery industry through and after the high economic growth period in the 1960s.One of the countermeasures to address these problems was the Total Pollutant Load Control System (TPLCS), which has been implemented with the aim of reducing the total amount of pollutant loads, specifically targeting Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), total nitrogen and total phosphorus.The TPLCS has significantly improved the quality of the coastal sea water. However, while the accumulated pollutant loads from the past industrialization have still remained, new environmental concerns have arisen. Our new environmental policies are thus to deal with conservation of biological diversity and other related marine environmental issues.Japan has entered a new phase of environmental management, setting the new direction and framework toward a beautiful, bio-diverse, bustling-with-people and bountiful sea.

Numerical simulation of oil slick movement with respect to tidal factors and wind effects was performed in order to counteract oil pollution in the Persian Gulf. First, a flow model was invoked with respect to water level fluctuations. The main tidal constituents were applied to the model using the initial conditions of water level variations in the Hormuz Strait near the Hangam Island. The movement of oil pollution was determined due to wind, tide and temperature effects and confirmed by applying a verified field results. Simulations were focused near an important terminal in the Persian Gulf, Assaluyeh Port. The results were led to preparing a risk-taking map in a parallel research for the Persian Gulf.

The presence of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was monitored in Tapes decussatus harvested in two Sardinian ponds (Cabras and Tortolì, Italy) in spring and summer. After solid phase extraction, samples were analyzed using a screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by a liquid chromatographic coupled to tandem mass spectrometer (LC–MS/MS) analysis. Results obtained through the ELISA test showed the presence of microcystins with a maximum concentration in August for Cabras pond (0.55ng/g) and in September for Tortolì pond (0.85ng/g). The LC–MS/MS analysis did not confirm the presence of MC-LR suggesting that results obtained with the ELISA technique could be due to the presence of other microcystins. According to the tolerable daily intake suggested by the World Health Organization, these results hint that clams harvested in these ponds are safe for human health. These data can contribute to enrich the knowledge about the healthiness of Sardinian ponds and of their products.

Monitoring of marine polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) is crucial, as they are considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention. Data on PCNs in marine environment are scarce. In this study, 19 air samples were collected during a cruise in the equatorial Indian Ocean on board the Chinese research vessel Shiyan I from 4/2011 to 5/2011. PCN concentration of these air samples ranged from 0.033 to 2.56pgm−3, with an average of 0.518pgm−3, equal to or lower than the values reported for other oceans, seas, and lakes worldwide. Tri- and tetra-CNs were the main homologues in most samples. Reemission of Halowax mixtures and incineration processes were the major sources of atmospheric PCNs in the study area. The PCN-corresponding toxic equivalency values ranged from 0 to 0.190fgm−3 (average: 0.038fgm−3), falling in the low end of global range.

The fine particles (PM2.5) were collected for 24 h from Agra atmosphere and chemically characterized during the one year study period. The average concentration of PM2.5 was 90.21 ± 20.62 μg m−3 which is higher than NAAQS and WHO annual standards and their seasonal trend was winter > summer > monsoon. Ionic study indicates that cations were dominant in comparison to anions. Seasonally, F−, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were higher during summer period and Cl−, NO3−, NH4+ and K+ were higher during monsoon period while SO42− was higher during winter season. The ratios Ca2+/Na+, Mg2+/Na+ and SO42−/Na+ were higher, while Cl−/Na ratio was lower than sea water ratio indicating the incorporation of non marine constituents in aerosols. The observed Cl−/Na+ (average 0.71) deviate considerable from the Sea water ratio suggesting either a fractionation of Cl− or enrichment of Na+ as there was significant deviation from marine sources. Linear correlation was observable between nss-Ca2+ and nss-Mg2+ with HCO3− throughout the annual seasonal cycle (HCO3−: Ca = 0.59, HCO3−: Mg2+ = 0.53) suggesting the origination of these species from soil dust. The calculated conversion ratio of ‘S’ (CRS) was lower than ‘N’ (CRN) which suggests that the secondary formation of NO3− aerosol from NO2 was more predominant than SO42−. Trajectory analysis indicates that long range transportation also contributes to PM2.5 mass over the measurement site.

This paper employed an input–output approach combined with a sensitivity analysis to explore the impact of technological changes on CO2 emissions in the high energy-consuming industries. In contrast to most papers in the literature, which focused on the changes between two input–output tables in two different periods, this study analyzed the sensitivity of variations in the quantity of emissions caused by small changes in technical coefficients. An indicator, namely TCE (technical coefficient elasticity), was established to identify the transactions between economic sectors which lead to a large impact on CO2 emissions in the high energy-consuming industries. Additionally, by analyzing factors affecting TCE, this paper divided TCE into structure-relevant TCE and technology-relevant TCE. Sectors have a higher structural TCE value because their products are much demanded by other sectors. Sectors have a higher technological TCE value because they have a large propensity to consume inputs which require many products of the high energy-consuming industries. Our results show that technical coefficients with a higher TCE value correspond to the direct requirements by the high energy-consuming industries themselves. However, the impacts of technological changes in the non-high energy-consuming industries on high energy-consuming industries cannot be overlooked, especially in Transportation industry, Construction industry and manufacturing industries. Several industries have a higher structural TCE value, thus, their influence on CO2 emissions in the high energy-consuming industries is related to a high level of demand of their respective products. However, several industries have a higher technological TCE value, thus, technology innovation will be more effective to decrease CO2 emissions. Therefore, different measures should be adopted for reducing CO2 emissions in the high energy-consuming industries according to different conditions.

The air quality of urban areas is of a great concern for residents living in cities. China has released a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in 2012 to improve the air quality evaluation index because the reported air quality situation from governments is inconsistent with public sensing. In total, 190 cities' hourly monitoring data are publicized in the national web platform. By using the above data, the air pollution indexes (APIs) under the previous NAAQS and air quality indexes (AQI) for all 190 cities' were calculated. With the new NAAQS, the national attainment rate has fallen from 73.63% to 59.62% with regional differences. 8 of the 10 cities with the worst air quality are located in North China around Beijing, while 9 of the 10 cities with the best air quality are located in South China. These results indicate that cities in North China, including Beijing, need to address the air pollution together as the pollution in North China is a regional issue and not a local issue.