Radioactive cesium concentrations in the suspended matter of the coastal waters around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) were investigated between January 2014 and August 2015. The concentrations of radioactive cesium in the suspended matter were two orders higher in magnitude than those determined in the sediment. In addition, we discovered highly radioactive Cs particles in the suspended matter using autoradiography. The geometrical average radioactivity of particles was estimated to be 0.6 Bq at maximum and 0.2 Bq on average. The contribution ratio of highly radioactive Cs particles to each sample ranged from 13 to 54%, and was 36% on average. A major part of the radioactive Cs concentration in the suspended matter around the FDNPP was strongly influenced by the highly radioactive particles. The subsequent resuspension of highly radioactive Cs particles has been suggested as a possible reason for the delay in radioactive Cs depuration from benthic biota.

The use of higher taxa or alternative approach to species surrogacy, such as the BestAgg procedure, could represent cost-effective solutions to avoid expensive species-level identifications in monitoring activities, especially on the long term. However, whether a set of surrogates would be effective in subsequent reiteration of the same assessment remains largely unsolved. We used a long-term dataset on macro-benthic assemblages to test the hypothesis that family-level and BestAgg surrogates which are effective for a limited period of monitoring could be successfully applied to quantify community patterns also in subsequent monitoring programmes. The effectiveness of surrogates in detecting temporal variations in assemblage structure as at species level remained basically unaffected over a decade. Recognizing once and for all if species surrogacy may have a practical value for monitoring will strongly depend on future assessments of the potential of surrogates to reflect community changes and to retain this prerogative over time.

Trophodynamics and chiral signatures of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and chlordanes in a food web from Zhoushan Fishing Ground, China, were studied. Residues of OCPs in all teleost fishes were within food safety levels. Strong positive correlations were found between trophic levels (TLs) and wet weight concentrations of target chemicals, with trophic magnification factors (TMFs) from 4.17 to 9.77. Lipid contents and TLs significantly correlated, which indirectly affect the bioaccumulation processes of OCPs. The consistently racemic EF values of α-HCH, as well as invariability of the relative proportions of HCH isomers in different marine species implied that HCHs in animals originate directly from the surrounding environment. However, in vivo biotransformation and/or elimination of o,p′-DDT cannot be precluded. TMFs of the individual enantiomers further suggest that the influence of achiral biotransformation is too minor to induce enantioselective biomagnification of chiral OCPs through the studied food web.

Morphological and phylogenetic analysis showed that the Gambierdiscus isolate from Bolinao, Philippines belongs to the species of G. carpenteri. It was morphologically more similar to the Merimbula strain than the subtropical Florida Keys strain. Growth and toxin production were also investigated at varying levels of temperature, salinity, and irradiance. Gambierdiscus are known to grow favorably in a low light environment. However, this study showed high growth rates of G. carpenteri even at high irradiance levels. Generally, cells produced more toxins at lower treatment levels. Highest cellular toxin content recorded was 7.48 ± 0.49 pg Pbtx eq/cell at culture conditions of 25 °C, 100 μmol photons m−2 s−1, and salinity of 26. Growth rate and toxin production data suggest that cells produced more toxins during the slowest growth at certain range of treatments. This information gives insight into how changes in environmental conditions may affect toxin production and growth of G. carpenteri.

Pollution increasingly impacts healthy functioning of marine ecosystems globally. Here we quantify concentrations of major pollutant types (heavy metals/sewage/petrochemicals/plastics) as accumulated within marine sediments on and/or immediately adjacent to shallow reefs for 42 sites spanning coastal population centres across south-eastern Australia. Gradients in pollutants were revealed, but few pollutants co-varied, while increasing wave exposure ostensibly diluted concentrations of all pollutants except microplastics. Examination of reef biodiversity indicators revealed that maximum size of fauna and flora, a key life-history parameter summarised by the Community shortness index, plus declining functional and species richness, were the most sensitive bioindicators of pollutants – for which heavy metals and nutrient-enrichment were most pervasive. Results indicate that assemblages of biogenic habitat formers and associated fauna collapse from “long and complicated” to “short and simplified” configurations in response to increasing pollution, and this community signature may form an effective bioindicator to track human-driven degradation.

Contamination by organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) is an emerging concern in aquatic environments. Concentrations of 18 OPFRs were measured in water and sediments collected from the artificial Lake Shihwa. OPFR concentrations in sediments measured in this study were the highest reported worldwide, implying severe OPFR contamination. The highest concentrations of OPFRs were found in creeks taken near industrial complexes, and OPFR concentrations decreased with increasing distance from creeks to inshore or offshore lake waters. On-going OPFR contamination by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge was evidenced by the clear decrease in OPFRs in water samples collected moving away from WWTP outfall. TBEP and TEP were dominant in water samples, while TDCPP and TCPP were dominant in sediment samples. Differences in contamination profiles with sample matrices are likely due to hydrophobicity of individual OPFRs. Non-parametric multidimensional scaling ordination showed that OPFR contamination was affected by pollution inflow and proximity to industrial complexes.

A simple hypothesis-driven model of how floating marine plastic litter is blown onto a beach, and then moved on and off the beach by winds and rising and falling water levels is implemented in a computer simulation. The simulation applied to Aberdeen beach, Scotland, suggests that the interaction between varying winds and water levels alone, coupled to an assumed constant offshore floating litter density, can account for 1) the order of magnitude of the long term average (2000−2010) beach plastic litter loading (observed = 127 np/100 m, simulated = 114 np/100 m); 2) the observed frequency spectrum of low water beach plastic litter loadings; 3) the magnitude of the ratio between offshore floating plastic litter densities and onshore beach plastic litter loadings; 4) zero overall net beach plastic litter accumulation. Results are relevant to beach survey design, designing methods to estimate litter accumulation rates and the setting of MSFD beach litter targets.

Direct mortality of wildlife is generally used to quantify the damage caused by pollution events. However, free-ranging wildlife that survive initial exposure to pollutants may also experience long-term consequences. Individuals that are rehabilitated following oil exposure have a known history of oiling and provide a useful study population for understanding behavior following pollution events. We GPS-tracked 12 rehabilitated brown pelicans and compared their movements to those of eight non-oiled, non-rehabilitated controls over 87–707 (mean = 271) days. Rehabilitated pelicans traveled farther, spent more time in long-distance movements, and occupied more productive waters than controls. These differences were more apparent among females than males. Rehabilitated pelicans also visited breeding colonies and nest sites at lower rates than controls. Our results indicate that, although rehabilitated pelicans undertake long-distance movements, they may display increased dispersion and reduced breeding investment, particularly among females. Such behavioral changes could have long-term effects on populations.

The most common lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) ore minerals are galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS). Milling and mining operations of these ores produce huge amounts of waste known as chat and tailings. Chat is composed of gravel, sand, and silt-sized rock materials, whereas tailings are often fine-grained and silt-sized particles with higher toxic element concentrations. Upon oxidation, tailings with high pyritic materials release Pb, Zn, Cadmium (Cd), and other elements associated with ores affecting plant productivity, the ecosystem, and human health. This article is an overview on utilizing the subsurface submergence technique for mitigating environmental impacts from abandoned mine waste materials. In the past, researchers have studied the influence of submergence on these elements; however, an emphasis on gathering a detailed understanding of such redox-based remediation processes is not that common. We reviewed literature that evaluated water chemistry, solid phases, and association of trace elements, and addressed utilization of surface amendments of mine tailings for predicting their interactions within sediments and overlying waters. Case studies specifically focused on mining of Pb and Zn, including a recent study conducted in the Tri-State mining district (Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma), are presented to add a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical transformations of trace elements present in mine waste materials under a long-term submergence. The purpose of this article is to present evidence on the viability of subsurface disposal of mine waste materials, in order to design effective remediation and mitigation strategies to protect human and environmental health in the global dimension.

This study estimated for the first time the total loads of plastic litter (macro- meso- and micro-plastics) in sediments of different habitat types from the Northern Adriatic Sea. Samples were collected in March 2016. The sampling sites were settled in shoreline, on the C. nodosa bottoms, Amphioxus sands, and Mäerl bed habitats. Microplastics items were present in all sampling site and ranging within 137-703 items/kg d.w. from Mäerl bed habitat to the shoreline. In C. nodosa bottoms 170 items/kg d.w. were found, while in Amphioxus sands were recorded on average 194 items/kg d.w. Due to the absence of statistical associations among litter levels and abundance of B. lanceolatum in the study area, this research present the needs to develop a new method and more research to for the evaluation of how much the interrelation between sensible habitats and microplastic exist.