In order to explore the detoxification mechanisms adopted by mangrove under cadmium (Cd) stress, we investigated the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd, in addition to the change of the thiol pools in Kandelia obovata (S., L.) Yong, which were cultivated in sandy culture medium treated with sequential Cd solution. We found that Cd addition caused a proportional increase of Cd in the organs of K. obovata. The investigation of subcellular distribution verified that most of the Cd was localized in the cell wall, and the lowest was in the membrane. Results showed sodium chloride and acetic acid extractable Cd fractions were dominant. The contents of non-protein thiol compounds, Glutathione and phytochelatins in K. obovata were enhanced by the increasing strength of Cd treatment. Therefore, K. obovata can be defined as Cd tolerant plant, which base on cell wall compartmentalization, as well as protein and organic acids combination.

Baseline Hg concentration in bycatch fish from the SE Gulf of California were determined in muscle and liver of 19 species. Levels of Hg in muscle were compared with legal limits of this element in national and international legislation. Considering all fish species, mean concentrations in liver (2.458±1.997μgg⁻¹) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in muscle (0.993±0.670μgg⁻¹). The sequence of averaged Hg concentrations in most ichthyofauna was liver>muscle. Highest level of Hg in muscle (2.556μgg⁻¹) and liver (7.515μgg⁻¹) corresponded to Diapterus peruvianus and Ophioscion strabo, respectively. Considering muscle samples, none of the species had levels of Hg above the limit (1.0μgg⁻¹ wet weight) in the Mexican legislation; with respect to the Japanese (0.4μgg⁻¹ wet weight) and British (0.3μgg⁻¹ wet weight) legislations, 26.3% and 31.6% of the species respectively, were above the corresponding limits.

The contamination of aquatic environments has become the focus of increasing regulation and public concern due to their potential and unknown negative effects on the ecosystems. The present work develops a monitoring and statistical study, based on the analysis of variance test (ANOVA) and the multivariable analysis, both for insoluble soap and LAS in order to compare the behavior of different anionic surfactants in this environmental compartment. First, a novel and successfully validated methodology to analyze insoluble soap in these samples is developed. The matrix effect and the comparison of different extraction techniques were also performed. The optimized analytical methodologies were applied to 48 representative samples collected from the Almeria Coast (Spain) and then a statistical analysis to correlate anionic surfactant concentration and several variables associated with marine sediment samples was also developed. The results obtained showed relevant conclusions related to the environmental behavior of anionic surfactants in marine sediments.

Since 1990, tissue samples from UK-stranded and -bycaught cetaceans have been available for study of contaminant burdens. These have been used to study spatial and temporal trends in concentrations in UK waters, and to investigate potential associations between contaminants and health status. We describe the current status of cetaceans (primarily harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena) in UK waters in relation to pollution. Concentrations of BDEs, HBCD, and the organochlorine pesticides are declining. In contrast, concentrations of CBs have plateaued following earlier reductions due to regulation of use, and further reductions are likely to take decades. Blubber PCB concentrations are still at toxicologically significant levels in many harbour porpoises and regularly occur at even higher levels in bottlenose dolphins and killer whales due to their higher trophic level in marine food chains. Further reductions in PCB inputs into the marine environment are needed to mitigate risk from PCB exposure in these species.

Organotin compounds (OTs) are ubiquitous in the marine environment and high concentrations (μgg⁻¹ range) in sediments from different coastal areas around the world have been reported. However, few reports have described the OTs contamination status in the offshore and deep sea environment. This work investigated organotin levels in Nazaré canyon for the first time. Levels of monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), diphenyltin (DPT), triphenyltin (TPT), dioctyltin (DOT) and trioctyltin (TOT) were quantified in sediment samples from the upper flanks of the canyon and from the adjacent coastal area. TBT levels detected in the canyon flanks are about two to three orders of magnitude lower than those found in the coastal area. Nevertheless, when quantifiable, TBT levels in the canyon samples were higher than the Environmental Assessment Criteria set for TBT in sediments by the OSPAR Commission indicating that at those locations negative ecological impacts are likely to occur.

The present study investigates the histochemical localization of N-acetyl-β-hexozaminidase (Hex), acid phosphatase (AcP) and β-glucuronidase (β-Gus) in the digestive gland of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, as well as the clarification of suitable enzyme for biomarkers’ application dealing with lysosomes. The results show more intense and homogenous localization of Hex, in relation to AcP and β-Gus and, thus, Hex histochemistry is supported as more suitable procedure for the evaluation of “lysosomal membrane stability” and “morphometrical alterations of lysosomes”. The affection of lipofuscin granules on lysosomal enzymes’ activity is also discussed. Additionally, the present study examines the response of small- and large-sized mussels M. galloprovincialis by assessing the “lysosomal membrane stability”, “morphometrical alterations of lysosomes”, “lysosomal response index (LRI)” and “structural epithelial changes in digestive tubules”. The results indicate appreciable alterations of the above parameters in large-sized mussels, supporting their greater influence by the environmental factors, in relation to small-sized ones.

We assessed amounts, composition, and trends of marine debris for the U.S. Pacific Coast and Hawai’i using National Marine Debris Monitoring Program data. Hawai’i had the highest debris loads; the North Pacific Coast region had the lowest debris loads. The Southern California Bight region had the highest land-based debris loads. Debris loads decreased over time for all source categories in all regions except for land-based and general-source loads in the North Pacific Coast region, which were unchanged. General-source debris comprised 30–40% of the items in all regions. Larger local populations were associated with higher land-based debris loads across regions; the effect declined at higher population levels. Upwelling affected deposition of ocean-based and general-source debris loads but not land-based loads along the Pacific Coast. LNSO decreased debris loads for both land-based and ocean-based debris but not general-source debris in Hawai’i, a more complex climate-ocean effect than had previously been found.

Sediment particle size analysis (PSA) is routinely used to support benthic macrofaunal community distribution data in habitat mapping and Ecological Status (ES) assessment. No optimal PSA Method to explain variability in multivariate macrofaunal distribution has been identified nor have the effects of changing sampling strategy been examined. Here, we use benthic macrofaunal and PSA grabs from two embayments in the south of Ireland. Four frequently used PSA Methods and two common sampling strategies are applied. A combination of laser particle sizing and wet/dry sieving without peroxide pre-treatment to remove organics was identified as the optimal Method for explaining macrofaunal distributions. ES classifications and EUNIS sediment classification were robust to changes in PSA Method. Fauna and PSA samples returned from the same grab sample significantly decreased macrofaunal variance explained by PSA and caused ES to be classified as lower. Employing the optimal PSA Method and sampling strategy will improve benthic monitoring.

Photo-acclimatisation by the algal endosymbionts of scleractinian corals to changes in environmental conditions may influence their density and/or the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, and hence coral brightness, on short time-scales. To examine coral pigmentation as a bioindicator of water quality, the brightness of massive corals was quantified using colour charts, concentrations of the pigment chlorophyll a and reflectance spectrometry in the field and with manipulative experiments. Along a water quality gradient, massive Porites became progressively lighter as nutrients decreased and irradiance increased. A laboratory experiment showed that Porites nubbins darkened within 25days following exposure to reduced water quality. The results of a transplantation experiment of Porites nubbins in a manipulation incorporating multiple depths and zones of water quality confirmed colony brightness as a simple tool to monitor changes in marine water quality, provided effects due to other influences on pigmentation, e.g. seawater temperatures, are taken into consideration.

The current status of mercury concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) were assessed using the Mussel Watch Program (MWP) contaminant monitoring data, which is based on the analysis of oyster tissue and sediment samples. In both matrices, tHg and MeHg concentrations varied broadly. Significant concentration differences (p<0.05) between the sub-regions of the eastern, central and western Gulf were observed with maximum concentrations (hotspots) found at specific sites all across the Gulf. Compared to the Food and Drug Administration’s action level in seafood, maximum mercury values were low. Based on the long-term MWP data, tHg in tissues show fairly static temporal trends along the central and western Gulf coast, while strong decreasing trends were observed in the eastern Gulf. However, the presence of mercury hotspots indicates that mercury is still a concern in the GOM. The results complement existing information to further the understanding of mercury distributions in the GOM.