Relatively large volumes of water—on the order of cubic meters—must be sampled and analyzed to generate statistically valid estimates of sparsely concentrated organisms, such as in treated ballast water. To this end, a third prototype of a shipboard filter skid (p3SFS) was designed and constructed. It consisted of two housings (each containing a 35μm mesh filter bag) and its own pump and computer controller. Additionally, the skid had a drip sampler, which collected a small volume (∼10L) of whole (unfiltered) water immediately upstream of the housings. Validation of the p3SFS occurred in two segments: (1) land-based trials, in which the collection of organisms ⩾50μm (nominally zooplankton) by the p3SFS was compared to a plankton net, and (2) shipboard trials, in which ballast water was sampled aboard a ship. In both types of trials, the data collected showed the filter skid to be an appropriate flow-through sampling device.

Uptake and biological effects of synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) were analyzed using common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were exposed to clobetasol propionate (CP) or clobetasone butyrate (CB) individually or in mixture at 1μgL−1 for 21days. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) of CB was calculated as 100, and BCF of CP was less than 16. No effects were found in fish erythrocyte and leukocyte numbers and serum glucose levels after exposure to the selected GCs. On the other hand, serum concentrations of free amino acids significantly increased in GC-exposed groups. Thus, exposures to synthetic GCs at relatively low concentrations seemed to cause enhancement of protein degradation and subsequent increase of serum free amino acids without a corresponding increase in serum glucose levels, an effect which might be related to partial induction of gluconeogenesis by GC.

A sorbent for oil spill cleanup was prepared through a novel strategy by treating polyurethane sponges with silica sol and gasoline successively. The oil sorption capacity, oil/water selectivity, reusability and sorption mechanism of prepared sorbent were studied. The results showed that the prepared sorbent exhibited high sorption capacity and excellent oil/water selectivity. 1g of the prepared sorbent could adsorb more than 100g of motor oil, while it only picks up less than 0.1g of water from an oil–water interface under both static and dynamic conditions. More than 70% of the sorption capacity remained after 15 successive sorption–squeezing cycles, which suggests an extraordinary high reusability. The prepared sorbent is a better alternative of the commercial polypropylene sorbent which are being used nowadays.

This study investigated the spatial distribution of Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax resting cysts in recently-deposited sediment of Bizerte lagoon (South-Western Mediterranean, Tunisia). This lagoon is the subject of many anthropogenic impacts, such as holding important fishing and aquaculture activities. A. pseudogonyaulax has been shown to produce Goniodomin A, which is a biologically-active compound. We showed that this dinoflagellate produces two types of resting cysts, which could be distinguished by the presence or the absence of a paratabulate wall. The average cyst density across the whole lagoon was rather high, reaching 639cystsg−1 of dry sediment (DS). Cyst densities varied widely among the sampled stations, with the highest density of 1685cystg−1DS being recorded at station 51 near a mussel farm. With respect to sediment characteristics, the highest cyst densities were found within silty sediments with high water content values. The distribution of A. pseudongoyaulax cysts in Bizerte lagoon appears to be related to hydrodynamic factors.

Three passive sampling devices (PSDs), polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), polyethylene devices (PEDs), and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) samplers were used to sample a diverse set of chemicals in the coastal waters of San Francisco Bay and the Southern California Bight. Seventy one chemicals (including fragrances, phosphate flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and pesticides) were measured in at least 50% of the sites. The chemical profile from the San Francisco Bay sites was distinct from profiles from the sites in the Southern California Bight. This distinction was not due to a single compound or class, but by the relative abundances/concentrations of the chemicals. Comparing the PSDs to mussel (Mytilus spp.) tissues, a positive correlation exists for the 25 and 26 chemicals in common for the PEDs and SPME, respectively. Diphenhydramine was the only common chemical out of 40 analyzed in both POCIS and tissues detected at a common site.

To expand the utility of the Mussel Watch Program, local, regional and state agencies in California partnered with NOAA to design a pilot study that targeted contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Native mussels (Mytilus spp.) from 68 stations, stratified by land use and discharge scenario, were collected in 2009–10 and analyzed for 167 individual pharmaceuticals, industrial and commercial chemicals and current use pesticides. Passive sampling devices (PSDs) and caged Mytilus were co-deployed to expand the list of CECs, and to assess the ability of PSDs to mimic bioaccumulation by Mytilus. A performance-based quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) approach was developed to ensure a high degree of data quality, consistency and comparability. Data management and analysis were streamlined and standardized using automated software tools. This pioneering study will help shape future monitoring efforts in California’s coastal ecosystems, while serving as a model for monitoring CECs within the region and across the nation.

Atmospheric mercury exits primarily as gaseous mercury and particulate mercury (PHg). Change in the species of atmospheric mercury will pose significant impact on the biogeochemical process of mercury. Here total gaseous mercury (TGM) and total particulate mercury (TPM) were measured from heating season in wintertime to springtime with frequent dust storm during February to May 2009 in the suburban of Hefei, central China, where atmospheric mercury measurements were completely absent. The average concentrations of TGM and TPM were 2.57±1.37ng/m3 and 0.32±0.10ng/m3, respectively. Variations in the TGM were affected by both emissions and meteorological parameters. In the heating period (February), due to coal combustion TGM concentrations were significantly higher than those in the spring (March, April and May). A clear different diurnal variation in TGM concentration was also observed both in late winter and in spring, accompanying with the advance of sunrise. The percentage of total particulate mercury (TPM) in total atmospheric Hg ranged from 5.8%–19.2%, with relatively high levels appeared in March and April. PHg was mainly derived from direct emissions by coal combustion in February and May, while it was dominated by transformation from gaseous Hg on particles in March and April due to dust storms, which may result in more deposition of mercury to ecosystem.

Long–range transport of the Saharan dust plumes during May–August of each year is a prominent feature over the tropical North Atlantic. Observations of temperature profiles are highly desirable in clarifying the impacts of the Saharan dust plumes over the tropical North Atlantic. In this work we evaluate positive temperature anomalies (inversions in the lower troposphere) in the North Atlantic low troposphere originating from Western Africa, and to examine the correspondence of these events to Saharan dust plumes, using several temperature sources and satellite–detected measurements of Aerosol Index. We combine profiles of temperature observations from FORMOSAT–3/COSMIC (F3C) with aerosol observations from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to provide direct evidence of the Saharan dust plumes modifying environmental stability. The F3C observations show good profile measurements compared with the radiosondes in the lower troposphere, with the average temperature differences less than 0.5K. The F3C results were also compared with the Aqua Advanced Infrared Radiation Sounder (AIRS) and meteorological analyses from the National Centers for Environmental Predictions (NCEP), the United Kingdom Met Office (UKMO), and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF). Our results show that hot air plumes are associated with the Saharan dust plumes during their transport across the tropical North Atlantic. There were eleven distinctive hot air plumes during May–August 2007 and 2008, respectively. These hot air plumes increase environmental temperatures below 5–km altitudes, with the maximum increase of 1–2K around 2–km. This leads to increase of environmental stability below 2–km altitudes and decrease of environmental stability between 2– and 5–km altitudes. By changing the vertical distribution of environmental stability, the Saharan dust plumes act to stabilize environmental air below 2–km while destabilize environmental air from 2– to 5–km altitudes. These results are distinctively presented in the F3C and AIRS observations but less obvious in the meteorological analyses.

Continuous measurement of fine particulate black carbon (BC) was conducted at an urban site of Guangzhou in South China from December 2007 to December 2008. The daily average BC concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 20.5μg m−3, with an average value of 4.7μg m−3, which was substantially higher than those observed in the urban areas of other developed countries. Diurnal fluctuations of BC were marked with two peaks, one in the morning rush hour (08:00LT) and the other in the late evening hour (21:00–22:00LT), while the lowest BC concentrations were observed in the afternoon. Ambient BC concentrations displayed significant seasonal and diurnal variations with higher values in winter and spring, followed by lower concentrations during autumn and summer. Wind speed, wind direction and temperature were important meteorological factors that affected BC concentrations. A clearly negative correlation (r=−0.50, p<0.01) between BC concentrations and wind speed was found during the study period. A specific investigation was conducted to determine the relationship between optical BC and thermal–optical–reflectance elemental carbon (TOR EC) in distinct seasons. Although significant correlations between BC and EC were obtained (r>0.92, p<0.01), the regression slopes (ΔBC/ΔEC) slightly deviated from each other with values of 0.79, 1.18, and 0.81 in winter, spring and summer, respectively, possibly due to the distinct mixing states and source variations in different seasons. The calculated experimental attenuation coefficient showed a higher value (19.3m2g−1) in Guangzhou than the one recommended for typical Aethalometer measurements.