The bioavailability and risk assessment of As were studied in sediments of the Yangtze River estuary (YRE). Results showed that residual fractions dominated the As partition (>85%), which attenuated overall bioavailability. After the residual fraction, As mainly partitioned into the Fe-Mn oxides fraction (3.16–4.22%). Arsenic bound to Fe-Mn oxides was higher in wet seasons. The carbonate fraction was minimal, which may result from the negative state presence of As in sediments. According to the risk assessment code, the YRE was classified as low risk. Additionally, the reduction of As(V) to As(III) may occur due to the reducing condition in wet seasons. Considering As(III) is more toxic and mobile, As bound to the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxides fractions may have more potential ecological risk. Thus, the speciation and fraction should be both considered on the ecological risk of As in sediments of the YRE.

Mercury (Hg) is considered a contaminant of global concern for coastal environments due to its toxicity, widespread occurrence in sediment, and bioaccumulation in tissue. Coastal New Jersey, USA, is characterized by shallow bays and wetlands that provide critical habitat for wildlife but share space with expanding urban landscapes. This study was designed as an assessment of the magnitude and distribution of Hg in coastal New Jersey sediments and critical species using publicly available data to highlight potential data gaps. Mercury concentrations in estuary sediments can exceed 2μg/g and correlate with concentrations of other metals. Based on existing data, the concentrations of Hg in mussels in southern New Jersey are comparable to those observed in other urbanized Atlantic Coast estuaries. Lack of methylmercury data for sediments, other media, and tissues are data gaps needing to be filled for a clearer understanding of the impacts of Hg inputs to the ecosystem.

To determine effects of photochemical weathering of petroleum, surrogate and Macondo (MC252) crude oils were exposed to solar radiation during the formation of Water Accommodated Fractions (WAFs) in sterile seawater. Samples were incubated in either unfiltered sunlight, with ultraviolet radiation blocked (Photosynthetically Active Radiation [PAR] only), or in darkness. WAFs were collected at two time points over the course of a week. Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) analyses of water soluble species formed during exposure to sunlight were compared for the different treatments. Photochemical alterations resulted in differences in compound class distributions. In general, surrogate oil was photo-oxidized across a wider carbon number range compared to MC252. While photochemical differences were observed between MC252 and surrogate oils, microbial production in seawater responded similarly to both WAFs from both types of oils with the majority of the inhibition resulting from oil exposure to visible light.

Surface sediments were collected near potential contamination sources impacting Ribeira Bay (Brazil), a system considered as a ‘reference site’ for trace metals. Physicochemical properties (pH and Eh), grain size and concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorus (TP), acid-volatile sulfides (AVS) and simultaneously-extracted metals (Fe, Mn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were analyzed. Although relatively low metal concentrations were found, correlations of Zn and Ni with high TP levels suggested an association with sewage inputs, while other metals presented associations with specific geochemical carriers (TOC, Fe and Mn compounds). AVS levels exceeding those of the sums of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn (ΣSEM) by at least one order of magnitude and TOC-normalized differences between ΣSEM and AVS ((ΣSEM–AVS)/fOC) near to or below than −200μmolgOC−1 indicated that there were sufficient AVS and TOC levels to control trace metal bioavailability in sediment pore water.

‘Ramp-up’, or ‘soft start’, is a mitigation measure used in seismic surveys and involves increasing the radiated sound level over 20–40min. This study compared the behavioural response in migrating humpback whales to the first stages of ramp-up with the response to a ‘constant’ source, ‘controls’ (in which the array was towed but not operated) with groups in the absence of the source vessel used as the ‘baseline’. Although the behavioural response, in most groups, resulted in an increase in distance from the source (potential avoidance), there was no evidence that either ‘ramp-up’ or the constant source at a higher level was superior for triggering whales to move away from the source vessel. ‘Control’ groups also responded suggesting the presence of the source vessel had some effect. However, the majority of groups appeared to avoid the source vessel at distances greater than the radius of most mitigation zones.

Temporal trend studies are useful to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations on local pollutants. The emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been regulated by the Korean government in accordance with the Stockholm Convention. The accumulation and temporal trends of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs were investigated in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) collected in Korean waters. Median concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs were 1.0, 1.1, 0.1, and 1.8pgTEQ/g lipid weight, respectively, which were lower than threshold values for marine mammals. Age- and sex-dependent accumulation patterns were found for PCDFs and DL-PCBs. Temporal trends in finless porpoises collected between 2003 and 2010 showed significant reduction rates of 57%, 54%, 69%, and 60% for PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs, respectively. Our results suggest that the regulations on dioxin-like contaminants have been effective for marine mammals in Korea.

The characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from sediments with four particle sizes (<25, 63–25, 200–63 and >200μm) in the Yangtze Estuary were compared. The differences in their binding capacities for individual fluorescent components with As/Sb were studied using fluorescence-quenching titrations combined with excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectra. The results indicated that the particle size influenced the quality and quantity of extracted DOM. With increasing particle size, the extracted DOM content, value of UV280 and acidic functional group content of the DOM decreased. Three protein-like components (C2, C3 and C4) and one humic-like component (C1) were identified using the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model. Wherein, protein-like material dominated in DOM on different particle-size fractions and possessed a stronger complex capacity with As/Sb. A significant positive correlation between the complexation capacity of extracted DOM from samples, as well as with the acidic functional group content, was observed.

Microplastics are known to be an increasing component found within both marine sediments and the water column. This study carried out an initial assessment of the levels of microplastics present within the Solent estuarine complex, focusing specifically on the water column. A plankton net trawl survey was carried out, with samples analysed using visual observation and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The study identified significant quantities of plastics, ranging in shape, with hot spots found at confluence points within the estuary. Though the FT-IR analysis was inconclusive, the nature of the samples indicates the effect of oceanographic conditions on the prevalent types of microplastics found, which in turn identifies key local sources such as wastewater treatment plants and the plastics industry as being the dominant inputs.

A novel aerobic denitrification and biomineralization strain CN86 was isolated from the Qu Jiang artificial lake. Based on phylogenetic characteristics, the isolated strain was identified as Acinetobacter species. Strain CN86 was confirmed to have the ability to perform simultaneous denitrification and biomineralization. Exponential decay equation was used for the matching of kinetic processes on denitrification and biomineralization. A highest nitrate removal rate was achieved at the pH7.0, organic concentration of 1.5g/L and temperature of 30°C. An optimal hardness removal rate was obtained at the pH9.0, organic concentration of 2.0g/L and temperature of 30°C. Strain CN86 is a suitable candidate for the simultaneous removal of nitrate and hardness in groundwater treatment.

Coral populations in the Persian Gulf have a reputation for being some of the toughest in the world yet little is known about the energetic constraints of living under temperature and salinity extremes. Energy allocation for sexual reproduction in Gulf corals was evaluated relative to conspecifics living under milder environmental conditions in the Oman Sea. Fecundity was depressed at Gulf sites in two Indo-Pacific merulinid species (Cyphastrea microphthalma and Platygyra daedalea) but not in a regionally endemic acroporid (Acropora downingi). Gulf populations of each species experienced high temperature bleaching at the onset of gametogenesis in the study but fecundity was only negatively impacted in P. daedalea and A. downingi. Large population sizes of C. microphthalma and P. daedalea in the Gulf are expected to buffer reductions on colony-level fecundity. However, depleted population sizes of A. downingi at some Gulf sites equate to low reef-wide fecundity and likely impede outcrossing success.