Surface water, sediment, and fish from Biscayne Bay, coastal wetlands adjacent to the Bay, and canals discharging into the Bay were sampled for determination of baseline contamination in Biscayne National Park. While the number of contaminants detected in canal waters was greater during the wet season than the dry season, no seasonal difference was evident for Biscayne Bay or coastal wetland waters. Estrogen equivalency (as 17β-estradiol equivalents), as predicted by the Yeast Estrogen Screen, for extracts of passive water samplers deployed in canals and wetlands was elevated during the wet relative to the dry season. Generally, contamination in water, sediments, and fish was greater in the canals than in Biscayne Bay and the wetlands. Guideline levels for sediment contaminant were exceeded most frequently in canals relative to the coastal wetlands and the Bay. Further investigation is necessary to better understand the impact of contaminants in Biscayne National Park.

Concentrations of heavy metals in coastal soils, stream sediments and intertidal sediments of Yueqing Bay basin were analyzed to study their distribution and trace the possible sources. According to various single- and multi-index methods, heavy metal enrichment, especially for Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni in stream sediments, should draw environmental concern. Controlling factors such as inorganic scavengers, organic matter, sample grain size and hydrodynamic conditions were identified to influence the transportation and distribution of metals within coastal soils and sediments. Principal component analysis indicated that most metals in soils and stream sediments originate primarily from natural and anthropogenic sources, respectively. Most metals in intertidal sediments, originating both from natural processes and human activities, tend to be concentrated in fine particles. The exchange of water and sediment between the bay and open waters is strong enough to keep the metals in the tidal flats from rising to very high levels.

Horse mussel reefs (Modiolus modiolus) are biodiversity hotspots afforded protection by Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the NE Atlantic. In this study, horse mussel reefs, cobble habitats and sandy habitats were assessed using underwater visual census and drop-down video techniques in three UK regions. Megafauna were enumerated, differences in community composition and individual species abundances were analysed. Samples of conspicuous megafauna were also collected from horse mussel reefs in Orkney for stable isotope analysis.Communities of conspicuous megafauna were different between horse mussel habitats and other habitats throughout their range. Three commercially important species: whelks (Buccinum undatum), queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) and spider crabs (Maja brachydactyla) were significantly more abundant (by as much as 20 times) on horse mussel reefs than elsewhere. Isotopic analysis provided insights into their trophic relationship with the horse mussel reef. Protection of M. modiolus habitat can achieve biodiversity conservation objectives whilst benefiting fisheries also.

The possible impact of three types of anthropogenic surfactants on the ability of marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to form self-assembled microgels was evaluated. The behavior of existing native microgels was also examined in the presence of surfactants. These results reveal that the release of surfactants even at low concentrations into the aquatic environment could effectively hinder the self-assembly of DOC polymers. The extent of the size reduction had the following order: anionic, cationic, and non-ionic. Furthermore, charged surfactants can disrupt existing native microgels, converting large assemblies into smaller particles. One possible mechanisms is that surfactants are able to enhance the stability of DOC polymers and disrupt aggregates due to their surface charges and protein-denaturing activities. These findings suggest that the ecological system is altered by anthropogenic surfactants, and provide useful information for ecological assessments of different types of surfactants and raise warnings about surfactant applications.

Phytoplankton entrained into cooling water systems of coastal power stations are subjected to acute chemical stress due to biocides (chlorine) used for biofouling control. They are subsequently released into the environment, where they may survive/recover or succumb. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of a centric (Chaetoceros lorenzianus) and pennate (Navicula sp.) diatom to in-plant administered concentrations of chlorine (0.2–0.5mg/L, TRO). Viability of cells exposed to chlorine was assessed by SYTOX® Green fluorimetry and was compared with other conventional end points like total cell counts, chlorophyll a content and cellular autofluorescence. Results showed a concentration-dependant reduction in viability, chlorophyll a and autofluorescence. C. lorenzianus cells were more susceptible to chlorine compared to Navicula sp. SYTOX® Green staining appears to be a sensitive method to assess chlorine-induced damages. The data show that in-use levels of chlorination can potentially impact entrained organisms; however, they can recover when returned to coastal waters.

Controlling phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural soils remains a priority pollution concern in much of the world. Dissolved forms of P loss are among the most difficult to manage. The concept of soil P sorption saturation, the extent to which a soil’s binding sites for P are occupied, emerged from the Netherlands in the 1990s and has broad appeal as both environmental indicator and management paradigm. For hydrologically active and connected soils, P sorption saturation is responsible for the stubborn problem of legacy P, resulting in long-term release of dissolved forms of P from soils. Short- and long-term mitigation options for elevated soil P sorption saturation do exist, all with trade-offs that require adoption of new mitigation and prevention strategies. Ultimately, better incorporation of soil P sorption saturation into both crop fertility and environmental management programs is needed to promote the sustainable management of P in agricultural production systems.

Butter clams, blue mussels, and Nuttall's cockle are important traditional food of the Gitga'at First Nation in Canada. Samples were collected and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) from the Gitga'at harvest sites from 2006 to 2015 to: 1) establish baseline conditions; 2) determine the likely source; 3) understand species specific response to spills; and 4) evaluate health risk associated with consumption. Baseline lipid normalized-total PAH in mussels was 2.36 (±2.86, 95%CI) μg/g in mussels, 3.26(±4.14) μg/g in clams and 3.98 (±4.98) μg/g in cockles. PAHs varied according to proximity to point sources and became less petrogenic through time. Concentrations of PAHs were elevated in all three species following diesel spills but returned to baseline levels within 5months. However, Gitga'at harvesters avoided bivalves from spill-affected habitats for several years because of their detection of reduced quality and palatability, highlighting the importance of incorporating local knowledge into future monitoring programs.

Tungsten (W) is commonly employed as a non-toxic alternative to lead in a broad variety of industrial and military applications. However, correlations between environmental contamination through soil, water and airborne pathways, and biological effects such as epithelial damage, bioaccumulation, and trophic mobility, have led to its classification as an “emerging contaminant.” Of particular concern are recent clusters of childhood leukemia and lung cancer in the vicinity of tungsten mines and processing facilities. High environmental tungsten availability has also been associated with altered thyroid function, cardiovascular disease, and prolonged elevation of concentrations in blood, breath, and urine. Tungsten’s use as a replacement for lead (Pb) in military munitions has resulted in leaching of tungsten into soil and into soft tissues in which bullet fragments are embedded. Despite these associations, no consensus has been reached regarding the mechanisms by which tungsten affects the human body. Particularly confounding are the issues of co-toxicity with other known contaminants such as arsenic, cobalt, and cadmium, and differences resulting from the various methods of ingestion. The present paper summarizes the current behavior of tungsten in the environment, its occurrence within the pedosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, and discusses its potential effects on exposed biota (especially humans). In particular, knowledge gaps are identified regarding the biological mechanisms of tungsten-related disease, which urgently require further elucidation in order to develop appropriate policies and management practices for the use of this element.

To evaluate biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA) tracers from biogenic precursors, fine particles (PM2.5) were collected using filter-based high-volume samplers from spring-summer of 2015 in the central part of Shanghai, China. The results showed that the isoprene SOA tracers exhibited the highest levels (17.64 ± 9.75 ng m−3) and were always observed along with higher temperatures, which results in a higher tracer formation rate and isoprene emission strength. However, the isoprene SOA tracers showed a weak correlation with the relative humidity (p > 0.05). The isoprene SOA tracers showed remarkable correlations with the [H+] because of the enhanced formation of isoprene SOA in the acidic aerosols. On the basis of these results, 2-methylglyceric acid was determined to have weak correlations with other isoprene tracers, which indicated that it had different formation pathways from those of other isoprene SOA tracers. Cis-pinonic acid had negative correlations with other SOA tracers, indicating that it is the first product in the oxidation process. Furthermore, the isoprene-based tracers (SOCisoprene) were calculated to be 0.031–0.299 μg C m−3 (with an average of 0.114 ± 0.062 μg C m−3), which accounted for more than half of the biogenic SOA. The SOC estimation with SOA tracers (SOC tracer-based) averaged 0.155 ± 0.066 μg m−3, with a range from 0.049 to 0.309 μg m−3 during the sampling period, which amounted to 2.73% OC.

Long and short term effects of activated sewage sludge input on live benthic foraminiferal assemblages of the shallow shelf off Palmachim, Israel were examined at three stations along the eutrophic gradient. Over ten years from 2003 to 2012, foraminiferal abundance decreased dramatically by >50% in all stations. In 2012, new species were found near the discharge point, relative abundance of the dominant species decreased and in-sediment depth increased. In the remote stations the dominant species failed to bloom seasonally. Each year, dispersion of sludge was accompanied by intense current activity, aeration, and periodic local sediment transport, reintroducing species from nearby. Storm frequency was notably high in 2012. The decrease in numbers over time despite seasonal amelioration indicates that the constant OM input is a permanent source of environmental stress. Aside from this stress, natural variability, changes in Nile input, or a hidden impact of long-term climate change may play a role.