Besides being food and a refuge to marine species, macroalgae are a powerful and renewable economic resource. However, they may introduce microplastics (MPs) in the trophic chain. We developed a reliable analytical method to characterize and quantify MPs in common and edible macroalgae. Several digestion methods and filters, along with various measurement options, were studied. A new enzymatic-oxidative protocol with a unique final filtration was selected and validated with a mixture of 5 commercial macroalgae (Undaria pinnatifida spp, Porphyra spp, Ulva spp, Laminaria ochroleuca and Himanthalia elongate). Further, it was shown that washing the macroalgae to release MPs is suboptimal and the potential adhesion of MPs to macroalgae was evaluated. A filter subsampling strategy that scans 33.64 % of its surface reduced the time required to characterize <70 μm particles and fibres directly on the 47 mm diameter filter using an IR microscope (1 sample/day).

Sound from small recreational boats spans a wide range of frequencies and source levels, but the degree to which this impacts the soundscapes of shallow coastal habitats is poorly understood. Here, long-term passive acoustic recordings at five shallow coastal sites, including two MPAs, were used to quantify spatio-temporal variation in small boat sound and its effect on the soundscape. Boats were detected almost every day at each site, irrespective of protection status, significantly elevating the low-frequency (100–800 Hz) component of the soundscape. This frequency band is used by many species for communication, orientation, and predator avoidance. Therefore, highlighting the potential for small boat sound to alter soundscapes and mask cues. Existing tools for monitoring sound pollution are targeted at sound from shipping. These data highlight that the broadband and highly variable sound emitted by small boats must be considered when evaluating anthropogenic impacts on coastal marine ecosystems worldwide.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are widely found in the environment and can act as a vector for various toxic substances and promote their diffusion and bioenrichment, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, the adsorption characteristics of bisphenol A (BPA) onto NPs were explored. The results show that the adsorption of BPA on NPs was dominated by saturated single-layer adsorption and affected by both intra-particle diffusion and liquid film diffusion. Electrostatic interaction, π–π interaction, and hydrophobic effects played key roles in adsorption. In addition, the introduction of electrolytes inhibited the adsorption of BPA onto NPs. Interestingly, the introduction of suspended sediment promoted the formation of heterogeneous aggregates of NPs-SS, thereby reducing the adsorption capacity, indicating that aggregation may play an important role in the adsorption behavior of NPs. Overall, our results provide new insights into the adsorption behavior of BPA on NPs and the underlying mechanisms under different environmental conditions.

In this study, we explored the heavy metal elements in 42 surface sediments from the Malacca Strait in terms of distribution, controlling factors, environmental quality, and primary sources. An analysis of grain size revealed finer sediments near the coast of Malaysia, which gradually thickened toward offshore. In addition, heavy metal elements were abundantly distributed near the coastal area of Malaysia, with a gradual decrease toward the sea; their content increased within waters close to the Perak estuary. Source analysis of heavy metals showed that Cr, Hg, Zn, Cd, and Cu were mostly derived from natural weathering, and their distribution was significantly influenced by sediment grain size. As and Pb were affected by human activities. The environmental quality assessment results showed that Cu, Cr, Cd, and Zn in our study regions were pollution-free. Pb elements showed low-to-moderate pollution, and Hg showed a certain degree of ecological risk due to its high toxicity coefficient. The content of As elements in surface sediments increased significantly when compared to the background value, with several evaluation methods indicating a high-risk index. According to these findings, the area near the mouth of the Perak River is the most polluted, followed by the surrounding coastal areas.

We used the Ecopath with Ecosim ecosystem model to assess the future effects of multiple stressors on sardine and the Portuguese continental shelf ecosystem. We assessed individual and combined impacts of changes in sardine fishing pressure, biomass of sardine competitors and predators and sea surface temperature (SST). This study demonstrated that the greatest impact on sardine stock is caused by projected SST rise whose effect is dominant and detrimental to sardine stock regardless of other conditions, including sardine fishing at maximum sustainable yield (FMSY). The largest impact on ecosystem stability, maturity and diversity of flows was observed under the forced-biomass scenarios that simulate changes in biomass of sardine predators and competitors. Moreover, these stressors alongside FMSY are projected to play an important role in the future evolution of the sardine stock. Results presented in this study can assist long-term and strategic management of the Iberian sardine stock.

An open experimental setup was established in order to explore the toxic effects of the antidepressant paroxetine on meiobenthic nematodes. Three types of microcosms made from polyvinyl chloride tubes, each comprising two sediments compartments (upper and lower), were used in a laboratory experiment for 15 days. The experimental setup targeted the migratory behaviour of the nematofauna from the above compartments, which were exposed to paroxetine (0.4 and 40 μg.l⁻¹), towards below compartments. The univariate indices significantly decrease in the contaminated compartments compared to controls. Multivariate analyses revealed also significant taxonomic dissimilarities between contaminated and uncontaminated compartments. Furthermore, SIMPER functional outcomes highlighted a significant decrease in 2A feeding groups, ‘co’ tail shape, 1–2 mm interval length, ‘cr’ amphid shape, and c-p2 life history in contaminated compartments. Computational approach showed that paroxetine bound GLD-3 and SDP with high affinities, which together with molecular interactions and toxicokinetics satisfactorily explain the experimental results.

Ingestion of microplastics has been documented across marine species, but exposure remains sparsely described in many seabird species. We assess microplastic (between 0.2 and 5.0 mm) ingestion in two Northwestern Atantic - breeding species for which exposure to microplastics is entirely or largely undescribed: Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Roseate Terns (S. dougallii). Common Tern microplastic load did not vary between life stages (p = 0.590); microplastic load did differ in Common Tern adults breeding at two of three colonies explored (p = 0.002), with no other regional differences observed. Roseate Terns ingested significantly more microplastics than Common Terns (p = 0.007). Our results show that microplastic ingestion by terns varies regionally and interspecifically, but not by life stage, trends potentially explained by dietary differences. We provide the first quantification of microplastic fiber ingestion by terns in the Northwestern Atlantic and identify trophic dynamics related to microplastic ingestion, representing an important step toward understanding the risk of the pollutant to terns across regions, as well as toward the use of terns as potential bioindicators of microplastics.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Microcystins (MCs) are refractory cyclic heptapeptides which mainly due to the release of bloom-forming cyanobacteria and is a problem of emerging environmental concern. The presence of MCs in water poses a severe challenge to the health of human beings. This review is aimed to summarize the recent progress in removing MCs, and to serve the development of theories and technologies for eliminating MCs in the future. RECENT FINDINGS: The traditional methods such as membrane filtration, chemical reagent, and biological enzyme suffer from high cost or second pollution in the process of removing MCs. The magnetic adsorption nanomaterial is regarded as an efficient treatment technology for the removal of MCs due to its easy separation and low cost. The carbon-based photocatalysis possesses a broader prospect for application in eliminating MCs, which could degrade MCs with high efficiency and lower energy consumption. This article reviews the physical, biological, and chemical methods of eliminating MCs. The mechanism of various methods for the removal of MCs was proposed. Additionally, the magnetic adsorption nanomaterial and carbon-based photocatalysis for removing MCs are also discussed. Finally, based on the drawbacks of current research, prospects for future research were discussed. This review is expected to provide a reference for future environmental pollutants remediation particularly within the domain of eliminating MCs.

Anthropogenic fibres are an emerging pollutant worldwide. The Can Gio mangrove area is located downstream of the Saigon River, and is characterised by high level of anthropogenic fibres originating from domestic and industrial textile and apparel manufacturing. In this area, biota is thus subjected to a high potential risk of anthropogenic fibre contamination. This study aims to characterise the accumulation of anthropogenic fibres in different tissues, i.e. gills, digestive systems, and remaining tissues, of white clams (Meretrix lyrata) cultivated in the Can Gio beach sand, during a seven-month sampling period. The results showed an average concentration of 3.6 ± 2.1 fibres individual⁻¹ or 2.7 ± 2.4 fibres g⁻¹ ww. Higher fibre accumulation was observed in remaining tissues than in gills and digestive systems, and no temporal variation was observed in all clam tissues. The intake of fibres by humans consuming clams was estimated to be 324 fibres inhabitant⁻¹ yr⁻¹.

Calonectris diomedea is a colonial Procellariiform breeding on Mediterranean islands. The stomach oil produced during chick rearing is a peculiar trait of this species. The composition of the stomach oil is likely to reflect the composition of the prey ingested and might reveal the contaminants uptake with prey becoming a possible tool for the marine pollution monitoring. We examined the concentration of 15 trace elements by ICP-MS and direct mercury analyser. The principal component analysis revealed a heterogeneous pattern of metal concentration, showing a significant separation between samples collected 20 and 70 days after hatching. The data obtained in this work give preliminary information on the feeding habits and breeding ecology of Linosa's colony of Scopoli's shearwater. The trace metals variability found suggest that the stomach oil may have a role as trophic markers to understand predator-prey relationships and to have evidence on the accumulation of pollutants in the latter.