Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) ingest plastic marine debris of a wide range of shape, sizes and sources. To better characterize this plastic and provide insights regarding its provenance and persistence in the environment, we developed a simple method to classify plastic fragments of unknown origin according to the resin codes used by the Society of Plastics Industry. Known plastics were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) to identify indicator chemicals characteristic of each plastic resin. Application of this method to fragments of ingested plastic debris from boluses of Laysan albatross from Kure Atoll, Hawai’i, yielded proportions of 0.8% High Density Polyethylene, 6.8% Polystyrene, 8.5% Polyethylene Terephthalate, 20.5% Polyvinyl Chloride and 68.4% Polypropylene. Some fragments were composed of multiple resin types. These results suggest that infrequently recycled plastics are the dominant fragments ingested by albatross, and that these are the most prevalent and persistent resin types in the marine environment.

Adsorption of suspended particles to the interface of surfactant-dispersed oil droplets can alter emulsion phase and sedimentation behavior. This work examines the effects of model mineral aggregates (silica nanoparticle aggregates or SNAs) on the behavior of oil (octane)–water emulsions prepared using sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (DOSS). Experiments were conducted at different SNA hydrophobicities in deionized and synthetic seawater (SSW), and at 0.5mM and 2.5mM DOSS. SNAs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the emulsions were examined by optical and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. In deionized water, oil-in-water emulsions were formed with DOSS and the SNAs did not adhere to the droplets or alter emulsion behavior. In SSW, water-in-oil emulsions were formed with DOSS and SNA–DOSS binding through cation bridging led to phase inversion to oil-in-water emulsions. Droplet oil-mineral aggregates (OMAs) were observed for hydrophilic SNAs, while hydrophobic SNAs yielded quickly sedimenting agglomerated OMAs.

A simple methodology for the determination of bioavailability of fourteen metals in coastal sediments has been developed by simulating the conditions of digestive process of marine fishes. With this aim, a representative sediment composite sample was treated with hydrochloric acid solutions at different pH values, temperatures and contact times, in the presence and absence of Pepsin and Trypsin. The addition of Pepsin and Trypsin did not affect the extraction of most elements. As a result of the present study, the digestion with a hydrochloric acid solution at pH 1, 40°C and 12h is proposed. Adjustments of the temperature and time reaction could be made according to the specific ecosystem under study. The amount of metal extracted by other methods based on acetic acid was lower than that extracted by HCl treatment proposed.

In this paper, a Monte Carlo simulation based two-stage adaptive resonance theory mapping (MC-TSAM) model was developed to classify a given site into distinguished zones representing different levels of offshore Oil Spill Vulnerability Index (OSVI). It consisted of an adaptive resonance theory (ART) module, an ART Mapping module, and a centroid determination module. Monte Carlo simulation was integrated with the TSAM approach to address uncertainties that widely exist in site conditions. The applicability of the proposed model was validated by classifying a large coastal area, which was surrounded by potential oil spill sources, based on 12 features. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that the classification process was affected by multiple features instead of one single feature. The classification results also provided the least or desired number of zones which can sufficiently represent the levels of offshore OSVI in an area under uncertainty and complexity, saving time and budget in spill monitoring and response.

To evaluate the health status at six different study areas, we used the generalized linear model approach with selected biochemical markers in resident fish from uncontaminated and contaminated sites. We also confirmed the independence between the biochemical indices and the morphometric indices including the hepato-somatic index (HSI), gonado-somatic index (GSI), and condition factor (CF) in fish from the sampling areas. The effect of area on the presence of biotransformation markers (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity; EROD) was significantly high in Masan Bay. The area with the greatest effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was Jindong Bay, while there was no significant effect of GSI, HSI, CF, and sex in the EROD model and HSI, CF and sex in the AChE model. These results clarify that fish from Masan, Gwangyang and Jindong Bay were affected by pollutant stress, and the analysis of sensitive biochemical responses allowed for an improved interpretation of the results.

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the sediment from the Hormuz strait, Persian Gulf. The sum of 16 PAHs (ΣPAH) concentrations varied from 72.17 to 277.77ngg−1 dry weight, with an average value of 131.20±59.29ngg−1 dry weight. An ecological risk assessment of PAHs, indicated that adverse biological effects caused by acenaphthene and acenaphthylene occasionally may take place in the sediment of Hormuz strait. PAH source identification showed that the PAHs in the sediments come from pyrogenic and mixed origin. Based on classification of pollution levels, sediments from Hormuz strait could be considered as low to moderately polluted with PAHs.

Wintertime chemical composition of water–soluble particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5μm (PM2.5) was monitored in the Treasure Valley region near Boise, Idaho. Aerosol was sampled using a Particle Into Liquid Sampler (PILS) and subsequently analyzed using ion exchange chromatography and a total organic carbon analyzer. During the two–month sampling campaign, the region experienced varying meteorological regimes, with an extended atmospheric stagnation event towards the end of the study. For all of the weather regimes, water–soluble PM2.5 was dominated by organic material, but particulate nitrate showed the greatest variation over time. These variations in particulate nitrate concentration were found to be dependent on the time of day, nitrogen oxides (NOX) concentrations, and relative humidity. The increases in particulate nitrate did not correlate with an equivalent molar increase of ammonium concentration, ruling out solid ammonium nitrate formation as the dominant source. Instead, our analysis using an online aerosol thermodynamic model suggests that the condensation of gas phase nitric acid was possible within the meteorological conditions experienced during the study. In running this model, atmospheric chemical and physical parameters close to those observed during the study were used as model input. The simulation was run for three different scenarios, representing the different meteorological regimes experienced during the study. From the simulation particulate nitrate concentration was highest during cold and humid nights. Currently this region is in attainment with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5; however, with the projected increase in population and economic growth, and the subsequent increase in NOX emissions, these episodic increases in particulate nitrate have the potential of pushing the area to non–attainment status.

Organotins (OTs) have caused widespread adverse effects on marine organisms, while they can also induce health problems to humans via consumption of contaminated seafood. This study aimed to quantify the tissue concentrations of OTs in 11 seafood species in Hong Kong, and assess the human health risk for consuming these species. The tongue sole Paraplagusia blochii had the highest concentration of total OTs. Triphenyltin (TPT) accounted for 56–97% of total OTs. The highest hazard quotient (HQ) for TPT was 1.41 in P. blochii, while the HQs for butyltins were much less than 1. The results indicated that it is likely to have certain health risks for consuming P. blochii due to its high TPT contamination. Therefore, TPT should be a priority pollutant of concern. Appropriate management actions should be taken to control its use and release in the region in order to safeguard the marine ecosystem and human health.

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.

In November 2012, the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) concluded a 12year review of the PSII herbicide diuron. One of the primary concerns raised during the review was the potential impact on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in the catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef. The environmental risk assessment process used by the APVMA utilised a runoff risk model developed and validated under European farming conditions. However, the farming conditions in the sugarcane regions of the Great Barrier Reef catchments have environmental parameters beyond the currently validated bounds of the model. The use of the model to assess environmental risk in these regions is therefore highly inappropriate, demonstrating the pitfalls of a one size fits all approach.