Distributions of trace metals (TM), organic carbon, SPM and physico-chemical parameters were studied in the highly stratified Krka River estuary in winter/summer periods. The non-conservative behaviour of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in the brackish layer (plume), easily spotted due to very low inputs by the river, was mainly caused by their inputs from the pleasure boats, nautical marinas and harbour (e.g. release from antifouling paints). Contrarily, Ni and Co followed near-conservative behaviour. The extremely low SPM discharged by the river, resulted in a predominant dissolved fraction (>80%) of all TM, except Pb. Vertical scavenging, coupled with the long residence time, caused accumulation and progressive upstream increase of TM and SPM in the bottom seawater. Decrease of distribution coefficient (KD) in the brackish layer for winter period was ascribed to the change of SPM nature (terrestrial vs. biogenic), whereas a variable and increased biogenic component of SPM caused scattered KDs in summer.

Nickel and chromium accumulation from the air in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) is presented in this paper. Plants were exposed at five sites varying in environmental characteristics. Four one-month series were performed during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Chromium and nickel concentrations in leaves were analysed after every series and compared to control plants. The lowest levels of both trace elements were found in samples collected from control sites. Canonical variate analysis revealed differences among sites and the control, and on this basis we found the lowest values in the suburban area. The lowest trace element concentrations of Cr in leaves were observed at the beginning of the growing season and the highest from mid-June to mid-August, while Ni concentrations varied among series and years. Accumulation of both trace elements in Italian ryegrass was at a comparable level or lower than results obtained in similar investigations in other countries. Moreover, the higher concentrations of both elements were probably connected with increased traffic and elevated small industry activities in urban and rural areas.

As a consequence of the growing global demand of energy supplies, intense oil and gas exploration and exploitation programs have been carried out worldwide especially within the marine environments. The release of oil-derived compounds in the sea from anthropogenic sources both as effluents or accidental spill is perceived as a major environmental concern. An approach based on a combination of biomarkers and the distribution of some classes of environmentally relevant pollutants was used to investigate the occurrence of a stress syndrome in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected at three gas platforms placed in two distinct oceanographic districts within the Adriatic Sea. Biological responses were integrated by a ranking algorithm which demonstrated both a range of biological effects reflecting exposure gradients and a temporal related trend in the investigated responses. The overall results demonstrate a moderate to absent pollution from studied gas platforms with low but remarkable biological disturbance in sentinel organisms.

This study analysed the levels of androgen receptor antagonist activity in extracts of coastal sediments sampled from estuaries in southern UK and northern France. Anti-androgenic (AA) activity varied between <0.2 and 224.3±38.4μg flutamide equivalents/g dry weight of sediment and was significantly correlated with the total organic carbon and silt content of samples. AA activity was detected in tissues extracts of clams, Scrobicularia plana, sampled from a contaminated estuary, some of which was due to uptake of a series of 4 or 5 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Initial studies also indicated that fractionated extracts of male, but not female, clams also contained androgen receptor agonist activity due to the presence of dihydrotestosterone in tissues. This study reveals widespread contamination of coastal sediments of the Transmanche region with anti-androgenic compounds and these contaminants should be investigated for their potential to disrupt sexual differentiation in aquatic organisms.

The influence of environmental parameters on the total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus seasonal densities in American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) was evaluated for 1year. Harvesting site A yielded the highest mean densities of V. parahaemolyticus tlh+, tdh+/trh−, tdh−/trh+ and tdh+/trh+ during spring season at 2.57, 1.74, 0.36, and −0.40 log10MPN/g, respectively, and tdh+/orf8+ during winter season (0.90 log10MPN/g). V. parahaemolyticus tlh+ densities were associated to salinity (R2=0.372, P<0.022), tdh+/trh+ to turbidity (R2=0.597, P<0.035), and orf8+ to temperature, salinity, and pH (R2=0.964, P<0.001). The exposure to salinity and temperature conditions during winter and spring seasons regulated the dynamics of V. parahaemolyticus harboring potentially pathogenic genotypes within the oyster. The adaptive response of V. parahaemolyticus to seasonal environmental changes may lead to an increase in survival and virulence, threatening the seafood safety and increasing the risk of illness.

Secondary copper smelting processes (SeCu) have previously been identified as an important source of brominated dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs). Identifying the major stages responsible for PBDD/F formation and emissions is crucial for developing technology to reduce PBDD/F emissions from SeCu, but nothing is currently known in this regard. In this study, stack gas samples from three smelting stages (feeding–fusion, oxidation and deoxidization) were collected and analyzed for PBDD/Fs to identify the stage most responsible for PBDD/F emissions. The results indicated that PBDD/F emissions mainly occurred during the feeding–fusion stage. Overall, PBDF emissions were much higher than PBDD emissions throughout the smelting process. Higher–brominated PBDD/F congeners were the most dominant contributors. The emission factors of PBDD/Fs during the feeding–fusion, oxidation and deoxidization stages were calculated to be 715, 119 and 31ng t−1, respectively. The results of this study are important for identifying the stages most responsible for PBDD/F emissions and developing techniques for reducing PBDD/F emissions from SeCu processes.

Heavy metal concentrations and physicochemical parameters in seawater were measured in Guangdong coastal waters, South China. Results showed that the concentrations and distribution of heavy metals varied spatially and seasonally. Generally, heavy metal concentrations in the east regions were higher than in the west. Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr in wet seasons were generally higher than in dry seasons owing to the seasonal differences of the river discharge, rainfall and seawater intrusion. Principal component (PC) analysis showed that PC1, PC2 and PC3 in the east were correlated to Pb+Cr+Zn+Cd, As+Cd and Cu, respectively, and they were correlated to Pb+Cr, Zn+Cu+Cd and As+Cu, respectively, in the west. That was maybe due to the differences of local heavy metal sources. The anthropogenic activities contributed more to the main sources of heavy metals, and contamination factors indicated that Zn and Pb pollution was serious in study area.

In order to understand the effect of different culture systems on Cd and Pb accumulation, suspended long-line and bottom cultures of Argopecten purpuratus were conducted during January until April 2010 (120days). The Cd tissue levels were the highest at the middle of the experiment (30-d till 70-d) for suspended-cultured individuals, while bottom-cultured individuals showed an increasing trend. Gonad Pb levels were also higher during the same period for all cultures, while adductor muscle exhibited no considerable variations. Cd and Pb tissue concentrations were mainly greater in deeper cultures. There were no significant differences in Cd and Pb accumulation between individual sizes. The Cd and Pb levels in edible tissue (gonad+adductor muscle) did not exceed the EU and FDA maximum levels. Based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the provisional tolerance weekly intake (PTWI), no risk (THQ<1 and %PTWI<30) was found for human consumption.

Fungi of the Ascomycota phylum were isolated from oil-soaked sand patties collected from beaches following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To examine their ability to degrade oil, fungal isolates were grown on oiled quartz at 20°C, 30°C and 40°C. Consistent trends in oil degradation were not related to fungal species or temperature and all isolates degraded variable quantities of oil (32–65%). Fungal isolates preferentially degraded short (<C18; 90–99%) as opposed to long (C19–C36; 7–87%) chain n-alkanes and straight chain C17- and C18-n-alkanes (91–99%) compared to their branched counterparts, pristane and phytane (70–98%). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were also degraded by the fungal isolates (42–84% total degraded), with a preference for low molecular weight over high molecular weight PAHs. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the capacity of fungi to degrade oil in the coastal marine environment.

Elemental composition of PM2.5 and PM10 was measured from 16 locations in Greater Kolkata in Eastern India. Sampling was carried out in the winter months of 2013–2014. PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations ranged from 83–783μg/m3 and 167–928μg/m3 respectively. 20 elements were measured with an Agilent 7700 series ICP–MS equipped with a 3rd generation He reaction/collision cell following closed vessel microwave digestion. In both size fractions Fe, Na, Al, K, Ca were present in high concentrations (>1 000ng/m3), Mn, Zn and Pb demonstrated medium concentrations (>100ng/m3), and Sc, V, Co, Ni, Mo, Cd, Sn and Sb had low concentrations (<100ng/m3). Ca, Al, Mg, Sc, Ti, Mn and Fe were concentrated in the PM10 fraction, while the toxic metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn, Sb, V, Co, Cu, Cd and Pb) were concentrated in the PM2.5 fraction. Al normalized Enrichment Factors (EF) showed EF<10 for Ti, Mg, Sc, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Ca, V, Co which is indicative of crustal sources, 100>EF>10 for Ni, Cr, Cu is possibly industrial influence and 1 000>EF>100 for Sn, Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Cd is related to industrial, high temperature combustion and vehicle sources. Factor analysis identified three possible sources for PM10; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust, exhaust gases of car and municipal waste incineration (2) industrial emissions, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting and three possible sources for PM2.5; (1) abraded vehicular part related road dust and industrial emissions (2) exhaust gases of cars and municipal waste incineration, and (3) coal combustion and non–ferrous metal smelting. In a risk evaluation using a U.S. EPA IRIS, chromium was found to have the highest excess cancer risk.