Marine pollution bulletin最新文献

Marine litter is a key vector of dispersing invasive species in the marine environment. However, our knowledge of the ecological interactions between these species and litter is still incomplete. Here, we investigated the substrate preferences and physical characteristics of marine litter colonized by the invasive mussel Mytella strigata, and explored the role of litter in the population expansion of this species along the Tamil Nadu coast, India. A total of 72 fouled debris were observed along the study areas. The majority of the fouling litter was composed of plastic (87.5 %), followed by rubber (4.2 %), wood (4.2 %), glass (2.8 %) and metal (1.4 %). A total of 2637 individuals of M. strigata were recorded on the marine litter, with recruitment on plastic substrates. Particularly, M. strigata were most common on large marine litter with irregular or cylindrical shapes, rough surfaces and transparent, blue or green colours. Our work provides evidence that marine litter can play a role in the reproduction of this invasive mussel. Consequently, M. strigata benefits from the litter substrates and the habitat complexity created by anthropogenic materials along the Tamil Nadu coast, enhancing its survival and reproduction. This could promote the expansion of the M. strigata population and thus affect the composition and structure of the marine ecosystem.

Global plastic pollution defines the Plasticene Era, disrupting trophic interactions across ecosystems. Despite progress since the 1990s, much about beaked whale biology and conservation status remains unknown, particularly their vulnerability to plastic pollution. The stranding of a female Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) on Rhodes Island, Greece, in April 2022 provided a rare chance to assess this threat. Examination revealed 6.73 kg of plastic debris in the stomach, covering 17.44 m², mostly polyethylene sheets, including three intact plastic bags. The largest item measured ~2000 cm², potentially mistaken for cephalopods. Spectroscopic analysis showed black residues resembling oil/tar on multiple items. Black and transparent plastics were dominant (~33 % each), followed by grey (24 %) and blue (10 %). Microplastics were not evaluated in this study, and tissue analysis showed no significant abnormalities. Cephalopod beaks of similar size to the plastics were also present. The findings indicate that plastic ingestion caused severe malnutrition, potentially contributing to the whale's death.

To estimate the accumulation potential of organically bound tritium (OBT) by seaweed from tritiated water in the coastal area beside Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), the organically bound deuterium (OBD) accumulation in seaweed was examined in incubation experiments using artificial seawater with addition of ²H₂O. In this experiment, two species (Ulva prolifera, Gracilaria vermiculophylla) were investigated at 15 and 25 °C under dark and light, respectively. OBD accumulation rates were higher under light than dark. OBD accumulation rates were higher at 25 °C or under light in U. prolifera, while these trends were not seen in G. vermiculophylla. Using the obtained data, a maximum OBT concentration in seaweed was calculated from seawater with upper permissible tritium concentration from FDNPP, as proposed by TEPCO. OBT result was 0.11 Bq g^-1 per wet weight, far smaller than the upper limit value in foods (10 Bq g^-1) proposed by WHO/FAO.

Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGTs) and Silicon Rubber (SR) passive samplers were used for the determination of metal (Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb) and organic compound (Σ16 PAHs, Σ32 PCBs, Σ6 fragrances, Irgarol) concentrations in four ports in the western Mediterranean (La Spezia, Olbia and Cagliari in Italy and Toulon in France). Several stations were selected in each port to cover the most relevant pressures, and sampling campaigns were carried out in different seasons, to characterize the distribution of contaminants under different conditions. DGT results were in the ranges 1.8-18.3 ng L^-1 for Cd, 116-3387 ng L^-1 for Cu, 177-4868 ng L^-1 for Ni and 24.3-704 ng L^-1 for Pb. SR results were in the ranges 4.6-120.2 ng L^-1 for Σ16 PAHs, 0.04-2.5 ng L^-1 for Σ32 PCBs, 3.1-375.0 ng L^-1 for Σ6 fragrances and 0.9-59.8 ng L^-1 for Irgarol. The use of passive samplers enabled the identification of site-specific contamination sources and the discrimination of the ports most susceptible to environmental risk. This valuable information can be used to improve risk assessment procedures in ports and to establish effective management strategies.

Coastal salt marshes are highly valuable ecosystems that function as significant methane (CH₄) sources. CH₄ emissions in salt marsh ecosystems result from a range of production and consumption pathways affected by biotic factors, including plant types and microbial communities. Although salt marsh ecosystems are known to be important, there is still a notable lack of understanding of the specific microbial processes and mechanisms that result in spatial variability of CH₄ production and emission rates. Thus, this study was to identify the spatial variability of CH₄ fluxes across different vegetation zones, determine potential CH₄ production rates across varying soil depths, and characterize microbial communities associated with CH₄ cycling in a salt marsh ecosystem on Goodwin Island, York River, VA. We found that the edge of the salt marsh, dominated by Sporobolus alterniflorus, exhibited higher CH₄ fluxes, reaching up to 59.19 μmol m^-2 h^-1, compared to marsh interiors dominated by Spartina patens and Distichilis spicata. The top 5 cm of soils at the marsh edge showed the highest CH₄ production rate, up to 6.0 μmol g^-1 d^-1 based on laboratory incubation experiments. The microbial community analysis further suggested the coexistence of methanogenic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria in low-sulfate environments, which might be influenced by groundwater discharge. Accordingly, the integrated findings demonstrated salt marsh ecosystems, especially at the marsh edge, as CH₄ emission hotspots by specific microbial communities and dominant vegetation types. This also highlights the importance of incorporating these spatially explicit mechanisms into global CH₄ emission assessments.

Monomethylmercury (MMHg) is a potent neurotoxin causing neurodevelopmental delays and cardiovascular and immunological issues. Human exposure primarily occurs through seafood consumption due to MMHg bioaccumulation and biomagnification from seawater into marine organisms. Determining MMHg in seawater at ultratrace concentrations poses logistical and analytical challenges. Diffusive Gradient in Thin-film (DGT) samplers represent a promising solution, which captures time-averaged concentrations by preconcentrating in situ MMHg over a defined exposure time. DGT manufactured with 3-mercaptopropyl-functionalized silica (3MFS) in agarose and polyacrylamide gels were tested and compared for the determination of MMHg present in open ocean and coastal waters. Different elution methods using acidic thiourea were tested to reach precise, accurate and quantitative elution of MMHg from the binding gel. We found that polyacrylamide-3MFS binding gels display a higher elution efficiency (94 ± 3 %), precision and better handling compared to agarose-3MFS gels (41 ± 6 %). A unique mooring line installed in the South Western Tropical Pacific Ocean, provided monthly DGT-MMHg concentrations over a year showing potential seasonal differences in MMHg concentrations ranging between 18 and 106 fM. DGT were also deployed in shallow Peruvian coastal waters, exhibiting higher MMHg concentrations (170 ± 97, n = 26) with typical benthopelagic gradients. DGT-MMHg concentrations were in good agreement with discrete water samples analyzed by reference methods using isotope dilution. DGTs offer complementary advantages over oceanographic cruises, notably in situ preconcentration, low blanks, minimal logistical requirements and cost-effectiveness. DGTs represent a valuable tool for studying the marine MMHg cycle for evaluating the implementation of the Minamata Convention.

Climate change-induced temperature rise causes a significant threat to marine organisms, including the cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones. Synchronously, many coastal environments are experiencing increased nutrient pollution, which causes eutrophication. Existing research primarily focuses on the isolated effects of thermal stress or exogenous nitrogen on marine animals. This study utilised the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida as a model to investigate how cnidarians are influenced under the combined stressors of temperature and exogenous nitrogen. We revealed that both stress-related chaperone genes, such as those regulating heat shock proteins and redox enzymes, and genes involved in nitrogen and ammonia metabolic pathways were differentially regulated. In addition, the rate of nitrate consumption in sea anemone was elevated under higher temperatures, verifying the hypothesis that an increase in temperature will enhance consumption of the excess nitrate under eutrophic conditions. This study provides new insights into the combined effects of increased temperature and eutrophication for cnidarians.

Surveys of five beaches in the Kaliningrad Oblast, located in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea, were conducted using the standard OSPAR monitoring methodology between July 2019 and July 2025. This study identified the principal litter types and assessed the anthropogenic pressure on the beaches using the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and the Hazardous Items Index (HII). The mean concentration of anthropogenic litter was 605 ± 121 items per 100 m or 0.11 ± 0.09 items/m², with higher values observed on the urban beach (mean 740 ± 149 items or 0.19 ± 0.13 items/m²). This study provides a critical advancement beyond traditional litter counts by establishing, for the first time, systematic classifications with precise size and mass ranges for all categories of plastic litter. This integrated approach is essential for a comprehensive environmental risk assessment, as the ecological impact and persistence of plastic pollution are influenced not only by the number of items but fundamentally by their physical characteristics-such as surface area, buoyancy, and fragmentation potential-which are directly derived from size and mass data. The method of transitioning from count data to mass and size estimation for coastal plastic debris represents a novel approach in marine pollution research, providing a more robust foundation for modeling plastic flux, assessing long-term environmental impacts, and informing effective mitigation strategies.

Accidental pollution spills have significant impacts on Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), which frequently require temporary closures to protect public health. While research on the Nile River in Egypt has focused on evaluating overall water quality, relatively few studies have simulated spill accidents and their impacts on water treatment plants. This research fills the gap by modeling phosphate spill scenarios and examining the effects of phosphate spills on water treatment plants (WTPs) along the Nile River Reach Four, including the Deer-Alkaseer, Dairout, and Deir-Mawas WTPs. The Delft3D model was used to simulate hydrodynamic and water quality scenarios under both minimum and maximum flow conditions. The results were calibrated by comparing them with data from gauge and monitoring stations to ensure accuracy. Multiple phosphate spill scenarios were simulated in front of the Deer-Alkaseer with varying spill amounts and durations. The results revealed that spill concentration and duration significantly affect plume characteristics such as concentration levels, time to peak, and travel time. Extended spills with low concentrations resulted in minimal contamination, maintaining them under regulatory thresholds and indicating that shutting down the WTPs would not be necessary. These events can be detected using real-time monitoring systems with water quality sensors. The duration of the spill and flow conditions significantly influenced the time to peak concentration, regardless of the spill concentration. Plume duration increased with higher spill concentrations and longer durations, particularly under minimum flow conditions. Spill scenarios can support a smart dashboard using spill scenarios data to help tiered operational plans for WTPs.