Marine pollution bulletin最新文献

This study assessed the proximate composition and heavy metal (HM) contamination of the jellyfish Rhizostoma octopus collected from the Cox's Bazar coast, Bangladesh. To minimize post-mortem alterations, three specimens were collected alive from fishermen's nets near the shoreline. HM concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mean concentrations of metals and minerals decreased in the order: Na > Mg > K > Ca > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd > Cr > As. Proximate composition analysis (sun-dried weight basis) showed that ash was predominant (46.84-54.58%), followed by protein (25.79-27.76%), moisture (16.47-18.73%), carbohydrate (0.21-9.74%), and fat (0.46-0.79%). Principal component analysis identified two major components explaining most of the variance in metal contents, while hierarchical cluster analysis revealed similar accumulation patterns among metals. Health risk assessment suggested that individual target hazard quotient values for all metals were below 1, and the overall hazard index was also below 1, suggesting no significant non-carcinogenic risk. However, carcinogenic risk estimates were higher for children than adults, with Cd was estimated to exceed the USEPA acceptable threshold for children, showing a value of 2.48E-04. Despite the advantage of live sampling, the small sample size and limited spatial and temporal coverage restrict the representativeness of the results. Therefore, larger-scale and long-term studies are required to validate the safety of R. octopus for human consumption and to support its potential as a sustainable food resource within the blue economy.

This study presents a 3D hydrodynamic simulation of coastal circulation coupled with copper advection emanating from Quintero Bay, in the Valparaíso region. The bay is home to an important industrial complex and has a history of heavy metal contamination due to a copper smelter located in its northern sector. This study aims to simulate the distribution of contamination from existing sources and identify potential risk scenarios associated with copper exposure in water and sediment. A simple data assimilation method has been developed to capture elements of coastal wind not well represented by existing models used for wind forcing. The simulation period represents an austral summer, and several circulation patterns have been identified in response to external forcings. Two different point sources are considered, one within the bay (source 1), and the other just outside the south side of the bay (source 2). Simulations show advection of copper towards coastal areas north of the bay in trace concentrations from both sources, with instances at certain points within the bay when recommended thresholds for chronic and acute exposure are surpassed. Source 1 shows advection predominantly leaving the north side of the bay in surface waters, while source 2 shows advection in bottom waters periodically entering the south side of the bay. These results are consistent with existing local studies of copper concentrations in the water and sediment.

This study investigated the occurrence, distribution, and polymer composition of MP in 30 commercially important fish species (N = 600 specimens) collected from three major landing centres along the Thoothukudi coast from December 2024 to May 2025. Employing hydrogen peroxide digestion and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for particle identification. Extracted MPs were identified based on their molecular composition, with a library match of >80%. MP concentrations varied significantly among species (p < 0.05), with the highest accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract (3.67-8.75 particles/fish), followed by gills (1.93-4.27 particles/fish) and muscle tissue (1.2-3.6 particles/5 g wet weight). Carnivorous species exhibited significantly higher MP burdens than planktivorous species, with Epinephelus longispinis showing maximum gut contamination (8.75 ± 2.36 particles/fish). Among 1446 particles analyzed, polyethylene (37.47%) and polypropylene (27.20%) dominated polymer composition, with fibers comprising 85% of particle morphology. A human health risk assessment revealed that estimated daily intake values ranged from 0.047 to 0.159 particles/kg body weight/day. The pollution risk (PRI) and hazard index (PHI) of most analyzed fish species ranged from 335 to 668 and 265 to 302, indicating considerable to medium hazard risk. These findings demonstrate widespread MP contamination across trophic levels in Thoothukudi's marine ecosystem, highlighting urgent needs for targeted pollution mitigation strategies and continued monitoring of MP bioaccumulation in commercially harvested fish species to protect both ecosystem integrity and human food security.

Coastal wetlands are increasingly exposed to multiple pollutants, including metal and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, metal and PFAS co-occurrence and interactions in mangrove sediments remain poorly understood. This study provides one of the first investigations of metal and PFAS co-distribution in mangrove sediment cores across two contrasting tropical estuarine systems and between old and young mangrove forest sites. No vertical stratification of contaminants was observed, likely due to intense bioturbation. Distinct spatial trends emerged between and within estuaries, reflecting differences in local sources, salinity-driven partitioning, and dilution downstream. Sediments near urbanized areas generally contained higher concentrations of metals and PFAS. Mangrove age influenced contaminant levels, possibly through differences in sediment accretion and hydrological conditions, though these effects were spatially variable. Sediment texture and organic carbon content were relatively uniform, yielding few and generally weak correlations with contaminant concentrations. Significant associations between metals and PFAS suggest co-distribution mechanisms influenced by shared geochemical factors. While metal concentrations indicated moderate contamination and overall limited ecological risk, PFAS levels often exceeded those reported for heavily impacted estuarine systems. These findings highlight the need for source control, long-term monitoring, and multidisciplinary studies integrating hydrology, geochemistry, and ecotoxicology to protect the resilience of mangrove ecosystems facing intensifying anthropogenic pressures.