Sirat Sandil, Davaakhuu Tserendorj, Ágnes Károly, Paola Grenni, Ludovica Rolando, Péter Dobosy, Borbála Dömölki, Gyula Záray
{"title":"Microplastic and microfiber contamination in the Tiber River, Italy: Insights into their presence and chemical differentiation.","authors":"Sirat Sandil, Davaakhuu Tserendorj, Ágnes Károly, Paola Grenni, Ludovica Rolando, Péter Dobosy, Borbála Dömölki, Gyula Záray","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117598","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117598","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental concern, but studies on these contaminants, particularly in river ecosystems, remain scarce. Research has indicated that MPs in the environment are predominantly microfibers (MFs); however, a few studies suggest that the MFs encountered are chiefly of natural origin. In this study, we aimed to improve the understanding of MP/MFs (both plastic and natural), among microparticle (solid particles >10 μm to <5000 μm; mainly of plastic as well as natural origin) loads in the Tiber River, Italy, by analyzing the physicochemical properties of surface water and assessing the abundance and characteristics of MPs-MFs at three sites: Ponte Grillo, Aniene, and Magliana, along a 60 km stretch. MPs-MFs were visually inspected with a stereomicroscope and a fluorescence microscope and chemically characterized by FTIR. Interestingly, MP-MF concentrations were highest upstream at Ponte Grillo and lowest downstream at Magliana, an unconventional pattern likely related to atmospheric deposition and total suspended solids. Across sites, microparticles were mainly MFs, with MP fragments forming a minor fraction; at Ponte Grillo, Aniene, and Magliana, the MF abundances were 375.1, 58.1, and 28.8 items/L, respectively, while fragment abundances were 32.7, 14.4, and 4.8 items/L, respectively. At all sites, natural MFs (cellulose-based) were more prevalent than plastic ones (petroleum-based). The highest proportion of petroleum-based MFs, primarily PET, was observed at Magliana. Our findings indicate that although MPs-MFs in rivers stem from textile wear, laundry effluent, and WWTPs, atmospheric deposition is a dominant pathway, especially in remote, upstream, sparsely populated regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117598"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T R Athira, K M Aarif, K A Rubeena, Zuzana Musilova, Petr Musil, Jenny A Angarita-Báez, Mohd Irfan Naikoo, T Jobiraj, P Thejass, Christian Sonne, Sabir Bin Muzaffar
{"title":"Tracing microplastics in environmental sources and migratory shorebirds along the Central Asian Flyway.","authors":"T R Athira, K M Aarif, K A Rubeena, Zuzana Musilova, Petr Musil, Jenny A Angarita-Báez, Mohd Irfan Naikoo, T Jobiraj, P Thejass, Christian Sonne, Sabir Bin Muzaffar","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117571","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117571","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems worldwide. Despite its widespread occurrence, knowledge on the prevalence and fate of microplastics across food webs is limited. To bridge this gap, we conducted an extensive study on microplastic contamination in mudflats, mangroves, and sand beaches being key habitats for wintering shorebirds on the west coast of India. Using a comprehensive multi-matrix approach covering water, sediment, biofilm, plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and migratory shorebird droppings, we analysed microplastic contamination across ten coastal sites from 2020 to 2022. Our findings show spatial and temporal variations in microplastics widespread in water and sediments, influenced by human activities. Notably, an increase in microplastics within prey and shorebird droppings coincide with a decline in prey abundance and shorebird populations. The prevalence of fibre-shaped microplastics indicates that common sources include discarded fishing gear and domestic sewage. The types of microplastics ingested by shorebirds varied depending on their feeding strategies, with biofilms serving as significant reservoirs of microplastics, facilitating their transfer to shorebirds. Epibenthic feeders, with a more limited foraging range, displayed the lowest levels of microplastics, while species foraging through multiple sediment layers exhibited higher concentrations. These findings underscore the urgent need for stricter conservation measures to tackle plastic pollution at its source. The study raises concerns about the potential harmful effects of microplastic contamination on the population of migratory shorebirds along the west coast of India. Continued research is crucial to understand the ecological impacts of microplastics on wintering shorebirds and to develop effective conservation strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117571"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N N Moura, A P Wandeness, A M Esteves, B M Bezerra, V R Elis, Barroso, P J P Santos
{"title":"'Neither here nor there'? Meiofauna as an effective tool to evaluate the impacts of the 2019 mysterious oil spill in a Northeast Brazil coral reef.","authors":"N N Moura, A P Wandeness, A M Esteves, B M Bezerra, V R Elis, Barroso, P J P Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117611","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117611","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the last half of 2019, the Northeast coast of Brazil suffered from an extensive oil spill of unknown origin, and marine organisms in those areas were subjected to significant impacts. In situations like this, the contaminant effects can persist for varying periods. Oil contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), generally reduce taxa's abundance and diversity in benthic communities in areas with greater exposure to chemical components. Meiofaunal organisms are excellent indicators of impacts caused by oil spills due to their holobenthic strategy, short life cycle, high taxonomic diversity, and the use of various microhabitats. Thus, we aim to evaluate the impact of the 2019 oil spill by comparing the meiofauna of a strongly impacted coral reef area (Cupe Reef) and an unaffected reef area (Serrambi Reef). The latter considered a control area in our study. Since pre-impact data was unavailable for the Cupe Reef, an in situ limited experiment was run to simulate a small local and immediate impact of oil on the control reef. We used synthetic grass mats as an artificial substrate unit (ASU) to colonize meiofauna. Our results suggest that the tar-like oil that hit the Brazilian coast in late 2019 affected the coral reef meiofauna community. We show that its effect was still evident a few years after the oil spill. The use of ASU as a standardized substrate for colonization and a sampling design that controls for within-reef spatial variability (pools) enabled us to determine impacts at different taxonomic resolutions. The measured impact is equivalent to that caused by a metropolitan region with more than four million inhabitants and with a discharge of several heavily polluted rivers in nearby reefs. Furthermore, our results largely agree with the literature suggesting a higher sensitivity of Copepoda compared to Nematoda, the main taxa of meiofauna.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117611"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143047010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xi Xu, Chen-Yin Dong, An-Xin Lu, Su-Su Wang, Paul Harvey, Chong-Huai Yan
{"title":"Mercury levels in freshwater aquatic products across China: Spatial distribution, species differences, and health risk assessment.","authors":"Xi Xu, Chen-Yin Dong, An-Xin Lu, Su-Su Wang, Paul Harvey, Chong-Huai Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117592","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117592","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Freshwater product consumption is a major source of mercury (Hg) exposure in China. This study analyzed Hg concentrations in 12,560 samples from 29 provinces across China (2010-2021) and conducted probabilistic health risk assessments across various life stages. The average Hg concentration in China's freshwater products was 40.9 ± 32.3 ng/g (wet weight), lower than global averages. However, certain species, Gymnocypris and Schizothoracids from Tibet, exhibited elevated levels (216.2 ± 84.2 ng/g and 156.7 ± 89.9 ng/g, respectively). The estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) of MeHg for all age groups were well below the JECFA threshold of 1.6 μg/kg BW, even at the P95 exposure level. However, long-term exposure assessments revealed elevated risks for children aged 2-12, with Target hazard quotients (THQ) values exceeding 1 at the P95 exposure level, particularly among younger children aged 2-7. Spatially, elevated Hg exposure risks were identified in Hong Kong, Zhejiang, Guizhou, and the Songhua River regions, with contamination in Zhejiang tied to the compact fluorescent lamp industry. Furthermore, prenatal MeHg exposure through freshwater product consumption was estimated to result in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) losses of 0.00548-0.193 points in infants. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to mitigate Hg exposure and provides recommendations for safer freshwater fish selection in the Chinese market.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117592"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143046967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Onboard measurement of polyethylene microplastics on a research vessel using Raman micro-spectroscopy: A preliminary study for testing feasibility.","authors":"Zijiang Yang, Hiroya Nagashima, Natsuo Hasegawa, Nobuyuki Futai, Yoshikazu Koike, Hisayuki Arakawa","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microplastic pollution in marine environments poses significant environmental risks due to its widespread presence. Traditional micro-imaging measurement of microplastics often rely on post-cruise laboratory analyses. In this study, we explored the feasibility of onboard microplastic measurement using Raman spectroscopy, with a focus on polyethylene (PE). A measurement system was developed, and two concentration estimation approaches were proposed. To evaluate recovery and validate the methodology, artificial microplastic samples were prepared, yielding a recovery rate of 94.8 % ± 10.4 %. Environmental samples were then analyzed using the developed system, with results validated against conventional Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The estimated PE concentration was 583 pieces/m<sup>3</sup> (95% confidence interval: [2, 1542] pieces/m<sup>3</sup>) using the direct approach and 1453 pieces/m<sup>3</sup> (95% credible interval: [291, 92,837] pieces/m<sup>3</sup>) using the Bayesian approach. Both estimates were consistent with the 333 pieces/m<sup>3</sup> obtained through validation with FTIR, indicating adequate accuracy. However, the wide confidence intervals highlight the need for improved precision. While challenges remain, this study provides a comprehensive experimental procedure and introduces a robust data analysis framework, which could offer a foundational methodology for future onboard microplastic measurement research.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117588"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143047128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Carbon intensity indicator (CII) compliance: Applications of ship speed optimization on each level using measurement data.","authors":"Duowen Yan, Chen Chen, Weidong Gan, Kenji Sasa, Guanghua He, Hongchu Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117593","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ship speed optimization is a primary and direct method for controlling carbon emissions. This study uses simulations based on shipboard measurements from a 28,000 DWT bulk carrier collected between 2015 and 2016. Model predictive control (MPC) with nonlinear receding horizon optimization is employed to optimize the original voyage speeds while ensuring trajectory tracking. Local weighted linear regression is used to establish the relationship between fuel consumption and speed based on the measured data. Additionally, speed constraints corresponding to each Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) emission level are identified and incorporated into the navigation controller. The results show that ship speed optimization effectively accounts for CII emissions while maintaining adherence to the original trajectory. However, under the carbon reduction constraint, the distance sailed by the ships will be reduced.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117593"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143038717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"GSCAT-UNET: Enhanced U-Net model with spatial-channel attention gate and three-level attention for oil spill detection using SAR data.","authors":"Kinjal Prajapati, Madhuri Bhavsar, Alka Mahajan","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marine pollution due to oil spills presents major risks to coastal areas and aquatic life, leading to serious environmental health concerns. Oil Spill detection using SAR data has transitioned from traditional segmentation to a variety of machine learning & deep learning models like UNET proving its efficiency for the task. This research paper proposes a GSCAT-UNET model for efficient oil spill detection and discrimination from lookalikes. The GSCAT-UNET is an advanced UNET architecture comprising of Spatial-Channel Attention Gates(SCAG), Three Level Attention Module(TLM) and Global Feature Module(GFM) for global level oil spill feature enhancement leading to effective oil spill detection and discrimination from lookalikes. Sentinel-1 Dual-Pol SAR dataset of 1112 images and respective labeled images (5 classes) including confirmed oil spills and lookalikes is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the GSCAT-UNET model. The GSCAT-UNET model significantly enhances segmentation accuracy and robustness for oil spill detection with 5% higher accuracy and 29% higher IoU i.e. 93.7% compared to the UNET segmentation model, addressing the challenges of SAR data complexities and imbalanced datasets. The strong performance of the GSCAT-UNET model demonstrates its potential as a critical tool for disaster response and environmental monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117583"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143039119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael A Unger, Ellen Harvey, Melissa Southworth, Roger Mann, Alexandria Marquardt, Nathan Otto
{"title":"Decreases in TBT concentrations in southern Chesapeake Bay: Evidence for long-term TBT degradation and reduced imposex in the invasive gastropod, Rapana venosa.","authors":"Michael A Unger, Ellen Harvey, Melissa Southworth, Roger Mann, Alexandria Marquardt, Nathan Otto","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117524","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117524","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed effectiveness of regulations reducing environmental butyltin concentrations in Southern Chesapeake Bay over the 1999-2021 period. Water column monitoring of the Elizabeth River from 1999 to 2006 demonstrated decreasing TBT from 2003 to 2006 (average >1 ng/L at most stations) to <1 ng L<sup>-1</sup> by 2019 but with higher concentrations of degradation products DBT and MBT. TBT degrades to DBT and MBT within sediments, and releases degradation products over time. TBT induces imposex in exposed gastropods. Collections of the rapa whelk in 1999-2001 found TBT levels in female, imposex, and male whelks with median TBT concentrations of 10.5, 11.5, and 70 ng/g respectively. Collections in 2021 were below the TBT detection limit (<4.7 ng/g) and showed reduced incidence of imposex. The decrease of both TBT to below EPA water quality standard (7.4 ng/g) and observed gastropod imposex over the 1999-2021 period provides evidence that regulations limiting TBT use have been successful.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117524"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143038660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Benthic mud content is a strong indicator of coral cover and ecosystem recovery on turbid coral reefs.","authors":"Marlena Joppien, Kyle Morgan","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Turbid coral reefs are characterised by high turbidity and sedimentation. However, the impacts of terrestrial sediment inputs on coral communities, as well as their interactions with reef-derived carbonate sediment, remain poorly understood. Here we examine the physical properties of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic benthic sediments from six turbid reefs in southern Singapore, which exhibit coral covers ranging from 15 % to 65 %. Coral was the dominant contributor to sand and gravel sediment on reefs (mean ± SE: 57 ± 1 %), followed by molluscan grains (21 ± 1 %). Mud content ranged from 0 to 26 % between sites and there was a positive correlation (r = 0.4) between terrigenous mud and coral-derived sand, while coral cover significantly decreased with increasing mud. Results suggest that losses in coral cover may initially cause an increase in bioclastic carbonate sediment as the reef structure degrades. However, long-term declines in coral cover will ultimately reduce sediment supply, as live coral sources diminish on reefs. Our findings highlight the importance of mitigating high sediment loads on coral reefs, even within naturally turbid environments, to ensure continued bioclastic sand generation and ecosystem functioning. Mud content on reefs was also a strong predictor of reef recovery following major coral bleaching underscoring the need for holistic transboundary management of coral reefs as coastal urbanisation continues to intensify.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117596"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143039578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael Lintner, Charlotte Henkel, Ruoting Peng, Petra Heinz, Martin Stockhausen, Thilo Hofmann, Thorsten Hüffer, Nina Keul
{"title":"Tire-derived compounds, phthalates, and trace metals in the Kiel Fjord (Germany).","authors":"Michael Lintner, Charlotte Henkel, Ruoting Peng, Petra Heinz, Martin Stockhausen, Thilo Hofmann, Thorsten Hüffer, Nina Keul","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Concerns about pollutants in the environment are increasing, with substances such as plastic additives drawing particular concern due to their potential harmful effects on organisms. This study investigates current levels of several contaminants in the Kiel Fjord. Some pose serious health risks to aquatic life. In September 2022, water and sediment samples were collected from fifteen stations across the inner and outer Kiel Fjord. The concentrations of selected phthalates, tire-derived compounds, and heavy metals were measured. Results indicate that the outer fjord has minimal contamination, while the inner fjord contains several hotspots with significant pollutant concentrations. For example, the highest levels of heavy metals were detected near Laboe and in deeper sediment layers (>6 cm) at Wik. The maximum concentrations of phthalates were observed near Laboe, with elevated levels also found near the city of Kiel and the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal. This study highlights the substantial anthropogenic impact on the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"212 ","pages":"117581"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143039245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}