scholarly journals Organochlorine Compounds in Beached Plastics and Marine Organisms

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís M. Nunes

Here we compare bioaccumulation factors in marine organisms to partition ratios in marine debris for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and polychlorinated biphenyls. Both organochlorines are synthetic persistent organic pollutants emitted into the environment since the beginning of the last century in approximately equal amounts. Their vast use and dispersion have resulted in approximately similar median concentrations of the two organochlorines in some pelagic organisms, namely in the liver and muscle tissue of fish. Molluscs, on the other hand, show higher median uptake of PCBs (median = 2.34 ng/g) than of DDTs (median = 1.70 ng/g), probably reflecting more localized conditions. We found that the bioaccumulation factors can be several orders of magnitude higher than the partition ratios. For instance, the median concentrations of organochlorines in the different matrices of fish, birds, and mammals are between one to four orders of magnitude higher than those found in marine debris, when lipid-normalized; or up to two orders of magnitude when measured as wet-weight. But, in molluscs, bioaccumulation/partition equals unity, which agrees with previous studies using passive samplers. Future research should focus on reducing sources of uncertainty by 1) homogenization of chemical procedures; 2) better assessment of chemical partition equilibrium between water and polymers in environmental conditions; 3) use of (multi)polymer passive samplers better aimed at mimicking uptake of specific living tissues.

2016 ◽  
Vol 542 ◽  
pp. 728-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cristina S. Rocha ◽  
Maria Armanda Reis-Henriques ◽  
Victor Galhano ◽  
Marta Ferreira ◽  
Laura Guimarães

Author(s):  
Paul D. Arendt ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Daniel W. Apley

Model updating, which utilizes mathematical means to combine model simulations with physical observations for improving model predictions, has been viewed as an integral part of a model validation process. While calibration is often used to “tune” uncertain model parameters, bias-correction has been used to capture model inadequacy due to a lack of knowledge of the physics of a problem. While both sources of uncertainty co-exist, these two techniques are often implemented separately in model updating. This paper examines existing approaches to model updating and presents a modular Bayesian approach as a comprehensive framework that accounts for many sources of uncertainty in a typical model updating process and provides stochastic predictions for the purpose of design. In addition to the uncertainty in the computer model parameters and the computer model itself, this framework accounts for the experimental uncertainty and the uncertainty due to the lack of data in both computer simulations and physical experiments using the Gaussian process model. Several challenges are apparent in the implementation of the modular Bayesian approach. We argue that distinguishing between uncertain model parameters (calibration) and systematic inadequacies (bias correction) is often quite challenging due to an identifiability issue. We present several explanations and examples of this issue and bring up the needs of future research in distinguishing between the two sources of uncertainty.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Hao ◽  
Chenglong Wang ◽  
Xinqing Zou

<p>In this study, we analyzed the distribution and bioaccumulation of six heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg) in marine organisms from China’s Hainan and Zhoushan coastal regions. Across all marine organism samples, as well as sediment and seawater samples, Zn and Hg ranked highest and lowest in concentration, respectively. Heavy metal distributions in the marine organisms varied by region and species; concentrations were higher (except for Zn) in Zhoushan than in Hainan and in crab than in fish. A marine organism’s ability to digest and eliminate heavy metals (bioaccumulation ability), based on bioaccumulation factors, was significantly higher for heavy metals in seawater than in sediment; higher sediment background values may explain the higher heavy metal concentrations in crab. In general, a marine organism’s bioaccumulation ability was higher for Cu and Zn and lower for Pb in China.</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna V. Ivanina ◽  
Inna M. Sokolova

Abstract Changes in the global environment such as ocean acidification (OA) may interact with anthropogenic pollutants including trace metals threatening the integrity of marine ecosystems. We analyze recent studies on the interactive effects of OA and trace metals on marine organisms with a focus on the physiological basis of these interactions. Our analysis shows that the responses to elevated CO2 and metals are strongly dependent on the species, developmental stage, metal biochemistry and the degree of environmental hypercapnia, and cannot be directly predicted from the CO2-induced changes in metal solubility and speciation. The key physiological functions affected by both the OA and trace metal exposures involve acid-base regulation, protein turnover and mitochondrial bioenergetics, reflecting the sensitivity of the underlying molecular and cellular pathways to CO2and metals. Physiological interactions between elevated CO2 and metals may impact the organisms’ capacity to maintain acid-base homeostasis and reduce the amount of energy available for fitness-related functions such as growth, development and reproduction thereby affecting survival and performance of estuarine populations. Environmental hypercapnia may also affect the marine food webs by altering predator-prey interactions and the trophic transfer of metals in the food chain. However, our understanding of the degree to which these effects can impact the function and integrity of marine ecosystems is limited due the scarcity of the published research and its bias towards certain taxonomic groups. Future research priorities should include studies of metal x PCO2 interactions focusing on critical physiological functions (including acid-base, protein and energy homeostasis) in a greater range of ecologically and economically important marine species, as well as including the field populations naturally exposed (and potentially adapted) to different levels of metals and CO2 in their environments.


Author(s):  
Patric Paul ◽  
Aravind K Mohan ◽  
Geethika Dev ◽  
Sunil Kumar P G

ABSTRACT Since the mass production of plastics began in the 1940s, microplastic contamination of the marine environment has been a growing problem. Here, a review of the literature has been conducted with the following objectives: To summarise what are microplastics; To discuss the routes by which microplastics enter the marine environment; To assess spatial and temporal trends of microplastic abundance; to discuss the environmental impact of microplastics; and remedial measures; Microplastics are both abundant and widespread within the marine environment, found in their highest concentrations along coastlines and within mid-ocean gyres. Ingestion of microplastics has been demonstrated in a range of marine organisms, a process which may facilitate the transfer of chemical additives or hydrophobic waterborne pollutants to biota. A case study has also been done about the ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton groups in Kenya’s marine environment. We conclude by highlighting key future research areas for scientists and policymakers. Keywords—Micro plastics; marine organisms; marine environment


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVIA PRESSEL ◽  
MARTIN I. BIDARTONDO ◽  
KATIE J. FIELD ◽  
JEFFREY G. DUCKETT

Mutually beneficial associations between plants and soil fungi, mycorrhizas, are one of the most important terrestrial symbioses. These partnerships are thought to have propelled plant terrestrialisation some 500 million years ago and today they play major roles in ecosystem functioning. It has long been known that bryophytes harbour, in their living tissues, fungal symbionts, recently identified as belonging to the three mycorrhizal fungal lineages Glomeromycotina, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Latest advances in understanding of fungal associations in bryophytes have been largely driven by the discovery, nearly a decade ago, that early divergent liverwort clades, including the most basal Haplomitriopsida, and some hornworts, engage with a wider repertoire of fungal symbionts than previously thought, including endogonaceous members of the ancient sub-phylum Mucoromycotina. Subsequent global molecular and cytological studies have revealed that Mucoromycotina symbionts, alongside Glomeromycotina, are widespread in both complex and simple thalloid liverworts and throughout hornworts, with physiological studies confirming that, in liverworts at least, these associations are mycorrhizal-like, and highlighting important functional differences between Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina symbioses. Whether a more prominent role of Mucoromycotina symbionts in plant nitrogen nutrition, as identified in liverworts, extends to other plant lineages, including the flowering plants, is a major topic for future research.          The latest finding that ascomycete symbionts of leafy liverworts are not restricted to one fungus, Rhizoscyphus ericae, but include species in the genus Meliniomyces, as shown here in Mylia anomala, together with the recent demonstration that R. ericae forms nutritional mutualisms with the rhizoids of Cephalozia bicuspidata, fill other major gaps in our growing knowledge of fungal associations across land plants.


Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Gattuso ◽  
Jelle Bijma

Although the changes in the chemistry of seawater driven by the uptake of CO2 by the oceans have been known for decades, research addressing the effects of elevated CO2 on marine organisms and ecosystems has only started recently (see Chapter 1). The first results of deliberate experiments on organisms were published in the mid 1980s (Agegian 1985) and those on communities in 2000 (Langdon et al. 2000; Leclercq et al. 2000 ). In contrast, studies focusing on the response of terrestrial plant communities began much earlier, with the first results of free-air CO2 enrichment experiments (FACE) being published in the late 1960s (see Allen 1992 ). Not surprisingly, knowledge about the effects of elevated CO2 on the marine realm lags behind that concerning the terrestrial realm. Yet ocean acidification might have significant biological, ecological, biogeochemical, and societal implications and decision-makers need to know the extent and severity of these implications in order to decide whether they should be considered, or not, when designing future policies. The goals of this chapter are to summarize key information provided in the preceding chapters by highlighting what is known and what is unknown, identify and discuss the ecosystems that are most at risk, as well as discuss prospects and recommendation for future research. The chemical, biological, ecological, biogeochemical, and societal implications of ocean acidification have been comprehensively reviewed in the previous chapters with one minor exception. Early work has shown that ocean acidification significantly affects the propagation of sound in seawater and suggested possible consequences for marine organisms sensitive to sound (Hester et al . 2008). However, sub sequent studies have shown that the changes in the upper-ocean sound absorption coefficient at future pH levels will have no or a small impact on ocean acoustic noise (Joseph and Chiu 2010; Udovydchenkov et al . 2010). The goal of this section is to condense the current knowledge about the consequences of ocean acidification in 15 key statements. Each statement is given levels of evidence and, when possible, a level of confidence as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for use in its 5th Assessment Report (Mastrandrea et al. 2010).


Author(s):  
Maria T. Maldonado ◽  
Szymon Surma ◽  
Evgeny A. Pakhomov

This study aimed to create the first model of biological iron (Fe) cycling in the Southern Ocean food web. Two biomass mass-balanced Ecopath models were built to represent pre- and post-whaling ecosystem states (1900 and 2008). Functional group biomasses (tonnes wet weight km −2 ) were converted to biogenic Fe pools (kg Fe km −2 ) using published Fe content ranges. In both models, biogenic Fe pools and consumption in the pelagic Southern Ocean were highest for plankton and small nektonic groups. The production of plankton biomass, particularly unicellular groups, accounted for the highest annual Fe demand. Microzooplankton contributed most to biological Fe recycling, followed by carnivorous zooplankton and krill. Biological Fe recycling matched previous estimates, and, under most conditions, could entirely meet the Fe demand of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton. Iron recycling by large baleen whales was reduced 10-fold by whaling between 1900 and 2008. However, even under the 1900 scenario, the contribution of whales to biological Fe recycling was negligible compared with that of planktonic consumers. These models are a first step in examining oceanic-scale biological Fe cycling, highlighting gaps in our present knowledge and key questions for future research on the role of marine food webs in the cycling of trace elements in the sea. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry’.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 2899-2911
Author(s):  
Patricia Blair Goh ◽  
Siriporn Pradit ◽  
Prawit Towatana ◽  
Somkiat Khokkiatiwong ◽  
Butchanok Kongket ◽  
...  

Microplastics have been one of the major pollutants in the marine environment throughout the recent decade. At present, microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems of Thailand region has become an increasing environmental concern because the ingestion of microplastics in marine organisms may adversely influence the safety of seafood. Cockles and shrimps widely distribute among marine organisms in Thailand since they are one of the commercial sources of seafood, which may be a route of exposure to microplastics towards human. This study documents a market survey in order to understand the extension of microplastic presence in blood cockles (Anadara granosa), fine shrimp (Metapenaeus elegans) and Indian white shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus) sold in the fishery market in Singhanakorn district, Songkhla province. These selected species are widely consumed and economically important, especially in the southern Thailand region. The total microplastic concentration in blood cockles is 4.71±0.06 n/g (wet weight) and 2.64±0.01 n/individual; in fine shrimp is 0.50±0.19 n/g (wet weight) and 3.70±1.12 n/individual; in Indian white shrimp is 0.69±0.48 n/g (wet weight) and 3.45±0.04n/individual. Discovered microplastics in all the species samples were mainly composed of microplastic fibres and black colour was found to be more predominant. Our results indicate that microplastic contamination is present in Thailand’s commercial seafood species. As microplastic able to be transferred to human through food web, we suggest further market-based survey studies on other seafood sources.


2018 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. 704-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa R. Jung ◽  
F. David Horgen ◽  
Sara V. Orski ◽  
Viviana Rodriguez C. ◽  
Kathryn L. Beers ◽  
...  
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