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Horton AA. Plastic pollution: When do we know enough? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 422:126885. [PMID: 34418830 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is one of today's great environmental challenges. Research addressing the issue of plastic pollution is growing, improving our predictions of risk, and informing the development of long-term solutions and mitigations. Nonetheless, sufficient evidence already exists to show that immediate and widespread action must be taken to reduce plastic release to the environment, and thus limit future harm. Given the cross-sector and multi-stakeholder approach that will be required to address plastic pollution, it is essential that contrasting opinions and misconceptions are tackled with respect to the status of knowledge, relative importance of plastics as an environmental stressor, and measures to reduce or mitigate harm from plastics in the environment. This perspective article lays out some key considerations and recommendations for moving forward with respect to both research and action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice A Horton
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
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Pech D, Arcega-Cabrera F, Hernández-Avila I, Paz-Ríos CE. Spatial Trends of the Potential Association Between Benthic Macrofauna and non-Source Point Sediment Pollutants in the Yucatán Continental Shelf. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 108:9-14. [PMID: 33765167 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03182-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Here we explored the potential association of the benthic macrofauna species composition with aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals concentration detected in the sediments of the Yucatan continental Shelf (YCS), Mexico. The main objective was to provide insights on the temporal and spatial changes of such association in the function of the longitudinal and depth gradient. Benthic species composition, Al, Ni and Pb showed significant differences among YCS sub-regions (Western Caribbean, Mid-Yucatan and West Yucatan), and depth. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons had similar concentration in all sub-regions. The species composition was significantly associated with the levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the shallow sites (15-50 m) of the YCS sub-regions. Our results provide the first insights into the presence and spatial trends of different concentration of non-point source hydrocarbons and metals along the YCS, essential to establish the current ecological condition and to set a reference condition to identify further changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pech
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad Marina y Cambio Climático (BIOMARCCA), El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Campeche, Mexico.
| | - Flor Arcega-Cabrera
- Facultad de Química, Unidad de Química Sisal, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, 97355, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Ivan Hernández-Avila
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico
| | - Carlos E Paz-Ríos
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad Marina y Cambio Climático (BIOMARCCA), El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Campeche, Mexico
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Ito M, Ito K, Ohta K, Hano T, Onduka T, Mochida K, Fujii K. Evaluation of bioremediation potential of three benthic annelids in organically polluted marine sediment. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 163:392-399. [PMID: 27565306 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.08.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the possible remedial effects of three marine benthic annelids on organically polluted sediments from the waters of Hatsukaichi Marina, Hiroshima, Japan. Two polychaetes, Perinereis nuntia and Capitella cf. teleta, and an oligochaete, Thalassodrilides sp., were incubated in sediments for 50 days. Their effects on physicochemical properties such as organic matter (loss on ignition), redox potential (Eh), acid volatile sulfides (AVS), and degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed. The polychaetes P. nuntia and C. cf. teleta significantly increased Eh level and decreased AVS level compared with the oligochaete Thalassodrilides sp. and control (without benthic organisms). Total PAH concentration significantly decreased from the initial level with all three groups; Thalassodrilides sp. had a marked ability to reduce PAHs in sediment. These results indicate that benthic organisms have species-specific remediation properties and ecological functions in organically polluted sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Ito
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Katsutoshi Ito
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Kohei Ohta
- South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, 1289-1, Funakoshi, Ainan, Ehime, 798-4292, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Hano
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Toshimitsu Onduka
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiko Mochida
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Kazunori Fujii
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
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Peterson MS, Havrylkoff JM, Grammer PO, Mickle PF, Slack WT, Yeager KM. Macrobenthic prey and physical habitat characteristics in a western Gulf sturgeon population: differential estuarine habitat use patterns. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2013. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Dafforn KA, Kelaher BP, Simpson SL, Coleman MA, Hutchings PA, Clark GF, Knott NA, Doblin MA, Johnston EL. Polychaete richness and abundance enhanced in anthropogenically modified estuaries despite high concentrations of toxic contaminants. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77018. [PMID: 24098816 PMCID: PMC3786951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological communities are increasingly exposed to multiple chemical and physical stressors, but distinguishing anthropogenic impacts from other environmental drivers remains challenging. Rarely are multiple stressors investigated in replicated studies over large spatial scales (>1000 kms) or supported with manipulations that are necessary to interpret ecological patterns. We measured the composition of sediment infaunal communities in relation to anthropogenic and natural stressors at multiple sites within seven estuaries. We observed increases in the richness and abundance of polychaete worms in heavily modified estuaries with severe metal contamination, but no changes in the diversity or abundance of other taxa. Estuaries in which toxic contaminants were elevated also showed evidence of organic enrichment. We hypothesised that the observed response of polychaetes was not a ‘positive’ response to toxic contamination or a reduction in biotic competition, but due to high levels of nutrients in heavily modified estuaries driving productivity in the water column and enriching the sediment over large spatial scales. We deployed defaunated field-collected sediments from the surveyed estuaries in a small scale experiment, but observed no effects of sediment characteristics (toxic or enriching). Furthermore, invertebrate recruitment instead reflected the low diversity and abundance observed during field surveys of this relatively ‘pristine’ estuary. This suggests that differences observed in the survey are not a direct consequence of sediment characteristics (even severe metal contamination) but are related to parameters that covary with estuary modification such as enhanced productivity from nutrient inputs and the diversity of the local species pool. This has implications for the interpretation of diversity measures in large-scale monitoring studies in which the observed patterns may be strongly influenced by many factors that covary with anthropogenic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Dafforn
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Brendan P. Kelaher
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L. Simpson
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Kirrawee, NSW, Australia
| | - Melinda A. Coleman
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Graeme F. Clark
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| | - Nathan A. Knott
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia
| | - Martina A. Doblin
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
- University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma L. Johnston
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
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Chapman PM, Wang F, Caeiro SS. Assessing and managing sediment contamination in transitional waters. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2013; 55:71-91. [PMID: 23528483 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Sediment contamination remains a global problem, particularly in transitional waters such as estuaries and coastal lagoons, which are the recipients of chemicals from multiple near- and far-field sources. Although transitional waters are highly productive ecosystems, approaches for assessing and managing their sediment contamination are not as well developed as in marine and fresh waters. Further, although transitional waters remain defined by their variable and unique natural water quality characteristics, particularly salinity, the biota inhabiting such ecosystems, once thought to be defined by Remane's "paradox of brackish water", are being redefined. The purpose of the present paper is to build on an earlier but now dated (>12years old) review of methods to assess sediment contamination in estuaries, extending this to all transitional waters, including information on integrative assessments and on management decision-making. The following are specifically discussed: chemical assessments; bioindicators; biomarkers; and, biological surveys. Assessment and management of sediment contamination in transitional waters need to be focused on ecosystem services and, where appropriate and possible, be proactive rather than reactive when uncertainty has been suitably reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Chapman
- Golder Associates Ltd., 500-4260 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, BC V5C 6C6, Canada.
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