Effects of suspended mineral coal dust on the energetic physiology of the Caribbean scallop Argopecten nucleus (Born, 1778)

Nylon microfibers develop a distinct plastisphere but have no apparent effects on the gut microbiome or gut tissue status in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

Ingestion of microplastics (MP) by suspension-feeding bivalves has been well-documented. However, it is unclear whether exposure to MP could damage the stomach and digestive gland (gut) of these animals, causing ramifications for organism and ecosystem health. Here, we show no apparent effects of nylon microfiber (MF) ingestion on the gut microbiome or digestive tissues of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. We exposed mussels to two low concentrations (50 and 100 particles/L) of either nylon MF or Spartina spp. particles (dried, ground marsh grass), ca. 250-500 μm in length, or a no particle control laboratory treatment for 21 days. Results showed that nylon MF, when aged in coarsely filtered seawater, developed a different microbial community than Spartina spp. particles and seawater, however, even after exposure to this different community, mussel gut microbial communities resisted disturbance from nylon MF. The microbial communities of experimental mussels clustered together in ordination and were similar in taxonomic composition and measures of alpha diversity. Additionally, there was no evidence of damage to gut tissues after ingestion of nylon MF or Spartina spp. Post-ingestive particle processing likely mediated a short gut retention time of these relatively large particles, contributing to the negligible treatment effects.

Hazardous elements present in coal nanoparticles in a Caribbean port region in Colombia

Scientific works examining coal-derived nanoparticles (NPs) containing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) confined in marine suspended sediments (MSSs) in port regions worldwide is an understudied topic, despite the fact that coal NPs have tremendous negative impacts on marine estuaries. The general objective of this study is to analyze the NP levels of coal, including PTEs, contained within MSSs in the general vicinity of the largest Caribbean port in Colombia. The morphology, size, chemical composition, and agglomeration states of NPs within MSSs of the sampled beaches were calculated through modern electron microscopy. The methodology used to detect chemical elements, unfortunately with EDS, it is not possible to precisely specify the chemical elements of low atomic weight (e.g. H, O, F, etc.) Therefore, with the EDS available today, it is only possible to have an idea of the chemical composition of each detected particle. Thus, it was possible to obtain the average frequency of the chemical elements identified in the 23 analyzed sampling points. Through the results, more than one thousand particles were detected in the most abundant phases, thus, the most frequent particles in the results of this manuscript were described. Sample point 8, located closest to the coal export port, had a higher concentration of nano-toxic elements (Al, Fe, Si, K, Mg, K) most concerning for human health in addition to being harmful to marine life. This study suggests that public policies dealing with MSS pollution need to be discussed by public managers to avoid further and sustained environmental degradation. The need to create projects will subsidize legacy liabilities generated by coal in seaports in other regions of the world.

Effects of coal microparticles on marine organisms: A review

Coal dust is a source of pollution not only for atmospheric air but also for the marine environment. In places of storage and handling of coal near water bodies, visible pollution of the water area can be observed. Coal, despite its natural origin, can be referred to as anthropogenic sources of pollution. If coal microparticles enter the marine environment, it may cause both physical and toxic effects on organisms. The purpose of this review is to assess the stage of knowledge of the impact of coal particles on marine organisms, to identify the main factors affecting them, and to define advanced research directions. The results presented in the review have shown that coal dust in seawater is generally not an inert substance for marine organisms, and there is a need for further study of the impact of coal dust particles on marine ecosystems.

Study on Spectral Response and Estimation of Grassland Plants Dust Retention Based on Hyperspectral Data

Accurate monitoring of plant dust retention can provide a basis for dust pollution control and environmental protection. The aims of this study were to analyze the spectral response features of grassland plants to mining dust and to predict the spatial distribution of dust retention using hyperspectral data. The dust retention content was determined by an electronic analytical balance and a leaf area meter. The leaf reflectance spectrum was measured by a handheld hyperspectral camera, and the airborne hyperspectral data were obtained using an imaging spectrometer. We analyzed the difference between the leaf spectral before and after dust removal. The sensitive spectra of dust retention on the leaf- and the canopy-scale were determined through two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS). The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) algorithm was applied to select the feature bands of canopy dust retention. The estimation model of canopy dust retention was built through random forest regression (RFR), and the dust distribution map was obtained based on the airborne hyperspectral image. The results showed that dust retention enhanced the spectral reflectance of leaves in the visible wavelength but weakened the reflectance in the near-infrared wavelength. Caused by the canopy structure and multiple scattering, a slight difference in the sensitive spectra on dust retention existed between the canopy and leaves. Similarly, the sensitive spectra of leaves and the canopy were closely related to dust and plant physiological parameters. The estimation model constructed through 2DCOS-CARS-RFR showed higher precision, compared with genetic algorithm-random forest regression (GA-RFR) and simulated annealing algorithm-random forest regression (SAA-RFR). Spatially, the amount of canopy dust increased and then decreased with increasing distance from the mining area, reaching a maximum within 300–500 m. This study not only demonstrated the importance of extracting feature bands based on the response of plant physical and chemical parameters to dust, but also laid a foundation for the rapid and non-destructive monitoring of grassland plant dust retention.