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Castillo AB, El-Azhary M, Sorino C, LeVay L. Potential ecological risk assessment of microplastics in coastal sediments: Their metal accumulation and interaction with sedimentary metal concentration. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167473. [PMID: 37778558 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Metal pollution in sediments has long been recognized, while sediments are also a long-term sink for microplastics (MPs). MPs may also adsorb environmental pollutants, including metals, as well as leaching polymer components and chemicals used during production. A comprehensive survey of 21 locations around Qatari coastline investigated abundance of MPs in high-shore intertidal sediments and concentration of metals both on MPs and sediment particles. MPs abundance ranged from 3 to 156 MPs particles·kg-1 (12-624 MPs particles·m-2) with polyethylene being the most abundant (27.4 %). MPs showed physical morphologies, with 76 % displayed signs of chemical degradation as confirmed by the carbonyl absorption peak profile, possibly due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions on the Arabian Gulf shores. Most metals analyzed were found at higher concentrations in sediments than the same metals adsorbed to MPs. The average metal concentration ranged from 0.26 (Cd) to 3122.62 μg∙g-1 (Sr) in sediments while 0.22 (Mo) to 30.26 μg∙g-1 (Sr) in MPs. The calculated metal Pollution Load Index (Sed PLI, range 0.57-2.38) for sediments indicates unpolluted to moderately polluted levels, while the Potential Ecological Risk Index (Sed PERI, range 6.9-2220) indicates a relatively considerable ecological risk for metal pollution in sediments in some of the coastal areas surveyed. PLI values calculated for metals associated with MPs (MPs PLI, range 1.1-7.5), suggests relatively moderate pollution, while the PERI for metals in MPs (MPs PERI, range 25.2-1811) has similar ecological risk in terms of metal pollutants in MPs as for sediments. This may be effective in providing relative spatial indices of pollution load and risk for metals associated with MPs, which could potentially inform establishment of an appropriate assessment framework, where MPs are increasingly abundant in coastal sediments. However, this does not account for the relatively lower abundance of MPs compared to sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marwa El-Azhary
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Caesar Sorino
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Lewis LeVay
- Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5EY, UK
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Egerton JP, Johnson AF, Turner J, LeVay L, Mascareñas-Osorio I, Aburto-Oropeza O. Hydroacoustics as a tool to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas and habitat type on marine fish communities. Sci Rep 2018; 8:47. [PMID: 29335421 PMCID: PMC5768732 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18353-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroacoustic technologies are widely used in fisheries research but few studies have used them to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We evaluate the efficacy of hydroacoustics to examine the effects of closure to fishing and habitat type on fish populations in the Cabo Pulmo National Park (CPNP), Mexico, and compare these methods to Underwater Visual Censuses (UVC). Fish density, biomass and size were all significantly higher inside the CPNP (299%, 144% and 52% respectively) than outside in non-MPA control areas. These values were much higher when only accounting for the reefs within the CPNP (4715%, 6970% and 97% respectively) highlighting the importance of both habitat complexity and protection from fishing for fish populations. Acoustic estimates of fish biomass over reef-specific sites did not differ significantly from those estimated using UVC data, although acoustic densities were less due to higher numbers of small fish recorded by UVC. There is thus considerable merit in nesting UVC surveys, also providing species information, within hydroacoustic surveys. This study is a valuable starting point in demonstrating the utility of hydroacoustics to assess the effects of coastal MPAs on fish populations, something that has been underutilised in MPA design, formation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Egerton
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Wales, UK.
| | - A F Johnson
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - J Turner
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Wales, UK
| | - L LeVay
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Wales, UK
| | | | - O Aburto-Oropeza
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
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Hassard F, Sharp JH, Taft H, LeVay L, Harris JP, McDonald JE, Tuson K, Wilson J, Jones DL, Malham SK. Critical Review on the Public Health Impact of Norovirus Contamination in Shellfish and the Environment: A UK Perspective. Food Environ Virol 2017; 9:123-141. [PMID: 28176295 PMCID: PMC5429388 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We review the risk of norovirus (NoV) infection to the human population from consumption of contaminated shellfish. From a UK perspective, risk is apportioned for different vectors of NoV infection within the population. NoV spreads mainly by person-to-person contact or via unsanitary food handling. NoV also enters the coastal zone via wastewater discharges resulting in contamination of shellfish waters. Typically, NoV persists in the marine environment for several days, with its presence strongly linked to human population density, wastewater discharge rate, and efficacy of wastewater treatment. Shellfish bioaccumulate NoV and current post-harvest depuration is inefficient in its removal. While NoV can be inactivated by cooking (e.g. mussels), consumption of contaminated raw shellfish (e.g. oysters) represents a risk to human health. Consumption of contaminated food accounts for 3-11% of NoV cases in the UK (~74,000 cases/year), of which 16% are attributable to oyster consumption (11,800 cases/year). However, environmental and human factors influencing NoV infectivity remain poorly understood. Lack of standard methods for accurate quantification of infective and non-infective (damaged) NoV particles represent a major barrier, hampering identification of an appropriate lower NoV contamination limit for shellfish. Future management strategies may include shellfish quality assessment (at point of harvest or at point of supply) or harvesting controls. However, poor understanding of NoV inactivation in shellfish and the environment currently limits accurate apportionment and risk assessment for NoV and hence the identification of appropriate shellfish or environmental quality standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Hassard
- Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | | | - Helen Taft
- School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Lewis LeVay
- Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - John P Harris
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
| | - James E McDonald
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Karen Tuson
- Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - James Wilson
- Bangor Mussel Producers Ltd., Victoria House, Plas Llwyd Terrace, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 1UB, UK
| | - David L Jones
- School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK.
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