Effects of Pollution on Marine Organisms

Abstract

This review covers selected 2011 articles on the biological, chemical and physical effects of natural and anthropogenic pollutants on marine and estuarine plants and animals. The review, based largely on journal articles, covers field and laboratory measurement activities (concentrations of contaminants, field surveys, toxicity testing and biomarkers). Reviewed papers focus further on pollution issues of current interest including endocrine disrupters, wastewater discharges, dredging and disposal, etc. Special emphasis is placed on oil spills and marine debris due in part to the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and ongoing cleanup and the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Several topical areas reviewed in the past were dropped this year due to circumstances beyond our control. Further, the focus is on effects, not pollutant fate and transport. There is considerable overlap across subject areas (e.g. some bioaccumulation papers may be cited in other topical categories). as always, readers should only use this as a guide and must consult the original papers before citing them, including double-checking units. Aquatic Toxicology Support, Bremerton, WA.. 6 IM Systems Group and NOAA Marine Debris Program, Silver Spring, MD. We once again thank NOAA Librarian Mr. Brian Voss, NOAA NESDIS, for his considerable help in locating papers. P.; Valsami-Jones, E.Mouneyrac, C. (2011) Behavioural and Biochemical Responses of Two Marine Invertebrates Scrobicularia plana and Hediste diversicolor to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles. Chemosphere, 84, 166-174. Burgess, R.M.; Hawthorne, S.B.; Perron, M.M.; Cantwell, M.G.; Grabanski, C.B.; Miller, D.J.; Ho, K.T.Pelletier, M.A. (2011) Assessment of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Use in Whole Sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluations. Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry, 30, 819-827. Burgess, R.M.; Konovets, I.M.; Kipnis, L.S.; Lyashenko, A.V.; Grintsov, V.A.; Petrov, A.N.; Terletskaya, A.V.; Milyukin, M.V.; Povolotskii, M.I.; Demchenko, V.Y.; Bogoslovskaya, T.A.; Topkin, Y.V.; Vorobyova, T.V.; Portis, L.M.Ho, K.T. (2011) Distribution, Magnitude and Characterization of the Toxicity of Ukrainian Estuarine Sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 2442-2462. Cabas, I.; Chaves-Pozo, E.; Alcazar, A.G.; Meseguer, J.; Mulero, V.Garcia-Ayala, A. (2011)

Occurrence and seasonal loads of pesticides in surface water and suspended particulate matter from a wetland of worldwide interest—the Ria Formosa Lagoon, Portugal

“…Among the most toxic pesticides are the organochlorine pesticides, recognized to have potential to induce hormonal disruption and cancer (Ehrlich et al 2011;Mearns et al 2012;Vallack et al 1998), mainly due to their extreme persistency, bioaccumulating and/or rippling through the food chain (Chopra et al 2011;Katagi 2010). So, the abusive use of pesticides and inefficient treatment of residues increase their probability of reaching estuarine and marine environments affecting fish nurseries as well as the benthic and pelagic communities (Liu et al 2008;McMillin and Means 1996).…”

Why is Asari (=Manila) clam Ruditapes philippinarum fitness poor in Arcachon Bay: A meta-analysis to answer?

“…As filterfeeders, bivalves are efficient bioaccumulators (Byrne and O'Halloran, 2001;Carroll et al, 2009;Lehtonen et al, 2006;Verlecar et al, 2006). All kinds of pollutants may perturb bivalve physiology and impair their performances (Guerlet et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2008;Mearns et al, 2012). The world production of marine bivalves in 2011 is ca.…”

Understanding Causes of Leaking Plant and Equipment on Construction Sites That Can Lead to Soil and Groundwater Contamination

“…The construction of resource project infrastructure, such as liquid natural gas (LNG) plants, requires extensive earthworks, deploying large fixed and mobile plant, under demanding project timelines, often operating in environmentally sensitive locations (Alam, 2008;Guerin, 2002;Long & Holdway, 2002;Long & Long, 1991;Mearns et al, 2012). Petroleum hydrocarbon spills, which are a consequence of operating such heavy equipment, pose a significant operational challenge for resource companies and contractors working on these projects partly because of their environmental impacts (Guerin, 2000a(Guerin, , 2002(Guerin, , 2006Rhodes et al, 1994), partly because of approval and consent conditions that preclude such spills, and to other direct and indirect costs (Ismail & Karim, 2013;Rana, 2008;Restrepo et al, 2009).…”