Spatial distribution, sources, and biomagnification of PAHs, PAEs, and APs in phytoplankton and zooplankton from Kaohsiung Harbor.

Assessing pollutant fate in highly impacted industrial harbors is challenging, yet crucial for effective ecological risk assessment. This study analyzed key aspects of pollutant fate: spatial distribution, sources, and biomagnification for the organic pollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs), and alkylphenols (APs) in phytoplankton and zooplankton across Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. Spatial variability identified harbor entrances and marine outfall as key hotspots for all three contaminant groups.

Anthropogenic drivers of metal distribution and bioaccumulation in the primary trophic structure of Puerto Princesa Bay, western Philippines.

Plankton drives coastal biogeochemical processes and pollutant transfer in the aquatic food chain. However, the dearth of studies hinders a holistic understanding of pollutant behavior, distribution, and potential climate impacts. This study concurrently analyzed metals in seawater, suspended particulates, phytoplankton, and zooplankton, quantified using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).

Sediment pollutant fractionation and controlling factors of bioaccumulation and ecological risks in coastal benthic ecosystems around Kaohsiung Harbor.

To understand pollutant fate, transport, and impacts in benthic ecosystems around Kaohsiung Harbor, a highly polluted international commercial harbor, this study evaluated sediment pollution status, fractionated sediment metals for bioavailability, illustrated benthic ecology and trophic status, and modeled the relationship of accumulated metals and their trophic transfer in different benthic organisms. As expected, grain size influenced sediment metal distribution, with fine sediments areas exhibiting higher anthropogenic metal inputs. Due to the impacts of pollution, benthic organisms (n = 1956) showed lower densities near the harbor entrances and metal distribution with high MPI near the harbor entrance (10.

Valorization of contaminated dredged harbor sediments into artificial aggregates: Metal immobilization, environmental safety, and carbon footprint.

Dredging is essential for maintaining ports worldwide, but disposing of contaminated dredged sediments (DS) containing toxic metals poses a major environmental challenge. Conventional disposal methods, such as landfilling and ocean disposal, are increasingly restricted by environmental regulations and public concerns. This study offers a sustainable waste management solution by converting hazardous DS into sintered artificial aggregates (AAs) by adding recycled glass waste.

Disentangling metal diffusion from a highly industrial harbor and its bioaccumulation in different zooplankton groups.

Metal pollution in harbors has long threatened coastal ecosystems. However, elucidating their bioaccumulation and diffusion impacts is challenging due to complex marine communities-with zooplankton as an indicator. Metals in seawater, suspended particulate matter, and isolated zooplankton groups were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Microplastic pollution in stony coral skeletons and tissues: A case study of accumulation and interrelationship in South Penghu Marine National Park, Taiwan Strait.

Microplastics (MPs) pose a growing threat to coral reef ecosystems worldwide. However, data on MP contamination in coral reefs remain limited, hampering accurate ecological risk assessment. This study investigated MP contamination in coral reefs at South Penghu Marine National Park, analyzing 40 samples from 31 coral species.

Enrichment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Microplastics from Coastal Waters.

Despite the adsorption of microplastics (MPs), the precise quantification of their concentrating effect on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains uncertain. Therefore, in this study, POPs in MPs, POPs in suspended particulate matter (SPM), and dissolved POPs in seawater were distinguished to quantify the enrichment factor (EF) for characterizing the concentrating effects of MPs and SPM on POPs. The results showed that the logarithm of EF (log EF) for POPs in MPs was 5.

Contrasting metal bioaccumulation in marine benthic invertebrate groups in polluted harbor sediments.

This study examined the sediment metal fractions and availability to infer bioaccumulation in marine harbor benthic organisms. Total metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry for chemical fractions and organisms. The results showed similar metal concentrations and distribution driven by rivers and harbor pollution.

Microplastics and phthalate esters contamination in top oceanic predators: A study on multiple shark species in the Pacific Ocean.

Marine organisms, especially top predators such as sharks, are susceptible to environmental pollutants like microplastics (MPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs), leading to ecosystem risks. Research on contamination in these apex species is, however, still limited. This study investigated MPs and PAEs in multiple shark species (Isurus oxyrinchus, Alopias superciliosus, Alopias pelagicus, Carcharhinus brevipinna, and Sphyrna zygaena) off Taiwan's eastern coast.

Controlling effects of terrestrial organic matter on metal contamination and toxicity risks in port sediments.

The contents of metals, total carbon, total nitrogen (TN), total organic carbon (TOC), and stable isotope composition (δC and δN) of sediment organic matter (SOM) were investigated to explore the sources and spatial distribution of metals and SOM in the surface sediments (Kaohsiung Port, Taiwan). Results showed that TOC and metals in estuarine sediments are high, gradually decreasing toward the port entrances. The δC, δN, and TOC/TN ratios indicate that SOM comes mainly from terrestrial sources.

Combined toxicity of microplastics and copper on Goniopora columns.

As microplastics (MP) become ubiquitous, their interactions with heavy metals threatens the coral ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the combined toxicity of MP and copper (Cu) in the environment of coral. Goniopora columna was exposed to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) combined with Cu at 10, 20, 50, 100, and 300 μg/L for 7 days.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 55-120 μm phytoplankton.

A baseline study was undertaken on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in phytoplankton. Plankton samples from six stations (duplicates) in Kaohsiung Harbor (KH), Taiwan along with a phytoplankton control sample afar from the harbor, were collected. We applied size-fractionation to isolate phytoplankton (55-120 μm), followed by sedimentation and centrifugation to remove abiogenic particulates.

Linking seasonal plankton succession and cellular trace metal dynamics in marine assemblages.

Factors affecting trace metal dynamics in marine plankton still need to be fully understood. Underlying mechanisms affecting cellular metal distribution, seasonal changes, and the influence of plankton community structure are poorly explored. This study comprehensively analyzed the seasonal changes in environmental factors, plankton community structure, and their impact on plankton cellular metal dynamics.

Microplastics in coastal farmed oyster (Crassostrea angulata) shells: Abundance, characteristics, and diversity.

One of the most concerning emerging pollutants is microplastics (MPs), which can infiltrate soft tissues of organisms by ingestion, adhesion, and fusing and may even become embedded in biominerals. However, very little evidence is available about MPs in biominerals found in the wild. This study detected the abundance and characteristics of MPs in the shells of farmed oysters (Crassostrea angulata) off the coast of Taiwan and discussed the distribution, accumulation, and diversity in the oyster shells.

Microplastics in coral reef sediments underestimated? They may hide in biominerals.

Microplastics (MPs) may be underestimated in coral reef sediments. Current pretreatments for determining MPs in the sediments are mainly density separation and organic matter removal, ignoring MPs that may be embedded or encrusted in biominerals. This could lead to discrepancies in assessing the potential risk of MPs contamination.

A novel pollution index to assess the metal bioavailability and ecological risks in sediments.

The chemical forms of metals in sediments of ports around Taiwan were investigated using sequential extraction. Based on the availability of different chemical forms, novel indices such as bioavailability, mobility, availability, and availability risk of metals in sediments were developed. The results showed that Co, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cu were mainly present in available forms (49-84 %), and the proportion of oxidative or reductive fractionation was the highest.

Comparing the applicability of ecological risk indices of metals based on PCA-APCS-MLR receptor models for ports surface sediments.

This study collected surface sediments from seven ports in Taiwan and analyzed their characteristics along with 10 metals. Enrichment factor (EF), relative EF (REF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), and mean effect range median quotient (m-ERM-q) were used to evaluate the levels of metal contamination and ecological risks in sediments. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model were applied to quantify the main factors affecting the variations in sediment metals.

Non-proportional distribution and bioaccumulation of metals between phytoplankton and zooplankton in coastal waters.

Metal concentrations were concurrently quantified in seawater, phytoplankton, and zooplankton from a heavily impacted coast of southern Taiwan. Combined size and density fractionation were used to accurately quantify metal concentrations in phytoplankton. Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, As, and Pb were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).

Developing ecological risk assessment of metals released from sediment based on sediment quality guidelines linking with the properties: A case study for Kaohsiung Harbor.

This study aimed to introduce sediment properties (total organic carbon (TOC), acid-volatile sulfides (AVS), particle size distribution) into sediment quality guideline-based risk quotients to assess the potential toxicity of metals (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, and Pb) released from sediments. Sediment was collected at three times points in 20 sampling sites in Kaohsiung Harbor. The Microtox® toxicity test was used to assess the sediment toxicity and the relationship between sediment toxicity and risk quotient estimated based on the metal concentration was constructed.

Potential sources and toxicity risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of commercial ports in Taiwan.

The accumulation of pollutants in the semi-enclosed waters of ports has long been a concern. This study assessed the pollution status, sources, and toxicity risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of 7 major ports in Taiwan. Total PAHs concentrations in sediments ranged between 8.

Impacts of microplastics on scleractinian corals nearshore Liuqiu Island southwestern Taiwan.

Seawater, sediments, and three genera of wild scleractinian corals were collected from four coral reef areas nearshore Liuqiu Island, southwestern Taiwan. Abundance, characteristics (sizes, colors, shapes, and polymer types), and enrichment of microplastics (MPs) in the corals, and their impacts on coral cover were determined. The average MPs abundances were 0.