Using epibenthic fauna as biomonitors of local marine contamination adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Ten benthic fauna taxa in a polluted marine area adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica were deemed to be potential biomonitors because PCBs, DDTs, PAHs, copper, lead and/or zinc in their tissues were significantly higher than in tissues of taxa living in reference areas (p < 0.05). Concentrations of PCBs and DDT were highest in Trematomus (fish). Total PAH concentrations were highest in Alcyonium antarcticum (soft coral), Isotealia antarctica (anemone) and L. elliptica. Copper and lead concentrations were highest in Laternula elliptica (bivalve) and Flabegraviera mundata (polychaete), and lowest in Trematomus and Parbolasia corrugatus (nemertean). However, copper concentrations were even higher in the asteroids Perknaster fuscus antarcticus, Odontaster validus and Psilaster charcoti. Bioaccumulation factors for different species were highest for PCBs and DDT, and lowest for lead. Bioaccumulation of some contaminants are likely prevalent in benthic taxa at McMurdo Station, but concentrations are usually low relative to human consumption standards.

Long-term changes in contamination and macrobenthic communities adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Improved waste management at McMurdo Station, Antarctica beginning in the 1980s has been followed by decreases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal contamination in the adjacent marine sediments. However, determining the effect of the decreased contamination on marine ecological indicators (macrobenthic fauna) is confounded by concurrent changes in climate cycles and other physical forces. Between 2000 and 2013, there was a decrease in concentrations of some contaminants including mercury, copper, organochlorines, and PAHs in marine sediments adjacent to McMurdo Station. PAH concentrations in Winter Quarters Bay decreased an order of magnitude from 2000/2003 to 2012/2013 and were within an order of magnitude of reference area concentrations by 2013. Macrobenthic communities did not indicate any sign of recovery and have not become more similar to reference communities over this same period of time. Temporal changes in macrobenthic community composition during the study period had higher correlations with climatic and sea ice dynamics than with changes in contaminant concentrations. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation climatic index had the highest correlation with macrobenthic community composition. The Antarctic Oscillation climatic index, maximum ice extent and other natural environmental factors also appear to influence macrobenthic community composition. Despite large improvements in environmental management at McMurdo Station, continuing environmental vigilance is necessary before any noticeable improvement in ecological systems is likely to occur. The effects of climate must be considered when determining temporal changes in anthropogenic effects in Antarctica. Maintaining long-term monitoring of both contaminants and ecological indicators is important for determining the localized and global influences of humans on Antarctica, which will have implications for the whole planet.

Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of trace metals in surface sediments of Lake Qaroun, Egypt.

A suite of trace metals was determined in twenty surface sediments collected from Lake Qaroun, which is designated as a natural reserve in 1989 to examine their spatial distribution and their potential environmental impact on the lake. Contamination factor (Cf), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) are applied to evaluate the quality of the lake. The highest concentrations were detected in the eastern portion of the lake near Al-Bats drain. The levels of Ba exceeded the toxicity reference value (TRV) (20 ng/g dw) set by US EPA for all sediments, while sediments collected from Al-Bats region exceeded the TRV for Zn (68 ng/g dw). Arsenic, Ba, Sn, Co, Cu, and Hg are poorly correlated with background value of Fe suggesting anthropogenic activities over the entire lake. The values of Cf and Igeo confirmed that the eastern portion of the lake has been found moderately to considerably contaminated by As, Sn, and Zn. Sediments collected from the eastern location (S1) were very highly enriched of Sn (22.47); however, the other eastern locations were highly enriched of Sn, As, Cd, Co, and Ba. It is clear that sites near Al-Bats and El-Wadi drains are hot spots, which got immense amounts of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes. Behind the influence of these discharges, concentrations are decreased. The PLI over the entire lake ranged from 0.247 to 0.801 for all sites, which reflect unpolluted status.

Assessment of sediment contamination in Casco Bay, Maine, USA.

The current status of contaminant concentrations in Casco Bay, decadal trends of these contaminants and changes in their geographical distribution are assessed using sediment samples collected approximately 10 years apart. In general, regulated contaminants appeared to be decreasing in concentration. Total PAH and dioxins/furans concentrations did not significantly change over this period. Total organochlorine pesticides, 4,4-DDE, 4,4-DDD, total DDT, PCB, tributyltin and total butyltin decreased in concentration. Trace element concentrations in sediments decreased at the majority of the sampling sites for chromium, nickel, and selenium while arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, silver, and zinc remained relatively constant. None of the contaminants measured has increased by more than a factor of 2. Selected sites located in the Inner Bay, where concentrations are higher and new inputs were more likely, showed increased concentrations of contaminants. Most contaminants were not found at concentrations expected to adversely affect sediment biota based on ERL/ERM guidelines.