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).

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.

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 (C), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I), 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.

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.