Monsoonal variations of lead (Pb) in coastal waters around Singapore.

Anthropogenic lead (Pb) has been the overwhelming Pb source to the global ocean, primarily contributed from Pb gasoline and industrial emissions. However, since Pb gasoline has been phased out globally, questions about whether there was a decrease in seawater Pb concentration, or if there are other sources taking over remains unclear in Southeast Asia. Here, combining Pb concentrations in seawater from Singapore Strait in 2010-2017; trap sediment in 2018-2019; and the previously published coral reconstruction covering 1975-2010; we found that the seawater Pb concentration in Singapore Strait over past decades followed the regional gasoline emissions, and no additional major source had contributed the Pb in the seawater since ~2010.

Diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotype of a sperm whale () found dead off Jurong Island, Singapore.

Despite numerous studies across the large geographic range of the sperm whale (), little is known about the diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of this strongly female philopatric species in waters off Southeast Asia. A female sperm whale found dead in Singapore waters provided the opportunity to study her diet and mitochondrial DNA haplotype. Here we report on the identification of stomach contents and mitochondrial DNA haplotype of this individual, and we include coastal hydrodynamic modelling to determine the possible geographic origin of the whale.