Tributyltin (TBT) is one of the most harmful contaminants ever released into the aquatic environment. Despite being banned, it is still present at many locations throughout the world. Its degradation in sediment mainly occurs through microbial biodegradation, a process that remains unclear. This study therefore aimed at better understanding TBT biodegradation in estuarine sediment and the microbial community associated with it. Microcosm experiments were set up, embracing a range of environmental control parameters. Major community shifts were recorded, mainly attributed to the change in oxygen status. The highest percentage of degradation (36,8%) occurred at 4 °C in anaerobic conditions. These results are encouraging for the in-situ bioremediation of TBT contaminated muddy sediment in temperate ports worldwide. However, with TBT able to persist in the coastal environment for decades when undisturbed in anoxic sediment, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms that triggered this biodegradation observed in the microcosms.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142085 | DOI Listing |
Mar Pollut Bull
January 2025
Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh; School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; East Coast Environmental Research Institute, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia. Electronic address:
The pervasive and escalating issue of toxic metal pollution has gathered global attention, necessitating the exploration of innovative ecological strategies like phytoremediation. This study explored the extent of potentially toxic metal contamination status and the effectiveness of three planted mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza,and Excoecaria agallocha) in phytoremediation efforts to reduce pollution level. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of elements in the sediment of the area followed a descending sequence: Fe (27,136.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Res
January 2025
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
Estuarine ecosystems have been threatened by increasing anthropogenic and natural pressures, yet the integral understanding of their stability characteristics of microbial communities at taxonomic, habitat, and spatial scales remains limited. In this study, the Mulan River estuary in southeastern China was selected to compare the stability characteristics of bacterial and protistan communities in water and sediments over three hydrological periods, and to explore their spatial variations along the estuarine continuum from river to ocean. The potential driving mechanisms of stability characteristics were also explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Center for Convergence Coastal Research, Seoul National University, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do 15011, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
The ecosystem regulating services from tidal flats, such as removal of organic pollutants, provided by natural tidal flats are being increasingly recognized, yet quantitative evaluation remains limited. Here we evaluated a nationwide capacity of natural purification in tidal flats. Using in situ sediments from five along the Korean coast (Incheon, Gunsan, Sinan, Gwangyang, and Busan), we applied a mesocosm system informed by 18 years of riverine monitoring data from national surveys.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemosphere
January 2025
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1-3, 24148, Kiel, Germany; Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Institute of Geosciences, Ludewig-Meyn-Str, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
Relic munitions from warfare and intentional dumping contaminate coastal waters worldwide, with an estimated 300,000 tons in the German Baltic Sea alone. These contain toxic conventional explosive chemicals, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), and 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB). Corrosion of metal munition housings in seawater releases these munition chemicals (MCs) to the marine environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMar Pollut Bull
January 2025
Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh; Hydrobiogeochemistry and Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh. Electronic address:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous chemicals that pose potentially serious threats to both human health and the integrity of the ecosystem. This review compiles current knowledge on PFAS contamination in estuaries, focusing on sources, abundance, distribution, fate, and toxic mechanisms. It also addresses the health risks associated with these compounds and identifies research gaps, offering recommendations for future studies.
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