Biodegradable microplastics can adsorb organic pollutants in aquatic environments, worsening contamination. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this association remain poorly understood. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to systematically explore the molecular interactions between polylactic acid (PLA) and the herbicide acetochlor (ACT) in freshwater and a seawater analog. Our simulations reveal that PLA demonstrates a notably higher adsorption capacity for organic pollutants in seawater than in pure water. This improvement stems from three main factors: (i) PLA forms a more compact microstructure under saline conditions, (ii) its specific surface area increases, offering more active adsorption sites, and (iii) surface adsorption between PLA and ACT molecules dominates. DFT calculations support the MD simulation findings, demonstrating stronger PLA–ACT interaction energies in seawater. The adsorption process is mainly driven by two fundamental mechanisms: van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. Importantly, dissolved salt ions in seawater act as molecular bridges, facilitating interactions between PLA and ACT. Based on these insights, the study proposes conservative, testable risk indicators and planning/management implications for coastal drainage infrastructure, contributing to broader sustainable development objectives.

Copper toxicity as stressor in Chaetoceros calcitrans under different salinity levels: Growth inhibition, ROS accumulation, and alterations in fatty acid and PUA profiles.

The combined effects of aging polylactic acid microplastics and TCPP on the byssus genes of the mussel Mytilus coruscus.

Isolated and combined toxicity of PVC microplastics and copper on Pinctada fucata martensii: Immune, oxidative, and metabolomics insights.

Trace metal accumulation and environmental risk assessments of adjacent mangroves and salt marshes in Queensland, Australia.

Exploring the silent threats of pharmaceutical contaminants in indian seas: Monitoring, biological impact, and sustainable mitigation.

Impact of human activities on rare earth elements in coastal regions: Anthropogenic gadolinium sources, budget, and transport.

Identification and quantification of microplastics in the Antarctic coastal waters using laser direct infrared (LDIR).

Environmental characteristics of mercury and arsenic in a eutrophic estuary under hydrodynamic influence.

Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics.

The effectiveness of management strategies in reducing ALDFG, improving fisher compliance, and mitigating marine pollution in coastal regions in Taiwan.

The vessel recycling and in international trade play important role but it is also very danger for marine environment and human health. Pakistan is the largest country for breakdown facilities for Gadani Shipyard. The Pakistan Gadani shipyard criticized for marine pollution and danger hazards that it pollutes the marine environment. Similarly, China’s ship recycling sector, while more regulated, still contributes to environmental degradation, particularly in coastal ecosystems. In this paper we are focusing on to examine the environmental impacts and legal laws and regulations also policy intervention of Gadani shipyard and China shipbreaking operation comparison to each other. My paper will show a clear image international convention, national policy and also show the gaps in regulations, challenges and alternative ways on the light of recent scholarly literatures. I will give recommendations on technologies and strengthen governance mechanism under the international standards. Also show the way to solve that problem which can damage the marine biodiversity, worker health and the community which living near the affected area. At last, give a recommendation to strengthen the national law under the international rules and regulation.

This paper presents a human-in-the-loop (HiTL) intelligent adaptive control scheme for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that accounts for uncertain dynamics, with the goal of effectively monitoring marine pollutants. To tackle the challenges posed by complex aquatic monitoring environments, this approach integrates human intelligence into the navigation strategy of USVs, allowing for superior path planning through human decision-making. Additionally, a potential field-based obstacle avoidance strategy is developed to ensure the safe operation of USVs within this HiTL framework. To address issues related to system uncertainties, we propose a novel adaptive fuzzy control strategy based on convex optimization, which enhances overall control performance. Finally, stability analysis and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The verification results show that compared with traditional adaptive fuzzy controllers, our control strategy effectively reduces control errors.

The blue nexus unveiled: Interlinking marine pollution, circular economy, and the blue economy in ocean sustainability.

The marine environment represents one of the most vital natural resources on Earth, playing a fundamental role in providing essential resources such as food, freshwater, and oxygen. It further contributes to regulating the global climate and sustaining the carbon cycle. Nevertheless, marine ecosystems face grave threats due to pollution stemming from human activities, including plastic waste, chemical contaminants, and industrial emissions, all of which accelerate ecosystem degradation and diminish biodiversity. This study seeks to examine the challenges confronting marine environmental protection and to explore strategies for mitigating marine pollution. Particular attention is devoted to the role of international organizations and to the efforts of the United Arab Emirates in formulating and implementing environmental policies that reduce marine pollution. The research also reviews UAE’s legislative frameworks and institutional initiatives dedicated to safeguarding marine ecosystems in pursuit of marine sustainability. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of international cooperation among governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in fostering environmental awareness and in advancing innovative, sustainable solutions to pollution. Special emphasis is placed on the UAE’s initiatives aimed at conserving marine biodiversity and ensuring the resilience of aquatic life. The findings indicate that strengthening environmental laws and standards at both the national and international levels, coupled with public awareness and innovation in environmental solutions, constitutes the cornerstone for ensuring the sustainability of marine ecosystems and protecting them from pollution. The study concludes with a recommendation to enhance international collaboration and to reinforce partnerships among key stakeholders engaged in marine environmental protection.

Pollution of water and seas is increasing. Therefore, we need a reliable system to assess this pollution. Sampling water to examine pollution may not fully show the extent of pollution. Water is affected by atmospheric conditions. In these circumstances, the level of pollution may be higher or lower than the actual value. Shrimp are a benthic organism that can accumulate pollutants, so by examining these organisms, the extent of water pollution can be determined. In this systematic study, the ability of shrimp to assess pollutants was investigated. Initially, databases were searched with relevant keywords. After initial evaluation, 17 manuscripts were considered for full evaluation and data extraction. Protein biomarkers, including metallothionein, and enzymes, including cholinesterases, were important evaluation indicators in the studies. The most frequently investigated pollutants were trace metals and PAHs.

The release of hydrocarbons resulting from human activities is one of the main causes of global marine pollution. The increasing tourism in Mediterranean regions such as the Costa del Sol (Málaga, Spain) poses a risk to the environmental health of these ecosystems due to the intensified use of motorboats. This situation calls for bioremediation enhanced by bioaugmentation and biostimulation. In this study, cultivable bacteria were isolated from water samples contaminated with hydrocarbons at Muelle Uno (Málaga, Spain). Subsequently, biostimulation processes were applied under different experimental conditions in minimal and complex media, with and without the presence of benzene or pentane, to evaluate their influence on bacterial abundances. The results showed that hydrocarbons extended the bacterial growth even in complex media and highlighted the essential role of nitrogen in bacterial proliferation. Molecular identification revealed the presence of Pseudoalteromonas sp. and Vibrio sp. in the seawater samples. However, benzene favored the growth of Bacillus sp., while pentane facilitated the proliferation of Vibrio sp. Massive sequencing results confirmed the dominance of Vibrio sp. under pentane conditions, whereas Pseudomonas sp. was predominant in benzene conditions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the significant impact of hydrocarbon pollution on marine microbial communities, particularly affecting key bacterial genera such as Vibrio sp., Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp. These findings provide a robust foundation for future research aimed at optimizing the use of these bacteria in bioremediation processes for hydrocarbon-contaminated marine environments.

Abstract The mechanical reliability of oil spill containment booms is a critical aspect of marine pollution prevention and emergency response, particularly under complex ocean current conditions. This study investigates and optimizes boom deployment strategies by establishing a generalized mechanical model capable of analyzing booms of arbitrary dimensions under cross-flow. A finite element model based on cable elements was developed to evaluate the influence of boom length, deployment angle, and current velocity on the tensile forces at upstream and downstream anchoring points. Furthermore, a volume of fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model was employed to quantify drag coefficients of five representative boom types under varying hydrodynamic conditions. Results show that deployment angle exerts negligible influence on anchoring forces, whereas increasing current velocity significantly amplifies them. By contrast, longer booms reduce anchoring forces, which gradually stabilize beyond a certain length. Taken together, these findings enhance understanding of boom hydrodynamic performance and provide practical guidance for offshore spill control design and operations.

This study examines the occurrence and ecological risks of phthalate esters (PAEs) and bisphenol A (BPA) in raw urban wastewater from Bushehr, a coastal city in the northern Persian Gulf. PAEs, used as plasticizers, and BPA, found in various consumer products, are endocrine disruptors that pose environmental and health threats. The research evaluates the concentrations, distribution, and sources of these pollutants and assesses their ecological risks. Wastewater samples were collected from six discharge stations along the Bushehr coastline between February and April 2023. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), seven PAE compounds, including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-octyl phthalate (DOP), alongside BPA were analyzed. DEHP emerged as the dominant PAE, with concentrations ranging from 19.67 to 39.75 µg/L, while BPA levels ranged from 0.10 to 2.50 µg/L, peaking at Rishehr Park. Ecological risk assessment, conducted using the risk quotient (RQ) method, revealed that DEHP posed a high ecological risk (RQ > 1) to sensitive aquatic species. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and pollution control to safeguard marine ecosystems and public health. The study contributes valuable insights into the contamination levels and sources of PAEs and BPA in the northern Persian Gulf, advancing the understanding of regional marine pollution and its ecological impacts.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-25697-8.

A healthy ocean is a crucial life support system that regulates the global climate, is a source of oxygen and supports major economic activities. A vast and understudied biodiversity from micro- to macro-organisms is integral to ocean health. However, the impact of pollutants that reach the ocean daily is understudied for marine taxa, which are also absent or poorly represented in regulatory test guidelines for chemical hazard assessment. Inspired by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, which aims to reverse the decline in ocean health, this communication calls for global coordination in building resources for studying the effects of marine pollution. The bibliographic analysis, a collective product of scientists from diverse backgrounds, focused on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In this review, we (i) critically analyse the literature on endocrine signalling pathways and high-level physiological impacts of EDCs across 20 representative marine taxa; (ii) identify knowledge and regulatory gaps; (iii) apply bioinformatics approaches to marine species genomic resources, with relevance for predictions of susceptibility; and (iv) provide recommendations of priority actions for different stakeholders. We reveal that the scientific literature on EDCs is biased towards terrestrial and/or freshwater organisms, is limited to a handful of animal taxa, and marine organisms are dramatically underrepresented. Our bibliographic analysis also confirmed that only a small number of (neuro) endocrine pathways are covered for all animals, whilst basic knowledge on endocrine systems/endocrine disruption for most marine invertebrate phyla is minimal. Despite significant gaps in genomic resources for marine animals, endocrine-related protein conservation was evident across more than 500 species from diverse marine taxa, highlighting that they are at risk from EDCs. Despite recent technological advances, translation of existing knowledge into international regulatory test guidelines for chemical hazard assessment and monitoring programs is limited. Furthermore, the current understanding is confounded in part by transposing vertebrate endocrinology onto non-vertebrate taxa. In this context, specific recommendations are provided for all stakeholders, including academia (e.g. to expand knowledge across metazoan taxa and endocrine targets and translate it to New Approach Methodologies and Adverse Outcome Pathways; to increase and improve tools for comparative species-sensitivity distributions and cross-species extrapolations), regulators (e.g. increase awareness of specific risks for the marine environment, prioritise international standardisation of testing methods for marine species and request evidence for absence of endocrine disruption in marine phyla), policy makers (e.g. implement sustained, long-term international marine monitoring programs and increase global co-operation) and the public or non-governmental organisations (e.g. foster public engagement and behaviours that prevent marine chemical pollution; promote citizen science activities; and drive political actions towards protective and restorative marine policies). We hope that this and past reviews can contribute towards meeting ambitious international plans for marine water quality assurance, mitigation of marine pollution impacts and protection of marine biodiversity. The importance of marine biodiversity for climate change mitigation, food security and sustainable ecosystem services calls for urgent, cooperative action.