This study examines mussel accumulation capacity in relation to metal concentrations in the marine environment as well as mussel food availability in the coastal marine environment. Field data obtained from mussel-farms facing different natural and/or human derived pressures (Thermaikos gulf receiving river discharges and Elefsis bay receiving industrial effluents). Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn concentration in mussels and seawater (particulate phase) chlorophyll α, particulate organic carbon and suspended particulate matter (SPM), seawater temperature and salinity were measured. Median mussel metal concentrations measured as μg g−1 dw were 0.62 for Cd, 5.6 for Cu, 2.8 for Cr, 5.0 for Ni, 129 for Zn, 311 for Fe and 12.4 for Mn. The corresponding concentrations in SPM expressed as μg L−1 were 0.004 for Cd, 0.33 for Cu, 1.14 for Cr, 0.31 for Ni, 3.60 for Zn, 46.0 for Fe and 1.63 for Mn. Mussel metal concentrations were higher at the industrial site. Metals in the seawater particulate phase were higher in the estuary front, which was attributed to higher SPM levels from river discharges. Due to the limited nutritional value of the SPM in the industrial area, mussels were exposed to elevated metal load by both the anthropogenic activities and the slower and more effective digestion of their potential food in order to optimize available organic matter exploitation from restricted and low nutrition value food.

We report lead (Pb) analyses in juvenile (n = 37; mean length = 24.7 +/- 2.3 cm) and adult (n = 16; mean length = 52.3 +/- 9.3 cm) Centroscymnus coelolepis Mediterranean deep-sea sharks that are compared to Pb content in bathy-demersal, pelagic and shallow coastal sharks. Median Pb concentrations of C. coelolepis muscle (0.009-0.056 wet ppm) and liver (0.023-0.061 wet ppm) are among the lowest encountered in shark records. Stable Pb isotope imprints in adult C. coelolepis muscles highlight that most of Pb in C. coelolepis is from human origin. Lead isotopes reveal the persistence of gasoline Pb emitted in the 1970s in low-turnover adult shark's muscle while associated liver imprints are in equilibrium with recent pollutant Pb signatures suggesting an efficient pollutant Pb turnover metabolism. The comparison of Pb distribution between adult and juvenile cohorts suggests the role of dietary exposure and possible maternal offloading of Pb during gestation, likely associated to vitellogenesis in this aplacental viviparous deep-sea shark.

The MYTIAD project focused on the assessment of chemical contamination (metals, PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides) in the Adriatic coastal waters by active mussel watching. Its purpose was harmonising and standardising strategies and methodologies used to assess the contamination status of the Adriatic Sea, in the framework of the WFD, the MSFD and UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme. Data on metals pointed out some hotspots along the eastern and western Adriatic Sea coasts, with the highest values of total PAH concentration detected in Split, Trieste, and Taranto (Ionian Sea). PCB and endrin contamination was higher in the Adriatic Sea than in the western Mediterranean Sea. This is the first comprehensive overview of contamination in the Adriatic Sea with critical comparisons of related studies over the Mediterranean Sea. It provides a useful harmonised dataset to support a coordinated definition of baselines, targets and thresholds, and further management of chemical contamination.

Trace elements (TEs), Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Pb isotope ratios were determined in six small cores sampled along the Namibian coast and different indices, such as Enrichment Factor, Geo-accumulation Index and Pollution load index, were calculated to evaluate possible metal contamination in the area. Concentrations of Pb, Cu, As and Cd were strongly enhanced at the upper 7 cm of core C5, which is located at Walvis Bay, at the major harbor and urban/industrial center of Namibia, indicating the impact from the recent anthropogenic activities. Principal Component Analysis was applied to the data set indicating possible common sources of the contaminants. Pb stable isotope ratios, combined with the dating of core C5 at Walvis Bay, further confirmed the anthropogenic provenance of Pb sources in the recent sediment deposits, which occurred after 1945, when the anthropogenic activities in the area began to increase. REEs profiles were also determined, showing enrichment in REEs for some of the samples, typical for the minerals present in the area. Ce anomaly was detected in one of the cores but the REEs profile did not reveal anomalies ascribable to anthropogenic influence.

Namibia is a fast-growing country with extensive mineral extraction activities used in diamond, fluorspar, uranium, and metals production. To assess the impact of land based human activities on the Namibian coastal marine environment, 25 elements were analyzed in 22 surface sediments samples collected along the coast. After applying a variety of pollution assessment indices (Enrichment Factor, Igeo and Pollution Load Indexes) was concluded that As, Cd and Sb were considerably enriched in the sediments from several sites, while Cu, Pb and Zn showed very high enrichment near the Walvis Bay harbor. Pearson's correlation and Principal Component Analysis were used to investigate common metal sources. Additionally, the determination of Pb isotope ratios confirmed the contribution of land based human activities at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz as sources of pollution. The analysis of REEs did not reveal any important enrichment due to anthropogenic activities, but provides a needed baseline for further investigations.

Waste is being transported to the marine environment through many pathways, including river discharge, atmospheric deposition or direct discharge/disposal of gas and liquid emissions, solid wastes, radioactivity, thermal energy and noise. This chapter presents the major categories of waste that are reaching the marine environment and highlights the major environmental concerns, as well as the existing relevant policy and management frameworks. Approach to categorizing waste is to distinguish between sources, which is also a way of understanding the major pressures in relation to different pollutions in the framework of the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response Approach. Major sources of biodegradable organic matter include sewage from urban areas and wastewater generated from industrial and animal breeding activities. Hazardous substances are compounds that are toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulation, or give rise to an equivalent level of concern through synergistic effects or degradation into hazardous substances. Persistent organic pollutants are a group of chemicals that are persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative.

Spatial and temporal variability of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe and Mn and metallothionein (MT) concentrations were determined in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from Elefsis bay (Saronikos gulf, Greece). Higher concentrations of both metal concentrations and MTs were recorded in mussels inhabiting industrial locations (steelworks and shipyard), indicating a markedly higher metal bioavailability. However at these sites, located at the eastern part of the bay, mussel metal concentrations were not always correlated with both seawater metal concentrations and MTs possibly due to different time scales of integration of the metal sources into mussels and/or the participation of other metal regulatory mechanisms except MT induction. The pattern of the temporal variation of mussel metal concentrations and the MT levels was similar among stations with higher values during the winter–spring season and lower during the summer–autumn period. The inverse relationship of flesh condition index with mussel metal concentrations was attributed to the influence of mussel annual reproductive cycle.

Spatial and temporal variability of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe and Mn and metallothionein (MT) concentrations were determined in mussels from Elefsis bay (Saronikos gulf, Greece). Higher concentrations of both metal concentrations and MTs were recorded in mussels inhabiting industrial locations (steelworks and shipyard), indicating a markedly higher metal bioavailability. However at these sites, located at the eastern part of the bay, mussel metal concentrations were not always correlated with both seawater metal concentrations and MTs possibly due to different time scales of integration of the metal sources into mussels and/or the participation of other metal regulatory mechanisms except MT induction. The pattern of the temporal variation of mussel metal concentrations and the MT levels was similar among stations with higher values during the winter–spring season and lower during the summer–autumn period. The inverse relationship of flesh condition index with mussel metal concentrations was attributed to the influence of mussel annual reproductive cycle.

Sediment cores from the deep Balearic basin and the Cretan Sea provide evidence for the accumulation of Cd, Pd and Zn in the top few centimeters of the abyssal Mediterranean sea-bottom. In both cores, 206Pb/207Pb profiles confirm this anthropogenic impact with less radiogenic imprints toward surface sediments. The similarity between excess 210Pb accumulated in the top core and the 210Pb flux suggests that top core metal inventories reasonably reflect long-term atmospheric deposition to the open Mediterranean. Pb inventory in the western core for the past 100 years represents 20-30% of sediment coastal inventories, suggesting that long-term atmospheric deposition determined from coastal areas has to be used cautiously for mass balance calculations in the open Mediterranean. In the deeper section of both cores, Al normalized trace metal profiles suggest diagenetic remobilization of Fe, Mn, Cu and, to a lesser extent, Pb that likely corresponds to sapropel event S1.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD) requires that the European Commission (by 15 July 2010) should lay down criteria and methodological standards to allow consistency in approach in evaluating the extent to which Good Environmental Status (GES) is being achieved. ICES and JRC were contracted to provide scientific support for the Commission in meeting this obligation. A total of 10 reports have been prepared relating to the descriptors of GES listed in Annex I of the Directive. Eight reports have been prepared by groups of independent experts coordinated by JRC and ICES in response to this contract. In addition, reports for two descriptors (Contaminants in fish and other seafood and Marine Litter) were written by expert groups coordinated by DG SANCO and IFREMER respectively. A Task Group was established for each of the qualitative Descriptors. Each Task Group consisted of selected experts providing experience related to the four marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) and an appropriate scope of relevant scientific expertise. Observers from the Regional Seas Conventions were also invited to each Task Group to help ensure the inclusion of relevant work by those Conventions. This is the report of Task Group 8 Contaminants and pollution effects.

Alexandroupolis Gulf is the recipient of the freshwater of the Evros River, the largest river system (in terms of water supply) discharging into Eastern Mediterranean (NE Aegean Sea) after the Danube River. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected from various depths, at 14 stations in Alexandroupolis Gulf during four periods (June 1998, September 1998, February 1999 and March 2000) in order to examine the organic carbon, nitrogen and trace elements contents. Although the values of the various parameters fluctuate strongly according to the sampling period, there is a general trend of higher organic carbon values in the deeper sectors of the water column. The seasonally adjustable seawater circulation in the gulf seems to be the regulative factor of the surficial distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen, while calcium carbonate content seems to be connected with the presence of carbonate marine organisms and the seasonal pattern of phytoplankton growth. Moreover, according to C:N ratio values, the origin of carbon in the SPM of the gulf is mainly marine and controlled by marine bacteria, phytoplankton and microalgae abundance. In addition, although the trace element values in the Alexandroupolis Gulf SPM are lower than those recorded in heavily polluted Greek areas, the calculation of Enrichment Factor derives high values in Cu (Enrichment Factor, EF: 37), Cd (EF: 33), Co (EF: 23), Zn (EF: 22), Pb (EF: 13) and Cr (EF: 8), while Ni seems to be unaffected by any human influence (EF: 1).

Evros River is the most important river flowing into the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) in terms of freshwater discharge, and the second largest one of Eastern Europe after the Danube River. Salinity and temperature measurements, together with suspended particulate matter concentrations were obtained in various depths at 14 stations in the adjacent Alexandroupolis Gulf during four seasons (June 1998, September 1998, February 1999 and March 2000) in order to investigate the particle dynamics and distributions in the northern Aegean Sea. Analysis of the collected data, together with particle observations under the scanning electron microscope and study of satellite images showed that, under certain circumstances driven by the hydrological and wind regime of the area, the Evros River particulate matter, with the associated pollutants, can be transferred far away from the estuary and implicitly comprise a hazardous factor for the environmental status of the northern Aegean Sea. This fact, combined with the future construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, may cause a negative impact on the studied natural ecosystem.

The aim of this survey was to assess metal concentrations in precipitation over the Aegean Sea and to identify possible source regions that contribute to their long-range transport to the northeastern Mediterranean. Total metal concentrations in 37 rainwater samples collected on the island of Lesvos showed a high variability depending mostly on the origin of the air masses influencing the rain events assessed by 4-day back trajectories. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Ni were rather similar to those found at other coastal sites in the Mediterranean basin, but Cd was significantly lower. The calculation of crustal enrichment factors of the metals along with the statistical analysis of the results showed that Saharan dust storms supply significant amounts of natural Al, Fe, Mn, Cr and Ni to the northern Aegean atmosphere, although some amounts of Cr and Ni are also contributed from anthropogenic sources. On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions largely determine Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn loads, although not all four metals follow the same enrichment and transportation pattern.

The emission of platinum group elements (PGEs) from automobile catalytic converters has led to rapid increases in Pt, Pd, and Rh concentrations in roadside media. This article represents the first systematic study in Greece to assess PGE levels in road dust and roadside soil and their temporal variation on a seasonal basis over a 12-month period. Road dust and roadside soil samples were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following microwave digestion. Concentrations of PGE in all samples were above the average upper crust values and local background levels, with maximum values of 306.4 ng/g Pt, 18.2 ng/g Pd, and 64.6 ng/g Rh in road dust and 225 ng/g Pt, 14.0 ng/g Pd, and 49.5 ng/g Rh in roadside soil. PGE ratios were not consistent with known catalytic converter composition throughout the sampling period reflecting the high emission of Rh from new catalytic converters. Spatial variations were influenced by various factors like driving style, matrix composition, diurnal change in traffic volume, and climatic conditions. With regard to seasonal variations, systematic changes in the temporal distribution of PGE levels were observed and followed a similar pattern between the two matrices. Except PGEs, Pb levels were determined, since it has been a typical indicator of vehicle-derived environmental lead pollution. The data indicate that despite the use of unleaded gasoline, traffic-related sources of Pb that induce levels above the local background have not been eliminated.

The transboundary Evros River discharges into the Alexandroupolis Gulf, located in the inner shelf of the northeastern Aegean Sea, where it has formed an extended delta. Grain-size and mineralogical analyses of five sediment cores, collected in the subaqueous delta, provide the following information about recent sedimentation processes in the northeastern part of the Aegean shelf: (a) river mouth deposits, consisting of coarse-grained sediments, are mainly deposited in front of the active mouth, whilst some sandy material is expected to be transported alongshore by nearshore currents; (b) delta front deposits are characterised by fine-grained sediments that include evidence of human activities which have taken place, in a more intense way, since the 1950s; and (c) prodelta deposits are represented by almost uniform riverine mud that cover the pre-existed relict sands of the shelf, indicating also the limit (some 15 km to the SW) of the influence of riverine sedimentation on the seabed of the inner shelf of the Alexandroupolis Gulf.

The occurrence of As was studied in groundwater used for human consumption and irrigation, in stream water and sediments and in water from thermal springs in the drainage basin of Kalloni Gulf, island of Lesvos, Greece, in order to investigate the potential influence of the geothermal field of Polichnitos–Lisvori on the ground and surface water systems of the area. Total dissolved As varied in the range <0.7–88.3 μg L−1 in groundwater, 41.1–90.7 μg L−1 in thermal spring water and 0.4–13.2 μg L−1 in stream water, whereas As concentrations in stream sediments varied between 2.0–21.9 mg kg−1. Four out of 31 groundwater samples exceeded the EC standard of 10 μg L−1. The survey revealed an enrichment in both surface and groundwater hydrological systems in the northern part of the area (average concentrations of As in groundwater, stream water and stream sediment: 8.0 μg L−1, 8.8 μg L−1 and 15.0 mg kg−1 respectively), in association with the volcanic bedrocks, while lower As concentrations were found in the eastern part (average concentrations in groundwater, stream water and stream sediment: 2.9 μg L−1, 1.7 μg L−1 and 5.9 mg kg−1 respectively), which is dominated by ophiolitic ultramafic formations. The variation of As levels between the different parts of the study area suggests that local geology exerts a determinant influence on As geochemical behaviour. On the other hand, the geothermal activity manifested in the area of Polichnitos–Lisvori does not affect the presence of As in groundwater and streams.

Two sediment cores were collected during a cruise of the R/V "AEGAEO" in the northeastern Aegean Sea in February 1998 in order to investigate the distribution, composition and sources of hydrocarbon mixtures. Relatively high aliphatic hydrocarbon values were recorded in the upper parts of the cores with a decreasing trend downcore. The unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was the main component of the aliphatic fraction in-the first 20 cm of the cores, demonstrating petroleum residues. High molecular weight (MW) n-alkanes predominated in all cases showing a strong odd/even carbon number preference (CPI values >5), characteristic of terrestrial origin. Polycyclic: aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determined, included the parent compounds with MW from 178-278, dibenzothiophene, retene and the methylated derivatives of phenanthrene and dibenzothiopbene. High values (>1000 ng/g) were measured in the surface layers with a decreasing trend downcore, except in the core located close to the estuary, where an anomalous behavior was observed, with the highest values in the 40-45 cm section of the,core, probably related to past pollution incidences. The biogenic perylene, mostly coming from terrestrial sources, was always the most abundant PAH. The compounds with four or more aromatic rings were also found in high quantities.

The Evros River is the second largest river of the Eastern Europe after the Danube River and is the largest river system that drains into the northeastern Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). Sediment cores recovered from the river's prodelta have been analysed in order to reveal the sedimentation rates and the heavy metal contamination history of the area. The results show the long term potential environmental impacts caused by reclamation works which have taken place in the subaerial part of the river delta since the 1950s. Sedimentation rates, based on Pb-210 inventories, are similar to 3.0 cm y(-1) in front of the river mouth and similar to 0.4 cm y(-1) approximately 9 km offshore, however they have decreased more than 50% in the last 50 years. The rapid reduction of the sedimentation rate between the various regions of the Alexandroupolis Gulf reflects changes mainly in water circulation patterns of the area, mainly driven by the Samothraki Anticyclone. In addition, intensification of agricultural and industrial activities within the river basin have caused considerable increase of heavy metals, such as Cu (Enrichment Factor, EF: 2.2), Zn (EF: 2.0), Cd (EF: 6.0), and Pb (EF: 16.2), in the surface sediments of the Evros River prodelta. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.