Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated-, nitro- and oxy-derivatives in the atmosphere over the Mediterranean and Middle East seas
Marco WietzoreckMarios KyprianouBenjamin A. Musa BandoweSiddika CelikJohn N. CrowleyFrank DrewnickPhilipp EgerNils FriedrichMinas IakovidesPetr KukučkaJan KutaBarbora NežikováPetra PokornáPetra PříbylováRoman ProkešRoland RohloffIvan TadićSebastian TauerJake WilsonHartwig HarderJos LelieveldUlrich PöschlEuripides G. StephanouGerhard Lammel
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Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their alkylated (RPAHs), nitrated (NPAHs) and oxygenated (OPAHs) derivatives are air pollutants. Many of these substances are long-lived, can undergo long-range atmospheric transport and adversely affect human health upon exposure. However, the occurrence and fate of these air pollutants has hardly been studied in the marine atmosphere. In this study, we report the atmospheric concentrations over the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, determined during the AQABA (Air Quality and Climate Change in the Arabian Basin) project, a comprehensive ship-borne campaign in summer 2017. The average concentrations of ∑27PAHs, ∑19RPAHs, ∑11OPAHs and ∑17NPAHs, in the gas and particulate phase, were 2.85 ± 3.35 ng m−3, 0.83 ± 0.87 ng m−3, 0.24 ± 0.25 ng m−3 and 4.34 ± 7.37 pg m−3, respectively. The Arabian Sea region was the cleanest for all substance classes, with concentrations among the lowest ever reported. Over the Mediterranean Sea, we found the highest average burden of ∑26PAHs and ∑11OPAHs, while the ∑17NPAHs were most abundant over the Arabian Gulf (known also as Persian Gulf). 1,4 Naphthoquinone (1,4-O2NAP) followed by 9-fluorenone and 9,10-anthraquinone were the most abundant studied OPAHs in most samples. The NPAH composition pattern varied significantly across the regions, with 2 nitronaphthalene (2-NNAP) being the most abundant NPAH. According to source apportionment investigations, the main sources of PAH derivatives in the region were ship exhaust emissions, residual oil combustion and continental pollution. All OPAHs and NPAHs except 2-NFLT, which were frequently detected during the campaign, showed elevated concentrations in fresh shipping emissions. In contrast, 2-nitrofluoranthene (2-NFLT) and 2-nitropyrene (2-NPYR) were highly abundant in aged shipping emissions due to secondary formation. Apart from 2-NFLT and 2-NPYR, also benz(a)anthracene-7,12-dione and 1,4-O2NAP had significant photochemical sources. Another finding was that the highest concentrations of PAHs, OPAHs and NPAHs were found in the sub-micrometre fraction of particulate matter (PM1).Abstract Apoglossum gregarium , a minute deep-water red alga considered an alien in the Mediterranean Sea, was previously known only from the western basin. The present paper reports A. gregarium for the first time off Greece, in the eastern Mediterranean basin. It was found on artificial substrata at 50 m depth in the southeastern Ionian Sea. The Greek specimens were identical to previous Mediterranean descriptions. Moreover, the Greek habitat is the deepest ever recorded for the species. Associated flora as well as biogeographical data are also provided. Based on its worldwide distribution, the possibility that A. gregarium is native to the Mediterranean Sea should not be ruled out.
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The bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, has established in a few years a large population in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered among the most spectacular Lessepsian fish invaders. This work estimated the essential population structure of the species in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. A total of 1073 individuals were sampled between 2005 and 2009. Fish size ranged from 19.2 to 113.1 cm L T and the most frequent size class was 55 cm L T . Weight-length relationship was described by the equation W G = 1.066 × 10 –4 L T 3.4063 , showing a positive allometric growth; the overall sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1 throughout the sampling period. The size range and number of individuals examined in this study could be considered representative of the population living in the eastern Mediterranean and provides basic data that can be used in specific studies that aim to understand the biology and ecology of this invasive fish in the new environment.
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The occurrence of the aristeid shrimp Hymenopenaeus debilis in the Mediterranean Sea is reported from two individuals collected in the Alborán Sea and off Eivissa (western Mediterranean) from depths of 668-679 and 1109-1140 m, respectively. Comments on the origin of the populations and biogeography of the species are related to the Mediterranean pseudopopulations hypothesis.
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The bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, has established in a few years a large population in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered among the most spectacular Lessepsian fish invaders. This work estimated the essential population structure of the species in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. A total of 1073 individuals were sampled between 2005 and 2009. Fish size ranged from 19.2 to 113.1 cm L T and the most frequent size class was 55 cm L T . Weight-length relationship was described by the equation W G = 1.066 × 10 –4 L T 3.4063 , showing a positive allometric growth; the overall sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1 throughout the sampling period. The size range and number of individuals examined in this study could be considered representative of the population living in the eastern Mediterranean and provides basic data that can be used in specific studies that aim to understand the biology and ecology of this invasive fish in the new environment.
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The presence of two species within the Eurythoe complanata complex in the Mediterranean Sea is reported, as well as their geographical distributions. One species, Eurythoe laevisetis, occurs in the eastern and central Mediterranean, likely constituting the first historical introduction to the Mediterranean Sea and the other, Eurythoe complanata, in both eastern and Levantine basins. Brief notes on their taxonomy are also provided and their potential pathways for introduction to the Mediterranean are discussed. A simplified key to the Mediterranean amphinomid genera and species of Eurythoe and Linopherus is presented plus an updated revision of the alien amphinomid species reported previously from the Mediterranean Sea. A total of five exotic species have been included; information on their location, habitat, date of introduction and other relevant features is also provided.
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Abstract Phymatolithon lamii (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea. A morphological-anatomical account of Gulf of Trieste specimens is presented along with comparisons with P. lamii specimens from other regions, comparisons with other Mediterranean species of Phymatolithon and a dichotomous key to known Mediterranean species of Phymatolithon . Whether P. lamii occurs naturally in the Mediterranean Sea but was previously misidentified as P. lenormandii or is, alternatively, an alien species, or both, has not been resolved.
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