Effects of Pollution on Marine Organisms

Abstract

This review covers selected 2009 peerreviewed journal articles on the biological, chemical and physical effects of natural and anthropogenic pollutants on marine and estuarine plants and animals. This review covers field and laboratory measurement activities (concentrations of contaminants, field surveys, toxicity testing and biomarkers). Papers focus further on pollution issues of current interest including endocrine disrupters, wastewater discharges, dredging and disposal, etc. Special emphsis was placed on oil spills due to the major ongoing Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. Several toical areas reviewed in the past were dropped this year due to circumstances beyond our control (including work on the Deepwater Horizon incident). There is considerable overlap across subject areas (e.g.some bioaccumulation papers may be cited in other topical categories). As always, readers should only use this as a guide and must consult the original papers before citing them, including double‐checking units.