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Discrete water samples represent a snapshot of conditions at a particular moment in time and may not represent a true chemical exposure caused by changes in chemical input, tide, flow, and precipitation. Sampling technologies have been engineered to better estimate time‐weighted concentrations. In this study, we consider the utility of three integrative sampling platforms: polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS), silicone bands (SBs), and continuous, low‐level aquatic monitoring (CLAM). This experiment used simulated southeastern salt marsh mesocosm systems to evaluate the response of passive (POCIS, SBs) and active sampling (CLAM) devices along with discrete sampling methodologies. Three systems were assigned to each passive sampler technology. Initially, all tanks were dosed at nominal (low) bifenthrin, pyrene, and triclosan concentrations of 0.02, 2.2, and 100 µg/L, respectively. After 28 days, the same treatment systems were dosed a second time (high) with bifenthrin, pyrene, and triclosan at 0.08, 8.8, and 200 µg/L, respectively. For passive samplers, estimated water concentrations were calculated using published or laboratory‐derived sampling rate constants. Chemical residues measured from SBs resulted in high/low ratios of approximately 2x, approximately 3x, and 1x for bifenthrin, pyrene, and triclosan. A similar pattern was calculated using data from POCIS samples (~4x, ~3x, ~1x). Results from this study will help users of CLAM, POCIS, and SB data to better evaluate water concentrations from sampling events that are integrated across time. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1384–1395. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Integrative passive samplers can be an important tool in coastal chemical pollutant monitoring programs, but salt content in marine and estuarine systems can pose a challenge when estimating time‐weighted average concentrations.Remote sampling systems that track the total volume extracted, such as the continuous low‐level aquatic monitoring (CLAM) unit, may be appropriate for monitoring in remote areas and generating integrated chemical concentrations.Passive sampler devices require sampling rate constants (Rs and KPW) that are sensitive to environmental factors such as salinity. There is a general lack of reported constants measured under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world's oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits.

Oil spills are a significant source of coastal pollution. Shoreline cleaners, used to remove oil from surfaces during spill response and remediation, may also act as toxins. Adult and larval grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were tested for lethal and sublethal impacts from two shoreline cleaners, Accell Clean SWA® and PES-51®, alone and in combination with crude oil using Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fractions (CEWAFs). Median lethal toxicity values determined for the individual cleaners were similar. However, when tested in mixture with oil as CEWAFs, Accell Clean SWA resulted in greater hydrocarbon concentrations in the water column and greater toxicity than PES-51. Increased glutathione levels were observed for adult shrimp exposed to Accell Clean SWA, and glutathione was elevated in shrimp exposed to both CEWAFs. Larval shrimp development was delayed after exposure to both CEWAFs. These findings may have implications for managing and mitigating oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical dispersants can be a beneficial method for breaking up oil slicks; however, their use in mitigation could pose potential toxic effects on the marine ecosystem. Dispersants may be transported to lower salinity habitats, where toxicity data for aquatic species have not been established. This study examined the effect of salinity on oil dispersant toxicity in the eastern mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, using two dispersants authorized for oil spill response, Corexit® 9500A and Finasol® OSR 52. Median lethal toxicity values (LC50) and sublethal effects were examined at 10, 20, and 30 ppt salinity in adult and larval mud snails. Two biomarkers (lipid peroxidation and acetylcholinesterase) were used to measure sublethal effects. The 96-h static renewal LC50 values indicated significant differences in toxicity between dispersants and salinities. Larval snails were significantly more sensitive than adult snails to both dispersants, and both life stages were significantly more sensitive to Finasol than to Corexit. Larval snails were more sensitive to dispersants at lower salinity, but adult snails were more sensitive at higher salinities. Dispersants increased lipid peroxidation and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. These results demonstrate that dispersant toxicity varies among compounds and organism life stages, and that physicochemical properties of the environment, such as salinity, can affect the potential toxicity to estuarine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]