Marine water quality refers to the physicochemical, biological, and microbiological status of seawater as characterized by quantitative indicators relevant to ecosystem function, contaminant exposure, and regulatory standards. It encompasses parameters such as nutrient concentrations (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus), dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, turbidity, organic matter, trace metals, hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, and microbial/pathogen loads. Assessment of marine water quality underpins evaluations of eutrophication, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, contaminant bioavailability, and ecological risk. It is central to monitoring programs, environmental impact assessments, and management frameworks such as marine protected areas and coastal zone management, often integrating in situ measurements, remote sensing, and modeling.
Eutrophication and oxygen depletion are well-known threats to the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea, which is increasingly under pressure due to climate change. In this context, large saltwater inflows from the North Sea ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 3, 2025
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New research reveals that PET-based glitter microplastics can actively influence biomineralization processes in marine environments, raising fresh concerns about the long-term environmental impact of microplastic pollution ...
Environment
Apr 1, 2025
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62
By 2030, Coca-Cola products will account for an estimated 1.33 billion pounds (602,000 metric tonnes) of plastic waste entering the world's oceans and waterways each year, according to a stark new analysis published Wednesday ...
Environment
Mar 26, 2025
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86
Pollution by marine litter of anthropogenic origin—that comes from human activity—is currently one of the biggest environmental concerns given its increasing magnitude, especially due to the considerable amount of plastics ...
Environment
Mar 12, 2025
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14
Waste generated by human activities has now reached the deepest point in the Mediterranean: the 5,112-meter-deep Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. A total of 167 objects—mainly plastics, glass, metal and paper—have been identified ...
Environment
Mar 11, 2025
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131
Cellulose nanofibers represent a promising resource for multiple industrial sectors, but what is their impact on the marine environment? A study published in Environmental Science: Nano recently addressed this issue in a ...
Bio & Medicine
Apr 17, 2024
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73
The United Nations' most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report paints a bleak picture for the world's water supply: Of the 7.8 billion people on Earth, about 4 billion do not have access to sufficiently ...
Nanomaterials
Mar 23, 2022
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96
