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Sirota R, Winters G, Levy O, Marques J, Paytan A, Silverman J, Sisma-Ventura G, Rahav E, Antler G, Bar-Zeev E. Impacts of Desalination Brine Discharge on Benthic Ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5631-5645. [PMID: 38516811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facilities produce freshwater and, at the same time, discharge hypersaline brine that often includes various chemical additives such as antiscalants and coagulants. This dense brine can sink to the sea bottom and creep over the seabed, reaching up to 5 km from the discharge point. Previous reviews have discussed the effects of SWRO desalination brine on various marine ecosystems, yet little attention has been paid to the impacts on benthic habitats. This review comprehensibly discusses the effects of SWRO brine discharge on marine benthic fauna and flora. We review previous studies that indicated a suite of impacts by SWRO brine on benthic organisms, including bacteria, seagrasses, polychaetes, and corals. The effects within the discharge mixing zones range from impaired activities and morphological deformations to changes in the community composition. Recent modeling work demonstrated that brine could spread over the seabed, beyond the mixing zone, for up to several tens of kilometers and impair nutrient fluxes from the sediment to the water column. We also provide a possible perspective on brine's impact on the biogeochemical process within the mixing zone subsurface. Desalination brine can infiltrate into the sandy bottom around the discharge area due to gravity currents. Accumulation of brine and associated chemical additives, such as polyphosphonate-based antiscalants and ferric-based coagulants in the porewater, may change the redox zones and, hence, impact biogeochemical processes in sediments. With the demand for drinking water escalating worldwide, the volumes of brine discharge are predicted to triple during the current century. Future efforts should focus on the development and operation of viable technologies to minimize the volumes of brine discharged into marine environments, along with a change to environmentally friendly additives. However, the application of these technologies should be partly subsidized by governmental stakeholders to safeguard coastal ecosystems around desalination facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Sirota
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer 84990, Israel
- The Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada 869100, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 31080, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat (IUI), Eilat 8810302, Israel
| | - Gidon Winters
- The Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada 869100, Israel
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat 881000, Israel
| | - Oren Levy
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Joseane Marques
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer 84990, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat (IUI), Eilat 8810302, Israel
| | - Adina Paytan
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Jack Silverman
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 31080, Israel
| | - Guy Sisma-Ventura
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 31080, Israel
| | - Eyal Rahav
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 31080, Israel
| | - Gilad Antler
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat (IUI), Eilat 8810302, Israel
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Edo Bar-Zeev
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer 84990, Israel
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2
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Gomes PH, Pereira SP, Tavares TCL, Garcia TM, Soares MO. Impacts of desalination discharges on phytoplankton and zooplankton: Perspectives on current knowledge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160671. [PMID: 36481138 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale application of desalination technology can result in impacts to the marine biota, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, basal components of marine trophic webs. In this context, our perspective aimed to summarize the impacts of effluent discharges from desalination plants on phytoplankton and zooplankton in order to identify the main gaps and challenges in this theme, propose solutions, and provide recommendations for future work. We identified two main approaches to assess the desalination impacts: laboratory experiments and field studies. Most of these studies were conducted in areas impacted by effluent discharges using the BACI (before, after, and control-impact) approach. They primarily aimed to set out the impacts of hypersaline brine on the surrounding environment and, to a lesser extent, the high-temperature effluents and contaminants from desalination plants. Moreover, phytoplankton was more sensitive to effluent discharges than zooplankton. The main changes observed were a decrease in primary productivity, a loss in diversity, and a change in the community structure of planktonic populations due to the dominance of saline-tolerant groups, which highlights the importance improving treatment or dilution of effluent discharges to minimize the impacts over whole neritic trophic webs, which depend on phytoplankton. From the impacts related to effluent discharges analyzed herein, RO technology was related to most cases of negative impact related to salinity modifications. However, coagulants were related to negative effects in all study cases. Future work should focus on escalate the impacts of such effluents on other trophic levels that could be directly or indirectly impacted as well as on how to improve the quality of effluent discharges. Also, we highlight the importance of further baseline and long-term monitoring studies to investigate desalination-induced changes and community resilience to these impacts, as well as studies to provide alternatives to the use of toxic chemicals in the pre-treatment phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique Gomes
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Abolição Avenue 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil.
| | - Silvano Porto Pereira
- Companhia de Água e Esgoto do Ceará (CAGECE), Fortaleza, Brazil; University of Alicante
| | - Tallita Cruz Lopes Tavares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Abolição Avenue 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Martins Garcia
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Abolição Avenue 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Marcelo O Soares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Abolição Avenue 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil; Reef Systems Group, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
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3
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Sandoval-Gil JM, Ruiz JM, Marín-Guirao L. Advances in understanding multilevel responses of seagrasses to hypersalinity. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105809. [PMID: 36435174 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human- and nature-induced hypersaline conditions in coastal systems can lead to profound alterations of the structure and vitality of seagrass meadows and their socio-ecological benefits. In the last two decades, recent research efforts (>50 publications) have contributed significantly to unravel the physiological basis underlying the seagrass-hypersalinity interactions, although most (∼70%) are limited to few species (e.g. Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina, Thalassia testudinum, Cymodocea nodosa). Variables related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolism are among the most prevalent in the literature, although other key metabolic processes such as plant water relations and responses at molecular (i.e. gene expression) and ultrastructure level are attracting attention. This review emphasises all these latest insights, offering an integrative perspective on the interplay among biological responses across different functional levels (from molecular to clonal structure), and their interaction with biotic/abiotic factors including those related to climate change. Other issues such as the role of salinity in driving the evolutionary trajectory of seagrasses, their acclimation mechanisms to withstand salinity increases or even the adaptive properties of populations that have historically lived under hypersaline conditions are also included. The pivotal role of the costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity in the successful acclimation of marine plants to hypersalinity is also discussed. Finally, some lines of research are proposed to fill the remaining knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas (IIO), Marine Botany Research Group, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - Juan M Ruiz
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain.
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Ihsanullah I, Atieh MA, Sajid M, Nazal MK. Desalination and environment: A critical analysis of impacts, mitigation strategies, and greener desalination technologies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146585. [PMID: 33774302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The desalination of seawater is perceived as one of the most viable processes to fulfill the mounting demand for freshwater. Despite enormous economic, social, and health benefits offered by desalination, there are several concerns regarding its prospective environmental impacts (EIs). The objective of this work is to critically evaluate the potential EIs of seawater desalination, and assess the prospects of greener desalination. The EIs of desalination on marine environment, land, groundwater, and air quality was systematically reviewed. An attempt has been made to analyze the actuality of these so-called impacts with reference to evidence from real desalination plants. The mitigative measures to counterbalance these unfavorable impacts are critically appraised. Furthermore, the brine management technologies for the disposal of reject stream, the recovery of precious materials and water, and the production of useful chemicals are also reviewed. Current challenges to minimize the adverse impacts of desalination and prospects of sustainable greener desalination to overwhelm global water scarcities are also discussed. The current desalination approaches have moderate and minor negative EIs. However, with proper mitigation and utilization of modern technologies, these impacts can be lessened. Furthermore, by employing various modern techniques, reject brine can be utilized for several useful applications while reducing its adverse impacts simultaneously. Recent advancements in desalination technologies have also offered many alternative approaches that provide a roadmap towards greener desalination. This review article will be beneficial for all the stakeholders in the desalination industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihsanullah Ihsanullah
- Center for Environment and Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Muataz A Atieh
- Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering (CWDE) Program, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muhammad Sajid
- Center for Environment and Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen K Nazal
- Center for Environment and Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
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Sola I, Fernández-Torquemada Y, Forcada A, Valle C, Del Pilar-Ruso Y, González-Correa JM, Sánchez-Lizaso JL. Sustainable desalination: Long-term monitoring of brine discharge in the marine environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111813. [PMID: 33157504 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The environmental impact of desalination is the most important concern related to its sustainable development. We present the results of a long-term environmental plan to monitor brine discharge (BD) from a desalination plant located in a high environmental value area in Spain. Generalized additive models were used to analyze the biological parameters of biological communities. Results of 17 years of BD monitoring show how its environmental impact can be minimized through well-planned decision-making between scientists and industry. The brine dilution prior to its discharge into an artificial channel of low ecological value significantly reduced the brine influence area. P. oceanica shoot production and echinoderms abundances were relatively stable across historical series and similar values in control and impacts locations were observed. Conversely, there was a higher abundance and species richness of fishes in the BD area. The important findings reported here should be considered for future applications in similar projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Sola
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain; Programa de Doctorado Interdisciplinario en Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Aitor Forcada
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Carlos Valle
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Yoana Del Pilar-Ruso
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
| | - José M González-Correa
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
| | - José Luis Sánchez-Lizaso
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, Alicante, Spain.
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6
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Panagopoulos A, Haralambous KJ. Environmental impacts of desalination and brine treatment - Challenges and mitigation measures. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111773. [PMID: 33128985 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Desalination is perceived as an effective and reliable process for obtaining freshwater from aqueous saline solutions such as brackish water, seawater and brine. This can be clarified by the fact that >300 million people worldwide rely on desalinated water for their daily needs. Although the desalination process offers many advantages, there are rising concerns about possible adverse environmental impacts. Generally, environmental impacts can be generated both in the construction and operation of desalination plants. A major issue of desalination is the co-produced waste called 'brine' or 'reject' which has a high salinity along with chemical residuals and is discharged into the marine environment. In addition to brine, other main issues are the high energy consumption of the desalination and brine treatment technologies as well as the air pollution due to emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) and air pollutants. Other issues include entrainment and entrapment of marine species, and heavy use of chemicals. The purpose of this review is to analyze the potential impacts of desalination and brine treatment on the environment and suggest mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyris Panagopoulos
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece.
| | - Katherine-Joanne Haralambous
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece
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7
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Mylona Z, Panteris E, Moustakas M, Kevrekidis T, Malea P. Physiological, structural and ultrastructural impacts of silver nanoparticles on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 248:126066. [PMID: 32050317 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an emerging contaminant, currently considered to be a significant potential risk to the coastal environment. To further test potential risk, and to determine effect concentrations and sensitive response parameters, toxic effects of environmentally relevant AgNP concentrations on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were evaluated. Alterations of the cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, ultrastructure, photosystem II function, oxidative stress markers, cell viability, and leaf, rhizome and root elongation in C. nodosa exposed to AgNP concentrations (0.0002-0.2 mg L-1) under laboratory conditions for 8 days were examined. An increase in H2O2 level, indicating oxidative stress, occurred after the 4th day even at 0.0002 mg L-1. Increased antioxidant enzyme activity, potentially contributing to H2O2 level decline at the end of the experiment, and reduced protein content were also observed. Actin filaments started to diminish on the 6th day at 0.02 mg L-1; microtubule, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast and mitochondrion disturbance appeared after 8 days at 0.02 mg L-1, while toxic effects were generally more acute at 0.2 mg L-1. A dose-dependent leaf elongation inhibition was also observed; as for juvenile leaves, toxicity index increased from 2.8 to 40.7% with concentration. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) overproduction and actin filament disruption appeared to be the most sensitive response parameters, and thus could be utilized as early warning indicators of risk to seagrass meadows. A risk quotient of 1.33 was calculated, confirming previous findings, that AgNPs may pose a significant risk to the coastal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Mylona
- Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Panteris
- Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Michael Moustakas
- Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodoros Kevrekidis
- Laboratory of Environmental Research and Education, Democritus University of Thrace, Nea Hili, GR-68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Malea
- Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Kress N, Gertner Y, Shoham-Frider E. Seawater quality at the brine discharge site from two mega size seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants in Israel (Eastern Mediterranean). WATER RESEARCH 2020; 171:115402. [PMID: 31874390 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Two mega-size seawater desalination plants, producing 240 Mm3/y freshwater, discharge brine into the Mediterranean coast of Israel through two marine outfalls, located 0.8 km apart. Six years monitoring brine discharge have shown almost no impact on seawater quality. The brine dispersed near the bottom following its initial mixing, and was not detected near the surface. Maximal excess salinity at the salty layer ranged from 4.3 to 9.1% over the reference and the affected area was highly variable (2 km2 - >13 km2), with maximal plume size from 1.75 to more than 4.4 km. Brine increased seawater temperature by up to 0.7 °C near the outfalls. It had no impact on oxygen saturation, turbidity, pH, nutrients (except for total organic phosphorus (TOP)), chlorophyll-a and metal concentrations. TOP, from the polyphosphonate-based antiscalant discharged with the brine, was correlated with excess salinity. It is unknown if the results of this short term study represent a steady state, with temporal variability, or the beginning of a slow incremental impact. Israel is planning to more than double desalination along its 190 km Mediterranean coast by 2050. A long term, adaptable, program, in conjunction with specific research and modeling, should be able to assess and predict the impact of large scale brine discharge on the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurit Kress
- Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Res, The National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Yaron Gertner
- Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Res, The National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| | - Efrat Shoham-Frider
- Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Res, The National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
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Sharifinia M, Afshari Bahmanbeigloo Z, Smith WO, Yap CK, Keshavarzifard M. Prevention is better than cure: Persian Gulf biodiversity vulnerability to the impacts of desalination plants. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:4022-4033. [PMID: 31436851 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to extremely high rates of evaporation and low precipitation in the Persian Gulf, discharges from desalination plants (DPs) can lead to ecological stresses by increasing water temperatures, salinities, and heavy metal concentrations, as well as decreasing dissolved oxygen levels. We discuss the potential ecological impacts of DPs on marine organisms and propose mitigating measures to reduce the problems induced by DPs discharges. The daily capacity of DPs in the Persian Gulf exceeds 11 million m3 per day, which is approximately half of global daily freshwater production; multistage flash distillation (MSF) is the dominant desalination process. Results from field and laboratory studies indicate that there are potentially serious and chronic threats to marine communities following exposure to DP discharges, especially within the zoobenthos, echinodermata, seagrasses, and coral reefs. DP discharges can lead to decreases in sensitive species, plankton abundance, hard substrate epifauna, and growth rates of seagrasses. However, the broad applicability of any one of these impacts is currently hard to scale because of the limited number of studies that have been conducted to assess the ecological impacts of DP discharge on Persian Gulf organisms. Even so, available data suggest that appropriately sited, designed, and operated DPs combined with current developments in impingement and entrainment reduction technology can mitigate many of the negative environmental impacts of DPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moslem Sharifinia
- Shrimp Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr, Iran
| | | | - Walker O Smith
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, USA
| | - Chee Kong Yap
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mehrzad Keshavarzifard
- Shrimp Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr, Iran
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10
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Assessment of the Requirements within the Environmental Monitoring Plans Used to Evaluate the Environmental Impacts of Desalination Plants in Chile. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11102085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Seawater desalination represents an alternative solution to face the challenge of water scarcity in Chile. However, the uncertainty toward potential environmental impacts of desalination plants represent a barrier to achieving water sustainability and socioeconomic development in Chile. This study aimed to assess the quality of environmental monitoring plans (EMP) and determine the aspects to be improved within it, in order to enhance the management of desalination plants during the operation phase and guarantee a sustainable development of the activity. The Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Impact Studies for seawater desalination projects published in the Environmental Impact Evaluation System (SEIA) in Chile between 1997 and 2018 were reviewed. The results of the brine production from desalination plants showed a significant increase in the last decade (about 1.6 Mm3 per year estimated according to the projects approved or under implementation). The EMPs data show heterogeneity and increasing requirements over time, which can be attributed to the governmental effort to improve environmental protection. Furthermore, a high frequency of irrelevant descriptors was identified in the current EMPs. The study thus recommended standardizing the environmental requirements included in EMPs based on empiric scientific knowledge to enhance the environmental protection programs in Chile.
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11
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Cambridge ML, Zavala-Perez A, Cawthray GR, Statton J, Mondon J, Kendrick GA. Effects of desalination brine and seawater with the same elevated salinity on growth, physiology and seedling development of the seagrass Posidonia australis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 140:462-471. [PMID: 30803667 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Desalination has the potential to provide an important source of potable water to growing coastal populations but it also produces highly saline brines with chemical additives, posing a possible threat to benthic marine communities. The effects of brine (0%, 50%, 100%) were compared to seawater treatments with the same salinity (37, 46, 54 psu) for seagrass (Posidonia australis) in mesocosms over 2 weeks. There were significant differences between brine and salinity treatments for photosynthesis, water relations and growth. Germinating seedlings of P. australis were also tested in brine treatments (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) over 7 weeks followed by 2.5 weeks recovery in seawater. Growth was severely inhibited only in 100% brine. These experiments demonstrated that brine increased the speed and symptoms of stress in adult plants compared to treatments with the same salinity, whereas seedlings tolerated far longer brine exposure, and so could potentially contribute to seagrass recovery through recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion L Cambridge
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia.
| | - Andrea Zavala-Perez
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Greg R Cawthray
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - John Statton
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Julie Mondon
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
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12
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Cambridge ML, Zavala-Perez A, Cawthray GR, Mondon J, Kendrick GA. Effects of high salinity from desalination brine on growth, photosynthesis, water relations and osmolyte concentrations of seagrass Posidonia australis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 115:252-260. [PMID: 27989371 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Highly saline brines from desalination plants expose seagrass communities to salt stress. We examined effects of raised salinity (46 and 54psu) compared with seawater controls (37psu) over 6weeks on the seagrass, Posidonia australis, growing in tanks with the aim of separating effects of salinity from other potentially deleterious components of brine and determining appropriate bioindicators. Plants survived exposures of 2-4weeks at 54psu, the maximum salinity of brine released from a nearby desalination plant. Salinity significantly reduced maximum quantum yield of PSII (chlorophyll a fluorescence emissions). Leaf water potential (Ψw) and osmotic potential (Ψπ) were more negative at increased salinity, while turgor pressure (Ψp) was unaffected. Leaf concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ decreased, whereas concentrations of sugars (mainly sucrose) and amino acids increased. We recommend leaf osmolarity, ion, sugar and amino acid concentrations as bioindicators for salinity effects, associated with brine released in desalination plant outfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Cambridge
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia.
| | - A Zavala-Perez
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - G R Cawthray
- School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - J Mondon
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
| | - G A Kendrick
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
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Piro A, Marín-Guirao L, Serra IA, Spadafora A, Sandoval-Gil JM, Bernardeau-Esteller J, Fernandez JMR, Mazzuca S. The modulation of leaf metabolism plays a role in salt tolerance of Cymodocea nodosa exposed to hypersaline stress in mesocosms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:464. [PMID: 26167167 PMCID: PMC4482034 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Applying proteomics, we tested the physiological responses of the euryhaline seagrass Cymodocea nodosa to deliberate manipulation of salinity in a mesocosm system. Plants were subjected to a chronic hypersaline condition (43 psu) to compare protein expression and plant photochemistry responses after 15 and 30 days of exposure with those of plants cultured under normal/ambient saline conditions (37 psu). Results showed a general decline in the expression level of leaf proteins in hypersaline stressed plants, with more intense reductions after long-lasting exposure. Specifically, the carbon-fixing enzyme RuBisCo displayed a lower accumulation level in stressed plants relative to controls. In contrast, the key enzymes involved in the regulation of glycolysis, cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase 2 and triose-phosphate isomerase, showed significantly higher accumulation levels. These responses suggested a shift in carbon metabolism in stressed plants. Hypersaline stress also induced a significant alteration of the photosynthetic physiology of C. nodosa by means of a down-regulation in structural proteins and enzymes of both PSII and PSI. However we found an over-expression of the cytochrome b559 alpha subunit of the PSII initial complex, which is a receptor for the PSII core proteins involved in biogenesis or repair processes and therefore potentially involved in the absence of effects at the photochemical level of stressed plants. As expected hypersalinity also affects vacuolar metabolism by increasing the leaf cell turgor pressure and enhancing the up-take of Na(+) by over-accumulating the tonoplast specific intrinsic protein pyrophosphate-energized inorganic pyrophosphatase (H(+)-PPase) coupled to the Na(+)/H(+)-antiporter. The modulation of carbon metabolism and the enhancement of vacuole capacity in Na(+) sequestration and osmolarity changes are discussed in relation to salt tolerance of C. nodosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Piro
- Laboratorio di Biologia e Proteomica Vegetale, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della CalabriaRende, Italy
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Oceanographic Centre of MurciaMurcia, Spain
| | - Ilia A. Serra
- Laboratorio di Biologia e Proteomica Vegetale, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della CalabriaRende, Italy
| | - Antonia Spadafora
- Laboratorio di Biologia e Proteomica Vegetale, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della CalabriaRende, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Silvia Mazzuca
- Laboratorio di Biologia e Proteomica Vegetale, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della CalabriaRende, Italy
- *Correspondence: Silvia Mazzuca, Laboratorio di Biologia e Proteomica Vegetale, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Bucci 12C, 87036 Rende, Italy,
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