Effects of coal microparticles on marine organisms: A review

Abstract

Coal dust is a source of pollution not only for atmospheric air but also for the marine environment. In places of storage and handling of coal near water bodies, visible pollution of the water area can be observed. Coal, despite its natural origin, can be referred to as anthropogenic sources of pollution. If coal microparticles enter the marine environment, it may cause both physical and toxic effects on organisms. The purpose of this review is to assess the stage of knowledge of the impact of coal particles on marine organisms, to identify the main factors affecting them, and to define advanced research directions. The results presented in the review have shown that coal dust in seawater is generally not an inert substance for marine organisms, and there is a need for further study of the impact of coal dust particles on marine ecosystems.

Keywords

• Coal dust
• Coal microparticles
• Marine terminals
• Marine ecosystems
• Ecotoxicology
• Genotoxicology