在經過20年的長期監測後，美國國家海洋及大氣管理局(NOAA)12日公佈的研究結果顯示，自1970年代以來頒佈的環境法案，讓美國沿海水域的污染程度大為改善，但報告中也發現，都市和工業區附近的海域中，有毒金屬和汽油含量正持續地升高。
NOAA報告中指出，汽車及船運所排放的汽油化合物，每天不斷地排入沿海水域中，NOAA科學家針對這些俗稱多環芳香族碳氫化合物（PAHs）的化合物，進行十幾年的監控，而這些基準數據將有助於了解環境的惡化程度。舉例來說，2007年Cosco Busan貨櫃船在舊金山灣的石油外漏事件，導致該區域鄰近監控地點的PAHs濃度創下歷史新高。
美國衛生福利部也斷定某些PAHs化合物有可能是致癌物質。
貝類監測計畫是美國為期最久的沿海水域污染監控計劃，自1986年起至今，透過收集280個沿海區域的沈積物和雙殼貝組織，分析化學和生態污染的趨勢。
麻州海洋漁業局史瓦茲( Jack Schwartz )表示：「20年來貝類監測計畫的評估，是一份簡明且助益良多的美國沿海水域污染監控檢視報告，能夠有效幫助不熟悉環境監控或污染衝擊相關文獻的讀者。」
儘管多數監控的地點是在南加州沿岸，但報告中顯示出美國殺蟲劑DDT含量有逐漸下降的情況。
工業化學物質多氯聯苯（PCBs）也是呈現減少的現象，流經紐約和紐澤西的哈得孫河原先的多氯聯苯含量相當高，但目前80%的監控地點中，多氯聯苯的污染程度都已有所改善。
用來減少或限制海洋生物在船身上生長的三丁基錫化合物，所導致的後果除了預期中的對生物生長的影響之外，海洋及淡水生物也受到牽累。自1980年代開始限制使用後，美國各海域的含量也逐漸下降。
具有防火耐燃功能的多溴二苯醚，是貝類監測計畫近來開始評估的污染物質，用以了解此物質在海水的含量是否升高，以及對海洋生態或人體健康可能造成的影響。
如同目前針對防火耐燃物質所進行的研究，這項計劃也會持續收集組織樣本並加以冷凍，以便針對過去忽略或新出現的污染情況，一一進行追溯研究。
U.S. environmental laws enacted in the 1970s are reducing overall contaminant levels in coastal waters of the United States, finds a 20 year study released today by scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA. But the study shows continuing elevated levels of toxic metals and oils near urban and industrial areas of the coast.
Oil related compounds from motor vehicles and shipping activities continue to flow into coastal waters daily, NOAA reports. These compounds, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, have been monitored by NOAA scientists for decades so baseline data exist to help define the extent of environmental degradation.
For example, PAH levels following the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay showed concentrations at the monitoring site near the spill were the highest ever recorded.
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that some PAHs "may reasonably be expected to be carcinogens."
The longest continuous national contaminant-monitoring program in U.S. coastal waters, the Mussel Watch program analyzes chemical and biological contaminant trends in sediment and bivalve tissue collected at over 280 coastal sites from 1986 to present.
"The Mussel Watch Program 20-year assessment is a concise and informative review of contaminant monitoring in the nation's coastal waters," said Jack Schwartz with Massachusetts Marine Fisheries. "This report should well serve readers who may not necessarily be conversant with scientific literature on contaminant monitoring and fate and effects."
The report shows decreasing trends nationally of the pesticide DDT, although a majority of the sites monitored are along the Southern California coast.
Decreasing trends also were found for the industrial chemicals polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. The Hudson-Raritan Estuary in New York and New Jersey, one area of the country where some of the highest concentrations of these chemicals were found, now shows 80 percent of monitored sites with decreasing trends for this pollutant.
Tributyl-tin, a biocide used as a compound to reduce or restrict the growth of marine organisms on boat hulls, was found to have greater than anticipated consequences as it affected not only the targeted organisms, but also other marine and freshwater life as well. First regulated in the 1980s, this compound is now decreasing nationally.
Flame retardants known as PBDEs are a new class of contaminants currently being evaluated by the Mussel Watch Program to determine whether they are increasing in coastal waters and what effects they may have on both marine and human health.
The program keeps collected tissue samples frozen so that overlooked or newly emerging contaminants can be retroactively analyzed, as is currently being done with flame retardants.
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