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Current Progress on Marine Microplastics Pollution Research: A Review on Pollution Occurrence, Detection, and Environmental Effects. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13121713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, microplastics pollution has attracted much attention in the environmental field, as researchers have found traces of microplastics in both marine and terrestrial ecological environments. Here, we reviewed and discussed the current progress on microplastics pollution in the marine environment from three main aspects including their identification and qualification methods, source and distribution, and fate and toxicity in a marine ecosystem. Microplastics in the marine environment originate from a variety of sources and distribute broadly all around the world, but their quantitative information is still lacking. Up to now, there have been no adequate and standard methods to identify and quantify the various types of microplastics, which need to be developed and unified. The fate of microplastics in the environment is particularly important as they may be transferred or accumulated in the biological chain. Meanwhile, microplastics may have a high adsorption capacity to pollutants, which is the basic research to further study their fate and joint toxicity in the environment. Therefore, all the findings are expected to fill the knowledge gaps in microplastics pollution and promote the development of relative regulations.
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The Potential for PE Microplastics to Affect the Removal of Carbamazepine Medical Pollutants from Aqueous Environments by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9060139. [PMID: 34204690 PMCID: PMC8231597 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9060139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and interact with other kinds of pollutants, which affects the migration, transformation, and fate of those other pollutants. In this study, we employ carbamazepine (CBZ) as the contaminant to study the influence of polyethylene (PE) microplastics on the adsorption of CBZ pollutants by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) in aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of CBZ by MCNTs in the presence of PE microplastics was obviously lower than that by MCNTs alone. The influencing factors, including the dose of microplastics, pH, and CBZ solution concentration, on the adsorption of CBZ by MCNTs and MCNTs-PE were thoroughly investigated. The adsorption rate of CBZ by MCNTs decreased from 97.4% to 90.6% as the PE microplastics dose increased from 2 g/L to 20 g/L. This decrease occurred because the MCNTs were coated on the surface of the PE microplastics, which further decreased the effective adsorption area of the MCNTs. This research provides a framework for revealing the effect of microplastics on the adsorption of pollutants by carbon materials in aqueous environments.
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53
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Qi K, Lu N, Zhang S, Wang W, Wang Z, Guan J. Uptake of Pb(II) onto microplastic-associated biofilms in freshwater: Adsorption and combined toxicity in comparison to natural solid substrates. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 411:125115. [PMID: 33486230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, microplastic-associated biofilms were cultivated in an urban lake and a reservoir using virgin expanded polystyrene (PS). The uptake of Pb(II) onto both natural (suspended particles and surficial sediment) and anthropogenic (virgin microplastics and microplastic-associated biofilms) solid substrates was investigated and compared as a function of contact time, pH, and ionic strength in batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherms revealed that biofilms enhanced the adsorption capacity of Pb(II) onto microplastics; however, natural substrates still exhibited a higher capacity. Ionic strength and pH significantly influenced the adsorption of Pb(II) onto all of the solid substrates. Under neutral conditions, competitive adsorption of Pb(II) was observed between anthropogenic solid substrates and natural substrates, which may further alter the distribution of Pb(II) among these solid substrates. The combined toxicity tests of Pb(II) and each solid substrate were carried out using Daphnia magna, the results indicated biofilm enhanced the combined toxicity of Pb(II) and microplastics. Therefore, biofilms not only intensified the vector role of microplastics in the migration of heavy metals in freshwater, but also enhanced their combined toxicity, which may have further potential ecological risks to freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Qi
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Nan Lu
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Shunqing Zhang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Zirui Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Jiunian Guan
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
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54
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Zhang B, Yang X, Liu L, Chen L, Teng J, Zhu X, Zhao J, Wang Q. Spatial and seasonal variations in biofilm formation on microplastics in coastal waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:145303. [PMID: 33515883 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
At present, microplastics (MPs) have gradually become a hot issue in marine environmental pollution and may pose a potential threat to marine ecosystems. Since MPs are not easily biodegradable, they can provide the attachment substrates for various organisms, which will affect their floating and transport, and may also lead to the invasion of harmful microorganisms. In this study, polypropylene, polyethylene, polylactic acid pellets, and glass particles were exposed for 6 weeks in different seasons at three stations in the Yellow Sea, China. The results showed that the total amounts of biofilms significantly varied among seasons and functional zones and that the temperature of seawater was the main influencing factor. A variety of biological communities (especially diatoms and bacteria) and extracellular polymeric substances were observed on the MP surfaces using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Sequencing analysis indicated that the structure and composition of microbial communities on MPs mainly varied with seasons and locations. In addition, most of the microorganisms were generally attached to the surface and were not any specific selection of plastic by different chemical compositions. However, the bacteria inhabiting microplastics harbored distinct metabolisms. Our results suggest that low-density MPs may settle quickly in summer in some eutrophic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering and Construction and Environment of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China; School of Food and Biotechnology of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Civil Engineering and Construction and Environment of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Lingchen Liu
- School of Civil Engineering and Construction and Environment of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Liang Chen
- School of Civil Engineering and Construction and Environment of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Jia Teng
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhu
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Jianmin Zhao
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Qing Wang
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China.
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55
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Liu P, Shi Y, Wu X, Wang H, Huang H, Guo X, Gao S. Review of the artificially-accelerated aging technology and ecological risk of microplastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:144969. [PMID: 33736298 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
After being discarded into the environment, the microplastics (MPs) will undergo weathering effects. However, the low degradation rate of MPs in natural processes greatly limits the understanding of long-term aging behavior. By critically reviewing 82 articles in Web of Science from 2015 to 2020, the paper summarized different laboratory technologies including light irradiation, chemical oxidation, heat treatment and γ-ray irradiation to simulate and accelerate the aging of MPs, and evaluated the feasibility by comparison with natural processes. The advantages of laboratory technologies are that aging conditions can be artificially controlled and that the labor and time costs can be saved, whereas the laboratory system is too simple to simulate complex aging processes in the environment. We further reviewed the potential impacts of aging process on the risks of MPs (i.e. physical injury, combined toxicity with external pollutants and chemical risk of additives and low-molecular products). The overall risks are seemingly enhanced by aging process due to the high ingestion by organisms, the strong interaction with pollutants and the release of MP-derived organic compounds. Further studies on the aging behavior of MPs should be focused on the laboratory techniques that can simulate multiple processes of natural aging, the long-term fragmentation behavior of MPs, the effect of aging on growth rate of biofilm in MPs and ingestion property by organisms, and the relationship between aging property of MPs and release rate of chemicals in leachates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yanqi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Hanyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Hexinyue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xuetao Guo
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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56
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Cresswell T, Prentice E, Howell N, Callaghan P, Metian M, Johansen MP. Bioaccumulation kinetics and internal distribution of the fission products radiocaesium and radiostrontium in an estuarine crab. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 408:124453. [PMID: 33168318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Crab has been designated by the ICRP as one of twelve reference/model organisms for understanding the impacts of radionuclide releases on the biosphere. However, radionuclide-crab interaction data are sparse compared with other reference organisms (e.g. deer, earthworm). This study used an estuarine crab (Paragrapsus laevis) to investigate the contribution of water, diet and sediment sources to radionuclide (134Cs and 85Sr) bioaccumulation kinetics using live-animal radiotracing. The distribution of each radionuclide within the crab tissues was determined using dissection, whole-body autoradiography and synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM). When moulting occurred during exposure, it caused significant increases in 85Sr bioaccumulation and efflux of 134Cs under constant aqueous exposure. Dietary assimilation efficiencies were determined as 55 ± 1% for 134Cs and 49 ± 3% for 85Sr. 85Sr concentrated in gonads more than other organs, resulting in proportionally greater radiation dose to the reproductive organs and requires further investigation. 134Cs was found in most soft tissues and was closely associated with S and K. Biodynamic modelling suggested that diet accounted for 90-97% of whole-body 137Cs, while water accounted for 59-81% of 90Sr. Our new data on crab, as a representative invertebrate, improves understanding of the impacts of planned or accidental releases of fission radionuclides on marine ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Cresswell
- ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia.
| | - Emily Prentice
- ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box 29, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia
| | - Nick Howell
- ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Paul Callaghan
- ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Marc Metian
- International Atomic Energy Agency Environment Laboratories (IAEA-EL), Radioecology Laboratory, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, Principality of Monaco MC-98000, Monaco
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57
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Schmid C, Cozzarini L, Zambello E. Microplastic's story. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 162:111820. [PMID: 33203604 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The problem of microplastic pollution is now the order of the day in front of everyone's eyes affecting the environment and the health of leaving creature. This work aims to retrace the history of microplastics in a critical way through a substantial bibliographic collection, defining the points still unresolved and those that can be resolved. Presence of marine litter in different environments is reviewed on a global scale, focusing in particular on micro and macro plastics definition, classification and characterization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Schmid
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Cozzarini
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Elena Zambello
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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58
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Nava V, Leoni B. A critical review of interactions between microplastics, microalgae and aquatic ecosystem function. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 188:116476. [PMID: 33038716 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
With the widespread occurrence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems having been firmly established, the focus of research has shifted towards the assessments of their influence on ecosystem functions and food webs. This includes interactions between microplastics and microalgae, as fundamental components at the base of aquatic food webs and pivotal organisms in a wide range of ecosystem functions. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge on microalgae-microplastic interactions and summarize the potential effect on their respective fate. Microplastics can and do interact with microalgae and the available literature has suggested that the epiplastic community of microalgae differs consistently from the surrounding aquatic communities; however, it is still not clear whether this different colonization is linked to the composition of the surface or more to the availability of a "hard" substrate on which organisms can attach and grow. Further studies are needed to understand to what extent the properties of different plastic materials and different environmental factors may affect the growth of microalgae on plastic debris. Biofouling may alter microplastic properties, especially increasing their density, consequently affecting the vertical fluxes of plastics. Moreover, microplastics may have toxic effects on microalgae, which could be physical or related to chemical interactions with plasticizers or other chemicals associated with plastics, with consequences for algal growth, photosynthetic activity, and morphology. Microplastics seems to have the potential to affect not only the quality (e.g., fatty acids and lipids composition, food dilution effect) but also the quantity of algal production, both positively and negatively. This may have consequences for energy fluxes, which may propagate throughout the whole food web and alter aquatic productivity. Even though experimental results have indicated reciprocal impacts between plastics and microalgae, it is currently difficult to predict how these impacts may manifest themselves at the ecosystem level. Therefore, further studies are needed to address this important topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Nava
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, I-20126 Milano, Italy.
| | - Barbara Leoni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, I-20126 Milano, Italy.
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59
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Ho WK, Law JCF, Zhang T, Leung KSY. Effects of Weathering on the Sorption Behavior and Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics in Multi-solute Systems. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 187:116419. [PMID: 32980607 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that weathering modifies the physicochemical properties and sorption behavior of microplastics (MPs). However, little is known about the effects of such weathering on the simultaneous sorption by MPs of different organic pollutants in multi-solute systems. In this study, the role of cosolute properties in the formation of solute multilayers with a hydrophobic primary solute (4-MBC) on pristine and various weathered polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) was examined. Three weathered PSMPs were studied namely, UV-irradiated PS (UV-PS), microbially degraded PS (MD-NPS), and UV-irradiated PS with subsequent microbial degradation (MD-UV-PS). The weathered PSMPs generally exhibited higher degree of oxygenated functionalities with less surface hydrophobicity than pristine particles. Our findings showed that the formation of solute multilayers with hydrophobic cosolutes was drastically suppressed in UV-PS due to more severe competition at hydrophobic sorption sites. Nevertheless, hydrophilic cosolutes contributed to solute multilayer formation with 4-MBC on PSMPs after UV irradiation, probably due to the stronger sorption of hydrophilic compounds to the oxidized surfaces of these particles via enhanced H-bonding. Strikingly, the sorption of 4-MBC by MD-UV-PS was notably enhanced when hydrophobic cosolutes were present. The observed synergistic sorption indicates that adhered biofilms and/or organic matter on MD-UV-PS could sorb the hydrophobic cosolute molecules, and eventually promote sorption of 4-MBC. Our further toxicity tests revealed that such solute multilayers formed on PSMPs inhibited microalgal growth. These results suggest that the fate and biological effects of MP-mediated chemical exposure could be strongly affected by weathering processes and coexistence of multiple organic contaminants in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai-Kit Ho
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, HKSAR, P.R.China
| | - Japhet Cheuk-Fung Law
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, HKSAR, P.R.China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, P.R.China
| | - Kelvin Sze-Yin Leung
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, HKSAR, P.R.China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen Virtual University Park, Shenzhen, P.R.China.
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60
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Wang T, Wang L, Chen Q, Kalogerakis N, Ji R, Ma Y. Interactions between microplastics and organic pollutants: Effects on toxicity, bioaccumulation, degradation, and transport. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:142427. [PMID: 33113705 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), defined as particles with diameters <5 mm and including nanoplastics (NPs), with diameters <1 μm, are characterized by large specific surface areas and hydrophobicity. In aquatic and terrestrial environments, MPs interact with co-occurring organic pollutants through sorption and desorption, which alters the environmental behavior of the pollutants, such as their toxicity, bioaccumulation, degradation, and transport. In this review, we summarize the results of current studies of the interactions between MPs and organic contaminants, and focus on the different mechanisms and subsequent ecological risks of contaminant transfer among environmental media, MPs and organisms. The sorption/desorption of organic pollutants on/from MPs is discussed with respect to solution conditions and the properties of both the MPs and the pollutants. More importantly, the ability of MPs to alter the toxicity, bioaccumulation, degradation, and transport of organic pollutants through these interactions is considered as well. We then examine the interrelationships of the different environmental behaviors of MPs and organic pollutants and the roles played by environmental processes. Finally, we identify the remaining knowledge gaps that must be filled in further studies in order to accurately evaluate the environmental risks of MPs and their associated organic pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Rong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yini Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; International Institute for Environmental Studies, Nanjing 210023, China.
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61
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Guan J, Qi K, Wang J, Wang W, Wang Z, Lu N, Qu J. Microplastics as an emerging anthropogenic vector of trace metals in freshwater: Significance of biofilms and comparison with natural substrates. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 184:116205. [PMID: 32717496 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in freshwater environments, and represent an emerging anthropogenic vector for contaminants, such as trace metals. In this study, virgin expanded polystyrene (PS) particles were placed in a eutrophic urban lake and a reservoir serving as the resource of domestic water for 4 weeks, to develop biofilms on the surface. For comparison, natural adsorbents in the form of suspended particles and surficial sediment were also sampled from these waterbodies. The trace metal adsorption properties of anthropogenic (virgin and biofilm covered microplastics) and natural substrates were investigated and compared via batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir model, revealed that biofilms could enhance the trace metal adsorption capacity of MPs. However, natural substrates still had a greater adsorption capacity. Biofilms also alter the adsorption kinetics of trace metals onto MPs. The process of adsorption onto virgin MPs was dominated by intraparticle diffusion, whereas film diffusion governed adsorption onto biofilm covered microplastics and natural substrates. The trace metal adsorption of all the substrates was significantly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The adsorption mechanisms were further analyzed by SEM-EDS and FT-IR. The enhancement of adsorption was mainly attributed to complexation with functional groups contained in the biofilms, including carboxyl, amino, and phenyl-OH. Collectively, biofilm development intensifies the role of MPs in the migration and fate of trace metals in freshwater, since it does not give MPs an edge over natural substrates in adsorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiunian Guan
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
| | - Kun Qi
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Junyang Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Zirui Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China
| | - Nan Lu
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
| | - Jiao Qu
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
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62
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Wang J, Coffin S, Schlenk D, Gan J. Accumulation of HOCs via Precontaminated Microplastics by Earthworm Eisenia fetida in Soil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:11220-11229. [PMID: 32786560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Soil is a primary sink for plastics, but the influence of microplastics as carriers on terrestrial cycling of persistent contaminants is poorly understood as compared to aquatic systems. Studies to date have disregarded the potential fact that microplastics are generally contaminated before their entry into soil. In this study, earthworm Eisenia fetida was incubated for 28 d in a soil amended with five common types of microplastics precontaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to elucidate contaminant transfer. Accumulation of HOCs in E. fetida varied greatly among different plastic types and HOCs. The freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) of HOCs showed that desorption of HOCs from microplastics into soil was closely related to plastic types and HOC hydrophobicity and was much slower for polystyrene or polypropylene than polyethylene. Biodynamic model analysis suggested that ingestion of microplastics could act as a significant pathway for some microplastics, likely due to HOCs on the plastics being in an "over-equilibrium" state. This was in contrast with mixing clean microplastics into HOC-contaminated soil, where the microplastics decreased bioaccumulation. Therefore, whether microplastics serve as facilitators or inhibitors of HOC bioaccumulation depends on the fugacity gradient of HOCs between microplastics and soil, which highlights the importance of considering the sequence of contamination between the plastics and soil. These findings also question the validity of short-term experiments because of the generally very slow partition kinetics of HOCs on plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Scott Coffin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jay Gan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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63
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He L, Rong H, Wu D, Li M, Wang C, Tong M. Influence of biofilm on the transport and deposition behaviors of nano- and micro-plastic particles in quartz sand. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 178:115808. [PMID: 32371288 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm, community of bacteria ubiquitously present in natural environment, may interact with plastic particles and affect the transport of plastic particles in environment. The significance of biofilm (Escherichia coli) on the transport and deposition behaviors of three different sized plastic particles (0.02 μm NPs, 0.2 μm MP and 2 μm MP) were examined under both 10 mM and 50 mM NaCl solutions by comparing the breakthrough curves and retained profiles of plastic particles in bare sand versus those in biofilm-coated sand. Regardless of ionic strengths, the presence of biofilm increases the deposition of all three sized plastic particles in porous media. Via employing X-ray microtomography imaging (XMT) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM), we find that the presence of biofilm could narrow the flow path especially near to the inlet of the column and increase the surface roughness of porous media (by decreasing DLVO repulsive interaction), which contributes to the enhanced the deposition of plastic particles. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) present on the biofilm are found to contribute to the enhanced deposition of plastic particles. Packed column experiments, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) as well as parallel plate flow chamber experiments all show that three major components of EPS, proteins, polysaccharide, and humic substances all contribute to the enhanced deposition of plastic particles. O-H and N-H groups present on cell surfaces are highly likely to form hydrogen bond with plastic particles and increase the deposition plastic particles. Elution experiments show that decreasing solution ionic strength could release small portion of plastic particles from both bare and biofilm-coated sand columns especially from the segments near to the column inlet (with slighter lower percentage from biofilm-coated columns based on the total mass of retained plastics). In contrast, increasing flow rate does not obviously detach the plastic particles that already deposited onto porous media. The results of this study clearly show that the presence of biofilm in natural environment could enhance the deposition and decrease the transport of plastic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Haifeng Rong
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Dan Wu
- Beijing Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Meng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Chengyi Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Meiping Tong
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China.
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64
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Interaction of Environmental Pollutants with Microplastics: A Critical Review of Sorption Factors, Bioaccumulation and Ecotoxicological Effects. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8020040. [PMID: 32498316 PMCID: PMC7355763 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8020040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have become one of the leading environmental threats due to their persistence, ubiquity and intrinsic toxic potential. The potential harm that microplastics impose on ecosystems varies from direct effects (i.e., entanglement and ingestion) to their ability to sorb a diversity of environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, persistent organic compounds or pharmaceuticals). Therefore, the toxicological assessment of the combined effects of microplastics and sorbed pollutants can produce in biota is one of the hottest topics on the environmental toxicology field. This review aims to clarify the main impacts that this interaction could have on ecosystems by (1) highlighting the principal factors that influence the microplastics sorption capacities; (2) discussing the potential scenarios in which microplastics may have an essential role on the bioaccumulation and transfer of chemicals; and (3) reviewing the recently published studies describing toxicological effects caused by the combination of microplastics and their sorbed chemicals. Finally, a discussion regarding the need for a new generation of toxicological studies is presented.
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65
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Elizalde-Velázquez A, Subbiah S, Anderson TA, Green MJ, Zhao X, Cañas-Carrell JE. Sorption of three common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to microplastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136974. [PMID: 32041000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
High disposability, high durability, and indiscriminate use have led to the accumulation of plastics at uncontrolled rates in the environment. However, plastics are not the only source of water pollution in the environment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of pharmaceuticals widely and highly consumed in the market due to a low price and over-the-counter accessibility. NSAIDs are frequently detected in surface water environments at μg L-1 concentrations. In the present study, the sorption behavior of three NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) was examined with four types of microplastics (polystyrene (PS), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), average molecular weight medium density polyethylene (AMWPE), and polypropylene (PP)), under varying water conditions. Low sorption occurred between NSAIDs and microplastics under environmentally relevant conditions. The sorption process exhibited a pronounced pH dependency due to the effect of pH on the speciation of the compounds and the surface charge of the particles. Only under acidic conditions (pH: 2), NSAIDs were highly sorbed onto microplastics mainly ruled by hydrophobic interactions. Among NSAIDs tested, diclofenac exhibited the highest sorption coefficients to microplastics. Polyethylene particles exhibited the highest affinity for NSAIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Elizalde-Velázquez
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Seenivasan Subbiah
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Todd A Anderson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Micah J Green
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Xiaofei Zhao
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jaclyn E Cañas-Carrell
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
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66
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Sekoai PT, Feng S, Zhou W, Ngan WY, Pu Y, Yao Y, Pan J, Habimana O. Insights into the Microbiological Safety of Wooden Cutting Boards Used for Meat Processing in Hong Kong's Wet Markets: A Focus on Food-Contact Surfaces, Cross-Contamination and the Efficacy of Traditional Hygiene Practices. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E579. [PMID: 32316436 PMCID: PMC7232214 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hong Kong's wet markets play a crucial role in the country's supply of safe, fresh meat to satisfy the dietary needs of its population. Whilst food safety regulations have been introduced over the past few years to maintain the microbial safety of foods sold from these wet markets, it remains unclear whether the hygiene maintenance that is performed on the wooden cutting boards used for meat-processing is effective. In fact, hygiene maintenance may often be overlooked, and hygiene standards may be insufficient. If so, this may lead to the spread of harmful pathogens through cross-contamination, thereby causing severe risks to public health. The aim of this study was to determine the level of microbial transfer between wooden cutting boards and swine meat of various qualities, using 16S metagenomic sequencing, strain identification and biofilm screening of isolated strains. The results established that: (a) the traditional hygiene practices used for cleaning wooden cutting boards in Hong Kong's wet markets expose the surfaces to potentially harmful microorganisms; (b) the processing of microbially contaminated meat on cutting boards cleaned using traditional practices leads to cross-contamination; and (c) several potentially pathogenic microorganisms found on the cutting boards have good biofilm-forming abilities. These results reinforce the need to review the traditional methods used to clean wooden cutting boards after the processing of raw meat in Hong Kong' wet markets so as to prevent cross-contamination events. The establishment of proper hygiene protocols may reduce the spread of disease-causing microorganisms (including antibiotic-resistant microorganisms) in food-processing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Sekoai
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Shiqi Feng
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Wenwen Zhou
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Wing Y Ngan
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yang Pu
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jie Pan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Olivier Habimana
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
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67
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Liu P, Zhan X, Wu X, Li J, Wang H, Gao S. Effect of weathering on environmental behavior of microplastics: Properties, sorption and potential risks. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 242:125193. [PMID: 31678851 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 311] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a raising global concern in recent years due to its wide distribution. Additionally, most of the MPs have undergone extensive weathering in the environment, and weathered MPs may exhibit different physicochemical properties from pristine ones. The review reveals the change in physicochemical properties (e.g. size, color, crystallinity, mechanical property and oxygen-containing groups) and the release of additives and MP-derived intermediates (i.e. oligomers and oxygenated compounds) during weathering processes. Weathering further affects the sorption behavior of MPs for environmental pollutants because of the changed crystallinity, specific surface area and oxygen functional groups. The interaction mechanisms of pristine and weathered MPs with pollutants are summarized, and how weathering processes affect sorption behavior is critically revealed. Because of the changed size, color and surface charges, weathered MPs might be ingested by aquatic organisms in different ways from the pristine ones. The detailed effects of weathering on the ingestion of MPs are discussed, and the potential toxicity of leachates from weathering processes is evaluated. In addition, the environmental components (e.g. natural organic matter and salinity) and biofilm correlated to the sorption behavior of MPs are reviewed. As for the knowledge gap, further studies should focus on the long-term weathering of MPs and the relationships between weathering properties and sorption capacities toward pollutants. The potential risks of weathered MPs and leachates on organisms should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
| | - Xin Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
| | - Jinli Li
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
| | - Hanyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
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68
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Microplastic–toxic chemical interaction: a review study on quantified levels, mechanism and implication. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-019-1352-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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