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Zhang Z, Geng Y, Zhou W, Shao X, Lin H, Zhou Y. Development of a multi-spectroscopy method coupling μ-FTIR and μ-Raman analysis for one-stop detection of microplastics in environmental and biological samples. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170396. [PMID: 38301783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170396] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Current techniques for microplastics (MPs) analysis are diverse. However, most techniques have individual limitations like the detection limit of spatial resolution, susceptibility, high cost, and time-consuming detection. In this study, we proposed a multi-spectroscopy method coupling μ-FTIR and μ-Raman analysis for one-stop MPs detection, in which barium fluoride was used as the substrate alternative to the filter membrane. Compared with commonly used filter membranes (alumina, silver, PTFE and nylon membranes), the barium fluoride substrate showed better spectroscopic detection performance on microscopic observation, broader transmittable wavenumber range for μ-FTIR (750-4000 cm-1) and μ-Raman (250-4000 cm-1) detection, thus suitable for the multi-spectroscopy analysis of spiked samples. Further, the real environmental and biological samples (indoor air, bottled water and human exhaled breath) were collected and detected to verify the applicability of the developed multi-spectroscopy method. The results indicated that the average content of detected MPs could be increased by 30.4 ± 29.9 % for indoor air, 17.1 ± 13.2 % for bottled water and 38.4 ± 16.0 % for human exhaled breath, respectively in comparison with widely used μ-Raman detection, which suggested that MPs exposure might be underestimated using single spectroscopy detection. Moreover, the majority of underestimated MPs were colored and smaller sized (<50 μm) MPs, which could pose higher risks to human body. In addition, the proposed method consumed lower sample pre-treatment costs and was environmental-friendly since the barium fluoride substrate could be used repeatedly after being cleaned by organic solvent with reliable results (n = 10, CV = 10 %, ICC = 0.961), which reduced the cost of MPs detection by at least 2.49 times compared with traditional methods using silver membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichun Zhang
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Geng
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of General Practice, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Linhai 317000, China
| | - Xuehua Shao
- Department of Pediatric, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Linhai 317000, China
| | - Hua Lin
- Bruker (Beijing) Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201103, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pudong New Area centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fudan University Pudong Institute of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai 200136, China.
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2
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Semensatto D, Labuto G, Gerolin CR. The importance of integrating morphological attributes of microplastics: a theoretical discussion to assess environmental impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:17527-17532. [PMID: 36481853 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24567-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Most scientific studies on microplastic (MP) pollution report their results as number of particles (e.g., particles/m2, particles/m3, particles/kg dw). An important limitation of this expression is to consider all MP particles as environmentally equivalent, regardless of their size, volume, mass, or specific surface area. Using a theoretical approach, we advocate that including such morphological attributes reveals significant differences in results of supposedly equivalent samples that consider only the number of particles. Our goal is to present how particle size and shape produce different results for hypothetical samples with the same number of particles. Therefore, from these examples we expect to stimulate the debate and contribute to improve accuracy and comparability of studies on MP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Décio Semensatto
- Laboratory of Integrated Sciences (LabInSciences), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Diadema, SP, CEP 09972-270, Brazil.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Diadema, SP, CEP09972-270, Brazil.
| | - Geórgia Labuto
- Laboratory of Integrated Sciences (LabInSciences), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Diadema, SP, CEP 09972-270, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Diadema, SP, CEP09972-270, Brazil
| | - Cristiano R Gerolin
- Laboratory of Integrated Sciences (LabInSciences), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Diadema, SP, CEP 09972-270, Brazil
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3
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Piyathilake U, Lin C, Bundschuh J, Herath I. A review on constructive classification framework of research trends in analytical instrumentation for secondary micro(nano)plastics: What is new and what needs next? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122320. [PMID: 37544402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122320] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Secondary micro(nano)plastics generated from the degradation of plastics pose a major threat to environmental and human health. Amid the growing research on microplastics to date, the detection of secondary micro(nano)plastics is hampered by inadequate analytical instrumentation in terms of accuracy, validation, and repeatability. Given that, the current review provides a critical evaluation of the research trends in instrumental methods developed so far for the qualitative and quantitative determination of micro(nano)plastics with an emphasis on the evolution, new trends, missing links, and future directions. We conducted a meta-analysis of the growing literature surveying over 800 journal articles published from 2004 to 2022 based on the Web of Science database. The significance of this review is associated with the proposed novel classification framework to identify three main research trends, viz. (i) preliminary investigations, (ii) current progression, and (iii) novel advances in sampling, characterization, and quantification targeting both micro- and nano-sized plastics. Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) and Hydrodynamic Chromatography (HDC) were found to be the latest techniques for sampling and extraction of microplastics. Fluorescent Molecular Rotor (FMR) and Thermal Desorption-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry (TD-PTR-MS) were recognized as the modern developments in the identification and quantification of polymer units in micro(nano)plastics. Powerful imaging techniques, viz. Digital Holographic Imaging (DHI) and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) offered nanoscale analysis of the surface topography of nanoplastics. Machine learning provided fast and less labor-intensive analytical protocols for accurate classification of plastic types in environmental samples. Although the existing analytical methods are justifiable merely for microplastics, they are not fully standardized for nanoplastics. Future research needs to be more inclined towards secondary nanoplastics for their effective and selective analysis targeting a broad range of environmental and biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udara Piyathilake
- Environmental Science Division, National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Kandy, 20000, Sri Lanka
| | - Chuxia Lin
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, The University of Southern Queensland, West Street, QLD, 4350, Australia
| | - Indika Herath
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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4
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Feng Q, An C, Chen Z, Lee K, Wang Z. Identification of the driving factors of microplastic load and morphology in estuaries for improving monitoring and management strategies: A global meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122014. [PMID: 37336353 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are one of the primary pathways for transferring microplastics (MPs) from the land to the ocean. A comprehensive understanding of the load, morphological characteristics, driving factors, and potential risks of MPs in estuaries is imperative to inform reliable management in this critical transboundary area. Extracted from 135 publications, a global meta-analysis comprising 1477 observations and 124 estuaries was conducted. MP abundance in estuaries was tremendously variable, reaching a mean of 21,342.43 ± 122,557.53 items/m3 in water and 1312.79 ± 6295.73 items/kg in sediment. Fibers and fragments take up a majority proportion in estuaries. Polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene are the most detected MP types. Around 68.73% and 85.51% of MPs detected in water and sediment are smaller than 1 μm. The redundancy analysis revealed that the explanatory factors influencing the morphological characteristics of MPs differed between water and sediment. Regression analysis shows that MP abundance in water is significantly inversely correlated with mesh/filter size, per capita plastic waste, and the Human Development Index, whereas it is significantly positively correlated with population density and share of global mismanaged plastic waste. MP abundance in sediment significantly positively correlated with aridity index and probability of plastic entering the ocean, while significantly negatively correlated with mesh/filter size. Analysis based on Geodector identified that the extraction method, density of flotation fluid, and sampling depth are the top three explanatory factors for MP abundance in water, while the share of global mismanaged plastic waste, the probability of plastic being emitted into the ocean, and population density are the top three explanatory factors for MP abundance in sediment. In the studied estuaries, 46.75% of the water and 2.74% of the sediment are categorized into extremely high levels of pollution, while 73.08% of the water and 43.48% of the sediment belong to class V of the potential ecological index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Feng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
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5
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Hernández-Fernández J, Puello-Polo E, Márquez E. Furan as Impurity in Green Ethylene and Its Effects on the Productivity of Random Ethylene-Propylene Copolymer Synthesis and Its Thermal and Mechanical Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15102264. [PMID: 37242839 DOI: 10.3390/polym15102264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of impurities such as H2S, thiols, ketones, and permanent gases in propylene of fossil origin and their use in the polypropylene production process affect the efficiency of the synthesis and the mechanical properties of the polymer and generate millions of losses worldwide. This creates an urgent need to know the families of inhibitors and their concentration levels. This article uses ethylene green to synthesize an ethylene-propylene copolymer. It describes the impact of trace impurities of furan in ethylene green and how this furan influences the loss of properties such as thermal and mechanical properties of the random copolymer. For the development of the investigation, 12 runs were carried out, each in triplicate. The results show an evident influence of furan on the productivity of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst (ZN); productivity losses of 10, 20, and 41% were obtained for the copolymers synthesized with ethylene rich in 6, 12, and 25 ppm of furan, respectively. PP0 (without furan) did not present losses. Likewise, as the concentration of furan increased, it was observed that the melt flow index (MFI), thermal (TGA), and mechanical properties (tensile, bending, and impact) decreased significantly. Therefore, it can be affirmed that furan should be a substance to be controlled in the purification processes of green ethylene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Hernández-Fernández
- Chemistry Program, Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, San Pablo Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia
- Chemical Engineering Program, School of Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolivar, Parque Industrial y Tecnológico Carlos Vélez Pombo Km 1 Vía Turbaco, Cartagena 130001, Colombia
- Department of Natural and Exact Science, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Esneyder Puello-Polo
- Group de Investigación en Oxi/Hidrotratamiento Catalítico Y Nuevos Materiales, Programa de Química-Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia 081001, Colombia
| | - Edgar Márquez
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Química Y Biología, Departamento de Química Y Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Norte, Carrera 51B, Km 5, Vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia
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6
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Tian L, Skoczynska E, van Putten RJ, Leslie HA, Gruter GJM. Quantification of polyethylene terephthalate micro- and nanoplastics in domestic wastewater using a simple three-step method. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159209. [PMID: 36206911 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about impact of small plastic particles, known as microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm), together abbreviated as MNP, on the environment and on human health have increased in recent years. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics have been detected previously in different environmental samples including freshwater and wastewater sludge. In the present study, we target all small plastic particles of PET with a diameter smaller than 5 mm ('PET MNP'). A simple three-step method of drying, (in matrix) PET depolymerization in ethylene glycol and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, was applied for the quantification of PET MNP in influents and effluents collected from ten Dutch wastewater treatment plants. The PET recovery was 98 % in the wastewater matrix. The limits of detection (LOD) for PET in influents and effluents were 2.0 μg/L and 1.2 μg/L, respectively. PET MNP was detected in all the influents (ranging from 24.9 μg/L to 680 μg/L) and most of the effluents (ranging from <LOD to 23.1 μg/L). The results of the present study confirmed that WWTP effluents can be a source of PET MNP in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ewa Skoczynska
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Heather A Leslie
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan M Gruter
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Avantium Support BV, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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7
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Rochman CM, Grbic J, Earn A, Helm PA, Hasenmueller EA, Trice M, Munno K, De Frond H, Djuric N, Santoro S, Kaura A, Denton D, Teh S. Local Monitoring Should Inform Local Solutions: Morphological Assemblages of Microplastics Are Similar within a Pathway, But Relative Total Concentrations Vary Regionally. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9367-9378. [PMID: 35731673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00926] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pathways for microplastics to aquatic ecosystems include agricultural runoff, urban runoff, and treated or untreated wastewater. To better understand the importance of each pathway as a vector for microplastics into waterbodies and for mitigation, we sampled agricultural runoff, urban stormwater runoff, treated wastewater effluent, and the waterbodies downstream in four regions across North America: the Sacramento Delta, the Mississippi River, Lake Ontario, and Chesapeake Bay. The highest concentrations of microplastics in each pathway varied by region: agricultural runoff in the Sacramento Delta and Mississippi River, urban stormwater runoff in Lake Ontario, and treated wastewater effluent in Chesapeake Bay. Material types were diverse and not unique across pathways. However, a PERMANOVA found significant differences in morphological assemblages among pathways (p < 0.005), suggesting fibers as a signature of agricultural runoff and treated wastewater effluent and rubbery fragments as a signature of stormwater. Moreover, the relationship between watershed characteristics and particle concentrations varied across watersheds (e.g., with agricultural parameters only being important in the Sacramento Delta). Overall, our results suggest that local monitoring is essential to inform effective mitigation strategies and that assessing the assemblages of morphologies should be prioritized in monitoring programs to identify important pathways of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Jelena Grbic
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Arielle Earn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Paul A Helm
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Suite 1016V, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E8, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Hasenmueller
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University, 3642 Lindell Boulevard, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108, United States
| | - Mark Trice
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-2397, United States
| | - Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Natasha Djuric
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Samantha Santoro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Ashima Kaura
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Debra Denton
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Swee Teh
- Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Vet Med, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
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8
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Al-Azzawi MSM, Funck M, Kunaschk M, der Esch EV, Jacob O, Freier KP, Schmidt TC, Elsner M, Ivleva NP, Tuerk J, Knoop O, Drewes JE. Microplastic sampling from wastewater treatment plant effluents: Best-practices and synergies between thermoanalytical and spectroscopic analysis. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118549. [PMID: 35561623 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may represent point sources for microplastic discharge into the environment. Quantification of microplastic in effluents of WWTPs has been targeted by several studies although standardized methods are missing to enable a comparability of results. This study discusses theoretical and practical perspectives on best practices for microplastic sampling campaigns of WWTPs. One focus of the study was the potential for synergies between thermoanalytical and spectroscopic analysis to gain more representative sampling using the complementary information provided by the different analytical techniques. Samples were obtained before and after sand filtration from two WWTPs in Germany using cascade filtration with size classes of 5,000 - 100 µm, 100 - 50 µm, and 50 - 10 µm. For spectroscopic methods samples were treated by a Fenton process to remove natural organic matter, whereas TED-GC-MS required only sample extraction from the filter cascade. µFTIR spectroscopy was used for the 100 µm and 50 µm basket filters and µRaman spectroscopy was applied to analyze particles on the smallest basket filter (10 µm). TED-GC-MS was used for all size classes as it is size independent. All techniques showed a similar trend, where PE was consistently the most prominent polymer in WWTP effluents. Based on this insight, PE was chosen as surrogate polymer to investigate whether it can describe the total polymer removal efficiency of tertiary sand filters. The results revealed no significant difference (ANOVA) between retention efficiencies of tertiary sand filtration obtained using only PE and by analyzing all possible polymers with µFTIR and µRaman spectroscopy. Findings from this study provide valuable insights on advantages and limitations of cascade filtration, the benefit of complementary analyses, a suitable design for future experimental approaches, and recommendations for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S M Al-Azzawi
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Matin Funck
- Institut für Energie - und Umwelttechnik e.V. (IUTA, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Duisburg, Germany; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (IAC), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Elisabeth Von der Esch
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Oliver Jacob
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | | | - Torsten C Schmidt
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (IAC), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Martin Elsner
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Natalia P Ivleva
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Jochen Tuerk
- Institut für Energie - und Umwelttechnik e.V. (IUTA, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Duisburg, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Oliver Knoop
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
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9
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Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plant by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14094920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In this research, the presence of microplastics was detected through a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of three wastewater treatment plants. One of these plants applied only a preliminary treatment stage while the others applied up to a secondary treatment stage to evaluate their effectiveness. The results showed the presence of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which were classified as fragments, fibers or granules. During the evaluation of the plants, it was determined that the preliminary treatment did not remove more than 58% of the microplastics, while the plants applying up to a secondary treatment with activated sludge achieved microplastic removal effectiveness between 90% and 96.9%.
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10
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Zazouli M, Nejati H, Hashempour Y, Dehbandi R, Nam VT, Fakhri Y. Occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tract of fishes: A global systematic review and meta-analysis and meta-regression. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152743. [PMID: 35007572 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The presence of Microplastics (MPs) in food has become a global health concern in the last two decades. In this study, an attempt was made to obtain articles about the occurrence of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract (gt) of fishes using searching the Scopus and PubMed databases from 1 January 1990 to 10 August 2021. The occurrence of MPs was meta-analyzed using the random effect model (REM). The results indicate that pooled occurrence of MPs in gastrointestinal of fishes was 2.76 P/gt: 95%CI:2.65-2.86 P/gt. Occurrence MPs in gastrointestinal of fishes in closed water sources (5.86 P/gt) was higher than free water sources (2.46 P/gt). In addition, the rank order of water sources based on occurrence MPs in gastrointestinal of fish was Lake (5.50 P/gt) > Estuary (5.46 P/gt) > River (2.91 P/gt) > Bay (2.85 P/gt) > Sea (2.58 P/gt) > Ocean (1.29 P/gt). The lowest and highest occurrence MPs in gastrointestinal of fishes were observed in high-income economies (1.45 P/gt) and low-income economies (8.08 P/gt), respectively. The higher frequency of color in MPS was related to blue with polyethylene-type polymers. Therefore, control plans to reduce the occurrence of MPs in fishes is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadali Zazouli
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Habib Nejati
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Yalda Hashempour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Reza Dehbandi
- Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Van Thai Nam
- HUTECH University, 475A, Dien Bien Phu, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Yadolah Fakhri
- Food Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abas, Iran.
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11
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Yusuf A, Sodiq A, Giwa A, Eke J, Pikuda O, Eniola JO, Ajiwokewu B, Sambudi NS, Bilad MR. Updated review on microplastics in water, their occurrence, detection, measurement, environmental pollution, and the need for regulatory standards. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118421. [PMID: 34756874 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The gravity of the impending threats posed by microplastics (MPs) pollution in the environment cannot be over-emphasized. Several research studies continue to stress how important it is to curb the proliferation of these small plastic particles with different physical and chemical properties, especially in aquatic environments. While several works on how to monitor, detect and remove MPs from the aquatic environment have been published, there is still a lack of explicit regulatory framework for mitigation of MPs globally. A critical review that summarizes recent advances in MPs research and emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks devoted to MPs is presented in this paper. These frameworks suggested in this paper may be useful for reducing the proliferation of MPs in the environment. Based on all reviewed studies related to MPs research, we discussed the occurrence of MPs by identifying the major types and sources of MPs in water bodies; examined the recent ways of detecting, monitoring, and measuring MPs routinely to minimize projected risks; and proposed recommendations for consensus regulatory actions that will be effective for MPs mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Yusuf
- Chemical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed Sodiq
- College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adewale Giwa
- Chemical Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Joyner Eke
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, 177 F Paul Anderson Tower Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Oluwadamilola Pikuda
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Jamiu O Eniola
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bilkis Ajiwokewu
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nonni Soraya Sambudi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, Perak, 32610, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Roil Bilad
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam
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12
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Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A Known but Underrated Pathway in Wastewater Treatment Plants. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132212591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Interest in the presence of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater has grown significantly in recent years. In fact, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent the last barrier before the discharge of MPs into an aquatic ecosystem. The research has highlighted how MPs are in part effectively removed from the waters and accumulated inside the sewage sludge (SeS) produced by the WWTP, being a cause for concern, especially in the case of agricultural reuse. This work aims to analyze the existing literature on the (i) methodical procedure for MPs analysis (thermal, spectroscopic, optical analyses), (ii) qualitative and quantitative presence of MPs in SeS, (iii) effect on sludge properties, and (iv) the possible accumulation in amended soils. Based on the results already obtained in the literature, this work aims to provide critical insights to stimulate interest in the topic and direct future research on aspects that should be deepened. In particular, it emerges that there is a clear need for standardization of the collection methods and the analytical techniques for identifying and quantifying MPs, since their physico-chemical characterization and the study on aging and on the response towards acid or basic pre-treatments are fundamental for the understanding of microplastics ecotoxicological potential.
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13
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Hatinoğlu MD, Sanin FD. Sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment: A review of occurrence and fate during sludge treatment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113028. [PMID: 34153586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effectively remove microplastics (MPs) from wastewater and unsurprisingly concentrate them in sludge. Hence through its beneficial use and disposal, sludge causes secondary release pathways of an estimated average amount of 106 to 1014 wastewater-based MPs to various environmental compartments yearly. Despite these numbers, studies investigating sludge are scarce. Currently, majority of the studies in the field focus on identifying the magnitude of the problem, whereas research investigating the fate and effects of MPs during sludge treatment are very rare. This review aims to bring together and critically evaluate the limited studies conducted about MPs in the sludge treatment line and bring out the key gaps and research needs in the area. Studies conducted so far indicate that depending on the type, size, and amount of MPs, their effects during anaerobic digestion differ, with some studies demonstrating serious negative impact on biogas production. Possible effect mechanisms are also suggested such as formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leaching of toxic chemicals. Moreover, a potential for sludge treatment processes (thickening, dewatering, drying, stabilization, etc.) to change the characteristics and the number of MPs, which may increase surface area available for adsorption and desorption of pollutants, was observed. Review uncovers that, in the broad universe of MPs, some highly abundant ones in sludge such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, and acrylic are not yet investigated in sludge treatment. Future research should focus not only to investigate the fate/effects but to fully understand the mechanisms behind these, which is missing in many studies reviewed. Besides, new studies show that effect of MPs start from the floc formation stage during biological treatment, which in fact determine the final sludge behavior in thickening and dewatering. Therefore, holistic approaches starting from wastewater till sludge exits WWTP seem necessary. Substantiating from polymer chemistry and response of plastics to stress conditions, review suggests possibilities of deterioration during sludge treatment processes. It becomes evident that some totally uninvestigated aspects such as disintegration conducted before stabilization, can change the fate of MPs during sludge treatment and may bring new perspectives to the solution of the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dilara Hatinoğlu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - F Dilek Sanin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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14
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Klöckner P, Reemtsma T, Wagner S. The diverse metal composition of plastic items and its implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142870. [PMID: 33131879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plastic items from urban, freshwater and marine environments as well as from household items and electric supplies were analyzed for their metals and metalloids arsenic, barium, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, iron, lead, antimony, tin and zinc. Total metal contents ranged from 3 μg/kg (5th percentile) up to 7 g/kg (95th percentile). The median content of most metals was below 1 mg/kg and did not exceed legal limits. Iron and zinc were the metals with the highest contents, with medians of approximately 50 mg/kg. Multivariate statistics (k-means clustering and principal component analysis) did not reveal a polymer specific metal composition except for samples of tire tread rubber that was obtained from passenger car tires. Investigation on the potential origin of the metals in plastics revealed that pigments were the most likely source. In comparison to natural and anthropogenic materials in rivers, oceans and air, the metal content of plastic items was within the same order of magnitude, except for antimony and zinc contents. Literature data on the adsorption capacities of plastics suggested that the inherent content of barium, iron, antimony and zinc was dominating the total content in the studied samples. Compared to suspended sediments in rivers, the metal flux into marine environment transported with plastic items was found to be negligible due to the three orders of magnitude lower masses. The different properties, however, may consequently lead to the transport of plastics and their constituents into pristine and remote environments which natural particulate matter may not reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Klöckner
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thorsten Reemtsma
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; University of Leipzig, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Linnéstrasse 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Wagner
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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15
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Lin J, Xu XP, Yue BY, Li Y, Zhou QZ, Xu XM, Liu JZ, Wang QQ, Wang JH. A novel thermoanalytical method for quantifying microplastics in marine sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 760:144316. [PMID: 33341640 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in marine environments is of particular concern on its risk to the ecosystem. To assess and manage microplastic contaminants, their quantitative detection in environmental samples is a high priority. However, uncertainties of current methods still exist when estimating their abundances, particularly with fine-grained (<1 mm) microplastics. This work reports a novel thermoanalytical method for quantifying microplastics by measuring the contents of microplastic-derived carbon (MPC) in samples under the premise of nearly eliminating the limit of their particle appearances. After validating the method via samples with the spiked microplastics, we have conducted a case study on sediment core H43 that spanned 1925-2009 CE from the Yellow Sea for further illustrating the high reliability and practicability of this method for quantifying microplastics in natural samples. Our results have demonstrated that the proposed method may be a promising technique to determine the mass-related concentrations of the total microplastics in marine sediments for evaluating their pollution status and quantitative contribution to marine carbon storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Xiang-Po Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Bei-Ying Yue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Yan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Qian-Zhi Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Guangdong Eco-engineering Polytechnc, Guangzhou 510520, China
| | - Jin-Zhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Qin-Qing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Jiang-Hai Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; Southern Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering (Guangdong, Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China.
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