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Chen Y, Meng Y, Liu G, Huang X, Chai G. Probabilistic Estimation of Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastic Intake in Humans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9071-9081. [PMID: 38748887 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Little research exists on the magnitude, variability, and uncertainty of human exposure to airborne micro- and nanoplastics (AMNPs), despite their critical role in human exposure to MNPs. We probabilistically estimate the global intake of AMNPs through three main pathways: indoor inhalation, outdoor inhalation, and ingestion during indoor meals, for both children and adults. The median inhalation of AMPs is 1,207.7 (90% CI, 42.5-8.48 × 104) and 1,354.7 (90% CI, 47.4-9.55 × 104) N/capita/day for children and adults, respectively. The annual intake of AMPs is 13.18 mg/capita/a for children and 19.10 mg/capita/a for adults, which is approximately one-fifth and one-third of the mass of a standard stamp, assuming a consistent daily intake of medians. The majority of AMP number intake occurs through inhalation, while the ingestion of deposited AMPs during meals contributes the most in terms of mass. Furthermore, the median ANP intake through outdoor inhalation is 9,638.1 N/day (8.23 × 10-6 μg/d) and 5,410.6 N/day (4.62 × 10-6 μg/d) for children and adults, respectively, compared to 5.30 × 105 N/day (5.79 × 10-4 μg/d) and 6.00 × 105 N/day (6.55 × 10-4 μg/d) via indoor inhalation. Considering the increased toxicity of smaller MNPs, the significant number of ANPs inhaled warrants great attention. Collaborative efforts are imperative to further elucidate and combat the current MPN risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuchuan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Guangming Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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2
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Zhang L, Zhao W, Yan R, Yu X, Barceló D, Sui Q. Microplastics in different municipal solid waste treatment and disposal systems: Do they pose environmental risks? WATER RESEARCH 2024; 255:121443. [PMID: 38492313 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant worldwide environmental and health challenge. Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be an important source of MPs in the environment if treated and disposed of inappropriately, causing potential ecological risks. MSW treatment and disposal methods have been gradually shifting from landfilling/dumping to more sustainable approaches, such as incineration or composting. However, previous studies on MP characteristics in different MSW treatment and disposal systems have mainly focused either on landfills/dumpsites or composts. The lack of knowledge of multiple MSW treatment and disposal systems makes it difficult to ensure effective MP pollution control during MSW treatment and disposal. Therefore, this study systematically summarizes the occurrence of MPs in different MSW treatment and disposal systems (landfill/dumpsite, compost, and incineration) on the Eurasian scale, and discusses the factors that influence MPs in individual MSW treatment and disposal systems. In addition, the paper assesses the occurrence of MPs in the surrounding environment of MSW treatment and disposal systems and their ecological risks using the species sensitivity distribution approach. The study also highlights recommendations for future research, to more comprehensively describe the occurrence and fate of MPs during MSW treatment and disposal processes, and to develop appropriate pollution control measures to minimize MP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ruiqi Yan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xia Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Damià Barceló
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Qian Sui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Giarratano E, Trovant B, Hernández-Moresino RD. Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as potential biomonitor of microplastics and metal(oid)s in a Patagonian River. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106548. [PMID: 38733740 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
This study summarizes the concentration in dry weight (dw) of several metal(oid)s (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), as well as the abundance and characteristics of microplastics (MP) in wet weight (ww) of the soft tissues of clam Corbicula fluminea from Chubut River (Patagonia, Argentina). The contents of essential elements were in the following decreasing order: Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni; meanwhile, non-essential elements Cd, Cr and Pb were below the detection limit (<0.5 μg/g dw). A high mean concentration of As (6.1 ± 0.3 μg/g dw) was found, surpassing the maximum allowable limit established by the Argentine Food Code for bivalve molluscs. The number of MP ranged from 0.07 to 1.27 items/ind. and from 0.2 to 2.9 items/g ww. Fibers were the most common shape, mainly transparent. The size of MP ranged from 42 to 1917 μm, accounting for 62 % of MP between 50 and 450 μm. The dominant polymer was PET based on the results of Raman spectroscopy. Based on the widespread distribution of MP in the environment and the wide range of effects on organisms, it is necessary to develop long-term monitoring programs for MP contamination in different environmental matrices. Understanding the bioaccumulation of MP in bivalves is crucial to assess the potential risk to human health through consumption and to the ecosystem. We propose that the widespread Asian clam could serve as a useful biomonitor for MP and As pollution in freshwater and estuarine environments such as the Chubut River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Giarratano
- Centro para el estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR - CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACP Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Berenice Trovant
- Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus - CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACP Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Rodrigo D Hernández-Moresino
- Centro para el estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR - CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACP Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
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Köktürk M, Özgeriş FB, Atamanalp M, Uçar A, Özdemir S, Parlak V, Duyar HA, Alak G. Microplastic-induced oxidative stress response in turbot and potential intake by humans. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024; 47:296-305. [PMID: 36656072 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2023.2168690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a health concern subject in recent years. Althoughann increasing number of studies about the ingestion of microplastics by fish, research on the oxidative stress response to MPs in natural environments is quite limited. In this study, the identification and characterization of MPs in gill (G), muscle tissues (M), and gastrointestinal tract (GI) of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were evaluated. Oxidative damage of MPs on the brain (B), liver (L), gill (G), and muscle (M) tissues as well as their effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (AR) myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) biomarkers were evaluated. The potential transmission of MPs from muscle tissues to humans was examined. Results showed that gills contain the highest amounts of MPs, ethylene propylene is the most dominant polymer type, black and blue are the most common MP color, fiber is the most common shape, and 50-200 µm is the most common MP size. Results showed that MPs cause oxidative stress of tissues with inhibiting effect on enzyme activities and promoting impact on lipid peroxidation. The oxidative damage mostly affected the liver (detoxification organ) followed by gill tissue. The intake of MPS in the European Union was estimated by EFSA as 119 items/year, while in Turkey it is 47.88 items/year. This study shows that more research is needed in terms of ecosystem health and food chain safety. The risk assessment of MPs in living organisms and environmental matrices including food safety and human health should be considered a public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Köktürk
- Department of Organic Agriculture Management, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Igdir University, Igdir, Turkey
| | - Fatma Betül Özgeriş
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Atamanalp
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Arzu Uçar
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Süleyman Özdemir
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
| | - Veysel Parlak
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hünkar Avni Duyar
- Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
| | - Gonca Alak
- Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Doshi M, Rabari V, Patel A, Yadav VK, Sahoo DK, Trivedi J. A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia: Current scenario, concentration, characterization, polymeric risk assessment, and future Prospectives. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2024; 96:e11029. [PMID: 38708452 DOI: 10.1002/wer.11029] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution has wreaked havoc on biodiversity and food safety globally. The false ingestion of MPs causes harmful effects on organisms, resulting in a decline in biodiversity. The present review comprehended the current knowledge of MP contamination in Crustacea and Mollusca from 75 peer-reviewed articles published in Asia between 2015 and 2023. A total of 79 species (27 Crustacea and 52 Mollusca) have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs. Out of the total 27 species of Crustacea, Metopograpsus quadridentatus (327.56 MPs/individual) and Balanus albicostatus (0.42 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. Out of the total 52 species of Mollusca, Dolabella auricularia (2325 MPs/individual) and Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis (0.2 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. In terms of country-wise MP contamination, China has the highest number of contaminated species in both phylums among Asia. Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries. Fiber was reported predominantly in both groups. Blue and black-colored MPs having <500 μm and <500 μm-1 mm size were found dominantly in Crustacea and Mollusca, respectively. Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both Crustacea and Mollusca. In essence, this review has provided a comprehensive insight into MP concentration in Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia, highlighting variations among species and geographic locations. This understanding is crucial for tackling urgent environmental challenges, safeguarding human health, and promoting global sustainability initiatives amid the escalating issue of plastic pollution. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Microplastic pollution has created havoc on biodiversity and food safety. A total of 27 and 52 species of crustaceans and Mollusca have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs. Metopograpsus quadridentate and Dolabella auricularia have shown higher MPs contamination. Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both crustacean and Mollusca. Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahima Doshi
- Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, India
| | - Vasantkumar Rabari
- Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, India
| | - Ashish Patel
- Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, India
| | - Virendra Kumar Yadav
- Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, India
| | - Dipak Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jigneshkumar Trivedi
- Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, India
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Nam SH, Kim D, Lee TY, An YJ. Analyzing species sensitivity distribution of evidently edible microplastics for freshwater biota. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133520. [PMID: 38232553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133520] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Assessing the ecological risks of microplastics is difficult because of the limited availability of reliable ecotoxicity data. Although freshwater is a valuable sink for microplastics, the current framework for ecological risk assessment using traditional toxicity data is not applicable to freshwater ecosystems. Herein, species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves were compared for edible and all microplastics exposed to aquatic organisms based on traditional endpoint-based and all-endpoint-based databases. Freshwater toxicity data for microplastics were screened after verifying microplastic presence in test species (56 toxicity datapoints for one microalga, three water fleas, one fish, and one crab; 0.02-100 µm-sized microplastics). SSD and curve parameters were compared with or without non-traditional toxicity endpoints. The HC50 in all endpoint databases was more sensitive than that in the traditional endpoint database and showed a good fit. SSD curves derived from the database for all microplastics were compared and analyzed with edible microplastics. HCx increased for edible microplastics (0.02-100 µm-sized) than for all microplastics (0.02-200 µm-sized), and the size of edible microplastics was lower than of all microplastics. Thus, using non-traditional toxicity data, the SSD approach compensates for the limited ecotoxicity data on microplastics while considering the internalization of microplastics in biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Hwa Nam
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dokyung Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Soursou V, Campo J, Picó Y. Spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics along the touristic beaches of a mediterranean coast transect (Valencia province, East Spain). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120315. [PMID: 38350278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Annually, the Mediterranean region attracts around one-third of the global coastal tourism, which is acknowledged as a substantial contributor to plastic pollution. Coastal municipalities mitigate this through periodic sand and shore cleaning. However, the efficacy of these measures remains uncertain. In this study, the occurrence of MPs (10 μm-5 mm) in sand from seven different, regularly cleaned, touristic beaches of the coastline of Valencia province (E Spain) was assessed. Two different sampling campaigns were performed in winter and in summer (2022) to compare the results and understand the influence of the high touristic activity, as well as, the efficiency of the measures taken against MPs pollution. The methodology used was designed specifically for the matrix and employed density separation using a Sediment Microplastic Isolation (SMI) Unit. In addition to conventional visual inspection and ATR-FTIR, automatic quantification and identification of the polymers of lower size was performed by μFTIR. The average MPs concentration in the summer (339 ± 92 MP kg-1 by stereomicroscopy and 339 ± 189 MP kg-1 by μFTIR) was significantly higher than in the winter (71 ± 92 MP kg-1 and 143 ± 85 MP kg-1) (p < 0.05). The combination of these analytical tools provides comprehensive information about the MPs present in beach sand. Fibers were the most abundant form of MPs, while most of the polymers analyzed were polyethylene (PE) and halogenated polystyrene (Cl-PS and Br-PS) with food packaging, swimming equipment and fishing nets being their most probable sources. Ecological risk assessment was performed through the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Hazardous Index (HI) and the Risk Quotient (RQ), with the results indicating potential risk that ranges from moderate to high depending on the applied approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Soursou
- Environmental and Food Safety Research Group of the University of Valencia (SAMA-UV), Desertification Research Centre CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Road CV-315 Km 10.7, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Julián Campo
- Environmental and Food Safety Research Group of the University of Valencia (SAMA-UV), Desertification Research Centre CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Road CV-315 Km 10.7, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Yolanda Picó
- Environmental and Food Safety Research Group of the University of Valencia (SAMA-UV), Desertification Research Centre CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Road CV-315 Km 10.7, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
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8
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Bhutto SUA, Akram M, You XY. Probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in Tai Lake, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169965. [PMID: 38211859 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169965] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics are a global environmental concern, especially in freshwater ecosystems. Despite the studies in specific regions of Tai lake, a gap persists in understanding the comprehensive risk of MPs across the entire watershed. Therefore, this study offers an overview of MPs abundance and assesses ecotoxicological risk by employing acute and chronic species sensitivity distributions, which consider the effects triggered by MPs. The concentrations of MPs ranged from 0 to 18.6 particles/L within the lake, 1.56 to 1.42 × 102 particles/L in the rivers, and 0.16 to 0.7 particles/L in the estuaries. Certain areas, particularly the northwest and southeast regions, exhibit higher concentrations. Using existing toxicity data, this study calculated predicted no effect concentrations for acute and chronic exposure of MPs to freshwater species, resulting in values of 11.5 and 31.72 particles/L, respectively. The probabilistic risk assessment indicates that the average risk possibility of MPs in Tai lake was 16 %. Moreover, the risk characterization ratio indicated that 22 % of the locations in Tai lake showed an acute ecological risk, while 7.4 % exhibit a chronic ecological risk. The assessment concluded that MPs reported in the literature could pose a considerable risk to Tai lake biota. However, the risk associated with MPs followed descending order: river >lake > estuary waters. Our research supplies valuable insights for the assessment of ecological risks associated with MPs on a whole watershed scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seerat Ul Ain Bhutto
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Muhammad Akram
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Xue-Yi You
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Kim D, Kim SA, Nam SH, Kwak JI, Kim L, Lee TY, Kim H, An S, An YJ. Microplastic ingestion in aquatic and soil biota: A comprehensive review of laboratory studies on edible size and intake pattern. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116056. [PMID: 38266480 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116056] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination is ubiquitous and can be transferred through the food chain to humans. However, studies on microplastic size have mainly focused on large animals with a body length >20 mm. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of 169 laboratory studies to determine the edible size of microplastics for macrofauna and flora in aquatic and soil biota. Our findings indicate that microplastics with a size of <300 μm and 1 μm, respectively, are edible for these organisms, which are positioned at the base of the food chain. We also analyzed intake and depuration patterns and identified factors affecting microplastic ingestion. Our study fills an important knowledge gap by identifying the range of microplastic sizes that can enter the food chain and be transferred to humans. The study findings have strong implications for the ecological risk assessment of microplastics and suggest a starting point for mitigating this threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dokyung Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang A Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Hwa Nam
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Il Kwak
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Lia Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Haemi Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghee An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Liu P, Shao L, Zhang Y, Silvonen V, Oswin H, Cao Y, Guo Z, Ma X, Morawska L. Comparative study on physicochemical characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in winter in inland and coastal megacities: A case of Beijing and Shanghai, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169308. [PMID: 38101632 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric microplastics (MPs) have received global attention across various sectors of society due to their potential negative impacts. This study aims to understand the physicochemical characteristics of MPs in inland and coastal megacities for raising awareness about the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution. Laser Direct Infrared Imaging (LDIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) techniques were employed to characterize atmospheric MPs in megacities (inland megacity Beijing and coastal megacity Shanghai) in China, focusing on their physicochemical characteristics, including compositional types, number concentration, morphology, size, possible sources, and potential health risks. The LDIR analysis identified sixteen different types of MPs present in the atmospheres of Beijing and Shanghai. The number concentration of atmospheric MPs in Beijing (3.0 items/m3) is 1.8 times that of Shanghai (1.7 items/m3). The study found that the variations in MP pollution between Beijing and Shanghai are influenced by the urban industrial structure and geographical location. Morphological analysis indicates that fragment MPs have the highest relative abundance in Beijing, while fibrous MPs dominate the atmosphere of Shanghai. Additionally, the study assessed the potential health risks of atmospheric MPs to urban residents. The results suggest that residents of Beijing face more severe health risks from atmospheric MPs compared to those in Shanghai. These findings underscore the urgency to address the issue of atmospheric MPs and provide crucial evidence for the formulation of relevant environmental and health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengju Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Longyi Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yaxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ville Silvonen
- Aerosol Physics Laboratory, Physics Unit, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere 33014, Finland
| | - Henry Oswin
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Yaxin Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ziyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xuying Ma
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
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11
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Kaushik A, Gupta P, Kumar A, Saha M, Varghese E, Shukla G, Suresh K, Gunthe SS. Identification and physico-chemical characterization of microplastics in marine aerosols over the northeast Arabian Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168705. [PMID: 38000750 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere can undergo long-range transport from emission regions to pristine terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. Due to their inherent toxic and hazardous characteristics, MPs pose serious risks to both human well-being and the equilibrium of ecosystem. The present study outlines the comprehensive characterization, spanning physical and chemical attributes of MPs associated with atmospheric aerosols. Total suspended particulates (TSPs) were collected on a quartz fibre filter by operating a high-volume sampler for 24 h during distinct years (March, 2016 and November, 2020) at a coastal location in the northeast Arabian Sea. Subsequent to the sampling, a series of techniques were applied including density separation. The assessment and scrutiny of the MPs was carried out using stereo-zoom microscopy with supplementary validation using advanced fluorescence microscopy for enhanced precision in identification. Our comparative assessment suggests peroxide treatment followed by density separation could be a robust procedure for the definitive identification and characterization of MPs in the atmosphere. Average total abundance of MPs was found to be 1.30 ± 0.14 n/m3 in 2016 and 1.46 ± 0.12 n/m3 in 2020 with fibres, fragments and films having similar relative contributions (41 %, 31 %, 28 % in 2016 and 40 %, 35 %, 25 % in 2020). Fibres were found to be dominant morphotype followed by fragments and films over the coastal region of the Arabian Sea. In order to unravel the detailed chemical nature of these MPs, spectral analysis using μ-FTIR was carried out. The outcome of the analysis showed prevailing polymers as polyvinyl chloride and polymethyl methacrylate (50545 %) as dominant polymers followed by polyester (15 %), styrene butyl methacrylate (11 %), and polyacetal (9 %). MPs present in the vicinity of the Arabian Sea have potential to supply nutrients and toxicants, consequently can contribute to the modulation of the surface water biogeochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Kaushik
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India
| | - Priyansha Gupta
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Ashwini Kumar
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Mahua Saha
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Emil Varghese
- Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India; Centre for Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Garima Shukla
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - K Suresh
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India; Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
| | - Sachin S Gunthe
- Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India; Centre for Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India
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12
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Jia Z, Wei W, Wang Y, Chang Y, Lei R, Che Y. Occurrence characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils in the loess hilly gully area of Yan' an, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169627. [PMID: 38157894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Large amounts of microplastics accumulated in the soil of agricultural fields with the rapid development of mulch agriculture. The enrichment of microplastics endangered the growth of crops and food security, and it also posed ecological risks. In this study, we investigated microplastics in a typical agriculture area of Yan' an City, in the loess hilly gully area of China. The characteristics of microplastics including their abundances, sizes, and types were measured through laser direct infrared spectrometer. The potential sources of microplastics were analyzed and the risk of soil microplastic pollution was evaluated. It was elaborated that the average abundances of microplastics in soil, water, and fertilizer were 4505 ± 435 n·kg-1, 91 ± 27 n·L-1, and 39,629 ± 10,114 n·kg-1, respectively. Microplastics with particle sizes < 100 μm accounted for >90 %. The smaller the particle size, the higher the content of microplastics. The top three polymers were polyethylene (PE, 37.4 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 15.0 %), and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, 8.9 %), respectively. Agricultural mulch, plastic film, domestic waste, surface water irrigation, and organic compost were probably the potential sources of soil microplastics. The ecological risk evaluation showed that overall sampling sites had a minor ecological risk of microplastic pollution based on their abundance, while the polymer type showed a relatively high ecological risk for the investigated agricultural soils. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) contribute considerably to the ecological risk, and their inputs to the farmland environment should be strictly limited. There was no significant carcinogenic risk to humans. This study would provide the basic reference for the current situation and risk assessment of farmland soil microplastics pollution in the loess hilly gully area of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Jia
- School of Water and Environment, Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Wei Wei
- School of Water and Environment, Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yanhua Wang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
| | - Yingjie Chang
- School of Water and Environment, Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Rui Lei
- School of Water and Environment, Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of the Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yanhong Che
- Xi'an Guolian Quality Testing Technology Co., LTD, Xi'an 710116, China
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13
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Cui X, Yang T, Li Z, Nowack B. Meta-analysis of the hazards of microplastics in freshwaters using species sensitivity distributions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132919. [PMID: 37944233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The environmental hazards of microplastics have raised concerns about their potential ecological risks. However, our understanding of the true risks may be limited because most laboratory studies used pristine microplastics. Here, we analyzed the available literature about ecotoxicological effects of microplastics, including weathered microplastics in particular, on freshwater biota and performed probabilistic species sensitivity distributions. The predicted no-effect concentrations for pristine microplastics were lower than those for weathered microplastics, both in mass concentration (6.1 and 4.8 × 102 μg/L) and number concentration (2.6 × 104 and 2.0 × 106 part/m3). In addition, the toxicological studies on microplastics contains often inconsistent and inconclusive information due to the complexity of the microplastics and the employed exposure conditions. The available data for Daphnia magna and Danio rerio was analyzed in detail to understand the effects of microplastic size, shape and polymer type on their ecotoxicity. Microplastic size was the biggest driving factor, followed by shape and polymer type. There was a tendency for increasing toxicity with smaller size, however, a high variability of effect data was observed for small microplastics. This study provided further insights into the effect thresholds for ecological risk assessment of microplastics and the effects of microplastic characteristics on toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Technology and Society Laboratory, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Tong Yang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Zhengyan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
| | - Bernd Nowack
- Technology and Society Laboratory, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
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14
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Nam SH, Lee TY, Kim SA, An YJ. Non-traditional species sensitivity distribution approaches to analyze hazardous concentrations of microplastics in marine water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132174. [PMID: 37531763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Owing to their ubiquitous nature, microplastics are a major environmental concern. This study reviewed the toxicity data of microplastics in marine water, and analyzed their species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves and hazardous concentrations (HCs). Toxicity database of no-observed effect concentration (NOEC), 50% effect concentration (EC50), and highest observed no-effect concentration (HONEC), and lethal, developing, reproductive, biochemical, and behavioral toxicity endpoints was used. Using 169 chronic NOEC databases, all non-traditional toxicity endpoint databases showed stronger HC values, better fit, and more variable toxicity sensitivity than those derived from traditional values. Moreover, using 426 chronic NOEC, EC50, and HONEC data points, HC values calculated from traditional plus HONEC toxicity values showed weaker HC values, slightly better fit, and more variable toxicity sensitivity than those derived from traditional toxicity values. The SSD approach using non-traditional toxicity and marine water toxicity data can expand the marine water toxicity database, including information on SSD curves and HCs of diverse microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Hwa Nam
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang A Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Mishra A, Mohan Viswanathan P, Ramasamy N, Panchatcharam S, Sabarathinam C. Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Miri coastal area, NW Borneo: inference from a periodical observation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:103225-103243. [PMID: 37688695 PMCID: PMC10567912 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
The current study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the Miri coast, targeting their occurrences, characterisation, and potential sources. For a periodical study, coastal sediments were collected from three different time intervals (monsoon, post-monsoon, and post-COVID) and subjected to stereomicroscope, ATR-FTIR, and SEM-EDX analyses. These results show a significant increase of MPs in post-COVID samples by approximately 218% and 148% comparatively with monsoon and post-monsoon samples, respectively. The highest concentration of MPs was detected near the river mouths and industrial areas where the waste discharge rate and anthropogenic activities dominate. Fibre-type MPs are the most abundant, with an average of nearly 64%, followed by fragments, films, microbeads, and foams. The most dominant polymer types were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyester (PET). Overall, the current study shows a better understanding of MPs occurrence and potential sources in the Miri coastal area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Mishra
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Prasanna Mohan Viswanathan
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Nagarajan Ramasamy
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
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16
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Yang H, Sun F, Liao H, Guo Y, Pan T, Wu F, Giesy JP. Distribution, abundance, and risks posed by microplastics in surface waters of the Yangtze River Basin, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122086. [PMID: 37355005 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution in the Yangtze River Basin, China, has become an environmental issue of great concern. However, most studies on MPs have focused on a part of the Yangtze River Basin, and still lack knowledge on the risk of MPs exposure in surface waters of the whole basin. This study overviews the differences in abundance and spatial distribution of MPs in surface waters basin-wide and comprehensively assesses the ecological risk of MPs exposure in surface waters of the Yangtze River Basin by considering the abundance and toxicity effects. The results showed that the MP abundance at the collected sampling sites ranged from 0 to 44,080 particles/m3, with a mean of 3441 particles/m3. MPs were unevenly distributed throughout the basin, with hotspots such as Three Gorges Reservoir, Yangtze River estuary, and some urban lakes showing relatively higher abundance than the surroundings. Based on the available toxicity data, chronic and acute predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) of 12.3 particles/L and 21 particles/L were derived for freshwater MPs exposure using constructed species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). The hazard quotient (HQ) method was used to compare the environmental exposure concentrations of MPs with PNECs, and the results showed that 71.8% of the sampling sites in the Yangtze River Basin had moderate chronic ecological risk, while 43% of the sampling sites had moderate acute ecological risk. Overall, the ecological risk of MPs in lake and reservoir water was higher than that in river water. Joint probability curves (JPCs) showed that the overall risk probability of MPs in the surface water of the Yangtze River Basin was lower than that of other basins in China and other countries. This research provides valuable information for the ecological risk assessment of MPs at the watershed scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Fuhong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China.
| | - Haiqing Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China
| | - Yiding Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Ting Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, PR China
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48895, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798-7266, USA
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17
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Khanjani MH, Sharifinia M, Mohammadi AR. The impact of microplastics on bivalve mollusks: A bibliometric and scientific review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115271. [PMID: 37429180 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115271] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Bivalves are important members of the ecosystem and their populations are declining globally, making them a concern for their role in ecosystem services and the fishing industry. Bivalves are excellent bioindicators of MPs pollution due to their widespread distribution, filtering capabilities, and close association with human health. Microplastics (MPs) have direct and indirect impacts on bivalves, affecting their physiology, habitat structure, food sources, and persistence of organic pollutants. This review provides an extensive overview of the impact of MPs on bivalves, covering various aspects such as their economic significance, ecological roles, and importance in biomonitoring environmental quality. The article presents the current state of knowledge on the sources and pathways of MPs in aquatic environments and their effects on bivalves. The mechanisms underlying the effects of MPs on bivalves, including ingestion, filtration activity, feeding inhibition, accumulation, bioaccumulation, and reproduction, are also discussed. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis of research on MPs in bivalves is presented, highlighting the number of papers, geographical distribution, and keyword clusters relating to MPs. Finally, the review emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and the development of mitigation strategies to reduce the negative effects of MPs pollution on bivalves and their habitats in oceans and coastal waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Khanjani
- Department of Fisheries Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Kerman, Iran
| | - Moslem Sharifinia
- Shrimp Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr 75169-89177, Iran.
| | - Ali Reza Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran.
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Chen Y, Niu J, Xu D, Zhang M, Sun K, Gao B. Wet Deposition of Globally Transportable Microplastics (<25 μm) Hovering over the Megacity of Beijing. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11152-11162. [PMID: 37459058 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics of size <25 μm possess globally transportable features, but the impact of precipitation on their transport remains unclear. Here, microplastics were detected in all 10 studied rainfalls in Beijing, with <25 μm microplastics present in 8 rainfalls. Interestingly, microplastic abundance (7590-136,778 items·m-3) was tentatively linked to maximum rainfall intensity, with <25 μm microplastics making up 39.6 (±27.5)% of the total count. The composition of <25 μm microplastics differed from that of larger microplastics, although both mainly comprised polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The microplastic communities differed among rainfalls, suggesting that atmospheric transport is a highly dynamic process. The first rainfall exhibited the highest microplastic abundance and community diversity after long-term exposure to dry atmospheric environment. The deposited microplastics were unstable and highly fragmented according to the conditional fragmentation model. The wet deposition rate of the microplastics was calculated as 2-463 μg·m-2 (146-8629 items·m-2) per rain, amounting to 25.44 tons per annum in Beijing. Although <25 μm microplastics represented a negligible proportion (0.00-1.24%) of the overall mass load of microplastics, their numerical abundance was high. Our results demonstrate that precipitation is an effective mechanism for removing airborne microplastics, which may enter urban soils and waters, exacerbate microplastic burdens in the environment, and cause potential risk for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jinqiong Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Dongyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Mengyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Ke Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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Kim B, Kim H, Yoo K. Insight into the marine microplastic abundance and distribution in ship cooling systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117940. [PMID: 37075634 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117940] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are becoming widely recognized as one of many global environmental issues. Although recently, it has been suggested that marine plastics may affect a ship's operation, the presence of MPs in a ship's cooling system has not received significant attention. In this study, samples of 40 L each were taken from each of the five main pipes (sea chest (SC), ejector pump (EP), main engine jacket freshwater pump (MJFP), main engine jacket freshwater cooler (MJFC), and expansion tank (ET)) in each season (February, May, July, October 2021) to identify and characterize MPs in the five main pipes of the ship cooling system from the training ship Hanbada, Korea Maritime and Ocean University. As a result of FTIR analysis, the total MP abundance was 24,100 particles/m3 in the cooling system of the ship. MP concentrations were observed to be higher (p < 0.05) in winter and spring (dry season: 1578 ± 604 particles/m3) than in summer and autumn (wet season: 990 ± 390 particles/m3). In addition, the MP concentration in the seawater cooling system (SCS) (1509 ± 553 particle/m3) was slightly higher (p > 0.05) than that in the freshwater cooling system (FCS) (1093 ± 546 particles/m3). Compared to previous studies, it was confirmed that the quantitative amount of MPs on board was similar to or slightly less than the concentration of MPs investigated along the coast of Korea (1736 particles/m3). To identify the chemical composition of MPs, an optical microscope and FTIR analysis was carried out, and PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) were identified as major chemicals in all samples. MPs in the form of fibers and fragments accounted for approximately 95% of the total. This study provided evidence of MP contamination in the main pipe in the cooling system of the ship. These findings confirm that marine MPs existing in seawater may have flowed into the ship's cooling system, and it is necessary to understand the effect of marine MPs on the ship's engine and cooling system through continuous monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boram Kim
- Maritime Industry Research Division, Logistics and Maritime Industry Research Department, Korea Maritime Institute, Busan, 49111, South Korea
| | - Hyunsu Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Major of Ocean Renewable Energy Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea
| | - Keunje Yoo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea.
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Eo S, Hong SH, Cho Y, Song YK, Han GM, Shim WJ. Spatial distribution and historical trend of microplastic pollution in sediments from enclosed bays of South Korea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115121. [PMID: 37302203 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Seafloor sediments are an important sink for microplastics (MPs), and the vertical profile of MP accumulation in a sediment core represents historical pollution trends. In this study, MP (20-5000 μm) pollution in surface sediments of urban, aquaculture, and environmental preservation sites in South Korea was evaluated, and the historical trend was investigated using age-dated core sediments from the urban and aquaculture sites. The abundance of MPs ranked in the order of urban, aquaculture, and environmental preservation sites. Polymer types were more diverse at the urban site compared to other sites, and expanded polystyrene was dominant in the aquaculture site. An increase in MP pollution and polymer types was observed from bottom to top of cores, and historical trends of MP pollution reflect local influences. Our results indicate that the characteristics of MPs are determined by human activities, and MP pollution should be addressed according to the characteristics of each site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soeun Eo
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hee Hong
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Youna Cho
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Kyoung Song
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Myung Han
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Joon Shim
- Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
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Tse YT, Lo HS, Tsang CW, Han J, Fang JKH, Chan SMN, Sze ETP. Quantitative analysis and risk assessment to full-size microplastics pollution in the coastal marine waters of Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163006. [PMID: 36966838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Given the potential risk to the ecosystem, attention has increased in recent decades to the contamination of the aquatic environment by microplastics (MPs). Due to the limitations of conventional analysis methods of MPs, little is known about the size distribution and abundance of a full-size MPs from 1 μm to 5 mm. The present study quantified MPs with size ranges of 50 μm - 5 mm and 1-50 μm in the coastal marine waters from twelve locations in Hong Kong using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry respectively, during the end of wet (September 2021) and dry (March 2022) seasons. The average abundance of MPs with size ranges of 50 μm - 5 mm and 1-50 μm from twelve sampling locations marine surface waters were found ranging from 27 to 104 particles L-1 and 43,675-387,901 particles L-1 in the wet season respectively, and 13-36 particles L-1 and 23,178-338,604 particles L-1 in the dry season respectively. Significant temporal and spatial variations of small MPs abundance might be observed at the sampling locations, which were contributed by the influences of the estuary of Pearl River, sewage discharge points, land structure, and other anthropogenic activities. Based on the MPs abundance information, ecological risk assessment was conducted and revealed that the small MPs (< 10 μm) in coastal marine surface waters may pose potential health risks to aquatic organisms. Additional risk assessments are needed in order to determine whether or not the MPs exposure would cause health risks to the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuet-Tung Tse
- School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Homantin, Hong Kong
| | - Hoi-Shing Lo
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chi-Wing Tsang
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Chai Wan, Hong Kong
| | - Jie Han
- School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Homantin, Hong Kong
| | - James Kar-Hei Fang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Sidney Man-Ngai Chan
- School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Homantin, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Tung-Po Sze
- School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Homantin, Hong Kong.
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22
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Pelegrini K, Pereira TCB, Maraschin TG, Teodoro LDS, Basso NRDS, De Galland GLB, Ligabue RA, Bogo MR. Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity: A review on size, type, source, and test-organism implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162954. [PMID: 36948318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric wastes are among the current major environmental problems due to potential pollution and contamination. Within the spectrum of polymeric waste, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have gained ground in recent research since these particles can affect the local biota, inducing toxic effects on several organisms. Different outcomes have been reported depending on particle sizes, shape, types, and exposed organisms and conditions, among other variables. This review aimed to compile and discuss the current knowledge and possible literature gaps regarding the MPs and NPs generation and their toxicological effects as stressors, considering polymer type (as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or others), size (micro- or nano-scale), source (commercial, lab-synthesized, or environmental) and test organism group. In that sense, 615 publications were analyzed, among which 72 % discussed micro-sized plastics, while <28 % assayed the toxicity of NPs (<1 μm). For most polymers, MPs and NPs were commercially purchased and used without additional size reduction processes; except for polyethylene terephthalate studies that mostly used grinding and cutting methods to obtain MPs. Polystyrene (PS) was the main polymer studied, as both MPs and NPs. PS accounts for >90 % of NPs reports evaluated, reflecting a major literature gap if compared to its 35.3 % share on MPs studies. Among the main organisms, arthropods and fish combined accounted for nearly 40 % of toxicity testing. Overall, the different types of plastics showed a tendency to report toxic effects, except for the 'Survival/lethality' category, which might indicate that polymeric particles induce mostly sublethal toxic effects. Furthermore, despite differences in publication numbers, we observed greater toxicity reported for NPs than MPs with oxidative stress among the majorly investigated endpoints. This study allowed a hazard profile overview of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) and the visualization of literature gaps, under a broad diversity of toxicological evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kauê Pelegrini
- Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Engenharia e Tecnologia de Materiais, Escola Politécnica, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Talita Carneiro Brandão Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Thuany Garcia Maraschin
- Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Engenharia e Tecnologia de Materiais, Escola Politécnica, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Lilian De Souza Teodoro
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nara Regina De Souza Basso
- Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Engenharia e Tecnologia de Materiais, Escola Politécnica, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Griselda Ligia Barrera De Galland
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP: 91570-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Rosane Angelica Ligabue
- Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande Do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Engenharia e Tecnologia de Materiais, Escola Politécnica, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Mauricio Reis Bogo
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, CEP: 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, CEP: 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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23
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Qiu Y, Zhou S, Zhang C, Qin W, Lv C. A framework for systematic microplastic ecological risk assessment at a national scale. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121631. [PMID: 37058862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is widespread in terrestrial and aquatic environments; however, a systematic assessment of the ecological risks of microplastics is lacking. This study collected research studies on microplastics in soil, aquatic and sediment environments, and screened 128 articles including 3459 sites to assess the ecological risks posed by microplastics in China following a literature quality assessment. We developed a systematic ecological risk assessment framework for microplastics in terms of spatial characterization, biotoxicity and anthropogenic impacts. The results of the pollution load index indicated that 74% and 47% of the soil and aquatic environments studied, respectively, faced a medium or higher level of pollution. Comparing predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) and measured environmental concentrations (MECs), revealed that soil (97.70%) and aquatic (50.77%) environmental studies were at serious ecological risk from microplastics. The results of the pressure-state-response model showed that the microplastic pollution in Pearl River Delta was in a high-risk state. In addition, we found that ultraviolet radiation and rainfall exacerbate soil microplastic pollution, and higher river runoff may carry large amounts of microplastic from the source. The framework developed in this study will help assess the ecological risks of microplastics in the region to promote the mitigation of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Qiu
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Shenglu Zhou
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China.
| | - Chuchu Zhang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Wendong Qin
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Chengxiang Lv
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
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24
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Kim D, Kim H, An YJ. Species sensitivity distributions of micro- and nanoplastics in soil based on particle characteristics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 452:131229. [PMID: 36958161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Micro- and nanoplastics are released into the soil through various anthropogenic activities; however, research on ecological risk assessment (ERA) of soil microplastics is limited. In this study, the species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) of representative groups of soil biota were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to microplastic properties. A total of 411 datasets from apical endpoint data within 74 studies were classified and utilized in SSD estimation. The hazardous concentrations for 5% of species for microplastics was 88.18 (40.71-191.00) mg/kg soil. It has been established that small-sized microplastics are more toxic to soil organisms than larger microplastics. Most microplastics were spherical and polystyrene, exhibiting the most adverse effects among all the microplastic types assessed herein. The results suggest that physical characteristics of microplastics are important toxicity determinants in soil ecosystems. Given the potential for adverse environmental effects, further effective management strategies should urgently be employed in these areas. This study provided an integrated perspective of microplastic ecotoxicity in soil. In addition, SSDs were estimated using larger datasets and for more species than in previous studies. This is the first study to consider microplastic properties for estimating SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dokyung Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Haemi Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Pinheiro M, Martins I, Raimundo J, Caetano M, Neuparth T, Santos MM. Stressors of emerging concern in deep-sea environments: microplastics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and deep-sea mining. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162557. [PMID: 36898539 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although most deep-sea areas are remote in comparison to coastal zones, a growing body of literature indicates that many sensitive ecosystems could be under increased stress from anthropogenic sources. Among the multiple potential stressors, microplastics (MPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs/PCPs) and the imminent start of commercial deep-sea mining have received increased attention. Here we review recent literature on these emerging stressors in deep-sea environments and discuss cumulative effects with climate change associated variables. Importantly, MPs and PPCPs have been detected in deep-sea waters, organisms and sediments, in some locations in comparable levels to coastal areas. The Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are the most studied areas and where higher levels of MPs and PPCPs have been detected. The paucity of data for most other deep-sea ecosystems indicates that many more locations are likely to be contaminated by these emerging stressors, but the absence of studies hampers a better assessment of the potential risk. The main knowledge gaps in the field are identified and discussed, and future research priorities are highlighted to improve hazard and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Pinheiro
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Irene Martins
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Joana Raimundo
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; IPMA - Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, Avenida Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Algés, Portugal
| | - Miguel Caetano
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; IPMA - Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, Avenida Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Algés, Portugal
| | - Teresa Neuparth
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - Miguel M Santos
- CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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26
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Carvalho Ferreira H, Lôbo-Hajdu G. Microplastics in coastal and oceanic surface waters and their role as carriers of pollutants of emerging concern in marine organisms. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 188:106021. [PMID: 37257340 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (Mps) pose a significant environmental challenge with global implications. To examine the effect of Mps on coastal and oceanic surface waters, as well as in marine organisms, 167 original research papers published between January 2013 and September 2022 were analyzed. The study revealed an unequal distribution of research efforts across the world. Fragments and fibers were the most frequently detected particles in ocean surface waters and marine biota, which mainly consisted of colored and transparent microparticles. Sampling of Mps was primarily done using collecting nets with a mesh size of 330 μm. Most articles used a stereomicroscope and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy for identification and composition determination, respectively. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most frequent polymers found, both in coastal waters and in marine organisms. The major impact observed on marine organisms was a reduction in growth rate, an increase in mortality, and reduced food consumption. The hydrophobic nature of plastics encourages the formation of biofilms called the "plastisphere," which can carry pollutants that are often toxic and can enter the food chain. To better define management measures, it is necessary to standardize investigations that assess Mp pollution, considering not only the geomorphological and oceanographic features of each region but also the urban and industrial occupation of the studied marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson Carvalho Ferreira
- Laboratory of Marine Genetics, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PHLC, Office 205, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil; Graduate Program in Oceanography (PPGOCN), State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PJLF, Bl. E, Office 4018, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Gisele Lôbo-Hajdu
- Laboratory of Marine Genetics, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PHLC, Office 205, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil.
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27
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Chang B, He B, Cao G, Zhou Z, Liu X, Yang Y, Xu C, Hu F, Lv J, Du W. Co-transport of polystyrene microplastics and kaolinite colloids in goethite-coated quartz sand: Joint effects of heteropolymerization and surface charge modification. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163832. [PMID: 37121313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the transport behavior of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) in saturated quartz sand and goethite-coated sand in the presence of coexisting kaolinite colloids. Column experiments were conducted under a wide range of solution chemistry conditions, including pH levels of 6.0, 7.0, and 9.0, as well as background Na+ concentrations of 5 mM and 25 mM. We found that: (1) The individual transport of MPs in porous media diminished both with increasing background ion strength and decreasing pH, and its transport ability was significantly dominated by the interactions between MPs and porous media rather than the interplay between MPs, which has been further corroborated by the aggregation stability experiments of MPs particles. (2) MPs had a much lower ability to move through goethite-coated sand columns than quartz sand columns. This is because goethite coating reduces the repulsion energy barriers between porous media and MPs. The increased specific surface area and surface complexity of sand columns after goethite coating should also account for this difference. (3) MPs transport would be subjected to the differentiated impact of co-transported kaolinite colloids in the two types of porous media. The promotion effect of kaolinite colloid on MPs' transport capacity is not significantly affected by background ionic strength changes when quartz sand is served as the porous medium; however, the promotion effect is highly correlated with the background ionic strength when goethite-coated sand is served as the porous medium. In comparison with low background ionic strength conditions, kaolinite colloids under high background ionic strength conditions significantly facilitated MPs transport. This is mainly because under high background ionic conditions, kaolinite colloids are more likely to be deposited on the surface of goethite-covered sand, competing with MPs for the limited deposition sites. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory is applicable to describe the transport behavior of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bokun Chang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Bing He
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Gang Cao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Zhiying Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xiaoqi Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yajun Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chenyang Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Feinan Hu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jialong Lv
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Wei Du
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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28
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Malli A, Shehayeb A, Yehya A. Occurrence and risks of microplastics in the ecosystems of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:64800-64826. [PMID: 37086319 PMCID: PMC10122206 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous nature of microplastics (MPs) in nature and the risks they pose on the environment and human health have led to an increased research interest in the topic. Despite being an area of high plastic production and consumption, studies on MPs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have been limited. However, the region witnessed a research surge in 2021 attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, a total of 97 studies were analyzed based on their environmental compartments (marine, freshwater, air, and terrestrial) and matrices (sediments, water columns, biota, soil, etc.). Then, the MP concentrations and polymer types were utilized to conduct a risk assessment to provide a critical analysis of the data. The highest MP concentrations recorded in the marine water column and sediments were in the Mediterranean Sea in Tunisia with 400 items/m3 and 7960 items/kg of sediments, respectively. The number of MPs in biota ranged between 0 and 7525 per individual across all the aquatic compartments. For the air compartment, a school classroom had 56,000 items/g of dust in Iran due to the confined space. Very high risks in the sediment samples (Eri > 1500) were recorded in the Caspian Sea and Arab/Persian Gulf due to their closed or semi-closed nature that promotes sedimentation. The risk factors obtained are sensitive to the reference concentration which calls for the development of more reliable risk assessment approaches. Finally, more studies are needed in understudied MENA environmental compartments such as groundwater, deserts, and estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Malli
- Baha and Walid Bassatne Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA.
| | - Ameed Shehayeb
- Baha and Walid Bassatne Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- CIRAIG, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Alissar Yehya
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, MA, Cambridge, USA
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29
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Kor K, Jannat B, Ershadifar H, Ghazilou A. Microplastic occurrence in finfish and shellfish from the mangroves of the northern Gulf of Oman. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 189:114788. [PMID: 36871342 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114788] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess microplastic (MP) pollution in some aquatic animals inhabiting planted and natural mangrove swamps in the northern Gulf of Oman. The KOH-NaI solution was used to retrieve MPs from the gastrointestinal tracts of animals. The highest MP prevalence was recorded in crabs (41.65 %) followed by fish (33.89 %) and oysters (20.8 %). The abundance of MPs in examined animals varied from zero in Sphyraena putnamae to 11 particles in a Rhinoptera javanica specimen. When polluted-only animals were considered, the mean abundance of MPs significantly varied among species and between locations. The mean density of ingested MPs was higher in the planted mangrove animals (1.79 ± 2.89 vs. 1.21 ± 2.25 n/individual; mean ± SD). Among the examined fish species, R. javanica ingested the highest number of MPs (3.83 ± 3.93 n/individual; mean ± SD). The polyethylene/ polypropylene fragments or fibers of average 1900 μm size were recorded as predominant (>50 % occurrence) MP particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamalodin Kor
- Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrooz Jannat
- Halal Research Center of IRI, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Ershadifar
- Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ghazilou
- Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), Tehran, Iran.
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30
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Nam SH, Kim SA, Lee TY, An YJ. Understanding hazardous concentrations of microplastics in fresh water using non-traditional toxicity data. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130532. [PMID: 36495642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has become a major environmental problem, indicating the need to implement quantitative governance standards in combination with reducing or banning single-use plastic. Previous studies have predicted no-effect concentrations for limited microplastic-based toxicity data but have not considered environmentally relevant sizes, shapes, or polymers. To provide high quantity and quality data for microplastics of different sizes, shapes, or polymer compositions, non-traditional and traditional toxicity data may need to be considered in combination. In this study, we reviewed toxicity data for microplastics in freshwaters from 2018 to 2022 and analyzed the toxicity data using traditional and non-traditional methods. Based on 166 chronic traditional toxicity data points, the hazard concentration (HC) values calculated from non-traditional toxicity endpoints or all toxicity endpoints were lower than those calculated from traditional toxicity endpoints. Based on 398 chronic traditional plus non-traditional toxicity data points, the HC values calculated from traditional plus non-traditional values were higher than those calculated from traditional toxicity values. With these results, we developed a new framework for deriving microplastic-specific hazardous concentrations, one that especially considers non-traditional toxicity endpoints and values for microplastics. Overall, this study offers a basis for future management strategies and associated frameworks for mitigating microplastic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Hwa Nam
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, South Korea
| | - Sang A Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, South Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, South Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, South Korea.
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Huang CW, Li YL, Lin C, Bui XT, Vo TDH, Ngo HH. Seasonal influence on pollution index and risk of multiple compositions of microplastics in an urban river. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160021. [PMID: 36356754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Emerging contaminant microplastics (MPs) are getting worldwide attention for their ubiquitous occurrence and potential risk to the environment. However, the seasonal influence on freshwater MP pollution remains poorly understood. To better understand and evaluate the riverine MPs in different seasons, this study conducted the risk assessment of MPs in an urban river, Houjin River, during the different seasons. The present study found that the MPs (0.1-5 mm, mostly 0.1-2 mm) were more abundant in the dry season (183.33 ± 128.95 items/m3) compared with the wet season (102.08 ± 45.80 items/m3). Similarly, the mixture of different MPs polymers was more diverse in the dry season. The related pollution indices such as the contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) showed that average CF and PLI were 5.15 and 2.10 in the dry season, which significantly decreased to 1.58 and 1.25, respectively, in the wet season (p < 0.05). Additionally, significant difference of the average risk quotient (RQ) was observed, which was 0.037 in the dry season and 0.021 in the wet season (p < 0.05). To sum up, the results of this study indicate the seasonal effects on the pollution and risk of multiple compositions of MPs in the urban river, suggesting higher impacts of riverine MPs pollution in the dry season, as well as the potential increase of MPs, may lead to environmental risk in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wei Huang
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Lin Li
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Maritime Science and Technology, College of Maritime, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan.
| | - Xuan-Thanh Bui
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology & Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Linh Trung ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo
- Faculty of Environmental and Food Engineering, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia.
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Huang Q, Liu M, Cao X, Liu Z. Occurrence of microplastics pollution in the Yangtze River: Distinct characteristics of spatial distribution and basin-wide ecological risk assessment. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 229:119431. [PMID: 36527870 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world, has drawn increasing attention. Although numerous studies have been conducted recently to investigate and analyze the MPs exposure to the surface water of the river, most merely focus on a certain part of the Yangtze River, and knowledge of MPs based on the basin-wide is still scattered. This article reveals the spatial distribution characteristics of MPs in the Yangtze River from the whole watershed scale. Among the five areas in the basin, the upstream and the midstream were demonstrated to contain more MPs (3598.6 particles/m3 and 3226.8 particles/m3). The obtained results suggested the MP presented in the entire watersheds was uneven and the 'hotspots' occurred, where the MPs concentrations were relatively higher than the surrounding. The discharging of the wastewater treatment plants along the river, the locations of dams, and the stability and fragment of MPs, were demonstrated to be the important driving factors in the spatial distribution of MPs and leading to the appearance of the MP 'hotspots' in the Yangtze River, but were previously overlooked. It is the first study to evaluate the ecological risk of MPs exposure to the surface water of the Yangtze River with multiple assessment methods, taking not only abundance but also morphological characteristics, polymer composition and toxic effect into account. More importantly, based on the multiple individual MPs risk assessment methods, we developed the BetaMP method which achieves a comprehensive assessment of MP risk in basin-wide by taking multiple MP characteristics into account for the first time. This is conducive to better understanding the environmental impacts of MPs pollution in the different regions of the river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian'en Huang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, Yangling, Shannxi 712100, China
| | - Mengge Liu
- School of Design, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchuan RD.Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xuewen Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Ze Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, Yangling, Shannxi 712100, China.
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Liu Z, Huang Q, Chen L, Li J, Jia H. Is the impact of atmospheric microplastics on human health underestimated? Uncertainty in risk assessment: A case study of urban atmosphere in Xi'an, Northwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158167. [PMID: 35998719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) exposure in the environment has been commonly demonstrated to have adverse effects on human health. The majority of studies on MP were related to the aquatic and terrestrial systems, its potential risk for ecosystem and human health when exposed to the atmosphere is not well-understood. The presented study, taking Xi'an, a megacity in Northwest China, as an example, first estimated the possibility of local residents bearing MPs pollution. The results figured out an average abundance of MPs in TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 was 12.5, 3.5 and 0.8 particles/L, respectively. A total of 15 polymer types of MPs were identified in the atmosphere. Although a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach is acknowledged to be useful to estimate the potential risk of pollutants, the result of SSD when used to evaluate the risk of MPs is debatable. In this study, SSD-based risk assessment showed that the atmospheric MP pollution in Xi'an had not yet reached the level of threatening human. However, unlike chemicals, it is unreliable to assess risk using the relationship of dose-response for MPs because toxic effects of MPs can be influenced by not only the abundance but also the characteristics, e.g., morphological size, shape and oxidative potential. Since insufficient mechanistic understanding regarding the relative relationship between MP characteristics and their toxic effects and limitation of the quality and relevance of toxicity data, the uncertainty of risk assessment of the atmospheric MPs is inevitable and the risk of the atmospheric MPs was tended to be underestimated. This poses a challenge to manufacturers and public health authorities, as well as researchers alike, however, we are already being exposed to the atmospheric MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, 712100 Yangling, China
| | - Qian'en Huang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, 712100 Yangling, China
| | - Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, 712100 Yangling, China
| | - Jiahui Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, 712100 Yangling, China
| | - Hanzhong Jia
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road 3, 712100 Yangling, China.
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Naidu BC, Xavier KAM, Shukla SP, Jaiswar AK, Nayak BB. Microplastics in the foreshore coastal waters, sediment, and coastal fauna of a highly populated megacity - A study on the effect of anthropogenic discharge on clams. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114262. [PMID: 36283152 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114262] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the microplastics (MPs) abundance, characteristics and their variations across three popular beaches of highly populated and largest megacity of India were documented using clams as an indicator species. The abundance of MPs in clams was 77.39 MPs items/g in soft tissue parts and 198.82 items/individual, while in coastal waters and sediments the abundance was 537.5 ± 95 items/L and 10,568.3 ± 3053.3 items/kg respectively. The observed higher microplastic diversity integrated (MDII) indicates numerous sources contributing to microplastics pollution and higher microplastic index (MPI) indicates greater bioavailability of MPs to clams. The bulk of the microplastics recovered from clams (55.78 %), coastal sediments (52.27 %) and coastal sea waters (54 %) belong to the <100 μm size range, and were identified as LDPE and polypropylene, polyamide and polystyrene. This investigation tried to validate the potential trophic transfer concerns associated with clam intake to both human health and marine ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bejawada Chanikya Naidu
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - K A Martin Xavier
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Satya Prakash Shukla
- Aquatic Environmental Management Department, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Jaiswar
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Binaya Bhusan Nayak
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India
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Shim WJ, Kim SK, Lee J, Eo S, Kim JS, Sun C. Toward a long-term monitoring program for seawater plastic pollution in the north Pacific Ocean: Review and global comparison. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:119911. [PMID: 35987287 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Through a literature survey and meta-data analysis, monitoring methods and contamination levels of marine micro- and macroplastics in seawater were compared between the North Pacific and the world's other ocean basins. The minimum cut-off size in sampling and/or analysis of microplastics was crucial to the comparison of monitoring data. The North Pacific was most actively monitored for microplastics and showed comparatively high levels in the global context, while the Mediterranean Sea was most frequently monitored for macroplastics. Of the 65 extracted mean abundances of microplastics in seawater from the North Pacific, two (3.1%) exceeded the lowest predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) proposed thus far. However, in the context of business-as-usual conditions, the PNEC exceedance probability may be expected to reach 27.7% in the North Pacific in 2100. The abundance of marine plastics in seawater, which reflects the current pollution status and marine organisms' waterborne exposure levels, is a useful indicator for marine plastic pollution. For regional and global assessments of pollution status across space and time, as well as assessment of ecological risk, two microplastic monitoring approaches are recommended along with their key aspects. Although microplastic pollution is closely linked with macroplastics, the monitoring data available for floating macroplastics and more extent to mesoplastics in most ocean basins are limited. A more specific framework for visual macroplastic survey (e.g. fixed minimum cut-off size, along with survey transect width and length according to survey vessel class) is required to facilitate data comparison. With the implementation of standardised methods, increased efforts are required to gather monitoring data for microplastics and-more importantly-floating macroplastics in seawater worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Joon Shim
- Risk Analysis Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung-Kyu Kim
- Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; Yellow Sea Institute, Incheon National University, Academy-ro 119, Yeounsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsu Lee
- Korea Marine Litter Institute, Our Sea of East Asia Network, Tongyeong 53013, Republic of Korea
| | - Soeun Eo
- Risk Analysis Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Su Kim
- Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Chengjun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
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Song YK, Hong SH, Eo S, Shim WJ. The fragmentation of nano- and microplastic particles from thermoplastics accelerated by simulated-sunlight-mediated photooxidation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:119847. [PMID: 35970348 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The plastic debris that washes ashore and litters the shoreline often undergoes weathering under sunlight exposure, such that it fragments to form nanoplastics and microplastics, but the fragmentation rate for many thermoplastics is unknown. In this study, three major thermoplastics were exposed to simulated sunlight in an accelerated weathering chamber to evaluate the speed of photooxidation-induced fragmentation. The initiation of photooxidation-induced fragmentation extrapolated from the accelerated weathering chamber to real sunlight exposure in South Korea followed the order of PS (< 1 year) > PP (< 2 years) > LDPE (> 3 years). The surface cracks created by photooxidation were not directly reflected in the initiation of fragmentation of thermoplastics. The initiation of fragmentation was faster in PS than other polymers, but the total abundance of particles produced, and increasing ratio (exposure/non-exposure) were comparable or lower than those of PP. The increasing ratio pattern between nanoplastics and small microplastics of PP differed noticeably from other polymers. The initiation of nanoplastic and small-microplastic fragmentation determined in this study will be useful for the further estimation of secondary microplastic production by weathering and thus for decision-making regarding methods for the timely removal of plastic litter in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kyoung Song
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 53201, South Korea
| | - Sang Hee Hong
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 53201, South Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, South Korea
| | - Soeun Eo
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 53201, South Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, South Korea
| | - Won Joon Shim
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 53201, South Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, South Korea.
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Chen B. Current status and trends of research on microplastic fugacity characteristics and pollution levels in mangrove wetlands. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2022; 10. [DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1021274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been widely detected in the environment, while mangrove wetlands are considered barriers to land-based plastic transport to the ocean, requiring special attention. However, the current literature is distributed and broad besides limited information on the fate characteristics and pollution levels. This study uses a systematic literature review method to analyze the current research status and future trends. In this study, the literature is summarized and concluded that Characteristics including color, shape, size, polymer chemistry and surface microstructure are the basic information for microplastic research in mangrove wetlands. Size is the key to studying distribution and convergence without international standards. The shape is vital to study its sources and environmental processes. Color affects biological predation and is important information for studying ecological risk. The chemical composition of plastics is the key to studying microplastics’ fingerprint information, source, and sink. The surface microstructure is an important basis for studying adsorption behavior and aging processes. Mangrove microplastic studies in China are mainly on the southern and southeastern coasts, and microplastic pollution is more severe in Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi than in Hainan. In contrast, studies on mangrove microplastics abroad are mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Overall, microplastic contamination was detected in the major distribution areas of mangroves worldwide and was correlated with mangrove density and human activities.
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Bonyadi Z, Maghsodian Z, Zahmatkesh M, Nasiriara J, Ramavandi B. Investigation of microplastic pollution in Torghabeh River sediments, northeast of Iran. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2022; 250:104064. [PMID: 35994843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are the route of transfer of microplastics from upstream to downstream areas and seas. Microplastic tracing in river sediments can provide a better reflection of long-term microplastic pollution. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of microplastic contamination in the Torghabeh River sediments in Khorasan Razavi (Iran). Sediment samples were collected from four sites along the river. Microplastic particles were classified according to type, shape, and color. The average microplastic concentration was 8 ± 2.82 particles per 100 g of dry sediments. Most of the microplastics detected in river sediments were in the form of filaments and fragments. A total of 32 polymers were identified and isolated from sediments. According to Raman spectroscopy results, polystyrene had the highest abundance compared to polyester, polyethylene, and other polymers. The predominant shape of the microplastics in the river sediment was filament and fragmented. It can be concluded that the areas that were exposed to human activity contained more microplastic contamination. The present investigation can also provide baseline information for the study of riverine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziaeddin Bonyadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Zeinab Maghsodian
- Department of Environmental Science, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Zahmatkesh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Javad Nasiriara
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Bahman Ramavandi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
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Mohammadi A, Dobaradaran S, Schmidt TC, Malakootian M, Spitz J. Emerging contaminants migration from pipes used in drinking water distribution systems: a review of the scientific literature. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:75134-75160. [PMID: 36127528 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23085-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Migration of emerging contaminants (ECs) from pipes into water is a global concern due to potential human health effects. Nevertheless, a review of migration ECs from pipes into water distribution systems is presently lacking. This paper reviews, the reported occurrence migration of ECs from pipes into water distribution systems in the world. Furthermore, the results related to ECs migration from pipes into water distribution systems, their probable sources, and their hazards are discussed. The present manuscript considered the existing reports on migration of five main categories of ECs including microplastics (MPs), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, nonylphenol (NP), perfluoroalkyl, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from distribution network into tap water. A focus on tap water in published literature suggests that pipes type used had an important role on levels of ECs migration in water during transport and storage of water. For comparison, tap drinking water in contact with polymer pipes had the highest mean concentrations of reviewed contaminants. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most frequently detected types of microplastics (MPs) in tap water. Based on the risk assessment analysis of ECs, levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were above 1, indicating a potential non-carcinogenic health risk to consumers. Finally, there are still scientific gaps on occurrence and migration of ECs from pipes used in distribution systems, and this needs more in-depth studies to evaluate their exposure hazards on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Mohammadi
- Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, Boostan 19 Alley, Imam Khomeini Street, Bushehr, 7514763448, Iran.
| | - Torsten C Schmidt
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- IWW Water Centre, Moritzstraße 26, 45476, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU) Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Mohammad Malakootian
- Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Jörg Spitz
- Akademie Für Menschliche Medizin GmbH, Krauskopfallee 27, 65388, Schlangenbad, Germany
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Kim EH, Choi S, Kim D, Park HJ, Bian Y, Choi SH, Chung HY, Bae ON. Amine-modified nanoplastics promote the procoagulant activation of isolated human red blood cells and thrombus formation in rats. Part Fibre Toxicol 2022; 19:60. [PMID: 36104730 PMCID: PMC9472436 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-022-00500-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) formed from decomposed plastic are increasing environmental threats. Although MPs and NPs exposed through various routes enter the systemic circulation, the potential toxicity of those is largely unknown. We investigated whether polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) promote the coagulation activity of red blood cells (RBCs). Results We tested several types of PS-NPs using human RBCs and found that amine-modified 100 nm PS-NPs were the most potent. We measured the uptake of PS-NPs using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed morphological changes of RBCs by PS-NPs. PS-NPs induced the externalization of phosphatidylserine, generation of microvesicles in RBCs, and perturbations in the intracellular microenvironment. PS-NPs increased the activity of scramblases responsible for phospholipid translocation in RBCs. PS-NPs modulated the functional interaction to adjacent tissues and coagulation cascade, enhancing RBC adhesion and thrombin generation. Our observations in human RBCs were consistent with those in isolated rat RBCs, showing no inter-species differences. In rat venous thrombosis models, the intravenous administration of PS-NPs enhanced thrombus formation.
Conclusion Amine-modified PS-NPs induce the prothrombotic activation of RBCs causing thrombus formation. We believe that our study will contribute to understanding the potential toxicity of amine-modified polystyrene particles in blood cells and cardiovascular systems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12989-022-00500-y.
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Ng PL, Kinn-Gurzo SS, Chan KYK. Microplastics impede larval urchin selective feeding. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155770. [PMID: 35533870 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are emergent threats to marine organisms as ingestion can cause a multitude of physiological problems. Suspension feeders, including marine invertebrate larvae, are particularly susceptible to ingesting microplastics due to similarities in physical appearance to algal cells. Larval feeding involves multiple stages: the capture and subsequent selection of particles followed by ingestion from the mouth to the stomach, digestion, and finally, egestion. Yet, little is known about which aspect of the feeding process is disrupted by microplastics. Here, we determine if prior exposure to microplastics alters the feeding behavior of the larval sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina. We conducted two experiments: a food handling experiment studied larval survival, growth, and time required to fill and vacate the stomach; and a particle selection experiment analyzed changes in the ability of the larvae to selectively ingest algal cells over microplastics. In both experiments, larvae were pre-exposed to algae only (control), the addition of 10 μm polystyrene beads at 1 bead mL-1 or 1000 beads mL-1 until 3- or 7-days post-fertilization. Previous exposure to microplastics lengthened stomach filling time and impaired particle selection. While there was no significant change in survivorship and larval arm length, these sub-lethal impacts on larval feeding likely have more severe ramifications in vivo where food is limited, and thus, potentially threaten post-settlement success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pui Lam Ng
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | | | - Kit Yu Karen Chan
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong; Biology Department, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA.
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Kim L, Lee TY, Kim H, An YJ. Toxicity assessment of tire particles released from personal mobilities (bicycles, cars, and electric scooters) on soil organisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129362. [PMID: 35716575 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tire particles are generated by the abrasion of tire treads on roads and are major contributors to microplastics in soil environments. Contamination by tire wear particles worsens annually as the use of personal mobilities increases. Tire particles (112-541 µm) were obtained from three types of personal mobility tires (bicycle, car, and electric scooter) and exposed to plants (Vigna radiata) and springtails (Folsomia candida) for 28 d to assess the toxicity of each tire-particle type. The laboratory-generated tire particles exhibit adverse effects depending on the origin of the tire or test species. Particles from bicycle or electric-scooter tires changed the soil's bulk density and water holding capacity and adversely affected plant growth. Car tire particles had leached various organic compounds and induced detrimental effects on springtails (adult and offspring growth). We concluded that laboratory-generated tire particles (frow new tires) can affect the soil environment by changing soil properties and leaching chemicals; thus, causing adverse effects on soil organisms. Since this study found tire particle toxicity on soil organisms, it would be possible to compare the various contamination levels in areas near road soil and other clean soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Yang Lee
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea
| | - Haemi Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea
| | - Youn-Joo An
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea.
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Stang C, Mohamed BA, Li LY. Microplastic removal from urban stormwater: Current treatments and research gaps. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115510. [PMID: 35751294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Stormwater is a major contributor to microplastic (MP) pollution in the aquatic environment. Although MPs are associated with many toxicological effects, their levels in stormwater are not regulated. This review compared the effectiveness of different MP removal technologies from stormwater runoff and examined the performance of typical stormwater treatment systems for MP removal to assess possible MP pollution control via stormwater management. Bioretention and filtration systems performed similarly with 84-96% MP removal efficiencies. Despite the limited number of studies that focused on wetlands and retention ponds, preliminary data suggested potential for MP removal with efficiencies of 28-55% and 85-99%, respectively. Despite the higher efficiency of bioretention and filtration systems, their removal efficiency of fibrous MPs was not optimal. Furthermore, wetlands were less effective in removing MPs than retention ponds, although the limited data might lead to an inaccurate representation of typical performances. Therefore, more research is required to arrive at definitive conclusions and to investigate alternative treatment options, such as ballasted sand flocculation, flotation, and biological degradation, and evaluate the effectiveness of bioretention and filtration for MPs <100 μm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camryn Stang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Badr A Mohamed
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cairo University, El-Gamma Street, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Loretta Y Li
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Spindola Vilela CL, Damasceno TL, Thomas T, Peixoto RS. Global qualitative and quantitative distribution of micropollutants in the deep sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119414. [PMID: 35598814 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119414] [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: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Micropollutants (MPs) include a wide range of biological disruptors that can be toxic to wildlife and humans at very low concentrations (<1 μg/L). These mainly anthropogenic pollutants have been widely detected in different areas of the planet, including the deep sea, and have impacts on marine life. Because of this potential toxicity, the global distribution, quantity, incidence, and potential impacts of deep-sea MPs were investigated in a systematic review of the literature. The results showed that MPs have reached different zones of the ocean and are more frequently reported in the Northern Hemisphere, where higher concentrations are found. MPs are also concentrated in depths up to 3000 m, where they are also more frequently studied, but also extend deeper than 10,000 m. Potentially toxic metals (PTMs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs), organotins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified as the most prevalent and widely distributed MPs at ≥200 m depth. PTMs are widely distributed in the deep sea in high concentrations; aluminum is the most prevalent up to 3000 m depth, followed by zinc and copper. PCBs, organotins, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), PAHs, and phenols were detected accumulated in both organisms and environmental samples above legislated thresholds or known toxicity levels. Our assessment indicated that the deep sea can be considered a sink for MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Leite Spindola Vilela
- Department of General Microbiology, Paulo de Goes Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taissa Lopes Damasceno
- Department of General Microbiology, Paulo de Goes Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Department of General Microbiology, Paulo de Goes Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment Based on Land Use Change in the Yellow River Basin of Shaanxi, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159547. [PMID: 35954899 PMCID: PMC9368170 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Yellow River Basin in Shaanxi (YRBS) has a relatively fragile ecological environment, with severe soil erosion and a high incidence of natural and geological disasters. In this study, a river basin landscape ecological risk assessment model was constructed using landscape ecology principles to investigate the temporal and spatial evolution, as well as the spatial autocorrelation characteristics of landscape ecological risks in the YRBS over a 20-year period. The main findings from the YRBS were that the land use types changed significantly over the span of 20 years, there was spatial heterogeneity of the landscape pattern, and the ecological risk value was positively correlated. The threat of landscape ecological risks in YRBS is easing, but the pressure on the ecological environment is considerable. This study provides theoretical support administrative policies for future ecological risk assessment and protection, restoration measures, and control in the Yellow River Basin of Shaanxi Province.
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Ranjani M, Veerasingam S, Venkatachalapathy R, Jinoj TPS, Guganathan L, Mugilarasan M, Vethamony P. Seasonal variation, polymer hazard risk and controlling factors of microplastics in beach sediments along the southeast coast of India. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 305:119315. [PMID: 35439596 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and its associated organic and inorganic contaminants are one among the significant health hazards to almost all biota, including human. We investigated the polymer hazard risk and its adsorbed contaminants in MPs at six prominent beaches of Chennai on the southeast coast of India. The spatial variation of MPs during the northeast (NE) monsoon (range: 76-720 items/kg, mean: 247.4 items/kg) was higher than that during southwest (SW) monsoon (range: 84-498 items/kg, mean: 302.7 items/kg). In both the seasons, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the dominant polymers and fibre was the predominant shape of MPs, likely to be derived from fishing, textile and urban activities in this region. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images exhibited various surface weathering features including grooves, cracks, fractures, adhering particles, pits, vermiculate textures and fibre reinforcements. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) results showed that MPs have adsorbed major (Si, Al, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Ti) and trace (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) metals. Though pollution load index (PLI) presented low degree of MP contamination in the beach sediments, hazardous polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS) contributed to high polymer hazard index (PHI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), posing very high risk to the biota. The trajectories obtained from particle-tracking coupled with hydrodynamic simulation clearly showed that 20% of MPs settled along the coast and the remaining moved towards north, alongshore and offshore (∼50 km) within 30 days, and in NE monsoon due to current reversal, the floating debris and MPs have drifted towards south, ∼40 km in 30 days, indicating the role of circulation in the fate and transport pathways of plastic debris.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ranjani
- Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Veerasingam
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Qatar.
| | - R Venkatachalapathy
- Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - T P S Jinoj
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Chennai, 600 100, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - L Guganathan
- Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M Mugilarasan
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - P Vethamony
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Qatar
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Chen Y, Gao B, Xu D, Sun K, Li Y. Catchment-wide flooding significantly altered microplastics organization in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the reservoir. iScience 2022; 25:104401. [PMID: 35637732 PMCID: PMC9142631 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydro-fluctuation belt (HFB) is the most sensitive area of a large reservoir. This research aimed to identify the impact of catastrophic flooding on the local microplastics organization in the HFB soil of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the largest reservoir in China. We found that the catchment-wide flooding efficiently alleviated the local microplastics abundance from 7,633 to 4,875 items/kg (from 44 to 18 mg/kg) but added to the pollution risk in the reservoir body. After flooding, the overall size distribution of local microplastics was minimally altered. Interestingly, the preferential retention of the small-sized polyethylene was found in HFB after flooding. Approximately 5.0×1014 items (∼2,360 tons) of microplastics were evacuated into the reservoir, equivalent to 15.8 wt% of the plastic flux of the Yangtze River into the ocean. We observed that HFB is a significant source of local microplastics in reservoir, and the long-term source–sink transformation mechanism in the HFB should be further investigated. Microplastics were detected across all sites in hydro-fluctuation belt (HFB) soil Flooding efficiently reduced local microplastics in HFB soil Catastrophic flooding induced selective retention of microplastics in HFB soil HFB soil was a significant source of microplastics in the reservoir basin
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China.,State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Dongyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Ke Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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Suzuki G, Uchida N, Tuyen LH, Tanaka K, Matsukami H, Kunisue T, Takahashi S, Viet PH, Kuramochi H, Osako M. Mechanical recycling of plastic waste as a point source of microplastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119114. [PMID: 35276247 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119114] [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: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. Recycling is a potential means of reducing plastic pollution in the environment. However, plastic fragments are still likely released to the aquatic environment during mechanical recycling processes. Here, we examined the plastic inputs and effluent outputs of three mechanical recycling facilities in Vietnam dealing with electronic, bottle, and household plastic waste, and we found that large quantities of microplastics (plastics <5 mm in length) are generated and released to the aquatic environment during mechanical recycling without proper treatment. Comparisons with literature data for microplastics in wastewater treatment plant effluents and surface water indicated that mechanical recycling of plastic waste is likely a major point source of microplastics pollution. Although there is a mismatch between the size of the microplastics examined in the present study and the predicted no-effect concentration reported, it is still possible that microplastics generated at facilities pose risks to the aquatic environment because there might be many plastic particulates smaller than 315 μm, as suggested by our obtained size distributions. With mechanical recycling likely to increase as we move to a circular plastics economy, greater microplastics emissions can be expected. It is therefore an urgent need to fully understand not only the scale of microplastic generation and release from plastic mechanical recycling but also the environmental risk posed by microplastics in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Suzuki
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Natsuyo Uchida
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Le Huu Tuyen
- VNU Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam; Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam
| | - Kosuke Tanaka
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hidenori Matsukami
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kunisue
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Shin Takahashi
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan
| | - Pham Hung Viet
- VNU Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam; Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Masahiro Osako
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
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Qi H, Zeng S, Wang Y, Dong X. Exploring the discharge characteristics of personal care behaviors for high precision estimation of microplastic emission. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 312:114917. [PMID: 35325734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) from personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) pose a threat to aquatic environment due to the small size and the complexity of composition. Although the habits of personal care behaviors (PCBs) vary from individuals affecting MPs emissions, quantitative research is not sufficient to support high-precision emission estimates and targeted management decisions. Based on a questionnaire survey about PCBs and laboratory experiments on corresponding PCCPs utilization, this study proposed a bottom-up micro-simulation method to quantify MPs emissions combining multinomial logit model and categorized emission coefficients, and identified the impact of individual attributes on the emissions. The results show that the annual PCBs-derived MPs emissions amounted to 2931.8 trillion particles in China, of which teeth brushing, face washing, and bathing behavior accounted for 29%, 36% and 35%, respectively. The residents discharged an average of 2.18 million particles per capita per year with 95% confidence interval of 0.58-4.34 million particles. Gender, age and living region had greater impacts on PCBs-derived MPs emissions. The effect of living region was significantly related to local temperature and humidity. The estimation based on the MPs discharge characteristics of PCBs provides high-precision method regarding the MPs emission from people's daily life and contributes to further understanding the source of MPs and initiating environmental control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Qi
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Siyu Zeng
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yiming Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin Dong
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Correa-Araneda F, Pérez J, Tonin AM, Esse C, Boyero L, Díaz ME, Figueroa R, Santander-Massa R, Cornejo A, Link O, Jorquera E, Urbina MA. Microplastic concentration, distribution and dynamics along one of the largest Mediterranean-climate rivers: A whole watershed approach. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112808. [PMID: 35085565 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have been recognized as one of the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants globally. They have been found in all ecosystems studied to date, threatening biological diversity, ecosystem functioning and human health. The present study aimed to elucidate the environmental and anthropogenic drivers of MP dynamics in the whole catchment of the Biobío river, one of the largest rivers in South America. MP concentration and characteristics were analysed in 18 sites subjected to different sources of pollution and other human-related impacts. The sampling sites were classified in relation to altitudinal zones (highland, midland and lowland) and ecosystem types (fluvial and reservoir), and different water and territorial environmental variables were further collated and considered for analysis. Seven types of microplastic polymers were identified in the samples analysed, with a catchment mean (±SE) MP concentration of 22 ± 0.4 particles m-3, and MP presence being significantly higher in lowlands (26 ± 2 particle m-3) and in reservoirs (42 ± 14 particle m-3). The most abundant type of MP was fragments (84%), with a mean concentration of 37 ± 6 particles m-3. Overall, MP concentrations were low compared to those found in other studies, with a strong influence of human population size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Correa-Araneda
- Unidad de Cambio Climático y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Javier Pérez
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Alan M Tonin
- Aquariparia/Limnology Lab, Department of Ecology, IB, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carlos Esse
- Unidad de Cambio Climático y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - María Elisa Díaz
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Chile
| | - Ricardo Figueroa
- Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Santander-Massa
- Unidad de Cambio Climático y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile; Universidad Austral de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Escuela de Graduados, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Aydeé Cornejo
- Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Laboratory. Zoological Collection Dr. Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama
| | - Oscar Link
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
| | - Erika Jorquera
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Mauricio A Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 1313, Concepción, Chile.
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