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Honorato-Zimmer D, Escobar-Sánchez G, Deakin K, De Veer D, Galloway T, Guevara-Torrejón V, Howard J, Jones J, Lewis C, Ribeiro F, Savage G, Thiel M. Macrolitter and microplastics along the East Pacific coasts - A homemade problem needing local solutions. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116440. [PMID: 38718548 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116440] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The East Pacific (EP) region, especially the central and southern EP, has been fairly less studied than other world's regions with respect to marine litter pollution. This comprehensive literature review (257 peer-reviewed publications) showed that both macrolitter (mostly plastics) and microplastics tend to accumulate on EP shorelines. Moreover, they were also reported in all the other compartments investigated: sea surface, water column, seafloor and 'others'. Mostly local, land-based sources (e.g., tourism, poor waste management) were identified across the region, especially at continental sites from low and mid latitudes. Some sea-based sources (e.g., fisheries, long-distance drifting) were also identified at high latitudes and on oceanic islands, likely enhanced by the oceanographic dynamics of the EP that affect transport of floating litter. Our results suggest that effective solutions to the problem require local and preventive strategies to significantly reduce the levels of litter along the EP coasts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriela Escobar-Sánchez
- Coastal and Marine Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), Seestraße 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany; Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Universiteto Ave. 17, LT-92294, Klaipeda, Lithuania
| | - Katie Deakin
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Diamela De Veer
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA
| | - Tamara Galloway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | | | - Jessica Howard
- Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR, UK
| | - Jen Jones
- Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR, UK
| | - Ceri Lewis
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | | | - Georgie Savage
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Martin Thiel
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Millennium Nucleus Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; MarineGEO, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA.
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2
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de Deus BCT, Costa TC, Altomari LN, Brovini EM, de Brito PSD, Cardoso SJ. Coastal plastic pollution: A global perspective. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116478. [PMID: 38735173 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116478] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems have ecological importance worldwide and require control and prevention measures to mitigate human pollution. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review to provide a comprehensive overview of the global issue of coastal plastic pollution. 689 articles were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 31 were considered for quantitative analysis. There was an exponential increase in articles addressing coastal plastic pollution over the past 50 years. Studies were mainly carried out on beaches, and plastic bottles were the most found item, followed by cigarette butts. Polyethylene was the predominant plastic polymer, and white microplastic fragments stood out. China published most articles on the topic and Brazil had the highest number of sites sampled. Meta-analysis had significant effect sizes based on the reported data. These findings carry significant implications for environmental policies, waste management practices, and targeted awareness campaigns aimed at mitigating plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Corrêa Thomé de Deus
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaiane Cantarino Costa
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leslie Nascimento Altomari
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Emília Marques Brovini
- Postgraduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Universitário, Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio Duque de Brito
- VALORIZA Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Campus Politécnico, 10, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal
| | - Simone Jaqueline Cardoso
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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3
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Kouvara K, Kosmopoulou A, Fakiris E, Christodoulou D, Filippides A, Katsanevakis S, Ioakeimidis C, Geraga M, Xirotagarou P, Galgani F, Papatheodorou G. Assessing marine litter in a highly polluted area in the Mediterranean: A multi-perspective approach in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116497. [PMID: 38796930 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116497] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Marine litter poses a significant environmental challenge in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. Employing an integrated approach, data from both beach and underwater sites were analyzed. The average litter density on beaches was 2.61 items m-2, with plastic being the most common material, notably small polystyrene fragments and cigarette butts. The western part of the Gulf exhibited higher litter density, mainly due to surface circulation patterns. Most beaches fell short of meeting Good Environmental Status criteria for marine litter. Higher litter densities were observed in autumn. Benthic litter density decreased with depth, being 23 times higher in shallower waters, with plastic being the predominant type. This extensive study offers crucial insights into the pollution status and litter distribution in the Saronikos Gulf, contributing significantly to the global understanding of marine litter distribution on coastal ecosystems. Such information is crucial for raising awareness, informing policy decisions, and driving environmental actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kouvara
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece.
| | - A Kosmopoulou
- A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Zalokosta 4, Athens 10671, Greece
| | - E Fakiris
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - D Christodoulou
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - A Filippides
- OZON, Non-Governmental Organization, Corinth 20100, Greece
| | - S Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Greece
| | - C Ioakeimidis
- UN Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), Vas. Konstantinou 48, Athens 11635, Greece
| | - M Geraga
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - P Xirotagarou
- A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Zalokosta 4, Athens 10671, Greece
| | - F Galgani
- Ifremer Centre Mediterranée, Laboratoire LER/PAC, immeuble Agostini, ZI Furiani, Bastia, Corse 20600, France
| | - G Papatheodorou
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
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4
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Rimmer C, Fisher J, Turner A. Biomonitoring of microplastics, anthropogenic microfibres and glass retroreflective beads by marine macroalgae. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123801. [PMID: 38527581 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123801] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and other microscopic debris are a concern in the coastal environment but measurements in the water column and sediment are often problematic and rely on non-standardised and highly variable methodologies. To this end, we explore the potential of different species of temperate-cold marine macroalgae as passive biomonitors of anthropogenic microparticles at three contrasting locations in southwest England. Specifically, fronds from samples of fucoids and Ulva lactuca (n = 9 in total, and three from each location) have been sectioned and analysed directly under a microscope and anthropogenic microparticles counted and subsequently characterised for chemical composition. Microparticles were heterogeneously distributed throughout sections from the same sample. However, on a dry weight basis, combined microparticle concentrations for each sample ranged from about 7.5 g-1 to 110 g-1, and from about 0.2 cm-2 to 0.9 cm-2, and for a given species were higher in samples from a semi-enclosed harbour and urban beach than in samples from a protected beach facing the open sea. These values compare with published concentrations of microplastics and microfibres reported for the regional water column on the order of 0.1 m-3. Most particles were cellulosic (e.g., rayon) and petroleum-based (mainly polyester and polyethylene terephthalate) fibres but plastic fragments were also present on most samples. Glass retroreflective beads derived from road markings were also present at up to 18 g-1 on fucoids from the urban beach because of its proximity to a stormwater effluent. Most microparticles were adhered to the smooth parts of the macroalgal surface but some displayed wrapping around edges and creases or entrapment by appendages. The practical and environmental implications of macroalgae passively capturing significant quantities of anthropogenic microparticles are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerys Rimmer
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Jodie Fisher
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
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5
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Benito-Kaesbach A, Suárez-Moncada J, Velastegui A, Moreno-Mendoza J, Vera-Zambrano M, Avendaño U, Ryan PG, Sanz-Lázaro C. Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123772. [PMID: 38490527 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123772] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Determining the sources of marine litter is necessary to mitigate this increasing global problem. Plastic bottles are useful tracers of marine litter and constitute the main item (24%) stranding on remote beaches in the Galapagos Islands. The aim of this study was to estimate the abundance of plastic bottles in remote beaches and inferred their sources. To do so, we collected plastic bottles at 60 remote Galapagos Island beaches from 2018 to 2022. 76% of beaches were qualified as badly polluted, with >34 bottles·100 m-1. Most identified bottles came from Peru (71%), followed by China (17%) and Ecuador (9%). Although most locally-sold products are made in Ecuador, they contribute little to beach litter loads. Polyethylene terephthalate bottles with lid (necessary for litter dispersal) represented 88% of all bottles, demonstrating that most of the litter reaching the Galapagos comes from distant sources, mainly from South America. However, bottle ages indicate that at least 10% of Peruvian, 26% of Ecuadorian, and all Chinese bottles likely were dumped from ships. Reducing marine litter reaching the Galapagos Islands requires tackling litter leakage from land-based sources in South America and better compliance with regulations banning the dumping of plastics and other persistent wastes from ships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Benito-Kaesbach
- Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Jenifer Suárez-Moncada
- Department of Marine Ecosystems, Galapagos National Park Directorate, Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
| | - Alfonso Velastegui
- Department of Marine Ecosystems, Galapagos National Park Directorate, Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
| | - Jerson Moreno-Mendoza
- Conservación Internacional Ecuador, Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
| | - Mariana Vera-Zambrano
- Conservación Internacional Ecuador, Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
| | - Ulises Avendaño
- Public Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Institute, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Carlos Sanz-Lázaro
- Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain; Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain
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6
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Luo J, Luan B, Xue F, Qi X, Zhu M, Xu P, Zhang L. Uncovering the relationship between floating marine litter and human activities in watersheds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115893. [PMID: 38096693 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115893] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Rivers serve as the primary pathway for transporting floating marine litter (FML) from land to sea. However, the complex dynamics of transboundary rivers pose a significant obstacle when examining the impact of watershed-based human activities on FML distribution. This study conducts year-long monthly monitoring of FML using trawl and visual surveys in the coastal water of a peninsula dominated by indigenous rivers in south China. Overall, small pieces debris dominates FML in the nearshore waters of the peninsula, with meso-sized (0.5 cm-2.5 cm) FML accounting for 73.93 % of the total. The density of FML is more profoundly influenced by human activities within watersheds rather than its composition. Moreover, the association between human activity and FML density exhibits greater significant compared to variations based on geography and seasonality. This study provides a scientific basis for coastal protection and contributes for understanding of the mechanisms of marine litter transfer from land to sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Luo
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Bo Luan
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
| | - Fei Xue
- Center for Human-Oriented Environment and Sustainable Design, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiaoli Qi
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Mingjian Zhu
- School of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Peng Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
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7
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De Veer D, Baeza-Álvarez J, Bolaños S, Cavour Araya S, Darquea JJ, Díaz Poblete MA, Domínguez G, Holtmann-Ahumada G, Honorato-Zimmer D, Gaibor N, Gallardo MDLÁ, Guevara Torrejón V, León Chumpitaz A, Marcús Zamora L, Mora V, Muñoz Araya JM, Pernía B, Purca S, Rivadeneira MM, Sánchez OA, Sepúlveda JM, Urbina M, Vásquez N, Vélez Tacuri J, Villalobos V, Villanueva Brücher B, Thiel M. Citizen scientists study beach litter along 12,000 km of the East Pacific coast: A baseline for the International Plastic Treaty. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115481. [PMID: 37857060 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115481] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic Marine Litter (AML) accumulating on beaches causes damage to coastal ecosystems and high costs to local communities. Volunteers sampled AML on 130 beaches along the central and southern East Pacific coasts, with AML densities ranging from 0.46 to 2.26 items m-2 in the different countries. AML composition was dominated by plastics and cigarette butts, the latter especially in Mexico and Chile. The accumulation of AML in the upper zones of the beaches and substantial proportions of cigarette butts, glass and metal pointed mainly to local sources. Statistical modelling of litter sources on continental beaches revealed that tourism, access and related infrastructure (e.g. parking lots) best explained AML densities, while plastic densities were also influenced by the distance from river mouths and national Gross Domestic Product. Large-scale monitoring can be a useful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies that should primarily focus on land sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diamela De Veer
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Jostein Baeza-Álvarez
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Solange Bolaños
- Reserva Marina El Pelado, Ministerio del Ambiente Agua y Transición Ecológica de Ecuador, Km 21,5 Ruta de la Spondylus, Valdivia 240110, Ecuador
| | - Sebastián Cavour Araya
- Laboratorio de Estudios Algales (ALGALAB), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Fundación Valve, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jodie J Darquea
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Avda. Principal La Libertad, Santa Elena, 240204 La Libertad, Ecuador
| | - Manuel A Díaz Poblete
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Gustavo Domínguez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Nikita Gaibor
- Instituto Publico de Investigación de Acuicultura y Pesca, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Universidad del Pacífico, Vía a la Costa, Av. José Rodríguez Bonín, Guayaquil 090904, Ecuador
| | - María de Los Ángeles Gallardo
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile
| | | | - Alejandra León Chumpitaz
- Fundación Valve, Concepción, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Lara Marcús Zamora
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Lago Panguipulli 1390, 5501842 Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Valentina Mora
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Juan Manuel Muñoz Araya
- Programa Parque Marino del Pacífico, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional (UNA), Heredia 40101, Costa Rica; Parque Marino del Pacífico, Paseo de los Turistas, Puntarenas 60101, Costa Rica
| | - Beatriz Pernía
- Facultad Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador
| | - Sara Purca
- Área Funcional de Investigaciones Marino Costeras (AFIMC), Dirección General de Investigaciones en Acuicultura (DGIA), Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Esquina Gamarra y Gral. Valle S/N, Chucuito-Callao, Peru
| | - Marcelo M Rivadeneira
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Osmel Alberto Sánchez
- Universidad Gerardo Barrios, Campus San Miguel Calle Las Flores y Avenida Las Magnolias Colonia Escolán, San Miguel, El Salvador
| | - José Miguel Sepúlveda
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Colegio Eusebio Lillo, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Mauricio Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, PO Pox 1313, Concepción, Chile
| | - Nelson Vásquez
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - José Vélez Tacuri
- Fundación Red de Agentes por la Conservación y Sostenibilidad de los Ecosistemas (RACSE), Villas del Seguro Av. Florencia y Calle Oliva Miranda 130204, Manta, Manabí, Ecuador
| | - Vieia Villalobos
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | | | - Martin Thiel
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile.
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8
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Currie JJ, Sullivan FA, Beato E, Machernis AF, Olson GL, Stack SH. The impact of the anthropause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on beach debris accumulation in Maui, Hawai'i. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17729. [PMID: 37853032 PMCID: PMC10584821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44944-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions led to a considerable reduction in tourism and human activity on Maui, presenting a unique opportunity to study debris accumulation on local beaches during changing levels of human activities. Standardized daily debris accumulation surveys were completed at two beach sites in Maui, Hawai 'i before (2017) as well as throughout the initial year of the pandemic (2020-2021) and allowed for the assessment of pandemic-related restrictions on marine debris accumulation trends. Throughout the pandemic, reduced beach use due to higher lockdown levels had significant impacts on debris accumulation at both sites, but only one of the two sites experienced a significant decrease (~ 90% reduction) in debris accumulation rates when compared to the same months in 2017. Daily accumulation rates across two sites increased from an average of 16 items/100 m during peak lockdown levels to 43 items/100 m when restrictions eased. The observed fluctuations in debris accumulation rates, driven by changes in tourism and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the importance of proactive measures to protect the natural environment, including source reduction and effective legislation for waste prevention. By addressing both local and remote sources of debris and focusing on reducing waste at its source, it is possible to mitigate the impacts of debris accumulation on coastal environments and marine life in Hawai'i.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Stephanie H Stack
- Pacific Whale Foundation, Wailuku, HI, 96793, USA
- Pacific Whale Foundation Australia, Urangan, QLD, 4655, Australia
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9
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Vorsatz LD, So MWK, Not C, Cannicci S. Anthropogenic debris pollution in peri-urban mangroves of South China: Spatial, seasonal, and environmental drivers in Hong Kong. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115495. [PMID: 37708605 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115495] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Excessive mismanaged debris along tropical coasts pose a threat to vulnerable mangrove ecosystems. Here, we examined the spatial, seasonal and environmental drivers of anthropogenic debris abundance and its potential ecological impact in peri-urban mangroves across Hong Kong. Seasonal surveys were conducted in both landward and seaward zones, with identification, along belt transects, of macrodebris (>5 mm) based on material type and use. Our results indicate spatial variability in debris abundance and distribution, with plastic being the predominant material type identified. Both plastic and non-plastic domestic items covered the most surface area. Debris aggregation was highest at the landward zones, consistent with the literature. In the dry season, more debris accumulated and covered greater surface area in both seaward and landward zones. These results confirm that land-derived debris from mismanaged waste, rather than debris coming from the Pearl River, is the primary source of anthropogenic debris pollution threatening Hong Kong's mangroves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyle Dennis Vorsatz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Mandy Wing Kwan So
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Life Sciences & Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Christelle Not
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Stefano Cannicci
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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10
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Allison NL, Dale AC, Turrell WR, Narayanaswamy BE. Modelled and observed plastic pollution on remote Scottish beaches: The importance of local marine sources. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115341. [PMID: 37595333 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115341] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Beach-cleans conducted on the west coast of Scotland investigated the distribution of land- and marine-sourced litter and compared these with a particle tracking model representing the presumed principal land-based source. Modelled particles dispersed widely, even reaching the remote northwest coast, with 'hotspots' and 'coldspots' on windward and leeward coasts respectively. In beach sampling, however, land-sourced litter represented only 19% of items by count and 8% by weight, while marine-sourced litter represented 46% by count and 62% by weight. The source of the remainder could not be identified. Windward coasts had an average count of 1859 litter items per 100 m, and weight of 14,862 g per 100 m. Leeward coasts had an average count of 32 litter items per 100 m and weight of 738 g per 100 m. Field observations and model predictions were consistent in many respects for land-sourced litter, however marine-sourced litter is dominant on many coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Allison
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban PA37 1QA, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew C Dale
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban PA37 1QA, United Kingdom
| | - William R Turrell
- Marine Scotland Science, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
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11
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Zhang L, You H, Chen J, Huang B, Cui Y, Hossain KB, Chen Q, Cai M, Qian Q. Surface structures changes and biofilm communities development of degradable plastics during aging in coastal seawater. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:114996. [PMID: 37301614 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114996] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are a suitable alternative to conventional plastics. Still, their excessive or unplanned use may disrupt the abundance and community structure of the microbial population. To this end, a 58-day experiment in which biodegradable plastic objects, such as bags and boxes, were exposed to near-coastal seawater was conducted. They also assessed how they affected the diversity and organization of bacterial populations in seawater and on the surface of BPs products. It is evident that after the exposure time, both BP's bag and box products deteriorate in the ocean to varying degrees. The results of high-throughput sequencing of bacterial communities in seawater and those colonized on BPs products reveal significant differences in microbial community structures between seawater and BPs plastic samples. These suggest that the degradation of biodegradable plastics is shadowed by microorganisms and exposure time, while BP products influence the structural characteristics of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Modern Industry, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; Engineering Research Center of Polymer Green Recycling of Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Huimin You
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jianfei Chen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Modern Industry, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; Engineering Research Center of Polymer Green Recycling of Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Baoquan Huang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Modern Industry, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; Engineering Research Center of Polymer Green Recycling of Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Yaozong Cui
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kazi Belayet Hossain
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qinghua Chen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Modern Industry, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; Engineering Research Center of Polymer Green Recycling of Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Qingrong Qian
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Modern Industry, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; Engineering Research Center of Polymer Green Recycling of Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China.
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Raju MP, Veerasingam S, Suneel V, Saha M, Rathore C, Naik A, Suneetha P, Ramakrishna SSVS. Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of microplastic pellets and their associated contaminants along the central east coast of India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:68489-68503. [PMID: 37126173 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27100-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pellets (MPPs) are one of the significant sources of plastic pollution on shorelines worldwide. In this study, for the first time, we have examined the occurrence of MPPs and their spatial and seasonal distributions, adsorbed contaminants, polymer composition, and ecological risks at eight renowned beaches of Andhra Pradesh, central east coast of India. A total of 3950 MPPs were collected from eight beaches along the central east coast of India during October 2020, representing pre-northeast monsoon (pNEM), and during January 2021, representing the northeast monsoon (NEM). The abundance of MPPs was higher during the NEM than those found in the pNEM. ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses were conducted to characterize the polymer types and weathering patterns of MPPs. Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) results show the MPP adsorbance of heavy metals such as Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. The degree of contamination and polymer hazard risks of MPPs were assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and polymer hazard index (PHI). The conducive wind and currents during the NEM lead to higher MPP abundance than during the pNEM. However, the spatial variations of MPPs showed significant differences among the beaches. This study revealed that the presence of MPPs on the beaches along the central east coast of India might pose a considerable polymer hazard risk to the ecosystem. The substantial surface weathering features of MPPs would lead to more toxic nanoplastics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallela Pruthvi Raju
- Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530003, India
| | | | - Vasimalla Suneel
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, 403004, Dona Paula, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
| | - Mahua Saha
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, 403004, Dona Paula, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Chayanika Rathore
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, 403004, Dona Paula, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Akshata Naik
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, 403004, Dona Paula, India
| | - Pilli Suneetha
- Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530003, India
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13
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James BD, Karchner SI, Walsh AN, Aluru N, Franks DG, Sullivan KR, Reddy CM, Ward CP, Hahn ME. Formulation Controls the Potential Neuromuscular Toxicity of Polyethylene Photoproducts in Developing Zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:7966-7977. [PMID: 37186871 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Sunlight transforms plastic into water-soluble products, the potential toxicity of which remains unresolved, particularly for vertebrate animals. We evaluated acute toxicity and gene expression in developing zebrafish larvae after 5 days of exposure to photoproduced (P) and dark (D) leachates from additive-free polyethylene (PE) film and consumer-grade, additive-containing, conventional, and recycled PE bags. Using a "worst-case" scenario, with plastic concentrations exceeding those found in natural waters, we observed no acute toxicity. However, at the molecular level, RNA sequencing revealed differences in the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each leachate treatment: thousands of genes (5442 P, 577 D) for the additive-free film, tens of genes for the additive-containing conventional bag (14 P, 7 D), and none for the additive-containing recycled bag. Gene ontology enrichment analyses suggested that the additive-free PE leachates disrupted neuromuscular processes via biophysical signaling; this was most pronounced for the photoproduced leachates. We suggest that the fewer DEGs elicited by the leachates from conventional PE bags (and none from recycled bags) could be due to differences in photoproduced leachate composition caused by titanium dioxide-catalyzed reactions not present in the additive-free PE. This work demonstrates that the potential toxicity of plastic photoproducts can be product formulation-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D James
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Sibel I Karchner
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Anna N Walsh
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Neelakanteswar Aluru
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Diana G Franks
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Kallen R Sullivan
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M Reddy
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Collin P Ward
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
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14
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Goswami P, Bhadury P. First record of an Anthropocene marker plastiglomerate in Andaman Island, India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114802. [PMID: 36948064 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114802] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
One of the most significant environmental issues confronting our world is plastic trash, which is of particular concern to the marine environment. The sedimentary record of the planet may likely one day contain a horizon of plastic that can be potentially identified as an Anthropocene marker. Here we report the presence of 'plastiglomerate' from coastal habitats located in the Aves Island, Andaman Sea, India. This novel form of plastic pollution forms with the incineration of plastic litter in the environment and then mixing of organic/inorganic composite materials in the molten plastic matrix. The plastic pollutants were collected from the Aves Island beach during marine litter surveys. Micro-Raman (μ-Raman) spectroscopy was used to evaluate and confirm all putative plastic forms. Plastiglomerates were made of a polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix with inclusions of rock and sand. Therefore, our research offers new insight into the intricate process of plastiglomerates formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasun Goswami
- Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Punyasloke Bhadury
- Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India; Centre for Excellence in Blue Economy, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
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15
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Aguilera MA, Castro A, Thiel M. Fast accumulation of anthropogenic litter on upgraded breakwaters: A persistent and hidden threat to coastal habitats. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114731. [PMID: 36860020 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114731] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Breakwater construction is common on different coasts, and by means of their structural complexity these built infrastructures can trap anthropogenic litter. We investigated the temporal persistence of anthropogenic litter in breakwaters, and how fast litter accumulates on them. We sampled anthropogenic litter in old (>10 years since construction) breakwaters and in a recently upgraded one (5 months) and on rocky shores located in a coastal conurbation, in central Chile (33°S). We found breakwaters had much higher litter densities than rocky habitats, and this pattern was persistent through time (~5 years). Also, a recently upgraded breakwater had similar composition and densities of litter items as older breakwaters. Therefore, litter accumulation on breakwaters is a very fast process related to their topographic structure and to the willingness of people to dispose of anthropogenic litter in the infrastructure. Redesigning the breakwater structure is required to reduce litter accumulation on the coast and their impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Andrés Castro
- Escuela de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Borgoño 16344, Reñaca, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Systems (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
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16
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Aguilera MA, Rojas A, Bulleri F, Thiel M. Breakwaters as habitats for synanthropes: Spatial associations of vertebrates and vegetation with anthropogenic litter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160753. [PMID: 36513231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160753] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban infrastructures can provide 'novel' habitats for marine and terrestrial animals and plants, enhancing their ability to adapt to urban environments. In particular, coastal infrastructures characterized by a complex three-dimensional morphology, such as breakwaters, could provide species refuges and food. We investigated the role of breakwaters in providing habitat for vertebrates and plants, and the influence of anthropogenic litter in regulating the value of these structures as habitat. We sampled vertebrate and plant species and quantified the amount of anthropogenic litter on breakwaters and adjacent rocky habitats at several sites in three different countries (Italy, Spain and Chile). We found breakwaters to accumulate more litter items (e.g. especially plastics) than adjacent rocky habitats by means of their large-scale (i.e., 1 m) structural complexity. Birds, which used the artificial infrastructure as transitory habitat, reached similar abundances in breakwaters compared with adjacent rocky platforms. In contrast, synanthropic mammal species, such as Rattus norvegicus and feral cats, were slightly more frequent on breakwaters and appeared to use them as permanent habitat. Plants were frequent in the upper zone of breakwaters and, even though many macrophyte species can trap litter, their cover correlated negatively with anthropogenic litter density. Therefore, breakwaters provide either transitory or permanent habitats for different species, despite functioning as a sink for anthropogenic litter. Thus, new infrastructure should be designed with lower structural complexity in their supralittoral zone limiting the proliferation of synanthropic species. In addition, restricting public access to sensitive areas and enforcing littering fines could enhance the ecological value of these novel habitats by reducing the benefits to pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640 Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Ariel Rojas
- Departamento de Calidad y Laboratorio, Empresa AQUADEUS S.L. Crta. El ballestero, Km. 2, 02340 Robledo, Albacete, Spain
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo, 1281 Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
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17
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Zhang T, Lin L, Li M, Kong L, Wang J, Shi HT. Investigation on beach debris on the historical nesting grounds of green turtles ( Chelonia mydas) in Hainan Island, South China. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13400. [PMID: 36814616 PMCID: PMC9939588 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hainan Island used to be the most important nesting ground of green turtles in China before they disappeared about 37 years ago. Habitat degradation is one of the main reasons for the disappearance of sea turtles. Therefore, it is necessary to take action to evaluate and recover the historical nesting grounds if we hope for sea turtles to return in the future. In this study, we surveyed the beach debris on 13 historical nesting grounds of green sea turtles on Hainan Island. The beach debris on these nesting grounds mainly consisted of plastic, cigarette butts, foam, glass, and nylon, with plastic (including plastic blocks, cigarette butts, and foam) being the dominant type, accounting for 78.92% in number, followed by glass. The average density of beach debris was 0.314 pieces·m-2. Compared to other nesting grounds, the average quantity and density of beach debris in Hainan was lower, but the proportion of plastic debris was extremely high. After categorizing debris type, we found that most was from human coastal activities (35.54%), with debris at tourist beaches having the biggest proportion of debris from smoking supplies. The distribution characteristics of beach debris were related to the function of the beach, density of tourist, and the intensity of beach debris cleaning. It is recommended to further strengthen the emission reduction and clean-up of beach debris in Hainan Island, so as to restore the nesting habitat of sea turtles as soon as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China,Hainan Sansha Provincial Observation and Research Station of Sea Turtle Ecology, Sansha 573100, China
| | - Liu Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China,Hainan Sansha Provincial Observation and Research Station of Sea Turtle Ecology, Sansha 573100, China
| | - Meimei Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China,Hainan Sansha Provincial Observation and Research Station of Sea Turtle Ecology, Sansha 573100, China
| | - Li Kong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Jichao Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China,Hainan Sansha Provincial Observation and Research Station of Sea Turtle Ecology, Sansha 573100, China
| | - Hai-Tao Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China,Hainan Sansha Provincial Observation and Research Station of Sea Turtle Ecology, Sansha 573100, China,Corresponding author. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China.
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18
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Sbrana A, Valente T, Bianchi J, Franceschini S, Piermarini R, Saccomandi F, de Lucia AG, Camedda A, Matiddi M, Silvestri C. From inshore to offshore: distribution of microplastics in three Italian seawaters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:21277-21287. [PMID: 36269485 PMCID: PMC9938041 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23582-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the concentration of microplastics (MPs) in seawaters is essential to implement monitoring programs and understand the impacts on ecosystems, as required by the European legislation to protect the marine environment. In this context, the purpose of this study is to investigate the composition, quantity, and spatial distribution of microplastics from coastal to offshore areas in three Italian seawaters. In addition, the distribution of microplastics between surface and subsurface water layers was analyzed in order to better understand the dynamics of MPs in the upper layers of the water column. A total number of 6069 MPs (mean total concentration of 0.029 microplastics · m-2) were found to be heterogeneous in type, shape, and color. In general, MPs concentrations decrease with coastal distance, except when environmental forcings are predominant (such as sea currents). Moreover, the amount of surface MPs was almost four times that of subsurface microplastics, which consisted mostly of fibers. In light of these results, it becomes clear how critical it is to plan remediation actions and programs to minimize microplastic accumulations in the sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Sbrana
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy.
- Department of Biology, PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Tommaso Valente
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica Bianchi
- PhD Program in Ecology and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources, Department of Ecology and Biology, University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis 44, 01100, Viterbo, VT, Italy
| | | | - Raffaella Piermarini
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Flavia Saccomandi
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Andrea Giuseppe de Lucia
- IAS-CNR, Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment-National Research Council Loc. Sa Mardini, 09170, Torregrande, OR, Italy
| | - Andrea Camedda
- IAS-CNR, Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment-National Research Council Loc. Sa Mardini, 09170, Torregrande, OR, Italy
| | - Marco Matiddi
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Cecilia Silvestri
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Nekton Lab, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00144, Rome, RM, Italy
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Fruergaard M, Laursen SN, Larsen MN, Posth NR, Niebe KB, Bentzon-Tarp A, Svenningsen SK, Acevedo N LI, Trinh BS, Tran-Thi PT, Doan-Nhu H, Nguyen-Ngoc L, Andersen TJ. Abundance and sources of plastic debris on beaches in a plastic hotspot, Nha Trang, Viet Nam. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114394. [PMID: 36493520 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114394] [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: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Viet Nam is challenged by extensive marine plastic pollution, however, remediation efforts are hampered by undefined sources to the coastal environment. This study surveyed the abundance, type, and source of beached plastic litter at seven beaches along the coast of Nha Trang, Viet Nam. A total of 4754 beached plastic litter items (>2 cm) yielded a mean abundance of 19.8 ± 19.5 items m-2 corresponding to 116 ± 226 g DW m-2. Our results demonstrate that plastic litter related to fishing and aquaculture constituted at least 62 % of the total by weight and 38 % by number, showing that these two sectors are responsible for a significant part of the plastic pollution along the coast. Hence, we argue that improved management of the fishing and aquaculture sectors could substantially reduce marine plastic pollution along Viet Nam's coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Fruergaard
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Simon N Laursen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Marianne N Larsen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Nicole R Posth
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Kasper B Niebe
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Abeline Bentzon-Tarp
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Sidsel K Svenningsen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Laura I Acevedo N
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Bao-Son Trinh
- Institute for Environment and Resources, National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | - Hai Doan-Nhu
- Department of Marine Plankton, Institute of Oceanography (Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, VAST), Cau Da 01, Nha Trang 650000, Viet Nam
| | - Lam Nguyen-Ngoc
- Department of Marine Plankton, Institute of Oceanography (Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, VAST), Cau Da 01, Nha Trang 650000, Viet Nam
| | - Thorbjørn J Andersen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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20
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Anastácio J, Candeias JM, Cabral H, Domingos I. Relationships between marine litter and type of coastal area, in Northeast Atlantic sandy beaches. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105827. [PMID: 36444794 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105827] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter represents a threat to the marine environment, being estimated that around eight million items are discarded daily in the ocean. Monitoring marine debris became a relevant topic of research as marine litter is one of the descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, for European Union's member states. Nevertheless, the patterns and processes governing the disposal of waste in coastal areas are still not clear. Our study relates characteristics of eleven coastal areas in Portugal (urbanization, slope, distance to an estuary, length, and type of substrate) to the type and abundance of marine litter found. A total of 7743 items were identified, with the main types of litter found being plastic (71.2%), paper (16.3%), and sanitary waste (9.1%). A clear spatial distribution pattern was observed, with more litter items recorded in the zone corresponding to the high tide line (2.3 items m-2). It was also verified that both beaches and seasons influenced the amount of litter found. Plastic, the dominant marine litter group, was abundant on the vast majority of beaches. It was possible to identify litter with land and sea origins. The litter with land origin came mainly from sanitary and sewage-related waste while the litter with marine origin came mainly from fisheries, including aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Anastácio
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - José M Candeias
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Henrique Cabral
- INRAE, UR EABX, Centre Nouvelle Aquitaine Bordeaux, 50 Avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, France
| | - Isabel Domingos
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal; MARE Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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21
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Zheng J, Li C, Zheng X. Toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the intestine of Amphioctopus fangsiao (Mollusca: Cephalopoda): From physiological responses to underlying molecular mechanisms. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136362. [PMID: 36087715 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are broadly used and among the most studied environmental pollutants due to their potential impacts on organisms and human health. Amphioctopus fangsiao (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) is an important commercial species in the Pacific Northwest and is very popular among consumers owing to its rich nutritional value and fresh flavor. However, the toxic effects of microplastic exposure on A. fangsiao, including phenotypical effect and underlying molecular mechanism, remain limited. In this study, the octopus A. fangsiao were exposed to microplastics (polystyrene microplastics, Micro-PS) at concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg/L for 21 days, and then the physiological response, histopathological analysis, biomarkers of oxidative stress and glycolipid metabolism, microbiome perturbations and transcriptomic profiles in the intestines were performed. Results demonstrated that Micro-PS exposure had distinct adverse effects on the food intake of A. fangsiao. Histological analysis revealed that Micro-PS exposure has resulted in histopathological damage, thus causing early inflammation of the intestine. Oxidative stresses, metabolic disorders and microbiome perturbations were also detected in the intestine of A. fangsiao based on physiological biomarkers and microbiome analyses. Moreover, transcriptome analysis detected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and significantly enriched KEGG pathways in response to oxidative stress, glycolipid metabolism, DNA damage and transmembrane transport of intestinal cells, revealing distinct toxic effects at the molecular level. In summary, Micro-PS exposure has a strong impact on the intestines of A. fangsiao. For the first time, this study uses multiple approaches based on the physiological and biochemical response as well as transcriptional regulation analysis. The first assessment of the toxic impact of this species under Micro-PS exposure is also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zheng
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (IEMB), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Congjun Li
- Laboratory of Marine Protozoan Biodiversity and Evolution, Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity (IEMB), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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22
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Nchimbi AA, Kosore CM, Oduor N, Shilla DJ, Shashoua Y, Khan FR, Shilla DA. Microplastics in Marine Nearshore Surface Waters of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, East Africa. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 109:1037-1042. [PMID: 36121466 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03620-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Limited information exists on the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in East African coastal waters. A 300 μm manta net was used to collect surface water from 8 sites in the regions Dar es Salaam (DES) and Zanzibar (ZZ) during low and high tides. DES had a higher (p < 0.05) abundance of MPs than ZZ. Fragments and fibers were the dominant MP types at all sites. The number of fibers was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in DES than in ZZ. MPs were more prevalent during high tide in both DES and ZZ. The MPs within the 2-5 mm size range were identified most often. White and blue MPs were the most common in study sites comprising 45% and 18% of the total MPs respectively. Three polymers polypropylene (PP) high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were identified. The occurrence of MPs in nearshore waters of DES and ZZ is probably due to their proximity to industrial areas, poor solid waste management, and high population pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Asiya Nchimbi
- School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Mathematical Science, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa, Kenya.
| | - Charles Mitto Kosore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dar es Salaam, DUCE, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Nancy Oduor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dar es Salaam, DUCE, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dativa Joseph Shilla
- Environmental Archaeology and Materials Science (M&M), National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yvonne Shashoua
- Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Nygårdsporten 112, NO-5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Farhan R Khan
- Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Nygårdsporten 112, NO-5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Daniel Abel Shilla
- School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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23
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Degradation-fragmentation of marine plastic waste and their environmental implications: A critical review. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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24
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Yenici E, Turkoglu M. Abundance and composition of marine litter on the coasts of the Dardanelles (Canakkale Strait, Turkey). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 195:4. [PMID: 36266377 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10511-z] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The amount of human-origin litter in sea surface water, sediment, and beaches has been increasing for decades. Initially described in marine coastal systems in the 1960s, marine litter (ML) is nowadays commonly observed in all marine systems. There is even a gigantic island consisting of garbage in the gyre area of the Atlantic Ocean. In relation to this significant problem, ML was collected from seven stations on beaches along the Dardanelles for the first time in the period May 2017-May 2018 and was seasonally and regionally analyzed in terms of densities and weights. ML was categorized by material type (plastic, rubber, paper, etc.) and field of use (mixed packaging wastes, personal use products, fishing wastes, etc.). Total numbers and weights of ML during the study were 5751 items and 115.7 kg in an area of 15,980 m2, respectively. Density and weight of ML ranged from 0.050 to 1.182 items/m2 and from 0.446 to 78.46 g/m2, respectively. The main ML component was plastic items in terms of both density (90.95%) and weight (53.76%) according to material type. Additionally, mixed packaging wastes (MPW) were the most common ML items in terms of density (82.14%) and weight (49.38%) according to usage. According to the clean-coast index, while Kilya (St.2) and Kepez (St.5) beaches were dirty, Seddulbahir (St.1) beach was clean. The beaches in other stations were neither dirty nor clean (medium) according to the index. At the end of the study, suggestions for a regional strategy were made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Yenici
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Canakkale Division Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Park, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Turkoglu
- Faculty of Marine Sciences & Technology, Department of Fisheries Basic Sciences, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Marine Biology Sec, Terzioglu Campus, 17020, Canakkale, Turkey.
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25
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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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26
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Jones JS, Guézou A, Medor S, Nickson C, Savage G, Alarcón-Ruales D, Galloway TS, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Nelms SE, Porter A, Thiel M, Lewis C. Microplastic distribution and composition on two Galápagos island beaches, Ecuador: Verifying the use of citizen science derived data in long-term monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:120011. [PMID: 35998775 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120011] [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: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring beach plastic contamination across space and time is necessary for understanding its sources and ecological effects, and for guiding mitigation. This is logistically and financially challenging, especially for microplastics. Citizen science represents an option for sampling accessible sites to support long term monitoring, but challenges persist around data validation. Here we test a simple citizen science methodology to monitor visible microplastic contamination on sandy beaches using a standard quadrat unit (50 cm × 50 cm x 5 cm depth) sieved to 1 mm, to support the analysis of microplastic on two islands within the marine protected area of the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador (San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz islands). High school and university students undertook supervised sampling of two beaches in 2019-2020 collecting over 7000 particles. A sub-sample of the suspected microplastics collected (n = 2,213, ∼30% total) were analysed using FTIR spectrometry, confirming 93% of particles >1 mm visually identified by students were microplastics or rubber, validating this method as a crowd-sourced indicator for microplastic contamination. These data provide important insights into the plastic contamination of Galápagos, revealing plastic abundances of 0-2524 particles m-2 over the two beaches (the highest reported in Galápagos). Strong accumulation gradients were measured parallel to the waterline at Punta Pitt (San Cristobal island) and perpendicular to the waterline at Tortuga Bay (Santa Cruz island), where four-fold higher concentrations were recorded at the sea turtle nesting habitat on the back-beach dune. No significant seasonal trends were measured during one year. These results demonstrate the value of citizen science in filling spatiotemporal knowledge gaps of beach contamination to support intervention design and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen S Jones
- Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR, UK; Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Anne Guézou
- Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR, UK
| | - Sara Medor
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Caitlin Nickson
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Georgie Savage
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Daniela Alarcón-Ruales
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador; School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Hervey Bay, Australia
| | - Sarah E Nelms
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Adam Porter
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Martin Thiel
- Universidad Católica del Norte, Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Larrondo, 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Millennium Nucleus Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Ceri Lewis
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
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27
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Cesarini G, Secco S, Battisti C, Questino B, Marcello L, Scalici M. Temporal changes of plastic litter and associated encrusting biota: Evidence from Central Italy (Mediterranean Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113890. [PMID: 35785720 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the temporal changes from spring to summer of the stranded litter and the composition of plastic encrusting biota along an Italian beach. Our findings highlight a higher quantity of litter (average value 1510.67 ± 581.27 items) in spring, particularly plastic material with a composition driven by currents, winds and waves transported from rivers to sea. During summer the source was caused by anti-social behaviours (e.g. cigarettes). Regarding the plastic size, the most is macroplastic (85.96 %), followed by mesoplastic (13.74 %) and megaplastic (0.30 %) overall, and no seasonal trend was observed. Concerning the encrusting biota, Mollusca was the most frequent phylum found on plastic beach litter, whereas Porifera the most abundant overall. During spring a greater abundance of individuals was recorded compared to summer. The trend of taxa richness was decreasing from spring to summer. Arthropoda, Porifera and Mollusca phyla were significantly more abundant in spring, while Algae in summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Secco
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Corrado Battisti
- Torre Flavia LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Areas - Regional Park Service, Citta ` Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, viale G. Ribotta, 41, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Questino
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Marcello
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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28
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Gerstenbacher CM, Finzi AC, Rotjan RD, Novak AB. A review of microplastic impacts on seagrasses, epiphytes, and associated sediment communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119108. [PMID: 35259472 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119108] [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: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been discovered ubiquitously in marine environments. While their accumulation is noted in seagrass ecosystems, little attention has yet been given to microplastic impacts on seagrass plants and their associated epiphytic and sediment communities. We initiate this discussion by synthesizing the potential impacts microplastics have on relevant seagrass plant, epiphyte, and sediment processes and functions. We suggest that microplastics may harm epiphytes and seagrasses via impalement and light/gas blockage, and increase local concentrations of toxins, causing a disruption in metabolic processes. Further, microplastics may alter nutrient cycling by inhibiting dinitrogen fixation by diazotrophs, preventing microbial processes, and reducing root nutrient uptake. They may also harm seagrass sediment communities via sediment characteristic alteration and organism complications associated with ingestion. All impacts will be exacerbated by the high trapping efficiency of seagrasses. As microplastics become a permanent and increasing member of seagrass ecosystems it will be pertinent to direct future research towards understanding the extent microplastics impact seagrass ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrien C Finzi
- Department of Biology, Boston University, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Randi D Rotjan
- Department of Biology, Boston University, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Alyssa B Novak
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, MA, 02215, USA.
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29
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Eisfeld-Pierantonio SM, Pierantonio N, Simmonds MP. The impact of marine debris on cetaceans with consideration of plastics generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 300:118967. [PMID: 35134431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of human-derived debris in the oceans is a global concern and a serious threat to marine wildlife. There is a volume of evidence that points to deleterious effects of marine debris (MD) on cetaceans in terms of both entanglement and ingestion. This review suggests that about 68% of cetacean species are affected by interacting with MD with an increase in the number of species reported to have interacted with it over the past decades. Despite the growing body of evidence, there is an ongoing debate on the actual effects of plastics on cetaceans and, in particular, with reference to the ingestion of microplastics and their potential toxicological and pathogenic effects. Current knowledge suggests that the observed differences in the rate and nature of interactions with plastics are the result of substantial differences in species-specific diving and feeding strategies. Existing projections on the production, use and disposal of plastics suggest a further increase of marine plastic pollution. In this context, the contribution of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to marine plastic pollution appears to be substantial, with potentially serious consequences for marine life including cetaceans. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity to investigate the direct links between industry, human behaviours and the effects of MD on cetaceans. This could help inform management, prevention efforts, describe knowledge gaps and guide advancements in research efforts. This review highlights the lack of assessments of population-level effects related to MD and suggests that these could be rather immediate for small populations already under pressure from other anthropogenic activities. Finally, we suggest that MD is not only a pollution, economic and social issue, but also a welfare concern for the species and populations involved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nino Pierantonio
- Tethys Research Institute, Viale G. B. Gadio 2, 20121, Milano, Italy.
| | - Mark P Simmonds
- Bristol Veterinary School Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK; OceanCare, PO Box 372, 8820, Wadenswill, Switzerland.
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30
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Clemente CCC, Paresque K, Santos PJP. Impact of plastic bags on the benthic system of a tropical estuary: An experimental study. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113623. [PMID: 35367696 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113623] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic bags are among the most discarded waste items as they are generally only used once and are often improperly eliminated and transported by rivers and estuaries to the ocean. We developed an experimental design to mimic the effect of plastic bag deposition in a tropical estuary and investigated its short-term impact on benthic community structure. We observed a significant influence of the presence of plastic bags on the abundance, richness and diversity of benthic fauna after an eight-week exposure period. Plastic bags acted as a barrier and interfered in processes that occur at the water-sediment interface, such as organic matter and silt-clay deposition. Our results indicate that plastic bags, in addition to directly affecting benthic fauna, may alter processes such as carbon burying, known as "blue carbon", thus making its storage in the sediment more difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline C C Clemente
- Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia (PPGO), Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal (PPGBA), Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | | | - Paulo J P Santos
- Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil
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31
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Ortiz-Alvarez C, Alfaro-Cordova E, Bielli A, Mangel JC, Alfaro-Shigueto J. Solid waste assessment in a coastal fishing community in Peru. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113632. [PMID: 35405486 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113632] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Peru has a large small-scale fishing fleet upon which many coastal communities depend for their food and livelihoods. Nonetheless, no thorough assessments have been conducted of solid waste production and management of small-scale fisheries (SSF) and associated communities. We aimed to assess gillnet SSF and household solid waste generation in San Jose, north Peru. A solid waste generation assessment was conducted by monitoring solid waste production during 22 fishing trips and interviewing 70 families. Daily waste generation and recycling per capita, were calculated applying separate Generalized Linear Mixed-Effect Models. Organic waste is the most frequently produced during fishing activities (38%) and at home (83%), followed by plastic and metal. Glass, paper/cardboard, and fishing nets were solely produced during fishing trips. Daily waste per capita was estimated on 0.14 kg∗(day)-1 onboard, and 0.33 kg∗(day)-1 at home. Additionally, perception interviews showed that the population of San Jose perceived solid waste as a threat to public health and marine ecosystems. This study provides a first attempt to assess solid waste production in a Peruvian fishing community, showing the need for an integrated management plan embracing vessel and land-based solid waste generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Ortiz-Alvarez
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru; Carrera de Biología Marina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
| | - Eliana Alfaro-Cordova
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru; Carrera de Biología Marina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Jeffrey C Mangel
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru; Carrera de Biología Marina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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Liutkus M, Olenin S, Marcin Węsławski J, Kotwicki L. Wave fetch and distance from the ocean determine the distribution of macroplastics in the intertidal zone of central Spitsbergen, Arctic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113516. [PMID: 35299150 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113516] [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: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we estimated the variety and distribution of macroplastics in the central part of Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago, Arctic. All marine litter photos were georeferenced, then identified using the OSPAR (2010) classification guide. The majority (90% of all objects) of marine debris was macroplastic with average number in the study area being 2.0 ± 0.4 objects per 100 m. It was determined that the full variety of macroplastic categories in the study area can be found after surveying approx. 8 km of coastline. Correlation analysis showed that the amount of macroplastic accumulated on the beaches decreases with distance from the open ocean and increases with wave fetch. When zoning the entire study area on the basis of a cluster analysis of the distribution of macroplastics, it was found that the geographical proximity of the sections is less important than the wave fetch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Liutkus
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Sergej Olenin
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania.
| | | | - Lech Kotwicki
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Sopot, Poland
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Born MP, Brüll C. From model to nature - A review on the transferability of marine (micro-) plastic fragmentation studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:151389. [PMID: 34808157 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic research has experienced almost exponential growth in publications and proceeded faster than ever throughout the last years. This increase comes with a downside in terms of missing standardizations and definitions especially concerning experiments. Furthermore, incomparability and lacking transferability of fragmentation studies onto the marine environment still hinder more realistic extrapolations and accurate numerical models. This review offers a first approach to tackle this problem by converting studies into comparable dimensions by rating their experimental settings and comparing them to in-situ values, thus, assisting future research with an unbiased and fast tool to assess the applicability of studies for their calculations. For this purpose, the main influencing factors for the environmental fragmentation of plastics were identified, ranked in terms of their impact, and, subsequently, applied to 49 setups of peer-reviewed studies. The average transferability into nature of the considered laboratory studies is 41%. Unconsidered implementation of proper mechanical wear by water and sediment movement into the test setups of around 80% of all reviewed studies explains this value. However, other parameters like UV radiation implementation, also pose an obstacle in about 50% of the laboratory studies. Nevertheless, even the reviewed in-situ fragmentation studies revealed problems in transferability in some of the weathering components caused by the fixation of the samples. This review indicates that the current database on plastic fragmentation is most likely not reliable enough for robust extrapolations or numerical models. A set of recommendations for test settings is proposed to improve upcoming experiments' quality and comparability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian P Born
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH-Aachen University, Germany.
| | - Catrina Brüll
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH-Aachen University, Germany
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Okuku EO, Owato G, Otieno K, Kombo MM, Chiphatsi MM, Gwada B, Chepkemboi P, Wanjeri V, Kiteresi LI, Achieng Q, Nelson A. The influence of monsoons on the spatial distribution and composition of floating marine litter. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113386. [PMID: 35124374 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113386] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Floating marine litter (FML) surveys were conducted in the near shore waters of Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale Counties of Kenya through trawling using a manta net. A mean density of 26,665 ± 2869 items km-2 composed of 34.8% hard plastic, 40.5% soft plastics and 22.0% plastic lines/fibers was reported in this study. Litter densities in Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa Counties were not influenced by monsoons, however, litter composition was influenced by monsoons with NEM and SEM being dominated mainly by hard plastics and soft plastics respectively. Litter categories diversity, evenness and richness were also not influenced by the monsoons during both NEM (1.01, 0.78 and 3, respectively) and SEM (1.09, 0.78 and 4, respectively). Fishing and recreational beaches had higher litter densities during NEM compared to SEM attributed to higher beach visitation and increased fishing activities during the calmer NEM season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ochieng Okuku
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya.
| | - Gilbert Owato
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya; Pwani University, P.O Box 195-80108, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Otieno
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya; Technical University of Mombasa, P.O. Box 90420 - 80100, Mombasa, Kenya
| | | | | | - Brenda Gwada
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Purity Chepkemboi
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Veronica Wanjeri
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya
| | | | - Quinter Achieng
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Annette Nelson
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya
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Riani E, Cordova MR. Microplastic ingestion by the sandfish Holothuria scabra in Lampung and Sumbawa, Indonesia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113134. [PMID: 34823866 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the abundances and characteristics of microplastics in sediments and sandfish (Holothuria scabra) in Lampung and Sumbawa, Indonesia. Microplastics were found in 89.02% of all sandfish samples, with an average abundance of 2.01 ± 1.59 particles individual-1. The abundance of microplastics was 58.42 ± 24.33 particles kg-1 in surface sediments. Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between the abundance of microplastics in sandfish and sediments. Fragments and fibers with small-sized microplastics (300-1000 μm) were the most abundant types found in sandfish and sediments. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that polyethylene (30.08%), polypropylene (30.08%), polyurethane (12.20%), and polyethylene terephthalate (8.94%) were the most abundant polymers in the samples. Our results strongly indicate that microplastics in Lampung and Sumbawa originate from the fragmentation of large plastics. Better solid waste management in Indonesia is needed to reduce plastic waste leakage, which could become microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etty Riani
- Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Jalan Rasamala Kampus IPB Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.
| | - Muhammad Reza Cordova
- Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jl, Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia; Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl, Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia.
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Sibaja-Cordero JA, Gómez-Ramírez EH. Marine litter on sandy beaches with different human uses and waste management along the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113392. [PMID: 35134738 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study was a baseline with quantitative data of marine litter along the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica. The objective of the study was to quantify marine litter and its association with human activities in this estuarine gulf. A total of fourteen sandy beaches were cataloged by the degree of urbanization, tourism intensity, beach cleaning programs, and tributary rivers as possible drivers of marine litter presence. The items of the marine litter were separated and weighted by type. Analysis by the clean coastal index (CCI) and multivariate statistics were applied to find spatial patterns in marine litter in the gulf. On beaches with the highest touristic activity, cigarette butts and straws were the main components. Locations with river plume influence, less frequent cleanup, or waste cans showed more bottles, plastic parts, and sanitary waste than beaches in other conditions. A beach in a fisherman town had recently utilized plastic bags, household goods, and boat parts in the marine litter. A wildlife refuge beach showed only small plastic and coffee foam cup fragments that came with currents from other points in the estuary. River basin management, solid waste disposal programs, and environmental education to avoid single-use items combined with correct waste disposal are needed to reduce marine litter in tropical countries focused on ecological tourism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Sibaja-Cordero
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Eddy H Gómez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Paris A, Kwaoga A, Hewavitharane C. An assessment of floating marine debris within the breakwaters of the University of the South Pacific, Marine Studies Campus at Laucala Bay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113290. [PMID: 35090275 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113290] [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: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Contributions of Pacific Islands countries to marine plastic debris are disproportionate to the effects on people's connections to the ocean. Plastic waste management initiatives face challenges in containing waste and consequently plastics plague coastal environments. The Seabin, a floating trash skimmer, presents a novel and replicable approach to collecting and cataloguing marine plastics. The objectives of the study were to conduct an audit of marine plastic debris within the breakwaters of the University of the South Pacific, Marine Campus at Laucala Bay while simultaneously gauging the effectiveness of the Seabin and providing recommendations to enhance its utility. Inorganic debris was comprised entirely of plastics while the majority of debris collected was organic. This study provides the first assessment of floating marine plastic debris in an inshore environment of a Pacific Island country. Plastic debris assessments have the potential to inform policy and pivot management efforts to mitigate plastic waste pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Paris
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
| | - Alex Kwaoga
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Chinthaka Hewavitharane
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
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Eryaşar AR, Gedik K, Şahin A, Öztürk RÇ, Yılmaz F. Characteristics and temporal trends of microplastics in the coastal area in the Southern Black Sea over the past decade. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112993. [PMID: 34598091 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Time-series datasets showing the gradual conformational change in the status and characteristics of microplastics (MP) in marine waters are needed to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. In this study, the abundance, spatiotemporal distribution, polymer composition, size, and shapes of the MP in the seawater sampled from 0.5 (station-1), 2.5 (station-2), and 5 (station-3) miles off the coast of the southeastern Black Sea between 2009 and 2020 were investigated. The abundance of the MP ranged from 0.181 to 0.944 m-3. The amounts of MP in the stations, from the greatest to the smallest, were 0.65 MP m-3 (2), 0.45 MP m-3 (1), 0.29 MP m-3 (3). Thirteen types of polymers were detected by FTIR, the most abundant types of which were polyethylene (44.9%) and polyethylene terephthalate (25.3%). Sizes of MP ranged from 118 to 4998 μm, 50% being smaller than 2000 μm. The most dominant shape of the MPs was fragments (56.3%). Abundance did not show significant spatiotemporal changes. Periodical data presented herein may represent a remarkable projection and create a baseline for the ecosystem's future functioning and pollution research in the Black Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Raif Eryaşar
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Rize, Turkey
| | - Kenan Gedik
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Rize, Turkey.
| | - Ahmet Şahin
- Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Marine Science, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Rafet Çağrı Öztürk
- Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Marine Science, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Fatih Yılmaz
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Rize, Turkey
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Santodomingo N, Perry C, Waheed Z, Syed Hussein MAB, Rosedy A, Johnson KG. Marine litter pollution on coral reefs of Darvel Bay (East Sabah, Malaysia). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112998. [PMID: 34624630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is recognized as an increasing component of marine ecosystem pollution. In this baseline study, we document the magnitude, types, sources, and potential impacts of litter on six coral reefs in East Sabah. We applied a simplified classification of litter to extract abundance data from video transects. The average density was 10.7 items per 100 m2. Plastics represent 91% and the remaining 9% were metal, glass, and wood. Most (~70%) plastics are single-use items derived from dumping. Discarded fishing gear accounts for ~25%. Litter pollution increases closer to urban developments, with Sakar reef having higher densities (51 items per 100 m2), and higher Clean Coast Index (CCI = 10.2, dirty) and higher Plastic Abundance Index (PAI = 4.68) scores. This method could and should be readily integrated into ongoing monitoring programs to support assessments of the extent and magnitude of marine litter pollution on reefs worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiezhda Santodomingo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom.
| | - Chris Perry
- Geography, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, EX4 4RJ Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zarinah Waheed
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | | | - Allia Rosedy
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Kenneth G Johnson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom
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40
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Gallitelli L, Battisti C, Olivieri Z, Marandola C, Acosta ATR, Scalici M. Carpobrotus spp. patches as trap for litter: Evidence from a Mediterranean beach. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113029. [PMID: 34673433 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dunal plants may affect the patterns of deposition of beach litter. In this study, we aimed at evaluating if Carpobrotus spp. patches may act as a litter trap in coastal dune systems. To do so, we counted the number of macrolitter occurring in both Carpobrotus and control (embryo dune vegetation) patches classifying each item into categories according to the Marine Strategy. Totally, we observed a significant difference between litter trapped in Carpobrotus (331 items, representing 62.4% of the total beach litter) and control (199, 37.6%). Plastic fragments were the most trapped items by both Carpobrotus (46.2%) and control patches (47.2%). We also calculated the item co-occurrence, obtaining a random aggregated 'litter community'. The main emerging output is that Carpobrotus patches act as filter in respect to different anthropogenic materials (overall plastics), suggesting that alien plant management actions may contribute to solve beach litter issues as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - C Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Servizio Aree Protette, Via G. Ribotta, 41, 00144 Roma, Italy.
| | - Z Olivieri
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - C Marandola
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - A T R Acosta
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - M Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
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Maclean K, Weideman EA, Perold V, Ryan PG. Buoyancy affects stranding rate and dispersal distance of floating litter entering the sea from river mouths. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113028. [PMID: 34872166 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are a major source of litter entering the sea but our understanding of the transport and fate of plastics in estuarine environments is poor. Marked blocks of varying buoyancy were released at three river mouths in South Africa. Of the 1400 blocks released, 80% were recovered on nearby beaches, with a higher recovery rate for more buoyant blocks. Dispersal distances increased with decreasing buoyancy at all sites; median dispersal distance of stranded items ranged from 20 to 90 m for expanded polystyrene (EPS) to 70-90 m for wood and 60-1042 m for high density polyethylene (HDPE) blocks. Floating litter in estuaries is subject to bidirectional flow and export is largely controlled by hydrodynamic conditions such as tides, winds, and wave action, as well as coastal structure and vegetation. Cleaning beaches around river mouths will help to reduce leakage of plastic and other litter into the sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Maclean
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
| | - Eleanor A Weideman
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Vonica Perold
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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Aragaw TA. The macro-debris pollution in the shorelines of Lake Tana: First report on abundance, assessment, constituents, and potential sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 797:149235. [PMID: 34346355 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Macro-debris monitoring in the shores of freshwater systems is critical to estimate the macro-and micro-plastic pollution levels for the subsequent investigation of ecological pollution. The study aims to report the composition of macro debris and their distribution on the shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia, as a first baseline document. The distribution of litter surveys was conducted at seven different town/village shorelines of Lake Tana. The debris was categorized, and its constituent, abundance, and accumulation rates were computed. The findings showed that the mean accumulation rates of Lake Tana debris ranged between 4.9 ± 3.9 and 30.5 ± 20.2 items m-1 day-1 in counts and between 0.32 ± 0.21 and 0.04 ± 0.09 ± 0.03 g m-1 day-1 in mean weight. Also, the plastic polymers were identified as PET, PE, and HDPE. The litter categories abundance is different in different sampling locations. Plastics as packaging materials were extensively distributed in surveyed areas. A significant quantity of litter are local products and a locally feasible solid waste management system can be used to eradicate outflow into Lake Tana and can reduce pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadele Assefa Aragaw
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology-Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
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Monitoring of polymer type and plastic additives in coating film of beer cans from 16 countries. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22115. [PMID: 34764410 PMCID: PMC8586161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01723-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic debris has gained attention as anthropogenic waste in the environment, but less concerned given to metal waste despite its high abundance in aquatic environment. Metal packaging, such as can, utilizes polymeric coating films as barrier between metals and products which leads to be potential source of microplastic pollution. In this study, 27 beer cans from 16 countries for both body and lid parts as well as inside and outside layers were investigated. Despite the country’s origin, epoxy resin was the major polymeric coating used in all beer cans for lid (inside and outside) and body (inside). Whereas poly(1,2-butanediol isophthalate) was frequently used for outside layer of can body. DEHP and BHT were detected in almost all samples with the highest concentration of 5300 ng/g and 520 ng/g. Despite its lower detection frequency, DOA was detected as high as 9600 ng/g in Belgian beer can. There was no apparent relationship present between the home countries of beer cans and amount of additives used. Despite of being broken down, additives concentration in one environmental sample was found to be one to two orders of magnitude higher compared to the new can. This result proved that adsorption of chemical additives took place in the environment and degraded metal debris may become source of microplastic with higher risk of additives pollution in the environment.
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Hsu YJ, Tsai WP, Chiang WC, Huang CC, Chien HW, Lee M. Incidence of plastic ingestion by the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, off the northeast coast of Taiwan. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112820. [PMID: 34365159 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This present study documents the incidence of plastic digestion by shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), caught by the Taiwanese small-scale tuna longline fishery in the Northwest Pacific Ocean (between the northeast coast of Taiwan and Japan). In 20 stomachs of shortfin mako, nearly 10% of samples contained at least one piece of plastic debris. The ingested plastic debris was found in the forms of films (5.0 cm) and fragments (3.0 mm) and was identified as polypropylene (PP) based on its polymer characteristics. The results from the analysis provide evidence for the anthropogenic origin and potential intake pathway of direct engulfment of ingested plastics. Our results also confirmed the low incidence of plastic ingestion in shortfin mako, suggesting that pelagic marine species may be relatively less affected by plastic pollution. Future research efforts are thus needed to assess the long-term impact of plastic pollution on marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jhen Hsu
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Pei Tsai
- Department of Fisheries Production and Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chuan Chiang
- Eastern Marine Biology Research Center of Fisheries Research Institute, Taitung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chi Huang
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Wen Chien
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mengshan Lee
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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45
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Ehlers SM, Ellrich JA, Gestoso I. Plasticrusts derive from maritime ropes scouring across raspy rocks. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112841. [PMID: 34392157 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plasticrusts are a novel form of plastic debris which has only recently been discovered in Madeira Island, NE Atlantic Ocean. Plasticrusts consist of plastic encrusting wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats and are presumably generated by waves smashing plastic debris against intertidal rocks. However, direct observations of this process are lacking and it is unknown which type of plastic debris the plasticrusts derive from. Therefore, we examined the Madeira rocky intertidal for signs of plasticrust formation and collected plasticrust and co-occurring plastic debris pieces of matching colors. We examined all collected materials using digital microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. We found that plasticrusts can result from maritime ropes being scoured across raspy intertidal rocks and that the plasticrusts and the corresponding ropes consisted of polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Furthermore, we show that high temperatures contribute to plasticrust formation. Thereby, our study provides first insights into the complex plasticrust formation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja M Ehlers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Federal Institute of Hydrology, 56068 Koblenz, Germany; Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, 56070 Koblenz, Germany.
| | - Julius A Ellrich
- Independent Researcher, Hohenzollernstraße 114, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Ignacio Gestoso
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Madeira, Portugal; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United States
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46
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Dou PC, Mai L, Bao LJ, Zeng EY. Microplastics on beaches and mangrove sediments along the coast of South China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112806. [PMID: 34388449 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) data on a global scale is key to supporting plastic waste management for protecting ecosystems. To respond this call, a sampling campaign was conducted in the summer and winter seasons of 2018 to collect beach and mangrove sediment samples from 32 sites along the coastline of South China. The MPs concentrations in the intertidal zone along the coast of South China were comparable to those in other regions around the world. Polystyrene foams and fibers were the most abundant debris in the 0.2-5 mm and 0.02-2 mm MPs, respectively. Principal component and correlation analyses indicated that the abundances of MPs were related to wind direction, wastewater discharge amount, and tourist and fishing activities. Risk assessments suggested that potential ecological risks induced by MPs on beaches and mangrove forest along the coast of South China should not be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Cheng Dou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lei Mai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lian-Jun Bao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
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Ali MU, Lin S, Yousaf B, Abbas Q, Munir MAM, Ali MU, Rasihd A, Zheng C, Kuang X, Wong MH. Environmental emission, fate and transformation of microplastics in biotic and abiotic compartments: Global status, recent advances and future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148422. [PMID: 34412398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The intensive use and wide-ranging application of plastic- and plastic-derived products have resulted in alarming levels of plastic pollution in different environmental compartments worldwide. As a result of various biogeochemical mechanisms, this plastic litter is converted into small, ubiquitous and persistent fragments called microplastics (<5 mm), which are of significant and increasing concern to the scientific community. Microplastics have spread across the globe and now exist in virtually all environmental compartments (the soil, atmosphere, and water). Although these compartments are often considered to be independent environments, in reality, they are very closely linked. Ample research has been done on microplastics, but there are still questions and knowledge gaps regarding the emission, occurrence, distribution, detection, environmental fate and transport of MPs in different environmental compartments. The current article is intended to provide a systematic overview of MP emissions, pollution conditions, sampling and analytical approaches, transport, fates and transformation mechanisms in different environmental compartments. It also identifies research gaps and future research directions and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Siyi Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Balal Yousaf
- Department of Environment Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey; CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
| | - Qumber Abbas
- Department of Environment Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey.
| | - Mehr Ahmed Mujtaba Munir
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
| | - Muhammad Uzair Ali
- Business School of Xiangtan University, Xiangtan University, Hunan, China.
| | - Audil Rasihd
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan.
| | - Chunmiao Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xingxing Kuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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48
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Abundance and Temporal Distribution of Beach Litter on the Coast of Ceuta (North Africa, Gibraltar Strait). WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13192739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Twelve beaches located in Ceuta (Spain) were studied from February to April 2019 to assess litter amounts (expressed as number of items), categories and temporal distribution. At each beach, three surveys were conducted, i.e., one per month (i.e., 36 in total). Selected beaches covered urban (7), rural (2) and remote (3) bathing areas. Plastic represented the dominant material, i.e., 35.2% of all debris, followed by glass (18.2%), pottery/ceramics (14.6%), wood (11.4%), metal (11.4%), paper/cardboard (4.8%), cloth (3.5%), rubber (0.7%), organic (0.3%) and other materials (0.1%). The Clean Coast Index was calculated to classify beaches in five categories for evaluating the cleanliness level of the coast observed at each survey: “Very Clean” (7 surveys), “Clean” (10), “Moderately Dirty” (8), “Dirty” (2) and “Extremely Dirty” (9). Litter occurrence was assessed by the Litter Grade methodology, which allowed to classify beaches in four grades: “A”: very good (0); “B”: good (4); “C”: fair (7); and “D”: poor (25). In a few surveys, some beaches were considered “good”, but their management should not be ignored because in other surveys those beaches reached fair and poor scores. Several potentially harmful litter items were related to beach users. Severe eastern storms removed litter at many of the beaches investigated and favored accumulation at others. Data analysis shows significant differences in litter abundance with respect to site, beach typology and the presence of cleaning operations but no important differences between the studied months. Rural beaches recorded the most litter, followed by urban and remote beaches. All beaches require immediate and more appropriate management actions to improve their environmental status.
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Esiukova EE, Lobchuk OI, Volodina AA, Chubarenko IP. Marine macrophytes retain microplastics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112738. [PMID: 34343752 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs, 0.2-5 mm) contamination of water outside/inside thickets of macrophytes in the Baltic Sea was studied. The amount of MPs particles in water samples taken within thickets is on average 1.7 times higher than in water samples taken in the areas outside thickets. Fibres are the predominant type of MPs (92.5%). For algae growing on boulders, the abundance of MPs is 1245 ± 1020 items/m2. Per kilogram of dry algae mass the MPs abundance is 376 ± 404 items/kgDW for all shapes of MPs particles. This value is one order of magnitude higher than in sands of the swash zone in the given area. It is shown that filamentous algae retain more fibres than cartilaginous ones: 1.9-8.5 versus 1-1.1 items/l on average. Obviously, areas covered by sea grasses are much more contaminated than water and sediments in the given region.
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Affiliation(s)
- E E Esiukova
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nahimovskiy prospekt, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - O I Lobchuk
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nahimovskiy prospekt, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - A A Volodina
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nahimovskiy prospekt, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - I P Chubarenko
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nahimovskiy prospekt, Moscow 117997, Russia
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50
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Jones JS, Porter A, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Alarcón-Ruales D, Galloway TS, Godley BJ, Santillo D, Vagg J, Lewis C. Plastic contamination of a Galapagos Island (Ecuador) and the relative risks to native marine species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147704. [PMID: 34049146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and their unique biodiversity are a global conservation priority. We explored the presence, composition and environmental drivers of plastic contamination across the marine ecosystem at an island scale, investigated uptake in marine invertebrates and designed a systematic priority scoring analysis to identify the most vulnerable vertebrate species. Beach contamination varied by site (macroplastic 0-0.66 items·m-2, microplastics 0-448.8 particles·m-2 or 0-74.6 particles·kg-1), with high plastic accumulation on east-facing beaches that are influenced by the Humboldt Current. Local littering and waste management leakages accounted for just 2% of macroplastic. Microplastics (including anthropogenic cellulosics) were ubiquitous but in low concentrations in benthic sediments (6.7-86.7 particles·kg-1) and surface seawater (0.04-0.89 particles·m-3), with elevated concentrations in the harbour suggesting some local input. Microplastics were present in all seven marine invertebrate species examined, found in 52% of individuals (n = 123) confirming uptake of microplastics in the Galapagos marine food web. Priority scoring analysis combining species distribution information, IUCN Red List conservation status and literature evidence of harm from entanglement and ingestion of plastics in similar species identified 27 marine vertebrates in need of urgent, targeted monitoring and mitigation including pinnipeds, seabirds, turtles and sharks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen S Jones
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR, UK
| | - Adam Porter
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador; School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia
| | - Daniela Alarcón-Ruales
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - David Santillo
- Greenpeace Research Laboratories, School of Biosciences, Innovation Centre Phase 2, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Vagg
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ceri Lewis
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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