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Wazne M, Mermillod-Blondin F, Vallier M, Krause S, Barthélémy N, Simon L. Optimization of glass separating funnels to facilitate microplastic extraction from sediments. MethodsX 2024; 12:102540. [PMID: 38268517 PMCID: PMC10805656 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies on the distribution of microplastics in aquatic sediments have deployed different methods and devices for density separation of microplastics from sediments. However, instrument specific limitations have been noted, including their high cost, difficulty in handling, or/and the potential for elevated contamination risk due to their plastic composition. This study improves existing sediment microplastic separation techniques by modifying the commonly used conical shape glass separating funnels. The modification consists in connecting a silicone tube at the base of the funnel, whose opening and closure was manually controlled by a Mohr clamp. This adjustment made to the funnels have effectively mitigated critical clogging problems frequently encountered in density separation units. An experiment was conducted using sand-based sediment spiked with polyamide fragments to validate this method modification. Following a complete extraction protocol with the modification of separating funnels, the microplastic extraction efficiency from sediments was high with a 90% recovery rate. Based on these promising results, future studies should consider naturally diverse substrates, as recovery efficiency may be sediment-dependent. Two key adjustments to the glass separation funnels:•Removal of stopcocks•Use of silicone tubes and Mohr clamps to control sediment release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Wazne
- CNRS, ENTPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne F 69622, France
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Manon Vallier
- CNRS, ENTPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne F 69622, France
| | - Stefan Krause
- CNRS, ENTPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne F 69622, France
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nans Barthélémy
- CNRS, ENTPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne F 69622, France
| | - Laurent Simon
- CNRS, ENTPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne F 69622, France
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2
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Jokar Z, Banavi N, Taghizadehfard S, Hassani F, Solimani R, Azarpira N, Dehghani H, Dezhgahi A, Sanati AM, Farjadfard S, Ramavandi B. Marine litter along the shores of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30853. [PMID: 38765091 PMCID: PMC11101852 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30853] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic wastes -including cigarette butts (CBs)- are dangerous for marine ecosystems not only because they contain hazardous chemicals but also because they can finally turn into micro- or even nano-particles that may be ingested by micro- and macro-fauna. Even large pieces of plastics can trap animals. In this research, the pollution status of macroplastics (abundance, size, type, and colour) and cigarette butts (CBs, number/m2) on the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf has been investigated. A total of 19 stations were explored in Bushehr province (Iran), which covers a length equivalent to 160 km of the Persian Gulf coastline. Among the collected plastic waste (2992 items), disposable mugs were the most frequent (18 %). Plastics with sizes 5-15 cm were the most abundant, and the most common type of plastic was PET (P-value <0.05). The origin of most macroplastics was domestic (2269 items). According to the Index of Clean Coasts (ICC), most surveyed beaches were extremely dirty. The average number and density of CBs in this study were 220 and 2.45 items/m2, respectively. Household litter was the most abundant type of waste in the studied beaches, and this problem can be better managed by training and improving the waste disposal culture. In general, it is suggested that an integrated and enhanced management for fishing, sewage and surface water disposal, and sandy recreational beaches be implemented in Bushehr to control plastic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Jokar
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Banavi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Sara Taghizadehfard
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hassani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Rezvan Solimani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Nahid Azarpira
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Hanieh Dehghani
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Atefeh Dezhgahi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Sanati
- Department of Environmental Science, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sima Farjadfard
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
| | - Bahman Ramavandi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran
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3
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Yang Z, Murat Ç, Nakano H, Arakawa H. Accessing the intrinsic factors of carbonyl index of microplastics: Physical and spectral properties, baseline correction, calculation methods, and their interdependence. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115700. [PMID: 37897964 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115700] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Carbonyl index (CI) is a measure of the degradation status of microplastics. While many studies address environmental factors of microplastic degradation, intrinsic factors like physical properties, spectral properties, baseline correction, and CI calculation methods are less explored. This research focused on these aspects using surface seawater samples. We found that color and shape have limited dependence on particle size or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Baseline correction can significantly alter CI values, with the direction of the shift depending on the methods used. Additionally, most CI values before and after baseline correction and those calculated using different methods tend to be strongly correlated. Using the selected CI calculation methods, we found that CI values varied significantly by shape and color. CI's relation to the similarity between the sample and its pristine form suggests an alternative degradation measure. Our findings emphasize the need for standardized CI calculation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijiang Yang
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Çelik Murat
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Haruka Nakano
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
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4
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Lee J, Ju S, Lim C, Kim KT, Kye H, Kim J, Lee J, Yu HW, Lee I, Kim H, Yoon Y. Evaluation of vertical distribution characteristics of microplastics under 20 μm in lake and river waters in South Korea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:99875-99884. [PMID: 37620700 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29409-5] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Following the alarming reports of microplastic pollution in the marine environment, increased attention has been given to microplastics in other environmental media. Despite the attention, there is limited research available on the depth-distribution of microplastics in freshwater. Specifically, in the case of water sources used for drinking or tap, the height of intake facilities varies, and it is highly likely that there is a correlation between the vertical distribution of microplastics and these water intake structures. Further, because the size of microplastics varies widely in the environment, the commonly used sampling devices are not suitable for selectively extracting microplastics without causing cross-contamination. Thus, we developed a suitable device for microplastics of size 5-20 µm and studied microplastic distribution in freshwater at various depths by considering various types of microplastics and aqueous systems. Lake and river, two major water sources, were selected for the study of microplastics distribution in water system. The microplastic distribution characteristics in both water systems showed that polypropylene and polyethylene were the most abundant across all depths because of their production volume. Plastic types with higher density were found only at the lower layers, and polystyrene was found in the upper layers because of the environmental effects on its buoyancy caused pore diameter and surface area. The lake and river had higher microplastic distribution in the lower layer and upper layer, respectively. This was because the flow rate in river was higher than that of lake. The higher flow rate reduced the settling velocity in river. Thus, hydrodynamic stability influences the vertical distribution and concentrations of microplastics in the water systems. These results are expected to be used for understanding the behavioral characteristics of microplastics in water systems and to manage water sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junho Lee
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonghyeon Ju
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaehwi Lim
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Tae Kim
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Homin Kye
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, 10223, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoon Kim
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Lee
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Won Yu
- Department of Water Environmental Safety Management, Division of Environmental, K-Water, Daejeon, 34350, Republic of Korea
| | - Ingyu Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunook Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeojoon Yoon
- Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Devereux R, Ayati B, Westhead EK, Jayaratne R, Newport D. "The great source" microplastic abundance and characteristics along the river Thames. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114965. [PMID: 37119584 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study focused on quantifying the abundance of microplastics within the surface water of the River Thames, UK. Ten sites in eight areas were sampled within the tidal Thames, starting from Teddington and ending at Southend-on-Sea. Three litres of water was collected monthly at high tide from land-based structures from each site from May 2019 to May 2021. Samples underwent visual analysis for microplastics categorised based on type, colour and size. 1041 pieces were tested using Fourier transform spectroscopy to identify chemical composition and polymer type. 6401 pieces of MP were found during sampling with an average MP of 12.27 pieces L-1 along the river Thames. Results from this study show that microplastic abundance does not increase along the river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Devereux
- Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), University of East London, Knowledge Dock, Docklands Campus, 4-6 University Way, London E16 2RD, United Kingdom.
| | - Bamdad Ayati
- Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), University of East London, Knowledge Dock, Docklands Campus, 4-6 University Way, London E16 2RD, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ravindra Jayaratne
- Department of Engineering & Construction, University of East London, Docklands Campus, 4-6 University Way, London E16 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Darryl Newport
- Suffolk Sustainability Research Institute (SSI), University of Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1QJ, United Kingdom
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6
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Wei N, Bai M, Wang Y, Wang J, Liu K, Zhu L, Zhang F, Wang X, Wu T, Zhang Z, Li C, Wu H, Song Z, Jiang P, Li D. Dynamic signatures of microplastic distribution across the water column of Yangtze River Estuary: Complicated implication of tidal effects. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023:106005. [PMID: 37156673 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Riverine microplastic (MP) discharge into the ocean contributes greatly to global MP contamination, yet our understanding of this process remains primitive. To deepen our interpretation of the dynamic MP variation throughout the estuarine water columns, we sampled at Xuliujing, the saltwater intrusion node of the Yangtze River Estuary, over the course of ebb and flood tides in four seasons (July and October 2017, January and May 2018 respectively). We observed that the collision of downstream and upstream currents contributed to the high MP concentration and that the mean MP abundance fluctuated with the tide. A model of microplastics residual net flux (MPRF-MODEL), taking the seasonal abundance and vertical distribution of MP along with current velocity into consideration, was developed to predict the net flux of MP throughout the full water columns. 2154 ± 359.7 t/year of MP was estimated to flow into the East China Sea via the River in 2017-2018. Our study suggests that riverine MP flux can be overestimated due to reciprocating current carried MP from the estuary. Using the tidal and seasonal variation in MP distribution, we calculated the tide impact factor index (TIFI) for the Yangtze River Estuary to be between 38.11% and 58.05%. In summary, this study provides a baseline of MP flux research in the Yangtze River for similar tidal-controlled rivers and a contextual understanding of how to appropriately sample and accurately estimate in a dynamic estuary system. The redistribution of microplastics may be impacted by complex tide processes. Although not observed in this study, it may merit investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Mengyu Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yihe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jinzhao Wang
- The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lixin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Tianning Wu
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Changjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhangyu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Peilin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Plastic Recycling and Innovation, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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7
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Celik M, Nakano H, Uchida K, Isobe A, Arakawa H. Comparative evaluation of the carbonyl index of microplastics around the Japan coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114818. [PMID: 36989597 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The carbonyl index (CI) of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics (MPs) (2950 particles) collected in coastal waters around Japan was investigated. The CI of MPs was calculated by the specified area under band technique. The mean MP CI in all samples (regardless of shape and color) was 0.69 ± 0.34 and 0.70 ± 0.34 for polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the color or shape of the MPs. The polyethylene, white, and fragment MPs CI was negatively (p < 0.05) correlated with the major length of the MPs. Large MPs with relatively little deterioration were distributed along the west coast of the Sea of Japan, whereas small MPs were distributed along the east coast. Our findings of this gradual change in the deterioration of MPs, based on geographical distribution, are in accordance with literature CI-size and MP degradation hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Celik
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Haruka Nakano
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan; Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
| | - Keiichi Uchida
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Atsuhiko Isobe
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
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8
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Defontaine S, Jalón-Rojas I. Physical processes matters! Recommendations for sampling microplastics in estuarine waters based on hydrodynamics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114932. [PMID: 37087826 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in estuarine waters is crucial for understanding the fate of microplastics at the land-sea continuum, and for developing policies and legislation to mitigate associated risks. However, if protocols to monitor microplastic pollution in ocean waters or beach sediments are well established, they may not be adequate for estuarine environments, due to the complex 3D hydrodynamics. In this note, we review and discuss sampling methods and strategies in relation to the main environmental forcing, estuarine hydrodynamics, and their spatio-temporal scales of variability. We propose recommendations about when, where and how to sample microplastics to capture the most representative picture of microplastic pollution. This note opens discussions on the urgent need for standardized methods and protocols to routinely monitor microplastics in estuaries which should, at the same time, be easily adaptable to the different systems to ensure consistency and comparability of data across different studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Defontaine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France; Ifremer - DYNECO/DHYSED, Centre de Bretagne, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzan, France.
| | - Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
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9
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Boettcher H, Kukulka T, Cohen JH. Methods for controlled preparation and dosing of microplastic fragments in bioassays. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5195. [PMID: 36997607 PMCID: PMC10063547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32250-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastic fragments (microfragments) are among the most abundant microplastic shapes found in marine ecosystems throughout the world. Due to their limited commercial availability, microfragments are rarely used in laboratory experiments. Here a novel method of microfragment production has been developed and validated. Polyethylene and polypropylene plastic stock (2 and 3 mm thick respectively) was ground using a cryomill, washed, and rinsed through a stack of sieves. Microfragments were prepared at three distinct size classes (53-150, 150-300, 300-1000 μm) and were confirmed to be accurate and consistent in size. Employing a novel ice cap dosing technique, microfragments were accurately dosed into experimental vials while excluding headspace, facilitating particle suspension without the aid of chemical surfactants. A proof of principle ingestion experiment confirmed the bioavailability of 53-150 μm polyethylene microfragments to brine shrimp Artemia sp. Together, these methods provide a controlled way to produce and dose microplastic fragments for experimental and analytical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Boettcher
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, 19958, USA.
| | - Tobias Kukulka
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19971, USA
| | - Jonathan H Cohen
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, 19958, USA
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10
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Kye H, Kim J, Ju S, Lee J, Lim C, Yoon Y. Microplastics in water systems: A review of their impacts on the environment and their potential hazards. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14359. [PMID: 36950574 PMCID: PMC10025042 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics, the microscopic plastics, are fragments of any type of plastic that are being produced today as plastic waste originating from anthropogenic activities. Such microplastics are discharged into the environment, and they enter back into the human body through different means. The microplastics spread in the environment due to environmental factors and the inherent properties of microplastics, such as density, hydrophobicity, and recalcitrance, and then eventually enter the water environment. In this study, to better understand the behavior of microplastics in the water environment, an extensive literature review was conducted on the occurrence of microplastics in aquatic environments categorized by seawater, wastewater, and freshwater. We summarized the abundance and distribution of microplastics in the water environment and studied the environmental factors affecting them in detail. In addition, focusing on the sampling and pretreatment processes that can limit the analysis results of microplastics, we discussed in depth the sampling methods, density separation, and organic matter digestion methods for each water environment. Finally, the potential hazards posed by the behavior of aging microplastics, such as adsorption of pollutants or ingestion by aquatic organisms, due to exposure to the environment were also investigated.
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11
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Tong Y, Lin L, Tao Y, Huang Y, Zhu X. The occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159601. [PMID: 36283530 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159601] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bay is a unique part of the ecosystem, acting as the intersection for marine and terrestrial systems and hosting diverse biological organisms. The ubiquitous application of plastics has resulted in a massive amount of plastic waste released and accumulated in the bay ecosystem, posing significant ecological effects. Thus, thoroughly understanding plastic pollution's occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect in the bay ecosystems is of vital importance. We conducted a comprehensive review on the sources and distribution of plastics in the bay ecosystem, and the associate ecological effects, from individual toxicity to trophic transfer in ecosystems. Among bay areas around the world, the concentrations of microplastics vary from 0.01 to 3.62 × 105 item/m3 in seawater and 0 to 6.75 × 105 item/kg in sediment. Small-sized plastic particles (mostly <2 mm) were widely reported in bay organisms with the concentration range of 0 to 22.5 item/ind. Besides, the toxicity of plastics on marine organisms has been documented in terms of mortality, growth, development, reproduction, enzyme activity and transcription. Since abundance of small plastic particles (e.g., micro- and nano-scale) is far greater than large plastic debris in the bay ecosystems, in-depth risk assessment of small-sized plastics needs to be conducted under environmentally realistic conditions. Our review could provide a better understanding on the occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Tong
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi Tao
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuxiong Huang
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xiaoshan Zhu
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; South Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering (Guangdong, Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
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Curren E, Yew Leong SC. Spatiotemporal characterisation of microplastics in the coastal regions of Singapore. Heliyon 2023; 9:e12961. [PMID: 36711275 PMCID: PMC9876982 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In the 21st century, plastic production continues to increase at an unprecedented rate, leading to the global issue of plastic pollution. In marine environments, a significant fraction of plastic litter are microplastics, which have a wide range of effects in marine ecosystems. Here, we examine the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics along the Johor and Singapore Straits, at surface and at depth. Generally, more microplastics were recorded from the surface waters across both Straits. Fragments were the dominant microplastic type (70%), followed by film (25%) and fiber (5%). A total of seven colours of microplastics were identified, with clear microplastics as the most abundant (64.9%), followed by black (25.1%) and blue (5.5%). Microplastics under 500 μm in size accounted for 98.9%, followed by particles 500-1000 μm (1%) and 1-5 mm (0.1%). During the monsoon season, the abundance of microplastics across various sites were observed to be > 1.1 times when compared to the inter-monsoon period. Rainfall was a closely related to the increased microplastic abundance across various sites in the Singapore Strait. This suggests that weather variations during climate change can play critical roles in modulating microplastic availability. Beach sediments facing the Singapore Strait recorded an abundance of 13.1 particles/kg, with polypropylene fragments, polyethylene pellets and thermoplastic polyester foam identified via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Hence, it is crucial to profile the spatiotemporal variation of microplastic abundance in both the surface and in the water column to gain a better understanding of the threat caused by microplastic pollution in the coastal regions of Singapore.
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Tang KHD, Lock SSM, Yap PS, Cheah KW, Chan YH, Yiin CL, Ku AZE, Loy ACM, Chin BLF, Chai YH. Immobilized enzyme/microorganism complexes for degradation of microplastics: A review of recent advances, feasibility and future prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154868. [PMID: 35358520 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental prevalence of microplastics has prompted the development of novel methods for their removal, one of which involves immobilization of microplastics-degrading enzymes. Various materials including nanomaterials have been studied for this purpose but there is currently a lack of review to present these studies in an organized manner to highlight the advances and feasibility. This article reviewed more than 100 peer-reviewed scholarly papers to elucidate the latest advances in the novel application of immobilized enzyme/microorganism complexes for microplastics degradation, its feasibility and future prospects. This review shows that metal nanoparticle-enzyme complexes improve biodegradation of microplastics in most studies through creating photogenerated radicals to facilitate polymer oxidation, accelerating growth of bacterial consortia for biodegradation, anchoring enzymes and improving their stability, and absorbing water for hydrolysis. In a study, the antimicrobial property of nanoparticles retarded the growth of microorganisms, hence biodegradation. Carbon particle-enzyme complexes enable enzymes to be immobilized on carbon-based support or matrix through covalent bonding, adsorption, entrapment, encapsulation, and a combination of the mechanisms, facilitated by formation of cross-links between enzymes. These complexes were shown to improve microplastics-degrading efficiency and recyclability of enzymes. Other emerging nanoparticles and/or enzymatic technologies are fusion of enzymes with hydrophobins, polymer binding module, peptide and novel nanoparticles. Nonetheless, the enzymes in the complexes present a limiting factor due to limited understanding of the degradation mechanisms. Besides, there is a lack of studies on the degradation of polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. Genetic bioengineering and metagenomics could provide breakthrough in this area. This review highlights the optimism of using immobilized enzymes/microorganisms to increase the efficiency of microplastics degradation but optimization of enzymatic or microbial activities and synthesis of immobilized enzymes/microorganisms are crucial to overcome the barriers to their wide application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Environmental Science Program, Division of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China.
| | - Serene Sow Mun Lock
- CO2 Research Center (CO2RES), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Pow-Seng Yap
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kin Wai Cheah
- Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Herng Chan
- PETRONAS Research Sdn. Bhd. (PRSB), Lot 3288 & 3289, Off Jalan Ayer Itam, Kawasan Institusi Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chung Loong Yiin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Andrian Zi En Ku
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Adrian Chun Minh Loy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Bridgid Lai Fui Chin
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ho Chai
- HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
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14
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An In Situ Study to Understand Community Structure of Estuarine Microbes on the Plastisphere. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081543. [PMID: 36013961 PMCID: PMC9415314 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081543] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics are defined as pieces of plastic that are smaller than 5 mm and they are now considered one of the most abundant ubiquitous plastic debris. Microbial communities that settle on particles can potentially lead to the transport of pathogenic and harmful bloom-forming species, as well as have an impact on global biogeochemical cycles. However, little is known about the acclimation of microbes to different types of microplastic in the estuarine environment. In this study, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and analysis was performed on biofilm samples from three different types of microplastic beads placed in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Microbial communities associated with microplastic particles and glass bead control were monitored throughout the 28-day incubation time. A significant taxonomic composition dissimilarity was observed between particles-associated and free-living communities, suggesting a unique microbial adaptation to these biofilms. The polymer types, however, did not significantly influence the microbial community composition. Some families with interesting potential metabolism were identified in the plastisphere samples, including Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, Desulfobacteriota, and Firmicutes, leading into speculation of their ecological responses and metabolic roles in the estuarine environment. It is crucial to understand the microorganisms that inhabit plastic debris in estuarine systems and their potential metabolic capacity and how it may differ from its marine counterparts in order to assess their roles in global nutrient cycles and if they have ability to be utilized in bioremediation for plastic pollution.
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Rochman CM, Grbic J, Earn A, Helm PA, Hasenmueller EA, Trice M, Munno K, De Frond H, Djuric N, Santoro S, Kaura A, Denton D, Teh S. Local Monitoring Should Inform Local Solutions: Morphological Assemblages of Microplastics Are Similar within a Pathway, But Relative Total Concentrations Vary Regionally. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9367-9378. [PMID: 35731673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pathways for microplastics to aquatic ecosystems include agricultural runoff, urban runoff, and treated or untreated wastewater. To better understand the importance of each pathway as a vector for microplastics into waterbodies and for mitigation, we sampled agricultural runoff, urban stormwater runoff, treated wastewater effluent, and the waterbodies downstream in four regions across North America: the Sacramento Delta, the Mississippi River, Lake Ontario, and Chesapeake Bay. The highest concentrations of microplastics in each pathway varied by region: agricultural runoff in the Sacramento Delta and Mississippi River, urban stormwater runoff in Lake Ontario, and treated wastewater effluent in Chesapeake Bay. Material types were diverse and not unique across pathways. However, a PERMANOVA found significant differences in morphological assemblages among pathways (p < 0.005), suggesting fibers as a signature of agricultural runoff and treated wastewater effluent and rubbery fragments as a signature of stormwater. Moreover, the relationship between watershed characteristics and particle concentrations varied across watersheds (e.g., with agricultural parameters only being important in the Sacramento Delta). Overall, our results suggest that local monitoring is essential to inform effective mitigation strategies and that assessing the assemblages of morphologies should be prioritized in monitoring programs to identify important pathways of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Jelena Grbic
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Arielle Earn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Paul A Helm
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Suite 1016V, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E8, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Hasenmueller
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University, 3642 Lindell Boulevard, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108, United States
| | - Mark Trice
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-2397, United States
| | - Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Natasha Djuric
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Samantha Santoro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Ashima Kaura
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Debra Denton
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Swee Teh
- Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Vet Med, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
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16
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Hanslik L, Huppertsberg S, Kämmer N, Knepper TP, Braunbeck T. Rethinking the relevance of microplastics as vector for anthropogenic contaminants: Adsorption of toxicants to microplastics during exposure in a highly polluted stream - Analytical quantification and assessment of toxic effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151640. [PMID: 34774627 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151640] [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: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Given the increasing amounts of plastic debris entering marine and freshwater ecosystems, there is a growing demand for environmentally relevant exposure scenarios to improve the risk assessment of microplastic particles (MPs) in aquatic environments. So far, data on adverse effects in aquatic organisms induced by naturally exposed MPs are scarce and controversially discussed. As a consequence, we investigated the potential role of MPs regarding the sorption and transfer of environmental contaminants under natural conditions. For this end, a mixture of four common polymer types (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride) was exposed to natural surface water in a polluted stream for three weeks. Samples of water, MP mixture, sediment, and suspended matter were target-screened for the presence of pollutants using GC/LC-MS, resulting in up to 94 different compounds. Possible adverse effects were investigated using several biomarkers in early developmental stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Exposure to natural stream water samples significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity, altered CYP450 induction and modified behavioral patterns of zebrafish. In contrast, effects by samples of both non-exposed MPs and exposed MPs in zebrafish were less prominent than effects by water samples. In fact, the analytical target screening documented only few compounds sorbed to natural particles and MPs. Regarding acute toxic effects, no clear differentiation between different MPs and natural particles could be made, suggesting that - upon exposure in natural water bodies - MPs seem to approximate the sorption behavior of natural particles, presumably to a large extent due to biofilm formation. Thus, if compared to natural inorganic particles, MPs most likely do not transfer elevated amounts of environmental pollutants to biota and, therefore, do not pose a specific additional threat to aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hanslik
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology Group, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany.
| | - Sven Huppertsberg
- Hochschule Fresenius GmbH, University of Applied Sciences Fresenius, Limburger Str. 2, Idstein, D-65510, Germany
| | - Nadine Kämmer
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology Group, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany
| | - Thomas P Knepper
- Hochschule Fresenius GmbH, University of Applied Sciences Fresenius, Limburger Str. 2, Idstein, D-65510, Germany
| | - Thomas Braunbeck
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology Group, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany.
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17
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Athey SN, Erdle LM. Are We Underestimating Anthropogenic Microfiber Pollution? A Critical Review of Occurrence, Methods, and Reporting. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:822-837. [PMID: 34289522 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic microfibers, a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, can be categorized as synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural according to material of origin and production process. Although natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, originated from natural sources, they often contain chemical additives, including colorants (e.g., dyes, pigments) and finishes (e.g., flame retardants, antimicrobial agents, ultraviolet light stabilizers). These additives are applied to textiles during production to give textiles desired properties like enhanced durability. Anthropogenically modified "natural" and semisynthetic fibers are sufficiently persistent to undergo long-range transport and accumulate in the environment, where they are ingested by biota. Although most research and communication on microfibers have focused on the sources, pathways, and effects of synthetic fibers in the environment, natural and semisynthetic fibers warrant further investigation because of their abundance. Because of the challenges in enumerating and identifying natural and semisynthetic fibers in environmental samples and the focus on microplastic or synthetic fibers, reports of anthropogenic microfibers in the environment may be underestimated. In this critical review, we 1) report that natural and semisynthetic microfibers are abundant, 2) highlight that some environmental compartments are relatively understudied in the microfiber literature, and 3) report which methods are suitable to enumerate and characterize the full suite of anthropogenic microfibers. We then use these findings to 4) recommend best practices to assess the abundance of anthropogenic microfibers in the environment, including natural and semisynthetic fibers. By focusing exclusively on synthetic fibers in the environment, we are neglecting a major component of anthropogenic microfiber pollution. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:822-837. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha N Athey
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Erdle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The 5 Gyres Institute, Santa Monica, California, USA
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18
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Zhang T, Jiang B, Xing Y, Ya H, Lv M, Wang X. Current status of microplastics pollution in the aquatic environment, interaction with other pollutants, and effects on aquatic organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:16830-16859. [PMID: 35001283 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18504-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, as emerging pollutants, have received great attention in the past few decades due to its adverse effects on the environment. Microplastics are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, soil, and water bodies, and mostly reported in aqueous environment. This paper summarizes the abundance and types of microplastics in different aqueous environments and discusses the interactions of microplastics with other contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), antibiotics, and heavy metals. The toxicity of microplastics to aquatic organisms and microorganisms is addressed. Particularly, the combined toxic effects of microplastics and other pollutants are discussed, demonstrating either synergetic or antagonistic effects. Future prospectives should be focused on the characterization of different types and shapes of microplastics, the standardization of microplastic units, exploring the interaction and toxicity of microplastics with other pollutants, and the degradation of microplastics, for a better understanding of the ecological risks of microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Site Remediation Technologies, Beijing, 100015, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Xing
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Haobo Ya
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingjie Lv
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
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19
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Arias AH, Alfonso MB, Girones L, Piccolo MC, Marcovecchio JE. Synthetic microfibers and tyre wear particles pollution in aquatic systems: Relevance and mitigation strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 295:118607. [PMID: 34883149 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Evidence shows that the majority of aquatic field microplastics (MPs) could be microfibers (MFs) which can be originated directly from massive sources such as textile production and shedding from garments, agricultural textiles and clothes washing. In addition, wear and tear of tyres (TRWPs) emerges as a stealthy major source of micro and nanoplastics, commonly under-sampled/detected in the field. In order to compile the current knowledge in regards to these two major MPs sources, concentrations of concern in aquatic environments, their distribution, bulk emission rates and water mitigation strategies were systematically reviewed. Most of the aquatic field studies presented MFs values above 50%. MPs concentrations varied from 0.3 to 8925 particles m-3 in lakes, from 0.69 to 8.7 × 106 particles m-3 in streams and rivers, from 0.16 to 192000 particles m-3 estuaries, and from 0 to 4600 particles m-3 in the ocean. Textiles at every stage of production, use and disposal are the major source of synthetic MFs to water. Laundry estimates showed an averaged release up to 279972 tons year-1 (high washing frequency) from which 123000 tons would annually flow through untreated effluents to rivers, streams, lakes or directly to the ocean. TRWPs in the aquatic environments showed concentrations up to 179 mg L-1 (SPM) in runoff river sediments and up to 480 mg g-1 in highway runoff sediments. Even though average TRWR emission is of 0.95 kg year-1 per capita (10 nm- 500 μm) there is a general scarcity of information about their aquatic environmental levels probably due to no-availability or inadequate methods of detection. The revision of strategies to mitigate the delivering of MFs and TRWP into water streams illustrated the importance of domestic laundry retention devices, Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) with at least a secondary treatment and stormwater and road-runoff collectors quality improvement devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés H Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida, 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Avenida Alem 1253, B8000DIC, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - María B Alfonso
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida, 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan
| | - Lautaro Girones
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida, 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María C Piccolo
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida, 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Geografía y Turismo, Universidad Nacional del Sur, 12 de Octubre 1198, B8000CTX, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jorge E Marcovecchio
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida, 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad Tecnológica Nacional-Facultad Regional Bahía Blanca (UTN-FRBB),11 de Abril 461, B8000LMI, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad de la Fraternidad de Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino, Gascón, 3145, B7600FNK, Mar del Plata, Argentina; Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (ANCEFN), Av. Alvear 1711, C1014 AAE, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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20
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Aung T, Batish I, Ovissipour R. Prevalence of Microplastics in the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica in the Chesapeake Bay: The Impact of Different Digestion Methods on Microplastic Properties. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10010029. [PMID: 35051071 PMCID: PMC8777933 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the microplastic prevalence in eastern oysters (C. virginica) in three sites in the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and optimize the digestion methods. The digestion results illustrate that the lowest recovery rate and digestion recovery were related to enzymatic, enzymatic + hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and HCl 5% treatments, while the highest digestion recovery and recovery rate were observed in H2O2 and basic (KOH) treatments. Nitric acid digestion resulted in satisfying digestion recovery (100%), while no blue polyethylene microplastics were observed due to the poor recovery rate. In addition, nitric acid altered the color, changed the Raman spectrum intensity, and melted polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In order to determine the number of microplastics, 144 oysters with an approximately similar size and weight from three sites, including the James River, York River, and Eastern Shore, were evaluated. Fragments were the most abundant microplastics among the different microplastics, followed by fibers and beads, in the three sites. A significantly higher number of fragments were found in the James River, probably due to the greater amount of human activities. The number of microplastics per gram of oyster tissue was higher in the James River, with 7 MPs/g tissue, than in the York River and Eastern Shore, with 6.7 and 5.6 MPs/g tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thet Aung
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (T.A.); (I.B.)
- FutureFoods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
| | - Inayat Batish
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (T.A.); (I.B.)
- FutureFoods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
| | - Reza Ovissipour
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (T.A.); (I.B.)
- FutureFoods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
- Center for Coastal Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-757-727-4861
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21
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Carretero O, Gago J, Filgueiras AV, Viñas L. The seasonal cycle of micro and meso-plastics in surface waters in a coastal environment (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150021. [PMID: 34487894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is an emerging environmental problem. In this study, micro and mesoplastics were determined for the first time in seawater in Ría de Vigo (Spain) identifying their concentration, annual cycle, size, shape and polymer composition. Besides, temporal variations at an annual scale were also established. The Ría de Vigo is well known for the important industry related to marine activities (fishing, mollusc culture, shipyards, and tourism). Three sampling stations were selected along the transverse axis of Ría and were monthly sampled for one year. Seawater samples were collected using a manta trawl and analyzed with ATR-FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy to determine plastic polymer type. The mesozooplankton community (0.2-20 mm) was also studied. The samples were collected with bongo nets in the same sampling stations as plastics. Manta trawl net (330 μm) was used to collect 32 samples (identifying 854 plastic particles; 677 microplastics and 177 mesoplastics). The mean concentration across all sites was 25.4 ± 13.4 items·km-2. The microplastics abundance was greater than that of mesoplastics (79%, and 21%, respectively). Around 30% of plastics analyzed were Polyethylene (PE), 19% were acrylates, 18% were Polypropylene (PP) and 10% were Polystyrene (PS). The main shapes of both micro and mesoplastics were fibers followed by paint sheets being black the main colour in both cases. The results showed high seasonal variability by micro and mesoplastics but similar spatial distribution. This seasonal heterogeneity can have effects on a future monitoring program. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that pollution by mesoplastics cannot be estimated through the microplastics abundances. Regarding the values of microplastics-zooplankton, they present a great negative correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Carretero
- Centro Oceanografico de Vigo (IEO, CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain; Campus Do Mar, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Vigo, 36310, Spain
| | - Jesús Gago
- Centro Oceanografico de Vigo (IEO, CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain.
| | | | - Lucía Viñas
- Centro Oceanografico de Vigo (IEO, CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain
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22
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González-Ortegón E, Sendra M, Sparaventi E, F Sánchez Leal R, de Los Ríos I, Baldó F, González-Fernández D, Yeste MP. Coastal gradients of small microplastics and associated pollutants influenced by estuarine sources. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113292. [PMID: 35090277 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Small microplastics (SMPs) in the gulf of Cadiz was sampled at 5 m depth by pumping it through the ship's pipe system and filtered through a 45 μm mesh size net. Our study reveals that higher densities have been found (130 mg·m-3) compared to other regions worldwide and these densities decreased from the coastline to the outer stations, showing a general coastal gradient influenced by estuarine outflows. SMPs with a size range between 45 and 193 μm were predominant and most of them composed by polyethylene and polypropylene. The metals associated with the MPs were mainly Na (21.1%), K (11.3%), Fe (8.5%), Ca (2.1%), Cr (1.8%), Zr (13.3%) and Hf (0.7%). The high proportion of Zr compared to Fe, which is different from what can be found in the environment, suggests that this metal is intrinsic to the materials used in catalytic processes during plastic production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Sendra
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC), Vigo, Spain; CBET Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology and Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, PiE, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Ricardo F Sánchez Leal
- Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Isaac de Los Ríos
- Dpto. de Ciencia de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica, University of Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - Francisco Baldó
- Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Daniel González-Fernández
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina, University of Cádiz and European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - María Pilar Yeste
- Dpto. de Ciencia de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica, University of Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
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23
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Kieu-Le TC, Tran QV, Truong TNS, Strady E. Anthropogenic fibres in white clams, Meretrix lyrata, cultivated downstream a developing megacity, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113302. [PMID: 34995884 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113302] [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: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic fibres are an emerging pollutant worldwide. The Can Gio mangrove area is located downstream of the Saigon River, and is characterised by high level of anthropogenic fibres originating from domestic and industrial textile and apparel manufacturing. In this area, biota is thus subjected to a high potential risk of anthropogenic fibre contamination. This study aims to characterise the accumulation of anthropogenic fibres in different tissues, i.e. gills, digestive systems, and remaining tissues, of white clams (Meretrix lyrata) cultivated in the Can Gio beach sand, during a seven-month sampling period. The results showed an average concentration of 3.6 ± 2.1 fibres individual-1 or 2.7 ± 2.4 fibres g-1 ww. Higher fibre accumulation was observed in remaining tissues than in gills and digestive systems, and no temporal variation was observed in all clam tissues. The intake of fibres by humans consuming clams was estimated to be 324 fibres inhabitant-1 yr-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Chung Kieu-Le
- Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam
| | - Quoc-Viet Tran
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Tran-Nguyen-Sang Truong
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Emilie Strady
- Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Aix-Marseille Univ., Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (M I O), Marseille, Universite de Toulon, CNRS/IRD, France.
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24
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Alfonso MB, Arias AH, Ronda AC, Piccolo MC. Continental microplastics: Presence, features, and environmental transport pathways. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 799:149447. [PMID: 34371405 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous contaminants of great concern for the environment. MPs' presence and concentration in the air, soil, marine, and freshwater environments have been reported as a matter of priority in recent years. This review addresses the current knowledge of the main pathways of MPs in air, soil, and freshwater reservoirs in order to provide an integrated understanding of their behaviors in the continental environment. Therefore, MPs' occurrence (as particle counts), sources, and how their features as shape, size, polymer composition, and density could influence their transport and final sink were discussed. Wind resuspension and atmospheric fallout, groundwater migration, runoff from catchments, and water flow from rivers and effluents were pointed as the principal pathways. MPs' size, shape, polymer composition, and density interact with environmental variables as soil structure and composition, precipitation, wind, relative humidity, water temperature, and salinity. Sampling designs for MPs research should further consider soil characteristics, climate variability and extreme events, time lag and grasshopper effects, morphological and hydrological features of aquatic systems, and water currents, among others. Furthermore, long-term monitoring and lab experiments are still needed to understand MPs' behavior in the environment. This information will provide a unified understanding of the continental MPs pathways, including the key main findings, knowledge gaps, and future challenges to understand this emerging contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Alfonso
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Andrés H Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Avenida Alem 1253, B8000DIC Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana C Ronda
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Avenida Alem 1253, B8000DIC Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María C Piccolo
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Edificio E1, B8000BFW Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Geografía y Turismo, Universidad Nacional del Sur, 12 de Octubre 1198 4°Piso, B8000CTX Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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25
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De Frond H, Rubinovitz R, Rochman CM. μATR-FTIR Spectral Libraries of Plastic Particles (FLOPP and FLOPP-e) for the Analysis of Microplastics. Anal Chem 2021; 93:15878-15885. [PMID: 34813292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Raman spectral libraries specific to microplastics demonstrated improved spectral matching results when weathered plastics and a variety of particle colors and morphologies were included. Here, we explore if this is true for Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as well. We present two novel databases specific to microplastics using attenuated total reflection (μATR-FTIR): (1) an FTIR library of plastic particles (FLOPP), containing 186 spectra from common plastic items, across 14 polymer types and (2) an FTIR library of plastic particles sourced from the environment (FLOPP-e), containing 195 spectra across 15 polymer types. Both libraries include particles from a variety of sources, morphologies, and colors. We demonstrate the applicability of these libraries for microplastics research by comparing spectral match results from two microplastic datasets. For this, we use different combinations of libraries including: commercially available reference libraries, an open-access polymer library, and FLOPP and FLOPP-e. Among tests, the greatest mean HQI result was achieved when the greatest number of libraries was included. This work demonstrates that spectral libraries specific to plastic particles found in the environment improve the accuracy of spectral matching and are best used in combination with commercial libraries containing chemical components that are commonly found within plastics and other anthropogenic particles. Multivariate principal component analyses of FLOPP and FLOPP-e spectra confirmed differences among polymer types and higher variation in principal component scores among weathered particles, but no patterns were observed among particle colors or morphologies. These results demonstrate that ATR-FTIR analyses are sensitive to weathering of plastics but not to particle color and morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B2
| | | | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B2
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26
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Wang Y, Yang Y, Liu X, Zhao J, Liu R, Xing B. Interaction of Microplastics with Antibiotics in Aquatic Environment: Distribution, Adsorption, and Toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15579-15595. [PMID: 34747589 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
As two major types of pollutants of emerging concerns, microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) coexist in aquatic environments, and their interactions are a source of increasing concern. Therefore, this work examines the interaction mechanisms of MPs and ATs, and the effect of MPs on ATs bioavailability and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) abundance in aquatic environments. First, the mechanisms for ATs adsorption on MPs are summarized, mainly including hydrophobic, hydrogen-bonding, and electrostatic interactions. But other possible mechanisms, such as halogen bonding, CH/π interaction, cation-π interaction, and negative charge-assisted hydrogen bonds, are newly proposed to explain the observed ATs adsorption. Additionally, environmental factors (such as pH, ionic strength, dissolved organic matters, minerals, and aging conditions) affecting ATs adsorption by MPs are specifically discussed. Moreover, MPs could change the bioaccumulation and toxicity of ATs to aquatic organisms, and the related mechanisms on the joint effect are reviewed and analyzed. Furthermore, MPs can enrich ARGs from the surrounding environment, and the effect of MPs on ARGs abundance is evaluated. Finally, research challenges and perspectives for MPs-ATs interactions and related environmental implications are presented. This review will facilitate a better understanding of the environmental fate and risk of both MPs and ATs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Wang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, P. R. China
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Yanni Yang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, P. R. China
| | - Xia Liu
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Ruihan Liu
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, P. R. China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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27
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Turner A. Paint particles in the marine environment: An overlooked component of microplastics. WATER RESEARCH X 2021; 12:100110. [PMID: 34401707 PMCID: PMC8350503 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Because paint particles consist of a resin (polymer) combined with one or more additives, they bear compositional similarities with microplastics. Despite these shared characteristics, however, paint particles are often undetected, deliberately overlooked or evade classification in the pool of micro-debris (all synthetic debris of < 5 mm in size), and in particular in the marine setting where an extensive body of microplastic literature exists. Accordingly, the present paper provides a critical insight into the physico-chemical properties, sources, distributions, behaviour and toxicity of paint particles in the marine environment. Paint particles contain a greater proportion of additives than plastics and, consequently, are more brittle, angular, opaque, dense, heterogeneous and layered than microplastics of equivalent dimensions. Land-based sources of paint particles, including deteriorating or disturbed coatings on roads and building, are transported to the ocean with other microplastics via urban runoff, water treatment facilities and the atmosphere. However, inputs of paint particles are enhanced significantly and more directly by the disturbance, erosion and weathering of coatings on coastal structures, boats and ships. Estimates of paint particle emissions to the marine environment vary widely, with calculated contributions to the total synthetic micro-debris input as high as 35%. Upper estimates are consistent with available (albeit limited) quantitative information on the relative abundance of paint particles amongst synthetic material captured by sea surface trawls and ingested by marine animals. Of greatest environmental concern is the high chemical toxicity of paint particles compared with similarly-sized microplastics and other synthetic debris. This results from the contemporary and historical use of high concentrations of hazardous inorganic additives in marine antifouling and land-based paints, and the relatively ready mobilisation of harmful ions, like Cu+/Cu2+, TBT+, Pb2+ and CrO4 2-, from the matrix. Recommendations arising from this review include greater use of particulate capturing devices, waste collection systems and recycling facilities during paint disturbance, raising awareness of the potential impacts of discarded paint amongst users, and alerting the microplastic community to the significance of paint particles and developing means by which they are isolated from environmental samples.
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28
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Nakano H, Arakawa H, Tokai T. Microplastics on the sea surface of the semi-closed Tokyo Bay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 162:111887. [PMID: 33307403 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution surveys were conducted in Tokyo Bay using neuston nets (May 2019 and January 2020). Although the pollution level in Tokyo Bay was high (3.98 pcs/m3, May), it was lower than reported in other semi-closed bays because of differences in the Enclosed Index. It was found that polyethylene fragments dominated the retrieved MPs; the mode of MPs size was 800 μm. As MPs abundance in rivers had the same seasonality as found in the inner bay, rivers were considered the main source of MPs. The seawater residence time is shorter than the time required for the density of MPs to become greater than that of seawater; therefore, it was considered that MPs are transported out of the bay instead of sinking. MPs were aggregated into a convergence zone by residual currents (the thermohaline front) in May (January). These findings will improve understanding of MPs pollution in other bays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Nakano
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Tadashi Tokai
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
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29
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Du S, Zhu R, Cai Y, Xu N, Yap PS, Zhang Y, He Y, Zhang Y. Environmental fate and impacts of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: a review. RSC Adv 2021; 11:15762-15784. [PMID: 35481192 PMCID: PMC9031200 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra00880c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Wide usage of plastic products leads to the global occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic environment. Due to the small size, they can be bio-ingested, which may cause certain health effects. The present review starts with summarizing the main sources of various types of MPs and their occurrences in the aquatic environment, as well as their transportation and degradation pathways. The analysis of migration of MPs in water environments shows that the ultimate fate of most MPs in water environments is cracked into small fragments and sinking into the bottom of the ocean. The advantages and disadvantages of existing methods for detection and analysis of MPs are summarized. In addition, based on recent researches, the present review discusses MPs as carriers of organic pollutants and microorganisms, and explores the specific effects of MPs on aquatic organisms in the case of single and combined pollutants. Finally, by analysing the causes and influencing factors of their trophic transfer, the impact of MPs on high-level trophic organisms is explored. The sources, fate and impacts of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Rongwen Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Yujie Cai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Ning Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Pow-Seng Yap
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
- Suzhou
- China
| | - Yunhai Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Yide He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Nanjing Tech University
- P. R. China
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30
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Laverty AL, Primpke S, Lorenz C, Gerdts G, Dobbs FC. Bacterial biofilms colonizing plastics in estuarine waters, with an emphasis on Vibrio spp. and their antibacterial resistance. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237704. [PMID: 32804963 PMCID: PMC7430737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since plastics degrade very slowly, they remain in the environment on much longer timescales than most natural organic substrates and provide a novel habitat for colonization by bacterial communities. The spectrum of relationships between plastics and bacteria, however, is little understood. The first objective of this study was to examine plastics as substrates for communities of Bacteria in estuarine surface waters. We used next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize communities from plastics collected in the field, and over the course of two colonization experiments, from biofilms that developed on plastic (low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene) and glass substrates placed in the environment. Both field sampling and colonization experiments were conducted in estuarine tributaries of the lower Chesapeake Bay. As a second objective, we concomitantly analyzed biofilms on plastic substrates to ascertain the presence and abundance of Vibrio spp. bacteria, then isolated three human pathogens, V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus, and determined their antibiotic-resistant profiles. In both components of this study, we compared our results with analyses conducted on paired samples of estuarine water. This research adds to a nascent literature that suggests environmental factors govern the development of bacterial communities on plastics, more so than the characteristics of the plastic substrates themselves. In addition, this study is the first to culture three pathogenic vibrios from plastics in estuaries, reinforcing and expanding upon earlier reports of plastic pollution as a habitat for Vibrio species. The antibiotic resistance detected among the isolates, coupled with the longevity of plastics in the aqueous environment, suggests biofilms on plastics have potential to persist and serve as focal points of potential pathogens and horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Laverty
- Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Fred C. Dobbs
- Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
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