1
|
Alomar C, Rios-Fuster B, Cefalì ME, Fagiano V, Deudero S. Monitoring microplastics in coastal waters of a biosphere reserve: a case study in Menorca (Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:882-894. [PMID: 38032531 PMCID: PMC10789676 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31061-y] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
This study provides with evidence of the presence of sea surface microplastics in a UNESCO marine biosphere reserve: the island of Menorca in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. From a total of 90 samples, in 100% of the samples, microplastics were observed with a mean value of 0.18 ± 0.01 items/m2. According to data, no significant differences were observed for sampling period with very similar values between 2021 (0.17 ± 0.02 items/m2) and 2022 (0.18 ± 0.02 items/m2). However, significant differences were observed regarding sampling area (both site and locality) suggesting that sea surface plastics in the study area might be more dependent of the spatial scale rather than on the temporal scale. Fibre type microplastics predominated over fragments, films, pellets, and foams, but in the commercial Port de Maó, almost 50% of the identified items were foams which could be related to the transportation of packed goods to this port. Results from the model applied to study the relation between waste management indicators and microplastic abundance indicate that when considering all marine litter categories, the explanatory variables are plastic waste generated by residents population (tonnes/year/km2) and waste collection rate (%), whereas if only plastics are considered, the indicator regarding waste per capita (kg/hab/year) is also included. Data in this study is obtained through a harmonized protocol which can be used to define baseline and threshold values to evaluate good environmental status regarding descriptor 10 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carme Alomar
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/N, 07015, Palma, Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Rios-Fuster
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/N, 07015, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| | - Maria Elena Cefalì
- Estació d'Investigació Jaume Ferrer, La Mola, Centro Oceanogràfico de Baleares, IEO-CSIC, PO Box 502, 07701, Mao, Menorca, Spain
| | - Valentina Fagiano
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/N, 07015, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/N, 07015, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Khedre AM, Ramadan SA, Ashry A, Alaraby M. Seasonal variations of microplastic in sediment, Chironomus sp. larvae, and chironomid tubes in two wastewater sites in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:125846-125865. [PMID: 38008829 PMCID: PMC10754750 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30855-4] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) contamination is an acknowledged global problem that poses a severe risk to aquatic ecosystem biota. Nevertheless, little is known about their prevalence in animal construction. The main objective of our study was to reduce the gap information of seasonal abundance, distribution, composition, and risk assessment of MP contamination. The concentrations of MPs in sediment, Chironomus sp. larvae, and their tubes were found to be higher in site 2 (S2) than in site 1 (S1) during the four seasons of the year. However, MP concentrations ranged from 312 ± 64.7 to 470 ± 70 items/kg dry weight, 0.79 ± 0.16 to 1.1 ± 0.3 particles/individual, and 0.5 ± 0.04 to 0.9 ± 0.04 particles/tube in sediment, Chironomus, and chironomid tubes, respectively. Blue and red polyester fibers are the most dominant MPs which are distributed in sediment, Chironomus, and chironomid tubes. The length of the dominant fiber accumulates in Chironomus, and their tubes are highly varied compared to that of the substrate. Additionally, we found that the mean number of MPs/individual larvae in the fourth instar was significantly higher than that in the second instar. Risk indicators for the environment, polymer risk assessment, and pollution load were estimated, where they were higher in S2 than in S1 correlated to MPs abundance and polymer type. The seasonal fluctuation in MP concentration, characterization, and risk in the two sites could depend on the amount of sewage effluent discharged into the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which was reflected by Chironomus sp. larvae. Therefore, further research should be done to adopt the applicability of Chironomus as MP bioindicators in various freshwater environments throughout the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azza M Khedre
- Group of Entomology and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt
| | - Somaia A Ramadan
- Group of Entomology and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt
| | - Ali Ashry
- Group of Entomology and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed Alaraby
- Group of Entomology and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li X, Luo J, Han C, Lu X. Nanoplastics enhance the intestinal damage and genotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole to medaka juveniles (Oryzias melastigma) in coastal environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 894:164943. [PMID: 37329919 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics and nanoplastics are widely detected in the coastal ecosystem. However, the transcriptome mechanism elucidating the effect of antibiotics and nanoplastics co-exposure on the gene expression of aquatic organisms in coastal environment is still unclear. Here, single and joint effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on the intestinal health and gene expression of medaka juveniles (Oryzias melastigma), which live in coastal environment, were investigated. The SMX and PS-NPs co-exposure decreased intestinal microbiota diversity compared to the PS-NPs, and caused more adverse effect on the intestinal microbiota composition and intestinal damage compared to the SMX, indicating that PS-NPs might enhance the toxicity of SMX on the medaka intestine. The increased abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine was observed in the co-exposure group, which might induce the intestinal epithelium damage. In addition, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly involved in the drug metabolism-other enzymes, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 pathways in visceral tissue after the co-exposure. The expression of the host immune system genes (e.g., ifi30) could be associated with the increased pathogens in intestinal microbiota. This study is useful for understanding the toxicity effect of antibiotics and NPs on aquatic organisms in coastal ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiwei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Chenglong Han
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xueqiang Lu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hansani KUDN, Thilakarathne EPDN, Koongolla JB, Gunathilaka WGIT, Perera BGDO, Weerasingha WMPU, Egodauyana KPUT. Contamination of microplastics in tropical coral reef ecosystems of Sri Lanka. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115299. [PMID: 37499569 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) in different marine compartments are a global concern. This study investigated the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics from ten coral reef ecosystems in Sri Lanka, a non-quantified threat for some context. Microplastics were isolated and quantified in terms of abundance, shape, size, color, and polymer type with average abundances 546.7 ± 170.3 items kg-1, 9.8 ± 7.6 items m-3, and 46.3 ± 29.7 items kg-1 in corals, water, and sediments respectively. The most dominant microplastic type was blue, LDPE fibres. Acropora exhibited the highest amount. The significant differences in average microplastic abundances among corals suggest that they are capable of enriching microplastics depending on species-specific characteristics. Similar microplastic characteristics in corals and reef environment indicate that corals may have enriched microplastics from surface water and surface sediments. Microplastics being ubiquitous in selected reefs highlights the importance of coral reefs as a long-term microplastic sink in the ocean, contributing to the missing plastic phenomena.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K U D N Hansani
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka.
| | - E P D N Thilakarathne
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka
| | - J Bimali Koongolla
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - W G I T Gunathilaka
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka
| | - B G D O Perera
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka
| | - W M P U Weerasingha
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka
| | - K P U T Egodauyana
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cesarini G, Crosti R, Secco S, Gallitelli L, Scalici M. From city to sea: Spatiotemporal dynamics of floating macrolitter in the Tiber River. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159713. [PMID: 36302425 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are undoubtedly the main pathway of waste dispersed in the environment that from land reaches oceans and seas increasing the amount of marine litter. Major cities are a great source of riverine litter as large urbanization can originate pressure on the integrated waste management resulting in litter entering the rivers. Within this study, we aim to investigate the dynamic of floating riverine macrolitter (items >2.5 cm) in the city of Rome before it reaches the sea by assessing the composition, amount, and seasonal trends of litter transported from the urban centre to the main river mouth of Tiber River. Visual surveys for a whole year (March 2021-February 2022) were conducted from two bridges, Scienza Bridge (in the city) and Scafa Bridge (at the main river mouth) and followed JRC/RIMMEL protocol for riverine litter monitoring. Overall, similar litter composition was observed from the city centre to the mouth with a prevalence of plastic material, mainly related to fragmentation process (i.e. plastic pieces) and single use items, mainly in food and beverage sectors. An extrapolated annual loading of 4 × 105 items/year was estimated at the main mouth of Tiber River. The litter flux seems to be influenced by the seasonal variability and hydrometeorological parameters. The frequency of size classes decreases with increasing size in both sites, and more than half of the recorded items were below 10 cm. Specific categories belonging to "other plastics" have been reported related to anti-Covid-19 behaviour such as face masks and beverage sector, e.g. bottle lids and rings. The main colour of plastics was white, suggesting weathering process of floating riverine litter. This study contributes to increasing knowledge of the origin, composition and spatiotemporal dynamics of riverine floating litter from the city and entering the sea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberto Crosti
- ISPRA, Dipartimento BIO, Via Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Secco
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marine macroalgae polysaccharides-based nanomaterials: an overview with respect to nanoscience applications. BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43088-022-00335-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Exploration of marine macroalgae poly-saccharide-based nanomaterials is emerging in the nanotechnology field, such as wound dressing, water treatment, environmental engineering, biosensor, and food technology.
Main body
In this article, the current innovation and encroachments of marine macroalgae polysaccharide-based nanoparticles (NPs), and their promising opportunities, for future prospect in different industries are briefly reviewed. The extraction and advancement of various natural sources from marine polysaccharides, including carrageenan, agarose, fucoidan, and ulvan, are highlighted in order to provide a wide range of impacts on the nanofood technology. Further, seaweed or marine macroalgae is an unexploited natural source of polysaccharides, which involves numerous different phytonutrients in the outermost layer of the cell and is rich in sulphated polysaccharides (SP), SP-based nanomaterial which has an enhanced potential value in the nanotechnology field.
Conclusion
At the end of this article, the promising prospect of SP-based NPs and their applications in the food sector is briefly addressed.
Collapse
|
7
|
An innovative approach for microplastic sampling in all surface water bodies using an aquatic drone. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11662. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
|
8
|
James BD, de Vos A, Aluwihare LI, Youngs S, Ward CP, Nelson RK, Michel APM, Hahn ME, Reddy CM. Divergent Forms of Pyroplastic: Lessons Learned from the M/V X-Press Pearl Ship Fire. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2022; 2:467-479. [PMID: 37101454 PMCID: PMC10125272 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.2c00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
In late May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl container ship caught fire while anchored 18 km off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka and spilled upward of 70 billion pieces of plastic or "nurdles" (∼1680 tons), littering the country's coastline. Exposure to combustion, heat, chemicals, and petroleum products led to an apparent continuum of changes from no obvious effects to pieces consistent with previous reports of melted and burned plastic (pyroplastic) found on beaches. At the middle of this continuum, nurdles were discolored but appeared to retain their prefire morphology, resembling nurdles that had been weathered in the environment. We performed a detailed investigation of the physical and surface properties of discolored nurdles collected on a beach 5 days after the ship caught fire and within 24 h of their arrival onshore. The color was the most striking trait of the plastic: white for nurdles with minimal alteration from the accident, orange for nurdles containing antioxidant degradation products formed by exposure to heat, and gray for partially combusted nurdles. Our color analyses indicate that this fraction of the plastic released from the ship was not a continuum but instead diverged into distinct groups. Fire left the gray nurdles scorched, with entrained particles and pools of melted plastic, and covered in soot, representing partial pyroplastics, a new subtype of pyroplastic. Cross sections showed that the heat- and fire-induced changes were superficial, leaving the surfaces more hydrophilic but the interior relatively untouched. These results provide timely and actionable information to responders to reevaluate cleanup end points, monitor the recurrence of these spilled nurdles, gauge short- and long-term effects of the spilled nurdles to the local ecosystem, and manage the recovery of the spill. These findings underscore partially combusted plastic (pyroplastic) as a type of plastic pollution that has yet to be fully explored despite the frequency at which plastic is burned globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D. James
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Department
of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Asha de Vos
- Oceanswell, 9 Park Gardens, Colombo 5 00500, Sri Lanka
- The
Oceans Institute, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling
Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Lihini I. Aluwihare
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sarah Youngs
- Department
of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Collin P. Ward
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Robert K. Nelson
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Anna P. M. Michel
- Department
of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Department
of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Qi H, Li H, Meng X, Peng L, Zheng H, Wang L, Wang W, Chen K, Zhang J, Zhang H, Cai M. Fate of microplastics in deep-sea sediments and its influencing factors: Evidence from the Eastern Indian Ocean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154266. [PMID: 35248633 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although microplastics (MPs) are known to be found in global oceans, their influencing factors and abundance in the deep sea remain largely unknown. Twenty-six surface sediment samples were collected in the deep basin of the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). This study showed that MPs abundance ranged from 30.30 particles/kg to 701.7 particles/kg, with an average of 170.5 ± 140.2 particles/kg. The MPs found in the sediment of the EIO mainly contain fragments and fibers, which account for 47.5% and 45.6%. The MPs were measured in a size range of 44-5000 μm, and the most frequently detected MPs in size of 200-500 μm. MPs were in various compositions, but most of them were found in rayon (62.2%) and polyester (25.7%). The spatial distribution of MPs in the sediments shows a decreasing trend from nearshore to the open sea. In the Bay of Bengal (BOB) and the coast of Sri Lanka (COSL), the abundance of MPs was relatively high, indicating that the spatial distribution of MPs is affected by land source input, river input, and anthropogenic activities. Principal component analysis indicated daily commodities and packaging applications/fishing accounted for 36.9% and 12.9% of the MPs occurrence in the EIO, respectively. Average MPs diversity indices for the BOB (0.87 ± 0.38), the COSL (0.64 ± 0.56), and the Eastern Indian Ocean Basin (EIOB) (0.60 ± 0.24) revealed the BOB had the most complicated MPs sources. In addition, we found that the abundance of MPs has no significant effect on organic carbon and sediment grain size. This study is the first report of MPs detection in the deep-sea sediment in the EIO and can provide a baseline of MPs pollution in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hongliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xiangliang Meng
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Licheng Peng
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Haowen Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Lirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Suzuki G, Uchida N, Tuyen LH, Tanaka K, Matsukami H, Kunisue T, Takahashi S, Viet PH, Kuramochi H, Osako M. Mechanical recycling of plastic waste as a point source of microplastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119114. [PMID: 35276247 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. Recycling is a potential means of reducing plastic pollution in the environment. However, plastic fragments are still likely released to the aquatic environment during mechanical recycling processes. Here, we examined the plastic inputs and effluent outputs of three mechanical recycling facilities in Vietnam dealing with electronic, bottle, and household plastic waste, and we found that large quantities of microplastics (plastics <5 mm in length) are generated and released to the aquatic environment during mechanical recycling without proper treatment. Comparisons with literature data for microplastics in wastewater treatment plant effluents and surface water indicated that mechanical recycling of plastic waste is likely a major point source of microplastics pollution. Although there is a mismatch between the size of the microplastics examined in the present study and the predicted no-effect concentration reported, it is still possible that microplastics generated at facilities pose risks to the aquatic environment because there might be many plastic particulates smaller than 315 μm, as suggested by our obtained size distributions. With mechanical recycling likely to increase as we move to a circular plastics economy, greater microplastics emissions can be expected. It is therefore an urgent need to fully understand not only the scale of microplastic generation and release from plastic mechanical recycling but also the environmental risk posed by microplastics in the aquatic environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Go Suzuki
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Natsuyo Uchida
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Le Huu Tuyen
- VNU Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam; Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam
| | - Kosuke Tanaka
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hidenori Matsukami
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kunisue
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Shin Takahashi
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan
| | - Pham Hung Viet
- VNU Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam; Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Masahiro Osako
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
De-la-Torre GE, Pizarro-Ortega CI, Dioses-Salinas DC, Castro Loayza J, Smith Sanchez J, Meza-Chuquizuta C, Espinoza-Morriberón D, Rakib MRJ, Ben-Haddad M, Dobaradaran S. Are we underestimating floating microplastic pollution? A quantitative analysis of two sampling methodologies. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113592. [PMID: 35349867 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in the water column of several aquatic ecosystems. Thus, the sampling methodology is considered as a basic factor influencing MPs abundance. In this baseline, a total of 67 investigations were chosen to conduct a quantitative analysis between two sampling methods: Trawl and bulk. The aim is to report a general overview of the MPs abundance and characteristic differences based on the sampling procedures and provide methodological recommendations. MPs abundance reported by bulk studies is 3500 higher than trawl studies. Furthermore, the morphological types and polymers abundances were statistically affected by the type of sampling tool. Conversely, MPs size ranges were significantly different between sampling procedures, suggesting that trawling underestimates the smaller MPs fractions. The analysis confirms that the sampling methods should be selected based on the research objectives. In this sense, it is recommended to combine both types of sampling procedures to obtain comprehensive data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Carolina Meza-Chuquizuta
- Unidad de Investigación de Ecosistemas Marinos-Grupo Aves Marinas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Dante Espinoza-Morriberón
- Facultad de Ingeniería Ambiental y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional del Callao (UNAC), Av. Juan Pablo II 306, Bellavista 07011, Provincia Constitucional del Callao, Peru; Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP), Jirón Hernán Velarde 260, Cercado de Lima, 15046 Lima, Peru
| | - Md Refat Jahan Rakib
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Mohamed Ben-Haddad
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
de Vos A, Aluwihare L, Youngs S, DiBenedetto MH, Ward CP, Michel APM, Colson BC, Mazzotta MG, Walsh AN, Nelson RK, Reddy CM, James BD. The M/V X-Press Pearl Nurdle Spill: Contamination of Burnt Plastic and Unburnt Nurdles along Sri Lanka’s Beaches. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2022; 2:128-135. [PMID: 37101587 PMCID: PMC10114858 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.1c00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl cargo ship caught fire 18 km off the west coast of Sri Lanka and spilled ∼1680 tons of spherical pieces of plastic or "nurdles" (∼5 mm; white in color). Nurdles are the preproduction plastic used to manufacture a wide range of end products. Exposure to combustion, heat, and chemicals led to agglomeration, fragmentation, charring, and chemical modification of the plastic, creating an unprecedented complex spill of visibly burnt plastic and unburnt nurdles. These pieces span a continuum of colors, shapes, sizes, and densities with high variability that could impact cleanup efforts, alter transport in the ocean, and potentially affect wildlife. Visibly burnt plastic was 3-fold more chemically complex than visibly unburnt nurdles. This added chemical complexity included combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A portion of the burnt material contained petroleum-derived biomarkers, indicating that it encountered some fossil-fuel products during the spill. The findings of this research highlight the added complexity caused by the fire and subsequent burning of plastic for cleanup operations, monitoring, and damage assessment and provides recommendations to further understand and combat the impacts of this and future spills.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asha de Vos
- Oceanswell, 9 Park Gardens, Colombo 5 00500, Sri Lanka
- The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Lihini Aluwihare
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sarah Youngs
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Michelle H. DiBenedetto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Collin P. Ward
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Anna P. M. Michel
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Beckett C. Colson
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- MIT−WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering, Cambridge and Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael G. Mazzotta
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Anna N. Walsh
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- MIT−WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering, Cambridge and Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Robert K. Nelson
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cheng Y, Lu J, Fu S, Wang S, Senehi N, Yuan Q. Enhanced propagation of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes in municipal wastewater by microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118284. [PMID: 34626704 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging global concern as they are abundant in the environment and can act as vectors of various contaminants. However, whether and how MPs can be vectors of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), especially extracellular ARGs (eARGs), remains far from explicit. This study addresses the adsorption of both intracellular ARGs (iARGs) and eARGs by four types of MPs in municipal wastewater, and then explores the potential horizontal gene transfer of iARGs and eARGs exposed to MPs. Results indicate that though MPs significantly adsorbed both iARGs and eARGs, eARGs were adsorbed with a significantly higher fold enrichment (2.0-5.0 log versus 2.0-3.3 log) and rate (0.0056 min-1 versus 0.0037 min-1) than iARGs. While all four types of MPs adsorbed ARGs, polypropylene MPs showed the highest adsorption capacity for ARGs. Background constituents such as humic acid and antibiotics significantly inhibited adsorption of iARGs, but not eARGs on MPs. The presence of sodium chloride didn't significantly affect adsorption of iARGs or eARGs. The adsorption of ARGs was well explained by the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) interaction energy profile. Higher eARG adsorption was attributed to a lower energy barrier between MPs and eARGs than that between MPs and iARGs. Exposure to MPs enhanced horizontal gene transfer of both iARGs and eARGs by 1.5 and 2.0 times, respectively. The improved contact potential between donors and recipients, as well as the increased cell permeability of recipients induced the improved horizontal gene transfer by MPs. This study underscores the need to address ARG propagation through adsorption to MPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Jiarui Lu
- Nanjing Foreign Language School, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Shusen Fu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Shangjie Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Naomi Senehi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, 77005, USA
| | - Qingbin Yuan
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China.
| |
Collapse
|