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Concha-Graña E, Moscoso-Pérez CM, Fernández-González V, López-Mahía P, Muniategui-Lorenzo S. A green approach for the automatic quantitative analysis of additives in plastic samples using in-tube extraction dynamic headspace sampling technique coupled to GC-MS/MS. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1302:342487. [PMID: 38580405 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many of the chemicals frequently used as additives have been recognised as hazardous substances, and therefore their analysis is necessary to evaluate plastic contamination risk. Additives analysis in plastic samples is usually performed by methods involving high volumes of toxic solvents or having high detection limits. In this work, a novel, fast, solventless and reliable green method was developed for the automated analysis of plastic additives from plastic samples. The proposed method consists of in-tube extraction dynamic headspace sampling (ITEX-DHS) combined with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS/MS) determination. RESULTS Several parameters affecting the ITEX-DHS extraction of 47 additives in plastic samples (including phthalates, bisphenols, adipates, citrates, benzophenones, organophosphorus compounds, among others) were optimised. The use of matrix-matched calibration, together with labelled surrogate standards, minimises matrix effects, resulting in recoveries between 70 and 128%, with good quantitation limits (below 0.1 μg g-1 for most compounds) and precision (<20%). The method proposed can be applied to any type of polymer, but due to the existence of the matrix effect, calibrates with the adequate matrix should be performed for each polymer. SIGNIFICANCE This method represents an effective improvement compared to previous methods because it is fast, solvent-free, fully automated, and provides reliable quantification of additives in plastic samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Concha-Graña
- Universidade da Coruña, Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP) research group, Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), 15008, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Carmen M Moscoso-Pérez
- Universidade da Coruña, Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP) research group, Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Verónica Fernández-González
- Universidade da Coruña, Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP) research group, Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Purificación López-Mahía
- Universidade da Coruña, Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP) research group, Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo
- Universidade da Coruña, Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP) research group, Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), 15008, A Coruña, Spain.
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2
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Vilke JM, Fonseca TG, Alkimin GD, Gonçalves JM, Edo C, Errico GD, Seilitz FS, Rotander A, Benedetti M, Regoli F, Lüchmann KH, Bebianno MJ. Looking beyond the obvious: The ecotoxicological impact of the leachate from fishing nets and cables in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134479. [PMID: 38762985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Once in the marine environment, fishing nets and cables undergo weathering, breaking down into micro and nano-size particles and leaching plastic additives, which negatively affect marine biota. This study aims to unravel the ecotoxicological impact of different concentrations of leachate obtained from abandoned or lost fishing nets and cables in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis under long-term exposure (28 days). Biochemical biomarkers linked to antioxidant defense system, xenobiotic biotransformation, oxidative damage, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity were evaluated in different mussel tissues. The chemical nature of the fishing nets and cables and the chemical composition of the leachate were assessed and metals, plasticizers, UV stabilizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, intermediates and photo initiators were detected. The leachate severely affected the antioxidant and biotransformation systems in mussels' tissues. Following exposure to 1 mg·L-1 of leachate, mussels' defense system was enhanced to prevent oxidative damage. In contrast, in mussels exposed to 10 and 100 mg·L-1 of leachate, defenses failed to overcome pro-oxidant molecules, resulting in genotoxicity and oxidative damage. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Weight of Evidence (WOE) evaluation confirmed that mussels were significantly affected by the leachate being the hazard of the leachate concentrations of 10 mg·L-1 ranked as major, while 1 and 100 mg·L-1 was moderate. These results highlighted that the leachate from fishing nets and cables can be a threat to the heath of the mussel M. galloprovincialis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano M Vilke
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal; Multicenter Program in Postgraduate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - PMBqBM, Santa Catarina State University, Lages 88520-000, Brazil
| | - Tainá G Fonseca
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Gilberto D Alkimin
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Joanna M Gonçalves
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Carlos Edo
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Giuseppe d' Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Maura Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Karim H Lüchmann
- Department of Scientific and Technological Education, Santa Catarina State University, Florianopolis 88035-001, Brazil
| | - Maria João Bebianno
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal.
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3
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López-Vázquez J, Rodil R, Álvarez E, Alomar C, Cela R, Miró M, Deudero S, Quintana JB. Screening of organic chemicals associated to virgin low-density polyethylene microplastic pellets exposed to the Mediterranean Sea environment by combining gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171250. [PMID: 38423314 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
In this work, organic chemicals associated with microplastics (MPs) exposed to a coastal anthropogenized environment for up to eight weeks have been screened for, in order to discern the (de)sorption dynamics of chemicals in the marine ecosystem. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets were studied since they represent primary MPs used by the plastic industry and a relevant input of MPs into the oceans. To maximize the coverage of chemicals that could be detected, both liquid and gas chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight (GC-QTOF and LC-QTOF, respectively) were used. In the case of LC-QTOF, an electrospray ionization source was employed, and the compounds were investigated by combining suspect and non-target screening workflows. The GC-QTOF was equipped with an electron ionization source and compounds were screened in raw and derivatized (silylated) extracts by deconvolution and contrast to high- and low-resolution libraries. A total of 50 compounds of multifarious classes were tentatively identified. Among them, melamine and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) were detected in the original MPs but were rapidly desorbed. Melamine was completely released into the marine environment, while EHS was partly released but a portion remained bound to the MPs. On the other hand, many other chemicals of both anthropogenic (e.g. phenanthrene or benzophenone) and natural origin (e.g. betaine and several fatty acids) accumulated onto MPs over time. Quantification of 12 unequivocally identified chemicals resulted into a total concentration of 810 μg/kg after MPs exposure for 8 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier López-Vázquez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute of Research on Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, R. Constantino Candeira S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosario Rodil
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute of Research on Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, R. Constantino Candeira S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Elvira Álvarez
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Moll de Ponent s/n, E-07015 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Carme Alomar
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Moll de Ponent s/n, E-07015 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Rafael Cela
- Mestrelab Research Center (CIM), Av. Barcelona 7, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Miró
- FI-TRACE Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Moll de Ponent s/n, E-07015 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - José Benito Quintana
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute of Research on Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, R. Constantino Candeira S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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4
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Jansen MAK, Andrady AL, Bornman JF, Aucamp PJ, Bais AF, Banaszak AT, Barnes PW, Bernhard GH, Bruckman LS, Busquets R, Häder DP, Hanson ML, Heikkilä AM, Hylander S, Lucas RM, Mackenzie R, Madronich S, Neale PJ, Neale RE, Olsen CM, Ossola R, Pandey KK, Petropavlovskikh I, Revell LE, Robinson SA, Robson TM, Rose KC, Solomon KR, Andersen MPS, Sulzberger B, Wallington TJ, Wang QW, Wängberg SÅ, White CC, Young AR, Zepp RG, Zhu L. Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:629-650. [PMID: 38512633 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-024-00552-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic materials, degradation of plastic debris, formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles and accompanying leaching of potential toxic compounds. Micro- and nanoplastics have been found in all ecosystems, the atmosphere, and in humans. While the potential biological risks are not yet well-established, the widespread and increasing occurrence of plastic pollution is reason for continuing research and monitoring. Plastic debris persists after its intended life in soils, water bodies and the atmosphere as well as in living organisms. To counteract accumulation of plastics in the environment, the lifetime of novel plastics or plastic alternatives should better match the functional life of products, with eventual breakdown releasing harmless substances to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A K Jansen
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Anthony L Andrady
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Janet F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
| | | | - Alkiviadis F Bais
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anastazia T Banaszak
- Unidad Académica Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Paul W Barnes
- Department of Biological Sciences and Environment Program, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Laura S Bruckman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rosa Busquets
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston University London, Kingston Upon Thames, UK
| | | | - Mark L Hanson
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Samuel Hylander
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Robyn M Lucas
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Roy Mackenzie
- Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de Magallanes, Puerto Williams, Chile
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems BASE, Santiago, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center CHIC, Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Sasha Madronich
- UV-B Monitoring and Research Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Patrick J Neale
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA
| | - Rachel E Neale
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Catherine M Olsen
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rachele Ossola
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Irina Petropavlovskikh
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Ozone and Water Vapor Division, NOAA ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Laura E Revell
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - T Matthew Robson
- UK National School of Forestry, University of Cumbria, Ambleside Campus, Ambleside, UK
- Organismal & Evolutionary Ecology, Viikki Plant Science Centre, Faculty of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kevin C Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Keith R Solomon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Mads P Sulbæk Andersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Barbara Sulzberger
- Retired From Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Wallington
- Center for Sustainable Systems, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Qing-Wei Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Sten-Åke Wängberg
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | - Richard G Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Liping Zhu
- State Key Lab for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Estoppey N, Castro G, Slinde GA, Hansen CB, Løseth ME, Krahn KM, Demmer V, Svenni J, Tran TVAT, Asimakopoulos AG, Arp HPH, Cornelissen G. Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170501. [PMID: 38307289 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) produced from organic waste have the potential to reduce societal dependence on limited and energy-intensive mineral fertilizers. BBFs, thereby, contribute to a circular economy for fertilizers. However, BBFs can contain plastic fragments and hazardous additives such as phthalate plasticizers, which could constitute a risk for agricultural soils and the environment. This study assessed the exposure associated with plastic and phthalates in BBFs from three types of organic wastes: agricultural and food industry waste (AgriFoodInduWaste), sewage sludge (SewSludge), and biowaste (i.e., garden, park, food and kitchen waste). The wastes were associated with various treatments like drying, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting. The number of microplastics (0.045-5 mm) increased from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs (15-258 particles g-1), to SewSludge-BBFs (59-1456 particles g-1) and then to Biowaste-BBFs (828-2912 particles g-1). Biowaste-BBFs mostly contained packaging plastics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), with the mass of plastic (>10 g kg-1) exceeding the EU threshold (3 g kg-1, plastics >2 mm). Other BBFs mostly contained small (< 1 mm) non-packaging plastics in amounts below the EU limit. The calculated numbers of microplastics entering agricultural soils via BBF application was high (107-1010 microplastics ha-1y-1), but the mass of plastic released from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs was limited (< 1 and <7 kg ha-1y-1) compared to Biowaste-BBFs (95-156 kg ha-1y-1). The concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP; < 2.5 mg kg-1) and phthalate transformation products (< 8 mg kg-1) were low (< benchmark of 50 mg kg-1 for DEHP), attributable to both the current phase-out of DEHP as well as phthalate degradation during waste treatment. The Biowaste-BBF exposed to vermicomposting indicated that worms accumulated phthalate transformation products (4 mg kg-1). These results are overall positive for the implementation of the studied AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs. However, the safe use of the studied Biowaste-BBFs requires reducing plastic use and improving sorting methods to minimize plastic contamination, in order to protect agricultural soils and reduce the environmental impact of Biowaste-BBFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Estoppey
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Research in Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gøril Aasen Slinde
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Caroline Berge Hansen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Engvig Løseth
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Viona Demmer
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørgen Svenni
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | - Teresa-Van-Anh Thi Tran
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432 Ås, Norway
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Ghobashy MM, Gayed HM. Thermal conversion of irradiated LLDPE waste into sustainable sponge-like compounds: a novel approach for efficient trace-level oil-water removal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4833. [PMID: 38413688 PMCID: PMC10899568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55401-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The newest method for recycling waste linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is the thermo-catalytic degradation technique known as catalytic pyrolysis. Typically, it is limited by 500-800 °C high temperatures. Catalytic pyrolysis releases toxins and forms harmful carbonized char. The current study is based on exposing wasted LLDPE to different gamma irradiation doses and then pyrolysis in castor oil (150-300 °C). The output product of Ir-(rLLDPE) is turned into another compound with a new structural architecture (sponge-like). SEM analysis confirms conversion, showing sponge-like spicules and layers. Ir-(rLLDPE) is sponge-like with a soft, malleable, absorbent texture. The DSC demonstrates altered thermal properties, with a melting point at 121 °C splitting into two peaks (endothermic at 117 °C and exothermic at 160 °C). The exothermic peaks signify the curing process of the sponge-like material. Ir-(rLLDPE) is assessed as an adsorbent for aqueous oils and solvents. The study examines irradiation doses, pyrolysis temperature, and time on adsorbent capacity. The oil removal obeys the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 24.75 g/g of waste oil and 43 g/g of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. Squashing maintains adsorption after 20 reuses. Data shows sponges effectively clean marine oil spills and solvents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Mohamady Ghobashy
- Radiation Research of Polymer Chemistry Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.
| | - H M Gayed
- Radiation Research of Polymer Chemistry Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.
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7
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Na SH, Kim MJ, Kim J, Batool R, Cho K, Chung J, Lee S, Kim EJ. Fate and potential risks of microplastic fibers and fragments in water and wastewater treatment processes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132938. [PMID: 37948781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive various types of microplastics (MPs), with fibers and fragments being dominant shapes. Here we investigated the removal behavior and transformation of MPs (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate fibers and fragments) in simulated water and wastewater treatment units, including activated sludge process, coagulation, sand filtration, and advanced oxidation/disinfection. Sand filtration demonstrated the highest average efficiency in removing MPs (98 %), followed by activated sludge process (61 %) and coagulation (55 %), which was associated with their physicochemical properties (shape, size, density, surface functional groups, etc). In activated sludge process and coagulation, the polymer type had a greater impact on the removal of MPs than the particle shape, while in sand filtration, the particle shape played a more important role. When subjected to the long-term operation and backwashing of sand filters, approximately 15 % of the initially filtered fragments broke through the sand media, with nearly no fibers escaping. UV-based advanced oxidation and chlorination induced the leaching of dissolved organic matters with different molecular characteristics from fragment MPs, resulting in varying levels of cytotoxicity and bacterial toxicity. Our study provides important information for predicting the fate of MPs and mitigating their impacts in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Heon Na
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Min-Ji Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Jihee Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Rida Batool
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Kyungjin Cho
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Jaeshik Chung
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Seunghak Lee
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea.
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8
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Miralha A, Contins M, Carpenter LBT, Pinto RL, Marques Calderari MRC, Neves RAF. Leachates of weathering plastics from an urban sandy beach: Toxicity to sea urchin fertilization and early development. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115980. [PMID: 38171163 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Plastic leachates have chemical and biological implications for marine environments. This study experimentally evaluated acute effects of weathering plastic leachates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 %) on fertilization and early development of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. Fertilization, embryonic and larval development were drastically inhibited (~75 %) when gametes were exposed to intermediate and high leachate concentrations or delayed when exposed to the lowest concentration. Fertilization and first cleavage stages were highly affected by exposure to intermediate and high leachate concentrations. None of the cells incubated at concentrations from 50 % reached blastula stage, suggesting that embryonic development was the most sensitive stage. Abnormalities in embryos and larvae were observed in all leachate treatments. Chemical analysis detected high concentration of bisphenol A, which may induce these observed effects. Our results highlight the potential threats of plastic pollution to sea urchin populations, which may severely affect the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Miralha
- Graduate Program in Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil; Research Group of Experimental and Applied Aquatic Ecology, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil
| | - Mariana Contins
- Science and Culture Forum, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - Letícia B T Carpenter
- Centre of Analysis Fernanda Coutinho, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil
| | - Rafael L Pinto
- Centre of Analysis Fernanda Coutinho, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil
| | | | - Raquel A F Neves
- Graduate Program in Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil; Research Group of Experimental and Applied Aquatic Ecology, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil.
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9
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Nakatani H, Uchiyama T, Motokucho S, Dao ATN, Kim HJ, Yagi M, Kyozuka Y. Differences in the Residual Behavior of a Bumetrizole-Type Ultraviolet Light Absorber during the Degradation of Various Polymers. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:293. [PMID: 38276701 PMCID: PMC10819654 DOI: 10.3390/polym16020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The alteration of an ultraviolet light absorber (UVA: UV-326) in polymers (PP, HDPE, LDPE, PLA, and PS) over time during degradation was studied using an enhanced degradation method (EDM) involving sulfate ion radicals in seawater. The EDM was employed to homogeneously degrade the entire polymer samples containing the UVA. The PP and PS samples containing 5-phr (phr: per hundred resin) UVA films underwent rapid whitening, characterized by the formation of numerous grooves or crushed particles. Notably, the UVA loss rate in PS, with the higher glass transition temperature (Tg), was considerably slower. The behavior of crystalline polymers, with the exception of PS, was analogous in terms of the change in UVA loss rate over the course of degradation. The significant increase in the initial loss rate observed during EDM degradation was due to microplasticization. A similar increase in microplasticization rate occurred with PS; however, the intermolecular interaction between UVA and PS did not result in as pronounced an increase in loss rate as observed in other polymers. Importantly, the chemical structure of UVA remained unaltered during EDM degradation. These findings revealed that the primary cause of UVA loss was leaching from the polymer matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisayuki Nakatani
- Polymeri Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Engineering Program, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (T.U.); (S.M.); (A.T.N.D.)
- Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan;
| | - Taishi Uchiyama
- Polymeri Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Engineering Program, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (T.U.); (S.M.); (A.T.N.D.)
| | - Suguru Motokucho
- Polymeri Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Engineering Program, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (T.U.); (S.M.); (A.T.N.D.)
- Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan;
| | - Anh Thi Ngoc Dao
- Polymeri Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Engineering Program, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (T.U.); (S.M.); (A.T.N.D.)
| | - Hee-Jin Kim
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (H.-J.K.); (M.Y.)
| | - Mitsuharu Yagi
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan; (H.-J.K.); (M.Y.)
| | - Yusaku Kyozuka
- Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan;
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10
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Lv S, Li Y, Zhao S, Shao Z. Biodegradation of Typical Plastics: From Microbial Diversity to Metabolic Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:593. [PMID: 38203764 PMCID: PMC10778777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic production has increased dramatically, leading to accumulated plastic waste in the ocean. Marine plastics can be broken down into microplastics (<5 mm) by sunlight, machinery, and pressure. The accumulation of microplastics in organisms and the release of plastic additives can adversely affect the health of marine organisms. Biodegradation is one way to address plastic pollution in an environmentally friendly manner. Marine microorganisms can be more adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature, pH, and pressure compared with terrestrial microorganisms, providing new opportunities to address plastic pollution. Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria), Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes), Bacillota (Firmicutes), and Cyanobacteria were frequently found on plastic biofilms and may degrade plastics. Currently, diverse plastic-degrading bacteria are being isolated from marine environments such as offshore and deep oceanic waters, especially Pseudomonas spp. Bacillus spp. Alcanivoras spp. and Actinomycetes. Some marine fungi and algae have also been revealed as plastic degraders. In this review, we focused on the advances in plastic biodegradation by marine microorganisms and their enzymes (esterase, cutinase, laccase, etc.) involved in the process of biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) and highlighted the need to study plastic biodegradation in the deep sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Lv
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Xiamen 361005, China; (S.L.); (Y.L.); (S.Z.)
- School of Environmental Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yufei Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Xiamen 361005, China; (S.L.); (Y.L.); (S.Z.)
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Sufang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Xiamen 361005, China; (S.L.); (Y.L.); (S.Z.)
| | - Zongze Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Xiamen 361005, China; (S.L.); (Y.L.); (S.Z.)
- School of Environmental Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
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11
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Li Y, Liu C, Yang H, He W, Li B, Zhu X, Liu S, Jia S, Li R, Tang KHD. Leaching of chemicals from microplastics: A review of chemical types, leaching mechanisms and influencing factors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167666. [PMID: 37820817 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167666] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
It is widely known that microplastics are present everywhere and they pose certain risks to the ecosystem and humans which are partly attributed to the leaching of additives and chemicals from them. However, the leaching mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This review paper aims to comprehensively and critically illustrate the leaching mechanisms in biotic and abiotic environments. It analyzes and synthesizes the factors influencing the leaching processes. It achieves the aims by reviewing >165 relevant scholarly papers published mainly in the past 10 years. According to this review, flame retardants, plasticizers and antioxidants are the three main groups of additives in microplastics with the potentials to disrupt endocrine functions, reproduction, brain development and kidney functions. Upon ingestion, the MPs are exposed to digestive fluids containing enzymes and acids which facilitate their degradation and leaching of chemicals. Fats and oils in the digestive tracts also aid the leaching and transport of these chemicals particularly the fat-soluble ones. Leaching is highly variable depending on chemical properties and bisphenols leach to a larger extent than other endocrine disrupting chemicals. However, the rates of leaching remain poorly understood, owing probably to multiple factors at play. Diffusion and partitioning are two main mechanisms of leaching in biotic and abiotic environments. Photodegradation is more predominant in the latter, generating reactive oxygen species which cause microplastic aging and leaching with minimal destruction of the chemicals leached. Effects of microplastic sizes on leaching are governed by Sherwood number, thickness of aqueous boundary layer and desorption half-life. This review contributes to better understanding of leaching of chemicals from microplastics which affect their ecotoxicities and human toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yage Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Chen Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Haotian Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Wenhui He
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Beibei Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Xinyi Zhu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Shuyan Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Shihao Jia
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Ronghua Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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12
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Bridson JH, Masterton H, Theobald B, Risani R, Doake F, Wallbank JA, Maday SDM, Lear G, Abbel R, Smith DA, Kingsbury JM, Pantos O, Northcott GL, Gaw S. Leaching and transformation of chemical additives from weathered plastic deployed in the marine environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115810. [PMID: 38006872 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution causes detrimental environmental impacts, which are increasingly attributed to chemical additives. However, the behaviour of plastic additives in the marine environment is poorly understood. We used a marine deployment experiment to examine the impact of weathering on the extractables profile, analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, of four plastics at two locations over nine months in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The concentration of additives in polyethylene and oxo-degradable polyethylene were strongly influenced by artificial weathering, with deployment location and time less influential. By comparison, polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate were comparatively inert with minimal change in response to artificial weathering or deployment time. Non-target analysis revealed extensive differentiation between non-aged and aged polyethylene after deployment, concordant with the targeted analysis. These observations highlight the need to consider the impact of leaching and weathering on plastic composition when quantifying the potential impact and risk of plastic pollution within receiving environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Bridson
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand; School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand.
| | - Hayden Masterton
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 27 Creyke Road, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Beatrix Theobald
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Regis Risani
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Fraser Doake
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 27 Creyke Road, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Jessica A Wallbank
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Stefan D M Maday
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Lear
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Robert Abbel
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Dawn A Smith
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Joanne M Kingsbury
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 27 Creyke Road, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Olga Pantos
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 27 Creyke Road, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Grant L Northcott
- Northcott Research Consultants Limited, 20 River Oaks Place, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
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13
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Maddela NR, Kakarla D, Venkateswarlu K, Megharaj M. Additives of plastics: Entry into the environment and potential risks to human and ecological health. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119364. [PMID: 37866190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
A steep rise in global plastic production and significant discharge of plastic waste are expected in the near future. Plastics pose a threat to the ecosystem and human health through the generation of particulate plastics that act as carriers for other emerging contaminants, and the release of toxic chemical additives. Since plastic additives are not covalently bound, they can freely leach into the environment. Due to their occurrence in various environmental settings, the additives exert significant ecotoxicity. However, only 25% of plastic additives have been characterized for their potential ecological concern. Despite global market statistics highlighting the substantial environmental burden caused by the unrestricted production and use of plastic additives, information on their ecotoxicity remains incomplete. By focusing on the ecological impacts of plastic additives, the present review aims to provide detailed insights into the following aspects: (i) diversity and occurrence in the environment, (ii) leaching from plastic materials, (iii) trophic transfer, (iv) human exposure, (v) risks to ecosystem and human health, and (vi) legal guidelines and mitigation strategies. These insights are of immense value in restricting the use of toxic additives, searching for eco-friendly alternatives, and establishing or revising guidelines on plastic additives by global health and environmental agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naga Raju Maddela
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, 130105, Ecuador
| | - Dhatri Kakarla
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
- Formerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu, 515003, India
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), The University of Newcastle, ATC Building, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
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14
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Rosso B, Bravo B, Gregoris E, Barbante C, Gambaro A, Corami F. Quantification and Chemical Characterization of Plastic Additives and Small Microplastics (<100 μm) in Highway Road Dust. TOXICS 2023; 11:936. [PMID: 37999588 PMCID: PMC10674966 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11110936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Road dust is one of the environment's most important microplastic and plastic additive sources. Traffic vehicles and the wear of tires can release these emerging contaminants, which can be resuspended in the air and washed off by stormwater runoff. In this study, a concurrent quantification and chemical characterization of additives, plasticizers, natural and non-plastic synthetic fibers (APFs), and small microplastics (SMPs, <100 µm) in samples of highway road dust (HWRD) was performed. The sampling procedure was optimized, as well as pretreatment (extraction, purification, and filtration) and analysis via micro-FTIR. The average length of the SMPs was 88 µm, while the average width was 50 µm. The highest abundance of SMPs was detected in HWRD 7 (802 ± 39 SMPs/g). Among the polymers characterized and quantified, vinyl ester and polytetrafluoroethylene were predominant. APFs' average particle length was 80 µm and their width was 45 µm, confirming that both of these emerging pollutants are less than 100 µm in size. Their maximum concentration was in RD7, with 1044 ± 45 APFs/g. Lubricants and plasticizers are the two most abundant categories, followed by vulcanizing agents, accelerators, and pre-vulcanizing retarders derived mainly from tires. A potential relationship between APFs and SMPs in the different seasons was observed, as their concentration was lower in summer for both and higher in winter 2022. These results will be significant in investigating the load of these pollutants from highways, which is urgently necessary for more accurate inclusion in emission inventories, receptor modeling, and health protection programs by policymakers, especially in air and water pollution policies, to prevent risks to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Rosso
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Barbara Bravo
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Str. Rivoltana, Km 4, 20090 Rodano, Italy
| | - Elena Gregoris
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
- Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Carlo Barbante
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
- Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Fabiana Corami
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
- Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
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15
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Bakenhus I, Jongsma R, Michler-Kozma D, Hölscher L, Gabel F, Holert J, Philipp B. A domesticated photoautotrophic microbial community as a biofilm model system for analyzing the influence of plastic surfaces on invertebrate grazers in limnic environments. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1238913. [PMID: 38033587 PMCID: PMC10687189 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238913] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The environmental fate of plastic particles in water bodies is influenced by microbial biofilm formation. Invertebrate grazers may be affected when foraging biofilms on plastics compared to biofilms on natural substrata but the mechanistic basis for these effects is unknown. For analyzing these effects in ecotoxicological assays stable and reproducible biofilm communities are required that are related to the environmental site of interest. Here, a defined biofilm community was established and used to perform grazing experiments with a freshwater snail. For this, snippets of different plastic materials were incubated in the photic zone of three different freshwater sites. Amplicon sequencing of biofilms formed on these snippets showed that the site of incubation and not the plastic material dominated the microbial community composition. From these biofilms, individual microbial strains as well as photoautotrophic consortia were isolated; these consortia consisted of heterotrophic bacteria that were apparently nourished by microalga. While biofilms formed by defined dual cultures of a microalga and an Alphaproteobacterium were not accepted by the snail P. fontinalis, a photoautotrophic consortium (Co_3) sustained growth and metabolism of this grazer. Amplicon sequencing revealed that consortium Co_3, which could be stably maintained on solid medium under photoautotrophic conditions, reproducibly formed biofilms of a defined composition on three different plastic materials and on glass surfaces. In conclusion, our study shows that the generation of domesticated photoautotrophic microbial communities is a valid novel approach for establishing laboratory ecotoxicological assays with higher environmental relevance than those based on defined microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insa Bakenhus
- Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rense Jongsma
- Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Lea Hölscher
- Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Friederike Gabel
- Institute for Landscape Ecology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Johannes Holert
- Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bodo Philipp
- Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Molekulare und Angewandte Ökologie IME, Umweltmikrobiologie, Schmallenberg, Germany
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16
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Maes T, Preston-Whyte F, Lavelle S, Gomiero A, Booth AM, Belzunce-Segarra MJ, Bellas J, Brooks S, Bakir A, Devriese LI, Pham CK, De Witte B. A recipe for plastic: Expert insights on plastic additives in the marine environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115633. [PMID: 37864860 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The production and consumption of plastic products had been steadily increasing over the years, leading to more plastic waste entering the environment. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous and comes in many types and forms. To enhance or modify their properties, chemical additives are added to plastic items during manufacturing. The presence and leakage of these additives, from managed and mismanaged plastic waste, into the environment are of growing concern. In this study, we gauged, via an online questionnaire, expert knowledge on the use, characteristics, monitoring and risks of plastic additives to the marine environment. We analysed the survey results against actual data to identify and prioritise risks and gaps. Participants also highlighted key factors for future consideration, including gaining a deeper understanding of the use and types of plastic additives, how they leach throughout the entire lifecycle, their toxicity, and the safety of alternative options. More extensive chemical regulation and an evaluation of the essentiality of their use should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Maes
- GRID-Arendal, Teaterplassen 3, 4836 Arendal, Norway.
| | | | | | - Alessio Gomiero
- NORCE Climate and Environment dep, Mekjarvik 12, 4072 Randaberg, Norway
| | - Andy M Booth
- SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Juan Bellas
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), CSIC, Subida a Radio Faro 50, Vigo 36390, Spain
| | - Steven Brooks
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Adil Bakir
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Lisa I Devriese
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Christopher Kim Pham
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Bavo De Witte
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Marine Research (ILVO-Marine), Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
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17
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Bridson JH, Abbel R, Smith DA, Northcott GL, Gaw S. Impact of accelerated weathering on the leaching kinetics of stabiliser additives from microplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132303. [PMID: 37595471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The release of additives from microplastics is known to harm organisms. In the environment, microplastics are exposed to weathering processes which are suspected to influence additive leaching kinetics, the extent and mechanism of which remain poorly understood. We examined the impact of weathering on stabiliser additive leaching kinetics using environmentally relevant accelerated weathering and leaching procedures. Nine binary polymer-additive formulations were specifically prepared, weathered, analysed, and evaluated for their leaching characteristics. Cumulative additive release (Ce) varied widely between formulations, ranging from 0.009 to 1162 µg/g. Values of Ce generally increased by polymer type in the order polyethylene terephthalate < polyamide 6 < polyethylene. The change in leaching kinetics after accelerated weathering was incongruous across the nine formulations, with a significant change in Ce only observed for three out of nine formulations. Physicochemical characterisation of the microplastics demonstrated that additive blooming was the primary mechanism influencing the leaching response to weathering. These findings highlight the dependency of additive fate on the polymer type, additive chemistry, and the extent of weathering exposure. This has significant implications for risk assessment and mitigation, where the general assumption that polymer weathering increases additive leaching may be too simplistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Bridson
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand; School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand.
| | - Robert Abbel
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Dawn A Smith
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Grant L Northcott
- Northcott Research Consultants Limited, 20 River Oaks Place, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
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18
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Lee YK, He W, Guo H, Karanfil T, Hur J. Effects of organic additives on spectroscopic and molecular-level features of photo-induced dissolved organic matter from microplastics. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120272. [PMID: 37393811 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The environmental occurrence and impact of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics (MP-DOM) has been the subject of increased research interest. Commercial plastics, which typically contain additives, are subject to natural weathering processes and can eventually lose their additives. However, the effects of organic additives in commercial microplastics (MPs) on the release of MP-DOM under UV irradiation remain poorly understood. In this study, four polymer MPs (polyethylene; PE, polypropylene; PP, polystyrene; PS, polyvinylchloride; PVC) and four commercial MPs, including a PE zip bag, a PP facial mask, a PVC sheet, Styrofoam, were subjected to leaching under UV irradiation, and the MP-DOM was characterized using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and fluorescence excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). Although UV light promoted the leaching of MP-DOM from both MP groups, the amount released was more pronounced for the polymer MPs than for the commercial MPs. The commercial MP-DOM was characterized by a prominent protein/phenol-like component (C1), while a humic-like component (C2) prevailed in the polymer MPs. FT-ICR-MS identified a higher number of unique molecular formulas for the commercial than for the polymer MP-DOM. The unique molecular formulas of commercial MP-DOM included known organic additives and other breakdown products, while the polymer MP-DOM featured more pronounced unsaturated carbon structures in its identified unique formulas. Several molecular-level parameters showed significant correlations with fluorescence properties, such as CHO formulas (%) with C1 and condensed aromatic structure (CAS-like, %) with C2, suggesting the potential application of fluorescent components as an optical descriptor for the complex molecular-level composition. This study also revealed the possible high environmental reactivity of both polymer MPs and fully weathered plastics due to the unsaturated structures generated in sunlit environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Kyung Lee
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, South Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson 29634, South Carolina, United States
| | - Wei He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, (Beijing), Beijing, China
| | - Huaming Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, (Beijing), Beijing, China
| | - Tanju Karanfil
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson 29634, South Carolina, United States
| | - Jin Hur
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, South Korea.
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19
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Kaseke T, Lujic T, Cirkovic Velickovic T. Nano- and Microplastics Migration from Plastic Food Packaging into Dairy Products: Impact on Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism. Foods 2023; 12:3043. [PMID: 37628042 PMCID: PMC10453031 DOI: 10.3390/foods12163043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing use of plastic polymers to manufacture food packaging has raised concerns about the presence of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in a variety of foods. This review provides the most recent data on NMPs' migration from plastic packaging into dairy products. Also discussed are the possible effects of NMPs on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Different kinds of dairy products, including skimmed milk, whole liquid milk, powder milk, and infant formula milk, have been found to contain NMPs of various sizes, shapes, and concentrations. NMPs may interact with proteins, carbohydrates, and fats and have a detrimental impact on how well these nutrients are digested and absorbed by the body. The presence of NMPs in the gastrointestinal tract may impact how lipids, proteins, glucose, iron, and energy are metabolized, increasing the risk of developing various health conditions. In addition to NMPs, plastic oligomers released from food packaging material have been found to migrate to various foods and food simulants, though information regarding their effect on human health is limited. Viewpoints on potential directions for future studies on NMPs and their impact on nutrient digestion, absorption, and health are also presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tafadzwa Kaseke
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Lujic
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Food Technology, Safety, and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Food Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon 21985, Republic of Korea
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Knez Mihajlova 35, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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20
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Zhu L, Hajeb P, Fauser P, Vorkamp K. Endocrine disrupting chemicals in indoor dust: A review of temporal and spatial trends, and human exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162374. [PMID: 36828075 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Several chemicals with widespread consumer uses have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), with a potential risk to humans. The occurrence in indoor dust and resulting human exposure have been reviewed for six groups of known and suspected EDCs, including phthalates and non-phthalate plasticizers, flame retardants, bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), biocides and personal care product additives (PCPs). Some banned or restricted EDCs, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are still widely detected in indoor dust in most countries, even as the predominating compounds of their group, but generally with decreasing trends. Meanwhile, alternatives that are also potential EDCs, such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and PFAS precursors, such as fluorotelomer alcohols, have been detected in indoor dust with increasing frequencies and concentrations. Associations between some known and suspected EDCs, such as phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers, FRs and BPs, in indoor dust and paired human samples indicate indoor dust as an important human exposure pathway. Although the estimated daily intake (EDI) of most of the investigated compounds was mostly below reference values, the co-exposure to a multitude of known or suspected EDCs requires a better understanding of mixture effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyan Zhu
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Parvaneh Hajeb
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Patrik Fauser
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark
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21
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Bridson JH, Abbel R, Smith DA, Northcott GL, Gaw S. Solving a microplastic dilemma? Evaluating additive release with a dynamic leaching method for microplastic assessment (DyLeMMA). MethodsX 2023; 10:102221. [PMID: 37255577 PMCID: PMC10225925 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102221] [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: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics and plastic additives are contaminants of emerging environmental concern. Static leaching methods are commonly applied to assess the rate and extent of additive release from microplastics. However, this approach may not be representative of environmental conditions where near infinite dilution or percolation commonly occur. We evaluated three different approaches for assessing additive leaching under environmentally relevant sink conditions, culminating in the refinement and validation of DyLeMMA (Dynamic Leaching Method for Microplastic Assessment). Analysis was performed using a high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method enabling targeted quantification of additives and screening for non-intentionally added substances. Using four different plastics, sink conditions were maintained over the duration of the test, thereby avoiding solubility limited release and ensuring environmental relevance. Background contamination from ubiquitous additive chemicals was minimised, thereby providing good sensitivity and specificity. Resulting data, in the form of additive release curves, should prove suitable for fitting to release models and derivation of parameters describing additive leaching from microplastics.Key attributes of DyLeMMA:•Environmentally relevant dynamic leaching method for microplastics, demonstrated to maintain sink conditions over the test duration,•Simple, fast, and cost-effective approach without complication of using a solid phase sink,•Provide data suitable for understanding microplastic leaching kinetics and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. Bridson
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Robert Abbel
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Dawn A. Smith
- Scion, Titokorangi Drive, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
| | - Grant L. Northcott
- Northcott Research Consultants Limited, 20 River Oaks Place, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
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22
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Herrera A, Acosta-Dacal A, Pérez-Luzardo O, Martínez I, Rapp J, Reinold S, Montesdeoca-Esponda S, Montero D, Gómez M. Trophic transfer of DDE, BP-3 and chlorpyrifos from microplastics to tissues in Dicentrarchus labrax. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163295. [PMID: 37086996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution and associated chemical contaminants is a topic of growing interest. In recent years, the number of publications reporting the presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine organisms has increased exponentially. However, there is a gap in knowledge about the trophic transfer of contaminants from microplastics to animal tissues, as well as possible health effects. In this study we analyzed the trophic transfer and biomagnification of three chemical pollutants present in microplastics: dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE-p,p'), benzophenone 3 (BP-3) and chlorpyrifos (CPS). The reference values used were concentrations found in environmental microplastics in the Canary Islands (minimum and maximum). European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fed for 60 days with 5 different treatments: A) feed; B) feed with chemical pollutants at maximum concentration; C) feed + 10 % virgin MPs; D) feed + 10 % MPs with chemical pollutants at minimum concentration; E) feed + 10 % MPs with chemical pollutants at maximum concentration. We detected trophic transfer of DDE-p,p', CPS and BP-3 from the feed (treatment B) to the muscle and liver of fish. In the case of DDE-p,p', transfer to liver and muscle was also observed in the treatments consisting of feed plus plastics with different levels of contamination (C, D and E). No effect of the experimental treatments on fish condition indices was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Herrera
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Andrea Acosta-Dacal
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Octavio Pérez-Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Ico Martínez
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Jorge Rapp
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Stefanie Reinold
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda
- Instituto de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (i-UNAT), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Daniel Montero
- Grupo de Investigación en Acuicultura (GIA), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - May Gómez
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), Iu-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
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23
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Ren X, Han Y, Zhao H, Zhang Z, Tsui TH, Wang Q. Elucidating the characteristic of leachates released from microplastics under different aging conditions: Perspectives of dissolved organic carbon fingerprints and nano-plastics. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119786. [PMID: 36848850 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite numerous studies that have been devoted to investigating the aging behaviors of microplastics (MPs), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nano-plastics (NPs) released from MPs under different aging conditions were limited. Herein, the characterizations and underlying mechanisms of DOC and NPs leaching from MPs (PVC and PS) in the aquatic environment for 130 days under different aging conditions were investigated. The results showed that aging could reduce the abundance of MPs, and high temperature and UV aging generated small-sized MPs (< 100 μm), especially UV aging. DOC-releasing characteristics were related to MP type and aging condition. Meanwhile, MPs were prone to release protein-like and hydrophilic substances except for 60 °C aging of PS MPs. Additionally, 8.77 × 109-8.87 × 1010 and 4.06 × 109-3.94 × 1010 NPs/L were detected in leachates from PVC and PS MPs-aged treatments, respectively. High temperature and UV promoted the release of NPs, especially UV irradiation. Meanwhile, smaller sizes and rougher NPs were observed in UV-aged treatments, implying higher ecological risks of leachates from MPs under UV aging. This study highlights the leachate released from MPs under different aging conditions comprehensively, which could offset the knowledge gap between the MPs' aging and their potential threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuna Ren
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Ye Han
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Haoran Zhao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Zengqiang Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - To-Hung Tsui
- NUS Environment Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX13PJ, United Kingdom
| | - Quan Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China.
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24
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Fernández-Míguez M, Puvanendran V, Burgerhout E, Presa P, Tveiten H, Vorkamp K, Hansen ØJ, Johansson GS, Bogevik AS. Effects of weathered polyethylene microplastic ingestion on sexual maturation, fecundity and egg quality in maturing broodstock Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 320:121053. [PMID: 36632969 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have become a global issue as they are omnipresent in the ocean. Fish ingesting MPs through feed could be affected in their physiological function, e.g., disrupted enzyme production and function, reduction of feeding and reproductive failure. This study assessed the effects of feed containing naturally weathered MPs from the Oslofjord (Norway) on the reproductive physiology of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Farmed cod broodstock were fed either control (C-diet) or feeds containing 1% microplastic (MP-diet) starting nine months prior to spawning, from June until May. No major differences were found between diet groups in overall biometrics or gonad histology. Sex steroid levels (testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol) resulted in expected profiles increasing over time without any significant differences between treatments. Gene expression levels of the steroidogenic enzyme 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-hsd) and vitellogenin1 (vtg1) showed significant differences between dietary treatments with lower expression in the control group. This can be a direct effect of MPs, but endocrine disrupting effects of potentially leachable plastic additives cannot be completely ruled out. Thus, these enzymes could be indicators of exposure to contaminants that disrupt sexual maturation by affecting the production of primarily maturation-inducing steroid. Although the concentration of MPs employed in this study may not be high enough to elicit any observable short-term biological effects, the observed gene expression suggests that long-term consequences should be considered caused by an expected increase of MPs in marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fernández-Míguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, CSIC, Vigo, Spain; Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, CIM-Universidad de Vigo, Spain
| | | | | | - P Presa
- Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, CIM-Universidad de Vigo, Spain
| | - H Tveiten
- Nofima AS, Norway; UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - K Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark
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25
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Rosso B, Corami F, Barbante C, Gambaro A. Quantification and identification of airborne small microplastics (<100 μm) and other microlitter components in atmospheric aerosol via a novel elutriation and oleo-extraction method. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120889. [PMID: 36539009 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is a significant pathway for distributing plastic particles and other micro-litter particles from their sources to other environmental compartments. There is a big gap regarding the standardized method for the quantification and identification of airborne microplastics (MPs), especially those in the range of 5-100 μm (small microplastics, SMPs) and airborne micro-litter components (MLCs), i.e., plastic additives, natural fibers and non-plastics synthetic fibers. This study aimed to develop and optimize a pre-treatment method (i.e., elutriation, oleoextraction, and purification) to extract SMPs and MLCs simultaneously from urban aerosol samples. The quantification and simultaneous chemical characterization were performed via Micro-FTIR. The method developed was then applied to two samples from different seasons, i.e., summer and late fall - winter. Micro-litter particles followed the Poisson distribution, and the fiducial limit (confidence interval) was calculated accordingly. Non-parametric statistical tests were performed to evaluate significant differences among the samples. The most abundant plastic polymers were polyethylene (HDPE) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Among MLCs, flame retardants, UV filters, stabilizers, and rayon were identified. The results of this study will contribute significantly to establishing standardized and accredited methods to quantify and identify airborne SMPs and MLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Rosso
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico - Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Corami
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico - Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Carlo Barbante
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico - Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Andrea Gambaro
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy; Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico - Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venezia-Mestre, Italy.
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26
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Andrady AL, Barnes PW, Bornman JF, Gouin T, Madronich S, White CC, Zepp RG, Jansen MAK. Oxidation and fragmentation of plastics in a changing environment; from UV-radiation to biological degradation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158022. [PMID: 35970458 PMCID: PMC9765214 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the fate of plastics in the environment is of critical importance for the quantitative assessment of the biological impacts of plastic waste. Specially, there is a need to analyze in more detail the reputed longevity of plastics in the context of plastic degradation through oxidation and fragmentation reactions. Photo-oxidation of plastic debris by solar UV radiation (UVR) makes material prone to subsequent fragmentation. The fragments generated following oxidation and subsequent exposure to mechanical stresses include secondary micro- or nanoparticles, an emerging class of pollutants. The paper discusses the UV-driven photo-oxidation process, identifying relevant knowledge gaps and uncertainties. Serious gaps in knowledge exist concerning the wavelength sensitivity and the dose-response of the photo-fragmentation process. Given the heterogeneity of natural UV irradiance varying from no exposure in sediments to full UV exposure of floating, beach litter or air-borne plastics, it is argued that the rates of UV-driven degradation/fragmentation will also vary dramatically between different locations and environmental niches. Biological phenomena such as biofouling will further modulate the exposure of plastics to UV radiation, while potentially also contributing to degradation and/or fragmentation of plastics independent of solar UVR. Reductions in solar UVR in many regions, consequent to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments for protecting stratospheric ozone, will have consequences for global UV-driven plastic degradation in a heterogeneous manner across different geographic and environmental zones. The interacting effects of global warming, stratospheric ozone and UV radiation are projected to increase UV irradiance at the surface in localized areas, mainly because of decreased cloud cover. Given the complexity and uncertainty of future environmental conditions, this currently precludes reliable quantitative predictions of plastic persistence on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Andrady
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - P W Barnes
- Biological Sciences and Environmental Program, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - J F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - T Gouin
- TG Environmental Research, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - S Madronich
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - R G Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
| | - M A K Jansen
- School of BEES, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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27
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Luo H, Liu C, He D, Sun J, Li J, Pan X. Effects of aging on environmental behavior of plastic additives: Migration, leaching, and ecotoxicity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157951. [PMID: 35961392 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), an emerging pollutant, are of global concern due to their wide distribution and large quantities. In addition to MPs themselves, various additives within MPs (such as plasticizers, flame retardants, antioxidants and heavy metals) may also have harmful effects on the environment. Most of these additives are physically bound to plastics and can therefore be leached from the plastic and released into the environment. Aging of MPs in the actual environment can affect the migration and release of additives, further increasing the ecotoxicological risk of additives to organisms. This work reviews the functions of several commonly used additives in MPs, and summarizes the representative characterization methods. Furthermore, the migration and leaching of additives in the human environment and marine environment are outlined. As aging promotes the internal chain breaking of MPs and the increase of specific surface area, it in turn stimulates the release of additives. The hazards of additive exposure have been elucidated, and various studies from the laboratory have shown that more toxic additives such as phthalates and brominated flame retardants can disrupt a variety of biological processes in organisms, including metabolism, skeletal development and so on. Increase of MPs ecological risk caused by the leaching of toxic additives is discussed, especially under the effect of aging. This study presents a systematic summary of various functional and environmental behaviors of additives in plastics, using weathering forces as the main factor, which helps to better assess the environmental impact and potential risks of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
| | - Chenyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Dongqin He
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Jianqiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xiangliang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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Lin L, Li H, Hong H, Yuan B, Sun X, He L, Xue C, Lu H, Liu J, Yan C. Enhanced heavy metal adsorption on microplastics by incorporating flame retardant hexabromocyclododecanes: Mechanisms and potential migration risks. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119144. [PMID: 36194945 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are known to act as carriers of heavy metals; however, little is known about the intrinsic chemical additives of MPs, such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), in terms of the adsorption behaviors and migration risks of heavy metals on MPs. Here, we reported the potential mechanisms and risks of HBCD inherent in polystyrene (PS) MPs with Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) adsorption/desorption. A comparison of the adsorption capacity of the metals onto HBCD/PS composites (HBCD/PS) MPs (10.31-20.76 μmol/g), pure MPs (0-3.60 μmol/g), and natural minerals (0.11-13.88 μmol/g) showed that the addition of HBCD significantly promoted the metals adsorption onto the HBCD/PS MPs, and even exceeded that of natural particles. Isotherms and thermodynamic data suggested that the adsorption process of the metals onto the HBCD/PS MPs was spontaneous and endothermic, and that the adsorption was a mainly multi-ion process with an inclined direction. Furthermore, the results of SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XPS analyses, as well as density functional theory well explained that the metals were mainly adsorbed on the -O and -Br groups of the HBCD/PS MPs via electrostatic interactions and surface complexation. More importantly, by comparing the desorption activity with natural river water and seawater, HBCD inherent in MPs can enhance the long-range transfer of metals carried by the HBCD/PS MPs from contamination sources to potential sink like oceans. Thus, the HBCD/PS MPs with high loading of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) could be potential secondary sources of these metals in seawater. Overall, these findings revealed the potential risks of flame retardant in MPs associated with metal migration, and advocated that flame retardant-related waste MPs should be included in coastal sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujian Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Hanyi Li
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Hualong Hong
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China.
| | - Bo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Xuan Sun
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222005, PR China
| | - Le He
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Chengwen Xue
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Haoliang Lu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Jingchun Liu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China
| | - Chongling Yan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, PR China.
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Campanale C, Savino I, Massarelli C, Uricchio VF. Assessment of metals associated with virgin pre-production and freshwater microplastics collected by an Italian river. NANOIMPACT 2022; 28:100438. [PMID: 36372349 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2022.100438] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recently, microplastics (MPs) have been detected in almost all environmental matrices (water, soil, air, biota). Their presence is of concern due to high environmental persistence and their ability to release or bind pollutants. In light of this, the present work aimed to quantify a poorly studied pollutant category associated with MPs: metals. This analysis was conducted on virgin MPs, used as raw materials in the plastics' production process and on environmental MPs taken from the Ofanto river in Southern Italy. The MP samples were initially grouped for colour, shape and ageing and following mineralised by a microwave digestor. The metals and metalloids Pb, Ba, Sb, Sn, Cd, Mo, Se, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ti, Al, V, Ca, K, Mg, Na were subsequently quantified with ICP-MS. All the analysed elements were found on both types of samples (virgin and environmental MPs), with higher concentrations detected on environmental samples (above 14,400 μg/g-1) rather than on pristine ones (above 5000 μg/g-1). Many of these inorganic compounds are probably adsorbed by the surrounding environment, and others are intentionally added during the plastic production process to improve their properties (e.g. additives). Noticeable differences were detected concerning the metal's distribution and amount observed in the two types of MP particles analysed. Moreover, trace element concentrations were also linked to the colour and shape of the environmental particles analysed. Most abundant levels of metals were quantified on aged black fragments, followed by coloured and transparent fragments and black pellets. Our concluding remarks underline the role of MPs as a vehicle for the transport of metals, with significant differences between the high abundance of these pollutants examined in our particles collected in a freshwater environment and the significantly lower concentrations revealed previously in marine MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Campanale
- Italian National Council of Research - Water Research Institute, Bari, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Savino
- Italian National Council of Research - Water Research Institute, Bari, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Carmine Massarelli
- Italian National Council of Research - Water Research Institute, Bari, Italy
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