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Gonzalez-Pineda M, Salvadó H, Avila C. Do Antarctic bivalves present microdebris? The case of Livingston Island. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 351:124086. [PMID: 38692387 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Marine microdebris (MD) seem to be widespread in benthic invertebrates, even in the most remote areas of the planet such as Antarctica, although the information available is still very scarce. Here we provide a detailed quantification and characterization of the MD found on three common bivalve species (Aequiyoldia eightsii, Thracia cf. meridionalis, and Cyclocardia astartoides) inhabiting shallow areas in Johnsons' Bay, Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) as a snapshot of the MD present. On average, these bivalves contained 0.71 ± 0.89 items per individual and 1.49 ± 2.35 items per gram, being comparable to the few previous existing studies in other Antarctic areas. Nearly half of the organisms analysed here (45.6 %), contained at least one item. No significant differences were found in the three bivalve species. As far as we know, this is the first study to analyse and compare MD in three bivalve species in the Antarctic Peninsula. Although our results indicate bivalves are as not as polluted as in other areas of the planet, this is remarkable since this is considered one of the last pristine areas of the world. Our results point to local activities as the main source of MD pollution in Livingston Island, although global pollution cannot be discarded. We believe this research provides a useful baseline for future studies and will contribute to develop policies and strategies to preserve Antarctic marine ecosystems from MD pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Gonzalez-Pineda
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Humbert Salvadó
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Conxita Avila
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Catalonia, Spain
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Gunaalan K, Almeda R, Vianello A, Lorenz C, Iordachescu L, Papacharalampos K, Nielsen TG, Vollertsen J. Does water column stratification influence the vertical distribution of microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122865. [PMID: 37926412 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has been confirmed in all marine compartments. However, information on the sub-surface microplastics (MPs) abundance is still limited. The vertical distribution of MPs can be influenced by water column stratification due to water masses of contrasting density. In this study, we investigated the vertical distribution of MPs in relation to the water column structure at nine sites in the Kattegat/Skagerrak (Denmark) in October 2020.A CTD was used to determine the stratification and pycnocline depth before sampling. Plastic-free pump-filter sampling devices were used to collect MPs from water samples (1-3 m3) at different depths. MPs concentration (MPs m-3) ranged from 18 to 87 MP m-3 (Median: 40 MP m-3; n = 9) in surface waters. In the mid waters, concentrations ranged from 16 to 157 MP m-3 (Median: 31 MP m-3; n = 6), while at deeper depths, concentrations ranged from 13 to 95 MP m-3 (Median: 34 MP m-3; n = 9). There was no significant difference in the concentration of MPs between depths. Regardless of the depth, polyester (47%), polypropylene (24%), polyethylene (10%), and polystyrene (9%) were the dominating polymers. Approximately 94% of the MPs fell within the size range of 11-300 μm across all depths. High-density polymers accounted for 68% of the MPs, while low-density polymers accounted for 32% at all depths. Overall, our results show that MPs are ubiquitous in the water column from surface to deep waters; we did not find any impact of water density on the depth distribution of MPs despite the strong water stratification in the Kattegat/Skagerrak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuddithamby Gunaalan
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark.
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
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Alfonso MB, Lindsay DJ, Arias AH, Nakano H, Jandang S, Isobe A. Zooplankton as a suitable tool for microplastic research. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167329. [PMID: 37748610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167329] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, significant efforts have been dedicated to measuring and comprehending the impact of microplastics (MPs) in the ocean. Despite harmonization guidelines for MPs research, discrepancies persist in the applied methodologies and future challenges, mostly for the smaller fractions (< 100 μm). Whether intentional or accidental, ingesting plastic particles by zooplankton can lead to incorporating this pollutant into aquatic food chains. Therefore, zooplankton can serve as a suitable proxy tool for assessing the presence of plastic particles in ocean waters. However, reliable information is essential for conducting experimental laboratory studies on the impact of MPs ingestion by zooplankton organisms. Using zooplankton as a research tool for MPs offers numerous advantages, including similar sampling methodologies and study techniques as MPs and particle data integration over space and time. The scientific community can gain novel perspectives by merging zooplankton studies with MPs research. This review explores key aspects of using zooplankton as a tool for MPs research in water samples, encompassing various views such as particles ingestion in natural environments, particle quantification in zooplankton samples (past and future), ecotoxicological and toxicology model studies. By leveraging the potential of zooplankton research, advancements can be made in developing innovative techniques for MPs analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Alfonso
- Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Dhugal J Lindsay
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture 237-0061, Japan
| | - Andrés H Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO - CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7.5, B8000FWB Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Haruka Nakano
- Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan
| | - Suppakarn Jandang
- Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan
| | - Atsuhiko Isobe
- Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan
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Yang Z, Murat Ç, Nakano H, Arakawa H. Accessing the intrinsic factors of carbonyl index of microplastics: Physical and spectral properties, baseline correction, calculation methods, and their interdependence. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115700. [PMID: 37897964 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Carbonyl index (CI) is a measure of the degradation status of microplastics. While many studies address environmental factors of microplastic degradation, intrinsic factors like physical properties, spectral properties, baseline correction, and CI calculation methods are less explored. This research focused on these aspects using surface seawater samples. We found that color and shape have limited dependence on particle size or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Baseline correction can significantly alter CI values, with the direction of the shift depending on the methods used. Additionally, most CI values before and after baseline correction and those calculated using different methods tend to be strongly correlated. Using the selected CI calculation methods, we found that CI values varied significantly by shape and color. CI's relation to the similarity between the sample and its pristine form suggests an alternative degradation measure. Our findings emphasize the need for standardized CI calculation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijiang Yang
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Çelik Murat
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Haruka Nakano
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
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