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Chen XC, Wang A, Wang JJ, Zhang ZD, Yu JY, Yan YJ, Zhang JY, Niu J, Cui XY, Liu XH. Influences of coexisting aged polystyrene microplastics on the ecological and health risks of cadmium in soils: A leachability and oral bioaccessibility based study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133884. [PMID: 38412647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Whether coexisting microplastics (MPs) affect the ecological and health risks of cadmium (Cd) in soils is a cutting-edge scientific issue. In this study, four typical Chinese soils were prepared as artificially Cd-contaminated soils with/without aged polystyrene (PS). TCLP and in vitro PBET model were used to determine the leachability (ecological risk) and oral bioaccessibility (human health risk) of soil Cd. The mechanisms by which MPs influence soil Cd were discussed from direct and indirect perspectives. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the leachability of soil Cd with/without aged PS. Additionally, aged PS led to a significant decrease in the bioaccessibility of soil Cd in gastric phase, but not in small intestinal phase. The increase in surface roughness and the new characteristic peaks (e.g., Si-O-Si) of aged PS directly accounted for the change in Cd bioaccessibility. The change in organic matter content indirectly accounted for the exceptional increase in Cd bioaccessibility of black soil with aged PS in small intestinal phase. Furthermore, the changes in cation exchange capacity and Cd mobility factor caused by aged PS explained the change in Cd leachability. These results contribute to a deeper understanding about environmental and public health in complicated emerging scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Chen Chen
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China
| | - Ao Wang
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China; Fuzhou City Construction Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., 340 Liuyibei Road, Fuzhou 350001, PR China
| | - Zeng-Di Zhang
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China
| | - Jian-Ying Yu
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China; The Second Geological Exploration Institute, China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, 1 Kejidong Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China
| | - Ying-Jie Yan
- Innovation Center for Soil Remediation and Restoration Technologies, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Wulongjiangbei Road, Fuzhou 350108, PR China; Fuzhou University Zhicheng College, 50 Yangqiaoxi Road, Fuzhou 350002, PR China
| | - Jian-Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Longchang Chemical Co., Ltd., 1 Qianjiang Road, Rugao 226532, PR China
| | - Jia Niu
- Center of Safe and Energy-Saving Engineering Technology for Urban Water Supply and Drainage System, School of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, 33 Xuefunan Road, Fuzhou 350118, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yu Cui
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300354, PR China
| | - Xian-Hua Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300354, PR China.
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2
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Liu Y, Han J, Wang Y, Li A, Zhao J, Su Y, Shen L, Xing B. Suspected sources of microplastics and nanoplastics: Contamination from experimental reagents and solvents. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 249:120925. [PMID: 38039819 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120925] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing concern about the potential effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics on human health and other organisms. For the separation and detection of MPs, there are various approaches, and the distinct procedures led to different results. However, the presence of MPs in the reagents was not addressed, which could cause false and/or inaccurate results during MPs detection. In this study, the chemical reagents commonly used for the separation and detection of MPs were selected to ascertain whether these reagents introduce MPs. It was shown that a large number of MPs were detected in the reagent and solvent samples. The largest number of MPs (>1 μm) was detected in the KOH reagent, with the abundance of 3070 items/g. The order of MPs abundance in the selected reagents was: KOH > NaCl > CaCl2 > SDS > NaI > H2O2. The types of MPs were the same as the body and stopper of the reagent packaging bottles. MPs size detected in reagent bottles was primarily smaller than 10 μm. The abundance of MPs in the reagents were independent of their purity, however, there was a certain difference in MPs abundance in reagents from different manufacturers. Furthermore, the presence of nanoplastics (< 1 μm) was verified in the reagents through Py-GCMS, with the abundance (39.47-43.01 mg/kg) higher than that of MPs. The obtained results in this study raised specific requirements and cautions for MPs and nanoplastics related research in terms of quality control. Also, this work can facilitate a more accurate assessment of MPs concentrations in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Liu
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yanhua Wang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
| | - Aoze Li
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Jian Zhao
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology (Ministry of Education), Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yu Su
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lezu Shen
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
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Cid-Samamed A, Diniz MS. Recent Advances in the Aggregation Behavior of Nanoplastics in Aquatic Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13995. [PMID: 37762299 PMCID: PMC10530826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813995] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This short review aims to critically discuss the recent advances in supramolecular chemistry to achieve the aggregation of nanoplastics in aquatic systems. Polymer modification provides a vital tool for designing novel and ad hoc synthesized surfactants with properties tuned for some specific applications (e.g., stimuli-responsive nanomaterial, conducting polymers), mainly to aggregate other polymers from the environment. Far from the typical use of surfactants, which ease the dispersion of insoluble molecules in water media or aid solubilization of insoluble molecules on local media, in this case, nanoarchitectonics serve researchers to design surfactants with a focus on the capture of nanoplastics from the environment. Additionally, monovalent and divalent salt additions aided NPs in coagulating in the aquatic systems. Finally, the latest research on NPs' removal efficiency on wastewater treatment plant is reviewed to summarize the advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cid-Samamed
- Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - M. S. Diniz
- i4HB–Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO–Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Dey S, Samanta P, Dutta D, Kundu D, Ghosh AR, Kumar S. Face masks: a COVID-19 protector or environmental contaminant? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:93363-93387. [PMID: 37548785 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29063-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Face masks, a prime component of personal protective equipment (PPE) items, have become an integral part of human beings to survive under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. The global population requires an estimated 130 billion face masks and 64 billion gloves/month, while the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the daily disposal of approximately 3.5 billion single-use face masks, resulting in a staggering 14,245,230.63 kg of face mask waste. The improper disposal of face mask wastes followed by its mismanagement is a challenge to the scientists as the wastes create pollution leading to environmental degradation, especially plastic pollution (macro/meso/micro/nano). Each year, an estimated 0.15-0.39 million tons of COVID-19 face mask waste, along with 173,000 microfibers released daily from discarded surgical masks, could enter the marine environment, while used masks have a significantly higher microplastic release capacity (1246.62 ± 403.50 particles/piece) compared to new masks (183.00 ± 78.42 particles/piece). Surgical face masks emit around 59 g CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions per single use, cloth face masks emit approximately 60 g CO2-eq/single mask, and inhaling or ingesting microplastics (MPs) caused adverse health problems including chronic inflammation, granulomas or fibrosis, DNA damage, cellular damage, oxidative stress, and cytokine secretion. The present review critically addresses the role of face masks in reducing COVID-19 infections, their distribution pattern in diverse environments, the volume of waste produced, degradation in the natural environment, and adverse impacts on different environmental segments, and proposes sustainable remediation options to tackle environmental challenges posed by disposable COVID-19 face masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhendu Dey
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, West Bengal, India
| | - Palas Samanta
- Department of Environmental Science, Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, University of North Bengal, Dhupguri, 735 210, West Bengal, India
| | - Deblina Dutta
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, 522 240, India
| | - Debajyoti Kundu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, 522 240, India
| | - Apurba Ratan Ghosh
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, West Bengal, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India.
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Shiu RF, Lee HJ, Hsu HT, Gong GC. Suspended particulate matter-bound per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a river-coastal system: Possible correlation with transparent exopolymer particles. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114975. [PMID: 37121184 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The transport and ultimate fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are generally considered to be influenced by partitioning behavior between water, suspended particulate matters (SPM), and sediments. This study examined the distribution and partitioning of the PFASs in the water, SPM, and sediments in a densely populated urban river-coastal system. The total concentrations of eight PFASs (∑8 PFASs) in the water phase, SPM, and sediments varied from 0.59 to 7.40 ng/L, 0.54 to 9.08 ng/g, and 0.05 to 0.13 ng/g, respectively. The PFAS concentrations in the water and SPM phase decreased as the salinity increased, confirming contaminant inputs from the upstream of the river to the estuary zone. Notably, the positive correlation between SPM-bound PFASs and transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) content, providing first evidence that TEPs may accumulate and concentrate more PFASs on the SPM. Collectively, this results offers useful information about roles of TEPs in determining environmental fate of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Ju Lee
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Te Hsu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Ching Gong
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
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6
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Karkanorachaki K, Syranidou E, Maravelaki PN, Kalogerakis N. Intertwined synergistic abiotic and biotic degradation of polypropylene pellets in marine mesocosms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131710. [PMID: 37276696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans has caused growing concern for its effects on marine life. The interactions of plastics with environmental factors have been linked to fragmentation to micro- and nanoparticles with different properties and consequences, but the mechanism of fragmentation has not been fully understood yet. In this work, we investigate the combined effect of marine communities and ultraviolet (UV) radiation towards the degradation of virgin and artificially weathered polypropylene (PP) pellets after a long-term incubation period in marine mesocosms. The surface chemical alterations and deterioration of the polymer, in conjunction with the attachment and evolution of marine bacterial communities, the development of biofilm and exopolymeric substances (EPS), as well as the colloidal properties (zeta-potential and hydrodynamic diameter) of the mesocosms were studied. The surface area of both types of pellets decreased over time, despite no concrete weight change being observed. Cell growth, EPS production and colloid particle size were correlated to the loss of area. Therefore, we propose that surface area could be effectively monitored, instead of weight loss, as an alternative indicator of polymer degradation in biodegradation experiments. Changes in the chemical structure of the polymer, in addition to the evolution of the biological factors, implied that a complex degradation process alternated between two phases: an abiotic phase, when UV irradiation contributes to the deterioration of the polymer surface layers and a biotic phase, when marine communities degrade the weathered polymer surface to reveal the underlying layer of virgin polymer. Finally, microscopic particles, produced as a result of the decrease in pellet area, promoted the aggregation of colloidal particles. The role and impacts of these colloidal particles in marine ecosystems are yet as unidentified as that of micro- and nano-sized plastic particles and call for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Karkanorachaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Evdokia Syranidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | | | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of GeoEnergy, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Chania, Greece.
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7
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Shen M, Liu S, Hu T, Zheng K, Wang Y, Long H. Recent advances in the research on effects of micro/nanoplastics on carbon conversion and carbon cycle: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 334:117529. [PMID: 36801693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Massive production and spread application of plastics have led to the accumulation of numerous plastics in the global environment so that the proportion of carbon storage in these polymers also increases. Carbon cycle is of fundamental significance to global climate change and human survival and development. With the continuous increase of microplastics, undoubtedly, there carbons will continue to be introduced into the global carbon cycle. In this paper, the impact of microplastics on microorganisms involved in carbon transformation is reviewed. Micro/nanoplastics affect carbon conversion and carbon cycle by interfering with biological fixation of CO2, microbial structure and community, functional enzymes activity, the expression of related genes, and the change of local environment. Micro/nanoplastic abundance, concentration and size could significantly lead to difference in carbon conversion. In addition, plastic pollution can further affect the blue carbon ecosystem reduce its ability to store CO2 and marine carbon fixation capacity. Nevertheless, problematically, limited information is seriously insufficient in understanding the relevant mechanisms. Accordingly, it is required to further explore the effect of micro/nanoplastics and derived organic carbon on carbon cycle under multiple impacts. Under the influence of global change, migration and transformation of these carbon substances may cause new ecological and environmental problems. Additionally, the relationship between plastic pollution and blue carbon ecosystem and global climate change should be timely established. This work provides a better perspective for the follow-up study of the impact of micro/nanoplastics on carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maocai Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, PR China.
| | - Shiwei Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, PR China; School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, PR China
| | - Tong Hu
- Department of Environment Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kaixuan Zheng
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China
| | - Yulai Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, PR China
| | - Hongming Long
- School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, PR China.
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8
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Tamayo-Belda M, Pérez-Olivares AV, Pulido-Reyes G, Martin-Betancor K, González-Pleiter M, Leganés F, Mitrano DM, Rosal R, Fernández-Piñas F. Tracking nanoplastics in freshwater microcosms and their impacts to aquatic organisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130625. [PMID: 37056024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we used palladium-doped polystyrene NPLs (PS-NPLs with a primary size of 286 ± 4 nm) with an irregular surface morphology which allowed for particle tracking and evaluation of their toxicity on two primary producers (cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC7120 and green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) and one primary consumer (crustacean, Daphnia magna). the concentration range for Anabaena and C. reinhardtii was from 0.01 to 1000 mg/L and for D. magna, the range was from 7.5 to 120 mg/L.EC50 s ranged from 49 mg NPLs/L for D. magna (48hEC50 s) to 248 mg NPLs/L (72hEC50 s for C. reinhardtii). PS-NPLs induced dose-dependent reactive oxygen species overproduction, membrane damage and metabolic alterations. To shed light on the environmental fate of PS-NPLs, the short-term distribution of PS-NPLs under static (using lake water and sediments) and stirring (using river water and sediments) conditions was studied at laboratory scale. The results showed that most NPLs remained in the water column over the course of 48 h. The maximum percentage of settled particles (∼ 30 %) was found under stirring conditions in comparison with the ∼ 10 % observed under static ones. Natural organic matter increased the stability of the NPLs under colloidal state while organisms favored their settlement. This study expands the current knowledge of the biological effects and fate of NPLs in freshwater environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Tamayo-Belda
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gerardo Pulido-Reyes
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environment and Agronomy, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), Crta. de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Keila Martin-Betancor
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Pleiter
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Leganés
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Denise M Mitrano
- Environmental Systems Science Department, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Rosal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
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Pradel A, Catrouillet C, Gigault J. The environmental fate of nanoplastics: What we know and what we need to know about aggregation. NANOIMPACT 2023; 29:100453. [PMID: 36708989 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2023.100453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The presence of nanoplastics in the environment has been proven. There is now an urgent need to determine how nanoplastics behave in the environment and to assess the risks they may pose. Here, we examine nanoplastic homo- and heteroaggregation, with a focus on environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models. We made a systematic analysis of experimental studies, and ranked the environmental relevance of 377 different solution chemistries, and 163 different nanoplastic particle models. Since polymer latex spheres are not environmentally relevant (due to their monodisperse size, spherical shape, and smooth surface), their aggregation behavior in natural conditions is not transferable to nanoplastics. A few recent studies suggest that nanoplastic particle models that more closely mimic incidentally produced nanoplastics follow different homoaggregation pathways than latex sphere particle models. However, heteroaggregation of environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models has seldom been studied. Despite this knowledge gap, the current evidence suggests that nanoplastics may be more sensitive to heteroaggregation than previously expected. We therefore provide an updated hypothesis about the likely environmental fate of nanoplastics. Our review demonstrates that it is essential to use environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models, such as those produced with top-down methods, to avoid biased interpretations of the fate and impact of nanoplastics. Finally, it will be necessary to determine how the heteroaggregation kinetics of nanoplastics impact their settling rate to truly understand nanoplastics' fate and effect in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pradel
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Charlotte Catrouillet
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université Paris Cité, Institut de physique du globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Julien Gigault
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; TAKUVIK CNRS/Université Laval, IRL 3376, G1V 0A6 Québec, Canada.
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10
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Temperature Effects on Effluent Microgel Formation. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14224870. [PMID: 36432997 PMCID: PMC9695844 DOI: 10.3390/polym14224870] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant effluent is considered an important hotspot of dissolved organic matter. The behavior and transformation of dissolved effluent organic matter (dEfOM) regulate particle sedimentation, pollutant fate, microbial attachment, and biofilm formation. However, studies have so far focused on the transformation of marine and riverine organic matter, and the current knowledge of dEfOM behavior is still limited. Fluctuations in water conditions, especially temperature, may directly alter the size, assembly speed, and structure of microgels, thereby potentially disturbing fate and the transportation of organic matter. In this study, we firstly investigated the effects of temperature on the behavior and capacity of dEfOM assembly into microgels and the possible mechanism. The microgel size and granularity of dEfOM were monitored by flow cytometry. Our results suggest that, with regard to microgels, a higher temperature leads to a higher assembly capacity but also a decrease in the size distribution. By contrast, assembly at 4 °C reduces the relative assembly capacity but increases the microgel size and granularity. The size distribution of the formed microgels at the various temperatures was ordered as follows: 4 °C > 20 °C > 35 °C. The size reduction in dEfOM assembly may be closely tied to the enhancement of hydrophobic interactions. The reduction in microgel granularity in warm conditions (35 °C) in terms of the effluent water may be caused by thermally induced condensation. Overall, the findings demonstrate the effects of temperature on dEfOM assembly and can facilitate further relevant studies on aquatic organic particle formation during current global warming scenarios.
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11
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Zhang R, Chen Y, Ouyang X, Weng L, Ma J, Shafiqul Islam M, Li Y. Resolving natural organic matter and nanoplastics in binary or ternary systems via UV–Vis analysis. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 632:335-344. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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12
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Zhang P, Liu Y, Zhang L, Xu M, Gao L, Zhao B. The interaction of micro/nano plastics and the environment: Effects of ecological corona on the toxicity to aquatic organisms. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 243:113997. [PMID: 35988380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the micro/nano plastics (MNPs) exposure risks have risen in recent years. The ecological corona (EC), which is generated by the interaction between MNPs and environmental substances, has a significant impact on their environmental fate and ecological risks. As the largest sink of MNPs, the aquatic environment is of great significance for understanding the environmental behaviour of MNPs. Transmission Electron Microscope (TME), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and other analytical methods have been used as effective methods to analyse the formation process of EC and detect the existing EC directly or indirectly on the surface of MNPs. The physicochemical properties of MNPs, complex aquatic environments and ageing time have been identified as the key factors affecting EC formation in aquatic environments. Moreover, the EC absorbed on MNPs significantly changed their environmental behaviour and toxicity to aquatic organisms. This review gives a full understanding of the EC formation progress on the surface of MNPs and different analytical methods for EC have been summarised which can further assist the ecological risk assessment of MNPs in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiming Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yin Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| | - Long Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Nonferrous Metals, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China
| | - Ming Xu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lirong Gao
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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13
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Shiu RF, Chen LY, Lee HJ, Gong GC, Lee C. New insights into the role of marine plastic-gels in microplastic transfer from water to the atmosphere via bubble bursting. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118856. [PMID: 35863277 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in global oceans is raising concerns about their adverse impacts on ecosystems. The mechanistic understanding of MP transport is critical for evaluating its fate, flux, and ecological risks specifically. Currently, bubble bursting is believed to represent an important route for MP transfer from sea surfaces to the atmosphere. However, the detailed mechanisms of the complex physico-chemical interactions between MPs, water composition, and gel particles in the air-sea interface remain unknown. Our results suggested three steps for MP transfer between air-sea phases: (1) MPs incorporating into gel aggregates in the water column; (2) further accumulation of plastic-gel aggregate in the surface layer phase; finally (3) ejection of aggregates from the sea when bubbles of trapped air rise to the surface and burst. The water composition (e.g., high salinity, gel concentration and viscosity) can modulate plastic-gel aggregation and subsequent transport from water to the atmosphere. The possible mechanism may be closely tied to the formation of plastic-gel via cation-linking bridges, thereby enhancing plastic-gel ejection into air. Collectively, this work offers unique insights into the role of marine plastic-gels in determining MP fate and transport, especially at air-sea interfaces. The data also provide a better understanding of the corresponding mechanism that may explain the fates of missing plastics in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202301, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202301, Taiwan.
| | - Lu-Yi Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ju Lee
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202301, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Ching Gong
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202301, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City 202301, Taiwan
| | - Chuping Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan.
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14
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Trevisan R, Ranasinghe P, Jayasundara N, Di Giulio RT. Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Impacts on Aquatic Species and Interactions with Environmental Factors and Pollutants. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10060326. [PMID: 35736934 PMCID: PMC9230143 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10060326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Plastic production began in the early 1900s and it has transformed our way of life. Despite the many advantages of plastics, a massive amount of plastic waste is generated each year, threatening the environment and human health. Because of their pervasiveness and potential for health consequences, small plastic residues produced by the breakdown of larger particles have recently received considerable attention. Plastic particles at the nanometer scale (nanoplastics) are more easily absorbed, ingested, or inhaled and translocated to other tissues and organs than larger particles. Nanoplastics can also be transferred through the food web and between generations, have an influence on cellular function and physiology, and increase infections and disease susceptibility. This review will focus on current research on the toxicity of nanoplastics to aquatic species, taking into account their interactive effects with complex environmental mixtures and multiple stressors. It intends to summarize the cellular and molecular effects of nanoplastics on aquatic species; discuss the carrier effect of nanoplastics in the presence of single or complex environmental pollutants, pathogens, and weathering/aging processes; and include environmental stressors, such as temperature, salinity, pH, organic matter, and food availability, as factors influencing nanoplastic toxicity. Microplastics studies were also included in the discussion when the data with NPs were limited. Finally, this review will address knowledge gaps and critical questions in plastics’ ecotoxicity to contribute to future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Trevisan
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88037-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Prabha Ranasinghe
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (P.R.); (N.J.); (R.T.D.G.)
| | - Nishad Jayasundara
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (P.R.); (N.J.); (R.T.D.G.)
| | - Richard T. Di Giulio
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (P.R.); (N.J.); (R.T.D.G.)
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15
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Li XQ, Hua ZL, Zhang JY, Gu L. Interactions between dissolved organic matter and perfluoroalkyl acids in natural rivers and lakes: A case study of the northwest of Taihu Lake Basin, China. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 216:118324. [PMID: 35339055 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interactions between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is essential for predicting the distribution, transport, and fate of PFAAs in aquatic environments. Based on field investigations in the northwest of Taihu Lake Basin combined with laboratory experiments, we obtained DOM and PFAA concentrations as well as compositions and investigated key factors of DOM affecting PFAA variability and capture of PFAAs by DOM. Results indicated that the total concentrations of PFAAs were 73.4-689 ng/L in surface water and that PFAAs were dominated by C3-7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. The main components of DOM included tyrosine-, fulvic-, and tryptophan-like substances. The Mantel test revealed a significant positive correlation between DOM and PFAAs (P = 0.0001). Fulvic-like substances were identified as the most crucial factors affecting PFAA variability. The laboratory experiments revealed that DOM can spontaneously aggregate into a microgel. Furthermore, 19.1-50.9% of PFAAs, DOM characteristic peaks, and several metals (Ca, Mg, Cu, and Fe) can be removed during aggregation, indicating the capacity of DOM binding organic/inorganic substances. The fulvic-like substances were more effectively removed than the protein-like substances. The distribution coefficients of all PFAAs except perfluorohexanoic acid significantly correlated with their perfluorinated carbon numbers (r = 0.975, p<0.001). Our results provided insights into the interactions between DOM and PFAAs, improving the understanding of the distribution, transport, and fate of PFAAs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China.
| | - Zu-Lin Hua
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China.
| | - Jian-Yun Zhang
- Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China
| | - Li Gu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China
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16
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Seena S, Gutiérrez IB, Barros J, Nunes C, Marques JC, Kumar S, Gonçalves AMM. Impacts of low concentrations of nanoplastics on leaf litter decomposition and food quality for detritivores in streams. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128320. [PMID: 35114454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In forested streams, leaf litter decomposition is a vital ecosystem process, governed primarily by aquatic hyphomycetes. These fungi are crucial mediators of nutrients and energy to invertebrates and higher trophic levels. Very little information is available on the impact of low concentrations of different sizes of nanoplastic particles (NPPs) on leaf litter decomposition and aquatic hyphomycetes communities. Besides, NPPs impact on leaf litter nutritional quality and invertebrate feeding behaviour is unknown. We conducted a microcosm assay with varying concentrations (0-25 μg L-1) of small (100 nm; SNPPs) and large (1000 nm; LNPPs) plastic particles to assess their impact on leaf litter decomposition, sporulation rates and community structure of aquatic hyphomycetes. Furthermore, leaf litter was retrieved and fed to invertebrates to assess feeding rates. Our results indicated that leaf litter decomposition, fungal sporulation and abundance were significantly affected by NPPs concentrations and sizes. By contrast, leaf litter nutritional quality was impacted only by sizes. The NPPs, particularly SNPPs, augmented leaf litter polyunsaturated fatty acids (18-31%), consequently improving food quality; however, invertebrates' feeding rates were not impacted. Overall, our study provides novel insights on the risks posed by NPPs with pronounced impact at the basal trophic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahadevan Seena
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal.
| | - Irene B Gutiérrez
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
| | - Juliana Barros
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Nunes
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - João Carlos Marques
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Division of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, South Korea
| | - Ana M M Gonçalves
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal; Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
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17
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Rai PK, Sonne C, Brown RJC, Younis SA, Kim KH. Adsorption of environmental contaminants on micro- and nano-scale plastic polymers and the influence of weathering processes on their adsorptive attributes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:127903. [PMID: 34895806 PMCID: PMC9758927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127903] [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: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Increases in plastic-related pollution and their weathering can be a serious threat to environmental sustainability and human health, especially during the present COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus) pandemic. Planetary risks of plastic waste disposed from diverse sources are exacerbated by the weathering-driven alterations in their physical-chemical attributes and presence of hazardous pollutants mediated through adsorption. Besides, plastic polymers act as vectors of toxic chemical contaminants and pathogenic microbes through sorption onto the 'plastisphere' (i.e., plastic-microbe/biofilm-environment interface). In this review, the effects of weathering-driven alterations on the plastisphere are addressed in relation to the fate/cycling of environmental contaminants along with the sorption/desorption dynamics of micro-/nano-scale plastic (MPs/NPs) polymers for emerging contaminants (e.g., endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and certain heavy metals). The weathering processes, pathways, and mechanisms governing the adsorption of specific environmental pollutants on MPs/NPs surface are thus evaluated in relation to the physicochemical alterations based on several kinetic and isotherm studies. Consequently, the detailed evaluation on the role of the complex associations between weathering and physicochemical properties of plastics should help us gain a better knowledge with respect to the transport, behavior, fate, and toxicological chemistry of plastics along with the proper tactics for their sustainable remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhat Kumar Rai
- Phyto-Technologies and Plant Invasion Lab, Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Richard J C Brown
- Atmospheric Environmental Science Department, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK
| | - Sherif A Younis
- Analysis and Evaluation Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Cairo 11727, Egypt; Nanobiotechnology Program, Faculty of Nanotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Sheikh Zayed Branch Campus, Sheikh Zayed City, PO 12588, Giza, Egypt; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, South Korea
| | - Ki-Hyun Kim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, South Korea.
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18
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Verschoor JA, Kusumawardhani H, Ram AFJ, de Winde JH. Toward Microbial Recycling and Upcycling of Plastics: Prospects and Challenges. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821629. [PMID: 35401461 PMCID: PMC8985596 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Annually, 400 Mt of plastics are produced of which roughly 40% is discarded within a year. Current plastic waste management approaches focus on applying physical, thermal, and chemical treatments of plastic polymers. However, these methods have severe limitations leading to the loss of valuable materials and resources. Another major drawback is the rapid accumulation of plastics into the environment causing one of the biggest environmental threats of the twenty-first century. Therefore, to complement current plastic management approaches novel routes toward plastic degradation and upcycling need to be developed. Enzymatic degradation and conversion of plastics present a promising approach toward sustainable recycling of plastics and plastics building blocks. However, the quest for novel enzymes that efficiently operate in cost-effective, large-scale plastics degradation poses many challenges. To date, a wide range of experimental set-ups has been reported, in many cases lacking a detailed investigation of microbial species exhibiting plastics degrading properties as well as of their corresponding plastics degrading enzymes. The apparent lack of consistent approaches compromises the necessary discovery of a wide range of novel enzymes. In this review, we discuss prospects and possibilities for efficient enzymatic degradation, recycling, and upcycling of plastics, in correlation with their wide diversity and broad utilization. Current methods for the identification and optimization of plastics degrading enzymes are compared and discussed. We present a framework for a standardized workflow, allowing transparent discovery and optimization of novel enzymes for efficient and sustainable plastics degradation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Anne Verschoor
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Arthur F. J. Ram
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Johannes H. de Winde
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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19
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Capolungo C, Genovese D, Montalti M, Rampazzo E, Zaccheroni N, Prodi L. Photoluminescence-Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro- and Nanoplastics. Chemistry 2021; 27:17529-17541. [PMID: 34519368 PMCID: PMC9298384 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202102692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The growing numbers related to plastic pollution are impressive, with ca. 70 % of produced plastic (>350 tonnes/year) being indiscriminately wasted in the environment. The most dangerous forms of plastic pollution for biota and human health are micro‐ and nano‐plastics (MNPs), which are ubiquitous and more bioavailable. Their elimination is extremely difficult, but the first challenge is their detection since existing protocols are unsatisfactory for microplastics and mostly absent for nanoplastics. After a discussion of the state of the art for MNPs detection, we specifically revise the techniques based on photoluminescence that represent very promising solutions for this problem. In this context, Nile Red staining is the most used strategy and we show here its pros and limitations, but we also discuss other more recent approaches, such as the use of fluorogenic probes based on perylene‐bisimide and on fluorogenic hyaluronan nanogels, with the added values of biocompatibility and water solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Capolungo
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Damiano Genovese
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Montalti
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Rampazzo
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nelsi Zaccheroni
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Prodi
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
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20
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Casabianca S, Bellingeri A, Capellacci S, Sbrana A, Russo T, Corsi I, Penna A. Ecological implications beyond the ecotoxicity of plastic debris on marine phytoplankton assemblage structure and functioning. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:118101. [PMID: 34523510 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global issue posing a threat to marine biota with ecological implications on ecosystem functioning. Micro and nanoplastic impact on phytoplankton autotrophic species (e.g., cell growth inhibition, decrease in chlorophyll a and photosynthetic efficiency and hetero-aggregates formation) have been largely documented. However, the heterogeneity of data makes rather difficult a comparison based on size (i.e. micro vs nano). In addition, knowledge gaps on the ecological impact on phytoplankton assemblage structure and functioning are evident. A new virtual meta-analysis on cause-effect relationships of micro and nanoplastics on phytoplankton species revealed the significant effect posed by polymer type on reducing cell density for tested PVC, PS and PE plastics. Linked with autotrophic phytoplankton role in atmospheric CO2 fixation, a potential impact of plastics on marine carbon pump is discussed. The understanding of the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the phytoplankton functioning is fundamental to raise awareness on the overall impact on the first level of marine food web. Interactions between micro and nanoplastics and phytoplankton assemblages have been quite documented by in vitro examinations; but, further studies considering natural plankton assemblages and/or large mesocosm experiments should be performed to evaluate and try predicting ecological impacts on primary producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Casabianca
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Campus E. Mattei, 61121, Urbino, Italy; CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196, Rome, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, 61032, Fano, Italy.
| | - Arianna Bellingeri
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Samuela Capellacci
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Campus E. Mattei, 61121, Urbino, Italy; CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196, Rome, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, 61032, Fano, Italy
| | - Alice Sbrana
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy; PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196, Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196, Rome, Italy; Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella Penna
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Campus E. Mattei, 61121, Urbino, Italy; CoNISMa, National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences, 00196, Rome, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, 61032, Fano, Italy
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21
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D. Atoufi H, Lampert DJ, Sillanpää M. COVID-19, a double-edged sword for the environment: a review on the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:61969-61978. [PMID: 34558046 PMCID: PMC8460194 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
This review paper discusses the most relevant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease has infected 70 million people and caused the death of 1.58 million people since the US Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to develop a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 on December 11, 2020. COVID-19 is a global crisis that has impacted everything directly connected with human beings, including the environment. This review discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment during the pandemic and post-COVID-19 era. During the first months of the COVID pandemic, global coal, oil, gas, and electricity demands declined by 8%, 5%, 2%, and 20%, respectively, relative to 2019. Stay-at-home orders in countries increased the concentrations of particles in indoor environments while decreasing the concentrations of PM2.5 and NOX in outdoor environments. Remotely working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic increased the carbon, water, and land footprints of Internet usage. Microplastics are released into our environment from the mishandling and mismanagement of personal protective equipment that endanger our water, soils, and sediments. Since the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be stored for a long time and spoils rapidly, more awareness of the massive waste of unused doses is needed. So COVID-19 is a double-edged sword for the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein D. Atoufi
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA
| | - David J. Lampert
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Mika Sillanpää
- Environmental Engineering and Management Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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22
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Shiu RF, Gong GC, Fang MD, Chow CH, Chin WC. Marine microplastics in the surface waters of "pristine" Kuroshio. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112808. [PMID: 34388451 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in oceans. Their transboundary transport and fate have aroused global attention. Taiwan is located close to the western boundary current-Kuroshio, is an excellent location to study of MP mobility in the global current and Pacific Garbage Patch. This study is the first investigation to understand the microplastic contamination from Taiwan to the Kuroshio. MP concentrations in the area varied from N.D. to 0.15 items m-3, with an average concentration of 0.05 ± 0.03 items m-3. The majority of MPs were polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene and terephthalate. We found two MP hotspots near the coastal zone. One additional hotspot was also identified in the "pristine" Kuroshio suggesting rivers and local currents may play critical roles in transporting or injecting MPs from Taiwan into the North Pacific Gyre. These findings suggest that marine environments are altered by anthropogenic disposal and provide needed data for modelling and prediction of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Ching Gong
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan.
| | - Meng-Der Fang
- Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hoe Chow
- Department of Marine Environmental Information, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Chin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
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23
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Kamalanathan M, Mapes S, Hillhouse J, Claflin N, Leleux J, Hala D, Quigg A. Molecular mechanism of oil induced growth inhibition in diatoms using Thalassiosira pseudonana as the model species. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19831. [PMID: 34615889 PMCID: PMC8494926 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98744-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil-spill exposed the microbes of Gulf of Mexico to unprecedented amount of oil. Conclusive evidence of the underlying molecular mechanism(s) on the negative effects of oil exposure on certain phytoplankton species such as Thalassiosira pseudonana is still lacking, curtailing our understanding of how oil spills alter community composition. We performed experiments on model diatom T. pseudonana to understand the mechanisms underpinning observed reduced growth and photosynthesis rates during oil exposure. Results show severe impairment to processes upstream of photosynthesis, such as light absorption, with proteins associated with the light harvesting complex damaged while the pigments were unaffected. Proteins associated with photosynthetic electron transport were also damaged, severely affecting photosynthetic apparatus and depriving cells of energy and carbon for growth. Negative growth effects were alleviated when an organic carbon source was provided. Further investigation through proteomics combined with pathway enrichment analysis confirmed the above findings, while highlighting other negatively affected processes such as those associated with ferroxidase complex, high-affinity iron-permease complex, and multiple transmembrane transport. We also show that oxidative stress is not the primary route of negative effects, rather secondary. Overall, this study provides a mechanistic understanding of the cellular damage that occurs during oil exposure to T. pseudonana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kamalanathan
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA.
| | - Savannah Mapes
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, USA
| | - Jessica Hillhouse
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Noah Claflin
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Joshua Leleux
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - David Hala
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
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Junaid M, Wang J. Interaction of nanoplastics with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the aquatic environment: A special reference to eco-corona formation and associated impacts. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 201:117319. [PMID: 34130084 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are plastic particles with sizes ranging between 1 and 1000 nm, exhibiting exceptional qualities such as large surface area, lightweight, durability; therefore, are widely used in cosmetics, paints, electronics, etc. NPs are inevitability released into the aquatic environment where they tend to interact with both, the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and other fractions of natural organic matter (NOM), respectively secreted by organisms (e.g., DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates) and degradation byproducts of organic materials (e.g., humic acid and fulvic acid) fluxed into the water bodies. These biomolecules robustly encapsulate NPs to develop an eco-corona layer that alters not only the physicochemical properties but also the fate, bioreactivity, and ecological impacts of NPs. Therefore, this review summarized the documented studies highlighting the eco-corona formation on NPs and associated ecological implications in the aquatic environment. After presenting the precise background information on the occurrence of NPs and EPS in the aquatic environment, we demonstrated the basic difference between eco-corona and bio-corona formation. The reviewed studies showed that the eco-corona formed on NPs have varying sizes and composition, mainly depending on the properties of parent biomolecules, characteristics of NPs, and physicochemical parameters of the aquatic environment. Further, the potential methods for characterization and quantification of eco-corona and its composition have been also highlighted. Moreover, the ecological implications (both toxic and non-toxic) of eco-corona formation on NPs in marine and freshwater environments have been also summarized. Last but not the least, challenges and future research directions are also given, e.g., conducting field studies on eco-corona formation in the aquatic environment, optimizing methods for its characterization and quantification, and considering eco-corona concept in the future toxicity studies on NPs. Finally, understanding eco-corona formation will be critical to unveil the complex NP interactions occurring in natural aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Junaid
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Hasan NA, Heal RD, Bashar A, Haque MM. Face masks: protecting the wearer but neglecting the aquatic environment? - A perspective from Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 4:100126. [PMID: 37522149 PMCID: PMC9040459 DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In Bangladesh, as with many countries, the spread of COVID-19 made the wearing of single-use face masks, a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce viral transmission, surge in popularity amongst the general population. Consequently, irresponsible discarding of used masks into the environment, and mismanagement of the waste they produce, is potentially placing a large pollution burden on aquatic ecosystems in the country. Slow degradation of mask-derived polypropylene and polyethylene fibres creates large reservoirs of microplastic pollutants and these have acute and chronic effects on aquatic organism physiology. Using literature reviews, extrapolation of published data, and field observations, we present an emerging issue of pollution from COVID-19 personal protective equipment such as face masks in Bangladesh. We have estimated the volume of waste generated and document the potential consequences of its improper disposal, and subsequent degradation, in aquaculture ponds within country. In a field survey of 30 ponds in the Muktagacha upazilla, 76.7% were found to have plastics in contact with the water, or within 1m of the pond, and there was an average of 63 pieces of macro-plastic pollution per 5m2. This included floating discarded face masks. Bangladesh has a rich freshwater and marine resource which it depends upon for export trade, nutrition of the population, and jobs. To mitigate potential acute and chronic impacts on aquaculture and the environment, recommendations are made that, if adopted, would reduce entry of microplastics into the aquatic environments via face mask waste mismanagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neaz A Hasan
- Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | - Richard D Heal
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Abul Bashar
- Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
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26
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Marine Gel Interactions with Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Pollutants. Gels 2021; 7:gels7030083. [PMID: 34287300 PMCID: PMC8293255 DOI: 10.3390/gels7030083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microgels play critical roles in a variety of processes in the ocean, including element cycling, particle interactions, microbial ecology, food web dynamics, air-sea exchange, and pollutant distribution and transport. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from various marine microbes are one of the major sources for marine microgels. Due to their amphiphilic nature, many types of pollutants, especially hydrophobic ones, have been found to preferentially associate with marine microgels. The interactions between pollutants and microgels can significantly impact the transport, sedimentation, distribution, and the ultimate fate of these pollutants in the ocean. This review on marine gels focuses on the discussion of the interactions between gel-forming EPS and pollutants, such as oil and other hydrophobic pollutants, nanoparticles, and metal ions.
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Sharma VK, Ma X, Guo B, Zhang K. Environmental factors-mediated behavior of microplastics and nanoplastics in water: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 271:129597. [PMID: 33460897 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The release of plastics in nature is an increasing global concern due to their degradation from microplastics (MPs) and even to nanoplastics (NPs), which are being recognized as a potential global threat to humans and environment. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the effect of different environmental factors on the aggregation of MPs and NPs in aquatic environment. Stability (or extent of aggregation) of MPs and NPs varies with pH, ionic strength, ion type (monovalent, divalent, and trivalent), kind of minerals, and natural organic matter (NOM) of the aquatic environment. Electrostatic interactions between particles at different pH and ionic strength caused by salts of different valents govern the aggregation. In the presence of minerals (or inorganic colloids), net surface charge of mineral and surface potential of MPs and NPs (i.e., positive or negative surface functionality) play important roles in the heteroaggregation of MPs and NPs. In the presence of NOM, additional complex interactions including hydrophobic interactions and bridging are also involved in the aggregation of particles. Understanding the interactions of MPs and NPs of different surface charge with diverse environmental factors at a wide range of environmental conditions is pivotal to assess the mobility and the fate of degraded plastic particles and their risk to human health and ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virender K Sharma
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Xingmao Ma
- Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Binglin Guo
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kaiyi Zhang
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Wang J, Zhao X, Wu F, Niu L, Tang Z, Liang W, Zhao T, Fang M, Wang H, Wang X. Characterization, occurrence, environmental behaviors, and risks of nanoplastics in the aquatic environment: Current status and future perspectives. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Chen W, Chu Q, Ye X, Sun Y, Liu Y, Jia R, Li Y, Tu P, Tang Q, Yu T, Chen C, Zheng X. Canidin-3-glucoside prevents nano-plastics induced toxicity via activating autophagy and promoting discharge. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 274:116524. [PMID: 33548667 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Increasing attention has been brought to microplastics pollution recently, while emerging evidences indicate that nano-plastics degraded from microplastics are more of research significance owing to stronger toxicity. However, there is little study focused on the prevention of nano-plastics induced toxicity until now. Canidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a natural anthocyanin proved to possess multiple functions like antioxidant and intestinal tissue protection. Thus, we proposed whether C3G could act as a molecular weapon against nano-plastics induced toxicity. In Caco2 cell and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models, we found that polystyrene (PS) nano-plastics exposure resulted in physiological toxicity and oxidative damage, which could be restored by C3G. More significantly in Caco2 cells, we observed that autophagy was activated via Sirt1-Foxo1 signaling pathway to attenuate PS induced toxicity after C3G intervention and further verified by adding autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA). Meanwhile, PS co-localization with lysosomes was observed, indicating the encapsulation and degradation of PS. In C. elegans, by detecting LGG-1/LC3 expression in GFP-targeted LGG-1 report gene (LGG-1:GFP) labeled transgenic DA2123 strain, the co-localization of LGG-1:GFP with PS was found as well, means that autophagy is involved in C3G's beneficial effects. Furthermore, we were surprised to find that C3G could promote the discharge of PS from N2 nematodes, which reduces PS toxicity more directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chen
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Ye
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhao Sun
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyi Jia
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglu Li
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengcheng Tu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Tang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Yu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan Chen
- Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Hangzhou, 310007, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.
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Gaylarde CC, Baptista Neto JA, da Fonseca EM. Nanoplastics in aquatic systems - are they more hazardous than microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 272:115950. [PMID: 33303235 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The fragmentation of plastic materials into nanoparticles of less than 1000 nm (secondary nanoplastics) and their possible accumulation in the environment is a recent matter of concern. There are still no suitable standard methods for determining the concentrations and chemical makeup of these particles in aquatic systems and the fate and effect of nanoplastics in the aquatic environment has been little explored, although there has been research using engineered nanoparticles as models. In this review, we give a summary of the (mainly laboratory-based) studies on the influences of nanoplastics. We aim to provide an updated overview of this emerging topic, reviewing the literature mainly from 2018 onwards and considering the effects of nanoplastics on ecosystems, their uptake and transport of polluting molecules, and the challenges that are faced by workers in this area. The review includes 119 references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine C Gaylarde
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Oklahoma University, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
| | - José Antonio Baptista Neto
- Department of Geology and Geophysics/LAGEMAR, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, 24210-340, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca
- Department of Geology and Geophysics/LAGEMAR, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, 24210-340, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
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Chen CS, Shiu RF, Hsieh YY, Xu C, Vazquez CI, Cui Y, Hsu IC, Quigg A, Santschi PH, Chin WC. Stickiness of extracellular polymeric substances on different surfaces via magnetic tweezers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 757:143766. [PMID: 33243507 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Organic particle dynamics in the surface ocean plays a critical part in the marine carbon cycle. Aggregation of marine organic particles drives their downward transport to support various marine organisms on their transit to the sediments. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from various microbes are a major contributor to the oceanic organic particle pool. The stickiness of EPS is expected to play a determining role in the aggregation process of particles; however, stickiness parameters are usually indirectly estimated through data fitting without direct assessment. Here a magnetic tweezer method was developed to quantitatively assess the stickiness of three model EPS produced by: Amphora sp., (diatom), Emiliania huxleyi (coccolithophore), and Sagittula stellata (bacteria), under different in vitro environmental conditions (salinity or EDTA complexed cations) and surface matrices (EPS-EPS and bare glass). Our results showed the stickiness of three microbial EPS decreasing for S. stellata > E. huxleyi > Amphora sp., in line with their decreasing protein-to-carbohydrate (P/C) ratios (related to their relative hydrophobicity). The data not only emphasize the importance of hydrophobicity on EPS stickiness, but also demonstrates that salinity and the nature of the substrate surface can influence the stickiness. Furthermore, we investigated stickiness between various types of EPS, and the observed selective stickiness of EPS between species may shed light on the interactions among heterogeneous marine microorganisms. Overall, this newly developed system provides a platform to assess the EPS stickiness to advance our understanding of the aggregation and sedimentation process of organic particles that are critical for the fate of organic carbon as well as for biofilm formation and microbial colonization of surfaces in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Shuo Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ying Hsieh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Carlos I Vazquez
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Yujia Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ian C Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Peter H Santschi
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Wei-Chun Chin
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
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Rong H, He L, Li M, Zhang M, Yi K, Han P, Tong M. Different electrically charged proteins result in diverse transport behaviors of plastic particles with different surface charge in quartz sand. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 756:143837. [PMID: 33257066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The influence of proteins on the transport and deposition behaviors of microplastics (MPs) in quartz sand was examined at both low (5 mM) and high ionic strength (25 mM) in NaCl solutions at pH 6. Carboxylate- and amine-modified polystyrene latex microspheres with size of 200 nm were employed as negatively (CMPs) and positively surface charged MPs (AMPs), respectively, while bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine trypsin were utilized as representative negatively and positively charged proteins, respectively. The results showed that for two examined protein concentrations (both 1 and 10 mg/L TOC) under both ionic strength conditions, the presence of BSA increased the transport of both CMPs and AMPs, while the presence of trypsin decreased the transport of CMPs yet increased the transport of AMPs in porous media. The mechanisms driving to the changed transport of MPs induced by two types of proteins were found to be different. Particularly, steric interaction induced by BSA corona adsorbed onto CMPs surface as well as the repel effects resulted from BSA suspending in solutions were found to contribute to the enhanced CMPs transport with BSA copresent in suspensions. The increased sizes and the decreased electrostatic repulsion of CMPs due to the adsorption of trypsin onto CMPs, together with the addition of extra deposition sites due to the adsorption of trypsin onto quartz sand drove to the decreased CMPs transport with trypsin copresent in suspensions. The increased electrostatic repulsion due to the adsorption of BSA onto AMPs surfaces caused the enhanced AMPs transport with BSA in solutions. While, the decreased electrostatic attraction of AMPs due to the adsorption of trypsin onto AMPs, as well as the competition of deposition sites due to the adsorption of trypsin onto quartz sand contributed to the increased AMPs transport with trypsin copresent in suspensions. The results showed that the presence of different types of proteins would induce different transport behaviors of microplastics with different surface charge in porous media. Since proteins are widely present in aquatic systems, to more accurately predict the fate and transport of MPs in natural environments, the effects and mechanisms of proteins on the transport of MPs should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Rong
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Lei He
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Meng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Mengya Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Kexin Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Peng Han
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Meiping Tong
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China.
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Shiu RF, Vazquez CI, Chiang CY, Chiu MH, Chen CS, Ni CW, Gong GC, Quigg A, Santschi PH, Chin WC. Nano- and microplastics trigger secretion of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances from phytoplankton. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:141469. [PMID: 33113698 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The substantial increase in plastic pollution in marine ecosystems raises concerns about its adverse impacts on the microbial community. Microorganisms (bacteria, phytoplankton) are important producers of exopolymeric substances (EPS), which govern the processes of marine organic aggregate formation, microbial colonization, and pollutant mobility. Until now, the effects of nano- and micro-plastics on characteristics of EPS composition have received little attention. This study investigated EPS secretion by four phytoplankton species following exposure to various concentrations of polystyrene nano- and microplastics (55 nm nanoparticles; 1 and 6 μm microparticles). The 55 nm nanoparticles induced less growth/survival (determined on a DNA basis) and produced EPS with higher protein-to-carbohydrate (P/C) ratios than the exposure to microplastic particles. The amount of DNA from the four marine phytoplankton showed a higher negative linear correlation with increasing P/C ratios, especially in response to nanoplastic exposure. These results provide evidence that marine phytoplankton are quite sensitive to smaller-sized plastics and actively modify their EPS chemical composition to cope with the stress from pollution. Furthermore, the release of protein-rich EPS was found to facilitate aggregate formation and surface modification of plastic particles, thereby affecting their fate and colonization. Overall, this work offers new insights into the potential harm of different-sized plastic particles and a better understanding of the responding mechanism of marine phytoplankton for plastic pollution. The data also provide needed information about the fate of marine plastics and biogenic aggregation and scavenging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Feng Shiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Carlos I Vazquez
- Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Chang-Ying Chiang
- Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Meng-Hsuen Chiu
- Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA; National Life Science, Inc., Sacramento, CA 95660, USA; Kaiser Biotech, Inc., Sacramento, CA 95660, USA
| | - Chi-Shuo Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wen Ni
- Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Gwo-Ching Gong
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Peter H Santschi
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Wei-Chun Chin
- Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
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Paduani M. Microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111739. [PMID: 33091840 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coastal wetlands are often neglected in marine debris studies. Interactions of plastics with natural particles are also largely understudied across all ecosystems but are becoming the focus of an emerging field on plastic cycling. Some studies have investigated short-term interactions, and some models predict short turnover times at the sediment surface on open shorelines. However, buried plastics may be retained longer in wetlands where accretion is often high, and some studies suggest their use as historical markers. The ubiquity, persistence, and behavior of plastic particles within wetlands warrants their consideration as novel sedimentary particles. Viewing plastics in this context will allow land managers to better predict how these vulnerable systems respond to increasing inputs of plastic pollution. This review evaluates debris distributions in coastal wetland sediments, heteroaggregation, plastic degradation within sediments, and persistence of plastic in the sedimentary record to highlight knowledge gaps and opportunities in this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Paduani
- Institute of Environment, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Trevisan R, Uzochukwu D, Di Giulio RT. PAH SORPTION TO NANOPLASTICS AND THE TROJAN HORSE EFFECT AS DRIVERS OF MITOCHONDRIAL TOXICITY AND PAH LOCALIZATION IN ZEBRAFISH. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2020; 8:78. [PMID: 34322495 PMCID: PMC8315355 DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2020.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are world-wide pollutants that pose a potential threat to wildlife and human health. Small plastic particles, such as microplastics and nanoplastics, are easily ingested, and can act as a Trojan Horse by carrying microorganisms and pollutants. This study investigated the potential role of the Trojan Horse effect in the toxicity of nanoplastics to the vertebrate model organism, zebrafish (Danio rerio). First, we investigated if this effect could affect the toxicity of nanoplastics. Second, we analyzed if it could contribute to the biodistribution of the associated contaminants. And third, we focused on its effect on the mitochondrial toxicity of nanoplastics. We incubated 44 nm polystyrene nanoparticles with a real-world mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for 7 days and removed the free PAHs by ultrafiltration. We dosed embryos with 1 ppm of nanoplastics (NanoPS) or PAH-sorbed nanoplastics (PAH-NanoPS). Neither type of plastic particle caused changes in embryonic and larval development. Fluorescence microscopy and increased EROD activity suggested the uptake of PAHs in larvae exposed to PAH-NanoPS. This coincided with higher concentrations in the yolk sac and the brain. However, PAH-only exposure leads to their accumulation in the yolk sac but not in the brain, suggesting that that the spatial distribution of bioaccumulated PAHs can differ depending on their source of exposure. Both nanoplastic particles affected mitochondrial energy metabolism but caused different adverse effects. While NanoPS decreased NADH production, PAH-NanoPS decreased mitochondrial coupling efficiency and spare respiratory capacity. In summary, the addition of PAHs to the surface of nanoplastics did not translate into increased developmental toxicity. Low levels of PAHs were accumulated in the organisms, and the transfer of PAHs seems to happen in tissues and possibly organelles where nanoplastics accumulate. Disruption of the energy metabolism in the mitochondria may be a key factor in the toxicity of nanoplastics, and the Trojan Horse effect may amplify this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Trevisan
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Daniel Uzochukwu
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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