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Chamanee G, Sewwandi M, Wijesekara H, Vithanage M. Occurrence and abundance of microplastics and plasticizers in landfill leachate from open dumpsites in Sri Lanka. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 350:123944. [PMID: 38608854 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
This is the first attempt that investigate the abundance of plasticizers in leachate sediment in the scientific literature, alongside the debut effort to explore the abundance of microplastics and plasticizers in landfill leachate and sediment in Sri Lanka. Microplastics in sizes ranging from ≥2.0-5.0, ≥1.0-2.0, and ≥ 0.5-1.0 mm were extracted from the leachate draining from ten municipal solid waste open dump sites and sediment samples covering seven districts. Microplastics were extracted by density separation (Saturated ZnCl2) followed by wet peroxide digestion and the chemical identification was conducted by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Plasticizers were extracted to hexane and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total mean microplastic abundance in leachate was 2.06 ± 0.62 mg/L whereas it was 363 ± 111 mg/kg for leachate sediments. The most frequently found polymer type was polyethylene (>50%), and white color was dominant. The average concentration of bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone (BP) and diethyl-hydrogen phthalate (DHEP) in leachate was 158 ± 84.4, 0.75 ± 0.16 and 170 ± 85.8 μg/L respectively. Furthermore, BP and DHEP in leachate sediment was 100 ± 68.3 and 1034 ± 455 μg/kg respectively. As landfill leachate is directly discharged into nearby surface and groundwater bodies that serve as sources of drinking water, the study highlights the potential concerns of microplastic and plasticizer exposure to the surrounding Sri Lankan community through consumption of contaminated drinking water. Therefore, there is a timely need of develop the effective waste management and pollution control measures to minimize the possible threats to both the environment and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Chamanee
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Madushika Sewwandi
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Hasintha Wijesekara
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA6009, Australia.
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2
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Zheng S, Zhou B, Guo N, Li N, Wu J, Chen Y, Han Z. Optimization and application of pretreatment method of microplastics detection in municipal solid waste landfills. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 183:260-270. [PMID: 38776828 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The landfill is one of the most important sources of microplastics (MPs). The pretreatment method is a precondition of microplastics study for the presence of complex substances in landfills. Therefore, it is essential to examine the impact of different pretreatment methods on the microplastics detection. A literature review and a comparison experiment on digestion solutions were performed to establish a comprehensive identification method for MPs in landfills. When exposed to of 30 % H2O2, minimal mass reduction of PE, PP and PET were 4.00 %, 3.00 % and 3.00 % respectively, and the least surface damage was observed in MPs, while exhibiting the most optimal peak value for infrared spectral characteristics. It is demonstrated that the effect of 30 % H2O2 dissolution was superior compared to 10 % KOH and 65 % HNO3. The method was subsequently utilized to investigate the distribution of MPs in a landfill. The dominant MPs were polyethylene (PE, 18.56-23.91 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 8.80-18.66 %), polystyrene (PS, 10.31-18.09 %), and polypropylene (PP, 11.60-14.91 %). The comprehensive identification method of "NaCl density separation + 30 % H2O2 digestion + NaI density separation + sampling microscope + Mirco-FTIR" is suitable for the detection of MPs in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saqi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Baiyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Nanfei Guo
- College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; YangJiang Nuclear Power Co.,Ltd., Yangjiang 529500, China
| | - Naying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Jialun Wu
- Chengdu Ecological Environment Monitoring Center Station of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Chengdu Ecological Environment Monitoring Center Station of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhiyong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution (Chengdu University of Technology), Chengdu 610059, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China.
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3
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Verma M, Singh P, Dhanorkar M. Exploring the abundance of microplastics in Indian landfill leachate: An analytical study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121181. [PMID: 38761628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Landfills are a major source of many emerging pollutants, including microplastics (MPs). This makes them a potential threat to human and environmental health and calls for a more detailed analysis of their hazard potential. India is a developing country with multiple unscientific waste dumping sites. In spite of their hazardous nature, detailed studies on the abundance of microplastics in landfills in India are scanty. Current work investigates the abundance and diversity of MPs in two landfills of India, Uruli Devachi in Pune (S1) and Deonar in Mumbai (S2). MPs collected from landfill leachate using multiple filters were analyzed using an optical microscope and categorized on the basis of shape, color and size to give information on their distribution. MP abundance in S1 was 1473 ± 273.01 items/L while 2067 ± 593.75 items/L were found in leachate from S2. Film and fragment were the dominant shape and black was the dominant color of MP found in both the landfills. Maximum number of MPs were in the size range below 100 μm in both the landfills necessitating the study of small sized particles. Chemical characterization revealed the prevalence of four types of MPs (polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, cellulose acetate and polyvinyl chloride). This study sheds light on the prevalence, characteristics, abundance and distribution of MPs in landfill leachate in Western India, sparking more research into the processes followed for capturing the factual small sized microplastic abundance data. This study is vital for a detailed management of landfill leachate enabling a sustainable waste management and targeted actions for ecosystem preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Verma
- Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, India
| | - Pooja Singh
- Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, India
| | - Manikprabhu Dhanorkar
- Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, India.
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Zhang L, Zhao W, Yan R, Yu X, Barceló D, Sui Q. Microplastics in different municipal solid waste treatment and disposal systems: Do they pose environmental risks? WATER RESEARCH 2024; 255:121443. [PMID: 38492313 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant worldwide environmental and health challenge. Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be an important source of MPs in the environment if treated and disposed of inappropriately, causing potential ecological risks. MSW treatment and disposal methods have been gradually shifting from landfilling/dumping to more sustainable approaches, such as incineration or composting. However, previous studies on MP characteristics in different MSW treatment and disposal systems have mainly focused either on landfills/dumpsites or composts. The lack of knowledge of multiple MSW treatment and disposal systems makes it difficult to ensure effective MP pollution control during MSW treatment and disposal. Therefore, this study systematically summarizes the occurrence of MPs in different MSW treatment and disposal systems (landfill/dumpsite, compost, and incineration) on the Eurasian scale, and discusses the factors that influence MPs in individual MSW treatment and disposal systems. In addition, the paper assesses the occurrence of MPs in the surrounding environment of MSW treatment and disposal systems and their ecological risks using the species sensitivity distribution approach. The study also highlights recommendations for future research, to more comprehensively describe the occurrence and fate of MPs during MSW treatment and disposal processes, and to develop appropriate pollution control measures to minimize MP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ruiqi Yan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xia Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Damià Barceló
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Qian Sui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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5
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Alves NM, Rodriguez J, Di Mauro R, Rodríguez JS, Maldonado D, Braverman MS, Temperoni B, Diaz MV. Like noodles in a soup: Anthropogenic microfibers are being ingested by juvenile fish in nursery grounds of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116368. [PMID: 38678732 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116368] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The balance between marine health and ecosystem sustainability confronts a pressing threat from anthropogenic pollution. Estuaries are particularly susceptible to contamination, notably by anthropogenic microfibers originated from daily human activities in land and in fishing practices. This study examines the impact of anthropogenic microfibers on the whitemouth croaker in an estuarine environment of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean during cold and warm seasons. The presence of anthropogenic microfibers was revealed in 64 % of juvenile gastrointestinal tracts, and 94 % of water samples, and concentrations were influenced by factors such as temperature, bay zone, and fish body length. Blue and black anthropogenic microfibers, with a rather new physical aspect, were dominant. This study highlights the impact of microfibers in a heavily anthropized body of water, subject to federal and local regulations due to the presence of commercially significant fish species inhabiting this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia M Alves
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA - República Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC - CONICET), Juan B. Justo 2550, B7608FBY, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Julieta Rodriguez
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA - República Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC - CONICET), Juan B. Justo 2550, B7608FBY, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Rosana Di Mauro
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA - República Argentina.
| | - Julieta S Rodríguez
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - David Maldonado
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Mara S Braverman
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Brenda Temperoni
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA - República Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC - CONICET), Juan B. Justo 2550, B7608FBY, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Marina V Diaz
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo N° 1, B7602HSA Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA - República Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC - CONICET), Juan B. Justo 2550, B7608FBY, Mar del Plata, Argentina
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6
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Estoppey N, Castro G, Slinde GA, Hansen CB, Løseth ME, Krahn KM, Demmer V, Svenni J, Tran TVAT, Asimakopoulos AG, Arp HPH, Cornelissen G. Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170501. [PMID: 38307289 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) produced from organic waste have the potential to reduce societal dependence on limited and energy-intensive mineral fertilizers. BBFs, thereby, contribute to a circular economy for fertilizers. However, BBFs can contain plastic fragments and hazardous additives such as phthalate plasticizers, which could constitute a risk for agricultural soils and the environment. This study assessed the exposure associated with plastic and phthalates in BBFs from three types of organic wastes: agricultural and food industry waste (AgriFoodInduWaste), sewage sludge (SewSludge), and biowaste (i.e., garden, park, food and kitchen waste). The wastes were associated with various treatments like drying, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting. The number of microplastics (0.045-5 mm) increased from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs (15-258 particles g-1), to SewSludge-BBFs (59-1456 particles g-1) and then to Biowaste-BBFs (828-2912 particles g-1). Biowaste-BBFs mostly contained packaging plastics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), with the mass of plastic (>10 g kg-1) exceeding the EU threshold (3 g kg-1, plastics >2 mm). Other BBFs mostly contained small (< 1 mm) non-packaging plastics in amounts below the EU limit. The calculated numbers of microplastics entering agricultural soils via BBF application was high (107-1010 microplastics ha-1y-1), but the mass of plastic released from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs was limited (< 1 and <7 kg ha-1y-1) compared to Biowaste-BBFs (95-156 kg ha-1y-1). The concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP; < 2.5 mg kg-1) and phthalate transformation products (< 8 mg kg-1) were low (< benchmark of 50 mg kg-1 for DEHP), attributable to both the current phase-out of DEHP as well as phthalate degradation during waste treatment. The Biowaste-BBF exposed to vermicomposting indicated that worms accumulated phthalate transformation products (4 mg kg-1). These results are overall positive for the implementation of the studied AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs. However, the safe use of the studied Biowaste-BBFs requires reducing plastic use and improving sorting methods to minimize plastic contamination, in order to protect agricultural soils and reduce the environmental impact of Biowaste-BBFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Estoppey
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Research in Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gøril Aasen Slinde
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Caroline Berge Hansen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Engvig Løseth
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Viona Demmer
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørgen Svenni
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | - Teresa-Van-Anh Thi Tran
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432 Ås, Norway
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Shafi M, Lodh A, Khajuria M, Ranjan VP, Gani KM, Chowdhury S, Goel S. Are we underestimating stormwater? Stormwater as a significant source of microplastics in surface waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133445. [PMID: 38198866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Stormwater represent a critical pathway for transporting microplastics (MPs) to surface waters. Due to complex dynamics of MPs in stormwater, its dispersion, weathering, risk, and transport are poorly understood. This review bridges those gaps by summarizing the latest findings on sources, abundance, characteristics, and dynamics involved in stormwater MP pollution. Weathering starts before or after MPs enter stormwater and is more pronounced on land due to continuous heat and mechanical stress. Land use patterns, rainfall intensity, MPs size and density, and drainage characteristics influence the transport of MPs in stormwater. Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs), littering, and road dust are major sources of MPs in stormwater. The concentrations of MPs varies from 0.38-197,000 particles/L globally. Further MP concentrations showed regional variations, highlighting the importance of local monitoring efforts needed to understand local pollution sources. We observed unique signatures associated with the shape and color of MPs. Fibers and fragments were widely reported, with transparent and black being the predominant colors. We conclude that the contribution of stormwater to MP pollution in surface waters is significantly greater than wastewater treatment plant effluents and demands immediate attention. Field and lab scale studies are needed to understand its behavior in stormwater and the risk posed to the downstream water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mozim Shafi
- Environmental Engineering and Management Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Ayan Lodh
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Medha Khajuria
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India
| | - Ved Prakash Ranjan
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India
| | - Khalid Muzamil Gani
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India
| | - Shamik Chowdhury
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Sudha Goel
- Environmental Engineering and Management Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
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8
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Sun H, Hu J, Wu Y, Gong H, Zhu N, Yuan H. Leachate from municipal solid waste landfills: A neglected source of microplastics in the environment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133144. [PMID: 38056251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade or so, microplastics (MPs) have received increasing attention due to their ubiquity and potential risk to the environment. Waste plastics usually end up in landfills. These plastics in landfills undergo physical compression, chemical oxidation, and biological decomposition, breaking down into MPs. As a result, landfill leachate stores large amounts of MPs, which can negatively impact the surrounding soil and water environment. However, not enough attention has been given to the occurrence and removal of MPs in landfill leachate. This lack of knowledge has led to landfills being an underestimated source of microplastics. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this paper collects relevant literature on MPs in landfill leachate from domestic and international sources, systematically summarizes their presence within Asia and Europe, assesses the impacts of landfill leachate on MPs in the adjacent environment, and particularly discusses the possible ecotoxicological effects of MPs in leachate. We found high levels of MPs in the soil and water around informal landfills, and the MPs themselves and the toxic substances they carry can have toxic effects on organisms. In addition, this paper summarizes the potential impact of MPs on the biochemical treatment stage of leachate, finds that the effects of MPs on the biochemical treatment stage and membrane filtration are more significant, and proposes some novel processes for MPs removal from leachate. This analysis contributes to the removal of MPs from leachate. This study is the first comprehensive review of the occurrence, environmental impact, and removal of MPs in leachate from landfills in Asia and Europe. It offers a comprehensive theoretical reference for the field, providing invaluable insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Sun
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Recovery, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jinwen Hu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Recovery, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - You Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Huabo Gong
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Recovery, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nanwen Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Recovery, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Haiping Yuan
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Recovery, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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9
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Li X, Guo S, Shen D, Shentu J, Lv L, Qi S, Zhu M, Long Y. Microplastic release and sulfate reduction response in the early stage of a simulated landfill. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 175:22-29. [PMID: 38150952 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Landfills are essential facilities for treating and disposing municipal solid waste. They emit sulfur-containing odors and serve as an important sink for a new type of pollutant called microplastics (MPs). This study focused on the initial stage of anaerobic degradation to establish the relationship between the release of MPs and odor generation. Our findings show the rapid release of MPs into the leachate in the early stage of landfill and their predominant accumulation in the leachate sediment. The circulating leachate contained 1.45 times higher concentrations of MPs than the noncirculating leachate, with a peak concentration of 39 items·L-1. In addition, fragmentation of MPs occurred. The percentage of MPs with particle sizes of 2.5-5 mm decreased from 66.70 % to 22.32 %, while those measuring 0.1-0.5 mm increased by 33.12 %. A positive correlation was observed between MP release and sulfate reduction. Although leachate circulation increased the release of MPs, it also reduced the overall release time and total amount of MPs exported from the landfill. Compared with the initial landfill waste, the leachate operation mode, regardless of circulation, resulted in a 6.15-8.93-fold increase in MP release. These findings provide a valuable foundation for the simultaneous regulation of traditional pollutant odor and new pollutants (MPs) in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghang Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Shuli Guo
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Dongsheng Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Jiali Shentu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Li Lv
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Shengqi Qi
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Yuyang Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
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10
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Qin ZH, Siddiqui MA, Xin X, Mou JH, Varjani S, Chen G, Lin CSK. Identification of microplastics in raw and treated municipal solid waste landfill leachates in Hong Kong, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141208. [PMID: 38219986 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141208] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are indispensable in modern society but also pose a persistent threat to the environment. In particular, microplastics (MPs) have a substantial environmental impact on ecosystems. Municipal solid waste landfill leachates are a source of MPs, but leakage of MPs from leachates has only been reported in a few studies. As a modern city, Hong Kong has a remarkably high population density and a massive plastic waste generation. However, it depends on conventional landfilling for plastic waste management and traditional thermal ammonia stripping for leachate treatment. Yet, the MP leakage from landfill leachates in Hong Kong has not been disclosed. This is the first study that aimed to identify, quantify, and characterise MPs in raw and treated leachates, respectively, from major landfill sites in Hong Kong. The concentrations of MPs varied from 49.0 ± 24.3 to 507.6 ± 37.3 items/L among the raw leachate samples, and a potential correlation was found between the concentration of MPs in the raw leachate sample from a given landfill site and the annual leachate generation of the site. Most MPs were 100-500 μm fragments or filaments and were transparent or yellow. Regarding the polymeric materials among the identified MPs, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyethylene were the most abundant types, comprising 45.30% and 21.37% of MPs, respectively. Interestingly, leachates treated by ammonia stripping contained higher concentrations of MPs than raw leachate samples, which demonstrated that the traditional treatment process may not be sufficient regarding the removal of emerging pollutants, such as MPs. Overall, our findings provide a more comprehensive picture of the pollution of MPs in landfill leachates in Hong Kong and highlight the urgent need for adopting the consideration of MPs into the conventional mindset of waste management systems in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Hao Qin
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Muhammad Ahmar Siddiqui
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Center, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiayin Xin
- Beaty Water Research Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, Union Street, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3Z6, Canada
| | - Jin-Hua Mou
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sunita Varjani
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Guanghao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Center, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carol Sze Ki Lin
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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11
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Gunarathne V, Phillips AJ, Zanoletti A, Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M, Di Maria F, Pivato A, Korzeniewska E, Bontempi E. Environmental pitfalls and associated human health risks and ecological impacts from landfill leachate contaminants: Current evidence, recommended interventions and future directions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169026. [PMID: 38056656 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169026] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The improper management of solid waste, particularly the dumping of untreated municipal solid waste, poses a growing global challenge in both developed and developing nations. The generation of leachate is one of the significant issues that arise from this practice, and it can have harmful impacts on both the environment and public health. This paper presents an overview of the primary waste types that generate landfill leachate and their characteristics. This includes examining the distribution of waste types in landfills globally and how they have changed over time, which can provide valuable insights into potential pollutants in a given area and their trends. With a lack of specific regulations and growing concerns regarding environmental and health impacts, the paper also focuses on emerging contaminants. Furthermore, the environmental and ecological impacts of leachate, along with associated health risks, are analyzed. The potential applications of landfill leachate, suggested interventions and future directions are also discussed in the manuscript. Finally, this work addresses future research directions in landfill leachate studies, with attention, for the first time to the potentialities that artificial intelligence can offer for landfill leachate management, studies, and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viraj Gunarathne
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, CO 10250, Sri Lanka; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Ankur J Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Alessandra Zanoletti
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, CO 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, CO 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Francesco Di Maria
- LAR5 Laboratory, Dipartimento di Ingegneria, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy
| | - Alberto Pivato
- DICEA - Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Ewa Korzeniewska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, The Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1 Str., 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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12
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Long Y, Zhang Y, Zhou Z, Liu R, Qiu Z, Qiu Y, Li J, Wang W, Li X, Yin L, Wen X. Are microplastics in livestock and poultry manure an emerging threat to agricultural soil safety? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:11543-11558. [PMID: 38212564 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31857-6] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have attracted much attention in recent years, due to the difficulty of degradation and threats to ecological systems and humans. Based on the analysis of 1429 articles on MPs in soil, we found that we know little about the behavior and fate of manure-born MPs from the livestock and poultry production systems to agriculture soils. This review summarizes the analytical methods for sampling, separation, and identification and the occurrence of MPs in livestock and poultry manure, mainly based on 7 surveys related to manure-born MPs. Then, the sources, fate, and environmental risks of MPs in livestock and poultry manure are discussed. MPs, heavy metals, pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and persistent organic pollutants are common pollutants in livestock and poultry manure. Worse, manure-born MPs will become smaller, rougher, and more numerous and could easily form more toxic compound pollution after complicated processes of manure treatment, which seriously threatens agricultural soil safety. Finally, an outlook is offered for future research. We hope this article to attract attention to the risks of MPs in livestock and poultry manure and provide a reference for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuannan Long
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - You Zhang
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Ruyi Liu
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Ziyi Qiu
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Yiming Qiu
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Wenming Wang
- Hunan Pilot Yanghu Reclaimed Water Co. Ltd, Changsha, 410006, China
| | - Xiwei Li
- Hunan Pilot Yanghu Reclaimed Water Co. Ltd, Changsha, 410006, China
| | - Lingshi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
- College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China.
- Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China.
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Kannankai MP, Devipriya SP. Atmospheric microplastic deposition in a coastal city of India: The influence of a landfill source on monsoon winds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168235. [PMID: 37923255 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Coastal zones experience various wind events that may influence the characteristics, distribution, and dynamics of atmospheric microplastic pollutants. In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of the bulk atmospheric microplastic deposition in Kochi, Kerala, India, during three distinct seasons: Northeast Monsoon (NEM), Summer (SMR), and Southwest monsoon (SWM). Seasonally, the highest microplastic fallout rate was recorded for the NEM (37.29 particles m-2d-1), followed by SMR (15.17 particles m-2 d-1) and the SWM (11.57 particles m-2d-1). The microplastic abundance was not correlated to the amount of rainfall. Further, the wind rose and HYSPLIT trajectory analysis illustrated the arrival of northeast monsoon winds to the city via the region in and around the municipal landfill, which could be a major source of airborne microplastic to the sampling stations, and the forward trajectories from the landfill site extended into the Arabia Sea, providing evidence on the potential atmospheric transport and subsequent deposition of microplastics into the ocean. With respect to the qualitative characteristics, blue-coloured and fibrous microplastics dominated the samples with a considerable number of particles belonging to the size range of 200-500 μm. The practice of drying synthetic clothes under natural sunlight may have substantially contributed to the increased prevalence of airborne microfibers. The higher numbers of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in the bulk microplastic deposition reinforce the concept of low-density polymers being more susceptible to deflation by the wind. Overall, the work signifies the role of monsoon winds in transporting microplastics from an unscientifically managed municipal landfill site and also highlights the importance of reducing the quantity of plastic waste ending up at the landfill to reduce the emission of microplastics proportionately.
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14
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Xie Y, Wang H, Chen Y, Guo Y, Wang C, Cui H, Xue J. Water retention and hydraulic properties of a natural soil subjected to microplastic contaminations and leachate exposures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:166502. [PMID: 37619730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The influences of microplastics (MPs) contamination on soils have been extensively studied recently. Most of previous studies focus on saturated hydraulic conductivities and water retention of loose soils under laboratory conditions. The effects of MPs on the hydraulic properties of compacted soils for engineering purposes have not been well understood. This paper presents the laboratory investigation of water retention capacity, saturated (ksat) and unsaturated (kθ) hydraulic conductivities of a compacted natural soil contaminated by MPs and exposed to fresh, medium-aged, and stabilized leachates. The saturated (kg) and unsaturated air conductivities (kgθ) are calculated. The MPs with maximum particle sizes of 500, 150 and 50 μm were added to soils to obtain samples with mass ratios of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 %, respectively. Under similar ranges of dry densities, permeation of fresh leachates decreases ksat of the compacted soils by 30 % while exposure to stabilized leachates increases ksat by 10 %, due to the viscosities of liquids. The flow channel properties of the compacted soils contaminated with different sizes and concentrations of MPs vary. The most complex flow channel can be found in samples with 5 % 50 μm MPs. The inclusions of MPs decrease residual moisture contents of the compacted soils regardless of MP sizes and percentages. The effects of MPs on air-entry pressures and parameter n depend on the sizes of MPs. The kθ (kgθ) of compacted soils with MPs depend on the combined effects of ksat (kg) and tortuosity parameter (l). Though l ranges from -0.85 to 2.12 with different levels of MP exposures, it does not have a significant influence on the relative hydraulic (kθ/ksat) and air conductivities (kgθ/kg) of the compacted soils. Future studies can focus on the long-term hydraulic properties of soils under MP contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuekai Xie
- School of Engineering and Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia
| | - Hongxu Wang
- School of Engineering and Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia
| | - Yue Chen
- School of Engineering and Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia
| | - Yingying Guo
- Civil Branch, Infrastructure Delivery Partner, Major Projects Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2606, Australia
| | - Chenman Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Hanwen Cui
- School of Engineering and Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, South Coast Region, Nerang, QLD 4211, Australia
| | - Jianfeng Xue
- School of Engineering and Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia.
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15
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Kurniawan TA, Haider A, Mohyuddin A, Fatima R, Salman M, Shaheen A, Ahmad HM, Al-Hazmi HE, Othman MHD, Aziz F, Anouzla A, Ali I. Tackling microplastics pollution in global environment through integration of applied technology, policy instruments, and legislation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 346:118971. [PMID: 37729832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is a serious environmental problem that affects both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Small particles with size of less than 5 mm, known as microplastics (MPs), persist in the environment and pose serious threats to various species from micro-organisms to humans. However, terrestrial environment has received less attention than the aquatic environment, despite being a major source of MPs that eventually reaches water body. To reflect its novelty, this work aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of MPs pollution in the global environment and various solutions to address MP pollution by integrating applied technology, policy instruments, and legislation. This review critically evaluates and compares the existing technologies for MPs detection, removal, and degradation, and a variety of policy instruments and legislation that can support the prevention and management of MPs pollution scientifically. Furthermore, this review identifies the gaps and challenges in addressing the complex and diverse nature of MPs and calls for joint actions and collaboration from stakeholders to contain MPs. As water pollution by MPs is complex, managing it effectively requires their responses through the utilization of technology, policy instruments, and legislation. It is evident from a literature survey of 228 published articles (1961-2023) that existing water technologies are promising to remove MPs pollution. Membrane bioreactors and ultrafiltration achieved 90% of MPs removal, while magnetic separation was effective at extracting 88% of target MPs from wastewater. In biological process, one kg of wax worms could consume about 80 g of plastic/day. This means that 100 kg of wax worms can eat about 8 kg of plastic daily, or about 2.9 tons of plastic annually. Overall, the integration of technology, policy instrument, and legislation is crucial to deal with the MPs issues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahtisham Haider
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Mohyuddin
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan.
| | - Rida Fatima
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Salman
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
| | - Anila Shaheen
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Hussein E Al-Hazmi
- Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman
- Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
| | - Faissal Aziz
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity & Climate Changes, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, BP 2390, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdelkader Anouzla
- Department of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Mohammedia, Morocco
| | - Imran Ali
- Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India
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16
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Dhevagi P, Keerthi Sahasa RG, Poornima R, Ramya A. Unveiling the effect of microplastics on agricultural crops - a review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 2023; 26:793-815. [PMID: 37941363 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2023.2275152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), ever since they were identified as a potential and widely distributed persistent contaminant, the number of studies highlighting their impacts on various terrestrial ecosystems have been increasing. Recently, the effect of MPs on the agricultural ecosystem has gained momentum. Hence, the present review examines the impact of microplastics on agricultural crop systems and the mechanism underlying its toxicity. The current review revealed that most of the studies were conducted at a laboratory scale and under controlled conditions. Additionally, it was observed that polystyrene (PS) followed by polyethylene (PE) are the most studied polymer type, while the most studied plants are wheat and maize. Hitherto, literature studies suggest that the microplastics' influence on plant growth can be negative or sometimes neutral; while in some cases it exerts a hormetic effect which depends on other factors determining plant growth. Notably, the main mechanisms through which microplastics influence plant growth are mechanical damage, alteration of soil properties, or by leaching of additives. Overall, with burgeoning research interest in this aspect, the current review has significant implications for the toxicity of MPs on plants and throws light on the need to develop novel guidelines toward the sustainable use of plastics in agricultural sector. However, realistic field-level studies and estimating the MPs concentration at various region are essential to develop remediation approaches. Future studies should also focus on translocation and accumulation of micron sized MPs in edible portion of crops and their effect on food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Periyasamy Dhevagi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Ramesh Poornima
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ambikapathi Ramya
- Research Centre for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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17
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Qin X, Teng W, Zhang X, Yang Y, Zhu Y, Liu Z, Li W, Dong H, Qiang Z, Zeng J, Lian J. Ethanol-diluted turbidimetry method for rapid and accurate quantification of low-density microplastics in synthetic samples. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1278:341712. [PMID: 37709455 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Retention and transport behaviours of microplastics (MPs) and their associated pollutants in porous media are of great concern. The homogeneity of the studied MPs in artificially controlled lab-scale studies makes rapid and accurate MP quantification feasible. In this study, an economical ethanol-diluted turbidimetry method for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) MPs was developed. With ethanol dilution, the MP dispersion system exhibited an excellent suspension performance. Strong linear relationships were observed between MP concentrations and turbidities in both low (<1.3 mg L-1) and high (<170 mg L-1) MP concentration ranges. Solution density and MP agglomeration governed the MP suspension performance. For low surface tension and high molecular mass, the addition of ethanol decreased the contact angles of PP-MPs with solutions from 81.73 to 15.5°, and consequently improved the MP suspension performance. The suspension system was optimised to an ethanol/water (v/v) ratio of 3:2 and 4:1 for PP- and PE-MPs, when the slopes of standard curves were determined to be 1.252 and 0.471 with the recovery of 100.54 ± 3.09% and 103.19 ± 1.66%, and the limit of detection and quantification values of 0.025 and 0.082 mg L-1, and 0.060 and 0.201 mg L-1, respectively. Solution pH, salinity, and dissolved organic matter in the selected range induced acceptable fluctuations in the MP recovery and matrix effect values. The Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) energy barriers were calculated to be > 20 kT, indicating excellent tolerance to the solution matrix. Additionally, applications in real water samples were validated to demonstrate the potential of the developed method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Qin
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnology and Engineering Disaster Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Wenxi Teng
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yalin Yang
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yichun Zhu
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnology and Engineering Disaster Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Zuwen Liu
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnology and Engineering Disaster Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China; School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China
| | - Wentao Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuang-qing Road, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Huiyu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuang-qing Road, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Zhimin Qiang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuang-qing Road, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Jinfeng Zeng
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China; Hydrology and Water Resources Monitoring Center for Ganjiang Upstream Watershed, 8 Zhang-jia-wei Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Junfeng Lian
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Basin Pollution Simulation and Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnology and Engineering Disaster Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 1958 Ke-jia Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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18
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Lou F, Wang J, Sima J, Lei J, Huang Q. Mass concentration and distribution characteristics of microplastics in landfill mineralized refuse using efficient quantitative detection based on Py-GC/MS. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132098. [PMID: 37490799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Landfilling is the most traditional disposal method of domestic waste. Plastic waste in landfill sites could degrade to microplastics (MPs) and diffuse to the surrounding environment with leachate. However, MPs pollution in landfill mineralized refuse has not been well recognized. In the present research, a detection method for mixed MPs of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) based on Py-GC/MS was established and verified. The method is suitable for the rapid quantitative detection of large-batch of complex solid matrix samples, with an average deviation of less than 10%. Based on the method, samples from a landfill site in South China were studied, where PE was found to be the main component. The total concentration of MPs in mineralized refuse was 7.62 kg/t in the old area and 5.49 kg/t in the young area. Further analysis showed that the content of MPs was correlated with that of plastic waste and the landfill age, indicating that a considerable proportion was secondary MPs. The reserves of MPs in landfill sites may have reached an alarming number. In the absence of adequate safeguards, quantities of MPs may spread from the landfill sites, resulting in serious pollution of the surrounding soil and groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Jiaxing Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Jiaxing 314011, China.
| | - Jingyuan Sima
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Qunxing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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19
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Kabir MS, Wang H, Luster-Teasley S, Zhang L, Zhao R. Microplastics in landfill leachate: Sources, detection, occurrence, and removal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 16:100256. [PMID: 36941884 PMCID: PMC10024173 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Due to the accumulation of an enormous amount of plastic waste from municipal and industrial sources in landfills, landfill leachate is becoming a significant reservoir of microplastics. The release of microplastics from landfill leachate into the environment can have undesirable effects on humans and biota. This study provides the state of the science regarding the source, detection, occurrence, and remediation of microplastics in landfill leachate based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, mostly in the recent decade. Solid waste and wastewater treatment residue are the primary sources of microplastics in landfill leachate. Microplastic concentration in raw and treated landfill leachate varied between 0-382 and 0-2.7 items L-1. Microplastics in raw landfill leachate are largely attributable to local plastic waste production and solid waste management practices. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene are the most prevalent microplastic polymers in landfill leachate. Even though the colors of microplastics are primarily determined by their parent plastic waste, the predominance of light-colored microplastics in landfill leachate indicates long-term degradation. The identified morphologies of microplastics in leachate from all published sources contain fiber and fragments the most. Depending on the treatment method, leachate treatment processes can achieve microplastic removal rates between 3% and 100%. The review also provides unique perspectives on microplastics in landfill leachate in terms of remediation, final disposal, fate and transport among engineering systems, and source reduction, etc. The landfill-wastewater treatment plant loop and bioreactor landfills present unique difficulties and opportunities for managing microplastics induced by landfill leachate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mosarrat Samiha Kabir
- Department of Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Stephanie Luster-Teasley
- Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Department of Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA
| | - Renzun Zhao
- Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA
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20
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Liu H, Li H, Qiu L, Xie Q, Lu Y, Chen B, Wang H, Long Y, Hu L, Fang C. Alteration of the migration trajectory of antibiotic resistance genes by microplastics in a leachate activated sludge system. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:121981. [PMID: 37321316 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121981] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The environmental behavior of emerging contaminants of microplastics (MPs), antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the leachate activated sludge system has been monitored and analyzed comprehensively. The results suggested that MPs could effectively alter the migration trajectory of tetracycline resistance genes (tet genes) in the leachate activated sludge system under intermittent and continuous influent conditions. After adding MPs, the total average abundance of tet genes in leachate increased from 0.74 ± 0.07 to 0.78 ± 0.07 (log10tet genes/log10 16S rRNA) and that in sludge increased from 0.65 ± 0.08 to 0.70 ± 0.06 (log10tet genes/log10 16S rRNA). Except for tetA, the abundance of tetB, tetO, tetM and tetQ on MPs increased with increasing TC concentration under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. MPs not only significantly affect the abundance level and migration trajectory of ARGs in the leachate activated sludge system, but also remarkably improve the level of heavy metals in the ambient environment, indirectly promoting the selective effect of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and promoting the development of antibiotic resistance (AR). In addition, MPs changed their physicochemical properties and released hazardous substances with aging to force tet genes to migrate from the leachate activated sludge system to the MPs, making AR more difficult to eliminate and persisted in wastewater treatment plants. Meanwhile, microorganisms played a driving role, making MPs serve as a niche for ARGs and ARB colonization. The co-occurrence network analysis indicated the specific distribution pattern of tet genes and microorganisms in different media, and the potential host was speculated. This study improves the understanding of the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants in leachate activated sludge system and lays a theoretical for protecting the ecological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyuan Liu
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
| | - Hong Li
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Libo Qiu
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Qiaona Xie
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yingying Lu
- Environmental Science Research & Design Institute of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Binhui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yuyang Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Lifang Hu
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, Institution of Industrial Carbon Metrology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chengran Fang
- College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
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21
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Rafiq A, Xu JL. Microplastics in waste management systems: A review of analytical methods, challenges and prospects. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 171:54-70. [PMID: 37647726 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have reported the presence of microplastics (MPs) in waste collection and disposal systems. However, current scientific studies on measuring MP occurrence in a waste management context are not comparable due to a lack of standardized methodologies. Consequently, the impact of MPs on ecosystems and human health remains largely unclear. To address the inconsistencies, present in published studies, this review thoroughly examines sample preparation techniques for transfer stations, landfill leachate, recycling, compost, and incineration ash samples. Furthermore, various analytical approaches such as flotation, filtration, and organic matter digestion, as well as morphological categorization, identification, and quantification, are subsequently rigorously assessed. The benefits and limitations of each methodology are evaluated to facilitate the development of accurate and effective methods for detecting and characterizing nanoplastics. Recent research suggests that plastic recycling and composting facilities are the primary environmental sources of microplastic pollution among different waste treatment methods. The most prevalent microplastic types discovered in waste management were polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), with fragment and fiber being the most frequently reported morphologies. The review highlights a number of tactics that could be integrated into the methodology development for detecting microplastics in waste management systems (WMS), ultimately leading to better consistency and reliability of data across different studies. In essence, this will advance our comprehension of potential risks associated with microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeel Rafiq
- The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand
| | - Jun-Li Xu
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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22
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Chamanee G, Sewwandi M, Wijesekara H, Vithanage M. Global perspective on microplastics in landfill leachate; Occurrence, abundance, characteristics, and environmental impact. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 171:10-25. [PMID: 37634255 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Plastic wastes deposited in landfills eventually break down and degrade into microplastics by physical, chemical, and biological forces. Though microplastics in leachate pose significant threats to the environment, the leachate generated from landfills has not received much attention as a possible source of environmental microplastics. A descriptive and systematic investigationof the global distribution of microplastics in landfill leachate does not exist to date. Therefore, this attempt is to provide a concise scientometric review of the studies on the presence of microplastics in landfill leachate. The present review revealed that the global trend in research on microplastics in leachate has increased exponentially after 2018 and China is the leading country. Different geographical regions have reported different microplastic abundances with the highest of 291.0 ± 91.0 items/L from a landfill in Shanghai. The use of novel sampling techniques to detect small microplastics (20-100 µm) has led to the high abundance of microplastics in landfill leachate in Shanghai. Due to its widespread usage, polyethylene is the most typically encountered polymer type in landfill leachate around the world. However, it is quite challengingto compare the results among studies due to the use of different size categories and extraction techniques. The removal of microplastics by the current leachate treatment facilities is still mostly unexplored, thus it is crucial to develop novel technologies to treat the microplastics in landfill leachate. Further investigations on the transport of microplastics in landfill leachate are urgently required to have a better understanding of potential human exposure and health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Chamanee
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka; Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Madushika Sewwandi
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Hasintha Wijesekara
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India; Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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23
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Huang Q, Yang C, Cheng Z, Wang H, Mojiri A, Zhu N, Qian X, Shen Y, Wu S, Lou Z. Exploring into a light-avoided environment: Mechanical-thermal coupled conditions responsible for the aging behavior of plastic waste in landfills. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120162. [PMID: 37307685 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120162] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastics in landfills undergo a unique micronization process due to multi-factor and light-avoided conditions, but their aging process in such a typical environment remains unexplored. This study investigated the aging behavior of polyethylene plastics, representative of landfills, under simulated dynamic mechanical forces and high temperature-two prevalent environmental factors in landfills. The study explored the individual and combined contributions of these factors to the aging process. Results indicated that high temperature played a primary role in aging plastics by depolymerization and degradation through ·OH production, while mechanical forces contributed mainly to surface structure breakdown. The combined effect leads to more serious surface damage, creating holes, cracks, and scratches that provide access for free radical reactions to plastic bulk, thereby accelerating the aging and micronization process. The resulting microplastics were found to be 14.25 ± 0.53 μg L-1. Aged plastics exhibit a rapid aging rate of depolymerization and oxidation compared to virgin plastics due to their weak properties, suggesting a higher potential risk of microplastic generation. This study fills a knowledge gap regarding the aging behavior of plastics under complex and light-avoided landfill conditions, emphasizing the need for increased attention to the evolution process of microplastics from aged plastic waste in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiujie Huang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Changfu Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhaowen Cheng
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Amin Mojiri
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nanwen Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaoyong Qian
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yilong Shen
- Shanghai Solid Waste Management Center, Shanghai 200235, China
| | - Shaolin Wu
- Shanghai Solid Waste Management Center, Shanghai 200235, China
| | - Ziyang Lou
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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24
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Acarer S. A review of microplastic removal from water and wastewater by membrane technologies. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:199-219. [PMID: 37452543 PMCID: wst_2023_186 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) cannot be completely removed from water/wastewater in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). According to the literature analysis, membrane technologies, one of the advanced treatment technologies, are the most effective and promising technologies for MP removal from water and wastewater. In this paper, firstly, the properties of MPs commonly present in WWTPs/DWTPs and the MP removal efficiency of WWTPs/DWTPs are briefly reviewed. In addition, research studies on MP removal from water/wastewater by microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are reviewed. In the next section, membrane filtration is compared with other methods used for MP removal from water/wastewater, and the advantages/disadvantages of the removal methods are discussed. Moreover, the problem of membrane fouling with MPs during filtration and the potential for MP release from polymeric membrane structure to water/wastewater are discussed. Finally, based on the studies in the literature, the current status and research deficiencies of MP removal by membrane technologies are identified, and recommendations are made for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcılar, İstanbul 34320, Turkey E-mail:
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25
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Singh S, Malyan SK, Maithani C, Kashyap S, Tyagi VK, Singh R, Malhotra S, Sharma M, Kumar A, Panday BK, Pandey RP. Microplastics in landfill leachate: Occurrence, health concerns, and removal strategies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 342:118220. [PMID: 37290308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Landfills are commonly used to manage solid waste, but they can contribute to microplastic (MPs) pollution. As plastic waste degrades in landfills, MPs are released into the surrounding environment, contaminating soil, groundwater, and surface water. This poses a threat to human health and the environment, as MPs can adsorb toxic substances. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the degradation process of macroplastics into microplastics, the types of MPs found in landfill leachate (LL), and the potential toxicity of microplastic pollution. The study also evaluates various physical-chemical and biological treatment methods for removing MPs from wastewater. The concentration of MPs in young landfills is higher than in old landfills, and specific polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, and polycarbonate contribute significantly to microplastic contamination. Primary treatments such as chemical precipitation and electrocoagulation can remove up to 60-99% of total MPs from wastewater, while tertiary treatments such as sand filtration, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis can remove up to 90-99%. Advanced techniques, such as a combination of membrane bioreactor, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration (MBR + UF + NF), can achieve even higher removal rates. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of microplastic pollution and the need for effective microplastic removal from LL to protect human and environmental health. However, more research is needed to determine the actual cost and feasibility of these treatment processes at a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Singh
- Environmnetal Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247667, India
| | - Sandeep K Malyan
- Department of Environmental Studies, Dyal Singh Evening College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110003, India
| | - Chinmay Maithani
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Hanumakonda, 506004, India
| | | | - Vinay Kumar Tyagi
- Environmnetal Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247667, India
| | - Rajesh Singh
- Environmnetal Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247667, India.
| | - Sarthak Malhotra
- Department of Environmental Studies, Dyal Singh Evening College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110003, India
| | - Manish Sharma
- Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302004, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Soil Science and Chemistry Section, Host Plant Division, Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, CSB, Mysore, Karnataka, 570008, India
| | - Bijay K Panday
- State Water and Sanitation Mission, Government of Uttrakhand, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - R P Pandey
- Environmnetal Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247667, India
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26
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V G, Shanmugavel SP, Tyagi VK, Rajesh Banu J. Microplastics as emergent contaminants in landfill leachate: Source, potential impact and remediation technologies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 343:118240. [PMID: 37235990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A significant amount of plastic waste is generated each year on a global scale, in which the maximum quantity of plastic waste is typically dumped in landfills in various parts of the world. Moreover, dumping plastic waste in landfills cannot address the issue of proper disposal; it simply delays the process. Exploiting waste resources entails environmental hazards because plastic wastes buried in landfills gradually break down into Microplastics (MPs) due to physical, chemical, and biological effects. The possibility of landfill leachate as a source of MPs in the environment has not received much attention. Without systematic treatment, MPs in leachate increase the risk to human health and environmental health since they contain dangerous and toxic pollutants and antibiotic resistance genes transmitted by leachate vectors. Due to their severe environmental risks, MPs are now widely recognized as emerging pollutants. Therefore, the composition of MPs in landfill leachate and the interaction of MPs with other hazardous contaminants are summarised in this review. The available potential mitigation or treatment methods of MPs in landfill leachate as of now, along with the drawbacks and challenges of the present leachate treatment for eliminating MPs, are described in this review. Since it is unclear how MPs will be removed from the current leachate facilities, it is crucial to develop innovative treatment facilities as quickly as possible. Finally, the areas that require more research to provide complete solutions to the persistent problem of plastic debris are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- GodvinSharmila V
- Department of Civil Engineering, Mar Ephraem College of Engineering and Technology, Marthandam, 629171, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Surya Prakash Shanmugavel
- Department of Solid Waste Management and Health, Greater Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu, 600 003, India
| | - Vinay Kumar Tyagi
- Environmental Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247667, India
| | - J Rajesh Banu
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudi, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, 610005, India.
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27
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Acarer S. Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, water from refill kiosks, tap waters and bottled waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163866. [PMID: 37142004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Limited research studies have revealed the presence of microplastics (MPs) of different polymer types, shapes, and sizes in drinking water sources, influents of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), effluents of DWTPs, tap water, and bottled water. Reviewing the available information on MP pollution in waters, which is becoming more worrying in correlation with the increasing plastic production in the world every year, is noteworthy for understanding the current situation, identifying the deficiencies in the studies, and taking the necessary measures for public health as soon as possible. Therefore, this paper, in which the abundance, characteristics, and removal efficiencies of MPs in the processes from raw water to tap water and/or bottled water are reviewed is a guide for dealing with MP pollution in drinking water. In this paper, firstly, the sources of MPs in raw waters are briefly reviewed. In addition, the abundance, and characteristics (polymer type, shape, and size) of MPs in influents and effluents of DWTPs in different countries are reviewed and the effects of treatment stages (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration, disinfection, and membrane filtration) of DWTPs on MP removal efficiency and the factors that are effective in removal are discussed. Moreover, studies on the factors affecting MP release from drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) to treated water and the abundance and characteristics of MPs in tap water, bottled water and water from refill kiosks are reviewed. Finally, the deficiencies in the studies dealing with MPs in drinking water were identified and recommendations for future studies are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcılar, 34320 İstanbul, Turkey.
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28
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Yu X, Zhao W, Lyu S, Cai Z, Yu G, Wang H, Barceló D, Sui Q. Estimating the Mass of Pharmaceuticals Harbored in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills by Analyzing Refuse Samples at Various Ages and Depths. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6063-6071. [PMID: 36988440 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals have been detected at high concentrations in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachates, which are recognized as an underestimated source of pharmaceutical residues in the environment. However, limited efforts have been made to characterize pharmaceuticals in MSW landfill refuse, which is also of significant concern given the potential long-term environmental impact. Herein, we excavated landfill refuse from six cells with landfill ages of 7-27 years in the largest MSW landfill in Shanghai (in each cell, landfill refuse was collected from different depths of 2-8 m) and analyzed samples for the presence of 55 pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and non-antibiotics. The results reveal the presence of 42 pharmaceuticals in landfill refuse, with median concentrations ranging from 0.30 to 116 μg/kg. Antibiotic and non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals exhibited diverse concentration trends with age, related to changes in policy intervention and consumption over time. Different concentration variations of individual pharmaceuticals were observed in refuse samples excavated at different depths and positively correlated to their sorption ability. The mass of pharmaceuticals in the investigated landfill was estimated from the obtained concentrations to be 80-220 tons with 95% probability, based on Monte Carlo analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first estimate of pharmaceutical mass in an MSW landfill. The results will be helpful for understanding the potential long-term environmental impact of pharmaceuticals in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuguang Lyu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhenxiao Cai
- MicroHAOPs Inc., University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Gang Yu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hualin Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Damià Barceló
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Qian Sui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
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29
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Miao M, Yu B, Cheng X, Hao T, Dou Y, Zhang M, Li Y. Effects of chlorination on microplastics pollution: Physicochemical transformation and chromium adsorption. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 323:121254. [PMID: 36773686 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The large number of microplastics (MPs) that appear in the environment has drawn much attention. Few studies, however, have examined the transformation of MPs in water treatment processes and their effects on environmental pollutants. In this study, the alteration of the physicochemical characteristics of polyethylene and thermoplastic polyurethane upon chlorination, as well as the influence of this alteration on contaminants, were investigated. The findings indicated that microplastics underwent significant morphology and O-functional groups changes during chlorination. It is noteworthy that the mechanisms controlling the chlorination treatment of the two MPs are clearly different. The results of aggregation and adsorption experiments showed that the chlorination treatment enhanced the aggregation ability of the MPs in brine and their interaction with Cr(VI). The present discoveries further suggested that water treatment could alter the migration capacity of microplastics and the distribution of contaminants in the aqueous environment by altering the adsorption of microplastics to the contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhong Miao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Bingqing Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xuhua Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Tianwei Hao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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30
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Zheng X, Feng Q, Chen J, Yan J, Li X, Guo L. Quantification analysis of microplastics released from disposable polystyrene tableware with fluorescent polymer staining. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161155. [PMID: 36572298 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ingesting microplastics (MPs) from plastic tableware is an important source of health risk to human bodies. However, the comprehensive information of MPs released from disposable tableware has not been explored. Herein, a new visual quantification method for polystyrene MPs is proposed with carbon nitride fluorescent polymers staining, which can overcome the disadvantages of high signal background and photobleaching derived from organic dyes staining. Combining with fluorescence microscope and ImageJ software, the quantity, shape, and size distribution of MPs carried by the brand-new disposable polystyrene tableware (DPT) samples before usage and released from the clean DPT samples in different simulated usage scenes were studied. The brand-new DPT samples were found to carry a large number of MPs particles and the clean DPT samples could release MPs during usage. Fiber and fragment are the main morphology of the detected MPs and fiber accounts for 45-52 %. The particles with size <50 μm are the majority of the detected MPs and the distribution fraction of MPs particles is gradually decreased with the raising of particle size within 50 μm. The released MPs particles are increased with the raising of contact time and temperature, and greatly boosted for the DPT samples with cracks. The DPT samples are more like to release MPs in weak acidic condition (pH 4.0) than in weak alkaline (pH 8.3) and neutral (pH 7.0) conditions. The obtained results help to assess the food safety of tack-out food and the health risk of MPs exposure to human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyi Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Qiaocheng Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Jingru Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Jiaquan Yan
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Processing and Intelligent Control, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350121, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- College of Environment & Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Liangqia Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China.
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31
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Lu X, He H, Wang Y, Guo Y, Fei X. Masses and size distributions of mechanically fragmented microplastics from LDPE and EPS under simulated landfill conditions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130542. [PMID: 37055960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Landfills contain significant amounts of plastic waste (PW) and microplastics (MPs). However, the contributions of various PW fragmentation processes to the quality and quantity of MPs in landfills are unclear. In this study, LDPE and EPS pieces were mixed with sand to simulate landfilled solid waste, which experienced one-dimensional abiotic compression under vertical stress of 100-800 kPa for 1-300 days. The generated MPs were stained and quantified with a fluorescent microscope. The numbers and masses of the fragmented MPs increase with the increasing compression stress and duration following linear or exponential trends. EPS has a lower stiffness than LDPE, thus generates more MPs under the same compression conditions. Stress-dependent and time-dependent fragmentation mechanisms are distinguished, the former is driven by sand-plastic porosity reduction and the latter is due to microscopic interfacial creep with minimal porosity reduction. Most of the mechanically fragmented MPs have diameters < 100 µm. The MPs size distributions follow an established power-law model, which are dependent on stress, duration, porosity reduction, and fragmentation mechanism. Our results serve as conservative estimations on long-term MPs generation in real landfills, which provide confirmative and quantitative evidence to support the previous studies reporting the varied MPs abundances and properties within landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhong Lu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Hongping He
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Wang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yuliang Guo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore
| | - Xunchang Fei
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore.
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32
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Gan Q, Cui J, Jin B. Environmental microplastics: Classification, sources, fates, and effects on plants. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137559. [PMID: 36528162 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a global concern due to the generation of extensive plastic waste and products (370 million metric tons in 2020) that are difficult to biodegrade. Therefore, MPs have attracted a great deal of research attention, and many new findings regarding MPs (over 9000 papers published in the last 3 years) have been reported. MPs generally exert adverse effects on plants. As MPs accumulate in agricultural ecosystems, many studies have sought to understand the sources and fates of MPs and their effects on various plants. However, there have been few reviews of the properties of MPs, their effects on plants, and their interactions with other factors (e.g., drought, heat, ultraviolet light, plant hormones, heavy metals, and other pollutants) remain poorly understood. In this review, we performed scientometrics analyses of research papers (January 1, 2019, to September 30, 2022) in this field. We focused on the recent progress in the classification of MPs and their sources, circulation, and deposition in agricultural ecosystems. We review MP uptake and transport in plants, as well as factors (size, type, and environmental factors) that affect MP uptake, the positive and negative effects of MPs on plants, and the mechanisms of MP impacts on plants. We discuss current issues and future perspectives concerning research into plant interactions with MPs, along with some promising methods to manage the MP issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Gan
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
| | - Jiawen Cui
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
| | - Biao Jin
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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33
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Acarer S. Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: Sources, properties, removal efficiency, removal mechanisms, and interactions with pollutants. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:685-710. [PMID: 36789712 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) cannot completely remove microplastics (MPs) from wastewater, WWTPs are responsible for the release of millions of MPs into the environment even in 1 day. Therefore, knowing the sources, properties, removal efficiencies and removal mechanisms of MPs in WWTPs is of great importance for the management of MPs. In this paper, firstly the sources of MPs in WWTPs and the quantities and properties (polymer type, shape, size, and color) of MPs in influents, effluents, and sludges of WWTPs are presented. Following this, the MP removal efficiency of different treatment units (primary settling, flotation, biological treatment, secondary settling, filtration-based treatment technologies, and coagulation) in WWTPs is discussed. In the next section, details about MP removal mechanisms in critical treatment units (settling and flotation tanks, bioreactors, sand filters, membrane filters, and coagulation units) in WWTPs are given. In the last section, the mechanisms and factors that are effective in adsorbing organic-inorganic pollutants in wastewater to MPs are presented. Finally, the current situation and research gap in these areas are identified and suggestions are provided for topics that need further research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey E-mail:
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34
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Shi Y, Chai J, Xu T, Ding L, Huang M, Gan F, Pi K, Gerson AR, Yang J. Microplastics contamination associated with low-value domestic source organic solid waste: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159679. [PMID: 36283521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Waste activated sludge and food waste are two typical important domestic low-value organic solid wastes (LOSW). LOSW contains significant organic matter and water content resulting in the transboundary transfer of liquid-solid-gas and other multi-mediums, such that the complexity of microplastics (MPs) migration should be of greater concern. This article provides a review of the literature focusing on the separation and extraction methods of MPs from LOSW. The occurrence and source of MPs are discussed, and the output and impact of MPs on LOSW heat and biological treatments are summarized. The fate and co-effects of MPs and other pollutants in landfills and soils are reviewed. This review highlights the migration and transformation of MPs in domestic source LOSW, and future perspectives focused on the development of a unified extraction and analysis protocol. The objective of this review is to promote the technological development of decontamination of MPs in LOSW by sufficient understanding of the fate of MPs, their interaction with coexisting pollutants and the development of targeted preventive research strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China.
| | - Jiaqi Chai
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Lihu Ding
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Meijie Huang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Fangmao Gan
- Yangtze Ecology and Environment Co., Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430062, China
| | - Kewu Pi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Andrea R Gerson
- Blue Minerals Consultancy, Wattle Grove, Tasmania 7109, Australia
| | - Jiakuan Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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35
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Mahesh S, Gowda NK, Mahesh S. Identification of microplastics from urban informal solid waste landfill soil; MP associations with COD and chloride. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:115-129. [PMID: 36640027 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are an issue of prime environmental concern globally. The abundance of MP particles in the informal open solid waste landfill soil was evaluated showing 180-1120 MP particles per kg of soil. Moisture content (MC), electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of the MP-contaminated soil compared to the baseline showed 2.96% MC, 187-441 μS/cm EC and 6.94 pH. Morphology of extracted MPs in SEM showed particle fragmentation as film fragments (13.7%), fragments (56.1%), fibres (26.4%) and foam (3.8%). EDS results showed Carbon 71.8% and 24.5% oxygen with traces of Na, Al, Si and Cl-. FTIR of field obtained MPs identified were polyethylene and polypropylene. The association of MP particles with COD and chloride was discovered. MP particles of Low-density Polyethylene of size of 1 mm × 1 mm and thickness 25 μm up to 20 numbers showed no effect adding to the COD values. The COD values increased with increase in MP particle numbers. Similarly, chloride associations with MP particles showed an increase in MP particles reducing chloride values by 31% in landfill runoff water. It is interpreted that MP particle disintegration into nano-sized plastics (NPs) in the soil/runoff water can greatly increase the COD values and impair the salt mass balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mahesh
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Constituent College of JSS Science and Technology University (Formerly SJCE), JSSTI Campus, Mysuru, Karnataka State 570006, India E-mail:
| | - Nisarga K Gowda
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Constituent College of JSS Science and Technology University (Formerly SJCE), JSSTI Campus, Mysuru, Karnataka State 570006, India E-mail:
| | - Sahana Mahesh
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Constituent College of JSS Science and Technology University (Formerly SJCE), JSSTI Campus, Mysuru, Karnataka State 570006, India E-mail:
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36
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Collins A, Ateia M, Bhagat K, Ohno T, Perreault F, Apul O. Emerging investigator series: microplastic-based leachate formation under UV irradiation: the extent, characteristics, and mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 9:363-374. [PMID: 38260005 PMCID: PMC10802911 DOI: 10.1039/d2ew00423b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics in the aquatic system are among the many inevitable consequences of plastic pollution, which has cascading environmental and public health impacts. Our study aimed at analyzing surface interactions and leachate production of six microplastics under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Leachate production was analyzed for the dissolved organic content (DOC), UV254, and fluorescence through excitation emission (EEM) to determine the kinetics and mechanisms involved in the release of organic matter by UV irradiation. The results suggested there was a clear trend of organic matter being released from the surface of the six microplastics caused by UV irradiation based on DOC, UV254 absorbance, and EEM intensity increasing with time. Polystyrene had the greatest and fastest increase in DOC concentrations, followed by the resin coated polystyrene. Experiments conducted at different temperatures indicated the endothermic nature of these leaching mechanisms. The differences in leachate formation for different polymers were attributed to their chemical makeup and their potency to interact with UV. The aged microplastic samples were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to determine the surface changes with respect to leachate formation. Results indicated that all microplastics had increasing carbonyl indices when aged by UV with polystyrene being the greatest. These findings affirm that the leachate formation is an interfacial interaction and could be a significant source of organic compound influx to natural waters due to the extremely abundant occurrence of microplastics and their large surface areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashton Collins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473, USA
| | - Mohamed Ateia
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solution & Emergency Response, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kartik Bhagat
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Tsutomu Ohno
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473, USA
| | - François Perreault
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Onur Apul
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473, USA
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37
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Andrady AL, Barnes PW, Bornman JF, Gouin T, Madronich S, White CC, Zepp RG, Jansen MAK. Oxidation and fragmentation of plastics in a changing environment; from UV-radiation to biological degradation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158022. [PMID: 35970458 PMCID: PMC9765214 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the fate of plastics in the environment is of critical importance for the quantitative assessment of the biological impacts of plastic waste. Specially, there is a need to analyze in more detail the reputed longevity of plastics in the context of plastic degradation through oxidation and fragmentation reactions. Photo-oxidation of plastic debris by solar UV radiation (UVR) makes material prone to subsequent fragmentation. The fragments generated following oxidation and subsequent exposure to mechanical stresses include secondary micro- or nanoparticles, an emerging class of pollutants. The paper discusses the UV-driven photo-oxidation process, identifying relevant knowledge gaps and uncertainties. Serious gaps in knowledge exist concerning the wavelength sensitivity and the dose-response of the photo-fragmentation process. Given the heterogeneity of natural UV irradiance varying from no exposure in sediments to full UV exposure of floating, beach litter or air-borne plastics, it is argued that the rates of UV-driven degradation/fragmentation will also vary dramatically between different locations and environmental niches. Biological phenomena such as biofouling will further modulate the exposure of plastics to UV radiation, while potentially also contributing to degradation and/or fragmentation of plastics independent of solar UVR. Reductions in solar UVR in many regions, consequent to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments for protecting stratospheric ozone, will have consequences for global UV-driven plastic degradation in a heterogeneous manner across different geographic and environmental zones. The interacting effects of global warming, stratospheric ozone and UV radiation are projected to increase UV irradiance at the surface in localized areas, mainly because of decreased cloud cover. Given the complexity and uncertainty of future environmental conditions, this currently precludes reliable quantitative predictions of plastic persistence on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Andrady
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - P W Barnes
- Biological Sciences and Environmental Program, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - J F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - T Gouin
- TG Environmental Research, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - S Madronich
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - R G Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
| | - M A K Jansen
- School of BEES, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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38
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Yang Z, Lü F, Hu T, Xu X, Zhang H, Shao L, Ye J, He P. Occurrence of macroplastics and microplastics in biogenic waste digestate: Effects of depackaging at source and dewatering process. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 154:252-259. [PMID: 36279593 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastic debris, including macroplastics (>5 mm) and microplastics (0.1-5 mm), has proven to be an emerging contaminant. Anaerobic digestion, coupled with energy recovery, can be an effective valorization technology for biogenic waste. But the use of the resulting digestate as a soil conditioner is a source for plastic debris release into the environment. The preprocess and postprocess used could influence the quantity of plastic debris found in the digestate, but the specifics of these effects are relatively unknown. Therefore, we measured the quantity of plastic debris in raw digestate under a variety of preprocessing scenarios. We also investigated the occurrence of plastic debris in solid and liquid digestates resulting from the dewatering of raw digestate. The quantity of plastic debris ranged from 41 to 3298 particles/kg (WW) for raw digestate, 319-3604 particles/kg (WW) for solid digestate and 7-38 particles/kg (WW) for liquid digestate. We observed that depackaging at source by citizens themselves (removing the package of biogenic waste when dropping it into bins), significantly reduced the quantities of plastic debris in raw digestate by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, the number of polymer types in raw digestate, where depackaging occurred at source, were lower than that where this rule was not in place. The average size of plastic debris in solid digestate was significantly smaller than that in raw digestate, which indicated that the process of mechanical dewatering could generate MPs. It is recommended to depackage for biogenic waste at source to reduce the quantities of MPs in digestate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan Yang
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Fan Lü
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Tian Hu
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Xu
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Liming Shao
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Ye
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Pinjing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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39
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Kara N, Sari Erkan H, Onkal Engin G. Characterization and Removal of Microplastics in Landfill Leachate Treatment Plants in Istanbul, Turkey. ANAL LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2022.2137808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Narin Kara
- Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hanife Sari Erkan
- Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Guleda Onkal Engin
- Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
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40
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Liu N, Cheng S, Wang X, Li Z, Zheng L, Lyu Y, Ao X, Wu H. Characterization of microplastics in the septic tank via laser direct infrared spectroscopy. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 226:119293. [PMID: 36323216 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119293] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that have been widely detected in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Such wide spread of MPs indicates that the effective control in different environmental sectors is in an urgent need, and the first step in meeting this need is to identify the occurrence of MPs in the relevant environment. However, research on MPs in septic tanks has not been reported so far. This study investigated the distribution characteristics of MPs in septic tanks with a size detection limit of as low as 20 μm detected by laser direct infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that the number of MPs in the septic tank was reached 2803 (1489-4816) particles/g dry sludge, and the amount detected in the sediments was one order of magnitude higher than that in the scums. A total of 36 types of MPs were found in the septic tank, and 26 types were found in both sediments and scums, but the type in the scums was 21% higher than that in the sediments. The size was mostly 20-100 μm, accounting for 86.3% and 91.2% in the sediments and scums, respectively. Four shapes of MPs were detected in the septic tank, namely, fiber, bead, granule, and fragment. Our study revealed that septic tanks are both sinks and sources of MPs, which are reflected in the fact that MPs are not only large in number but also abundant in types. Thus, significant attention should be paid to septic tank-based microplastic pollution, which may lead to environmental and health risks without proper control and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Liu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shikun Cheng
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zifu Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Lei Zheng
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yaping Lyu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiuwei Ao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haiwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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Hu X, Waigi MG, Yang B, Gao Y. Impact of Plastic Particles on the Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes to Bacterium: Dependent on Particle Sizes and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Vector Replication Capacities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14948-14959. [PMID: 35503986 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic particles impact the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental media, and their perturbation on the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs is recognized as a critical influencing mechanism. However, studies concerning the influence and influencing mechanisms of plastic particles on the HGT of ARGs were limited, particularly for the effect of particle sizes and ARG vector-associated mechanisms. This study explored the impact of polystyrene (PS) particles with sizes of 75, 90, 100, 1000, and 10000 nm on the HGT (via transformation) of ARGs mediated by pUC19, pSTV29, and pBR322 plasmids into Escherichia coli cells. PS particles with sizes ≤100 nm impacted the transformation of ARGs, but large particles (1000 and 10000 nm) showed no obvious effects. Effects of PS particles on the transfer of three plasmids were vastly distinct. For pUC19 with high replication capacities, the transfer was monotonously promoted. However, for pSTV29 and pBR322 with low replication capacities, suppressing effects were observed. This was attributed to two competing mechanisms. The enhancing mechanism was that the direct interaction of PS particles with membrane lipids and the indirect effect associated with bacterial oxidative stress response induced pore formation on the cell membrane and increased membrane permeability, thus enhancing plasmid entrance. The inhibiting mechanism was that PS particles interfered with plasmid replication inside E. coli, thus decreasing the bacterial tranformation. This study deepened our understanding of the environmental dissemination of ARGs in plastic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Hu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China
| | - Michael Gatheru Waigi
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China
| | - Bing Yang
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China
| | - Yanzheng Gao
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Road 1, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China
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42
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Sun J, Peng Z, Zhu ZR, Fu W, Dai X, Ni BJ. The atmospheric microplastics deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in urban waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119116. [PMID: 36152440 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Identifying and understanding the potential sources delivering microplastics into the urban water environment is imperative for microplastic pollution control. However, how atmospheric deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in the urban water environment is unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the contribution of atmospheric deposition to microplastic pollution in urban waters based on the analysis of the atmospheric deposition characteristics in the urban area. The results showed that microplastic deposition fluxes during wet weather and dry weather varied from 1.1 × 103±0.06×103 to 3.5 × 103±0.3 × 103 particles/m2/day and 0.91×103±0.09×103 to 1.6 × 103±0.1 × 103 particles/m2/day, respectively. The microplastics deposition flux showed moderate to strong correlations to atmospheric particulate matter concentrations, especially the PM2.5 concentration (R2 = 0.76-0.93), suggesting the regularly monitored PM2.5 concentration might be served as an indicator for microplastics deposition flux estimation. The deposited microplastics were mainly transparent fragments with an average size of 51-67 μm. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most abundant plastic polymer, followed by polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide. The comparison of microplastics collected during different weather conditions suggested that rain events could increase microplastics deposition fluxes when air quality conditions are similar. Particularly, rains promoted the deposition of fibrous microplastics as well as smaller microplastics. The estimated daily microplastics deposition in the whole city region suggested more microplastics were deposited in summer and winter. The total quantity of microplastics deposited in the urban environment could reach 1.7-12 times of those discharged from treated wastewater. Among them, 10% would directly deposit to urban waters in the studied city region, while the others may also enter the urban waters through runoff. The results of this study highlighted that the atmospheric microplastics deposition is an important source for microplastics, especially smaller ones, to enter the urban waters, which could not be ignored during microplastics pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Zitong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhuo-Ran Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Weng Fu
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
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43
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Wojnowska-Baryła I, Bernat K, Zaborowska M. Plastic Waste Degradation in Landfill Conditions: The Problem with Microplastics, and Their Direct and Indirect Environmental Effects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013223. [PMID: 36293805 PMCID: PMC9602440 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
As landfilling is a common method for utilizing plastic waste at its end-of-life, it is important to present knowledge about the environmental and technical complications encountered during plastic disposal, and the formation and spread of microplastics (MPs) from landfills, to better understand the direct and indirect effects of MPs on pollution. Plastic waste around active and former landfills remains a source of MPs. The landfill output consists of leachate and gases created by combined biological, chemical, and physical processes. Thus, small particles and/or fibers, including MPs, are transported to the surroundings by air and by leachate. In this study, a special focus was given to the potential for the migration and release of toxic substances as the aging of plastic debris leads to the release of harmful volatile organic compounds via oxidative photodegradation. MPs are generally seen as the key vehicles and accumulators of non-biodegradable pollutants. Because of their small size, MPs are quickly transported over long distances throughout their surroundings. With large specific surface areas, they have the ability to absorb pollutants, and plastic monomers and additives can be leached out of MPs; thus, they can act as both vectors and carriers of pollutants in the environment.
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44
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Shen M, Xiong W, Song B, Zhou C, Almatrafi E, Zeng G, Zhang Y. Microplastics in landfill and leachate: Occurrence, environmental behavior and removal strategies. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 305:135325. [PMID: 35700811 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic wastes buried in landfill are gradually broken and decomposed into microplastics under physical, chemical and biological effects, bringing environmental risks to the exploitation of waste resources. Landfill leachate as a potential source of environmental microplastics has not good attention. Microplastics in leachate carry toxic and harmful pollutants and antibiotic resistance genes, and these vectors pose greater risks to human and environmental health without systematic treatment. Recently, the main technologies of landfill leachate treatment process include order batch activated sludge process, membrane biological reaction process, flocculation process, combined filtration process, and constructed wetland process. However, there is still little knowledge about microplastic removal of the existing leachate treatment facilities, and some technologies to alleviate the sources of such microplastics should be timely developed. This paper systematically summarizes the occurrence of plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics in leachate and their interactive pollution with other toxic pollutants. Meanwhile, the prospects of their environmental behaviors in landfill and leachate are put forward. The microplastic removal by existing leachate treatment equipment and the limitations and challenges to upgrading process of development and implementation are also discussed. The paper can provide a scientific basis for studying the fate of microplastics in landfill and leachate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maocai Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China
| | - Weiping Xiong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China
| | - Biao Song
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China; Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chengyun Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China; Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eydhah Almatrafi
- Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guangming Zeng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China; Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yaxin Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China; Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Center of Excellence in Desalination Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
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Jin M, Liu J, Yu J, Zhou Q, Wu W, Fu L, Yin C, Fernandez C, Karimi-Maleh H. Current development and future challenges in microplastic detection techniques: A bibliometrics-based analysis and review. Sci Prog 2022; 105:368504221132151. [PMID: 36263507 PMCID: PMC10306156 DOI: 10.1177/00368504221132151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been considered a new type of pollutant in the marine environment and have attracted widespread attention worldwide in recent years. Plastic particles with particle size less than 5 mm are usually defined as microplastics. Because of their similar size to plankton, marine organisms easily ingest microplastics and can threaten higher organisms and even human health through the food chain. Most of the current studies have focused on the investigation of the abundance of microplastics in the environment. However, due to the limitations of analytical methods and instruments, the number of microplastics in the environment can easily lead to overestimation or underestimation. Microplastics in each environment have different detection techniques. To investigate the current status, hot spots, and research trends of microplastics detection techniques, this review analyzed the papers related to microplastics detection using bibliometric software CiteSpace and COOC. A total of 696 articles were analyzed, spanning 2012 to 2021. The contributions and cooperation of different countries and institutions in this field have been analyzed in detail. This topic has formed two main important networks of cooperation. International cooperation has been a common pattern in this topic. The various analytical methods of this topic were discussed through keyword and clustering analysis. Among them, fluorescent, FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy are commonly used optical techniques for the detection of microplastics. The identification of microplastics can also be achieved by the combination of other techniques such as mass spectrometry/thermal cracking gas chromatography. However, these techniques still have limitations and cannot be applied to all environmental samples. We provide a detailed analysis of the detection of microplastics in different environmental samples and list the challenges that need to be addressed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqing Jin
- College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinsong Liu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Ecological and Environmental Monitoring, Forewarning and Quality Control, Zhejiang Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Environment Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qingwei Zhou
- College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weihong Wu
- College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Fu
- College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengliang Yin
- National Engineering Laboratory for Medical Big Data Application Technology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Medical Big Data Research Center, Medical Innovation Research Division of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Carlos Fernandez
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Hassan Karimi-Maleh
- School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan University of Technology, Quchan, Iran
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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46
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De Silva YSK, Rajagopalan UM, Kadono H, Li D. Effects of microplastics on lentil (Lens culinaris) seed germination and seedling growth. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:135162. [PMID: 35654234 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Widespread use of plastics and mishandling has resulted in severe environmental issues affecting seed germination and seedling growth. This study investigates the effect of polyethylene microplastics (740-4990 nm PEMPs) on lentil (Lens culinaris) seed germination and seedling growth using Biospeckle Optical Coherence Tomography (bOCT), a technique that we successfully demonstrated earlier in visualizing the internal activity of plants. Lentil seeds were exposed to PEMPs bioassay for seven days with 10, 50, and 100 mg L-1 concentrations. The average speckle contrast was calculated after 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h of exposure, and statistically significant differences were observed just after 6 h of exposure under all the treatments. However, with conventional parameters, germination viability, germination rate, root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry seedling weights, and antioxidative enzymes, no significant effect was observed until 2 d of exposure. The results revealed that the presence of PEMPs significantly reduced the internal activity at the initial stages that could be visualized only by the use of bOCT, which has never been observed till now. Our results demonstrated for the first time the effect that microplastics indeed could hinder the internal activity during germination of the seeds, possibly resulting from the physical blockage of pores leading to stunted growth at later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Sanath K De Silva
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan; Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Hapugala, Galle, 80000, Sri Lanka.
| | - Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 3-7-5 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo, 135-8548, Japan.
| | - Hirofumi Kadono
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan.
| | - Danyang Li
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
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47
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Liu R, Tan Z, Wu X, Liu Y, Chen Y, Fu J, Ou H. Modifications of microplastics in urban environmental management systems: A review. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118843. [PMID: 35870394 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are a worldwide environmental pollution issue. Besides the natural environmental stresses, various treatments in urban environmental management systems induce modifications on MPs, further affecting their environmental behavior. Investigating these modifications and inherent mechanisms is crucial for assessing the environmental impact and risk of MPs. In this review, up-to-date knowledge regarding the modifications of MPs in urban environmental management systems was summarized. Variations of morphology, chemical composition, hydrophilicity and specific surface area of MPs were generalized. The aging and degradation of MPs during drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, sewage sludge treatment and solid waste treatment were investigated. A high abundance of MPs occurred in sewage sludge and aging solid waste, while digestion and composting contributed to significant decomposition and reduction of MPs. These treatments have become converters for MPs before entering the environment. Several novel technologies for MPs removal were listed; However, no appropriate methods can be put into actual application by now, except the membrane separation. The corresponding effects of degradation on the behaviors of MPs, including adsorption, sinking and contaminant leakage, were discussed. Finally, three priorities for research were proposed. This critical review provides viewpoints and references for risk evaluation of MPs after treatments in urban environmental management systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijuan Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Zongyi Tan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Xinni Wu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Yuheng Chen
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Community of Life for Man and Nature, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Jianwei Fu
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Community of Life for Man and Nature, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Huase Ou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
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48
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Liu X, Deng Q, Zheng Y, Wang D, Ni BJ. Microplastics aging in wastewater treatment plants: Focusing on physicochemical characteristics changes and corresponding environmental risks. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118780. [PMID: 35759845 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have been frequently detected in effluent wastewater and sludge in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the discharge and agricultural application of which represent a primary source of environmental MPs contamination. As important as quantitative removal is, changes of physicochemical characteristics of MPs (e.g., shapes, sizes, density, crystallinity) in WWTPs are crucial to their environmental behaviors and risks and have not been put enough attention yet. This review is therefore to provide a current overview on the changes of physicochemical characteristics of MPs in WWTPs and their corresponding environmental risks. The changes of physicochemical characteristics as well as the underlying mechanisms of MPs in different successional wastewater and sludge treatment stages that mainly driven by mechanical (e.g., mixing, pumping, filtering), chemical (e.g., flocculation, advanced oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, thermal hydrolysis, incineration and lime stabilization), biological (e.g., activated sludge process, anaerobic digestion, composition) and their combination effects were first recapitulated. Then, the inevitable correlations between physicochemical characteristics of MPs and their environmental behaviors (e.g., migration, adsorption) and risks (e.g., animals, plants, microbes), are comprehensively discussed with particular emphasis on the leaching of additives and physicochemical characteristics that affect the co-exist pollutants behavior of MPs in WWTPs on environmental risks. Finally, knowing the summarized above, some relating unanswered questions and concerns that need to be unveiled in the future are prospected. The physicochemical properties of MPs change after passing through WWTP, leading to subsequent changes in co-contaminant adsorption, migration, and toxicity. This could threaten our ecosystems and human health and must be worth investigating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuran Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Qian Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Yuyang Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Dongbo Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China.
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
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49
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Zhang L, Sun J, Zhang Z, Peng Z, Dai X, Ni BJ. Polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers increase the release of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 217:118426. [PMID: 35427830 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic fibers (MFs), as the most frequently detected microplastic shape in sewage sludge, have posed emerging concern for sludge treatment and disposal. However, the effect of MFs on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), especially extracellular ARGs (eARGs) during sludge treatment remains far from explicit. Therefore, this study investigated the potential impact of MFs on eARGs during sludge anaerobic digestion (AD), a commonly used sludge treatment method, through long-term operation. The qPCR results showed that both absolute and relative abundances of eARGs increased with the MFs exposure during sludge AD. The average absolute and relative abundances of eight tested eARGs in the AD reactor with the highest MFs dosage (170 items/gTS) were 1.70 and 2.15 times higher than those in the control AD reactor. The metagenomics results further comfirmed the increase of eARGs abundance during sludge anaerobic digestion after MFs exposure and the enhancement did not show significant selectivity. The identification of the potential hosts of eARGs suggested the host numbers of eARGs also increased with MFs exposure, which may suggest enhanced horizonal transformation as a result of increased eARGs. Further exploring the mechansims showed that the genes involved in type IV secretion system was upregulated after MFs exposure, suggesting the active release of eARGs was enhanced with MFs exposure. In contrast, the MFs may not affect the passive release of eARGs as its impact on cell membrance damage was insignificant. The enhanced eARGs in sludge AD process may further accelerate the transport of ARGs in environment, which should be considered during sludge treatment and disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Hefei 230000, China.
| | - Zisha Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zitong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
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50
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Sridharan S, Kumar M, Saha M, Kirkham MB, Singh L, Bolan NS. The polymers and their additives in particulate plastics: What makes them hazardous to the fauna? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153828. [PMID: 35157873 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to the increasing concerns on global ecosystems and human health, the environmental risks posed by microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become an important topic of research. Their ecological impacts on various faunal species have been extensively researched and reviewed. However, the majority of those studies perceive these micro(nano)-plastics (MNPs) as a single entity rather than a collective term for a group of chemically distinct polymeric particulates. Each of the plastic polymers can possess unique physical and chemical behavior, which, in turn, can determine the possible environmental impacts. Furthermore, many studies explore the adsorption, absorption, and release of other environmental pollutants by MNPs. But only a handful of them explore the leaching of additives possessed by these polymers. Data on the environmental behavior and toxicity of individual additives associated with different polymer particulates are scarce. Knowledge about the leachability and ecotoxicity of the additives associated with environmental MNPs (unlike large plastic particles) remains limited. The ecological impacts of different MNPs together with their additives and the basis of their toxicity have not been explored yet. The present review systematically explores the potential implications of environmentally predominant polymers and their associated additives and discusses their physicochemical characteristics. The review ultimately aims to provide novel insights on what components precisely make MNPs hazardous to the fauna. The paper also discusses the major challenges proposed in the available literature along with recommendations for future research to throw light on possible solutions to overcome the hazards of MNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinidhi Sridharan
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India; CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mahua Saha
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India; CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403004, Goa, India
| | - M B Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Lal Singh
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India; CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Nanthi S Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The UWA Institute of Agriculture, M079, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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