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Huang Z, Chen F, Yang S, Ding Y, Peng G, Chen CC. Surface physicochemical properties and dibutyl phthalate adsorption of microplastics naturally aged in seawater. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2025; 217:118064. [PMID: 40318259 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118064] [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: 03/30/2025] [Revised: 04/27/2025] [Accepted: 04/27/2025] [Indexed: 05/07/2025]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in marine environments and can adsorb contaminants from surrounding seawater, potentially transferring harmful chemicals through the food chain and raising ecological concerns. While the adsorption of aquatic pollutants by MPs has been intensively studied, research on phthalate esters (PAEs, common plasticizers frequently found in seawater) remains limited, primarily focusing on pristine MPs in artificial media. This study characterized the surface physicochemical properties of polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) MPs before and after natural aging for one week to three months off the coast, and investigated the adsorption isotherms of dibutyl phthalate (DBP, one of the most abundant PAEs in seawater) on these MPs in both natural seawater and ultrapure water. Surface characterization revealed significant alterations in MP surface characteristics due to natural aging, with morphologies and nanomechanical features varied by MP type and oxidation occurring after one-month aging. The best-performing Langmuir-Freundlich model suggested that DBP adsorption onto MPs involved multilayer processes on heterogeneous surfaces with varying adsorption energies. Further analysis indicated that PS had a higher DBP adsorption capacity than PE, attributed to its porous glassy structure and π-π interactions with DBP. The trivial impact of natural aging could relate to competing effects of increased roughness and the formation of polar oxygen-containing groups on aged MPs. The "salting-out" effect in natural seawater was likely impeded by free ion competition and MP aggregation under higher ionic strength. This study provides valuable insights into the interactions between MPs and their coexisting contaminants in marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehui Huang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Shikun Yang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Yue Ding
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Guogan Peng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems (Xiamen University), Ministry of Education, Xiamen 361102, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Ciara Chun Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
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Zhao Z, Zheng X, Li Y, Han Z, Tang Y, Hu T, Lin T. Polystyrene microplastics attenuated the impact of perfluorobutanoic acid on Chlorella sorokiniana: Hetero-aggregation, bioavailability, physiology, and transcriptomics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 488:137344. [PMID: 39869975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137344] [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: 11/14/2024] [Revised: 01/07/2025] [Accepted: 01/21/2025] [Indexed: 01/29/2025]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), emerging contaminants, are ubiquitous in the environment and toxic to organisms. The interaction of MPs with other contaminants can affect their toxicity. However, the impact of MPs on PFBA toxicity remains unknown. This research investigated the individual and combined impacts of polystyrene microplastics (PS) and PFBA to Chlorella sorokiniana based on cellular responses and transcriptome analyses. Results showed that both PS and PFBA induced excessive ROS generation, causing cell membrane damage and photosynthesis inhibition, ultimately inhibiting Chlorella sorokiniana growth. The highest inhibition was observed for small particle size PS, with a maximum inhibition rate of 15.98 ± 1.24 % (3PS group). Notably, the combined toxicity of PFBA and PS exhibited antagonism, which was attributed to PFBA adsorption and PS hetero-aggregation via massive EPS secretion, resulting in decreased PS and PFBA bioavailability. Transcriptomic analysis elucidated that EPS secretion was promoted owing to the up-regulation of carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism (carbon fixation, oxidative phosphorylation, and TCA cycle). Enhanced EPS secretion, ABC transport, and antioxidant response alleviated PS and PFBA toxicity. Our findings offer valuable data for the joint ecotoxicity of PFASs and MPs, contributing to environmental risk assessment of co-pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China.
| | - Yue Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Zongshuo Han
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Yu Tang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Tianxing Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Tao Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
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Lyu K, Li J, Wu Y, Asselman J, Yang Z. Changes in population fitness and gene co-expression networks reveal the boosted impact of toxic cyanobacteria on Daphnia magna through microplastic exposure. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 487:137225. [PMID: 39823883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137225] [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: 10/04/2024] [Revised: 01/12/2025] [Accepted: 01/13/2025] [Indexed: 01/20/2025]
Abstract
The concomitant prevalence of toxic cyanobacteria blooms and plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is emerging as a pressing global water pollution dilemma. While toxic cyanobacteria and microplastics (MPs) can each independently exert significant impacts on aquatic biota, the magnitude and trajectory of the combined interactions remains rudimentary. In this study, we evaluated how MPs influences cyanobacterial stress on keystone grazer Daphnia, focusing on population, individual, biochemical and toxicogenomic signatures. We found that toxic Microcystis (TM) adversely affected the fitness of Daphnia populations (intrinsic rate of population increase), and these adverse effects were amplified in the presence of MPs. Through detailed observation, it was ascertained that MPs promoted the ingestion of TM, culminating in enhanced microcystin bioaccumulation. Using the Eco-Evo model, we found that there was potential absence of correlation between the MPs toxicity and the effect size of MPs on the TM. Utilizing gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we further identified a marked suppression of molecular pathways and entities crucial to individual growth and development in the TM-MPs consortium compared to exposure to TM alone. The present study provides important insights about the influence of MPs on cyanobacteria toxicity and the prediction the risk of harmful algal blooms in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Lyu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiameng Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jana Asselman
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Bluebridge Building, Ostend Science Park 1, Ostend 8400, Belgium
| | - Zhou Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Song K, Gao SH, Pan Y, Gao R, Li T, Xiao F, Zhang W, Fan L, Guo J, Wang A. Ecological and Health Risk Mediated by Micro(nano)plastics Aging Process: Perspectives and Challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2025; 59:5878-5896. [PMID: 40108891 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c11813] [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: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
Aged micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are normally the ultimate state of plastics in the environment after aging. The changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of aged MNPs significantly influence their environmental behavior by releasing additives, forming byproducts, and adsorbing contaminants. However, a systematic review is lacking on the effects of aged MNPs on ecological and human health regarding the increasing but scattered studies and results. This Review first summarizes the unique characteristics of aged MNPs and methods for quantifying their aging degree. Then we focused on the potential impacts on organisms, ecosystems, and human health, including the "Trojan horse" under real environmental conditions. Through combining meta-analysis and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model, we demonstrated that, compared to virgin MNPs, aged MNPs would result in biomass decrease and oxidative stress increase on organisms and lead to total N/P decrease and greenhouse gas emissions increase on ecosystems while causing cell apoptosis, antioxidant system reaction, and inflammation in human health. Within the framework of ecological and human health risk assessment, we used the risk quotient (RQ) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBK) models as examples to illustrate the importance of considering aging characteristics and the degree of MNPs in the process of data acquisition, model building, and formula evaluation. Given the ecological and health risks of aged MNPs, our urgent call for more studies of aged MNPs is to understand the potential hazards of MNPs in real-world environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexiao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shu-Hong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yusheng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Rui Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Tianyao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wanying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lu Fan
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Aijie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Svigruha R, Fodor I, Németh Z, Farkas A, Pirger Z, Ács A. Short-term and long-term effects of microplastics and organic UV-filters on the invertebrate model species Daphnia magna. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2025; 32:4841-4855. [PMID: 39891809 PMCID: PMC11850500 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-025-36008-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2025] [Indexed: 02/03/2025]
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate regarding the role of microplastics (MPs) in enhancing the effects of various chemical compounds, highlighting the need for more detailed analyses. In this study, neonates of the water flea (Daphnia magna) were exposed to polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs; 3 µm; exposure concentration, 1.25 mg/L), a mixture of seven organic UV-filters (avobenzone, ethylhexyl triazone, homosalate, iscotrizinol, octinoxate, octisalate, and octocrylene; each at a low environmental concentration of 200 ng/L), or the combination of both pollutants for 3, 7, or 21 days. Results showed that PS-MPs alone decreased the body size of daphnids, while all treatments increased heart rate by the end of the 21-day exposure. On days 3 and 21, both PS-MPs and PS-MPs + UV-filters reduced swimming speed and total distance travelled. Additionally, PS-MPs increased the time of the first egg production, but decreased the egg number in the first production, total egg number, maximum egg number, and total neonate number during the 21-day treatment. Similarly, UV-filters or the combined pollutants increased the time of the first egg production and decreased the total neonate number. All treatments increased multixenobiotic resistance activity on days 3 and 7, while only UV-filters elevated CYP450 activity on day 3. PS-MPs or combined pollutants increased GST activity during early exposure but showed no effect on day 21. CAT activity was also affected by treatments in a time-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to PS-MPs and UV-filters, applied individually or in combination at a low environmental concentration, moderately impacts development, heart rate, and swimming activity in D. magna, while significantly altering reproduction and key cellular functions such as membrane transport activity, metabolism, and antioxidant defense. Co-exposure did not reveal a clear pattern of synergism or antagonism, suggesting that joint toxicity risks of these xenobiotics typically emerge at concentrations higher than low environmental levels. Future studies should explore potential interactions more thoroughly and assess transgenerational effects on reproduction and cellular defense pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Svigruha
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary.
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary.
| | - István Fodor
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Németh
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Anna Farkas
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Pirger
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
| | - András Ács
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
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Zhang J, Naveed H, Chen K, Chen L. Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Their Substitutes to Terrestrial and Aquatic Invertebrates-A Review. TOXICS 2025; 13:47. [PMID: 39853045 PMCID: PMC11769487 DOI: 10.3390/toxics13010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2024] [Revised: 12/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 01/26/2025]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely used in daily life but they cause certain impacts on the environment due to their unique carbon-fluorine chemical bonds that are difficult to degrade in the environment. Toxicological studies on PFASs and their alternatives have mainly focused on vertebrates, while terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates have been studied to a lesser extent. As invertebrates at the bottom of the food chain play a crucial role in the whole ecological chain, it is necessary to investigate the toxicity of PFASs to invertebrates. In this paper, the progress of toxicological studies on PFASs and their alternatives in terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates is reviewed, and the accumulation of PFASs, their toxicity in invertebrates, as well as the neurotoxicity and toxicity to reproduction and development are summarized. This provides a reference to in-depth studies on the comprehensive assessment of the toxicity of PFASs and their alternatives, promotes further research on PFASs in invertebrates, and provides valuable recommendations for the use and regulation of alternatives to PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (J.Z.); (H.N.); (K.C.)
| | - Hassan Naveed
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (J.Z.); (H.N.); (K.C.)
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Keping Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (J.Z.); (H.N.); (K.C.)
| | - Liang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (J.Z.); (H.N.); (K.C.)
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Liu J, Xie Y, Zhou L, Lu G, Li Y, Gao P, Hou J. Co-accumulation characteristics and interaction mechanism of microplastics and PFASs in a large shallow lake. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:135780. [PMID: 39259996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) coexist widely in lakes and affect ecological security. The coexistence characteristics and adsorption-desorption mechanisms between MPs and typical PFASs were explored in a typical eutrophic shallow lake (Taihu Lake). Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) are the primary types of MPs in Taihu Lake, with average abundances in water and sediment of 18630 n/m3 and 584 n/kg, respectively. The average concentrations of PFASs in water and sediment are 288.93 ng/L and 4.33 ng/g, with short-chain PFASs (C4-C7) being the main pollutants. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in both water and sediment contributed 38.48 % and 44.53 %, respectively, followed by hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). The morphological characteristics of MPs influence the distribution of long-chain PFAS in lake water, while the presence of HFPO-DA and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) in sediment is directly linked to the concentration and size of MPs. A combination of field investigations and indoor experiments revealed that the irreversible adsorption characteristics between MPs and HFPO-DA may promote the high cumulative flux of HFPO-DA in sediment, and the biofilm on the surface of MPs significantly accelerates this accumulation process. The results provide a new perspective on the co-transport behavior of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yinuo Xie
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Lv Zhou
- Nanjing Water Supply and Water Conservation Guidance Center, Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Guanghua Lu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Yiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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Zhang YH, Gao RY, Zhu F, Fu LM, Zhang JP. Combined effect of polystyrene nanoparticles and chlorpyrifos to Daphnia magna. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 369:143765. [PMID: 39580085 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143765] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2024] [Accepted: 11/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/25/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are emerging contaminants ubiquitous in the environment. These particles can act as carriers of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs), such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus insecticide. This study investigates the acute toxicity of CPF combined with model polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) using Daphnia magna as a model organism. The uptake and accumulation of luminescence-labelled 240 nm PS-NPs were visualized and quantified during co-exposure tests. Heart rates were measured using a video-based method, and IC50 values for heart rate were calculated to assess the acute toxicity of CPF. The results demonstrate that PS-NPs alone have no acute toxicity, while CPF exhibits high toxicity, with an IC50 of 50.8 μg/L. However, in the presence of 50 μg/L PS-NPs, the IC50 increased to approximately 400 μg/L, indicating an antagonistic effect of PS-NPs on CPF toxicity. The adsorption of CPF onto PS-NPs can reduce the concentration of free CPF, leading to aggregation and sedimentation of CPF-PS-NP clusters, thereby decreasing the uptake of CPF by D. magna. This interaction between CPF and PS-NPs in D. magna exemplifies the toxicity-attenuating effects and potential load capacity of nanoplastics for HOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Rong-Yao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Few Zhu
- Intelligent Scientific Systems Co., Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Li-Min Fu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China.
| | - Jian-Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
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Zheng ZY, Yang YT, Zhou JX, Peng ZX, Ni HG. Possible Causes of Extreme Variation of Benzo[a]pyrene Acute Toxicity Test on Daphnia magna. TOXICS 2024; 12:714. [PMID: 39453134 PMCID: PMC11510787 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12100714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
There are enormous differences in benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) acute toxicity tests on Daphnia magna, according to previous publications. The explanations of the reasons for this extreme variation are necessary. In this context, the acute toxicity tests of different experiment conditions (light/dark, culture medium, and solvent) were conducted on Daphnia magna with BaP as the toxicant of concern. Based on the experiments above, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to investigate the mechanisms of action. According to our results, the significant influence of light exposure on the acute toxicity test of BaP (p < 0.05) on D. magna was recorded. On the basis of the MD simulations, it was possible that BaP may not affect the normal operation of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase directly, and it could be quickly transferred from the body through Glutathione S-transferase and Cytochromes P450. Therefore, when exposed to light, the oxidative stress process intensifies, causing damage to Daphnia magna. Apparently, the ecotoxicity tests based on inhibition for D. magna cannot adequately reflect the toxic effects of BaP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hong-Gang Ni
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Z.-Y.Z.); (Y.-T.Y.); (J.-X.Z.); (Z.-X.P.)
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10
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Song J, Meng Q, Song H, Ni X, Zhou H, Liu Y, Zhan J, Yi X. Combined toxicity of pristine or artificially aged tire wear particles and bisphenols to Tigriopus japonicus. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142894. [PMID: 39029709 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142894] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Tire wear particles (TWPs) are considered an important component of microplastic pollution in the marine environment and occur together with a variety of aquatic pollutants, including frequently detected bisphenols. The adverse effects of TWPs or bisphenols on aquatic organisms have been widely reported. However, the combined toxicity of TWPs and bisphenols is still unknown. In this study, the combined toxicity of both pristine (p-) and aged TWPs (a-TWPs) and four bisphenols ((bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol AF (BPAF)) to Tigriopus japonicus was evaluated. TWPs increased the toxicity of BPA and BPF but decreased the toxicity of BPAF. For BPS, there was synergistic toxic effect in the presence of p-TWPs, but slightly antagonistic effect was observed in the presence of a-TWPs. This adsorption of BPAF by TWPs resulted in a reduction of its toxicity to the copepod. A-TWPs could release more Zn than p-TWPs, and the released Zn contributed to the synergistic effect of TWPs and BPA or BPF. The aggregation formed by TWPs in certain sizes (e.g., 90-110 μm) could cause intestinal damage and lipid peroxidation in T. japonicus. The synergistic effect of p-TWPs and BPS might be due to the aggregation size of the binary mixture. The results of the current study will be important to understand the combined toxic effect of TWPs and bisphenols and the potential toxic mechanisms of the binary mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbo Song
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Qian Meng
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Hongyu Song
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Xiaoming Ni
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Jingjing Zhan
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China
| | - Xianliang Yi
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin City, Liaoning, 116024, China.
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11
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Xiao X, Liu S, Li L, Li R, Zhao X, Yin N, She X, Peijnenburg W, Cui X, Luo Y. Seaweeds as a major source of dietary microplastics exposure in East Asia. Food Chem 2024; 450:139317. [PMID: 38636378 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) occurrence in marine ecosystems is well known, but their accumulation in seaweeds and subsequent human exposure remain understudied. This research quantifies MPs presence in two commonly consumed seaweeds, kelp (Saccharina japonica) and nori (Pyropia yezoensis), in East Asia, revealing widespread contamination dominated by microfibers (<500 μm). Based on dietary patterns, human uptake through seaweed consumption was estimated and quantified. Notably, Chinese people consume an estimated 17,034 MPs/person/year through seaweed consumption, representing 13.1% of their total annual MPs intake. This seaweeds-derived exposure surpasses all other dietary sources, contributing up to 45.5% of overall MPs intake. The highest intake was in South Korea, followed by North Korea, China, and Japan. This research identifies seaweeds as a major, previously overlooked route of dietary MPs exposure. These findings are crucial for comprehensive risk assessments of seaweed consumption and the development of mitigation strategies, particularly for populations in East Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyang Xiao
- College of Resources and Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Shaochong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lianzhen Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Ruijie Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Na Yin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xilin She
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Willie Peijnenburg
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, RA Leiden 2300, the Netherlands; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Xiumin Cui
- College of Resources and Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.
| | - Yongming Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
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12
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Junaid M, Liu S, Yue Q, Wei M, Wang J. Trophic transfer and interfacial impacts of micro(nano)plastics and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133243. [PMID: 38103288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Both micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) possessed excellent properties and diverse applications, albeit gained worldwide attention due to their anthropogenic, ubiquitous, degradation resistant nature and a wide variety of ecological and human health impacts. MNPs and PFAS discharged from discrete sources and extensively bioaccumulated in the food chain through trophic transfer and their long-distance transport potential assist in their dispersal to pristine but vulnerable ecosystems such as Antarctica. They inevitably interacted with each other in the environment through polarized N-H bond, hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction, and weak bond energies such as Van der Waals, electrostatic, and intramolecular forces. During co-exposure, they significantly impact the uptake and bioaccumulation of each other in exposed organisms, which may increase or decrease their bioavailable concentration. Hence, this review compiles the studies on the co-occurrence and adsorption of PFAS and MNPs in the environment, their trophic transfer, combined in vivo and in vitro impacts, and factors influencing the MNP-PFAS interface. A significant proportion of studies were conducted in China, Europe, and the US, while studies are rare from other parts of the world. Freshwater and marine food chains were more prominently investigated for trophic transfers compared to terrestrial food chains. The most notable in vivo effects were growth and reproductive impairment, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and apoptosis, DNA damage, genotoxicity and immunological responses, behavioral and gut microbiota modifications, and histopathological alterations. Cellular uptake of PFAS and MNPs can impact cell survival and proliferation, photosynthesis and membrane integrity, ROS generation and antioxidant responses, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) release in vitro. MNP characteristics, PFAS properties, tissue and species-dependent distribution, and environmental medium properties were the main factors influencing the PFAS and MNP nexus and associated impacts. Last but not least, gaps and future research directions were highlighted to better understand the interplay between these critical persistent chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Junaid
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Shulin Liu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Qiang Yue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Maochun Wei
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Intelligent Fishery, Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen 361100, China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China; Institute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Intelligent Fishery, Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen 361100, China.
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13
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Nardi A, Pittura L, d'Errico G, Cesaroni D, Mongera F, Gorbi S, Benedetti M, Regoli F. Cellular effects of microplastics are influenced by their dimension: Mechanistic relationships and integrated criteria for particles definition. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123327. [PMID: 38190878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123327] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The definition of microplastics (MPs) is nowadays too generic from a biological perspective, since different characteristics of these particles might influence their effects. To provide experimental evidence that size is an important factor to be considered, Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to five size classes of polyethylene fragments (PE-MPs, 20-50 μm, 50-100 μm, 100-250 μm, 250-500 μm, 500-1000 μm). After 10 days of exposure, MPs ingestion and mechanistic relationships between particles size and cellular effects were analysed through a wide panel of biological alterations, including immune system responses, cholinergic function, antioxidant system, lipid metabolism and peroxidation. Results were further elaborated through a Weight of Evidence approach, summarizing the overall biological significance of obtained results in a hazard index based on the number and magnitude of variations and their toxicological relevance. PE-MPs 500-1000 μm were identified as the less biologically reactive size class due to the limited ingestion of particles coupled with the lack of biological effects, followed by PE-MPs 250-500 μm, which slightly altered the cholinergic function and lysosomal membranes. Conversely, PE-MPs smaller than 250 μm provoked a more consistent onset of biological alterations in terms of immune system composition and functioning, redox homeostasis, and lipid metabolism. The overall findings of this study highlight the importance of considering the size of particles for monitoring and risk assessment of MPs, introducing a more integrated evaluation of plastic pollution that, beside particles concentration, should adequately weigh those characteristics triggering the onset of biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90131, Italy
| | - Lucia Pittura
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90131, Italy
| | - Giuseppe d'Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Deborah Cesaroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Federica Mongera
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefania Gorbi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90131, Italy
| | - Maura Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90131, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90131, Italy.
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14
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Zheng Y, Su Z, Liu D, Huang B, Mu Q, Li Y, Wen D. Metagenomics reveals the influence of small microplastics on microbial communities in coastal sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169982. [PMID: 38215846 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169982] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
The ecological impact of microplastics (MPs) in coastal environments has been widely studied. However, the influence of small microplastics in the actual environment is often overlooked due to measurement challenges. In this study, Hangzhou Bay (HZB), China, was selected as our study area. High-throughput metagenomic sequencing and micro-Raman spectrometry were employed to analyze the microbial communities and microplastics of coastal sediment samples, respectively. We aimed to explore the ecological impact of MPs with small sizes (≤ 100 μm) in real coastal sediment environments. Our results revealed that as microplastic size decreased, the environmental behavior of MPs underwent alterations. In the coastal sediments, no significant correlations were observed between the detected MPs and the whole microbial communities, but small MPs posed potential hazards to eukaryotic communities. Moreover, these small MPs were more prone to microbial degradation and significantly affected carbon metabolism in the habitat. This study is the first to reveal the comprehensive impact of small MPs on microbial communities in a real coastal sediment environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Zheng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhiguo Su
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dantong Liu
- China Aviation Planning and Design Institute(Group)CO., LTD, Beijing 100120, China
| | - Bei Huang
- Marine Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan 316021, China
| | - Qinglin Mu
- Marine Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan 316021, China
| | - Yunong Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Donghui Wen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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15
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Sun Q, Yang YT, Zheng ZY, Ni HG. Nanopolystyrene size effect and its combined acute toxicity with halogenated PAHs on Daphnia magna. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169435. [PMID: 38128673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs, diameter <1 μm) not only have toxicity but also change the toxicity of other pollutants in water. To date, the nanopolystyrene (nano-PS) size effect and its combined toxicity with halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HPAHs) remain unclear. In this study, the single toxicity, combined toxicity, and mode of action of the binary mixture of polystyrene (PS) and HPAH were examined. At the same time, the nano-PS size effect on combined toxicity was also discussed. According to our results, the 48 h acute toxicity test results showed that 30 nm PS was highly toxic (EC50-48 h = 1.65 mg/L), 200 nm PS was moderately toxic (EC50-48 h = 17.8 mg/L), and 1 μm PS was lowly toxic (EC50-48 h = 189 mg/L). The NP toxicity decreased with increasing size. HPAHs were highly toxic substances to Daphnia magna (EC50-48 h = 0.12-0.22 mg/L). The mode of action of PS and HPAHs was antagonistic according to the toxicity unit method (TU), additive index method (AI), and mixture toxicity index method (MTI). The size effect of nano-PS operates via two mechanisms: the inherent toxicity of nano-PS and the sorption of pollutants by nano-PS. The former impacts the combined toxicity more than the latter. In the binary mixed system, the larger the particle size and the higher the proportion of NPs in the system, the less toxic the system was. Linear interpolation analysis can be used to predict the combined toxicity of a mixed system with any mixing ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Sun
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Yu-Ting Yang
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zi-Yi Zheng
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hong-Gang Ni
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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16
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Kang P, Zhao Y, Wei T, Cai Y, Ji B, Addo-Bankas O. Interactions between MPs and PFASs in aquatic environments: A dual-character situation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119907. [PMID: 38157575 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119907] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have drawn great attention as emerging threats to aquatic ecosystems. Although the literature to study the MPs and PFASs alone has grown significantly, our knowledge of the overlap and interactions between the two contaminations is scarce due to the unawareness of it. Actually, numerous human activities can simultaneously release MPs and PFASs, and the co-sources of the two are common, meaning that they have a greater potential for interactions. The direct interaction lies in the PFASs adsorption by MPs in water with integrated mechanisms including electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, plus many influence factors. In addition, the existence and transportation of MPs and PFASs in the aquatic environment have been identified. MPs and PFASs can be ingested by aquatic organisms and cause more serious combined toxicity than exposure alone. Finally, curbing strategies of MPs and PFASs are overviewed. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be an effective place to remove MPs from wastewater, while they are also an important point source of MPs pollution in water bodies. Although adsorption has proven to be a successful curbing method for PFASs, more technological advancements are required for field application. It is expected that this review can help revealing the unheeded relationship and interaction between MPs and PFASs in aquatic environments, thus assisting the further investigations of both MPs and PFASs as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiying Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Yaqian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China.
| | - Ting Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yamei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China
| | - Bin Ji
- School of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Olivia Addo-Bankas
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, PR China
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17
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Yin J, Duan C, Zhou F, Gong L, Gunathilaka MDKL, Liu X, Liu D, Shen A, Pan Y. Microplastics affect interspecific interactions between cladoceran species in the absence and presence of predators by triggering asymmetric individual responses. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 248:120877. [PMID: 37984039 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120877] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Although many studies have reported the negative effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms, most research is focused on individual scales. Individual studies highlight harm mechanisms, but understanding broader ecological effects necessitates evidence from multiscale perspectives, particularly those based on interspecific interactions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impacts of different microplastic concentrations (0, 0.4, 2, and 10 mg/L) on individual characteristics (physiology, behavior, and grazing rate) and population dynamics of two cladoceran species Daphnia magna and Scapholeberis kingi, and their interrelationships within communities in the absence and presence of predators (larvae of Agriocnemis pygmaea). We used 32-38 μm polyethylene microplastics; these particles were detected in the guts of D. magna, especially at higher concentrations, but were not found in S. kingi. Consequently, with increasing microplastic concentrations, the grazing and reproductive capacity of D. magna diminished, weakening their dominance in the coexistence system without damselfly larvae. Additionally, as microplastic concentration increased, D. magna faced greater oxidative damage and a reduction in mobility, making this species more susceptible to predation by damselfly larvae and less dominant in the predator-inhabited coexistence system. This study reveals the mechanism by which asymmetric impacts of microplastics on individual traits altered interspecific competition between zooplankton species, thereby illuminating the role of microplastics in altering zooplankton communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Yin
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Changqun Duan
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Fangjie Zhou
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Lihua Gong
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - M D K Lakmali Gunathilaka
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Department of Geography, University of Colombo, 00300 Sri Lanka
| | - Xiaoxuan Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Ao Shen
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China
| | - Ying Pan
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China; Yunnan International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management & Yunnan Think Tank of Ecological Civilization, Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, China.
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18
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Liu YJ, Yang HY, Hu YY, Li ZH, Yin H, He YT, Zhong KQ, Yuan L, Zheng X, Sheng GP. Face mask derived micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds potentially induce threat to aquatic ecosystem security revealed by toxicogenomics-based assay. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120251. [PMID: 37356160 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120251] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastics widely detected in aquatic environments have caused serious threat to water quality security. However, as a potential important source of micro(nano)plastics in surface water during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ecological risks of face mask waste to aquatic environments remain poorly understood. Herein, we comprehensively characterized the micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds released from four daily used face masks in aqueous environments and further evaluated their potential impacts on aquatic ecosystem safety by quantitative genotoxicity assay. Results from spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrum showed that plastic microfibers/particles (∼11%-83%) and leachable organic compounds (∼15%-87%) were dominantly emitted pollutants, which were significantly higher than nanoplastics (< ∼5%) based on mass of carbon. Additionally, a toxicogenomics approach using green fluorescence protein-fused whole-cell array revealed that membrane stress was the primary response upon the exposure to micro(nano)plastics, whereas the emitted organic chemicals were mainly responsible for DNA damage involving most of the DNA repair pathways (e.g., base/nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair), implying their severe threat to membrane structure and DNA replication of microorganisms. Therefore, the persistent release of discarded face masks derived pollutants might exacerbate water quality and even adversely affect aquatic microbial functions. These findings would contribute to unraveling the potential effects of face mask waste on aquatic ecosystem security and highlight the necessity for more developed management regulations in face mask disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - He-Yun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yan-Yun Hu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zheng-Hao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Hao Yin
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yun-Tian He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Keng-Qiang Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Li Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Guo-Ping Sheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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19
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Ruthsatz K, Schwarz A, Gomez-Mestre I, Meyer R, Domscheit M, Bartels F, Schaeffer SM, Engelkes K. Life in plastic, it's not fantastic: Sublethal effects of polyethylene microplastics ingestion throughout amphibian metamorphosis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 885:163779. [PMID: 37146798 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MP) are an abundant, long-lasting, and widespread type of environmental pollution that is of increasing concern as it might pose a serious threat to ecosystems and species. However, these threats are still largely unknown for amphibians. Here, we used the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) as a model species to investigate whether polyethylene MP ingestion affects amphibian growth and development and leads to metabolic changes across two consecutive life stages (larvae and juveniles). Furthermore, we examined whether MP effects were more pronounced at higher rearing temperatures. Larval growth, development, and body condition were recorded, and standard metabolic rate (SMR) and levels of stress hormone (corticosterone, CORT) were measured. We determined variation in size, morphology, and hepatosomatic index in juveniles to identify any potential consequences of MP ingestion across metamorphosis. In both life stages, MP accumulation in the body was assessed. MP ingestion was found to result in sublethal effects on larval growth, development, and metabolism, to lead to allometric carry-over effects on juvenile morphology, and to accumulate in the specimens at both life stages. In larvae, SMR and developmental rate increased in response to MP ingestion; there additionally was a significant interaction of MP ingestion and temperature on development. CORT levels were higher in larvae that ingested MP, except at higher temperature. In juveniles, body was wider, and extremities were longer in animals exposed to MP during the larval stage; a high rearing temperature in combination with MP ingestion counteracted this effect. Our results provide first insights into the effects of MP on amphibians throughout metamorphosis and demonstrate that juvenile amphibians may act as a pathway for MP from freshwater to terrestrial environments. To allow for generalizations across amphibian species, future experiments need to consider the field prevalence and abundance of different MP in amphibians at various life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Ruthsatz
- Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Anja Schwarz
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ivan Gomez-Mestre
- Ecology, Evolution, and Development Group, Department Ecology and Evolution, Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Ruth Meyer
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marie Domscheit
- Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Fabian Bartels
- Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sarah-Maria Schaeffer
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Karolin Engelkes
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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20
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Kang P, Zhao Y, Zuo C, Cai Y, Shen C, Ji B, Wei T. The unheeded inherent connections and overlap between microplastics and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances: A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163028. [PMID: 36963676 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are receiving global attention due to their widespread presences and considerable level in the environment. Although the occurrence and fate of MPs and PFASs alone have been extensively studied, little was known about their unheeded connection and overlap between the two. Therefore, this review attempts to reveal it for the purpose of providing a new view from joint consideration of the two in the future studies. Initially, the critically examined data on the co-sources and existence of MPs and PFASs are summarized. Surprisingly, some products could be co-source of MPs and PFASs which are general in daily life while the distribution of the two is primary influenced by the human activity. Then, their interactions are reviewed based on the fact that PFASs can be sorbed onto MPs which are regarded as a vector of contaminations. The electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic contact are the predominant sorption mechanisms and could be influenced by environmental factors and properties of MPs and PFASs. The effects of MPs on the transport of PFASs in the environments, especially in aquatic environments are then discussed. Additionally, the current state of knowledge on the combined toxicity of MPs and PFASs are presented. Finally, the existing problems and future perspectives are outlined at the end of the review. This review provides an advanced understanding of the overlap, interaction and toxic effects of MPs and PFASs co-existing in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiying Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
| | - Yaqian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China.
| | - Chenxin Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
| | - Yamei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
| | - Cheng Shen
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Recycling and Ecological Treatment of Waste Biomass, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Zhejiang University of Science & Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310023, PR China
| | - Bin Ji
- School of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China
| | - Ting Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
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21
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Li W, Zu B, Yang Q, Guo J, Li J. Sources, distribution, and environmental effects of microplastics: a systematic review. RSC Adv 2023; 13:15566-15574. [PMID: 37228683 PMCID: PMC10203861 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02169f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are receiving increasing attention from researchers. They are environmental pollutants that do not degrade easily, are retained for prolonged periods in environmental media such as water and sediments, and are known to accumulate in aquatic organisms. The aim of this review is to show and discuss the transport and effects of microplastics in the environment. We systematically and critically review 91 articles in the field of sources, distribution, and environmental behavior of microplastics. We conclude that the spread of plastic pollution is related to a myriad of processes and that both primary and secondary MPs are prevalent in the environment. Rivers have been indicated as major pathways for the transport of MPs from terrestrial areas into the ocean, and atmospheric circulation may be an important avenue for transporting MPs between environmental compartments. Additionally, the vector effect of MPs can change the original environmental behavior of other pollutants, leading to severe compound toxicity. Further in-depth studies on the distribution and chemical and biological interactions of MPs are highly suggested to improve our understanding of how MPs behave in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Li
- College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University Chongqing 400074 China +86-23-62652718 +86-23-62652718
| | - Bo Zu
- College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University Chongqing 400074 China +86-23-62652718 +86-23-62652718
| | - Qingwei Yang
- College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University Chongqing 400074 China +86-23-62652718 +86-23-62652718
| | - Juncheng Guo
- College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University Chongqing 400074 China +86-23-62652718 +86-23-62652718
| | - Jiawen Li
- Chongqing Research Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Chongqing 401147 China
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22
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Ma J, Chen F, Chen CC, Zhang Z, Zhong Z, Jiang H, Pu J, Li Y, Pan K. Comparison between discarded facemask and common plastic waste on microbial colonization and physiochemical properties during aging in seawater. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 455:131583. [PMID: 37201275 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Facemasks are indispensable for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, improper disposal of discarded facemasks has led to their contamination in the marine environment. To understand the environmental risk of this emerging plastic pollution, it's important to clarify the features that distinguish discarded facemasks from common plastic waste during aging. This study compared the microbial colonization, degradation-related enzymes, and physicochemical properties among surgical masks, polystyrene cups, polycarbonate bottles, and polyethylene terephthalate bottles in their aging processes in natural seawater. Compared to the other plastic wastes, surgical masks were colonized by the most diverse microorganisms, reaching 1521 unique prokaryotic OTUs after 21-day exposure in seawater. Moreover, the activity of eukaryotic enzymes associated with plastic degradation was 80-fold higher than that in seawater, indicating that the colonized eukaryotes would be the major microorganisms degrading the surgical masks. Meanwhile, the nano-sized defects (depth between 8 and 61 nm) would evolve into cracks of bigger sizes and result in the breakage of the microfibers and releasing microplastics into the ocean. Overall, our study demonstrated a distinctive plastisphere occurred in surgical masks from both microbial and physiochemical aspects. This work provides new insights for assessing the potential risk of plastic pollution caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Ciara Chun Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China; Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Zihan Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Junbao Pu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yanping Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Ke Pan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China.
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23
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Svigruha R, Prikler B, Farkas A, Ács A, Fodor I, Tapolczai K, Schmidt J, Bordós G, Háhn J, Harkai P, Kaszab E, Szoboszlay S, Pirger Z. Presence, variation, and potential ecological impact of microplastics in the largest shallow lake of Central Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163537. [PMID: 37075990 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the global ecosystem has generated a rapidly growing concern worldwide. Although their presence in the marine environment has been well-studied, much less data are available on their abundance in freshwaters. MPs alone and in combination with different chemicals has been shown to cause acute and chronic effects on algae and aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate species at different biological levels. However, the combined ecotoxicological effects of MPs with different chemicals on aquatic organisms are still understudied in many species and the reported data are often controversial. In the present study, we investigated, for the first time, the presence of MPs in Lake Balaton, which is the largest shallow lake of Central Europe and an important summer holiday destination. Moreover, we exposed neonates of the well-established ecotoxicological model organism Daphnia magna to different MPs (polystyrene [3 μm] or polyethylene [≤ 100 μm]) alone and in combination with three progestogen compounds (progesterone, drospirenone, levonorgestrel) at an environmentally relevant concentration (10 ng L-1) for 21 days. The presence of 7 polymer types of MPs in the size range of 50-100 μm was detected in Lake Balaton. Similarly to the global trends, polypropylene and polyethylene MPs were the most common types of polymer. The calculated polymer-independent average particle number was 5.5 particles m-3 (size range: 50 μm - 100 μm) which represents the values detected in other European lakes. Our ecotoxicological experiments confirmed that MPs and progestogens can affect D. magna at the behavioral (body size and reproduction) and biochemical (detoxification-related enzyme activity) levels. The joint effects were negligible. The presence of MPs may lead to reduced fitness in the aquatic biota in freshwaters such as Lake Balaton, however, the potential threat of MPs as vectors for progestogens may be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Svigruha
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - Bence Prikler
- Eurofins-Wessling Hungary Ltd, 1045 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Anna Farkas
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - András Ács
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - István Fodor
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - Kálmán Tapolczai
- Aquatic Botany and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - János Schmidt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Bordós
- Eurofins-Wessling Hungary Ltd, 1045 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Háhn
- Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Péter Harkai
- Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Edit Kaszab
- Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szoboszlay
- Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Pirger
- Ecophysiological and Environmental Toxicological Research Group, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 8237 Tihany, Hungary.
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
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25
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Paramecium bursaria as a Potential Tool for Evaluation of Microplastics Toxicity. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121852. [PMID: 36552361 PMCID: PMC9775370 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are normally defined as small plastic wastes with a size of 1 μm to 5 mm in diameter. This tiny plastic debris is abundant in aquatic systems and poses a great threat to aquatic biota. To date, toxicological assessment of MPs is predominantly dependent on metazoan animals, although their applications are sometimes limited due to the high cost, narrow ecological niche, or ethical considerations. In this regard, unicellular eukaryotes (i.e., protozoa) that are ubiquitously present in nature represent a promising alternative for evaluating the toxicity of MPs. In this study, we selected Paramecium bursaria (P. bursaria) as a representative of protozoa and further investigated behavioral and molecular changes in MPs-exposed P. bursaria. Our results showed that following MPs uptake, P. bursaria exhibited various changes, including anomalies in swimming patterns, reduction in moving speed, impairment of avoidance behavior, elevation of oxidative stress, and potential disturbance of endosymbiosis. These elicited changes in P. bursaria in response to MPs exposure were pronounced and measurable. Overall, this study demonstrated that P. bursaria could serve as a promising alternative for the toxicological assessment of MPs and may be further applied to evaluate the toxicity of other environmental contaminants.
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26
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Ma T, Ye C, Wang T, Li X, Luo Y. Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Aquatic Invertebrates, Planktons, and Microorganisms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192416729. [PMID: 36554610 PMCID: PMC9779086 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), recognized worldwide as emerging pollutants, may pose a substantial threat to human health and our environment due to their stability, high concentrations, wide distribution, and easy accumulation. Ever since perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid were recognized by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the public has become increasingly concerned about potential contamination and the environmental risks associated with PFASs. Ubiquitous PFAS contamination of drinking water, groundwater, surface water, and sediment has been detected, especially in areas with rapid industrial and economic development. Its accumulation in living organisms and foods has accentuated the importance of investigations into aquatic organisms at the bottom of the food chain, as the stability and integrity of the food web as well as the population quantity and structure of the aquatic ecosystem may be affected. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the toxic and toxicity-related effects of PFASs on aquatic plankton, aquatic invertebrates and microorganisms, the characteristics of different target aquatic organisms in toxicity investigations, and a feasibility evaluation of PFAS substitutes to provide valuable suggestions for further utilization and regulation of PFASs and their substitutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Ma
- College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
| | - Chaoran Ye
- College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Xiuhua Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
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