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Zink L, Wood CM. The effects of microplastics on ionoregulatory processes in the gills of freshwater fish and invertebrates: A prospective review. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 295:111669. [PMID: 38806110 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111669] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
From review of the very few topical studies to date, we conclude that while effects are variable, microplastics can induce direct ionoregulatory disturbances in freshwater fish and invertebrates. However, the intensity depends on microplastic type, size, concentration, and exposure regime. More numerous are studies where indirect inferences about possible ionoregulatory effects can be drawn; these indicate increased mucus production, altered breathing, histopathological effects on gill structure, oxidative stress, and alterations in molecular pathways. All of these could have negative effects on ionoregulatory homeostasis. However, previous research has suffered from a lack of standardized reporting of microplastic characteristics and exposure conditions. Often overlooked is the fact that microplastics are dynamic contaminants, changing over time through degradation and fragmentation and subsequently exhibiting altered surface chemistry, notably an increased presence and diversity of functional groups. The same functional groups characterized on microplastics are also present in dissolved organic matter, often termed dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a class of substances for which we have a far greater understanding of their ionoregulatory actions. We highlight instances in which the effects of microplastic exposure resemble those of DOC exposure. We propose that in future microplastic investigations, in vivo techniques that have proven useful in understanding the ionoregulatory effects of DOC should be used including measurements of transepithelial potential, net and unidirectional radio-isotopic ion flux rates, and concentration kinetic analyses of uptake transport. More sophisticated in vitro approaches using cultured gill epithelia, Ussing chamber experiments on gill surrogate membranes, and scanning ion selective electrode techniques (SIET) may also prove useful. Finally, in future studies we advocate for minimum reporting requirements of microplastic properties and experimental conditions to help advance this important emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Zink
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Chris M Wood
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Maurizi L, Simon-Sánchez L, Vianello A, Nielsen AH, Vollertsen J. Every breath you take: High concentration of breathable microplastics in indoor environments. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142553. [PMID: 38851509 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142553] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in the air and their potential impact on human health underscore the pressing need to develop robust methods for quantifying their presence, particularly in the breathable fraction (<5 μm). In this study, Raman micro-spectroscopy (μRaman) was employed to assess the concentration of indoor airborne MPs >1 μm in four indoor environments (a meeting room, a workshop, and two apartments) under different levels of human activity. The indoor airborne MP concentration spanned between 58 and 684 MPs per cubic meter (MP m-3) (median 212 MP m-3, MPs/non-plastic ratio 0-1.6%), depending not only on the type and level of human activity, but also on the surface area and air circulation of the investigated locations. Additionally, we assessed in the same environments the filtration performance of a type IIR surgical facemask, which could overall retain 85.4 ± 3.9% of the MPs. We furthermore estimated a human MP intake from indoor air of 3415 ± 2881 MPs day-1 (mostly poly-amide MPs), which could be decreased to 283 ± 317 MPs day-1 using the surgical facemask. However, for the breathable fraction of MPs (1-5 μm), the efficiency of the surgical mask was reduced to 57.6%.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Maurizi
- Department of The Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - L Simon-Sánchez
- Department of The Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - A Vianello
- Department of The Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - A H Nielsen
- Department of The Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - J Vollertsen
- Department of The Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
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3
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Hamilton BM, Harris LN, Maksagak B, Nero E, Gilbert MJH, Provencher JF, Rochman CM. Microplastic and other anthropogenic microparticles in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and their coastal habitat: A first-look at a central Canadian Arctic commercial fishery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172854. [PMID: 38685419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172854] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In the recent monitoring guidelines released by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program's Litter and Microplastic Expert Group, Arctic salmonids were recommended as an important species for monitoring plastics in Arctic ecosystems, with an emphasis on aligning microplastic sampling and analysis methods in Arctic fishes. This recommendation was based on the minimal documentation of microplastics in Northern fishes, especially Arctic salmonids. In response, we worked collaboratively with local partners to quantify and characterize microplastics in Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, and their habitats in a commercial fishery near Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut. We sampled Arctic char, surface water, and benthic sediments within their summer foraging habitat at Palik (Byron Bay). We found microplastics in 95 % of char with an average of 26 (SD ± 19) particles per individual. On average, surface water samples had 23 (SD ± 12) particles/L and benthic sediment <1 particles/gww. This is the first documentation of plastic pollution in Arctic char and their coastal habitats. Future work should evaluate seasonal, temporal and spatial trends for long-term monitoring of microplastics in Arctic fishes and their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie M Hamilton
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Les N Harris
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Beverly Maksagak
- Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada
| | - Emilie Nero
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew J H Gilbert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, St. John, NB, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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4
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Kneel S, Stephens CG, Rolston A, Mendes AM, Morrison L, Linnane S. Microplastic contamination of intertidal sediment and cockles (Cerastoderma edule). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116568. [PMID: 38905735 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution represents a new threat to both marine environments and the species that reside within them. This study examined the temporal concentrations of microplastics found in the commercially and ecologically important bivalve, Cerasastoderma edule and the presence of microplastics in intertidal sediment from the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Area (SPA) of Dundalk Bay, Ireland. A microplastic range of 1.55 ± 1.38 to 1.92 ± 1.00 g-1 and 3.43 ± 2.47 to 6.90 ± 3.68 ind-1 was reported between seasons. Microfibres dominated the shape of microplastics present in both sediment and cockles. While a wider range of polymers were identified in cockles than in sediment, microplastic concentrations recovered from both intertidal sites studied were approximately double the estimated safe loading levels for this pollutant. The potential of cockles to perform as shallow environment biomonitors of microplastic pollution was identified as they presented buoyant microplastics that were not identified in sediment samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Kneel
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 K584, Ireland.
| | - Caroline Gilleran Stephens
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 K584, Ireland
| | - Alec Rolston
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 K584, Ireland
| | - Ana M Mendes
- Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, H91TK33, Ireland
| | - Liam Morrison
- Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, H91TK33, Ireland.
| | - Suzanne Linnane
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 K584, Ireland.
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5
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De Benedetto GE, Fraissinet S, Tardio N, Rossi S, Malitesta C. Microplastics determination and quantification in two benthic filter feeders Sabella spallanzanii, Polychaeta and Paraleucilla magna, Porifera. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31796. [PMID: 38845917 PMCID: PMC11153181 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem especially in the marine environment. Plastic items once fragmented into microplastics (MPs), can be captured by different marine species. Benthic filter feeders like sponges and polychaetas, due to their trophic strategy, are highly exposed to MPs pollution. Herein a simple but effective method to digest the fan worm Sabella spallanzanii and the calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna is presented: a solution with KOH and H2O2 was able to remove quantitatively (more than 98 %) the organic matter in 3 h while an acid treatment dissolved most of spicules and chaetes in less than 30 min. MPs were easily identified both microscopically and spectroscopically on filters. Quantification in animals collected from the same environment showed that, on average, sponges accumulate fewer MPs than polychaetes (66 ± 31 and 117 ± 46 particles/g dry weight, respectively). The plastic recovery of the method was validated using three different approaches (spiking of standard PS microspheres, of common-use plastic objects, and of microplastics already weathered in marine environment). This procedure can make it easier and cost-effective to process biota in monitoring studies, providing information about bioindicator/bioremediation species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe E. De Benedetto
- Laboratorio di Spettrometria di Massa Analitica e Isotopica, Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, Universita' del Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Silvia Fraissinet
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DISTEBA), Universita' del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Tardio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DISTEBA), Universita' del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Sergio Rossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DISTEBA), Universita' del Salento, Lecce, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Marine Sciences (LABOMAR), Federal University of Ceará, Av, Abolicao 230, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Brazil
| | - Cosimino Malitesta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DISTEBA), Universita' del Salento, Lecce, Italy
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6
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García-Haba E, Benito-Kaesbach A, Hernández-Crespo C, Sanz-Lazaro C, Martín M, Andrés-Doménech I. Removal and fate of microplastics in permeable pavements: An experimental layer-by-layer analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172627. [PMID: 38653422 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MP) in urban environments has raised concerns over their negative effects on ecosystems and human health. Stormwater runoff, and road dust and sediment, act as major vectors of these pollutants into natural water bodies. Sustainable urban drainage systems, such as permeable pavements, are considered as potential tools to retain particulate pollutants. This research evaluates at laboratory scale the efficiency of permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) and porous concrete pavements (PCP) for controlling microplastics, including tire wear particles (TWP) which constitute a large fraction of microplastics in urban environments, simulating surface pollution accumulation and Mediterranean rainfall conditions. Microplastic levels in road dust and sediments and stormwater runoff inputs were 4762 ± 974 MP/kg (dry weight) and 23.90 ± 17.40 MP/L. In infiltrated effluents, microplastic levels ranged from 2.20 ± 0.61 to 5.17 ± 1.05 MP/L; while tire wear particle levels ranged between 0.28 ± 0.28 and 3.30 ± 0.89 TWP/L. Distribution of microplastics within the layers of PICP and PCP were also studied and quantified. Microplastics tend to accumulate on the pavements surface and in geotextile layers, allowing microplastic retention efficiencies from 89 % to 99.6 %. Small sized (< 0.1 mm) fragment shaped microplastics are the most common in effluent samples. The results indicate that permeable pavements are a powerful tool to capture microplastics and tire wear particles, especially by surface and geotextile layers. The study aims to shed light on the complex mobilisation mechanisms of microplastics, providing valuable insights for addressing the growing environmental concern of microplastic pollution in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo García-Haba
- Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 València, Spain.
| | | | - Carmen Hernández-Crespo
- Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 València, Spain
| | - Carlos Sanz-Lazaro
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante, 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain; Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain
| | - Miguel Martín
- Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 València, Spain
| | - Ignacio Andrés-Doménech
- Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 València, Spain
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7
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Luo Y, Naidu R, Fang C. Toy building bricks as a potential source of microplastics and nanoplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134424. [PMID: 38678720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics have become noteworthy contaminants, affecting not only outdoor ecosystems but also making a notable impact within indoor environments. The release of microplastics and nanoplastics from commonly used plastic items remains a concern, and the characterisation of these contaminants is still challenging. This study focused on evaluating the microplastics and nanoplastics produced from plastic building bricks. Using Raman spectroscopy and correlation analysis, the plastic material used to manufacture building blocks was determined to be either acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (correlation value of 0.77) or polycarbonate (correlation value of 0.96). A principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm was optimised for improved detection of the debris particles released. Some challenges in microplastic analysis, such as the interference from the colourants in the building block materials, was explored and discussed. Combining Raman results with scanning electron microscopy - energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, we found the scratches on the building blocks to be a significant source of contamination, estimated several thousand microplastics and several hundred thousand nanoplastics were generated per mm2 following simulated play activities. The potential exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics during play poses risks associated with the ingestion and inhalation of these minute plastic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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8
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Rochman CM, Bucci K, Langenfeld D, McNamee R, Veneruzzo C, Covernton GA, Gao GHY, Ghosh M, Cable RN, Hermabessiere L, Lazcano R, Paterson MJ, Rennie MD, Rooney RC, Helm P, Duhaime MB, Hoellein T, Jeffries KM, Hoffman MJ, Orihel DM, Provencher JF. Informing the Exposure Landscape: The Fate of Microplastics in a Large Pelagic In-Lake Mesocosm Experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7998-8008. [PMID: 38629179 PMCID: PMC11080067 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08990] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Understanding microplastic exposure and effects is critical to understanding risk. Here, we used large, in-lake closed-bottom mesocosms to investigate exposure and effects on pelagic freshwater ecosystems. This article provides details about the experimental design and results on the transport of microplastics and exposure to pelagic organisms. Our experiment included three polymers of microplastics (PE, PS, and PET) ranging in density and size. Nominal concentrations ranged from 0 to 29,240 microplastics per liter on a log scale. Mesocosms enclosed natural microbial, phytoplankton, and zooplankton communities and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We quantified and characterized microplastics in the water column and in components of the food web (biofilm on the walls, zooplankton, and fish). The microplastics in the water stratified vertically according to size and density. After 10 weeks, about 1% of the microplastics added were in the water column, 0.4% attached to biofilm on the walls, 0.01% within zooplankton, and 0.0001% in fish. Visual observations suggest the remaining >98% were in a surface slick and on the bottom. Our study suggests organisms that feed at the surface and in the benthos are likely most at risk, and demonstrates the value of measuring exposure and transport to inform experimental designs and achieve target concentrations in different matrices within toxicity tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M. Rochman
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Kennedy Bucci
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Desiree Langenfeld
- International
Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0T4, Canada
- Department
of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Rachel McNamee
- Biology
Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Cody Veneruzzo
- Department
of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Garth A. Covernton
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Gloria H. Y. Gao
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Mira Ghosh
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Rachel N. Cable
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ludovic Hermabessiere
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Raul Lazcano
- Department
of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Michael J. Paterson
- International
Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0T4, Canada
- Department
of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Michael D. Rennie
- International
Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0T4, Canada
- Department
of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Rebecca C. Rooney
- Biology
Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Paul Helm
- Environmental
Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3 V6, Canada
| | - Melissa B. Duhaime
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Timothy Hoellein
- Department
of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Kenneth M. Jeffries
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Matthew J. Hoffman
- School
of Mathematics and Statistics, Rochester
Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, United States
| | - Diane M. Orihel
- Department
of Biology and School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University; Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Jennifer F. Provencher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa K1A 0H3, Canada
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9
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Lindstrom AP, Conny JM, Ortiz-Montalvo DL. Sampling of microplastics at a materials recovery facility. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:2885-2891. [PMID: 38558307 PMCID: PMC11045654 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05231-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Detecting, separating, and characterizing airborne microplastics from other airborne particulates is currently challenging due to the various instrumental constraints and related sample preparation hurdles that must be overcome. The ability to measure these real-world environments is needed to better assess the risks associated with microplastics. To that end, the current study focused on developing a methodology for sampling and characterizing airborne microplastics. Particulate sampling was carried out at a municipal materials recovery facility near a conveyer belt containing sorted plastic materials to collect airborne environmental particles on filters. Nucleopore filters were mounted on Teflon support rings, coated with 100 nm aluminum to reduce the background signal for micro-Raman spectroscopy, and marked with a fiducial pattern using a laser engraver. The fiducial pattern was crucial in identifying samples, relocating particles, and efficiently enabling orthogonal measurements on the same samples. Optimum sampling conditions of 2 h at 25 L/min were determined using light microscopy to evaluate the particle loadings. The filters were then cut into slices which were attached to sections of thin beryllium-copper sheeting for easy transfer of the filter between microscopy platforms. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify carbon-rich particles. Light microscopy was used to identify colored particles which were also carbon-rich which were then analyzed using micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify specific polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P Lindstrom
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | - Joseph M Conny
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Diana L Ortiz-Montalvo
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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10
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Langknecht T, Pelletier M, Robinson S, Burgess RM, Ho KT. The distribution of sediment microplastics assemblages is driven by location and hydrodynamics, not sediment characteristics, in the Gulf of Maine, USA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116393. [PMID: 38669855 PMCID: PMC11162549 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116393] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MP) are found in marine sediments across the globe, but we are just beginning to understand their spatial distribution and assemblages. In this study, we quantified MP in Gulf of Maine, USA sediments. MP were extracted from 20 sediment samples, followed by polymer identification using Raman spectroscopy. We detected 27 polymer types and 1929 MP kg-1 wet sediment, on average. Statistical analyses showed that habitat, hydrodynamics, and station proximity were more important drivers of MP assemblages than land use or sediment characteristics. Stations closer to one another were more similar in their MP assemblages, tidal rivers had higher numbers of unique plastic polymers than open water or embayment stations, and stations closer to shore had higher numbers of MP. There was little evidence of relationships between MP assemblages and land use, sediment texture, total organic carbon, or contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy Langknecht
- ORAU c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA; Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Bureau of Natural Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908, USA
| | - Marguerite Pelletier
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Sandra Robinson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Robert M Burgess
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
| | - Kay T Ho
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
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11
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de Lima Ribeiro A, Fuchs MC, Lorenz S, Röder C, Heitmann J, Gloaguen R. Multi-sensor characterization for an improved identification of polymers in WEEE recycling. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 178:239-256. [PMID: 38417310 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.02.024] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Polymers represent around 25% of total waste from electronic and electric equipment. Any successful recycling process must ensure that polymer-specific functionalities are preserved, to avoid downcycling. This requires a precise characterization of particle compounds moving at high speeds on conveyor belts in processing plants. We present an investigation using imaging and point measurement spectral sensors on 23 polymers including ABS, PS, PC, PE-types, PP, PVC, PET-types, PMMA, and PTFE to assess their potential to perform under the operational conditions found in recycling facilities. The techniques applied include hyperspectral imaging sensors (HSI) to map reflectance in the visible to near infrared (VNIR), short-wave (SWIR) and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) as well as point Raman, FTIR and spectroradiometer instruments. We show that none of the sensors alone can identify all the compounds while meeting the industry operational requirements. HSI sensors successfully acquired simultaneous spatial and spectral information for certain polymer types. HSI, particularly the range between (1600-1900) nm, is suitable for specific identification of transparent and light-coloured (non-black) PC, PE-types, PP, PVC and PET-types plastics; HSI in the MWIR is able to resolve specific spectral features for certain PE-types, including black HDPE, and light-coloured ABS. Fast-acquisition Raman spectroscopy (down to 500 ms) enabled the identification of all polymers regardless their composition and presence of black pigments, however, it exhibited limited capacities in mapping applications. We therefore suggest a combination of both imaging and point measurements in a sequential design for enhanced robustness on industrial polymer identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa de Lima Ribeiro
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Margret C Fuchs
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Sandra Lorenz
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Christian Röder
- Institute of Applied Physics, Faculty of Chemistry and Physics, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Straße 23, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Heitmann
- Institute of Applied Physics, Faculty of Chemistry and Physics, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Straße 23, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Richard Gloaguen
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
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12
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Alak G, Köktürk M, Atamanalp M. Evaluation of phthalate migration potential in vacuum-packed. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7944. [PMID: 38575598 PMCID: PMC10995151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54730-5] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the presence and migration of PAEs in packaging materials and consumer products has become a serious concern. Based on this concern, the aim of our study is to determine the possible migration potential and speed of PAEs in benthic fish stored in vacuum packaging, as well as to monitor the storage time and type as well as polyethylene (PE) polymer detection.As a result of the analysis performed by µ-Raman spectroscopy, 1 microplastic (MP) of 6 µm in size was determined on the 30th day of storage in whiting fish muscle and the polymer type was found to be Polyethylene (PE) (low density polyethylene: LDPE). Depending on the storage time of the packaging used in the vacuum packaging process, it has been determined that its chemical composition is affected by temperature and different types of polymers are formed. 10 types of PAEs were identified in the packaging material and stored flesh fish: DIBP, DBP, DPENP, DHEXP, BBP, DEHP, DCHP, DNOP, DINP and DDP. While the most dominant PAEs in the packaging material were determined as DEHP, the most dominant PAEs in fish meat were recorded as BBP and the lowest as DMP. The findings provide a motivating model for monitoring the presence and migration of PAEs in foods, while filling an important gap in maintaining a safe food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonca Alak
- Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, TR-25030, Erzurum, Turkey.
| | - Mine Köktürk
- Department of Organic Agriculture Management, Faculty of Applied Science, Igdir University, TR- 76000, Igdir, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Atamanalp
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk University, TR-25030, Erzurum, Turkey
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13
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Hrovat B, Uurasjärvi E, Viitala M, Del Pino AF, Mänttäri M, Papamatthaiakis N, Haapala A, Peiponen K, Roussey M, Koistinen A. Preparation of synthetic micro- and nano plastics for method validation studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171821. [PMID: 38513866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a persisting global problem. Accurate analysis is essential in quantifying the effects of microplastic pollution and develop novel technologies that reliably and reproducibly measure microplastic content in various samples. The most common methods for this are FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Coloured, standardized beads are often used for method validation tests, which limits the conclusions to a very specific case rarely observed in the natural environment. This study focuses on the preparation of reference micro- and nanoplastics via cryogenic milling and shows their use for FTIR and Raman method validation studies. MPs can now be reproducibly milled from various plastics, offering the advantages of a better representation of MPs in real environment. Moreover, this study highlights issues with the current detection methods, up to now considered as the most reliable ones for MP detection and identification. Such issues, e.g. misidentification, will need to be addressed in the future. Additionally, milled MPs were used in experiments with commercial high-resolution imaging device, enabling a possible in-situ optical detection of microplastics. These experiments represent a step forward in understanding MPs in a water sample and provide a basis for a more accurate detection and identification directly from water, which would considerably reduce the time of analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaž Hrovat
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Technical Physics, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Emilia Uurasjärvi
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Technical Physics, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mirka Viitala
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Department of Separation Science, Sammonkatu 12, 50130 Mikkeli, Finland
| | - Ana Franco Del Pino
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Department of Separation Science, Sammonkatu 12, 50130 Mikkeli, Finland; University of Cádiz, Department of Environmental Technology, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Mika Mänttäri
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Department of Separation Science, Sammonkatu 12, 50130 Mikkeli, Finland
| | | | - Antti Haapala
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland; FSCN Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, SE-85170 Sundsvall, Sweden
| | - Kai Peiponen
- University of Eastern Finland, Center for Photonics Sciences, Department of Physics and Mathematics, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Matthieu Roussey
- University of Eastern Finland, Center for Photonics Sciences, Department of Physics and Mathematics, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Arto Koistinen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Technical Physics, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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14
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Bahrani F, Mohammadi A, Dobaradaran S, De-la-Torre GE, Arfaeinia H, Ramavandi B, Saeedi R, Tekle-Röttering A. Occurrence of microplastics in edible tissues of livestock (cow and sheep). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:22145-22157. [PMID: 38403824 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32424-9] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Plastic contamination is widely recognized as a major environmental concern due to the entry of small plastic particles into the food chain, thereby posing potential hazards to human health. However, the current understanding of microplastic (MP; < 5 mm) particles in livestock, which serve as an important food source, is limited. This study aims to investigate the concentration and characteristics of MPs in edible tissues of cow and sheep, namely liver, meat, and tripe, obtained from butcher shops in five areas of Bushehr port, Iran. The mean concentration of MPs in different tissues of cow and sheep were 0.14 and 0.13 items/g, respectively. Among the examined tissues, cow meat exhibited the highest concentration of MPs, with a concentration of 0.19 items/g. Nylon and fiber were identified as the predominant polymer types and shapes of MPs found in cow and sheep tissues, respectively. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed in MP concentration across different tissues of cow and sheep. Significantly, this study highlights the elevated hazards associated with exposure to MPs through the consumption of edible cow and sheep tissues, particularly for children who consume meat. The results underscore the potential transfer of MPs from the environment to livestock bodies through their food, contamination during meat processing, and subsequent health hazards for consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farkhondeh Bahrani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Azam Mohammadi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany.
| | - Gabriel E De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Hossein Arfaeinia
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Bahman Ramavandi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Reza Saeedi
- Workplace Health Promotion Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Health and Safety, and Environment (HSE), School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Agnes Tekle-Röttering
- Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen, Neidenburger Strasse 43, 45877, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
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15
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Quilis SA, Hernández-Martínez AM, Arribas AJM, Pérez JG, García-March JR, Medialdea JT. High prevalence of microplastics in the digestive tract of Scyliorhinus canicula (Linneaus, 1758) shows the species biomonitoring potential. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116051. [PMID: 38271918 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116051] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is widespread in oceans and the ingestion of plastic by marine organisms is causing concern about potential adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to analyze the different types of plastics in the digestive tract of female small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula). An alkaline digestion method using 10 % potassium hydroxide (KOH), was used. The samples were filtered and visually observed to classify the plastics according to size, shape, and color. Raman spectroscopy was further employed to identify the polymer types. The study found the presence of plastics in 89.5 % of the 200 females analyzed, including 10 polymers, with polystyrene (PS), polyamide-6 (PA6), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and silicone rubber (SR) being the most common. The polymers identified largely reflect the results of similar studies in the marine environment and were similar to global polymer diversity of microplastics, which highlights the potential of S. canicula females for biomonitoring microplastic pollution.
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16
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Munno K, Hoopes L, Lyons K, Drymon M, Frazier B, Rochman CM. High microplastic and anthropogenic particle contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) caught in the western North Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123185. [PMID: 38147950 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have documented microplastics (<5 mm) in shark gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Here, we report microplastic contamination in the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), an apex predator and generalist feeder, at several different life stages. We examined seven stomachs and one spiral valve from eight individuals captured off the United States Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts (eastern US) and conducted a literature review of publications reporting anthropogenic debris ingestion in elasmobranchs. Specimens were chemically digested in potassium hydroxide (KOH) and density separated using calcium chloride (CaCl2) before quantifying and categorizing suspected anthropogenic particles (>45 μm) by size, morphology, and colour. Anthropogenic particles were found in the stomachs and spiral valve of all sharks. A total of 3151 anthropogenic particles were observed across all stomachs with 1603 anthropogenic particles observed in a single specimen. A subset of suspected anthropogenic particles (14%) were chemically identified using Raman spectroscopy and μ-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy to confirm anthropogenic origin. Overall, ≥95% of particles analyzed via spectroscopy were confirmed anthropogenic, with 45% confirmed as microplastics. Of the microplastics, polypropylene (32%) was the most common polymer. Diverse microparticle morphologies were found, with fragments (57%) and fibers (41%) most frequently observed. The high occurrence and abundance of anthropogenic particle contamination in tiger sharks is likely due to their generalist feeding strategy and high trophic position compared to other marine species. The literature review resulted in 32 studies published through 2022. Several methodologies were employed, and varying amounts of contamination were reported, but none reported contamination as high as detected in our study. Anthropogenic particle ingestion studies should continue in the tiger shark, in addition to other elasmobranch species, to further understand the effects of anthropogenic activities and associated pollution on these predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Lisa Hoopes
- Georgia Aquarium, IUCN Center for Species Survival, 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA
| | - Kady Lyons
- Georgia Aquarium, IUCN Center for Species Survival, 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA
| | - Marcus Drymon
- Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, USA; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA
| | - Bryan Frazier
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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17
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McIlwraith HK, Dias M, Orihel DM, Rennie MD, Harrison AL, Hoffman MJ, Provencher JF, Rochman CM. A Multicompartment Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in Semi-remote Boreal Lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38415806 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination is ubiquitous across the globe, even in remote locations. Still, the sources and pathways of microplastics to such locations are largely unknown. To investigate microplastic contamination in a semi-remote location, we measured microplastic concentrations in nine oligotrophic lakes within and around the International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Our first objective was to establish ambient concentrations of microplastics in bottom sediments, surface water, and atmospheric deposition in semi-remote boreal lakes. Across all lakes, mean shallow and deep sediment microplastic concentrations, near-surface water microplastic concentrations from in situ filtering, and dry atmospheric microplastic deposition rates were 551 ± 354 particles kg-1 , 177 ± 103 particles kg-1 , 0.2 ± 0.3 particles L-1 , and 0.4 ± 0.2 particles m-2 day-1 , respectively. Our second objective was to investigate whether microplastic contamination of these lakes is driven by point sources including local runoff and direct anthropogenic inputs or nonpoint sources such as atmospheric deposition. Lakes were selected based on three levels of anthropogenic activity-low, medium, and high-though activity levels were minimal across all study lakes compared with highly populated areas. Whereas a positive correlation would indicate that point sources were a likely pathway, we observed no relationship between the level of anthropogenic activity and microplastic contamination of surface water. Moreover, the composition of microplastics in surface water and atmospheric deposition were similar, comprising mostly polyester and acrylic fibers. Together, these results suggest that atmospheric deposition may be the main pathway of microplastics to these remote boreal lakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley K McIlwraith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Minoli Dias
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Diane M Orihel
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael D Rennie
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
- International Institute for Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Anna L Harrison
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthew J Hoffman
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Milne MH, De Frond H, Rochman CM, Mallos NJ, Leonard GH, Baechler BR. Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123233. [PMID: 38159628 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123233] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
We investigated microplastic (MP) contamination in 16 commonly-consumed protein products (seafoods, terrestrial meats, and plant-based proteins) purchased in the United States (U.S.) with different levels of processing (unprocessed, minimally-processed, and highly-processed), brands (1 - 4 per product type, depending on availability) and store types (conventional supermarket and grocer featuring mostly natural/organic products). Mean (±stdev) MP contamination per serving among the products was 74 ± 220 particles (ranging from 2 ± 2 particles in chicken breast to 370 ± 580 in breaded shrimp). Concentrations (MPs/g tissue) differed between processing levels, with highly-processed products containing significantly more MPs than minimally-processed products (p = 0.0049). There were no significant differences among the same product from different brands or store types. Integrating these results with protein consumption data from the American public, we estimate that the mean annual exposure of adults to MPs in these proteins is 11,000 ± 29,000 particles, with a maximum estimated exposure of 3.8 million MPs/year. These findings further inform estimations of human exposure to MPs, particularly from proteins which are important dietary staples in the U.S. Subsequent research should investigate additional drivers of MPs in the human diet, including other understudied food groups sourced from both within and outside the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine H Milne
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Hannah De Frond
- Ocean Conservancy, 1300 19th St NW 8th floor, Washington, DC, 20036, USA; University of Toronto Trash Team, Toronto, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; University of Toronto Trash Team, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Mallos
- Ocean Conservancy, 1300 19th St NW 8th floor, Washington, DC, 20036, USA
| | - George H Leonard
- Ocean Conservancy, 1300 19th St NW 8th floor, Washington, DC, 20036, USA
| | - Britta R Baechler
- Ocean Conservancy, 1300 19th St NW 8th floor, Washington, DC, 20036, USA.
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19
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Hsu YJ, Huang C, Lee M. Unveiling microplastic spectral signatures under weathering and digestive environments through shortwave infrared hyperspectral sensing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123106. [PMID: 38070648 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123106] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution presents a novel challenge for marine environmental protection, necessitating comprehensive and long-term monitoring and assessment approaches. Environmental MPs can undergo weathering and microorganism-related digestive processes, altering their original surface properties and chemical structure, thus complicating their quantification and identification. This study aims to establish a comprehensive hyperspectral database for weathered and digestion-degraded MPs, using a wide variety of polymer types collected as either virgin particles or commercial products (within a size range of approximately 3 mm), and to investigate the impact of these processes on their spectral characteristics. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) MPs exhibited significant responses to weathering treatment, as indicated by the formation of new characteristic peaks or slight peak shifts around 1679-1705 nm, which can be attributed to the formation of carbonyl and vinyl functional groups through Norrish reactions. Similarly, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polystyrene (PS) MPs demonstrated notable degradation following digestive treatment, as evidenced by the emergence of new absorption peaks at approximately 1135-1165 nm, possibly associated with alterations involving carbonyl and vinyl functional groups. The results were further validated based on their comparable spectral characteristics of the resultant MPs to reference polymers and possible additives, considering a reasonably accurate match of approximately 80% for the studied MP samples. This study showcases the significant advantage of using shortwave infrared hyperspectral sensing for rapid identification of virgin and exposed MPs with a relatively large scan area after a simple sample preparation. This approach, combined with other complementary characterization techniques, shall provide highly throughput results for MPs identification. This research provides valuable insights into the features extracted from environmental MPs and establishes a foundation for improving their classification efficiency for environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jhen Hsu
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chihchi Huang
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mengshan Lee
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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20
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Klasios N, Kim JO, Tseng M. No Effect of Realistic Concentrations of Polyester Microplastic Fibers on Freshwater Zooplankton Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:418-428. [PMID: 38018737 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5797] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Zooplankton are a conduit of energy from autotrophic phytoplankton to higher trophic levels, and they can be a primary point of entry of microplastics into the aquatic food chain. Investigating how zooplankton communities are affected by microplastic pollution is thus a key step toward understanding ecosystem-level effects of these global and ubiquitous contaminants. Although the number of studies investigating the biological effects of microplastics has grown exponentially in the last decade, the majority have used controlled laboratory experiments to quantify the impacts of microplastics on individual species. Given that all organisms live in multispecies communities in nature, we used an outdoor 1130-L mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of microplastic exposure on natural assemblages of zooplankton. We endeavored to simulate an environmentally relevant exposure scenario by manually creating approximately 270 000 0.015 × 1- to 1.5-mm polyester fibers and inoculating mesocosms with zero, low (10 particles/L), and high (50 particles/L) concentrations. We recorded zooplankton abundance and community composition three times throughout the 12-week study. We found no effect of microplastics on zooplankton abundance, Shannon diversity, or Pielou's evenness. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots also revealed no effects of microplastics on zooplankton community composition. Our study provides a necessary and realistic baseline on which future studies can build. Because numerous other stressors faced by zooplankton (e.g., food limitation, eutrophication, warming temperatures, pesticides) are likely to exacerbate the effects of microplastics, we caution against concluding that polyester microfibers will always have no effect on zooplankton communities. Instead, we encourage future studies to investigate the triple threats of habitat degradation, climate warming, and microplastic pollution on zooplankton community health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:418-428. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Klasios
- Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jihyun O Kim
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michelle Tseng
- Departments of Botany and Zoology, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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21
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Massardo S, Verzola D, Alberti S, Caboni C, Santostefano M, Eugenio Verrina E, Angeletti A, Lugani F, Ghiggeri GM, Bruschi M, Candiano G, Rumeo N, Gentile M, Cravedi P, La Maestra S, Zaza G, Stallone G, Esposito P, Viazzi F, Mancianti N, La Porta E, Artini C. MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108444. [PMID: 38281449 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
There is a growing concern within the medical community about the potential burden of microplastics on human organs and tissues. In this study, we investigated by microRaman spectroscopy the presence of microplastics in human kidneys and urine. Moreover, an open-access software was developed and validated for the project, which enabled the comparison between the investigated spectra and a self-created spectral database, thus enhancing the ability to characterize polymers and pigments in biological matrices. Healthy portions of ten kidneys obtained from nephrectomies, as well as ten urine samples from healthy donors were analyzed: 26 particles in both kidney and urine samples were identified, with sizes ranging from 3 to 13 μm in urine and from 1 to 29 μm in kidneys. The most frequently determined polymers are polyethylene and polystyrene, while the most common pigments are hematite and Cu-phthalocyanine. This preclinical study proves the presence of microplastics in renal tissues and confirms their presence in urine, providing the first evidence of kidney microplastics deposition in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Massardo
- DCCI, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Verzola
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefano Alberti
- DCCI, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudia Caboni
- DCCI, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Eugenio Verrina
- UOC Nephrology IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; UOSD Dialysis IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- UOC Nephrology IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Lugani
- UOC Nephrology IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Ghiggeri
- UOC Nephrology IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Bruschi
- Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Candiano
- Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Noemi Rumeo
- Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Micaela Gentile
- Division of Nephrology, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; UO Nefrologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Division of Nephrology, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Gianluigi Zaza
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University/Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stallone
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University/Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Pasquale Esposito
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Viazzi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Mancianti
- Department of Emergency-Urgency and Transplantation, Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Edoardo La Porta
- UOC Nephrology IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; UOSD Dialysis IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Cristina Artini
- DCCI, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy; Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, CNR-ICMATE, Genoa, Italy
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22
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Chen M, Coleman B, Gaburici L, Prezgot D, Jakubek ZJ, Sivarajah B, Vermaire JC, Lapen DR, Velicogna JR, Princz JI, Provencher JF, Zou S. Identification of microplastics extracted from field soils amended with municipal biosolids. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168007. [PMID: 37871825 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168007] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic particles in arable soil are expected to impact the environment and potentially human health. The application of municipal biosolids (MBs) to agricultural land presents a further dilemma in that biosolids act as a fertilizer for crop growth, and a disposal pathway for wastewater treatment plants. They are also a direct path for emerging contaminants, such as microplastics to enter the terrestrial environment. Reliable methods are needed to identify and quantify microplastics, found in agricultural soils to determine how microplastics are being cycled in the terrestrial environment. In this study, we developed a method for extracting microplastics from soil, and characterized their composition and identity for particles sized 5 μm to 2 mm. Method development was initially completed using natural soils spiked with microplastics and MBs, followed by the analyses of soil sampled from an agricultural field where MBs were recently applied at a rate of 13 tons dw/ha. The procedures that used the spiked samples showed that microplastics can be reliably extracted from soil in a laboratory setting, and identified and semi-quantified by thermogravimetric analysis combined with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). However, when the same methods were applied to the soil samples collected from the agricultural field, reproducibility became a challenge, as the number and type of microplastics changed even within the same soils (i.e., collected the same day from the same exact location). The variation in reproducibility observed between laboratory and field samples underscores the significant heterogeneity present in the environment. This heterogeneity, in turn, affects the identification and quantity of microplastics detected, a phenomenon observed even when comparing different fields within a single treatment regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maohui Chen
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Coleman
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Liliana Gaburici
- Security and Disruptive Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Prezgot
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zygmunt J Jakubek
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Branaavan Sivarajah
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David R Lapen
- Ottawa Research Development Centre, Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica R Velicogna
- Biological Assessment and Standardization Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juliska I Princz
- Biological Assessment and Standardization Section, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shan Zou
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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23
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Miranda CODE, Schaefer CEGR, Souza JJLLDE, Guimarães LM, Maia PVS, Sul JAIDO. Low numbers of large microplastics on environmentally-protected Antarctic beaches reveals no widespread contamination: insights into beach sedimentary dynamics. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20230283. [PMID: 38088640 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous contaminants of marine ecosystems around the world and Antarctica is no exception. Microplastics can be influenced by sedimentary dynamics mainly on coastal areas where they are more abundant in Antarctica. This study evaluated microplastic contamination in beach environments from two Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, aiming to identify relationships between microplastic numbers and sedimentological parameters on beach sediments. Low numbers of microplastics were found (> 0.5 mm; fibers excluded) - one particle per sample in 4 of 15 samples analyzed - and there is no evidence of widespread contamination. Sedimentological parameters reveal differences between sampled environments, but low numbers of microplastics impaired statistical comparison. All sediment samples are coarse, denoting highenergy depositional environments that are likely little susceptible to microplastic accumulation. Microplastic contamination in the Antarctic coastal ecosystem is heterogeneous, and their detailed characterization assisted by a systematization of methods can improve the understanding of microplastics distribution patterns in the cold coastal ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caik O DE Miranda
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos, Edifício Sylvio Starling Brandão, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ernesto G R Schaefer
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos, Edifício Sylvio Starling Brandão, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - José João L L DE Souza
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Solos, Edifício Sylvio Starling Brandão, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciano M Guimarães
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Paulo Victor S Maia
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
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24
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Xie L, Luo S, Liu Y, Ruan X, Gong K, Ge Q, Li K, Valev VK, Liu G, Zhang L. Automatic Identification of Individual Nanoplastics by Raman Spectroscopy Based on Machine Learning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:18203-18214. [PMID: 37399235 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of nanoplastics in the environment underscores the need for effective detection and monitoring techniques. Current methods mainly focus on microplastics, while accurate identification of nanoplastics is challenging due to their small size and complex composition. In this work, we combined highly reflective substrates and machine learning to accurately identify nanoplastics using Raman spectroscopy. Our approach established Raman spectroscopy data sets of nanoplastics, incorporated peak extraction and retention data processing, and constructed a random forest model that achieved an average accuracy of 98.8% in identifying nanoplastics. We validated our method with tap water spiked samples, achieving over 97% identification accuracy, and demonstrated the applicability of our algorithm to real-world environmental samples through experiments on rainwater, detecting nanoscale polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Despite the challenges of processing low-quality nanoplastic Raman spectra and complex environmental samples, our study demonstrated the potential of using random forests to identify and distinguish nanoplastics from other environmental particles. Our results suggest that the combination of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning holds promise for developing effective nanoplastic particle detection and monitoring strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Xie
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Siheng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Ruan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Kedong Gong
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Qiuyue Ge
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Kejian Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Ventsislav Kolev Valev
- Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials and Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Guokun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Liwu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
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25
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Beriot N, Zornoza R, Lwanga EH, Zomer P, van Schothorst B, Ozbolat O, Lloret E, Ortega R, Miralles I, Harkes P, van Steenbrugge J, Geissen V. Intensive vegetable production under plastic mulch: A field study on soil plastic and pesticide residues and their effects on the soil microbiome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165179. [PMID: 37385505 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Intensive agriculture relies on external inputs to reach high productivity and profitability. Plastic mulch, mainly in the form of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), is widely used in agriculture to decrease evaporation, increase soil temperature and prevent weeds. The incomplete removal of LDPE mulch after use causes plastic contamination in agricultural soils. In conventional agriculture, the use of pesticides also leaves residues accumulating in soils. Thus, the objective of this study was to measure plastic and pesticide residues in agricultural soils and their effects on the soil microbiome. For this, we sampled soil (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) from 18 parcels from 6 vegetable farms in SE Spain. The farms were under either organic or conventional management, where plastic mulch had been used for >25 years. We measured the macro- and micro-light density plastic debris contents, the pesticide residue levels, and a range of physiochemical properties. We also carried out DNA sequencing on the soil fungal and bacterial communities. Plastic debris (>100 μm) was found in all samples with an average number of 2 × 103 particles kg-1 and area of 60 cm2 kg-1. We found 4-10 different pesticide residues in all conventional soils, for an average of 140 μg kg-1. Overall, pesticide content was ∼100 times lower in organic farms. The soil microbiomes were farm-specific and related to different soil physicochemical parameters and contaminants. Regarding contaminants, bacterial communities responded to the total pesticide residues, the fungicide Azoxystrobin and the insecticide Chlorantraniliprole as well as the plastic area. The fungicide Boscalid was the only contaminant to influence the fungal community. The wide spread of plastic and pesticide residues in agricultural soil and their effects on soil microbial communities may impact crop production and other environmental services. More studies are required to evaluate the total costs of intensive agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Beriot
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands; Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Raúl Zornoza
- Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Esperanza Huerta Lwanga
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands; Agroecologia, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Campeche, Mexico
| | - Paul Zomer
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, PO. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Benjamin van Schothorst
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Onurcan Ozbolat
- Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Eva Lloret
- Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
| | - Raúl Ortega
- Department of Agronomy & Center for Intensive Mediterranean Agrosystems and Agri-food Biotechnology (CIAIMBITAL), University of Almeria, E-04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Isabel Miralles
- Department of Agronomy & Center for Intensive Mediterranean Agrosystems and Agri-food Biotechnology (CIAIMBITAL), University of Almeria, E-04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Paula Harkes
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Joris van Steenbrugge
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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26
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Lee S, Jeong H, Hong SM, Yun D, Lee J, Kim E, Cho KH. Automatic classification of microplastics and natural organic matter mixtures using a deep learning model. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 246:120710. [PMID: 37857009 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Several preprocessing procedures are required for the classification of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic systems using spectroscopic analysis. Procedures such as oxidation, which are employed to remove natural organic matter (NOM) from MPs, can be time- and cost-intensive. Furthermore, the identification process is prone to errors due to the subjective judgment of the operators. Therefore, in this study, deep learning (DL) was applied to improve the classification accuracies for mixtures of microplastic and natural organic matter (MP-NOM). A convolutional neural network (CNN)-based DL model with a spatial attention mechanism was adopted to classify substances from their Raman spectra. Subsequently, the classification results were compared with those obtained using conventional Raman spectral library software to evaluate the applicability of the model. Additionally, the crucial spectral band for training the DL model was investigated by applying gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) as a post-processing technique. The model achieved an accuracy of 99.54%, which is much higher than the 31.44% achieved by the Raman spectral library. The Grad-CAM approach confirmed that the DL model can effectively identify MPs based on their visually prominent peaks in the Raman spectra. Furthermore, by tracking distinctive spectra without relying solely on visually prominent peaks, we can accurately classify MPs with less prominent peaks, which are characterized by a high standard deviation of intensity. These findings demonstrate the potential for automated and objective classification of MPs without the need for NOM preprocessing, indicating a promising direction for future research in microplastic classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyeon Lee
- Department of Civil Urban Earth and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Heewon Jeong
- Department of Civil Urban Earth and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Min Hong
- Department of Civil Urban Earth and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Daeun Yun
- Department of Civil Urban Earth and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiye Lee
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, United States
| | - Eunju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Cho
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Repulic of Korea.
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27
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Kumar K, Umapathi R, Ghoreishian SM, Tiwari JN, Hwang SK, Huh YS, Venkatesu P, Shetti NP, Aminabhavi TM. Microplastics and biobased polymers to combat plastics waste. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140000. [PMID: 37652244 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140000] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have become the major global concern due to their adverse effects on the environment, human health, and hygiene. These complex molecules have numerous toxic impacts on human well-being. This review focuses on the methods for chemically quantifying and identifying MPs in real-time samples, as well as the detrimental effects resulting from exposure to them. Biopolymers offer promising solutions for reducing the environmental impact caused by persistent plastic pollution. The review also examines the significant progress achieved in the preparation and modification of various biobased polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), lignin-based polymers, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), which hold promise for addressing the challenges associated with unplanned plastic waste disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishan Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India; NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Reddicherla Umapathi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India; NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Seyed Majid Ghoreishian
- NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Jitendra N Tiwari
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, 100-715, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Kyu Hwang
- NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Suk Huh
- NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea.
| | | | - Nagaraj P Shetti
- Center for Energy and Environment, School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Vidyanagar, Hubballi, 580 031, Karnataka, India; University Center for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, 140413, Panjab, India
| | - Tejraj M Aminabhavi
- Center for Energy and Environment, School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Vidyanagar, Hubballi, 580 031, Karnataka, India; University Center for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, 140413, Panjab, India.
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28
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Davidson J, Arienzo MM, Harrold Z, West C, Bandala ER, Easler S, Senft K. Polymer Characterization of Submerged Plastic Litter from Lake Tahoe, United States. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 77:1240-1252. [PMID: 37731356 PMCID: PMC10604391 DOI: 10.1177/00037028231201174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring plastic litter in the environment is critical to understanding the amount, sources, transport, fate, and environmental impact of this pollutant. However, few studies have monitored plastic litter on lakebeds which are potentially important environments for determining the fate and transport of plastic litter in freshwater basins. In this study, a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus was used for litter collection at the lakebed along five transects in Lake Tahoe, United States. Litter was brought to the surface and characterized by litter type. Plastic litter was subsampled, and polymer composition was determined using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average plastic litter from the lakebed for the five dive transects was 83 ± 49 items per kilometer. The top plastic litter categories were other plastic litter (plastic litter that did not fall in another category), followed by food containers, bottles <2 L, plastic bags, and toys. These results are in line with prior studies on submerged litter, and intervention approaches or ongoing education are needed. The six polymers most frequently detected in the subsamples were polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene/expanded polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate/polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide. These observations reflect global plastic production and microplastic studies from lake surface water and sediments. We found that some litter subcategories were primarily comprised of a single polymer type, therefore, in studies where the polymer type cannot be measured but litter is categorized, these results could provide an estimate of the total polymer composition for select litter categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Davidson
- Desert Research Institute, Northern Nevada Science Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Monica M Arienzo
- Desert Research Institute, Northern Nevada Science Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Zoe Harrold
- Clear Horizons Consulting, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Colin West
- Clean Up the Cayes, DBA Clean Up the Lake, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| | - Erick R Bandala
- Desert Research Institute, Southern Nevada Science Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Sadye Easler
- Clean Up the Cayes, DBA Clean Up the Lake, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| | - Katie Senft
- University of California, Davis, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
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Merrill GB, Hermabessiere L, Rochman CM, Nowacek DP. Microplastics in marine mammal blubber, melon, & other tissues: Evidence of translocation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122252. [PMID: 37541381 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals consume large quantities of microplastic particles, likely via trophic transfer (i.e., through prey who have consumed plastic) and direct consumption from seawater or sediment. Microplastics have been found in the stomachs, gastro-intestinal tracts, and feces of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Translocation of ingested microplastics has been documented in other organs of several aquatic species, but has not been examined in marine mammals. Marine mammals have highly specialized lipid-rich tissues which may increase susceptibility to lipophilic microplastics. Here we demonstrate the occurrence of microplastics, ranging in size, mass concentration, and particle count concentration from 24.4 μm - 1387 μm, 0.59 μg/g - 25.20 μg/g, and 0.04 - 0.39 particles/g, respectively, in four tissues (acoustic fat pad, blubber, lung, & melon) from twelve marine mammal species inclusive of mysticetes, odontocetes, and phocids. Twenty-two individuals were examined for microplastics using a combination of Raman spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Overall, 68% of individuals had at least one microplastic particle in at least one of the four tissue types, with the most common polymer and shape observed being polyethylene and fibers, respectively. These findings suggest some proportion of ingested microplastics translocate throughout marine mammal bodies posing an exposure risk to both marine mammals and people. For people, exposure could be directly through consumption for those who rely on marine mammals as food and indirectly to peoples globally who consume the same prey resources as marine mammals. Some individuals examined represent samples obtained over two decades ago, suggesting that this process, and thus exposure risk, has occurred for some time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg B Merrill
- Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, United States.
| | - Ludovic Hermabessiere
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, United States
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30
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Ertel BM, Weinstein JE, Gray AD. Rising seas and roadway debris: Microplastic and low-density tire wear particles in street-associated tidal floodwater. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115502. [PMID: 37690408 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Tidal flooding is increasingly common in low-lying coastal regions as sea levels rise. This type of flooding can occur on sunny days with no rainfall and may transport street-associated debris, such as microplastics (MPs) including tire wear particles (TWPs), to coastal systems. This research aimed to quantify MP abundance in tidal floodwater and investigate their fate. Three locations around Charleston, SC (USA) were sampled during 12 tidal floods, and their adjacent tidal creeks were sampled before and after 5 floods. Floodwater contained an average of 342 ± 60 MP/L. Most MPs in floodwater were low-density TWP (86.5 %). MP abundance in tidal creek surface water following flooding did not change, suggesting that MPs were not immediately transferred to coastal waterways but deposited in adjacent marsh sediment. Elucidating transport routes of MPs in coastal environments is critical to understanding and preventing this type of contamination in the face of a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie M Ertel
- Department of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
| | - John E Weinstein
- Department of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, USA
| | - Austin D Gray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 926 W Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
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31
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Weingrill RB, Lee MJ, Benny P, Riel J, Saiki K, Garcia J, de Magalhaes Oliveira LFA, da Silva Fonseca EJ, de Souza ST, de Oliveira Silva D’Amato F, Silva UR, Dutra ML, Marques ALX, Borbely AU, Urschitz J. Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawai'i. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108220. [PMID: 37741006 PMCID: PMC10593309 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the temporal exposures to plastic pollution in Hawai'i and noted a significant increase in the accumulation of microplastics in discarded placentas over the past 15 years, with changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers. These findings provide a rare insight into the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Island residents to plastic pollution and illustrate how discarded human tissues can be used as an innovative environmental plastic pollution monitoring system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Men-Jean Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Paula Benny
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Jonathan Riel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Kevin Saiki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Jacob Garcia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ueslen Rocha Silva
- Physics Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Mariana Lima Dutra
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Urban Borbely
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Johann Urschitz
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Noonan MJ, Grechi N, Mills CL, de A. M. M. Ferraz M. Microplastics analytics: why we should not underestimate the importance of blank controls. MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS 2023; 3:17. [PMID: 37533492 PMCID: PMC10390371 DOI: 10.1186/s43591-023-00065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have seen considerable scientific attention devoted towards documenting the presence of microplastics (MPs) in environmental samples. Due to omnipresence of environmental microplastics, however, disentangling environmental MPs from sample contamination is a challenge. Hence, the environmental (collection site and laboratory) microplastics contamination of samples during processing is a reality that we must address, in order to generate reproducible and reliable data. Here we investigated published literature and have found that around 1/5 of studies failed to use blank controls in their experiments. Additionally, only 34% of the studies used a controlled air environment for their sample processing (laminar flow, fume hood, closed laboratory, clean room, etc.). In that regard, we have also shown that preparing samples in the fume hood, leads to more microplastics > 1 μm) contamination than preparing it in the laboratory bench and the laminar flow. Although it did not completely prevent microplastics contamination, the processing of sample inside the laminar flow is the best option to reduce sample contamination during processing. Overall, we showed that blank controls are a must in microplastics sample preparation, but it is often overlooked by researchers. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43591-023-00065-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Noonan
- The Irving K. Barber School of Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7 Canada
| | - Nicole Grechi
- Clinic of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Sonnenstr. 16, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Feodor-Lynen Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - C. Lauren Mills
- The Irving K. Barber School of Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7 Canada
| | - Marcia de A. M. M. Ferraz
- Clinic of Ruminants, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Sonnenstr. 16, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Feodor-Lynen Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Munno K, Lusher AL, Minor EC, Gray A, Ho K, Hankett J, T Lee CF, Primpke S, McNeish RE, Wong CS, Rochman C. Patterns of microparticles in blank samples: A study to inform best practices for microplastic analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 333:138883. [PMID: 37169088 PMCID: PMC11181520 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) techniques are critical to analytical chemistry, and thus the analysis of microplastics. Procedural blanks are a key component of QA/QC for quantifying and characterizing background contamination. Although procedural blanks are becoming increasingly common in microplastics research, how researchers acquire a blank and report and/or use blank contamination data varies. Here, we use the results of laboratory procedural blanks from a method evaluation study to inform QA/QC procedures for microplastics quantification and characterization. Suspected microplastic contamination in the procedural blanks, collected by 12 participating laboratories, had between 7 and 511 particles, with a mean of 80 particles per sample (±SD 134). The most common color and morphology reported were black fibers, and the most common size fraction reported was 20-212 μm. The lack of even smaller particles is likely due to limits of detection versus lack of contamination, as very few labs reported particles <20 μm. Participating labs used a range of QA/QC techniques, including air filtration, filtered water, and working in contained/'enclosed' environments. Our analyses showed that these procedures did not significantly affect blank contamination. To inform blank subtraction, several subtraction methods were tested. No clear pattern based on total recovery was observed. Despite our results, we recommend commonly accepted procedures such as thorough training and cleaning procedures, air filtration, filtered water (e.g., MilliQ, deionized or reverse osmosis), non-synthetic clothing policies and 'enclosed' air flow systems (e.g., clean cabinet). We also recommend blank subtracting by a combination of particle characteristics (color, morphology and size fraction), as it likely provides final microplastic particle characteristics that are most representative of the sample. Further work should be done to assess other QA/QC parameters, such as the use of other types of blanks (e.g., field blanks, matrix blanks) and limits of detection and quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Amy L Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway; University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Elizabeth C Minor
- Large Lakes Observatory and Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Andrew Gray
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Kay Ho
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Jeanne Hankett
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, USA
| | - Chih-Fen T Lee
- Water Quality Laboratory, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, La Verne, CA, 91750, United States
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Rachel E McNeish
- Department of Biology, California State University, 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Chelsea Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Gong L, Martinez O, Mesquita P, Kurtz K, Xu Y, Lin Y. A microfluidic approach for label-free identification of small-sized microplastics in seawater. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11011. [PMID: 37419935 PMCID: PMC10329028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37900-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine microplastics are emerging as a growing environmental concern due to their potential harm to marine biota. The substantial variations in their physical and chemical properties pose a significant challenge when it comes to sampling and characterizing small-sized microplastics. In this study, we introduce a novel microfluidic approach that simplifies the trapping and identification process of microplastics in surface seawater, eliminating the need for labeling. We examine various models, including support vector machine, random forest, convolutional neural network (CNN), and residual neural network (ResNet34), to assess their performance in identifying 11 common plastics. Our findings reveal that the CNN method outperforms the other models, achieving an impressive accuracy of 93% and a mean area under the curve of 98 ± 0.02%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miniaturized devices can effectively trap and identify microplastics smaller than 50 µm. Overall, this proposed approach facilitates efficient sampling and identification of small-sized microplastics, potentially contributing to crucial long-term monitoring and treatment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Gong
- Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Omar Martinez
- Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Pedro Mesquita
- Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Kayla Kurtz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Computer Science, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yang Lin
- Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.
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35
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Astner AF, Gillmore AB, Yu Y, Flury M, DeBruyn JM, Schaeffer SM, Hayes DG. Formation, behavior, properties and impact of micro- and nanoplastics on agricultural soil ecosystems (A Review). NANOIMPACT 2023; 31:100474. [PMID: 37419450 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2023.100474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Micro and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs, respectively) in agricultural soil ecosystems represent a pervasive global environmental concern, posing risks to soil biota, hence soil health and food security. This review provides a comprehensive and current summary of the literature on sources and properties of MNPs in agricultural ecosystems, methodology for the isolation and characterization of MNPs recovered from soil, MNP surrogate materials that mimic the size and properties of soil-borne MNPs, and transport of MNPs through the soil matrix. Furthermore, this review elucidates the impacts and risks of agricultural MNPs on crops and soil microorganisms and fauna. A significant source of MPs in soil is plasticulture, involving the use of mulch films and other plastic-based implements to provide several agronomic benefits for specialty crop production, while other sources of MPs include irrigation water and fertilizer. Long-term studies are needed to address current knowledge gaps of formation, soil surface and subsurface transport, and environmental impacts of MNPs, including for MNPs derived from biodegradable mulch films, which, although ultimately undergoing complete mineralization, will reside in soil for several months. Because of the complexity and variability of agricultural soil ecosystems and the difficulty in recovering MNPs from soil, a deeper understanding is needed for the fundamental relationships between MPs, NPs, soil biota and microbiota, including ecotoxicological effects of MNPs on earthworms, soil-dwelling invertebrates, and beneficial soil microorganisms, and soil geochemical attributes. In addition, the geometry, size distribution, fundamental and chemical properties, and concentration of MNPs contained in soils are required to develop surrogate MNP reference materials that can be used across laboratories for conducting fundamental laboratory studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton F Astner
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4531, United States of America
| | - Alexis B Gillmore
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4531, United States of America
| | - Yingxue Yu
- Department of Crops and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, and Puyallup, WA 98371, United States of America
| | - Markus Flury
- Department of Crops and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, and Puyallup, WA 98371, United States of America
| | - Jennifer M DeBruyn
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4531, United States of America
| | - Sean M Schaeffer
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4531, United States of America
| | - Douglas G Hayes
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4531, United States of America.
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36
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Fang C, Luo Y, Naidu R. Super-resolution imaging of micro- and nanoplastics using confocal Raman with Gaussian surface fitting and deconvolution. Talanta 2023; 265:124886. [PMID: 37392706 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124886] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Confocal Raman imaging can directly identify and visualise microplastics and even nanoplastics. However, due to diffraction, the excitation laser spot has a size, which defines the image resolution. Consequently, it is difficult to image nanoplastic that is smaller than the diffraction limit. Within the laser spot, fortunately, the excitation energy density behaves an axially transcended distribution, or a 2D Gaussian distribution. By mapping the emission intensity of Raman signal, the imaged nanoplastic pattern is axially transcended as well and can be fitted as a 2D Gaussian surface via deconvolution, to re-construct the Raman image. The image re-construction can intentionally and selectively pick up the weak signal of nanoplastics, average the background noise/the variation of the Raman intensity, smoothen the image surface and re-focus the mapped pattern towards signal enhancement. Using this approach, along with nanoplastics models with known size for validation, real samples are also tested to image microplastics and nanoplastics released from the bushfire-burned face masks and water tanks. Even the bushfire-deviated surface group can be visualised as well, to monitor the different degrees of burning by visualising micro- and nanoplastics. Overall, this approach can effectively image regular shape of micro- and nanoplastics, capture nanoplastics smaller than the diffraction limit, and realise super-resolution imaging via confocal Raman.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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Rowlands E, Galloway T, Cole M, Peck VL, Posacka A, Thorpe S, Manno C. Vertical flux of microplastic, a case study in the Southern Ocean, South Georgia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115117. [PMID: 37331275 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Estimated plastic debris floating at the ocean surface varies depending on modelling approaches, with some suggesting unaccounted sinks for marine plastic debris due to mismatches between plastic predicted to enter the ocean and that accounted for at the surface. A major knowledge gap relates to the vertical sinking of oceanic plastic. We used an array of floating sediment traps combined with optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to measure the microplastic flux between 50 and 150 m water depth over 24 h within a natural harbour of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. This region is influenced by fishing, tourism, and research activity. We found a 69 % decrease in microplastic flux from 50 m (306 pieces/m2/day) to 150 m (94pieces/m2/day). Our study confirms the occurrence of a vertical flux of microplastic in the upper water column of the Southern Ocean, which may influence zooplankton microplastic consumption and the carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rowlands
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Streatham Campus, Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4PY, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Tamara Galloway
- University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Streatham Campus, Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4PY, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Matthew Cole
- Plymouth marine laboratory, Prospect Pl, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Victoria L Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Anna Posacka
- Ocean Diagnostics, Suite 1102, 4464 Markham Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, Canada
| | - Sally Thorpe
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Clara Manno
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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38
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Villafañe AB, Ronda AC, Rodríguez Pirani LS, Picone AL, Lucchi LD, Romano RM, Pereyra MT, Arias AH. Microplastics and anthropogenic debris in rainwater from Bahia Blanca, Argentina. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17028. [PMID: 37383205 PMCID: PMC10293668 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Concern about atmospheric microplastic (MP) contamination has increased in recent years. This study assessed the abundance of airborne anthropogenic particles, including MPs, deposited in rainfall in Bahia Blanca, southwest Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rainwater samples were collected monthly from March to December 2021 using an active wet-only collector consisting of a glass funnel and a PVC pipe that is only open during rain events. Results obtained show that all rain samples contained anthropogenic debris. The term "anthropogenic debris" is used to refer to the total number of particles as not all the particles found could be determined as plastic. Among all the samples, an average deposition of 77 ± 29 items (anthropogenic debris) m-2d-1 was found. The highest deposition was observed in November (148 items m-2d-1) while the lowest was found in March (46 items m-2d-1). Anthropogenic debris ranged in size from 0.1 mm to 3.87 mm with the most abundant particles being smaller than 1 mm (77.8%). The dominant form of particles found were fibers (95%), followed by fragments (3.1%). Blue color predominated (37.2%) in the total number of samples, followed by light blue (23.3%) and black (21.7%). Further, small particles (<2 mm), apparently composed of mineral material and plastic fibers, were recognized. The chemical composition of suspected MPs was examined by Raman microscopy. The analysis of μ-Raman spectra confirmed the presence of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene vinyl acetate fibers and provided evidence of fibers containing industrial additives such as indigo dye. This is the first assessment of MP pollution in rain in Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Belén Villafañe
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana C. Ronda
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lucas S. Rodríguez Pirani
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata (1900), Argentina
| | - A. Lorena Picone
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata (1900), Argentina
| | - Leandro D. Lucchi
- Comité Técnico Ejecutivo, Municipalidad de Bahía Blanca, Av. Gral. San Martín 3474 , Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Rosana M. Romano
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata (1900), Argentina
| | - Marcelo T. Pereyra
- INQUISUR-Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1253, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Andrés H. Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1253, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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El Khatib D, Langknecht TD, Cashman MA, Reiss M, Somers K, Allen H, Ho KT, Burgess RM. Assessment of filter subsampling and extrapolation for quantifying microplastics in environmental samples using Raman spectroscopy. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115073. [PMID: 37245322 PMCID: PMC10368175 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A common method for characterizing microplastics (MPs) involves capturing the plastic particles on a filter after extraction and isolation from the sediment particles. Microplastics captured on the filter are then scanned with Raman spectroscopy for polymer identification and quantification. However, scanning the whole filter manually using Raman analysis is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. This study investigates a subsampling method for Raman spectroscopic analysis of microplastics (operationally defined here as 45-1000 μm in size) present in sediments and isolated onto laboratory filters. The method was evaluated using spiked MPs in deionized water and two environmentally contaminated sediments. Based on statistical analyses, we found quantification of a sub-fraction of 12.5 % of the filter in a wedge form was optimal, efficient, and accurate for estimating the entire filter count. The extrapolation method was then used to assess microplastic contamination in sediments from different marine regions of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dounia El Khatib
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Troy D Langknecht
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Michaela A Cashman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Mark Reiss
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, Water Division, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Somers
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, Water Division, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Harry Allen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kay T Ho
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Robert M Burgess
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, USA.
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Kelleher L, Schneidewind U, Krause S, Haverson L, Allen S, Allen D, Kukkola A, Murray-Hudson M, Maselli V, Franchi F. Microplastic accumulation in endorheic river basins - The example of the Okavango Panhandle (Botswana). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162452. [PMID: 36870500 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The Okavango Panhandle is the main influent watercourse of the Okavango Delta, an inland sink of the entire sediment load of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin (CORB). The sources of pollution in the CORB, and other endorheic basins, are largely understudied when compared to exorheic systems and the world's oceans. We present the first study of the distribution of microplastic (MP) pollution in surface sediments of the Okavango Panhandle in Northern Botswana. MP concentrations (64 μm-5 mm size range) in sediment samples from the Panhandle range between 56.7 and 399.5 particles kg-1 (dry weight) when analysed with fluorescence microscopy. The concentrations of MP in the 20 μm to 5 mm grain size range (analysed with Raman spectroscopy) range between 1075.7 and 1756.3 particles kg-1. One shallow core (15 cm long) from an oxbow lake suggests that MP size decreases with depth while MP concentration increases downcore. Raman Spectroscopy revealed that the compositions of the MP are dominated by polyethene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). From this novel data set it was possible to estimate that 10.9-336.2 billion particles could be transported into the Okavango Delta annually, indicating that the region represents a significant sink for MP, raising concerns for the unique wetland ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Kelleher
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, B15 2SA Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Uwe Schneidewind
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom.
| | - Stefan Krause
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, B15 2SA Birmingham, United Kingdom; LEHNA- Laboratoire d'ecologie des hydrosystemes naturels et anthropises, University of Lyon, Darwin C & Forel, 3-6 Rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Lee Haverson
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Allen
- Ocean Frontiers Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Deonie Allen
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom; School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Anna Kukkola
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vittorio Maselli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Fulvio Franchi
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private bag 16, Palapye, Botswana.
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41
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Gallitelli L, Cesarini G, Sodo A, Cera A, Scalici M. Life on bottles: Colonisation of macroplastics by freshwater biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162349. [PMID: 36813195 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While rivers are known to be the main vectors of plastics to the sea, it seems surprising that studies on interactions (e.g. colonisation/entrapment and drift) between macroplastics and biota continue to remain largely neglected, notwithstanding they represent unexpected threats to freshwater biota and riverine habitats. To fill these gaps, here we focused on the colonisation of plastic bottles by freshwater biota. To do so, we collected 100 plastic bottles from the River Tiber in summer 2021. Overall, 95 bottles were colonised externally and 23 internally. Specifically, biota mainly occurred within and outside the bottles rather than plastic pieces and organic debris. Moreover, while bottles were externally covered mainly by vegetal organisms (i.e. macrophytes), they internally entrapped more animal organisms (i.e. invertebrates). The taxa most occurring within and outside the bottles belonged to pool and low water quality-associated taxa (e.g. Lemna sp., Gastropoda, and Diptera). In addition to biota and organic debris, plastic particles also occurred on bottles reporting the first observation of 'metaplastics' (i.e. plastics encrusted on bottles). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the colonising taxa abundance and the bottle degree degradation. In this regard, we discussed how bottle buoyancy may change due to the organic matter on the bottle, affecting bottle sinking and transport along rivers. Our findings might be crucial for understanding the underrepresented topic of riverine plastics and their colonisation by biota, given that these plastics may act as vectors and cause biogeographical, environmental, and conservation issues to freshwater habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - G Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - A Sodo
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - A Cera
- Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University, 1088 Komaki, Ueda, Nagano 386-0031, Japan
| | - M Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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42
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Bergmann M, Allen S, Krumpen T, Allen D. High Levels of Microplastics in the Arctic Sea Ice Alga Melosira arctica, a Vector to Ice-Associated and Benthic Food Webs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6799-6807. [PMID: 37083047 PMCID: PMC10157888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous with very high quantities detected even in ecosystems as remote as Arctic sea ice and deep-sea sediments. Ice algae growing underneath sea ice are released upon melting and can form fast-sinking aggregates. In this pilot study, we sampled and analyzed the ice algaeMelosira arcticaand ambient sea water from three locations in the Fram Strait to assess their microplastic content and potential as a temporary sink and pathway to the deep seafloor. Analysis by μ-Raman and fluorescence microscopy detected microplastics (≥2.2 μm) in all samples at concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 5.7 × 104 microplastics (MP) m-3 in ice algae and from 1.4 to 4.5 × 103 MP m-3 in sea water, indicating magnitude higher concentrations in algae. On average, 94% of the total microplastic particles were identified as 10 μm or smaller in size and comprised 16 polymer types without a clear dominance. The high concentrations of microplastics found in our pilot study suggest thatM. arctica could trap microplastics from melting ice and ambient sea water. The algae appear to be a temporary sink and could act as a key vector to food webs near the sea surface and on the deep seafloor, to which its fast-sinking aggregates could facilitate an important mechanism of transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Bergmann
- HGF-MPG Group for Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Steve Allen
- Ocean Frontiers Institute, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2 Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Thomas Krumpen
- Sea Ice Physics, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Deonie Allen
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, U. K
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, 8041 Christchurch, New Zealand
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43
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Sánchez-García N, Sanz-Lázaro C. Darwin's paradise contaminated by marine debris. Understanding their sources and accumulation dynamics. ☆. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 324:121310. [PMID: 36804143 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121310] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat. Remote and pristine islands are not safe from this threat. Here, we estimated beach macro- (>25 mm), meso- (5-25 mm) and microdebris (<5 mm) levels in Galapagos and studied the role of environmental variables determining their accumulation. The vast majority of beach macro- and mesodebris were plastic, while most microdebris were cellulosic. The levels of beach macro-, meso- and microplastics were notably high and comparable with exceptional levels reported in contaminated areas. Oceanic currents and the anthropic pressure of use of the beach were the main factors that determined the level of macro- and mesoplastics, as well as the diversity of items, with more types of items in the beaches facing the predominant current. Microplastic levels were mainly driven by the slope and, to some extent, the grain size of the sediment in the beach. The absence of relationship between the levels of large size debris and the level of microplastics suggests that secondary microplastics that accumulated in the beaches were previously fragmented before arriving to the beach. This differential influence of environmental factors in the accumulation of marine debris according to their size should be taken into account when developing strategies to mitigate plastic pollution. Additionally, this study reports high levels of marine debris reported in a remote and protected area such as Galapagos, which are comparable to areas with direct sources of marine debris. This is especially worrying for Galapagos since the sampled beaches are cleaned at least annually. This fact highlights the global dimension of this environmental threat that demands further extensive international commitment to conserve some of the last paradises on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Sánchez-García
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain; Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Carlos Sanz-Lázaro
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain; Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
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44
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Thiele CJ, Grange LJ, Haggett E, Hudson MD, Hudson P, Russell AE, Zapata-Restrepo LM. Microplastics in European sea salts - An example of exposure through consumer choice and of interstudy methodological discrepancies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 255:114782. [PMID: 36934543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114782] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are contaminants of emerging concern, not least due to their global presence in marine surface waters. Unsurprisingly, microplastics have been reported in salts harvested from numerous locations. We extracted microplastics from 13 European sea salts through 30% H2O2 digestion and filtration over 5-µm filters. Filters were visually inspected at magnifications to x100. A subsample of potential microplastics was subjected to Raman spectroscopy. Particle mass was estimated, and human dose exposure calculated. After blank corrections, median concentrations were 466 ± 152 microplastics kg-1 ranging from 74 to 1155 items kg-1. Traditionally harvested salts contained fewer microplastics than most industrially harvested ones (t-test, p < 0.01). Approximately 14 µg of microplastics (< 12 particles) may be absorbed by the human body annually, of which a quarter may derive from a consumer choosing sea salt. We reviewed existing studies, showing that targeting different particle sizes and incomplete filtrations hinder interstudy comparison, indicating the importance of method harmonisation for future studies. Excess salt consumption is detrimental to human health; the hazardousness of ingesting microplastics on the other hand has yet to be shown. A portion of microplastics may enter sea salts through production processes rather than source materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Thiele
- Centre for Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Laura J Grange
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Currently at School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Emily Haggett
- Centre for Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Malcolm D Hudson
- Centre for Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Philippa Hudson
- Philippa Hudson, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Andrea E Russell
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Lina M Zapata-Restrepo
- Centre for Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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45
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Recabarren-Villalón T, Ronda AC, La Sala L, Sanhueza C, Díaz L, Rodríguez Pirani LS, Picone AL, Romano RM, Petracci P, Arias AH. First assessment of debris pollution in the gastrointestinal content of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) stranded on the west south Atlantic coasts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114628. [PMID: 36701975 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114628] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides the first evidence of debris pollution, including plastic, in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found stranded on the Atlantic coast of southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Macro-, meso- and microparticles of anthropogenic origin were observed in 100 % of the studied birds, with debris abundance ranging between 33 and 200 items/bird. Microparticles represented 91 % of the total debris and 97 % of them were fibers. Black particles were the most abundant (30 %), followed by transparent (26 %), blue (14 %), yellow (10.3 %), and red (10 %). Infrared and Raman spectroscopy identified 62.7 % of the total particles as plastics, with polypropylene (27.8 %) and polyester (21.6 %) being the most abundant polymers. Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers, metallic particles, and pigments were also found. The presence of metallic microparticles was suggested for the first time in penguins. Stranded juvenile Magellanic penguins are proposed as promising bioindicators of plastic pollution in the South Atlantic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Recabarren-Villalón
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana C Ronda
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Luciano La Sala
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur, CONICET/UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cristina Sanhueza
- Grupo de Estudio en Conservación y Manejo (Gekko), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Díaz
- Grupo de Investigación y Rehabilitación de Tortugas Marinas (Quelona), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Lucas S Rodríguez Pirani
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - A Lorena Picone
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Rosana M Romano
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Pablo Petracci
- Grupo de Estudio en Conservación y Manejo (Gekko), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Estación de Rescate de Fauna Marina Guillermo "Indio" Fidalgo, Sitio 11, Puerto Galván Bahía Blanca Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés H Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO-CONICET/UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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46
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Impact of Microplastics on the Ocular Surface. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043928. [PMID: 36835339 PMCID: PMC9962686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers that are ubiquitous in daily living and are especially important in the healthcare setting. However, recent advances have revealed the pervasive nature of microplastics, which are formed by degradation of existing plastic products. Although the impact on human health has yet to be fully characterised, there is increasing evidence that microplastics can trigger inflammatory damage, microbial dysbiosis, and oxidative stress in humans. Although there are limited studies investigating their effect on the ocular surface, studies of microplastics on other organs provide some insights. The prevalence of plastic waste has also triggered public outcry, culminating in the development of legislation aimed at reducing microplastics in commercial products. We present a review outlining the possible sources of microplastics leading to ocular exposure, and analyse the possible mechanisms of ocular surface damage. Finally, we examine the utility and consequences of current legislation surrounding microplastic regulation.
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Leads RR, Weinstein JE, Kell SE, Overcash JM, Ertel BM, Gray AD. Spatial and temporal variability of microplastic abundance in estuarine intertidal sediments: Implications for sampling frequency. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160308. [PMID: 36403830 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160308] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (<5 mm) are well documented across shorelines worldwide; however, high variability in microplastic abundance is often observed within and among field studies. The majority of microplastic surveys to date consist of single sampling events that do not consider spatiotemporal variability as a potential confounding factor in the interpretation of their results. Therefore, these surveys may not accurately capture or reflect levels of microplastic contamination in the environment. Here, we provide the first investigation of small-scale spatial and temporal variability of microplastic abundance, distribution, and composition in the intertidal zone of an urbanized US estuary to better understand the short-term, daily spatiotemporal variability of microplastics in dynamic coastal environments. Intertidal sediment was collected from both the low and high intertidal zones of a sandy estuarine beach located in South Carolina, southeastern US every 1 to 2 days at low tide over 17 days (12 sampling events; total n = 72). Study-wide, microplastic abundance ranged from 44 to 912 microplastics/m2 and consisted primarily of polyethylene, nylon, polyester, and tire (or tyre) wear particles. High temporal variability was observed, with microplastic abundance differing significantly among sampling events (p = 0.00025), as well as among some consecutive tidal cycles occurring within 12 h of each other (p = 0.007). By contrast, low spatial variability was observed throughout the study with no significant differences in microplastic abundance detected between the low and high intertidal zones (p = 0.76). Of the environmental factors investigated, wind direction on the day of sampling had the greatest effect on temporal microplastic variability. Our results demonstrate that there can be significant temporal variability of microplastic abundance in estuarine intertidal sediments and are important for informing the methods and interpretation of future microplastic surveys in dynamic coastal environments worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Leads
- Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, 205 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
| | - John E Weinstein
- Department of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
| | - Sarah E Kell
- Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, 205 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, USA.
| | - Johnathan M Overcash
- Department of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
| | - Bonnie M Ertel
- Department of Biology, The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
| | - Austin D Gray
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 926 W Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
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48
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Easy and accessible way to calibrate a fluorescence microscope and to create a microplastic identification key. MethodsX 2023; 10:102053. [PMID: 36824995 PMCID: PMC9941126 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We present here a technique for setting up detection limits on any fluorescent microscope in conjunction with the fluorophore Nile Red for microplastic identification. Our method also describes a rigorous morphology-specific identification key for microplastics to reduce subjectivity between researchers. The detection limits were established for nine common polymer types and five natural substrates which could result in false-positive signals when using Nile Red for microplastic identification. This method was then applied to real freshwater samples and identified particles were validated with micro-FTIR or Raman spectroscopy. This approach may reduce subjectivity in microplastic identification and counting and enhances transparency, repeatability and harmonization within microplastic research community.•Instructions for calibration of detection limits for microplastics on fluorescence microscope systems described•Microplastic identification key developed and tested to reduce false positive detection•Lower subjectivity for microplastic identification obtained using the detection limits & identification key.
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49
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De Frond H, Cowger W, Renick V, Brander S, Primpke S, Sukumaran S, Elkhatib D, Barnett S, Navas-Moreno M, Rickabaugh K, Vollnhals F, O'Donnell B, Lusher A, Lee E, Lao W, Amarpuri G, Sarau G, Christiansen S. What determines accuracy of chemical identification when using microspectroscopy for the analysis of microplastics? CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137300. [PMID: 36414038 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman microspectroscopy are methods applied in microplastics research to determine the chemical identity of microplastics. These techniques enable quantification of microplastic particles across various matrices. Previous work has highlighted the benefits and limitations of each method and found these to be complimentary. Within this work, metadata collected within an interlaboratory method validation study was used to determine which variables most influenced successful chemical identification of un-weathered microplastics in simulated drinking water samples using FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy. No variables tested had a strong correlation with the accuracy of chemical identification (r = ≤0.63). The variables most correlated with accuracy differed between the two methods, and include both physical characteristics of particles (color, morphology, size, polymer type), and instrumental parameters (spectral collection mode, spectral range). Based on these results, we provide technical recommendations to improve capabilities of both methods for measuring microplastics in drinking water and highlight priorities for further research. For FTIR microspectroscopy, recommendations include considering the type of particle in question to inform sample presentation and spectral collection mode for sample analysis. Instrumental parameters should be adjusted for certain particle types when using Raman microspectroscopy. For both instruments, the study highlighted the need for harmonization of spectral reference libraries among research groups, including the use of libraries containing reference materials of both weathered plastic and natural materials that are commonly found in environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3B2.
| | - Win Cowger
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, 160 N. Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA, 90803, United States.
| | - Violet Renick
- Environmental Services Department, Orange County Sanitation District, 10844 Ellis Ave, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708, United States.
| | - Susanne Brander
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Sciences Drive, Newport, OR, 97365, United States.
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany.
| | - Suja Sukumaran
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 5225-1 Verona Rd, Fitchburg, WI, 53711, United States.
| | - Dounia Elkhatib
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/CEMM Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, 02882, United States.
| | - Steve Barnett
- Barnett Technical Services, LLC 8153 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 20 Elk Grove, CA 95758, United States.
| | | | - Keith Rickabaugh
- RJ Lee Group, 350 Hochberg Road, Monroeville, PA 15146, United States.
| | - Florian Vollnhals
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy - INAM, Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany.
| | - Bridget O'Donnell
- HORIBA Scientific, 20 Knightsbridge Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Amy Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway, Department of Biological Sciences, Univeristy of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Eunah Lee
- HORIBA Instruments Inc., 430 Indio Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, 94085, United States.
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
| | - Gaurav Amarpuri
- Eastman Chemical Company, 100 N. Eastman Rd., Kingsport, TN, 37660, United States.
| | - George Sarau
- Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramics Technology and Systems - IKTS, Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany.
| | - Silke Christiansen
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy - INAM, Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramics Technology and Systems - IKTS, Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany.
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50
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Leterme SC, Tuuri EM, Drummond WJ, Jones R, Gascooke JR. Microplastics in urban freshwater streams in Adelaide, Australia: A source of plastic pollution in the Gulf St Vincent. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:158672. [PMID: 36419277 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The pollution of marine environments from plastic waste is anticipated to increase with current increases in plastic production. Reciprocally, escalating research efforts provide an improved understanding, monitoring, awareness, and mitigation of plastic contamination. Freshwater streams are recognised as one of the main contributors of microplastic pollution in marine environments. Presented here is the first investigation on the abundance of microplastic contamination (>20 μm and <5 mm) in freshwater streams in Adelaide, Australia. Composite samples were obtained from the sub-surface waters of eight freshwater streams (Magazine Wetland, Torrens River, Brownhill Creek, Sturt River, Field River, Christie Creek, Onkaparinga River and Pedler Creek), just before their connection to the Gulf St Vincent. Microplastics were found in all samples and microplastic abundance was 6.4 ± 5.5 particles.L-1 across all streams, with significant variations. Microplastic abundances found in the freshwater streams of Adelaide were comparatively higher than those found in areas of similar urbanisation, likely due to the varying methodologies used across studies. This work provides evidence, for the first time, of the prevalence of microplastic contamination in the sub-surface waters of eight freshwater streams in metropolitan Adelaide. These findings reinforce the need for long-term and on-going monitoring of freshwater streams for plastic contamination. Furthermore, spatial and temporal monitoring will allow for the identification in changes to the abundances of microplastics discharging from these sources into the Gulf St Vincent and observe if abundances increase or decrease with any future targeted waste management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C Leterme
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
| | - Elise M Tuuri
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
| | - Woody J Drummond
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
| | - Russell Jones
- Water Data Services, 1 Erudina Avenue, Edwardstown, SA 5039, Australia.
| | - Jason R Gascooke
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
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