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Gambardella C, Miroglio R, Costa E, Cachot J, Morin B, Clérandeau C, Rotander A, Rocco K, d'Errico G, Almeda R, Alonso O, Grau E, Piazza V, Pittura L, Benedetti M, Regoli F, Faimali M, Garaventa F. New insights into the impact of leachates from in-field collected plastics on aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124233. [PMID: 38801877 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124233] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The impact of leachates from micronized beached plastics of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on coastal marine ecosystems was investigated by using a multidisciplinary approach. Chemical analysis and ecotoxicological tests on phylogenetically distant species were performed on leachates from the following plastic categories: bottles, pellets, hard plastic (HP) containers, fishing nets (FN) and rapido trawling rubber (RTR). The bacteria Alivibrio fischeri, the nauplii of the crustaceans Amphibalanus amphitrite and Acartia tonsa, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, the embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, the ephyrae of the jellyfish Aurelia sp. and the larvae of the medaka Oryzias latipes were exposed to different concentrations of leachates to evaluate lethal and sub-lethal effects. Thirty-one additives were identified in the plastic leachates; benzophenone, benzyl butyl phthalate and ethylparaben were present in all leachates. Ecotoxicity of leachates varied among plastic categories and areas, being RTR, HP and FN more toxic than plastic bottles and pellets to several marine invertebrates. The ecotoxicological results based on 13 endpoints were elaborated within a quantitative weight of evidence (WOE) model, providing a synthetic hazard index for each data typology, before their integrations in an environmental risk index. The WOE assigned a moderate and slight hazard to organisms exposed to leachates of FN and HP collected in the Mediterranean Sea respectively, and a moderate hazard to leachates of HP from the Atlantic Ocean. No hazard was found for pellet, bottles and RTR. These findings suggest that an integrated approach based on WOE on a large set of bioassays is recommended to get a more reliable assessment of the ecotoxicity of beached-plastic leachates. In addition, the additives leached from FN and HP should be further investigated to reduce high concentrations and additive types that could impact marine ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Gambardella
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy.
| | - Roberta Miroglio
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Elisa Costa
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Jérôme Cachot
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC UMR 5805, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Bénédicte Morin
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC UMR 5805, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | | | - Anna Rotander
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Kevin Rocco
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Giuseppe d'Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain
| | - Olalla Alonso
- EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain
| | - Etienne Grau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Veronica Piazza
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Lucia Pittura
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maura Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Faimali
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesca Garaventa
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
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Gao S, Zhang S, Sun J, He X, Xue S, Zhang W, Li P, Lin L, Qu Y, Ward-Fear G, Chen L, Li H. Nanoplastic pollution changes the intestinal microbiome but not the morphology or behavior of a freshwater turtle. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173178. [PMID: 38750733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173178] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Humans produce 350 million metric tons of plastic waste per year, leading to microplastic pollution and widespread environmental contamination, particularly in aquatic environments. This subsequently impacts aquatic organisms in myriad ways, yet the vast majority of research is conducted in marine, rather than freshwater systems. In this study, we exposed eggs and hatchlings of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) to 80-nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and monitored the impacts on development, behavior and the gut microbiome. We demonstrate that 80-nm PS-NPs can penetrate the eggshell and move into developing embryos. This led to metabolic impairments, as evidenced by bradycardia (a decreased heart rate), which persisted until hatching. We found no evidence that nanoplastic exposure affected hatchling morphology, growth rates, or levels of boldness and exploration, yet we discuss some potential caveats here. Exposure to nanoplastics reduced the diversity and homogeneity of gut microbiota in P. sinensis, with the level of disruption correlating to the length of environmental exposure (during incubation only or post-hatching also). Thirteen core genera (with an initial abundance >1 %) shifted after nanoplastic treatment: pathogenic bacteria increased, beneficial probiotic bacteria decreased, and there was an increase in the proportion of negative correlations between bacterial genera. These changes could have profound impacts on the viability of turtles throughout their lives. Our study highlights the toxicity of environmental NPs to the embryonic development and survival of freshwater turtles. We provide insights about population trends of P. sinensis in the wild, and future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Gao
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shufang Zhang
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiahui Sun
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinni He
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shaoshuai Xue
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Longhui Lin
- Herpetological Research Center, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yanfu Qu
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Georgia Ward-Fear
- School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Lian Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Hong Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Salgado CA, Pereira Vidigal PM, Dantas Vanetti MC. Biodegradation of polyurethanes by Staphylococcus warneri and by microbial co-culture. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142169. [PMID: 38710416 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142169] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
With the increasing production and use of polyurethanes (PUs), it is necessary to develop sustainable techniques for the remediation of plastic pollution. The use of microorganisms capable of biodegrading PUs may be an environmentally desirable solution for controlling these plastic contaminants. To contribute to the discovery of alternatives for the mitigation of plastics in the environment, this study aimed to explore the potential of StaphylococcuswarneriUFV_01.21, isolated from the gut of Galleria mellonellalarvae, for biodegradation of PU in pure culture and microbial co-culture with Serratia liquefaciensL135. S. warneri grew using Impranil® PU as the sole carbon source in pure culture and co-culture. With six days of incubation, the biodegradation of Impranil® in Luria Bertani broth was 96, 88 and 76%, while in minimal medium, it was 58, 54 and 42% for S. warneri, S. liquefaciens, and co-culture, respectively. In addition, S. warneri in pure culture or co-culture was able to biodegrade, adhere and form biofilms on the surfaces of Impranil® disks and poly[4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate)-alt-1,4-butanediol/di(propylene glycol)/polycaprolactone] (PCLMDI) films. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed biodegradation by detecting the formation of cracks, furrows, pores, and roughness on the surfaces of inoculated PU, both with pure culture and microbial co-culture. This study is the first to demonstrate the potential of S. warneriin PU biodegradation.
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Liu L, Liu X, Li X, Xu S, Wang YZ. An Integrative Chemical Recycling Approach for Catalytic Oxidation of Epoxy Resin and in situ Separation of Degraded Products. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202405912. [PMID: 38655622 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Although many approaches have been proposed to recycling waste epoxy resin (EP), the separation of mixed degraded products remains a challenge due to their similar structures. To address this, we present a catalytic oxidation strategy that enables mild degradation of EP and in situ separation of degraded products through supramolecular interactions. The oxidative degradation relies on FeIV=O radicals with strong oxidizing properties, which are generated from the electron transfer of FeCl2 with reaction reagents. As the FeIV=O radicals attacked the C-N bonds of EP, EP was broken into fragments rich in active functional groups. Meanwhile, the FeIV=O radicals were reduced to iron ions that can coordinate with the carboxyl groups on the fragments. As a result, the degraded products with different carboxyl content can be effortlessly separated into liquid and solid phase by coordinating with the catalyst. The success of this work lays the foundation for high-value application of degraded products and provides new design ideas for recycling waste plastics with complex compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Liu
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Xuehui Liu
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Shimei Xu
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Yu-Zhong Wang
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
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Ni H, Li H, Hou W, Chen J, Miao S, Wang Y, Li H. From sea to sea: Edible, hydrostable, and degradable straws based on seaweed-derived insoluble cellulose fibers and soluble polysaccharides. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 334:122038. [PMID: 38553205 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122038] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of disposable plastic straws has caused a long-lasting environmental problem. Potential alternatives for plastic straws are far from satisfactory due to the low utility, poor water stability, and non-ideal natural degradability. In this work, an edible, hydrostable, and degradable straw was developed from the economically significant seaweed. Seaweed-derived insoluble cellulose fibers were used as the building block of the straw, and the soluble polysaccharide extracts were explored as the natural glue through the chelation with Ca2+. Repeated freeze-thawing was introduced to strengthen the molecular interactions, which further improved its mechanical stability and hydrostability. The straw exhibited remarkable natural degradability in open environments, particularly in marine-mimicking conditions. By incorporating pH-sensitive food pigments, the straws could indicate acid-base property of a beverage or even discriminate the freshness of milk. The versatile seaweed-derived straw adhered to the biocycle concept of "from sea to sea" to alleviate the burden of white pollution on oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Ni
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China; School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Huatao Li
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Wenna Hou
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Jian Chen
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Song Miao
- Department of Food Chemistry and Technology, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Ireland
| | - Yanbo Wang
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Huan Li
- Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
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Zhang C, Lin Y, Xue Q, Mo X, He M, Liu J. Nitrogen supply neutralizes the nanoplastic-plant interaction in a coastal wetland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118572. [PMID: 38437902 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The presence of nanoplastics posed a potential threat to coastal saline-alkaline wetlands where nitrogen (N) fertilizer is being implemented as an important ecological restoration measure. Notwithstanding, the effects of N inputs on plant community in polypropylene-nanoplastics (PP-NPs) coexistence environments are largely unknown. To address this, we investigated the effects of PP-NPs addition alone or combined N supply on community aboveground biomass, morphological traits, diversity, composition, niche differentiation, interspecific interactions, and assembly. Our results showed that the PP-NPs addition alone reduced community aboveground biomass and morphological traits. However, the addition of high concentration (0.5%) PP-NPs alone favored community α-diversity and reduced community stability, which could be weakened through combined N supply. Overall, the effect of PP-NPs addition alone on plant community composition was greater than that of combined N supply. We also demonstrated PP-NPs addition alone and combined N supply reduced the niche breadth of the plant community and affected the niche overlap of dominant species. In the assembly of plant communities, stochastic processes played a dominant role. We conclude that N fertilization can amend the terrestrial nanoplastics pollution, thus mitigating the effects of PP-NPs on the plant community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Yingchao Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Biomass Resource Utilization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Qing Xue
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Xunqiang Mo
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Mengxuan He
- School of Geographic and Environmental Science, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Biomass Resource Utilization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Hao F, Yan ZY, Wang Z, Yan XP. Persistent Luminescence Nanoplatform for Autofluorescence-Free Tracking of Submicrometer Plastic Particles in Plant. Anal Chem 2024. [PMID: 38875183 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The uptake of plastic particles by plants and their transport through the food chain make great risks to biota and human health. Therefore, it is important to trace plastic particles in the plant. Traditional fluorescence imaging in plants usually suffers significant autofluorescence background. Here, we report a persistent luminescence nanoplatform for autofluorescence-free imaging and quantitation of submicrometer plastic particles in plant. The nanoplatform was fabricated by doping persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) onto polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles. Cr3+-doped zinc gallate PLNP was employed as the dopant for autofluorescence-free imaging due to its persistent luminescence nature. In addition, the Ga element in PLNP was used as a proxy to quantify the PS in the plant by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Thus, the developed nanoplatform allows not only dual-mode autofluorescence-free imaging (persistent luminescence and laser-ablation ICP-MS) but also ICP-MS quantitation for tracking PS in plant. Application of this nanoplatform in a typical plant model Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that PS mainly distributed in the root (>99.45%) and translocated very limited (<0.55%) to the shoot. The developed nanoplatform has great potential for quantitative tracing of submicrometer plastic particles to investigate the environmental process and impact of plastic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Hao
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, and School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Energy and Carbon Reduction Technology, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhu-Ying Yan
- Analysis and Testing Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, and School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Energy and Carbon Reduction Technology, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiu-Ping Yan
- Institute of Analytical Food Safety, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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Gunasekaran K, Mghili B, De-la-Torre GE, Sompongchaiyakul P, Rangel-Buitrago N, Wang X, Charoenpong C. First record of plastiglomerates, pyroplastics and plasticrusts along the beaches of Tamilnadu, Southeast coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116594. [PMID: 38875967 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastic litter affects coastal and marine ecosystems globally. This study represents the first record of pyroplastics and plasticrust in the beaches of Tamil Nadu, India. All samples were FTIR spectroscopically examined to confirm the polymer composition of the suspected plastics. The 16 plastic formations were found in TamilNadu, including six plastiglomerates nine pyroplastics and one plasticrust. Five types of polymers (PET, PP, PVC, PA, and PE) were found on the plastic matrices. The study also revealed that pyroplastics and plasticrust formed by degradation of plastics through weathering in the coastal environment. The present study also found that four types of marine fouling organisms such as oyster larvae, bryozoan, barnacle and polychaete worm were encrusted on the two pyroplastics. The emergence of these new forms of plastic raises concerns about their interactions with the environment and biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Gunasekaran
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Penjai Sompongchaiyakul
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programade Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlantico, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
| | - Xianfeng Wang
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Chawalit Charoenpong
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Kounina A, Daystar J, Chalumeau S, Devine J, Geyer R, Pires ST, Sonar SU, Venditti RA, Boucher J. The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5022. [PMID: 38866823 PMCID: PMC11169549 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49441-4] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study is a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry's contribution to plastic pollution. It includes plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8-12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5%-30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors. In this study, we demonstrate that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kounina
- Quantis Switzerland, Rue de la Gare de Triage 5, 1020, Renens, Switzerland.
| | - Jesse Daystar
- Cotton Incorporated, 6399, Weston Parkway, Cary, NC, 27513, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Sophie Chalumeau
- Quantis Switzerland, Rue de la Gare de Triage 5, 1020, Renens, Switzerland
| | - Jon Devine
- Cotton Incorporated, 6399, Weston Parkway, Cary, NC, 27513, USA
| | - Roland Geyer
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Steven T Pires
- Cotton Incorporated, 6399, Weston Parkway, Cary, NC, 27513, USA
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Shreya Uday Sonar
- Quantis United States, 66 Long Wharf, 2-West, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Richard A Venditti
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Julien Boucher
- EA - Earth Action, Chemin des vignes d'argent 7, 1004, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Wang L, Tu Z, Liang J, Wei Z. Poly(butylene oxalate-co-terephthalate): A PBAT-like but rapid hydrolytic degradation plastic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134349. [PMID: 38653140 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Concerns over worldwide plastic pollution have led to the development of biodegradable polyester materials with excellent physical and chemical properties through the copolymerization of poly(butylene oxalate) (PBOx). As a result, poly(butylene oxalate-co-terephthalate)s (PBOTs) with varying compositions, were prepared by incorporating aromatic units. Studies have indicated that PBOT-47 (with a 47% molar terephthalate), exhibits exceptional mechanical properties. With an elongation at break of 1160% and a tensile strength that remains above 30 MPa, similar to or even better than those of the commercial biodegradable plastic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) PBAT-47 (47% molar terephthalate). Moreover, the permeability coefficients of PBAT-47 for H2O, CO2 and O2 were 5.8, 50.6 and 5.6 times higher than that of PBOT-47, revealing the superior barrier properties of PBOT. Through experimental research and theoretical simulation, the mechanism of the copolymer hydrolysis was elucidated. The readily hydrolytic nature of the oxalate unit endows it with the capacity for rapid degradation, possessing the potential to be a short-term degradable material with physical properties similar to PBAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhu Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jiaming Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhiyong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
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11
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Savage J, Chamberlain A, Fellows M, Jones R, Letessier TB, Llewellyn F, Morritt D, Rowcliffe M, Koldewey H. Big brands impact small islands: Sources of plastic pollution in a remote and protected archipelago. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116476. [PMID: 38781799 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Remote islands are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution, often originating from elsewhere, so it is important to understand its origins, to stop debris entering the ocean at their source. We investigated the origins of beached plastic drink bottles in the Chagos Archipelago, a large remote Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Indian Ocean. We recorded the brands, countries of manufacture, types of drink, and ages of plastic bottles and their lids. The prevalent type of drink was water, with items mostly manufactured in Indonesia, China, and the Maldives. The main brands were Danone and the Coca-Cola Company. We deduced that 10 % of the items originated from ships passing the archipelago, including all the items manufactured in China. The identification of the brands creating plastic pollution in remote MPAs with high biodiversity supports extended producer responsibility, one of the proposed policy development areas of the Global Plastics Treaty.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Savage
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom; Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom; Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EX, United Kingdom.
| | - A Chamberlain
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - M Fellows
- British Indian Ocean Territory Administration, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AH, United Kingdom
| | - R Jones
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - T B Letessier
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - F Llewellyn
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - D Morritt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - M Rowcliffe
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - H Koldewey
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom; Centre of Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, United Kingdom
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12
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Renault D, Wiegand C, Balzani P, Richard CMC, Haubrock PJ, Colinet H, Davranche M, Pierson-Wickmann AC, Derocles SAP. The Plasticene era: Current uncertainties in estimates of the hazards posed by tiny plastic particles on soils and terrestrial invertebrates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172252. [PMID: 38599414 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are ubiquitous in our daily life. Large quantities of plastics leak in the environment where they weather and fragment into micro- and nanoparticles. This potentially releases additives, but rarely leads to a complete mineralization, thus constitutes an environmental hazard. Plastic pollution in agricultural soils currently represents a major challenge: quantitative data of nanoplastics in soils as well as their effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions need more attention. Plastic accumulation interferes with soil functions, including water dynamics, aeration, microbial activities, and nutrient cycling processes, thus impairing agricultural crop yield. Plastic debris directly affects living organisms but also acts as contaminant vectors in the soils, increasing the effects and the threats on biodiversity. Finally, the effects of plastics on terrestrial invertebrates, representing major taxa in abundance and diversity in the soil compartment, need urgently more investigation from the infra-individual to the ecosystem scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Renault
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], Université Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
| | - Claudia Wiegand
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], Université Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Paride Balzani
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Chloé M C Richard
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], Université Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Phillip J Haubrock
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic; Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany; CAMB, Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait
| | - Hervé Colinet
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], Université Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Mélanie Davranche
- UMR CNRS 6118 GEOSCIENCES Rennes, Université Rennes, Avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | | | - Stéphane A P Derocles
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], Université Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
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13
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Ferronato N, Maalouf A, Mertenat A, Saini A, Khanal A, Copertaro B, Yeo D, Jalalipour H, Raldúa Veuthey J, Ulloa-Murillo LM, Thottathil MS, Shuaib NAB, Caplin R, Mohandas VJ. A review of plastic waste circular actions in seven developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024; 42:436-458. [PMID: 37519292 PMCID: PMC11143764 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231188664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste circularity is a priority at a global level. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) set the ways to go, and the circular economy principles underlined the 'green' strategies to be employed. However, in practice, there is still much to do, especially in developing countries, where open burning and open dumping still represent the common way of plastic waste disposal. This review aims to analyse current plastic waste circular approaches in low-middle income settings. Seven countries were selected based on the economic level and data availability from the authors, and analysed to collect and critically discuss the actions implemented at a city level. Examples of waste minimization and recycling strategies, selective collection systems and public campaigns are reported from Africa, Asia and Latin America. First, a background analysis related to physical and governance aspects of municipal solid waste management systems of the chosen settings was conducted. The assessment was focused on the treatment processes or minimization actions. Then, the applicability of the projects to achieve the SDGs was commented on. The outcomes of the research underline the need to: (1) scale up small-scale and pilot projects, (2) disseminate good practices in more low- to middle-income settings, (3) create synergies among international partners for further replications in cities. Urgent solutions to plastic waste pollution are needed. The review presented practical actions to be implemented now to boost plastic waste circularity in developing cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navarro Ferronato
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Amani Maalouf
- Research Department, D-Waste, Athens, Greece
- Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adeline Mertenat
- Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec), Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ankur Saini
- MVW Lechtenberg & Partner, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Ashish Khanal
- Department of Sustainable Engineering Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Dotanhan Yeo
- Department of Agriculture, Fishery resources and Agro-industry, University of San Pedro, San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Haniyeh Jalalipour
- Department of Waste and Resource Management, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Leidy Marcela Ulloa-Murillo
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Norshah Aizat bin Shuaib
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Technology, University Malaysia Perlis, (UniMAP), 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
- Centre of Excellence for Biomass Utilization (CoEBU), Universiti Malaysia Perlis(UniMAP), 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Ryan Caplin
- Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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14
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Qu M, Guo Y, Cai Y, Nie Z, Zhang C. Upgrading Polyolefin Plastic Waste into Multifunctional Porous Graphene using Silicone-Assisted Direct Laser Writing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2310273. [PMID: 38794868 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of plastics, especially polyolefin including polyethylene and polypropylene, has led to severe environmental crises. Chemical recycling, a promising solution for extracting value from plastic waste, however, is underutilized due to its complexity. Here, a simple approach, silicone-assisted direct laser writing (SA-DLW) is developed, to upgrade polyolefin plastic waste into multifunctional porous graphene, called laser-induced graphene (LIG). This method involves infiltrating polyolefins with silicone, which retards ablation during the DLW process and supplies additional carbon atoms, as confirmed by experimental and molecular dynamic results. A remarkable conversion yield of 38.3% is achieved. The upgraded LIG exhibited a porous structure and high conductivity, which is utilized for the fabrication of diverse energy and electronic devices with commendable performance. Furthermore, the SA-DLW technique is versatile for upgrading plastic waste in various types and forms. Upgrading plastic waste in the form of fabric has significantly simplified pre-treatment. Finally, a wearable flex sensor is fabricated on the non-woven fabric of a discarded medical mask, which is applied for gesture monitoring. This work offers a simple but effective solution to upgrade plastic waste into valuable products, contributing to the mitigation of environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglong Qu
- College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210031, China
| | - Yani Guo
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
- Sinopec Nanjing Engineering & Construction Incorporation, Nanjing, 210049, China
| | - Yahan Cai
- College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210031, China
| | - Zhengwei Nie
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210031, China
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15
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Gammino M, Gioia C, Maio A, Scaffaro R, Lo Re G. Chemical-free Reactive Melt Processing of Biosourced Poly(butylene-succinate-adipate) for Improved Mechanical Properties and Recyclability. ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS 2024; 6:5866-5877. [PMID: 38807952 PMCID: PMC11129176 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.4c00514] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Biosourced and biodegradable polyesters like poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) are gaining traction as promising alternatives to oil-based thermoplastics for single-use applications. However, the mechanical and rheological properties of PBSA are affected by its thermomechanical sensitivity during its melt processing, also hindering PBSA mechanical recycling. Traditional reactive melt processing (RP) methods use chemical additives to counteract these drawbacks, compromising sustainability. This study proposes a green reactive method during melt compounding for PBSA based on a comprehensive understanding of its thermomechanical degradative behavior. Under the hypothesis that controlled degradative paths during melt processing can promote branching/recombination reactions without the addition of chemical additives, we aim to enhance PBSA rheological and mechanical performance. An in-depth investigation of the in-line rheological behavior of PBSA was conducted using an internal batch mixer, exploring parameters such as temperature, screw rotation speed, and residence time. Their influence on PBSA chain scissions, branching/recombination, and cross-linking reactions were evaluated to identify optimal conditions for effective RP. Results demonstrate that specific processing conditions, for example, twelve minutes processing time, 200 °C temperature, and 60 rpm screw rotation speed, promote the formation of the long chain branched structure in PBSA. These structural changes resulted in a notable enhancement of the reacted PBSA rheological and mechanical properties, exhibiting a 23% increase in elastic modulus, a 50% increase in yield strength, and an 80% increase in tensile strength. The RP strategy also improved PBSA mechanical recycling, thus making it a potential replacement for low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Ultimately, this study showcases how finely controlling the thermomechanical degradation during reactive melt processing can improve the material's properties, enabling reliable mechanical recycling, which can serve as a green approach for other biodegradable polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Gammino
- Department
of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudio Gioia
- Department
of Physics, University of Trento, via Sommarive 14, Povo, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Andrea Maio
- Department
of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Scaffaro
- Department
of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giada Lo Re
- Department
of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers
University of Technology, Rannvagen 2A, 41258 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg
Wood Science Centre, Kemigården 4, 41258 Gothenburg, Sweden
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16
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Zhao X, You F. Microplastic Human Dietary Uptake from 1990 to 2018 Grew across 109 Major Developing and Industrialized Countries but Can Be Halved by Plastic Debris Removal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8709-8723. [PMID: 38656828 PMCID: PMC11112738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00010] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are now a growing environmental and public health issue, as they are detected pervasively in freshwater and marine environments, ingested by organisms, and then enter the human body. Industrial development drives this environmental burden caused by MP formation and human uptake by elevating plastic pollution levels and shaping the domestic dietary structure. We map the MP human uptake across 109 global countries on five continents from 1990 to 2018, focusing on the world's major coastlines that are affected by plastic pollution that affects the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Amid rapid industrial growth, Indonesia tops the global per capita MP dietary intake at 15 g monthly. In Asian, African, and American countries, including China and the United States, airborne and dietary MP uptake increased over 6-fold from 1990 to 2018. Eradicating 90% of global aquatic plastic debris can help decrease MP uptake by more than 48% in Southeast Asian countries that peak MP uptake. To reduce MP uptake and potential public health risks, governments in developing and industrialized countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America should incentivize the removal of free plastic debris from freshwater and saltwater environments through advanced water treatment and effective solid waste management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhao
- Systems
Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Fengqi You
- Systems
Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Robert
Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Cornell
Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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17
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Yu H, Liu X, Qiu X, Sun T, Cao J, Lv M, Sui Z, Wang Z, Jiao S, Xu Y, Wang F. Discrepant soil microbial community and C cycling function responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134176. [PMID: 38569347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable microplastics (MPs) are promising alternatives to conventional MPs and are of high global concern. However, their discrepant effects on soil microorganisms and functions are poorly understood. In this study, polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs were selected to investigate the different effects on soil microbiome and C-cycling genes using high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR, as well as the morphology and functional group changes of MPs, using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the driving factors were identified. The results showed that distinct taxa with potential for MP degradation and nitrogen cycling were enriched in soils with PLA and PE, respectively. PLA, smaller size (150-180 µm), and 5% (w/w) of MPs enhanced the network complexity compared with PE, larger size (250-300 µm), and 1% (w/w) of MPs, respectively. PLA increased β-glucosidase by up to 2.53 times, while PE (150-180 µm) reduced by 38.26-44.01% and PE (250-300 µm) increased by 19.00-22.51% at 30 days. Amylase was increased by up to 5.83 times by PLA (150-180 µm) but reduced by 40.26-62.96% by PLA (250-300 µm) and 16.11-43.92% by PE. The genes cbbL, cbhI, abfA, and Lac were enhanced by 37.16%- 1.99 times, 46.35%- 26.46 times, 8.41%- 69.04%, and 90.81%- 5.85 times by PLA except for PLA1B/5B at 30 days. These effects were associated with soil pH, NO3--N, and MP biodegradability. These findings systematically provide an understanding of the impact of biodegradable MPs on the potential for global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoguo Qiu
- Shandong Provincial Eco-Environment Monitoring Center, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Tao Sun
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Jianfeng Cao
- Taian Ecological Environment Monitoring Center of Shandong Province, Taian 271000, China
| | - Ming Lv
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Zhiyuan Sui
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Zhizheng Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Shuying Jiao
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Yuxin Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China.
| | - Fenghua Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China.
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18
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Wang Z, Lee K, Feng Q, An C, Chen Z. Effect of nanobubbles on the mobilization of microplastics in shorelines subject to seawater infiltration. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123950. [PMID: 38604304 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in the ocean has varying degrees of impact on ecosystems and even human health. Coastal tidal zones are crucial in controlling the movement of MPs, which are influenced by waves and tidal forces. Meanwhile, natural nanobubbles (NBs) in the ocean can affect the hydrodynamic properties of the tidal zone. The mobilization of MPs in coastal tidal zones under the effect of NBs has been less studied. In this study, we explored natural NBs' influence on the mobilization of MPs in shorelines subject to seawater infiltration. Using glass beads as a substrate, a coastal porous environment was constructed through column experiments, and the pump-controlled water flow was used to study the transport of MPs subject to seawater movement within the substrate. The infiltration of MPs under continuous and transient conditions, as well as the upward transport induced by flood tide, were considered. The role of salinity in the interactions between NBs, MPs, and substrates was evaluated. Salinity altered the energy barriers between particles, which in turn affected the movement of MPs within the substrate. In addition, hydrophilic MPs were more likely to infiltrate within the substrate and had different movement patterns under continuous and transient flow conditions. The motion of the MPs within the substrate varied with flow rate, and NBs limited the vertical movement of MPs in the tidal zone. It was also observed that NBs adsorbed readily onto substrates, altering the surface properties of substrates, particularly their ability to attach and detach from other substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Qi Feng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Zhikun Chen
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
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19
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Elgharbawy AS, El Demerdash AGM, Sadik WA, Kasaby MA, Lotfy AH, Osman AI. Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose-A Comprehensive Overview. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1356. [PMID: 38794547 PMCID: PMC11124784 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101356] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50% of global plastic wastes are produced from plastic packaging, a substantial amount of which is disposed of within a few minutes of its use. Although many plastic types are designed for single use, they are not always disposable. It is now widely acknowledged that the production and disposal of plastics have led to a plethora of negative consequences, including the contamination of both groundwater and soil resources and the deterioration of human health. The undeniable impact of excessive plastic manufacturing and waste generation on the global plastic pollution crisis has been well documented. Therefore, degradable polymers are a crucial solution to the problem of the non-degradation of plastic wastes. The disadvantage of degradable polymers is their high cost, so blending them with natural polymers will reduce the cost of final products and maximize their degradation rate, making degradable polymers competitive with industrial polymers that are currently in use daily. In this work, we will delineate various degradable polymers, including polycaprolactone, starch, and cellulose. Furthermore, we will elucidate several aspects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and its blends with natural polymers to show the effects of adding natural polymers on PVA properties. This paper will study cost-effective and ecologically acceptable polymers by combining inexpensive natural polymers with readily accessible biodegradable polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah S. Elgharbawy
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
- The Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (Ethydco), Alexandria 21544, Egypt
| | - Abdel-Ghaffar M. El Demerdash
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Wagih A. Sadik
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Mosaad A. Kasaby
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Ahmed H. Lotfy
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Ahmed I. Osman
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK
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20
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Suzuki G, Uchida N, Tanaka K, Higashi O, Takahashi Y, Kuramochi H, Yamaguchi N, Osako M. Global discharge of microplastics from mechanical recycling of plastic waste. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123855. [PMID: 38548151 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The increasing production of plastic products and generation of plastic waste have had increasingly negative environmental impacts. Although recycling could reduce plastic pollution, microplastics can be generated during the process of crushing plastic products during mechanical recycling. We conducted crushing tests with 13 different plastics and documented the size distribution of particles generated. We then estimated the discharge of microplastics associated with recycling and their removal in wastewater treatment plants. We estimated that the global discharge of microplastics would increase from 0.017 Mt in 2000 to 0.749 Mt in 2060. Although mechanical recycling was estimated to account for 3.1% of the total emissions of microplastics for 2017, discharges of microplastics from plastic recycling may increase, even if plastic pollution from well-known sources decreases. Non-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Asia could be a major discharging region and would play a vital role in reducing discharges of microplastics. Reduction of the discharge of microplastics will require less use of plastic products and upgrading wastewater treatment in many countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Suzuki
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Natsuyo Uchida
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kosuke Tanaka
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Osamu Higashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; EX Research Institute Ltd., Takada 2-17-22, Toshimaku, Tokyo, 171-0033 Japan
| | - Yusuke Takahashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Naohisa Yamaguchi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; EX Research Institute Ltd., Takada 2-17-22, Toshimaku, Tokyo, 171-0033 Japan
| | - Masahiro Osako
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
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21
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Gao J, Zhang Y, Bi Y, Du K, Su J, Zhang S. A strong hydrogen bond bridging interface based on tannic acid for improving the performance of high-filled bamboo fibers/poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA)biocomposites. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131611. [PMID: 38641288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131611] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Natural plant fiber-reinforced bio-based polymer composites are widely attracting attention because of their economical, readily available, low carbon, and biodegradable, and showing promise in gradually replacing petroleum-based composites. Nevertheless, the fragile interfacial bonding between fiber and substrate hinders the progression of low-cost and abundant sustainable high-performance biocomposites. In this paper, a novel high-performance sustainable biocomposite was built by introducing a high density strong hydrogen-bonded bridging interface based on tannic acid (TA) between bamboo fibers (BFs) and PBSA. Through comprehensive analysis, this strategy endowed the biocomposites with better mechanical properties, thermal stability, dynamic thermo-mechanical properties and water resistance. The optimum performance of the composites was achieved when the TA concentration was 2 g/L. Tensile strength as well as modulus, flexural strength as well as modulus, and impact strength improved by 22 %, 10 %, 15 %, 35 %, and 25 % respectively. Additionally, the initial degradation temperature(Tonset) and maximum degradation temperature(Tmax) increased by 12.07 °C and 14.8 °C respectively. The maximum storage modulus(E'), room temperature E', and loss modulus(E")elevated by 199 %, 75 %, and 181 % respectively. Moreover, the water absorption rate decreased by 59 %. The strong hydrogen-bonded bridging interface serves as a novel model and theory for biocomposite interface engineering. At the same time, it offers a promising future for the development of high performance sustainable biocomposites with low cost and abundant biomass resources and contributes to their wide application in aerospace, automotive, biomedical and other field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Gao
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yanbin Bi
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Keke Du
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jixing Su
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shuangbao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Wood Material Science and Application (Beijing Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
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22
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Xie D, Zhang R, Song S, Yang S, Yang A, Zhang C, Song Y. Nacre-inspired starch-based bioplastic with excellent mechanical strength and electromagnetic interference shielding. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 331:121888. [PMID: 38388042 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121888] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Bioplastics have aroused significant interest in researchers to relieve the serious environmental pollution caused by the ubiquity of petroleum-based plastics. However, it remains a great challenge to construct functional bioplastics with excellent mechanical strength, water resistance, and heat resistance. Inspired by the interesting structure of nacre, a novel starch-based bioplastic was prepared via a self-assembly technique, using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers modified starch, nano-montmorillonite, and reduced graphene oxide as raw materials. Due to the unique layered structure and rich interfacial interaction, the starch-based bioplastic exhibited excellent mechanical properties, while the tensile strength was up to 37.39 MPa. Furthermore, it represented outstanding water resistance, heat resistance, repairability, renewability and biodegradability. Especially, the starch-based bioplastic demonstrated a strong electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), which was higher than 35 dB with a thickness of 0.5 mm. These powerful properties provided the possibility for functional applications of starch-based bioplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Xie
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Shanshan Song
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Siwen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - An Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Congcong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Yongming Song
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China; College of Home and Art Design, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
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23
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Martinez-Hernandez U, West G, Assaf T. Low-Cost Recognition of Plastic Waste Using Deep Learning and a Multi-Spectral Near-Infrared Sensor. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:2821. [PMID: 38732925 PMCID: PMC11086069 DOI: 10.3390/s24092821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
This work presents an approach for the recognition of plastics using a low-cost spectroscopy sensor module together with a set of machine learning methods. The sensor is a multi-spectral module capable of measuring 18 wavelengths from the visible to the near-infrared. Data processing and analysis are performed using a set of ten machine learning methods (Random Forest, Support Vector Machines, Multi-Layer Perceptron, Convolutional Neural Networks, Decision Trees, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbour, AdaBoost, Linear Discriminant Analysis). An experimental setup is designed for systematic data collection from six plastic types including PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and PS household waste. The set of computational methods is implemented in a generalised pipeline for the validation of the proposed approach for the recognition of plastics. The results show that Convolutional Neural Networks and Multi-Layer Perceptron can recognise plastics with a mean accuracy of 72.50% and 70.25%, respectively, with the largest accuracy of 83.5% for PS plastic and the smallest accuracy of 66% for PET plastic. The results demonstrate that this low-cost near-infrared sensor with machine learning methods can recognise plastics effectively, making it an affordable and portable approach that contributes to the development of sustainable systems with potential for applications in other fields such as agriculture, e-waste recycling, healthcare and manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uriel Martinez-Hernandez
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
- Multimodal Interaction and Robot Active Perception (Inte-R-Action) Lab, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Gregory West
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
- Multimodal Interaction and Robot Active Perception (Inte-R-Action) Lab, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Tareq Assaf
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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24
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Islam MS, Gupta I, Xia L, Pitchai A, Shannahan J, Mitra S. Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Domestic Wastes and Their Impact on Macrophage Cell Viability and Gene Expression. Molecules 2024; 29:2033. [PMID: 38731523 PMCID: PMC11085467 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This study reports an innovative approach for producing nanoplastics (NP) from various types of domestic waste plastics without the use of chemicals. The plastic materials used included water bottles, styrofoam plates, milk bottles, centrifuge tubes, to-go food boxes, and plastic bags, comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and Poly (Ethylene-co-Methacrylic Acid) (PEMA). The chemical composition of these plastics was confirmed using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and they were found to have irregular shapes. The resulting NP particles ranged from 50 to 400 nm in size and demonstrated relative stability when suspended in water. To assess their impact, the study investigated the effects of these NP particulates on cell viability and the expression of genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress using a macrophage cell line. The findings revealed that all types of NP reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, PS, HDPE, and PP induced significant reductions in cell viability at lower concentrations, compared to PEMA and PET. Moreover, exposure to NP led to differential alterations in the expression of inflammatory genes in the macrophage cell line. Overall, this study presents a viable method for producing NP from waste materials that closely resemble real-world NP. Furthermore, the toxicity studies demonstrated distinct cellular responses based on the composition of the NP, shedding light on the potential environmental and health impacts of these particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Saiful Islam
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (M.S.I.); (I.G.)
| | - Indrani Gupta
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (M.S.I.); (I.G.)
| | - Li Xia
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (L.X.); (A.P.); (J.S.)
| | - Arjun Pitchai
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (L.X.); (A.P.); (J.S.)
| | - Jonathan Shannahan
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (L.X.); (A.P.); (J.S.)
| | - Somenath Mitra
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (M.S.I.); (I.G.)
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25
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Garrard SL, Clark JR, Martin N, Nelms SE, Botterell ZLR, Cole M, Coppock RL, Galloway TS, Green DS, Jones M, Lindeque PK, Tillin HM, Beaumont NJ. Identifying potential high-risk zones for land-derived plastic litter to marine megafauna and key habitats within the North Atlantic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171282. [PMID: 38412875 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive use of plastic in modern society has led to plastic litter becoming ubiquitous within the ocean. Land-based sources of plastic litter are thought to account for the majority of plastic pollution in the marine environment, with plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, food containers and cutlery among the most common items found. In the marine environment, plastic is a transboundary pollutant, with the potential to cause damage far beyond the political borders from where it originated, making the management of this global pollutant particularly complex. In this study, the risks of land-derived plastic litter (LDPL) to major groups of marine megafauna - seabirds, cetaceans, pinnipeds, elasmobranchs, turtles, sirenians, tuna and billfish - and a selection of productive and biodiverse biogenic habitats - coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, saltmarsh and kelp beds - were analysed using a Spatial Risk Assessment approach. The approach combines metrics for vulnerability (mechanism of harm for megafauna group or habitat), hazard (plastic abundance) and exposure (distribution of group or habitat). Several potential high-risk zones (HRZs) across the North Atlantic were highlighted, including the Azores, the UK, the French and US Atlantic coasts, and the US Gulf of Mexico. Whilst much of the modelled LDPL driving risk in the UK originated from domestic sources, in other HRZs, such as the Azores archipelago and the US Gulf of Mexico, plastic originated almost exclusively from external (non-domestic) sources. LDPL from Caribbean islands - some of the largest generators of marine plastic pollution in the dataset of river plastic emissions used in the study - was noted as a significant input to HRZs across both sides of the Atlantic. These findings highlight the potential of Spatial Risk Assessment analyses to determine the location of HRZs and understand where plastic debris monitoring and management should be prioritised, enabling more efficient deployment of interventions and mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Garrard
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
| | - James R Clark
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Martin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Zara L R Botterell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Cole
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L Coppock
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Jones
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
| | - Pennie K Lindeque
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi M Tillin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
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26
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Farrelly T, Gammage T, Carney Almroth B, Thompson R. Global plastics treaty needs trusted science. Science 2024; 384:281. [PMID: 38635708 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp4264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Trisia Farrelly
- School of People, Environment, and Planning, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Tom Gammage
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Bethanie Carney Almroth
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Richard Thompson
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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27
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Salam LB. Metagenomic investigations into the microbial consortia, degradation pathways, and enzyme systems involved in the biodegradation of plastics in a tropical lentic pond sediment. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:172. [PMID: 38630153 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03972-6] [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: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The exploitation of exciting features of plastics for diverse applications has resulted in significant plastic waste generation, which negatively impacts environmental compartments, metabolic processes, and the well-being of aquatic ecosystems biota. A shotgun metagenomic approach was deployed to investigate the microbial consortia, degradation pathways, and enzyme systems involved in the degradation of plastics in a tropical lentic pond sediment (APS). Functional annotation of the APS proteome (ORFs) using the PlasticDB database revealed annotation of 1015 proteins of enzymes such as depolymerase, esterase, lipase, hydrolase, nitrobenzylesterase, chitinase, carboxylesterase, polyesterase, oxidoreductase, polyamidase, PETase, MHETase, laccase, alkane monooxygenase, among others involved in the depolymerization of the plastic polymers. It also revealed that polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and nylon have the highest number of annotated enzymes. Further annotation using the KEGG GhostKOALA revealed that except for terephthalate, all the other degradation products of the plastic polymers depolymerization such as glyoxylate, adipate, succinate, 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, lactate, and acetaldehyde were further metabolized to intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Taxonomic characterization of the annotated proteins using the AAI Profiler and BLASTP revealed that Pseudomonadota members dominate most plastic types, followed by Actinomycetota and Acidobacteriota. The study reveals novel plastic degraders from diverse phyla hitherto not reported to be involved in plastic degradation. This suggests that plastic pollution in aquatic environments is prevalent with well-adapted degrading communities and could be the silver lining in mitigating the impacts of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lateef B Salam
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria.
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28
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Matijaković Mlinarić N, Marušić K, Brkić AL, Marciuš M, Fabijanić TA, Tomašić N, Selmani A, Roblegg E, Kralj D, Stanić I, Njegić Džakula B, Kontrec J. Microplastics encapsulation in aragonite: efficiency, detection and insight into potential environmental impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2024. [PMID: 38623703 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00004h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems has become a significant problem especially microplastics which can encapsulate into the skeletons of organisms that produce calcium carbonates, such as foraminifera, molluscs and corals. The encapsulation of microplastics into precipitated aragonite, which in nature builds the coral skeleton, has not yet been studied. It is also not known how the dissolved organic matter, to which microplastics are constantly exposed in aquatic ecosystems, affects the encapsulation of microplastics into aragonite and how such microplastics affect the mechanical properties of aragonite. We performed aragonite precipitation experiments in artificial seawater in the presence of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) microspheres, untreated and treated with humic acid (HA). The results showed that the efficiency of encapsulating PE and PE-HA microspheres in aragonite was higher than that for PS and PS-HA microspheres. The mechanical properties of resulting aragonite changed after the encapsulation of microplastic particles. A decrease in the hardness and indentation modulus of the aragonite samples was observed, and the most substantial effect occurred in the case of PE-HA microspheres encapsulation. These findings raise concerns about possible changes in the mechanical properties of the exoskeleton and endoskeleton of calcifying marine organisms such as corals and molluscs due to the incorporation of pristine microplastics and microplastics exposed to dissolved organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katarina Marušić
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Marijan Marciuš
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Tamara Aleksandrov Fabijanić
- The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Tomašić
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Atiđa Selmani
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Roblegg
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Damir Kralj
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ivana Stanić
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Branka Njegić Džakula
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Jasminka Kontrec
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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29
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Schutten K, Chandrashekar A, Dougherty L, Stevens B, Parmley EJ, Pearl D, Provencher JF, Jardine CM. How do life history and behaviour influence plastic ingestion risk in Canadian freshwater and terrestrial birds? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123777. [PMID: 38490523 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastic ingestion presents many potential avenues of risk for wildlife. Understanding which species and environments are most exposed to plastic pollution is a critical first step in investigating the One Health implications of plastic exposure. The objectives of this study were the following: 1) Utilize necropsy as part of ongoing passive disease surveillance to investigate ingested mesoplastics in birds collected in Ontario and Nunavut, and examine the relationships between bird-level factors and ingested debris; 2) evaluate microplastic ingestion compared to ingested mesodebris in raptors; and 3) identify potential sentinel species for plastic pollution monitoring in understudied freshwater and terrestrial (inland) environments. Between 2020 and 2022, 457 free-ranging birds across 52 species were received for postmortem examination. The upper gastrointestinal tracts were examined for mesoplastics and other debris (>2 mm) using standard techniques. Twenty-four individuals (5.3%) retained mesodebris and prevalence varied across species, with foraging technique, food type, and foraging substrate all associated with different metrics of debris ingestion. The odds of ingesting any type of anthropogenic mesodebris was nine times higher for non-raptorial species than for raptors. For a subset of raptors (N = 54) across 14 species, the terminal portion of the distal intestinal tract was digested with potassium hydroxide and microparticles were assessed using stereo-microscopy. Although only one of 54 (1.9%) raptors included in both analyses retained mesodebris in the upper gastrointestinal tract, 24 (44.4%) contained microparticles in the distal intestine. This study demonstrates that a variety of Canadian bird species ingest anthropogenic debris in inland systems, and suggests that life history and behaviour are associated with ingestion risk. For raptors, the mechanisms governing exposure and ingestion of mesoplastics appear to be different than those that govern microplastics. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) are proposed as ideal sentinels for plastic pollution monitoring in inland systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Schutten
- University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | | | - Laura Dougherty
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Brian Stevens
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - E Jane Parmley
- University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - David Pearl
- University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E., Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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30
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Tong D, Yu Y, Lu L, Zhou W, Yu Y, Zhang X, Tian D, Liu G, Shi W. Microplastics weaken the exoskeletal mechanical properties of Pacific whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133771. [PMID: 38364581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments poses a significant threat to crustaceans. Although exoskeleton quality is critical for crustacean survival, the impact of MPs on crustacean exoskeletons remains elusive. Our study represents a pioneering effort to characterize the effects of MPs exposure on crustacean exoskeletons. In this study, the mechanical properties of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei exoskeletons were analyzed after exposure to environmentally realistic levels of MPs. Nanoindentation data demonstrated that MPs exposure significantly increased the hardness and modulus of both the carapace and abdominal segments of L. vannamei. Moreover, fractures and embedded MPs were detected on the exoskeleton surface using SEM-EDS analysis. Further analysis demonstrated that the degree of chitin acetylation (DA) in the shrimp exoskeleton, as indicated by FTIR peaks, was reduced by MPs exposure. In addition, exposure to MPs significantly inhibited the muscle Ca2+-ATPase activity and hemolymph calcium levels. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that the expression levels of genes encoding key enzymes and metabolites in the chitin biosynthetic pathway were significantly affected by MPs exposure. In conclusion, MPs at environmentally relevant concentrations may affect the exoskeletal mechanical properties of L. vannamei through a comprehensive mechanism involving the disruption of the crystalline structure of chitin, assimilation into the exoskeleton, and dysregulation of exoskeleton biosynthesis-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Difei Tong
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Yingying Yu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Lingzheng Lu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Weishang Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Yihan Yu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Xunyi Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Dandan Tian
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Guangxu Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Wei Shi
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
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Wang S, Feng H, Lim JYC, Li K, Li B, Mah JJQ, Xing Z, Zhu J, Loh XJ, Li Z. Recyclable, Malleable, and Strong Thermosets Enabled by Knoevenagel Adducts. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:9920-9927. [PMID: 38557104 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Plastic recycling is critical for waste management and achieving a circular economy, but it entails difficult trade-offs between performance and recyclability. Here, we report a thermoset, poly(α-cyanocinnamate) (PCC), synthesized using Knoevenagel condensation between terephthalaldehyde (TPA) and a triarm cyanoacetate star, that tackles this difficulty by harnessing its intrinsically conjugated and dynamic chemical characteristics. PCCs exhibit extraordinary thermal and mechanical properties with a typical Tg of ∼178 °C, Young's modulus of 3.8 GPa, and tensile strength of 102 MPa, along with remarkable flexibility and dimensional and chemical stabilities. Furthermore, end-of-life PCCs can be selectively degraded and partially recycled back into one starting monomer TPA for a new production cycle or reprocessed through dynamic exchange aided by cyanoacetate chain-ends. This study lays the scientific groundwork for the design of robust and recyclable thermosets, with transformative potential in plastic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wang
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore 627833, Singapore
| | - Hongzhi Feng
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore 627833, Singapore
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Polymeric Materials Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jason Y C Lim
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Ke Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Bofan Li
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore 627833, Singapore
| | - Justin J Q Mah
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Zhenxiang Xing
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Jin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Polymeric Materials Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Xian Jun Loh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore 627833, Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
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Rajagopalan S, Ramaswami A, Bhatnagar A, Brook RD, Fenton M, Gardner C, Neff R, Russell AG, Seto KC, Whitsel LP. Toward Heart-Healthy and Sustainable Cities: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2024; 149:e1067-e1089. [PMID: 38436070 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Nearly 56% of the global population lives in cities, with this number expected to increase to 6.6 billion or >70% of the world's population by 2050. Given that cardiometabolic diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people living in urban areas, transforming cities and urban provisioning systems (or urban systems) toward health, equity, and economic productivity can enable the dual attainment of climate and health goals. Seven urban provisioning systems that provide food, energy, mobility-connectivity, housing, green infrastructure, water management, and waste management lie at the core of human health, well-being, and sustainability. These provisioning systems transcend city boundaries (eg, demand for food, water, or energy is met by transboundary supply); thus, transforming the entire system is a larger construct than local urban environments. Poorly designed urban provisioning systems are starkly evident worldwide, resulting in unprecedented exposures to adverse cardiometabolic risk factors, including limited physical activity, lack of access to heart-healthy diets, and reduced access to greenery and beneficial social interactions. Transforming urban systems with a cardiometabolic health-first approach could be accomplished through integrated spatial planning, along with addressing current gaps in key urban provisioning systems. Such an approach will help mitigate undesirable environmental exposures and improve cardiovascular and metabolic health while improving planetary health. The purposes of this American Heart Association policy statement are to present a conceptual framework, summarize the evidence base, and outline policy principles for transforming key urban provisioning systems to heart-health and sustainability outcomes.
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Xu Z, Zhuo L, Feng B, Li M, Wang W, Huang H, Wu P. Carbon reduction and water saving potentials for growing corrugated boxes for express delivery services in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318425121. [PMID: 38557182 PMCID: PMC11009682 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318425121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Corrugated packaging for express grew by 90 times to 16.5 Mt y-1 in China, where 81% of recent global express delivery growth occurred. However, the environmental impacts of production, usage, disposal, and recycling of corrugated boxes under the entire supply chain remain unclear. Here, we estimate the magnitudes, drivers, and mitigation potentials of cradle-to-grave life-cycle carbon footprint (CF) and three colors of water footprints (WFs) for corrugated cardboard packaging in China. Over 2007 to 2021, CF, blue and gray WFs per unit package decreased by 45%, 60%, and 84%, respectively, while green WF increased by 23% with growing imports of virgin pulp and China's waste ban. National total CF and WFs were 21 to 102 folded with the scale effects. Only a combination of the supply chain reconstruction, lighter single-piece packaging, and increased recycling rate can possibly reduce the environmental footprints by 24 to 44% by 2035.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenghui Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - La Zhuo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Water Saving Irrigation at Yangling, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling712100, China
| | - Bianbian Feng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - Meng Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - Wei Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Water Saving Irrigation at Yangling, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling712100, China
- The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Hongrong Huang
- College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
| | - Pute Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
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Xiang Y, Rillig MC, Peñuelas J, Sardans J, Liu Y, Yao B, Li Y. Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5821-5831. [PMID: 38416534 PMCID: PMC10993418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) contamination presents a significant global environmental challenge, with its potential to influence soil carbon (C) dynamics being a crucial aspect for understanding soil C changes and global C cycling. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from 110 peer-reviewed publications to elucidate the directional, magnitude, and driving effects of MPs exposure on soil C dynamics globally. We evaluated the impacts of MPs characteristics (including type, biodegradability, size, and concentration), soil properties (initial pH and soil organic C [SOC]), and experimental conditions (such as duration and plant presence) on various soil C components. Key findings included the significant promotion of SOC, dissolved organic C, microbial biomass C, and root biomass following MPs addition to soils, while the net photosynthetic rate was reduced. No significant effects were observed on soil respiration and shoot biomass. The study highlights that the MPs concentration, along with other MPs properties and soil attributes, critically influences soil C responses. Our results demonstrate that both the nature of MPs and the soil environment interact to shape the effects on soil C cycling, providing comprehensive insights and guiding strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhou Xiang
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic State Monitoring of Watershed, School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institut für Biologie, Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin D-14195, Germany
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia 08193, Spain
- CREAF - Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia 08193, Spain
- CREAF - Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Bin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Ecolog Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
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35
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Silva de Souza Lima Cano N, Hossain MU, Bilec MM. Environmental impacts of circularity strategies for social distancing plastic shields made of polymethyl methacrylate in the United States. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024:734242X241237102. [PMID: 38566400 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x241237102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
One application of plastics that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic is for social distancing plastic shields, or protective barriers, made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) such as transparent face guards. Although available for other applications, end-of-life impacts for barriers are currently lacking in the literature, and there is a need to fill in this gap to guide decisions. This study evaluated the end-of-life environmental impacts of PMMA barriers in the United States by using life cycle assessment. We evaluated five strategies including landfilling, waste-to-energy, mechanical recycling, chemical recycling and reuse. Data were sourced from literature and various life cycle inventory databases. The Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) was used as the life cycle impact assessment method. Landfilling exhibited the highest impact in all indicators and reuse demonstrated optimal results for global warming potential. A scenario analysis was conducted to explore a combination of strategies, revealing that the most promising approach involved a mix of 40% reuse, 20% mechanical recycling and 40% chemical recycling. Circular economy recommendations are proposed for managing these sources of plastic waste in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Uzzal Hossain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Melissa M Bilec
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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36
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Mghili B, Hasni S, Ben-Haddad M, Rangel-Buitrago N, Keznine M, Lamine I, Hamiche FZ, Haddaoui H, Abelouah MR, Demiathi M, Oubahaouali B, Jellal N, Touaf M, Ahannach Y, Hassou N, Cherradi S, Aksissou M. Plastic pollution on Moroccan beaches: Toward baselines for large-scale assessment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116288. [PMID: 38531205 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
In Africa, Morocco is the 10th largest producer of plastic. The severity of this plastic has attracted increasing amounts of attention in the Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean in recent years. However, at the national level, there is limited knowledge of plastic pollution. To obtain an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of plastic pollution levels in Morocco, large-scale monitoring is needed on all the coasts of the country. In this context, this paper examined the composition, abundance, distribution, source and quality of beaches on two Moroccan coasts using four beach quality indices along 29 beaches. During two seasons, a total of 72,105 items were counted. The mean litter abundance was 0.31 items/m2, and the Mediterranean beaches were more dense than the Atlantic beaches. In particular, litter density was greater in spring (0.35 items/m2) than in summer (0.29 items/m2). The data indicate considerable differences in the density of marine debris according to the seasonality, beach typology and presence of rivers. Hazardous litter items were collected along both Moroccan coasts, constituting 8.41 % of the total collected items, with a mean of 0.026 items/m2. The use of environmental indices allowed us to classify Moroccan beaches as "moderate cleanliness", "moderate abundance" of plastics, "moderately safe" presence of hazardous litter and "mediocre" environmental status. The findings of the present study indicate that the sources of litter on both Moroccan coasts come mainly from recreational activities and dumping. The waste management practices recommended for Moroccan beaches include reducing sources, mitigating mitigation measures and changing littering behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco.
| | - Soufiane Hasni
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Ben-Haddad
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programa de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Mohamed Keznine
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Imane Lamine
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Technical Health, Errachidia, Morocco
| | - Fatima Zahra Hamiche
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hatim Haddaoui
- Scientific Institute, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rida Abelouah
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - Manal Demiathi
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Brahim Oubahaouali
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Nadia Jellal
- Research Laboratory in Applied and Marine Geosciences, Geotechnics and Geohazards (LR3G), Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, 93000 Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Mounia Touaf
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Youssef Ahannach
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Najwa Hassou
- Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Technical Health, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Sohayb Cherradi
- Polydisciplinary Faculty in Larache, University Abdelmalek Essadi, Morocco
| | - Mustapha Aksissou
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
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Li Y, Wang S, Qian S, Liu Z, Weng Y, Zhang Y. Depolymerization and Re/Upcycling of Biodegradable PLA Plastics. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:13509-13521. [PMID: 38559974 PMCID: PMC10976375 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
With the escalating utilization of plastic products, global attention has been increasingly drawn to environmental pollution and recycling challenges stemming from plastic waste. Against this backdrop, biodegradable plastics have emerged as viable alternatives owing to their sustainability and capacity for biodegradation. Polylactic acid (PLA) presently commands the largest market share among biodegradable plastics, finding extensive application in products such as thin films, medical materials, and biodegradable straws. However, the widespread adoption of PLA is hindered by challenges such as high cost, low recycling rates, and complete degradation to H2O and CO2 in natural conditions. Therefore, it is imperative and time-sensitive to explore solutions for the depolymerization and re/upcycling of PLA waste plastics. This review comprehensively outlines the current landscape of PLA recycling methods, emphasizing the advantages and significance of chemical re/upcycling. The subsequent exploration encompasses recent breakthroughs and technical obstacles inherent in diverse chemical depolymerization methods. Ultimately, this review accentuates the impediments and forthcoming possibilities in the realm of PLA plastics, emphasizing the pursuit of closed-loop recycling and upcycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- YingChao Li
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Song Qian
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Zhijie Liu
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Yujing Weng
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Yulong Zhang
- College of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic
University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
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Zhang Y, Cao Y, Chen B, Dong G, Zhao Y, Zhang B. Marine biodegradation of plastic films by Alcanivorax under various ambient temperatures: Bacterial enrichment, morphology alteration, and release of degradation products. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170527. [PMID: 38286285 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The global ocean has been receiving massive amounts of plastic wastes. Marine biodegradation, influenced by global climate, naturally breaks down these wastes. In this study, we systematically compared the biodegradation performance of petroleum- and bio-based plastic films, i.e., low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) under three ambient temperatures (4, 15, and 22 °C). We deployed the our previously isolated cold-tolerant plastic-degrading Alcanivorax to simulate the accelerated marine biodegradation process and evaluated the alteration of bacterial growth, plastic films, and released degradation products. Notably, we found that marine biodegradation of PHA films enriched more bacterial amounts, induced more conspicuous morphological damage, and released more microplastics (MPs) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) under all temperatures compared to LDPE and PLA. Particularly, MPs were released from film edges and cracks with a mean size of 2.8 μm under all temperatures. In addition, the degradation products released by biodegradation of PHA under 22 °C induced the highest acute toxicity to Vibrio fischeri. Our results highlighted that: (1) marine biodegradation of plastics would release millions of MPs per cm2 exposed surface area even in cold environments within 60 days; (2) different marine biodegradation scenarios of these plastics may raise disparate impacts and mitigation-related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanmei Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Yiqi Cao
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada.
| | - Bing Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Guihua Dong
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5, Canada.
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Xie P, Li P, Zhu X, Chen D, Ommati MM, Wang H, Han L, Xu S, Sun P. Hepatotoxic of polystyrene microplastics in aged mice: Focus on the role of gastrointestinal transformation and AMPK/FoxO pathway. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170471. [PMID: 38296072 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170471] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) toxicity has attracted widespread attention, whereas before triggering hepatotoxicity, ingested MPs first undergo transportation and digestion processes in the gastrointestinal tract, possibly interacting with the gastrointestinal contents (GIC). More alarming is the need for more understanding of how this process may impact the liver health of aged animals. This study selected old mice. Firstly, we incubated polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs, 1 μm) with GIC extract. The results of SEM/EDS indicated a structural alteration in PS-MPs. Additionally, impurities resembling corona, rich in heteroatoms (O, N, and S), were observed. This resulted in an enhanced aggregating phenomenon of MPs. We conducted a 10-day experiment exposing aged mice to four concentrations of PS-MPs, ranging from 1 × 103 to 1 × 1012 particles/L. Subsequent measurements of tissue pathology and body and organ weights were conducted, revealing alterations in liver structure. In the liver, 12 crucial metabolites were found by LC-MS technology, including purines, lipids, and amino acids. The AMPK/FoxO pathway was enriched, activated, and validated in western blotting results. We also comprehensively examined the innate immune system, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress indicators. The results indicated decreased C3 levels, stable C4 levels, inflammatory factors (IL-6 and IL-8), and antioxidant enzymes were increased to varying degrees. PS-MPs also caused DNA oxidative damage. These toxic effects exhibited a specific dose dependence. Overall, after the formation of the gastrointestinal corona, PS-MPs subsequently impact various cellular processes, such as cycle arrest (p21), leading to hepatic and health crises in the elderly. The presence of gastrointestinal coronas also underscores the MPs' morphology and characteristics, which should be distinguished after ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Xie
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Deshan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ommati
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Lei Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Shixiao Xu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, China
| | - Ping Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China.
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40
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Bekmirzaev J, Simon M, D'Aniello S, Mazzeo M, Cohen-Janes SJ, Mathers RT, Gauvin RM, Thomas CM. A New Life For Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber: Co-Harnessing Metathesis And Condensation For Reincorporation Into Bio-Based Materials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319414. [PMID: 38295149 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319414] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Efficient plastic recycling processes are crucial for the production of value-added products or intermediates. Here, we present a multicatalytic route that allows the degradation of nitrile-butadiene rubber, cross-metathesis of the formed oligomers, and polymerization of the resulting dicarboxylic acids with bio-based diols, providing direct access to unsaturated polyesters. This one-pot approach combines the use of commercially available catalysts that are active and selective under mild conditions to synthesize renewable copolymers without the need to isolate intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakhongir Bekmirzaev
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Malaury Simon
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sara D'Aniello
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Mina Mazzeo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Sander J Cohen-Janes
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Robert T Mathers
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
| | - Régis M Gauvin
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Christophe M Thomas
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
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41
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Quilumbaquin W, Castillo-Cabrera GX, Borrero-González LJ, Mora JR, Valle V, Debut A, Loor-Urgilés LD, Espinoza-Montero PJ. Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene microplastics on TiO 2-modified boron-doped diamond photoanode. iScience 2024; 27:109192. [PMID: 38433924 PMCID: PMC10906510 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) accumulation in the environment is accelerating rapidly, which has led to their effects on both the ecosystem and human life garnering much attention. This study is the first to examine the degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) MPs via photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) using a TiO2-modified boron-doped diamond (BDD/TiO2) photoanode. This study was divided into three stages: (i) preparation of the photoanode through electrophoretic deposition of synthetic TiO2 nanoparticles on a BDD electrode; (ii) characterization of the modified photoanode using electrochemical, structural, and optical techniques; and (iii) degradation of HDPE MPs by electrochemical oxidation and photoelectrocatalysis on bare and modified BDD electrodes under dark and UV light conditions. The results indicate that the PEC technique degraded 89.91 ± 0.08% of HDPE MPs in a 10-h reaction and was more efficient at a lower current density (6.89 mA cm-1) with the BDD/TiO2 photoanode compared to electrochemical oxidation on bare BDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Quilumbaquin
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, Ecuador
| | | | - Luis J. Borrero-González
- Laboratorio de Óptica Aplicada, Escuela de Ciencias Físicas y Matemática, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, Ecuador
| | - José R. Mora
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito 170157, Ecuador
| | - Vladimir Valle
- Departamento de Ciencias de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170517, Ecuador
| | - Alexis Debut
- Centro de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Sangolquí 170501, Ecuador
| | - Luis D. Loor-Urgilés
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, Ecuador
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42
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Huang H, Shi Y, Gong Z, Wang J, Zheng L, Gao S. Revealing the characteristics of biofilms on different polypropylene plastic products: Comparison between disposable masks and takeaway boxes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133400. [PMID: 38198871 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133400] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The increasingly severe plastic pollution issue was intensified by the enormous plastic emissions into ecosystems during the Covid-19 pandemic. Plastic wastes entering the environment were swiftly exposed to microorganisms and colonized by biofilms, and the plastic-biofilm combined effects further influenced the ecosystem. However, the non-woven structure of disposable masks discarded carelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic was different from those of plastics with flat surface. To reveal the potential effects of plastic structure on colonized biofilms, white disposable surgical masks (DM) and transparent takeaway boxes (TB), both made of polyethylene, were selected for the incubation of organic conditioning films and biofilms. The results indicated that the non-woven structure of disposable mask was destroyed by the influence of water infiltration and biofilm colonization. The influence of surface structure on conditioning films led to a relatively higher proportion of tryptophan-like substances on DM than those on TB samples. Therefore, biofilms with significantly higher microbial biomass and carbon metabolic capacity were formed on DM than those on TB samples owing to the combined effects of their differences in surface structure and conditioning films. Moreover, abundant functional microorganisms associated with stress tolerance, carbon metabolism and biofilm formation were observed in biofilms on disposable mask. Combining with the results of partial least squares regression analysis, the selective colonization of functional microorganisms on disposable masks with uneven surface longitudinal fluctuation was revealed. Although the predicted functions of biofilms on disposable masks and takeaway boxes showed more similarity to each other than to those of free-living aquatic microorganisms owing to the existence of the plastisphere, biofilms on disposable masks may potentially trigger environmental risks different from those of takeaway boxes by unique carbon metabolism and abundant biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hexinyue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanqi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhimin Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Lezhou Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China.
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43
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Chen L, Zhou S, Zhang Q, Su B, Yin Q, Zou M. Global occurrence characteristics, drivers, and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in lakes: A meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123321. [PMID: 38185354 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution in lakes has received much attention as an increasing amount of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the global distribution patterns, environmental hazards, factors driving their presence, and the relationships between sources and sinks of MPs. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of drivers of lake MP pollution based on 42 articles on MP pollution from three different aspects: geographical distribution, driving factors and environmental risks. The results revealed differences in the MP pollution levels across the different sampling sites in the global lakes. Moreover, there is significant heterogeneity in the abundance of MPs among various lakes, whose distribution pattern is affected by geographical location, sampling method and extraction method. The size of the MPs differed significantly between water and sediment, and the proportion of small (<1 mm) MPs in sediment was significantly greater than that in water (72% > 46%). Environmental risk assessment reveals that the risk level of MP pollution in most lakes worldwide is low, and the environmental risk of pollution in lake water is higher than that in sediment. Based on the risk assessment and geographical location of the lake, the risk of MP pollution is related not only to human activities and economic development but also to local waste management practices, which directly impact the accumulation of MPs. Therefore, we suggest that the production of biodegradable low-risk polymer plastics instead of high-risk materials, and plastic solid waste recycling management should be strengthened to effectively mitigate the presence of MPs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Chen
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Shenglu Zhou
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Bo Su
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Qiqi Yin
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
| | - Mengmeng Zou
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing, 210024, China
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44
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Hou X, Pei QX, Sun W, Song B, Chen H, Liu Z, Kong J, Zhang YW, Liu P, He C. General Entropy Approach Toward Ultratough Sustainable Plastics. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024; 45:e2300543. [PMID: 38102953 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Entropy is a universal concept across the physics of mixtures. While the role of entropy in other multicomponent materials has been appreciated, its effects in polymers and plastics have not. In this work, it is demonstrated that the seemingly small mixing entropy contributes to the miscibility and performance of polymer alloys. Experimental and modeling studies on over 30 polymer pairs reveal a strong correlation between entropy, morphology, and mechanical properties, while elucidating the mechanism behind: in polymer blends with weak interactions, entropy leads to homogeneously dispersed nanosized domains stabilized by highly entangled chains. This unique microstructure promotes uniform plastic deformation at the interface, thus improving the toughness of conventional brittle polymers by 1-2 orders of magnitude without sacrificing other properties, analogous to high-entropy metallic alloys. The proposed strategy also applies to ternary polymer systems and copolymers, offering a new pathway toward the development of sustainable polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunan Hou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
| | - Qing-Xiang Pei
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Singapore
| | - Wen Sun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Bangjie Song
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Huixin Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhibang Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Junhua Kong
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Yong-Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Singapore
| | - Ping Liu
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Singapore
| | - Chaobin He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
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45
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Qin L, Li X, Ren G, Yuan R, Wang X, Hu Z, Ye C, Zou Y, Ding P, Zhang H, Cai Q. Closed-Loop Polymer-to-Polymer Upcycling of Waste Poly (Ethylene Terephthalate) into Biodegradable and Programmable Materials. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024:e202301781. [PMID: 38409634 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), extensively employed in bottles, film, and fiber manufacture, has generated persistent environmental contamination due to its non-degradable nature. The resolution of this issue requires the conversion of waste PET into valuable products, often achieved through depolymerization into monomers. However, the laborious purification procedures involved in the extraction of monomers pose challenges and constraints on the complete utilization of PET. Herein, a strategy is demonstrated for the polymer-to-polymer upcycling of waste PET into high-value biodegradable and programmable materials named PEXT. This process involves reversible transesterifications dependent on ester bonds, wherein commercially available X-monomers from aliphatic diacids and diols are introduced, utilizing existing industrial equipment for complete PET utilization. PEXT features a programmable molecular structure, delivering tailored mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation performance. Notably, PEXT exhibits superior mechanical performance, with a maximal elongation at break of 3419.2 % and a toughness of 270.79 MJ m-3 . These characteristics make PEXT suitable for numerous applications, including shape-memory materials, transparent films, and fracture-resistant stretchable components. Significantly, PEXT allows closed-loop recycling within specific biodegradable analogs by reprograming PET or X-monomers. This strategy not only offers cost-effective advantages in large-scale upcycling of waste PET into advanced materials but also demonstrates its enormous prospect in environmental conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidong Qin
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Xiaoxu Li
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Geng Ren
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Rongyan Yuan
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Zexu Hu
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chenwu Ye
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Yangyang Zou
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Peiqing Ding
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Qiuquan Cai
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou, 515031, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
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46
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Feng T, Wei Z, Agathokleous E, Zhang B. Effect of microplastics on soil greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems: Does it depend upon microplastic shape and soil type? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169278. [PMID: 38092197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169278] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have emerged as a significant pollutant in terrestrial ecosystems, with their accumulation in agricultural fields influencing soil greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the specific impact of microplastics, particularly in relation to their varying shapes, and how this effect manifests across diverse soil types, remains largely unexplored. In this study, a 56-day incubation experiment was conducted to assess the influence of microplastic shapes (fibers, films, and spheres) on CO2 and N2O emissions in three types of soils (Chernozems, Luvisols, and Ferralsols), while also investigating potential associations with the compositional and functional characteristics of soil bacterial communities. When compared to the control group, the introduction of microplastic fibers resulted in an increase of 21.7 % in cumulative CO2 emissions and a 31.4 % rise in cumulative N2O emissions in Ferralsols. This increase was closely linked to the proliferation of the Actinobacteria and Bacilli classes and the orders of Catenulisporales, Bacillales, Streptomycetales, Micrococcales, and Burkholderiales within the bacterial communities of Ferralsols, alongside an observed elevation in N-acetyl-glucosaminidase enzyme activity. The inclusion of microplastic fibers did not result in significant alterations in greenhouse gas emissions within Chernozems and Luvisols. This is likely attributed to the inherent buffering capacity of these soils, which helps stabilize substrate and nutrient availability for microbial communities. These findings highlight that the response of greenhouse gas emissions to microplastic additions is contingent upon the shape of the microplastics and the specific soil types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Feng
- Changwang School of Honors, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Zhanbo Wei
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China.
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47
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Han XW, Zhang X, Zhou Y, Maimaitiming A, Sun XL, Gao Y, Li P, Zhu B, Chen EYX, Kuang X, Tang Y. Circular olefin copolymers made de novo from ethylene and α-olefins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1462. [PMID: 38368405 PMCID: PMC10874424 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45219-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Ethylene/α-olefin copolymers are produced in huge scale and widely used, but their after-use disposal has caused plastic pollution problems. Their chemical inertness made chemical re/upcycling difficult. Ideally, PE materials should be made de novo to have a circular closed-loop lifecycle. However, synthesis of circular ethylene/α-olefin copolymers, including high-volume, linear low-density PE as well as high-value olefin elastomers and block copolymers, presents a particular challenge due to difficulties in introducing branches while simultaneously installing chemical recyclability and directly using industrial ethylene and α-olefin feedstocks. Here we show that coupling of industrial coordination copolymerization of ethylene and α-olefins with a designed functionalized chain-transfer agent, followed by modular assembly of the resulting AB telechelic polyolefin building blocks by polycondensation, affords a series of ester-linked PE-based copolymers. These new materials not only retain thermomechanical properties of PE-based materials but also exhibit full chemical circularity via simple transesterification and markedly enhanced adhesion to polar surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Wang Han
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Youyun Zhou
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Aizezi Maimaitiming
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiu-Li Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yanshan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Peizhi Li
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Boyu Zhu
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1872, USA.
| | - Xiaokang Kuang
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yong Tang
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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48
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Meng F, Brandão M, Cullen JM. Replacing Plastics with Alternatives Is Worse for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Most Cases. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2716-2727. [PMID: 38291786 PMCID: PMC10867844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05191] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are controversial due to their production from fossil fuels, emissions during production and disposal, potential toxicity, and leakage to the environment. In light of these concerns, calls to use less plastic products and move toward nonplastic alternatives are common. However, these calls often overlook the environmental impacts of alternative materials. This article examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impact of plastic products versus their alternatives. We assess 16 applications where plastics are used across five key sectors: packaging, building and construction, automotive, textiles, and consumer durables. These sectors account for about 90% of the global plastic volume. Our results show that in 15 of the 16 applications a plastic product incurs fewer GHG emissions than their alternatives. In these applications, plastic products release 10% to 90% fewer emissions across the product life cycle. Furthermore, in some applications, such as food packaging, no suitable alternatives to plastics exist. These results demonstrate that care must be taken when formulating policies or interventions to reduce plastic use so that we do not inadvertently drive a shift to nonplastic alternatives with higher GHG emissions. For most plastic products, increasing the efficiency of plastic use, extending the lifetime, boosting recycling rates, and improving waste collection would be more effective for reducing emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanran Meng
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Brandão
- Department
of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 100-44, Sweden
| | - Jonathan M Cullen
- Department
of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
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49
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Thammasanya T, Patiam S, Rodcharoen E, Chotikarn P. A new approach to classifying polymer type of microplastics based on Faster-RCNN-FPN and spectroscopic imagery under ultraviolet light. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3529. [PMID: 38346972 PMCID: PMC10861463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53251-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Hazardous compounds from microplastics in coastal and marine environments are adsorbed by live organisms, affecting human and marine life. It takes time, money and effort to study the distribution and type of microplastics in the environment, using appropriate expensive equipment in a laboratory. However, deep learning can assist in identifying and quantifying microplastics from an image. This paper presents a novel microplastic classification method that combines the benefits of UV light with deep learning. The Faster-RCNN model with a ResNet-50-FPN backbone was implemented to detect and identify microplastics. Microplastic images from the field taken under UV light were used to train and validate the model. This classification model achieved a high precision of 85.5-87.8%, and the mAP scores were 33.9% on an internal test set and 35.7% on an external test set. This classification approach provides a high-accuracy, low-cost, and time-effective automated identification and counting of microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thunchanok Thammasanya
- Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
- Coastal Oceanography and Climate Change Research Center, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Sakarat Patiam
- Aquatic Science and Innovative Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, DoE for Sustainable Aquaculture, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Eknarin Rodcharoen
- Aquatic Science and Innovative Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, DoE for Sustainable Aquaculture, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Ponlachart Chotikarn
- Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
- Coastal Oceanography and Climate Change Research Center, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
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Papies EK, Nielsen KS, Soares VA. Health psychology and climate change: time to address humanity's most existential crisis. Health Psychol Rev 2024:1-31. [PMID: 38320578 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2309242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is an ongoing and escalating health emergency. It threatens the health and wellbeing of billions of people, through extreme weather events, displacement, food insecurity, pathogenic diseases, societal destabilisation, and armed conflict. Climate change dwarfs all other challenges studied by health psychologists. The greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change disproportionately originate from the actions of wealthy populations in the Global North and are tied to excessive energy use and overconsumption driven by the pursuit of economic growth. Addressing this crisis requires significant societal transformations and individual behaviour change. Most of these changes will benefit not only the stability of the climate but will yield significant public health co-benefits. Because of their unique expertise and skills, health psychologists are urgently needed in crafting climate change mitigation responses. We propose specific ways in which health psychologists at all career stages can contribute, within the spheres of research, teaching, and policy making, and within organisations and as private citizens. As health psychologists, we cannot sit back and leave climate change to climate scientists. Climate change is a health emergency that results from human behaviour; hence it is in our power and responsibility to address it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther K Papies
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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