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Hu S, Li G, Berlinches de Gea A, Teunissen J, Geisen S, Wilschut RA, Schwelm A, Wang Y. Microbiome predators in changing soils. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2057-2067. [PMID: 37438930 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbiome predators shape the soil microbiome and thereby soil functions. However, this knowledge has been obtained from small-scale observations in fundamental rather than applied settings and has focused on a few species under ambient conditions. Therefore, there are several unaddressed questions on soil microbiome predators: (1) What is the role of microbiome predators in soil functioning? (2) How does global change affect microbiome predators and their functions? (3) How can microbiome predators be applied in agriculture? We show that there is sufficient evidence for the vital role of microbiome predators in soils and stress that global changes impact their functions, something that urgently needs to be addressed to better understand soil functioning as a whole. We are convinced that there is a potential for the application of microbiome predators in agricultural settings, as they may help to sustainably increase plant growth. Therefore, we plea for more applied research on microbiome predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunran Hu
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Guixin Li
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Alejandro Berlinches de Gea
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joliese Teunissen
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Geisen
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger A Wilschut
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arne Schwelm
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Environment, Soils and Landuse, Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University & Research (WU), Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Soares GC, Müller L, Josende ME, Ventura-Lima J. Biochemical and physiological effects of multigenerational exposure to spheric polystyrene microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:69307-69320. [PMID: 37131009 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27162-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Although studies have already shown the effects of exposure to microplastics (MP) in different species, the effects over generations in these individuals remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of polystyrene MP (spherical, 1 μm) on the responses of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in a multigenerational approach over five subsequent generations. MP concentrations of both 5 and 50 μg/L induced a detoxification response, increasing glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS). MP also demonstrated the ability to accumulate in the animal's body during the 96 h of each generational exposure, and possibly, this constant interaction was the main reason for the decreased response in physiological parameters as in the exploratory behavior (body bending) of nematodes, and in the reproduction, being this last parameter most negatively affected during the five exposed generations, with a reduction of almost 50% in the last generation. These results emphasize the importance of multigenerational approaches, highlighting their advantage in the assessment of environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Corrêa Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - PPG-CF; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Km 08, Rio Grande - RS, CEP, Avenida Itália, 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Larissa Müller
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - PPG-CF; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Km 08, Rio Grande - RS, CEP, Avenida Itália, 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Estrella Josende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - PPG-CF; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Km 08, Rio Grande - RS, CEP, Avenida Itália, 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Juliane Ventura-Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - PPG-CF; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Km 08, Rio Grande - RS, CEP, Avenida Itália, 96203-900, Brazil.
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3
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Martinez SA, Simon CJ, Cohen RA. Synthetic Microfiber Material Influences Ingestion by Freshwater Worms. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2023; 110:87. [PMID: 37119338 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03725-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Plastics enter the environment, amongst others, from synthetic textiles, which shed microplastic fibers (microfibers) during their production, use and disposal. We tested whether short- and long-term effects of microfibers on the aquatic worm, Lumbriculus variegatus, depend on the synthetic microfiber material. Microcosms containing L. variegatus were exposed to no microfibers (control) or one of three polymer treatments (nylon, polyester, or olefin) at 5 g of microfibers kg-1 of sediment for 48 h or 28 days. Following exposure, L. variegatus were counted, weighed, and the number of microfibers ingested determined. Polyester microfibers occurred in higher quantities (10-12) than nylon and olefin (< one) per individual after 48 h and 28 days. Only the olefin per individual doubled after 28 days compared to 48 h. These findings indicate that polyester microfibers are more likely to affect L. variegatus and have greater potential to be ingested by higher trophic levels than other polymers.
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Lee Y, Cho S, Park K, Kim T, Kim J, Ryu DY, Hong J. Potential lifetime effects caused by cellular uptake of nanoplastics: A review. Environ Pollut 2023; 329:121668. [PMID: 37087090 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plastics have been used for about 100 years, and daily-use products composed of plastics are now prevalent. As a result, humans are very easily exposed to the plastic particles generated from the daily-use plastics. However, studies on cellular uptake of nanoplastics in "human cells" have only recently begun to attract attention. In previous studies, definitions of nanoplastics and microplastics were vague, but recently, they have been considered to be different and are being studied separately. However, nanoplastics, unlike plastic particles of other sizes such as macro- and microplastics, can be absorbed by human cells, and thus can cause various risks such as cytotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and even diseases such as cancer82, 83. and diabetes (Fan et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2023). Thus, in this review, we defined microplastics and nanoplastics to be different and described the potential risks of nanoplastics to human caused by cellular uptake according to their diverse factors. In addition, during and following plastic product usage a substantial number of fragments of different sizes can be generated, including nanoplastics. Fragmentation of microplastics into nanoplastics may also occur during ingestion and inhalation, which can potentially cause long-term hazards to human health. However, there are still few in vivo studies conducted on the health effect of nanoplastics ingestion and inhalation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoojin Lee
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seongeun Cho
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungtae Park
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Taihyun Kim
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyu Kim
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Du-Yeol Ryu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinkee Hong
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Di Lorenzo T, Cabigliera SB, Martellini T, Laurati M, Chelazzi D, Galassi DMP, Cincinelli A. Ingestion of microplastics and textile cellulose particles by some meiofaunal taxa of an urban stream. Chemosphere 2023; 310:136830. [PMID: 36243082 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and textile cellulose are globally pervasive pollutants in freshwater. In-situ studies assessing the ingestion of MPs by freshwater meiofauna are few. Here, we evaluated MP and textile cellulose ingestion by some meiofaunal taxa and functional guilds of a first-order stream in the city of Florence (Italy) by using a tandem microscopy approach (fluorescence microscopy and μFTIR). The study targeted five taxa (nematodes, oligochaetes, copepods, ephemeropterans and chironomids), three feeding (scrapers, deposit-feeders, and predators), and three locomotion (crawlers, burrowers, and swimmers) guilds. Fluorescent particles related to both MPs and textile cellulose resulted in high numbers in all taxa and functional guilds. We found the highest number of particles in nematodes (5200 particles/ind.) and deposit-feeders (1693 particles/ind.). Oligochaetes and chironomids (burrowers) ingested the largest particles (medium length: 28 and 48 μm, respectively), whereas deposit-feeders ingested larger particles (medium length: 26 μm) than scrapers and predators. Pellets were abundant in all taxa, except for Chironomidae. Textile cellulose fibers were present in all taxa and functional guilds, while MP polymers (EVA, PET, PA, PE, PE-PP) differed among taxa and functional guilds. In detail: EVA and PET particles were found only in chironomids, PE particles occurred in chironomids, copepods and ephemeropterans, PA particles were found in all taxa except in nematodes, whereas particles made of PE-PP blend occurred in oligochaetes and copepods. Burrowers and deposit-feeders ingested EVA, PET, PA, PE and PE-PP, while crawlers and scrapers ingested PE and PA. Swimmers and predators ingested PE, PA and PE-PP. Our findings suggest a pervasive level of plastic and textile cellulose pollution consistent with an urban stream which propagates in the meiofaunal assemblage of the stream ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Clinicilor 5, Cluj Napoca, 400006, Romania; cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | - Tania Martellini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3 - Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Laurati
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3 - Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Florence, Italy
| | - David Chelazzi
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3 - Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Florence, Italy
| | - Diana Maria Paola Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3 - Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Florence, Italy
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Qiao R, Mortimer M, Richter J, Rani-Borges B, Yu Z, Heinlaan M, Lin S, Ivask A. Hazard of polystyrene micro-and nanospheres to selected aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Sci Total Environ 2022; 853:158560. [PMID: 36087672 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastics contamination in the environment is a major concern. Risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics (MPL and NPL) poses significant challenges due to MPL and NPL heterogeneity regarding compositional polymers, particle sizes and morphologies in the environment. Yet, there exists considerable toxicological literature on commercial polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanospheres. Although such particles do not directly represent the environmental MPL and NPL, their toxicity data should be used to advance the hazard assessment of plastics. Here, toxicity data of PS micro- and nanospheres for microorganisms, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, fish, and higher plants was collected and analyzed. The evaluation of 294 papers revealed that aquatic invertebrates were the most studied organisms, nanosized PS was studied more often than microsized PS, acute exposures prevailed over chronic exposures, the toxicity of PS suspension additives was rarely addressed, and ∼40 % of data indicated no organismal effects of PS. Toxicity mechanisms were mainly studied in fish and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, providing guidance for relevant studies in higher organisms. Future studies should focus on environmentally relevant plastics concentrations, wide range of organisms, co-exposures with other pollutants, and method development for plastics identification and quantification to fill the gap of bioaccumulation assessment of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxia Qiao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Jelizaveta Richter
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Bárbara Rani-Borges
- Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Alto da Boa Vista, Sorocaba, São Paulo 18087-180, Brazil; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu 51010, Estonia
| | - Zhenyang Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Margit Heinlaan
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Tallinn 12618, Estonia.
| | - Sijie Lin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Angela Ivask
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu 51010, Estonia.
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Nguyen MK, Hadi M, Lin C, Nguyen HL, Thai VB, Hoang HG, Vo DVN, Tran HT. Microplastics in sewage sludge: Distribution, toxicity, identification methods, and engineered technologies. Chemosphere 2022; 308:136455. [PMID: 36116626 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is becoming a global challenge due to its long-term accumulation in the environment, causing adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem. Sludge discharged from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) plays a critical role as a carrier and primary source of environmental microplastic contamination. A significantly average microplastic variation between 1000 and 301,400 particles kg-1 has been reported in the sludge samples. In recent years, advanced technologies have been successfully applied to address this issue, including adsorption, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Adsorption technologies are essential to utilizing novel adsorbents (e.g., biochar, graphene, zeolites) for effectively removing MPs. Especially, the removal efficiency of polymer microspheres from an aqueous solution by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars (Mg/Zn-MBC) was obtained at more than 95%. Also, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely applied to degrade microplastic contaminants, in which photocatalytic by semiconductors (e.g., TiO2 and ZnO) is a highly suitable approach to promote the degradation reactions owing to strongly hydroxyl radicals (OH*). Biological degradation-aided microorganisms (e.g., bacterial and fungal strains) have been reported to be suitable for removing microplastics. Yet, it was affected by biotic and abiotic factors of the environmental conditions (e.g., pH, light, temperature, moisture, bio-surfactants, microorganisms, enzymes) as well as their polymer characteristics, i.e., molecular weight, functional groups, and crystallinity. Notably, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) showed the highest efficiency in removing up to 99% microplastic particles and minimizing their contamination in sewage sludge. Further, MBRs illustrate the suitability for treating high-strength compounds, e.g., polymer debris and microplastic fibers from complex industrial wastewater. Finally, this study provided a comprehensive understanding of potential adverse risks, transportation pathways, and removal mechanisms of microplastic, which full-filled the knowledge gaps in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Ky Nguyen
- Ph.D. Program in Maritime Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Mohammed Hadi
- Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Ph.D. Program in Maritime Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan.
| | - Hoang-Lam Nguyen
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vu-Binh Thai
- Institute for Environment and Resource, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Hong-Giang Hoang
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Finance - Accounting, Dong Nai Technology University, Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, 76100, Viet Nam
| | - Dai-Viet N Vo
- Center of Excellence for Green Energy and Environmental Nanomaterials (CE@GrEEN), Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Huu-Tuan Tran
- Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Management, Science and Technology Advanced Institute, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Applied Technology, School of Engineering and Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam.
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di Montanara AC, Baldrighi E, Franzo A, Catani L, Grassi E, Sandulli R, Semprucci F. Free-living nematodes research: State of the art, prospects, and future directions. A bibliometric analysis approach. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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He L, Ou Z, Fan J, Zeng B, Guan W. Research on the non-point source pollution of microplastics. Front Chem 2022; 10:956547. [PMID: 35936103 PMCID: PMC9353645 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.956547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microplastics are characterized with universality, persistence and toxicity to aquatic organisms, the pollution of microplastics has attracted worldwide attention. At present, studies on microplastic pollution were mainly focused on the composition, abundance and species of microplastics in water bodies and sediments, and few studies were focused on the source and influence characteristics of microplastics in surface water bodies. Starting from the sources of microplastic pollution in surface water of this paper, the pollution status of agricultural microplastics was analyzed, and the importance and urgency of studying microplastic pollution in agricultural non-point sources were put forward. Therefore, it was intended to provide effective scientific basis and technical support for the control of microplastics non-point source pollution in river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- Zunyi Normal University College, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhongwen Ou
- Army Logistics University of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiangyang Fan
- CNOOC Petrochemical Engineering Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Boping Zeng
- Zunyi Normal University College, Zunyi, China
- *Correspondence: Boping Zeng, ; Wei Guan,
| | - Wei Guan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Environmental Materials and Remediation Technologies, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Boping Zeng, ; Wei Guan,
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Höss S, Rauchschwalbe MT, Fueser H, Traunspurger W. Food availability is crucial for effects of 1-μm polystyrene beads on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in freshwater sediments. Chemosphere 2022; 298:134101. [PMID: 35292277 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater sediments represent a sink for microplastic (<5 mm) through various processes. Thus, benthic organisms can be exposed to relatively high concentrations of microplastics. Surprisingly, studies on benthic organisms are still underrepresented in the field of ecotoxicological effect assessment of microplastics. Therefore, we studied the effects of 1-μm polystyrene (PS) beads on the reproduction of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using a standardized protocol for toxicity testing in freshwater sediments (96 h; ISO 10872:2020), combined with ingestion experiments using fluorescent PS beads. To investigate the role of sediment properties (e.g., textures, organic contents) for ingestion and effects of PS beads, five different artificial and field-collected sediments were used. Body burdens of 1-μm PS beads in the intestinal tract of the nematodes after 96 h differed between the sediments, however, differences were not significant over the whole course of the experiment. EC10 and EC50-values of 1-μm PS beads for C. elegans' reproduction in the various sediments ranged from 0.9 to 2.0 and 4.8 to 11.3 mg PS/g dry sediment, respectively. The ECx-values showed to be considerably higher than values reported for water exposure (EC10/50: 0.2 and 0.6 mg PS/ml, respectively), which was probably due to higher food densities in sediment compared to water exposure. Based on the PS beads/bacteria ratio, ECx-values were comparable between sediment and water exposure, suggesting that also in sediments microplastic reduces the food availability for C. elegans causing lower reproduction. This indirect effect mechanism was confirmed by experiments with varying food densities. Thus, the nutritious conditions might play a crucial role for the overall ecological risk of microplastics in benthic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Höss
- Ecossa, Giselastr. 6, 82319, Starnberg, Germany; Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | | | - Hendrik Fueser
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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Rauchschwalbe MT, Höss S, Haegerbaeumer A, Traunspurger W. Long-term exposure of a free-living freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in microcosms. Sci Total Environ 2022; 827:154207. [PMID: 35240192 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics in a wide range of shapes and polymer types (MPs; <5 mm) accumulate in freshwater sediments, where they may pose an environmental threat to sediment-dwelling micro- and meiobenthos. To date, the effects of MPs on those organisms have mostly been studied in single-species experiments exposed to high particle concentrations. By contrast, there have been few investigations of the effects resulting from the long-term exposure of natural communities to environmental relevant MPs. This research gap was addressed in the present study. A microcosm experiment was conducted to examine the impact of a mixture of MPs of varying polymer composition, shape, and size (50% polystyrene (PS) beads: 1-μm diameter; 37% polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments: 32 × 21 μm in size, and 13% polyamide (PA) fibers 104 × 15 μm in size; % based on the total particle number) provided at two concentrations (low: 4.11 × 105 MPs/kg sediment dw and high: 4.11 × 107 MPs/kg sediment dw) and two exposure durations (4 and 12 weeks) on a micro- and meiobenthic community collected from a freshwater sediment. MPs exposure did not alter the abundance of protozoa (ciliates and flagellates) as well as the abundance and biomass of meiobenthic organisms (nematodes, rotifers, oligochaetes, gastrotrichs, nauplii), whereas the abundance and biomass of harpacticoid copepods was affected. Neither nematode species diversity (species richness, Shannon-Wiener index, and evenness) nor the NemaSPEAR[%]-index (pollution-sensitive index based on freshwater nematodes) changed in response to the MPs. However, changes in the structure of the meiobenthic and nematode community in the presence of environmentally relevant MPs mixtures cannot be excluded, such that microcosms experiments may be of value in detecting subtle, indirect effects of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arne Haegerbaeumer
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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12
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Fuentes C, Verdú S, Fuentes A, Ruiz MJ, Barat JM. In vivo toxicity assessment of eugenol and vanillin-functionalised silica particles using Caenorhabditis elegans. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 238:113601. [PMID: 35533449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The toxicological properties of different silica particles functionalised with essential oil components (EOCs) were herein assessed using the in vivo model C. elegans. In particular, the effects of the acute and long-term exposure to three silica particle types (SAS, MCM-41 micro, MCM-41 nano), either bare or functionalised with eugenol or vanillin, were evaluated on different biological parameters of nematodes. Acute exposure to the different particles did not reduce nematodes survival, brood growth or locomotion, but reproduction was impaired by all the materials, except for vanillin-functionalised MCM-41 nano. Moreover, long-term exposure to particles led to strongly inhibited nematodes growth and reproduction. The eugenol-functionalised particles exhibited higher functionalisation yields and had the strongest effects during acute and long-term exposures. Overall, the vanillin-functionalised particles displayed milder acute toxic effects on reproduction than pristine materials, but severer toxicological responses for the 96-hour exposure assays. Our findings suggest that the EOC type anchored to silica surfaces and functionalisation yield are crucial for determining the toxicological effects of particles on C. elegans. The results obtained with this alternative in vivo model can help to anticipate potential toxic responses to these new materials for human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fuentes
- Department of Food Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Samuel Verdú
- Department of Food Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Fuentes
- Department of Food Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Manuel Barat
- Department of Food Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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13
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Fueser H, Pilger C, Kong C, Huser T, Traunspurger W. Polystyrene microbeads influence lipid storage distribution in C. elegans as revealed by coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. Environ Pollut 2022; 294:118662. [PMID: 34896225 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to polystyrene (PS) beads of a wide range of sizes impedes feeding, by reducing food consumption, and has been linked to inhibitory effects on the reproductive capacity of this nematode, as determined in standardized toxicity tests. Lipid storage provides energy for longevity, growth, and reproduction and may influence the organismal response to stress, including the food deprivation resulting from microplastics exposure. However, the effects of microplastics on energy storage have not been investigated in detail. In this study, C. elegans was exposed to ingestible sizes of PS beads in a standardized toxicity test (96 h) and in a multigeneration test (∼21 days), after which lipid storage was quantitatively analyzed in individual adults using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. The results showed that lipid storage distribution in C. elegans was altered when worms were exposed to microplastics in form of PS beads. For example, when exposed to 0.1-μm PS beads, the lipid droplet count was 93% higher, the droplets were up to 56% larger, and the area of the nematode body covered by lipids was up to 79% higher than in unexposed nematodes. The measured values tended to increase as PS bead sizes decreased. Cultivating the nematodes for 96 h under restricted food conditions in the absence of beads reproduced the altered lipid storage and suggested that it was triggered by food deprivation, including that induced by the dilutional effects of PS bead exposure. Our study demonstrates the utility of CARS microscopy to comprehensively image the smaller microplastics (<10 μm) ingested by nematodes and possibly other biota in investigations of the effects at the level of the individual organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Fueser
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Christian Pilger
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Cihang Kong
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Huser
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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14
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Mello DF, Maurer LL, Ryde IT, Song DH, Marinakos SM, Jiang C, Wiesner MR, Hsu-Kim H, Meyer JN. In Vivo Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Development, Behavior, and Mitochondrial Function are Altered by Genetic Defects in Mitochondrial Dynamics. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:1113-1124. [PMID: 35038872 PMCID: PMC8802983 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively used in consumer products and biomedical applications, thus guaranteeing both environmental and human exposures. Despite extensive research addressing AgNP safety, there are still major knowledge gaps regarding AgNP toxicity mechanisms, particularly in whole organisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently described as an important cytotoxicity mechanism for AgNPs; however, it is still unclear if mitochondria are the direct targets of AgNPs. To test this, we exposed the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans to sublethal concentrations of AgNPs and assessed specific mitochondrial parameters as well as organismal-level endpoints that are highly reliant on mitochondrial function, such as development and chemotaxis behavior. All AgNPs tested significantly delayed nematode development, disrupted mitochondrial bioenergetics, and blocked chemotaxis. However, silver was not preferentially accumulated in mitochondria, indicating that these effects are likely not due to direct mitochondria-AgNP interactions. Mutant nematodes with deficiencies in mitochondrial dynamics displayed both greater and decreased susceptibility to AgNPs compared to wild-type nematodes, which was dependent on the assay and AgNP type. Our study suggests that AgNPs indirectly promote mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to adverse outcomes at the organismal level, and reveals a role of gene-environment interactions in the susceptibility to AgNPs. Finally, we propose a novel hypothetical adverse outcome pathway for AgNP effects to guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle F. Mello
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Laura L. Maurer
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ian T. Ryde
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Dong Hoon Song
- Simulation Group, Samsung SDI, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Stella M. Marinakos
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Chuanjia Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Mark R. Wiesner
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Heileen Hsu-Kim
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Joel N. Meyer
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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15
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Corinaldesi C, Canensi S, Carugati L, Lo Martire M, Marcellini F, Nepote E, Sabbatini S, Danovaro R. Organic enrichment can increase the impact of microplastics on meiofaunal assemblages in tropical beach systems. Environ Pollut 2022; 292:118415. [PMID: 34718087 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The cumulative impact of microplastic and organic enrichment is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the microplastic contamination, the organic enrichment and their effects on meiofaunal distribution and diversity in two islands of the Maldivian archipelago: one more pristine, and another strongly anthropized. Field studies were coupled with manipulative experiments in which microplastic polymers were added to sediments from the non-anthropized island (i.e., without organic enrichment) to assess the relative effect of microplastic pollution on meiofauna assemblages. Our results reveal that the impact of microplastic contamination on meiofaunal abundance and taxa richness was more significant in the anthropized island, which was also characterized by a significant organic enrichment. Meiofauna exposed experimentally to microplastic contamination showed: i) the increased abundance of opportunistic nematodes and copepods and ii) a shift in the trophic structure, increasing relevance in epistrate-feeder nematodes. Based on all these results, we argue that the coexistence of chronic organic enrichment and microplastics can significantly increase the ecological impacts on meiofaunal assemblages. Since microplastic pollution in the oceans is predicted to increase in the next decades, its negative effects on benthic biodiversity and functioning of tropical ecosystems are expected to worsen especially when coupled with human-induced eutrophication. Urgent actions and management plans are needed to avoid the cumulative impact of microplastic and organic enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Corinaldesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell'Ambiente ed Urbanistica, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Sara Canensi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Carugati
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Lo Martire
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Ettore Nepote
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Simona Sabbatini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell'Ambiente ed Urbanistica, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
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16
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Klein K, Heß S, Nungeß S, Schulte-Oehlmann U, Oehlmann J. Particle shape does not affect ingestion and egestion of microplastics by the freshwater shrimp Neocaridina palmata. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:62246-62254. [PMID: 34189691 PMCID: PMC8589796 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15068-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The ingestion of microplastics (MPs) is well documented for various animals and spherical MPs (beads) in many studies. However, the retention time and egestion of MPs have been examined less, especially for irregular MPs (fragments) which are predominantly found in the environment. Furthermore, the accumulation of such particles in the gastrointestinal tract is likely to determine whether adverse effects are induced. To address this, we investigated if the ingestion and egestion of beads are different to those of fragments in the freshwater shrimp Neocaridina palmata. Therefore, organisms were exposed to 20-20,000 particles L-1 of either polyethylene (PE) beads (41 μm and 87 μm) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fragments (<63 μm). Moreover, shrimps were exposed to 20,000 particles L-1 of either 41 μm PE and 11 μm polystyrene (PS) beads or the PVC fragments for 24 h, followed by a post-exposure period of 4 h to analyze the excretion of particles. To simulate natural conditions, an additional fragment ingestion study was performed in the presence of food. After each treatment, the shrimps were analyzed for retained or excreted particles. Our results demonstrate that the ingestion of beads and fragments were concentration-dependent. Shrimps egested 59% of beads and 18% of fragments within 4 h. Particle shape did not significantly affect MP ingestion or egestion, but size was a relevant factor. Medium- and small-sized beads were frequently ingested. Furthermore, fragment uptake decreased slightly when co-exposed to food, but was not significantly different to the treatments without food. Finally, the investigations highlight that the assessment of ingestion and egestion rates can help to clarify whether MPs remain in specific organisms and, thereby, become a potential health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Klein
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Heß
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sandra Nungeß
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schulte-Oehlmann
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jörg Oehlmann
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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17
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Fueser H, Rauchschwalbe MT, Höss S, Traunspurger W. Food bacteria and synthetic microparticles of similar size influence pharyngeal pumping of Caenorhabditis elegans. Aquat Toxicol 2021; 235:105827. [PMID: 33882407 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxicity tests using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans have shown that exposure to small microplastics such as polystyrene (PS) beads lead to high body burdens and dietary restrictions that in turn inhibit reproduction. Pharyngeal pumping is the key mechanism of C. elegans for governing the uptake of food and other particles and can be easily monitored by determining the pumping rates. In this study, pharyngeal pumping of C. elegans was examined in response to increasing quantities of food bacteria (E. coli: 106-1010 cells ml-1) and synthetic particles (107-109 beads ml-1) of similar size (1 µm). While the average pumping rate of C. elegans exposed to E. coli depended on the density of the bacterial cells, this was not the case for the synthetic beads. At 107 items ml-1, bacterial cells and synthetic beads triggered a basic stimulation of the pumping rate, independent of the nutritional value of the particle. At quantities >107 items ml-1, however, the nutritional value was essential to maximize the pumping rate, as it was upregulated only by E. coli cells, which can be chemosensorially recognized by C. elegans. Given the unselective uptake of all particles in the size range of bacteria, restricting the pumping rates for particles with low nutritional value to a basic rate, prevents the nematodes from wasting energy by high-frequency pumping, but still allows a food-quality screening at low food levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Fueser
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | | | - Sebastian Höss
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; Ecossa, Giselastr. 6, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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18
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Koyuncuoğlu P, Erden G. Sampling, pre-treatment, and identification methods of microplastics in sewage sludge and their effects in agricultural soils: a review. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:175. [PMID: 33751247 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-08943-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are widely detected in wastewater treatment plants. They can remove microplastics from wastewaters with a high yield, but it means that microplastics are transferred and accumulated to sewage sludge. Lately, increasing attention has been paid to microplastics in raw and treated wastewaters. However, studies about quantification and identification of microplastics in sewage sludge are very scarce and need to be further investigated. Since the sludge-based microplastics are newly studied and are a challenging matrix due to high organic content, there is limited knowledge of sampling, pre-treatment methods, identification techniques, and expression units. Besides, treated sewage sludge is mostly used for soil amendment to improve soil fertility and it gives economic advantages. This situation creates a pathway for microplastics entering the soil environment with unknown consequences. To the best of our knowledge, microplastics have a large specific surface area, small size, and hydrophobicity which makes it a good adsorbent for other pollutants. Therefore, the combined effect of microplastics with adsorbed pollutants such as heavy metals, antibiotics, and persistent organic pollutants could give serious harm to soil safety and soil organisms. Herein, new developments in the methods for sampling, pre-treatment, and identification techniques of microplastics in sewage sludge were reviewed. Then, the abundance of microplastics, major polymer types, and shapes in sewage sludge were examined. Finally, the effects and ecological risks of microplastic pollution as a result of agricultural usage of sewage sludge in the soil environment have been summarized. Also, the main points for future research were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Koyuncuoğlu
- Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Pamukkale University, Kınıklı Campus, 20160, Denizli, Turkey.
| | - Gülbin Erden
- Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Pamukkale University, Kınıklı Campus, 20160, Denizli, Turkey
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