1
|
Liu J, Zeng D, Pan J, Hu J, Zheng M, Liu W, He D, Ye Q. Effects of polyethylene microplastics occurrence on estrogens degradation in soil. Chemosphere 2024; 355:141727. [PMID: 38499076 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141727] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Growing focus has been drawn to the continuous detection of high estrogens levels in the soil environment. Additionally, microplastics (MPs) are also of growing concern worldwide, which may affect the environmental behavior of estrogens. However, little is known about effects of MPs occurrence on estrogens degradation in soil. In this study, polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) were chosen to examine the influence on six common estrogens (estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), estriol (E3), diethylstilbestrol (DES), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (17α-EE2)) degradation. The results indicated that PE-MPs had little effect on the degradation of E3 and DES, and slightly affected the degradation of 17α-E2, however, significantly inhibited the degradation of E1, 17α-EE2, and 17β-E2. It was explained that (i) obvious oxidation reaction occurred on the surface of PE-MPs, indicating that PE-MPs might compete with estrogens for oxidation sites, such as redox and biological oxidation; (ii) PE-MPs significantly changed the bacterial community in soil, resulting in a decline in the abundance of some bacterial communities that biodegraded estrogens. Moreover, the rough surface of PE-MPs facilitated the estrogen-degrading bacterial species (especially for E1, E2, and EE2) to adhere, which decreased their reaction to estrogens. These findings are expected to deepen the understanding of the environmental behavior of typical estrogens in the coexisting system of MPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyan Liu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404000, China
| | - Dong Zeng
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Jie Pan
- College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404000, China
| | - Jiawu Hu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Mimi Zheng
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404000, China
| | - Wangrong Liu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Dechun He
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
| | - Quanyun Ye
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Du T, Qian L, Shao S, Xing T, Li T, Wu L. Comparison of sulfide-induced transformation of biodegradable and conventional microplastics: Mechanism and environmental fate. Water Res 2024; 253:121295. [PMID: 38354663 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121295] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics have been massively produced and used as potential substitutes for conventional plastics, resulting in their inevitable entry into the environment and generation of biodegradable microplastics (MPs). The sulfidation transformation of MPs is an important process for their transformation in anoxic environments (e.g., sediments, anaerobic activated sludges) that can alter their environmental effects and risks. However, how sulfides induce the transformation of biodegradable MPs and whether they are similar to conventional MPs remains unknown. In the present study, we compared the transformation and mechanism of conventional polyethylene (PE) MPs and biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) MPs during sulfidation. The results demonstrated that sulfidation resulted in oxidation of PE MPs, whereas PBAT MPs underwent reduction and had higher physical damage, as evidenced by fragmentation, chain scission and organic compound release. Besides, reactive oxygen species and sulfide species played important roles in the sulfidation of PE and PBAT MPs, respectively. The presence of ester groups in PBAT MPs led to their hydrolysis, causing chain scission and further reduction. Furthermore, sulfidation caused a higher degree of adsorption and toxicity alterations in PBAT MPs than in PE MPs. This work uncovers critical abiotic transformation behaviors of biodegradable microplastics and highlights the necessity of considering microplastic structural features to accurately predict microplastic occurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Du
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Liwen Qian
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Song Shao
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Tianran Xing
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Tong Li
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Lijun Wu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li Y, Zhen D, Liu F, Zhang X, Gao Z, Wang J. Adsorption of azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin onto degradable and non-degradable microplastics: Performance and mechanism. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169453. [PMID: 38135077 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169453] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) exist after agricultural operations and thus present potential hazards to the environment and human health. However, the ecological risks posed by MPs carrying pesticides remain unclear. In this study, the adsorption and desorption behaviors of two pesticides, azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin, on degradable and non-degradable MPs of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polyethylene (PE) were compared before and after UV aging. Additionally, the bioaccessibility of MPs carrying pesticides within a condition simulating gastrointestinal fluids was evaluated. The results showed that, after UV aging, the adsorption capacity of PBAT for pesticides decreased, while that of PE increased. Moreover, PBAT possessed higher adsorption ability towards both the pesticides due to its higher specific surface area, pore volume, contact angle, and lower crystallinity, as well as stronger van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding indicated by theoretical calculation. Bioaccessibility experiments showed that azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin had a higher risk of desorption from PBAT than PE, which is mainly dependent on the LogKow of pesticides according to the random forest analysis. In brief, the study highlights the potential risks of degradable MPs carrying pesticides to human health and the ecosystem, especially when compared to their non-degradable counterparts, manifesting that the ecological risk posed by degradable MPs should not be ignored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan Li
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dawei Zhen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fengmao Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Xianzhao Zhang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhiqiang Gao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Applied Statistics, College of Economics and Management, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen Y, Yan Z, Zhang Y, Zhu P, Jiang R, Wang M, Wang Y, Lu G. Co-exposure of microplastics and sulfamethoxazole propagated antibiotic resistance genes in sediments by regulating the microbial carbon metabolism. J Hazard Mater 2024; 463:132951. [PMID: 37951174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132951] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
The concerns on the carriers of microplastics (MPs) on co-existing pollutants in aquatic environments are sharply rising in recent years. However, little is known about their interactions on the colonization of microbiota, especially for the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influences on the propagation of ARGs in sediments by the co-exposure of different MPs and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The results showed that the presence of MPs significantly enhanced the contents of total organic carbon, while having no effects on the removal of SMX in sediments. Exposure to SMX and MPs obviously activated the microbial carbon utilization capacities based on the BIOLOG method. The propagation of ARGs in sediments was activated by SMX, which was further promoted by the presence of polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, but significantly lowered by the co-exposed polyethylene (PE) MPs. This apparent difference may be attributed to the distinct influence on the antibiotic efflux pumps of two MPs. Moreover, the propagation of ARGs may be also dominated by microbial carbon metabolism in sediments, especially through regulating the carbon sources of carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. This study provides new insights into the carrier effects of MPs in sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Zhenhua Yan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Peiyuan Zhu
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Runren Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yonghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Guanghua Lu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| |
Collapse
|