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Lefebvre C, Le Bihanic F, Jalón-Rojas I, Dusacre E, Chassaigne-Viscaïno L, Bichon J, Clérandeau C, Morin B, Lecomte S, Cachot J. Spatial distribution of anthropogenic particles and microplastics in a meso-tidal lagoon (Arcachon Bay, France): A multi-compartment approach. Sci Total Environ 2023; 898:165460. [PMID: 37454851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165460] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of microplastic (MP) contamination is still needed to evaluate this threat correctly and tackle this issue. Here, MP contamination was assessed for a meso-tidal lagoon of the Atlantic coast (Arcachon Bay, France). Sea surface, water column, intertidal sediments and wild oysters were sampled. Five different stations were studied to assess the spatial distribution of the contamination. Two were outside of the bay and three were inside the bay (from the inlet to the back). A distinction was made between all anthropogenic particles (AP, i.e. visually sorted) and MP (i.e. plastic polymer confirmed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy). The length of particles recovered in this study ranged between 17 μm and 5 mm. Concentration and composition in sea surface and water column samples showed spatial variations while sediment and oyster samples did not. At outside stations, the sea surface and the water column presented a blended composition regarding shapes and polymers and low to high concentrations (e.g. 0.16 ± 0.08 MP.m-3 and 561.7 ± 68.5 MP.m-3, respectively for sea surface and water column), which can be due to coastal processes and nearby input sources. The inlet station displayed a well-marked pattern only at the sea surface. High AP and MP concentrations were recorded, and fragments along with polyethylene overwhelmed (respectively 76.0 % and 73.2 %). Higher surface currents could explain this pattern. At the bay back, AP and MP concentrations were lower and fibers were mainly recorded. Weaker hydrodynamics in this area was suspected to drive this contamination profile. Overall, fragments and buoyant particles were mainly detected at the sea surface while fibers and negatively buoyant particles prevailed in other compartments. Most of the studied samples presented an important contribution of fiber-shaped particles (from 31.5 % to 94.2 %). Finally, contamination was ubiquitous as AP and MP were found at all stations in all sample types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lefebvre
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France; Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France.
| | - Florane Le Bihanic
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Edgar Dusacre
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | | | - Jeyan Bichon
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | | | - Bénédicte Morin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Sophie Lecomte
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Jérôme Cachot
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France.
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Baudena A, Kiko R, Jalón-Rojas I, Pedrotti ML. Low-Density Plastic Debris Dispersion beneath the Mediterranean Sea Surface. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:7503-7515. [PMID: 37125732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08873] [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] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is a widespread marine pollutant, with most studies focusing on the distribution of floating plastic debris at the sea surface. Recent evidence, however, indicates a significant presence of such low density plastic in the water column and at the seafloor, but information on its origin and dispersion is lacking. Here, we studied the pathways and fate of sinking plastic debris in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most polluted world seas. We used a recent Lagrangian plastic-tracking model, forced with realistic parameters, including a maximum estimated sinking speed of 7.8 m/d. Our simulations showed that the locations where particles left the surface differed significantly from those where they reached the seafloor, with lateral transport distances between 119 and 282 km. Furthermore, 60% of particles deposited on the bottom coastal strip (20 km wide) were released from vessels, 20% from the facing country, and 20% from other countries. Theoretical considerations furthermore suggested that biological activities potentially responsible for the sinking of low density plastic occur throughout the water column. Our findings indicate that the responsibility for seafloor plastic pollution is shared among Mediterranean countries, with potential impact on pelagic and benthic biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Baudena
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, UMR 7093 LOV, Villefranche-sur-Mer 06230, France
| | - Rainer Kiko
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, UMR 7093 LOV, Villefranche-sur-Mer 06230, France
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Maria Luiza Pedrotti
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, UMR 7093 LOV, Villefranche-sur-Mer 06230, France
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Defontaine S, Jalón-Rojas I. Physical processes matters! Recommendations for sampling microplastics in estuarine waters based on hydrodynamics. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 191:114932. [PMID: 37087826 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in estuarine waters is crucial for understanding the fate of microplastics at the land-sea continuum, and for developing policies and legislation to mitigate associated risks. However, if protocols to monitor microplastic pollution in ocean waters or beach sediments are well established, they may not be adequate for estuarine environments, due to the complex 3D hydrodynamics. In this note, we review and discuss sampling methods and strategies in relation to the main environmental forcing, estuarine hydrodynamics, and their spatio-temporal scales of variability. We propose recommendations about when, where and how to sample microplastics to capture the most representative picture of microplastic pollution. This note opens discussions on the urgent need for standardized methods and protocols to routinely monitor microplastics in estuaries which should, at the same time, be easily adaptable to the different systems to ensure consistency and comparability of data across different studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Defontaine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France; Ifremer - DYNECO/DHYSED, Centre de Bretagne, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzan, France.
| | - Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
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Jalón-Rojas I, Romero-Ramírez A, Fauquembergue K, Rossignol L, Cachot J, Sous D, Morin B. Effects of Biofilms and Particle Physical Properties on the Rising and Settling Velocities of Microplastic Fibers and Sheets. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:8114-8123. [PMID: 35593651 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vertical dynamics of microplastics (MPs) in the water column are complex and not fully understood due to the diversity of environmental MPs and the impact of weathering and biofouling on their dynamical properties. In this study, we investigate the effects of the particle properties and biofilm on the vertical (settling or rising) velocity of microplastic sheets and fibers under laboratory conditions. The experiments focus on three types of MPs (polyester PES fibers, polyethylene terephthalate PET sheets, and polypropylene PP sheets) of nine sizes and two degrees of biological colonization. Even though pristine PES fibers and PET sheets had a similar density, the sinking velocity of fibers was much smaller and independent of their length. The settling or rising velocity of sheets increased with the particle size up to a threshold and then decreased in the wake of horizontal oscillations in large particles. Biofilms had unexpected effects on vertical velocities. Irregular biofilm distributions can trigger motion instabilities that decrease settling velocities of sheets despite the increase in density. Biofilms can also modify the orientation of fibers, which may increase their settling velocity. Finally, we selected the most performant theoretical formulation for each type of particle and proposed modifications to consider the effect of biofilm distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Linda Rossignol
- UMR5805 EPOC, CNRS, Université Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac, France
| | - Jérôme Cachot
- UMR5805 EPOC, CNRS, Université Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac, France
| | - Damien Sous
- Université Pau & Pays Adour/E2S UPPA, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur Appliquées à la Méchanique et au Génie Electrique─Fédération IPRA, EA4581, 64600 Anglet, France
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), 83130 La Gard, France
| | - Bénédicte Morin
- UMR5805 EPOC, CNRS, Université Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac, France
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Liu Y, Li Z, Jalón-Rojas I, Wang XH, Fredj E, Zhang D, Feng L, Li X. Assessing the potential risk and relationship between microplastics and phthalates in surface seawater of a heavily human-impacted metropolitan bay in northern China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020; 204:111067. [PMID: 32745786 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of microplastics (MPs) and phthalates (PAEs), a class of MP-associated contaminants, on the marine environment are not thoroughly understood despite concern over their adverse effects on humans and ecosystems. Field studies linking MPs and PAEs in seawater have not yet been reported. We investigate for the first time the correlation between MPs contamination and the presence of PAEs in the surface seawater of Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), a semi-enclosed metropolitan bay in northern China heavily impacted by human activity. The abundance of MPs, dominated by polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate mostly smaller than 2 mm, ranged between 24.44 items/m3 and 180.23 items/m3, with the majority being black and transparent fibers and fragments. Concentrations of PAEs varied from 129.96 ng/L to 921.22 ng/L. Relatively higher abundances of MPs and higher concentrations of PAEs were generally found in areas near riverine inputs and sewage treatment plants. There was a strong correlation between PAEs concentration and MPs abundance, suggesting that they are closely linked. In a risk assessment combining PAEs and MPs, the risk quotients (RQs) indicated that the ecological risk of di-n-butyl phthalate in JZB was relatively high (0.046<RQ < 0.516); the risk of the other PAEs were low. The overall ecological hazard index (HI) of PAEs was low to medium (0.098<HI < 0.897). The risk of MPs pollution in JZB, as indicated by Pollution Load Index (PLI), was moderate (PLIJZB = 11.76), and mainly due to polyvinyl chloride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Zhaozhao Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- UMR5805 EPOC, CNRS, OASU, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, 33615, France; The Sino-Australian Research Consortium for Coastal Management, School of Science, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Xiao Hua Wang
- The Sino-Australian Research Consortium for Coastal Management, School of Science, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Erick Fredj
- Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dahai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Lijuan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Xianguo Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266100, China.
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Jalón-Rojas I, Wang XH, Fredj E. A 3D numerical model to Track Marine Plastic Debris (TrackMPD): Sensitivity of microplastic trajectories and fates to particle dynamical properties and physical processes. Mar Pollut Bull 2019; 141:256-272. [PMID: 30955734 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Numerical modelling is a key tool in understanding and determining the sources, trajectories and fates of micro-plastic debris (MPD). In this study, we introduce TrackMPD, a new modelling framework for the 3D transport of marine debris. TrackMPD fills the gaps in previous models by: (1) using a three-dimensional approach; (2) providing compatibility with a variety of ocean models; and (3) including a wide range of physical processes (advection, dispersion, windage, sinking, settling, beaching and re-floating) and MPD behaviours that depend on particle dynamical properties, and the fouling and degradation states. We implement a sensitivity analysis based on 44 scenarios to assess the relative importance of the different processes and behaviours on the MPD trajectories and fates. Results show that the MPD dynamical properties that impact their sinking, in particular plastic density and biofilm thickness and density, have the biggest effect on the MPD transport, followed by turbulent dispersion and washing-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Jalón-Rojas
- The Sino-Australian Research Centre for Coastal Management, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Xiao Hua Wang
- The Sino-Australian Research Centre for Coastal Management, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, Australia; State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics (Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA), Hangzhou, China
| | - Erick Fredj
- Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel
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