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Xiong X, Tappenbeck TH, Wu C, Elser JJ. Microplastics in Flathead Lake, a large oligotrophic mountain lake in the USA. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119445. [PMID: 35550134 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are contaminants that are closely associated with human activity and are often abundant even in remote areas. As the largest natural freshwater lake in the western USA, Flathead Lake is a suitable site to study microplastics in lakes in less-populated areas of North America. Our assessment of microplastics in lake surface water samples showed that microplastic densities and concentrations in Flathead Lake were similar to those in other lakes located in less-populated areas around the world, with densities ranging from 8.00 × 104 to 4.22 × 105 particles/km2 with a mean concentration of 1.89 × 105 particles/km2. Dry deposition rates for microplastics ranged from 4 to 140 particles/m2/day with an average of 69 particles/m2/day and were significantly higher in the fall. Microplastic concentrations in wet deposition ranged from 0.006 particles/mL to 0.050 particles/mL with highest concentrations in winter and lowest in summer. Fibrous microplastics were predominant in both lake water and atmospheric deposition. The high densities of microplastics in the sample sites located near the Flathead River inlet suggests that the river is an important source of microplastics to Flathead Lake. The high densities of microplastics and high proportions of non-fibrous microplastics near populated areas of the lake imply that local human activities also affect microplastics in Flathead Lake. Although the annual flux of microplastics in dry deposition was higher than that in wet deposition, the relatively modest difference suggests that precipitation might enhance the deposition of microplastics. The results of this study indicate that instituting increased control measures that target both reducing the microfibers generated by laundry and improving the overall level of plastic waste management in the watershed may help in controlling microplastic levels in Flathead Lake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China; Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, 59860, USA.
| | - Tyler H Tappenbeck
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, 59860, USA
| | - Chenxi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - James J Elser
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, 59860, USA
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102
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Yang S, Cheng Y, Liu T, Huang S, Yin L, Pu Y, Liang G. Impact of waste of COVID-19 protective equipment on the environment, animals and human health: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:2951-2970. [PMID: 35791338 PMCID: PMC9247942 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01462-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and shields, has become mandatory to prevent person-to-person transmission of coronavirus. However, the excessive use and abandoned protective equipment is aggravating the world's growing plastic problem. Moreover, above protective equipment can eventually break down into microplastics and enter the environment. Here we review the threat of protective equipment associated plastic and microplastic wastes to environments, animals and human health, and reveal the protective equipment associated microplastic cycle. The major points are the following:1) COVID-19 protective equipment is the emerging source of plastic and microplastic wastes in the environment. 2) protective equipment associated plastic and microplastic wastes are polluting aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. 3) Discarded protective equipment can harm animals by entrapment, entanglement and ingestion, and derived microplastics can also cause adverse implications on animals and human health. 4) We also provide several recommendations and future research priority for the sustainable environment. Therefore, much importance should be attached to potential protective equipment associated plastic and microplastic pollution to protect the environment, animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanping Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaoping Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lihong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Geyu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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103
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Cui Y, Liu M, Selvam S, Ding Y, Wu Q, Pitchaimani VS, Huang P, Ke H, Zheng H, Liu F, Luo B, Wang C, Cai M. Microplastics in the surface waters of the South China sea and the western Pacific Ocean: Different size classes reflecting various sources and transport. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134456. [PMID: 35364074 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic transport in the marginal seas is a key process influencing their ultimate fate in the open oceans. In the present study, we collected seawater samples from the western Pacific Ocean (WP) and the South China Sea (SCS) to investigate the distribution, transport, and possible sources for microplastics. Generally, the range of microplastic levels were 187-1816, 146-1563, and 34.2-622 particles/m3 (averaged in 797 ± 512, 744 ± 330, and 201 ± 134 particles/m3) for the northern SCS, the western SCS, and the WP, respectively. Based on the size distribution, the highest value (390 ± 288 particles/m3) was found for 100-200 μm, followed by 200-500 μm (131 ± 155 particles/m3), and 500-1000 μm (29.7 ± 39.2 particles/m3), with the lowest for 1-5 mm (13.6 ± 14.2 particles/m3). Granule, yellow, and size <1000 μm were their most prevalent characteristics. The main polymer types of microplastics were polyester, rayon, and nylon. A negative correlation between microplastic proportion and particle size was observed in the SCS and the WP. Furthermore, the main sources of microplastics in the northern SCS probably came from the Pearl River. Surface currents and the vertical mixing processes might be two different mechanisms that affect microplastic transport from the WP and the SCS. Future comparison to measured particle size distributions data allows us to explain size-selective microplastic transport in the marine environment, and probably provide guidance on microplastic longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaozong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Mengyang Liu
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - S Selvam
- Department of Geology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, 628008, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Yongcheng Ding
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Qianqian Wu
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - V Stephen Pitchaimani
- Department of Geology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, 628008, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Peng Huang
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Hongwei Ke
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Haowen Zheng
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Fengjiao Liu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environment, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, China
| | - Bojun Luo
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Chunhui Wang
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China.
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104
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Zhao M, Huang L, Arulmani SRB, Yan J, Wu L, Wu T, Zhang H, Xiao T. Adsorption of Different Pollutants by Using Microplastic with Different Influencing Factors and Mechanisms in Wastewater: A Review. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12132256. [PMID: 35808092 PMCID: PMC9268391 DOI: 10.3390/nano12132256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The studies on microplastics are significant in the world. According to the literature, microplastics have greatly specific surface areas, indicating high adsorption capacities for highly toxic pollutants in aquatic and soil environments, and these could be used as adsorbents. The influencing factors of microplastic adsorption, classification of microplastics, and adsorption mechanisms using microplastics for adsorbing organic, inorganic, and mixed pollutants are summarized in the paper. Furthermore, the influence of pH, temperature, functional groups, aging, and other factors related to the adsorption performances of plastics are discussed in detail. We found that microplastics have greater advantages in efficient adsorption performance and cost-effectiveness. In this paper, the adsorptions of pollutants by microplastics and their performance is proposed, which provides significant guidance for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Samuel Raj Babu Arulmani
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Jia Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Lirong Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Tao Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
| | - Hongguo Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
- Guangzhou University-Linköping University Research Center on Urban Sustainable Development, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (M.Z.); (L.H.); (S.R.B.A.); (J.Y.); (L.W.); (T.W.); (T.X.)
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
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105
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Chen Y, Gao B, Xu D, Sun K, Li Y. Catchment-wide flooding significantly altered microplastics organization in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the reservoir. iScience 2022; 25:104401. [PMID: 35637732 PMCID: PMC9142631 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydro-fluctuation belt (HFB) is the most sensitive area of a large reservoir. This research aimed to identify the impact of catastrophic flooding on the local microplastics organization in the HFB soil of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the largest reservoir in China. We found that the catchment-wide flooding efficiently alleviated the local microplastics abundance from 7,633 to 4,875 items/kg (from 44 to 18 mg/kg) but added to the pollution risk in the reservoir body. After flooding, the overall size distribution of local microplastics was minimally altered. Interestingly, the preferential retention of the small-sized polyethylene was found in HFB after flooding. Approximately 5.0×1014 items (∼2,360 tons) of microplastics were evacuated into the reservoir, equivalent to 15.8 wt% of the plastic flux of the Yangtze River into the ocean. We observed that HFB is a significant source of local microplastics in reservoir, and the long-term source–sink transformation mechanism in the HFB should be further investigated. Microplastics were detected across all sites in hydro-fluctuation belt (HFB) soil Flooding efficiently reduced local microplastics in HFB soil Catastrophic flooding induced selective retention of microplastics in HFB soil HFB soil was a significant source of microplastics in the reservoir basin
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China.,State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Dongyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Ke Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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106
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Gao T, Sun B, Xu Z, Chen Q, Yang M, Wan Q, Song L, Chen G, Jing C, Zeng EY, Yang G. Exposure to polystyrene microplastics reduces regeneration and growth in planarians. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128673. [PMID: 35303662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The potential adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) on ecosystems and human health have received much attention in recent years. However, only limited data are available on the mechanisms for the uptake, distribution, and effects of MPs in freshwater organisms, especially with respect to tissue repair, regeneration and impairment of stem cell functions. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted exposure experiments in which planarians (Dugesia japonica) were exposed to polystyrene (PS)-MPs mixed in liver homogenate and examined the tissue growth and regeneration, stem cell functions, and oxidative stress. The body and blastema areas decreased upon exposure to PS-MPs, indicating that the growth and regeneration of planarians were delayed. The proliferation and differentiation processes of stem cells were inhibited, and the proportion of mitotic stem cells decreased, which may be related to the activation of the TGFβ/SMAD4 and Notch signaling pathways. The enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde on the first day of exposure to PS-MPs confirmed the oxidative stress response of planarians to PS-MPs. The present study demonstrated the likelihood of biotoxicity induced by PS-MPs. These results will provide clues for further investigations into the potential risks of PS-MPs to human stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Bingbing Sun
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Zhenbiao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Qiaoyun Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qinli Wan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Linxia Song
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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107
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Liu H, Sun K, Liu X, Yao R, Cao W, Zhang L, Wang X. Spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics and their macroscopic relationship with algal blooms in Chaohu Lake, China. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2022; 248:104028. [PMID: 35640420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are emerging pollutants with sizes less than 5 mm, and they are ubiquitous. The occurrence of algal blooms has become a major problem affecting water quality in Chaohu Lake. To understand the relationship between the microplastic distribution and algal bloom density from a macroscopic point of view in Chaohu Lake, we collected microplastic samples from water and sediments during the wet and dry seasons and collected satellite remote sensing images of the algae density in recent years. The research results showed that the spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics were uneven and varied greatly. The average abundances of microplastics in the water samples were 2133 ± 1534 n•m-3 in the dry season and 1679 ± 1577 n•m-3 in the wet season, and the average abundance of microplastics in sediments was 308 ± 231 n•kg-1. The abundance of microplastics in the estuaries was higher than those in other locations, and it was higher in the western part of the lake than in the eastern part. The microplastics in water and sediments presented different sizes, colors, shapes and compositions. The abundance, distribution and migration of microplastics were mainly affected by population density, rainfall, runoff, hydrodynamic force and wind direction. At a more macroscopic level, the distribution of microplastics was similar to that of algal blooms, TN and TP to some extent, especially in the early stage of algal bloom outbreaks, and the algal density was significantly positively correlated with the flux of microplastics into the lake. Microplastics, as carriers of algae, could promote the growth of algae blooms in the early stage, while in the later stage, microplastics and algal blooms could aggregate and coprecipitate through adsorption or adhesion and then inhibit the growth of algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huatai Liu
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China.
| | - Kangxi Sun
- Yancheng Wetland and World Natural Heritage Conservation and Management Center, Yancheng, PR China
| | - Xiaoya Liu
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Rui Yao
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Wenzhi Cao
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Liu Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Environmental Science Research Institute, Hefei, PR China
| | - Xinhong Wang
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
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108
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Xia F, Liu H, Zhang J, Wang D. Migration characteristics of microplastics based on source-sink investigation in a typical urban wetland. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 213:118154. [PMID: 35149363 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although urban wetlands are key transition sub-ecosystems connecting urban microplastic pollution sources to freshwater environments, few studies have reported microplastic migration characteristics in urban wetlands. Recent studies have only focused on the occurrence of microplastics in wetlands. Thus, this study investigated the occurrence of microplastics in sources and sinks (surface water, sediment, effluent, and agricultural waste) and analyzed the migration characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban wetland, namely the Huixian Wetland, Guilin. The abundance of microplastics was in the ranges of 16.5-89.0 items/L, 16.8 × 103-52.8 × 103 items/kg, and 172.0-605.0 items/L in the surface water, sediment, and effluent, respectively. Most of the microplastic settlement at 1-2 km downstream of the source of pollution in this wetland presented with a total decrease of 53.7-61.4% for microplastics in the surface water, whereas microplastics of smaller sizes (100-500 µm) were retained more in surface water than the smallest (50-100 µm) and large (500-5000 µm) microplastics. Clustering analysis and principal component analysis showed that effluent was the major source of microplastics in the urban section of this wetland, and agricultural wastes also played a role in the suburbs. This first quantification of small-sized (50-500 µm) microplastic removal throughout an urban wetland provides key reference information for controlling the environmental risk of microplastics in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Xia
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
| | - Dunqiu Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
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109
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Li X, Sun W. The formation of deep sea plastic biotas. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2022; 67:674-675. [PMID: 36546129 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Li
- Center of Deep Sea Research, Center of Ocean Mega Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weidong Sun
- Center of Deep Sea Research, Center of Ocean Mega Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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110
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Cong B, Li S, Liu S, Mi W, Liu S, Zhang Z, Xie Z. Source and Distribution of Emerging and Legacy Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Basins of the Eastern Indian Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4199-4209. [PMID: 35302762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have received significant and ongoing attention. To establish favorable regulatory policies, it is vital to investigate the occurrence, source, and budgets of POPs worldwide. POPs including phthalic acid esters (PAEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and highly chlorinated flame retardants (HFRs) have not yet been examined in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). In this study, the distribution of POPs has been investigated from surface sediments with the depth of 4369-5742 m in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) and Wharton Basin (WB) of EIO. The average (±SD) concentrations of ∑11PAEs, ∑11OPEs, ∑4 BFRs, and ∑5HFRs were 1202.0 ± 274.36 ng g-1 dw, 15.3 ± 7.23 ng g-1 dw, 327.6 ± 211.74 pg g-1 dw, and 7.9 ± 7.45 pg g-1 dw, respectively. The high abundance of low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAEs, chlorinated OPEs, LMW BDEs, and anti-Dechlorane Plus indicated the pollution characteristics in the EIO. Correlation analysis demonstrated that LMW compounds may be derived from the high-molecular-weight compounds. The monsoon circulation, currents, and Antarctic Bottom Water may be the main drivers. POP accumulation rate, depositional flux, and mass inventory in the Indian Ocean were also estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailin Cong
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Shuang Li
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Shenghao Liu
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Wenying Mi
- MINJIE Institute of Environmental Science and Health Research, Geesthacht 21502, Germany
| | - Shengfa Liu
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Zhiyong Xie
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht 21502, Germany
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111
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Chen K, Tang R, Luo Y, Chen Y, Ei-Naggar A, Du J, Bu A, Yan Y, Lu X, Cai Y, Chang SX. Transcriptomic and metabolic responses of earthworms to contaminated soil with polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:128176. [PMID: 34996001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Examining transcriptomic and metabolic responses of earthworms to microplastic-contaminated soil is critical for understanding molecular-level toxicity of microplastics; yet very little research on this topic exists. We investigated influences of environmentally relevant concentrations (ERC) of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) microplastic-contaminated soil on earthworms at the transcriptomic, metabolic, tissue and whole-body levels to study their molecular toxicity. The addition of PP and PE at ERC induced oxidative stress on earthworms, as indicated by the high enrichment of glutathione metabolism and increased glutamine at the transcriptomic and metabolic levels. Digestive and immune systems of earthworms were damaged according to the injuries of the intestinal epithelium, partial shedding of chloragogenous tissues and unclear structure of coelom tissues, which were confirmed by pathway analysis at the transcriptomic level. Significant enrichment of arachidonic acid and glycerolipid metabolisms indicated that PP and PE disturbed the lipid metabolism in earthworms. Significantly increased betaine and myo-inositol, and decreased 2-hexyl-5-ethyl-3-furansulfonate suggested that PP and PE caused differences in osmoregulation extent. In conclusion, most similar responses of earthworm might result from special size rather than type effects of PP and PE microplastics. Contamination of soils with microplastics even at ERC has health risks to earthworms; therefore, proper management of microplastics to reduce their input to the environment is key to reducing the health risks to soil fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Ronggui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Youchao Chen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Ali Ei-Naggar
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | - Jianhang Du
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Aiai Bu
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yan Yan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Xinghang Lu
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yanjiang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
| | - Scott X Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 442 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
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112
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Li R, Zhu L, Cui L, Zhu YG. Viral diversity and potential environmental risk in microplastic at watershed scale: Evidence from metagenomic analysis of plastisphere. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 161:107146. [PMID: 35183943 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have been considered as a new vector for the long-distance transport of pathogens in aquatic ecosystems. However, the composition of viral communities attached on MPs and their environmental risk are largely unknown. Here, we profiled the viral diversity and potential risk in five different MPs collected from the Beilun River based on metagenomic analysis. Nearly 2863 million raw reads were produced and assembled, and annotation resulted in the identification of 1719 different species of viruses in MPs. Viruses in polypropylene (PP) displayed the highest diversity, with about 250 specific viruses detected. Source tracking of viruses in MPs by the fast expectation-maximization microbial source tracking method (FEAST) demonstrated that viruses in upstream and downstream MPs are two major sources of viruses in estuary. Furthermore, the MP-type-dependent potential environmental risk of viruses was significant based on both antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) detected in viral metagenomes, and PP was confirmed with the highest potential environmental risk. This study reveals the high diversity and potential environmental risk of viruses in different MPs, and provides an important guidance for future environmental monitoring and understanding the potential risks associated with both viral transmission and MPs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilong Li
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Longji Zhu
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Li Cui
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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113
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Chen F, Lao Q, Liu M, Huang P, Chen B, Zhou X, Chen P, Chen K, Song Z, Cai M. Impact of intensive mariculture activities on microplastic pollution in a typical semi-enclosed bay: Zhanjiang Bay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113402. [PMID: 35150985 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) was investigated in Zhanjiang Bay, a semi-enclosed bay in south China and famous for considerable mariculture industry, to evaluate whether mariculture activities accelerated MP pollution. The MP abundances ranged from 0 to 2.65 n/m3 (number/m3), showing seasonal variances with higher levels in May and September and lower levels in January. In the inner part of the bay, a significantly high MP abundance and predominance of foam were found during the oyster breeding period, and pollution sources were prone to be single and extensive. This suggested that MPs were strongly influenced by the intensive plastic products for oyster culturing, especially during breeding. Moreover, plastic cages used for culturing were the main source of MPs in the central part of the bay. By conducting statistical analysis for eight representative bays, the economic growth, social development, agriculture structure, and aquaculture development were supposed to influence the local MP pollution level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fajin Chen
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Qibin Lao
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre of Beihai, State Oceanic Administration, Beihai 266031, China
| | - Mengyang Liu
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Peng Huang
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Piao Chen
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kai Chen
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhiguang Song
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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114
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Yuan W, Christie-Oleza JA, Xu EG, Li J, Zhang H, Wang W, Lin L, Zhang W, Yang Y. Environmental fate of microplastics in the world's third-largest river: Basin-wide investigation and microplastic community analysis. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 210:118002. [PMID: 34986458 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.118002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Rivers have been recognized as major transport pathways for microplastics into the sea but large-scale quantitative data on the environmental fate of riverine microplastics remains limited, hindering proper risk assessment and development of regulatory measures. Microplastics in the whole Yangtze River Basin of China were systematically investigated by sampling the water, sediment, and soil. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with an average abundance of 1.27 items/L, 286.20 items/kg, and 338.09 items/kg for water, sediments, and soils, respectively, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most abundant polymers. A generally increasing trend of microplastic abundance from upstream to downstream was identified, which were co-attributed by geographical and anthropogenic factors including elevation, longitude, distance from the nearest city, population density, urbanization rate, and land use. Microplastics in the sediments showed more prominent vertical migration than those in the soils, and the density and size of microplastics may be the key factors governing the migration of microplastics across different compartments. Community analysis showed that microplastics in different compartments were significantly different and highly correlated with geographical distance. Major cities at the middle and lower reaches were considered pivotal nodes of microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River Basin. Policy recommendations were also proposed towards better remediation of microplastic pollution involving riverine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenke Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | | | - Elvis Genbo Xu
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
| | - Jiawei Li
- Department of Geography, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, Chinaww
| | - Wenfeng Wang
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Li Lin
- Basin Water Environmental Research Department, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Weihong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
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115
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Yin W, Zhang B, Shi J, Liu Z. Microbial adaptation to co-occurring vanadium and microplastics in marine and riverine environments. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127646. [PMID: 34750000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Vanadium (V) and microplastics have been respectively detected in environmental media, posing threats to ecosystem and human health. However, their co-existence situations in environment with microbial adaptation have been poorly understood. In this study, water and sediments collected from potential V polluted marine and riverine ecosystems were analyzed to reveal the distribution of V and microplastics with microbial responses. High concentrations of V (1.65-6.92 μg/L in water and 6.16-347.92 mg/kg in sediment) and microplastics (800-15600 item/m3 in water and 20-700 item/kg in sediment) co-occurred in aquatic environment. Less rich and diverse bacterial communities were colonized on microplastics compared to surrounding environment. Plastic-degrading taxa (e.g., Ralstonia, Rhodococcus) and V(V) reducers (e.g., Bacillus, Pseudomonas) were enriched in microplastic biofilms. Redundancy analysis showed that V, together with nutrients, ambient conditions and Cr, contributed significantly to the compositions of microbial community on microplastics. Besides directly acting on microbial community, V could also alter it by influencing environmental factors (e.g., pH), as indicated through structural equation model. This study advances understanding the previously ignored interactions of biogeochemical processes of V and microplastics in aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwen Yin
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Baogang Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | - Jiaxin Shi
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Ziqi Liu
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
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116
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Peng G, Lin Y, van Bavel B, Li D, Ni J, Song Y. Aggregate exposure pathways for microplastics (mpAEP): An evidence-based framework to identify research and regulatory needs. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 209:117873. [PMID: 34839066 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics as emerging contaminants have been detected from peaks to poles. High concerns on the risks of microplastic pollution to humans and ecosystems have therefore been raised in the past decade. While a large number of studies have been conducted to investigate the environmental levels and toxicity of microplastics, the information generated to support risk assessment is fragmented and the coherence between different types of study is largely lacking. Here we introduced the Aggregate Exposure Pathway (AEP), a conceptual framework originally proposed for chemical exposure assessment, to facilitate organization, visualization and evaluation of existing information generated from microplastic research, and to efficiently identify future knowledge and regulatory needs. A putative microplastic AEP network (mpAEP) was developed to demonstrate the concept and model development strategies. Two mpAEP case studies, with polyethylene (PE) as a prototype, were then presented based on existing environmental exposure data collected from the Changjiang Estuary and the East China Sea (Case I), and the Oslo Fjord (Case II), respectively. Weight of evidence (WoE) assessment of the mpAEPs were performed for evaluating the essentiality, theoretical plausibility, empirical evidence and quantitative understanding of the evidence and relationships in the AEPs. Both cases showed moderate/high WoE to support the strength of the models, whereas also displayed clear knowledge gaps, thus providing guidance for future investigations and regulations. The mpAEP framework introduced herein presents a novel strategy for organizing fragmented information from diverse types of microplastic research, enhancing mechanistic understanding of causal relationships and facilitating the development of quantitative prediction models for research and regulation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guyu Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo N-0579, Norway
| | - Bert van Bavel
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo N-0579, Norway
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Jinren Ni
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China.
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo N-0579, Norway.
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117
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Dong J, Li L, Liu Q, Yang M, Gao Z, Qian P, Gao K, Deng X. Interactive effects of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics and salinity variation on a marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 289:133240. [PMID: 34896422 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Until now, knowledge about the interactive effects of microplastics and environmental factors on primary producers is quite limited. In this work, a marine diatom (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) was exposed to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics at different salinities (25, 35, and 45‰) for 10 days in order to study their interactive effects. Results showed that growth of P. tricornutum was negatively affected by PMMA microplastics and salinity variation with a minimum EC50 value of 91.75 mg L-1. Photosynthetic activity of P. tricornutum was also inhibited by the two factors, and their interactive effects on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm and ΦPSII) were significant. In the algal cells, soluble protein accumulated, activities of two antioxidant enzymes changed, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased when this diatom was exposed to the microplastics at different salinities. These data would help to evaluate the risks of microplastics to primary producers under different environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Dong
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Linqing Li
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoqiao Liu
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengting Yang
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Gao
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Pingkang Qian
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Gao
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyuan Deng
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, People's Republic of China.
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118
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Mai L, Zeng E, Zeng EY. Dog poop bags: A non-negligible source of plastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118355. [PMID: 34648841 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution derived from the disposal of plastic bags in the environment is clearly evidenced. However, little attention has been directed towards plastic waste derived from plastic dog poop bags (DPBs), which are widely used and can never be recycled. Herein, we raise concerns about the contribution of DPBs to plastic pollution in the environment. Combining the weight of each DPB, the number of bags daily used for a dog, and the number of pet dogs around the world, we estimated the number of annual consumed and disposed DPBs at more than 415 billion, or equivalently 0.76-1.23 million tons of plastics based on various weights of different DPBs. Although plastic waste produced by DPBs only accounts for a small fraction (0.6%) of the total plastic waste generation, the extremely short life cycle of DPBs has made them a non-negligible source of plastic pollution in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Mai
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Elaine Zeng
- University High School, 4771 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China.
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119
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Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su14010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rural areas are exposed to severe environmental pollution issues fed by industrial and agricultural activities combined with poor waste and sanitation management practices, struggling to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with Agenda 2030. Rural communities are examined through a “dual approach” as both contributors and receivers of plastic pollution leakage into the natural environment (through the air–water–soil–biota nexus). Despite the emerging trend of plastic pollution research, in this paper, we identify few studies investigating rural communities. Therefore, proxy analysis of peer-reviewed literature is required to outline the significant gaps related to plastic pollution and plastic waste management issues in rural regions. This work focuses on key stages such as (i) plastic pollution effects on rural communities, (ii) plastic pollution generated by rural communities, (iii) the development of a rural waste management sector in low- and middle-income countries in line with the SDGs, and (iv) circular economy opportunities to reduce plastic pollution in rural areas. We conclude that rural communities must be involved in both future plastic pollution and circular economy research to help decision makers reduce environmental and public health threats, and to catalyze circular initiatives in rural areas around the world, including less developed communities.
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120
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Wang F, Lai Z, Peng G, Luo L, Liu K, Huang X, Xu Y, Shen Q, Li D. Microplastic abundance and distribution in a Central Asian desert. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149529. [PMID: 34391141 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is widespread, affecting even the remotest places on Earth. However, observational data on microplastic deposition in deserts, which comprise 21% of the total land area, are relatively rare. The current study aims to address the knowledge gap in terms of microplastic distribution in Asian deserts. The Badain Jaran Desert in Central Asia is the second largest desert in China. We investigated microplastic distribution and deposition on dunes and lakes of this desert. Microplastics were extracted from surface sediments to determine their characteristics and polymer types by microscopic inspection and μ-FTIR. The abundance of microplastics (detection limit is approximately 40 μm) in the uninhabited area ranged from 0.7 ± 1.5 to 11.7 ± 15.5 items/kg, with an average of 6.0 ± 15.4 items/kg. Fragments and fibers accounted for 77% and 23% of the total microplastics, respectively. Epoxy resin (28%), polyethylene terephthalate (25%), phenoxy resin (25%), and polyamide (9%) were the main polymer components, whose sizes were concentrated at 50-200 μm. Back-trajectory modeling was then performed to explore the possible source direction of the microplastics. The results showed that the microplastics mainly originated from the populated areas southeast of the desert, indicating long-distance atmospheric transport and deposition in deserts. The desert-edge zone with some tourism activity contained more microplastics (8.2 ± 17.9 items/kg) than the non-tourism zone (0.9 ± 1.6 items/kg), indicating a potential contribution from tourism. The abundance in the non-tourism zone (0.9 items/kg) can be used as a reference for microplastic background values in the Central Asian deserts, as this value is critical for simulating and predicting global microplastic yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Zhongping Lai
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Guyu Peng
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lan Luo
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xianmei Huang
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Yantian Xu
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Qinjing Shen
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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121
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Yin L, Wen X, Huang D, Du C, Deng R, Zhou Z, Tao J, Li R, Zhou W, Wang Z, Chen H. Interactions between microplastics/nanoplastics and vascular plants. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:117999. [PMID: 34500397 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics are distributed in the environments universally. The interrelationship between vascular plants and micro/nanoplastics began to attract attention in recent years. Based on the relevant literatures collected from various databases, this review focuses on two topics: 1) the effect of vascular plants on the fate of micro/nanoplastics; 2) the effects of micro/nanoplastics on vascular plants. The review of the available studies reveals that vascular plants can act as sinks for microplastics and nanoplastics as their surfaces can adsorb these plastics; moreover, nanoplastics can be internalized by plants. Plastics on the surfaces and in the interiors of vascular plants can cause various phytotoxicity effects, including impacts on growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results and mechanisms of phytotoxicity effects caused by microplastics or nanoplastics can be very different. However, knowledge gaps still exist in the relationships between micro/nanoplastics and vascular plants based on the analysis of available studies; thus, potential subjects for future studies were proposed, including the fates, analysis methods, influencing factors, mechanisms of phytotoxicity, and further influences of microplastics and nanoplastics in the vascular plant ecosystems. This study presents a review of micro/nanoplastics-vascular plant research and reaches a basis for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingshi Yin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Danlian Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China.
| | - Chunyan Du
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Rui Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Jiaxi Tao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Ruijin Li
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Haojie Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
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Yuan F, Ding Y, Wang Y, Yu W, Zou X, Chen H, Fu G, Ding D, Tang J, Tang X, Zhang Z, Li S, Li D. Microplastic pollution in Larimichthys polyactis in the coastal area of Jiangsu, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113050. [PMID: 34688083 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated microplastics (MPs) pollution in 349 Larimichthys polyactis specimens from the coastal area of Jiangsu Province, China. The MP abundance in L. polyactis was 1.03 ± 1.04 items/individual and 0.95 ± 0.92 items/10 g (wet weight). The MP abundance in specimens from the Haizhou Bay fishing ground was slightly higher than that in specimens from the Lvsi fishing ground. Spearman's correlation showed that MP abundance was positively correlated with body length when expressed as items/individual, but not items/10 g. The abundance in the gastrointestinal tract was slightly higher than that in the gills, but the differences were not significant for either measurement index. The MPs predominantly ingested by L. polyactis were <1 mm, fibrous, blue and had a cellophane composition. The MP pollution in L. polyactis in the coast of Jiangsu Province is at a medium to low level, as compared with other regions of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Yuan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yongcheng Ding
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wenwen Yu
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Nantong 226007, China.
| | - Xinqing Zou
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Hongyu Chen
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guanghe Fu
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Duo Ding
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Jianhua Tang
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Xiaojian Tang
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Fishery Ecological Environment Monitoring Station of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 221000, China
| | - Shihu Li
- College of Marine Life and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Dan Li
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China; College of Marine Life and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
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Xie M, Huang JL, Lin Z, Chen R, Tan QG. Field to laboratory comparison of metal accumulation on aged microplastics in coastal waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 797:149108. [PMID: 34303246 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquity of microplastics in the environment has attracted much attention on their risks. Though newly produced plastics were considered inert to aqueous metals, a few studies suggest aged microplastics can accumulate metals. Still, knowledge gap exists on the comparability of metal accumulation in field condition and that acquired in controlled laboratory settings. Accordingly, we comparatively assessed the field accumulation and laboratory adsorption of metals on aged microplastics in coastal waters. Microplastics of different polymeric types were aged for 8 weeks at three coastal sites with different contamination levels. Microplastics accumulated metals to substantial concentrations during ageing (median concentrations, μg g-1: Fe = 950, Mn = 94, Zn = 19, Cu = 2.8, Ni = 1.7, Pb = 1.6, and Cd = 0.005). Adsorption capacity of (aged) microplastics was evaluated in laboratory using a stable isotope tracer method. At environmentally realistic concentrations (μg L-1, 114Cd = 1.7, 65Cu = 4.4, 62Ni = 5.4, 206Pb = 0.5, and 68Zn = 13), the median concentrations of newly adsorbed isotopes on the aged microplastics were 0.01, 1.4, 0.07, 0.56, and 1.1 μg g-1, respectively, one to two orders of magnitude higher than those adsorbed on pristine microplastics. However, the composition pattern of metals accumulated on aged microplastics differed from the composition of metals newly adsorbed in laboratory: the prior one reflected the contamination status of ageing sites and varied by polymeric types; whereas the laboratory newly adsorbed metals on aged microplastics were uniformly correlated to particulate Fe and Mn concentrations, suggesting Fe and Mn mineral coatings mediated the ensuing metal adsorption. Such discrepancy unveiled the complexity of metal accumulation behavior in the real environment and highlighted that cares should be taken when translating laboratory findings to risk assessment of metal contaminated microplastics in the real environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems of Ministry of Education, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jun-Lin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems of Ministry of Education, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Qiao-Guo Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems of Ministry of Education, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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124
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Wang Z, Zhang Y, Kang S, Yang L, Shi H, Tripathee L, Gao T. Research progresses of microplastic pollution in freshwater systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148888. [PMID: 34328911 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have received widespread attention as an emerging environmental pollutant. They are ubiquitous in the freshwater system, causing a global environmental issue. The current features and perspectives of MPs in the freshwater systems can provide the concerns of their ecological effects, which has not been addressed widely. Therefore, in this study, we reviewed the characteristics of MPs in freshwater environments and discussed their sources and potential impacts. The abundance of MPs in freshwater system ranged from approximately 3-6 orders of magnitude in different regions. There colors were mainly white and transparent, with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) as the major polymers. The main shape of these MPs was fibers with dominant size of less than 1 mm. Analysis indicated MPs in freshwater system mostly originated from human activities such as sewage discharge in highly contaminated areas, while atmospheric long-distance transport and precipitation deposition played an important role in remote areas. Freshwater MPs pollutants also affected drinking water and aquatic organisms. Because the abundance of MPs in organisms was relatively balanced, the pollution level of biological MP pollution cannot accurately characterize the pollution status in the watershed currently. Future research should focus and strengthen on periodic monitoring to characterize the temporal and spatial changes of MPs, and enhance toxicological research to explore MPs pollution impact on biota and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqing Wang
- College of Earth and Environment Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yulan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tanguang Gao
- College of Earth and Environment Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Liu M, Ding Y, Huang P, Zheng H, Wang W, Ke H, Chen F, Liu L, Cai M. Microplastics in the western Pacific and South China Sea: Spatial variations reveal the impact of Kuroshio intrusion. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117745. [PMID: 34243083 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Surface currents play an essential role in the worldwide distribution of microplastics in the coastal seas and open oceans. As a branch of the western boundary currents (WBCs), Kuroshio changes seawater properties and pollutant levels of the South China Sea (SCS) during its intrusion process. To study the impact of Kuroshio intrusion on microplastics, we conducted field observations on surface water from the western Pacific (WP) and SCS. Microplastic abundances in the surface water of WP (0.02-0.10 particles m-3) were generally lower than those in the SCS (0.05-0.26 particles m-3). Fragments and granules dominated their apparent characteristics, and showed spatial classifications in different areas. The abundance of fragment, granule and foam showed a similar unimodal trend, as they peaked when the Kuroshio fraction was 0.1, implying the effect of Kuroshio intrusion was a combination of the dilution and biogeochemical influence. The polymer types of microplastics, dominated by polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyester (PES), polymethacrylate (PMA) and phenoxy resin (PR), showed complicated compositions in the northern SCS, and Kuroshio intrusion was not the dominant influencing factor. Further study is needed to discover the comprehensive effect of Kuroshio intrusion on the fate of microplastics and is expected for the whole WBC system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yongcheng Ding
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Peng Huang
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Haowen Zheng
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Hongwei Ke
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Fajin Chen
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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126
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Maaghloud H, Houssa R, Bellali F, El Bouqdaoui K, Ouansafi S, Loulad S, Fahde A. Microplastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in the North and central Moroccan Atlantic coast between Larache (35°30'N) and Boujdour (26°30'N). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117781. [PMID: 34280740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Horse mackerel is a semi-pelagic species found in abundance in the Moroccan coasts and occupies the first ranks in the catches landed by the coastal fleet. In this study, we investigated the ingestion of Polyamide, Acrylic and Polystyrene by Atlantic horse mackerel, in the Moroccan Atlantic coastal area located between Larache (35°30'N) and Boujdour (26°30'N). The objective is to map the spatial distribution of horse Mackerel containing microplastics (MPs) in their stomachs and identify hot spot areas. We also aim to verify the most ingested polymer by this fish characterized by significant daily vertical migrations. The results show that the three studied polymers were detected in the stomach contents of more than 73% of studied fishes. The hot spot areas are located more in the northern part where urbanization and fishing activity are important. Polyamide, the densest polymer, is the most abundant (86% of cases), followed by acrylic. These two polymers were found in association in 47% of cases. No correlation between the presence of MPs in the stomach contents and the size of the individual fishes was noted. Interestingly, the group of mature specimens ingested more MPs than the immature group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hind Maaghloud
- University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Department of Biology, Health and Environment Laboratory, Casablanca, Morocco; National Institute of Fisheries Research, Casablanca, Morocco.
| | - Rachida Houssa
- National Institute of Fisheries Research, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Fatima Bellali
- University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Beni Mellal, Department of Biology, Biological Engineering Laboratory, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Karima El Bouqdaoui
- University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Department of Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environment Laboratory, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Soukaina Ouansafi
- University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Department of Biology, Health and Environment Laboratory, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Safia Loulad
- University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Geosciences, Department of Geology, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdelilah Fahde
- University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Department of Biology, Health and Environment Laboratory, Casablanca, Morocco
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127
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Dou PC, Mai L, Bao LJ, Zeng EY. Microplastics on beaches and mangrove sediments along the coast of South China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112806. [PMID: 34388449 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) data on a global scale is key to supporting plastic waste management for protecting ecosystems. To respond this call, a sampling campaign was conducted in the summer and winter seasons of 2018 to collect beach and mangrove sediment samples from 32 sites along the coastline of South China. The MPs concentrations in the intertidal zone along the coast of South China were comparable to those in other regions around the world. Polystyrene foams and fibers were the most abundant debris in the 0.2-5 mm and 0.02-2 mm MPs, respectively. Principal component and correlation analyses indicated that the abundances of MPs were related to wind direction, wastewater discharge amount, and tourist and fishing activities. Risk assessments suggested that potential ecological risks induced by MPs on beaches and mangrove forest along the coast of South China should not be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Cheng Dou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lei Mai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lian-Jun Bao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
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128
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Zhang Y, Peng Y, Peng C, Wang P, Lu Y, He X, Wang L. Comparison of Detection Methods of Microplastics in Landfill Mineralized Refuse and Selection of Degradation Degree Indexes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13802-13811. [PMID: 34586798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A landfill is an important sink of plastic waste and potential sources of microplastics (MPs) when mineralized refuse is reused. However, limitations are still present in quantifying MPs in mineralized refuse and assessing their degradation degree. In this study, laser direct infrared spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to identify MPs of mineralized refuse from a landfill. Although 25-113 items/g MPs were detected in particles subjected to flotation, 37.9-674 μg/g polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and 0.0716-1.01 μg/g polycarbonate (PC) were detected in the residual solids by LC-MS/MS, indicating a great amount of plastic polymers still presented in the residue. This suggests that the commonly used flotation-counting method will lead to significant underestimation of MP pollution in mineralized refuse, which might be due to the aging and aggregation process caused by the long-term landfill process. The ratio of "bisphenol A/PC" and "plasticizer/MPs" was found to be positively correlated and negatively correlated with the landfill age, respectively. Therefore, in addition to the spectral index such as the carbonyl index, new indexes based on the concentrations of polymers, free monomers, and plasticizers were proposed to characterize the degradation degree of MPs in a landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yawen Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Chu Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ping Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaosong He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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129
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Delorme AE, Koumba GB, Roussel E, Delor-Jestin F, Peiry JL, Voldoire O, Garreau A, Askanian H, Verney V. The life of a plastic butter tub in riverine environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117656. [PMID: 34426383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the world's ocean is one of the major environmental challenges that affects the society today, due to their persistence at sea, adverse consequences to marine life and being potentially harmful to human health. Rivers are now widely recognized as being the major input source of land-based plastic waste into the seas. Despite their key role in plastic transportation, riverine plastic pollution research is still in its infancy and plastic sources, hot-spots and degradation processes in riverine systems are to date poorly understood. In this contribution, we introduce a novel concept of following the aging of polypropylene based post-consumer goods placed in known trapping and mobility zones of macroplastics on a fluvial point bar, which was determined through repeated field surveys of macroplastic densities on this bar. As a proof-of-concept, we followed the degradation of 5 identical plastic butter tubs in 5 different locations on a riverbank and significant differences in the aging of the tubs were observed. The degree of aging of the tubs can to some extent be correlated to their proximity to the main river channel, exposure to natural conditions, such as solar radiation, and its storage time on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid E Delorme
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - Gaelle B Koumba
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Erwan Roussel
- Université Clermont Auvergne, GEOLAB, CNRS, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Florence Delor-Jestin
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Luc Peiry
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Olivier Voldoire
- Université Clermont Auvergne, GEOLAB, CNRS, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alexandre Garreau
- Université Clermont Auvergne, GEOLAB, CNRS, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Haroutioun Askanian
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vincent Verney
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, ICCF, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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130
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Dong H, Wang L, Wang X, Xu L, Chen M, Gong P, Wang C. Microplastics in a Remote Lake Basin of the Tibetan Plateau: Impacts of Atmospheric Transport and Glacial Melting. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12951-12960. [PMID: 34524792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is fast becoming one of the most pressing global issues that we currently face. Remote areas, such as the polar regions and the Tibetan Plateau, are now also exposed to microplastic contamination. However, with the impact of global warming, the transport of microplastics within the glacier-lake basins in such regions remains unclear. In this work, the Nam Co Basin in the Tibetan Plateau was selected to study the characteristics of microplastics in the rain fallout, lake water, glacial runoff, and non-glacial runoff. Fiber and films were the most common microplastic morphologies in all water samples; a higher proportion (37%) of light-weighing polypropylene and small-size (50-300 μm, ∼30%) microplastics were found in the glacial runoff. Air mass trajectory analysis showed that microplastics could be transported through the atmosphere over a distance of up to 800 km. For microplastic loading in lakes, the atmospheric fallout was estimated to be 3.3 tons during the monsoon season, whereas the contributions of glacial runoff (∼41 kg) and non-glacial runoff (∼522 kg) were relatively low. For the microplastic loading in glaciers, the atmospheric deposition was ∼500 kg/yr, and the output caused by glacial melting only accounted 8% of the total atmospheric input. All these results suggested that the dominant pathway through which microplastics enter remote mountainous lake basins is atmospheric deposition, and once deposited on glaciers, microplastics will be stored for a long time. This work provides quantitative evidence elucidating the fate of microplastics in alpine lake environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huike Dong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lanxiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Xu
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture & Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100095, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Mengke Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chuanfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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131
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Edelson M, Håbesland D, Traldi R. Uncertainties in global estimates of plastic waste highlight the need for monitoring frameworks. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112720. [PMID: 34364136 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have estimated global inputs of plastic into the environment, relying on national statistics and modeling approaches. However, these estimates exhibit uncertainty driven by limited primary municipal solid waste management data. We compare mismanaged plastic estimates from three global studies (Jambeck et al. (2015), Lebreton and Andrady (2019), and Borrelle et al. (2020)), finding significant differences. Specifically, 58 countries show at least a 25 percentage point difference in estimated mismanagement rates, 27 countries show at least a 50 percentage point difference, and 9 countries show at least a 75 percentage point difference. Further, several top plastic generators exhibit large discrepancies in mismanagement estimates, including China, Russia, and Indonesia. The limitations of global plastic pollution estimates are well-known in the scientific community, and some variation is expected. However, these discrepancies limit policy design and mitigation. Thus, municipal, national, and international monitoring of plastic management and pollution must be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Edelson
- World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States
| | - Daniel Håbesland
- World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States
| | - Rebecca Traldi
- World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States.
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132
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Kapelewska J, Klekotka U, Żadziłko E, Karpińska J. Simultaneous sorption behaviors of UV filters on the virgin and aged micro-high-density polyethylene under environmental conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147979. [PMID: 34082205 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The simultaneous sorption behaviors of four analytes from the UV filters group, benzophenone (BPh), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC), benzophenone 3 (BPh3), and benzophenone 2 (BPh2) on virgin and aged high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a particle size of 125 μm in milliQ and river water were examined in this study. The aging processes of HDPE particles were carried out with the use of simulated sunlight. Conducted research revealed that the sorption of UV filters on HDPE particles follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. A Temkin isothermal model best described the adsorption process for 4BMC, BPh, BPh3, BPh2 on aged HDPE in river water, and 4MBC, BPh, BPh3 on virgin HDPE in milliQ water. The adsorption of BPh2 onto virgin MPs in milliQ water was consistent with the Langmuir isothermal model. Environmental conditions and physicochemical properties of analytes influenced the sorption mechanism between UV filters and MPs particles. It was observed that the main mechanisms responsible for the sorption of BPh, 4MBC, BPh3, and BPh2 on the surface of HDPE are hydrophobic interactions, that may change through the involvement of electrostatic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Kapelewska
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Urszula Klekotka
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Ewa Żadziłko
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Joanna Karpińska
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
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133
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Yan M, Wang L, Dai Y, Sun H, Liu C. Behavior of Microplastics in Inland Waters: Aggregation, Settlement, and Transport. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 107:700-709. [PMID: 33515266 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-03087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Inland waters are the main medium transporting microplastics to the ocean. Aggregation, vertical settlement, and horizontal transport will occur when microplastics enter the inland waterbodies. This paper reviews these behaviors of microplastics in inland waters and their influencing factors. The aggregation of microplastics were divided into homogeneous aggregation and heterogeneous aggregation, which are critical for the settlement of microplastics. The settlement of microplastics in inland water bodies is influenced by microplastic properties (size, density, and shapes) and environmental conditions (microorganisms, sedimental properties, hydraulic conditions, and so on). Horizontal transport of microplastics in water is influenced by hydrologic conditions, rainfall, river morphologies, dams, vegetation, etc. Future perspectives including laboratory simulations and numerical models involving multiple factors, the behaviors of degradable plastics, and the influence of hydrologic conditions have been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dai
- Fisheries Research Institute of Tianjin, Tianjin, 300221, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Chunguang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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134
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Zhang QQ, Ma ZR, Cai YY, Li HR, Ying GG. Agricultural Plastic Pollution in China: Generation of Plastic Debris and Emission of Phthalic Acid Esters from Agricultural Films. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12459-12470. [PMID: 34514800 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural plastic films have been proven highly advantageous, but they also cause pollution of plastic debris and associated chemicals. Phthalates (phthalic acid esters, PAEs), an important additive of agricultural films, can be released and contaminate the environment. Here, we analyzed the agricultural plastic usage and assessed plastic debris in China and developed a method to estimate PAE emissions from agricultural films. Additionally, the environmental fate of PAEs was evaluated using a fugacity-based multimedia model. The agricultural plastic film usage in China in 2017 was 2,528,600 tons. After agricultural film recycling and water erosion, the plastic debris amount was estimated as 465,016 tons. The water erosion process carried 4329 tons of plastic debris into the aquatic environment. During its lifetime, the agricultural film released a total of 91.5 tons of two typical types of PAEs. PAEs from the mulching film would mostly be removed through degradation, while those from the greenhouse film accumulate in vegetables. Populated regions exhibited more serious PAE pollution in vegetables but with no immediate health risks. The model was well evaluated using comparable measured concentrations and uncertainty analysis based on the Monte Carlo method. The findings from this study demonstrate the serious agricultural plastic pollution problem and associated PAE contamination in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Qian Zhang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhao-Rong Ma
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ya-Ya Cai
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hui-Ru Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
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135
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Vaid M, Sarma K, Gupta A. Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments with special emphasis on riverine systems: Current understanding and way forward. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 293:112860. [PMID: 34089959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging as a severe threat in our environment. Their diverse existence in marine environments is being researched globally and thus a widely known fact; however, their presence in the freshwater counterpart has gained attention lately only. Riverine systems, the most critical freshwater resources serve as an essential link between terrestrial and marine environments and their contamination with MPs is going to create severe environmental issues. Because of their small size and unique morphology, these polymers can exhibit variable toxicity to the interacting biota and alter their habitat properties; thus, causing serious impacts on the environment and health of living beings, including humans. These microplastics can also interact with pollutants like heavy metals and organic pollutants, which further augment their harming potential. Inefficient and poor plastic waste disposal practices play an important role in the generation of microplastic pollutants. In the present COVID 19 pandemics, the excessive use of plastic to contain the spread of infection has further added the plastic load in the environment which will eventually lead to the generation of microplastic particles. Also, a significant amount of microplastic pollutants in riverine systems are delivered through wastewater treatment plant effluents. These trade-offs create a distress situation in the environment. The present study connects these key issues for a better understanding of the diverse existence of microplastic pollutants, their sources, and fate, with a special emphasis on riverine systems. A critical appraisal of the knowledge gaps and proposal of suitable solutions through this review might open up avenues for further research and effective management of the microplastics in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Vaid
- University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110078, India
| | - Kiranmay Sarma
- University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110078, India
| | - Anshu Gupta
- University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110078, India.
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136
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Kameda Y, Yamada N, Fujita E. Source- and polymer-specific size distributions of fine microplastics in surface water in an urban river. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117516. [PMID: 34261221 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing concern about the environmental behaviors of microplastics (MPs), in particular fine MPs (FMPs), such as their concentrations, sources, size distributions, and fragmentation by weathering in waters. However, there is little information about size distributions of MP polymer types and their relationships to their sources. Here, we analyzed concentrations, compositions, and size distributions of 18 polymer types of MPs of >20 μm by micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with a novel pretreatment method in surface waters at five sites from the headwaters to the mouth of a Japanese river, and in influent and effluent from a sewage treatment plant (STP). The microplastic concentrations ranged from 300 to 1240 particles/m3 in surface waters. Cluster analysis identified two primary sources of MPs: residential wastewater at the headwater site and non-point sources from urban areas at downstream sites; concentrations of chemical contaminants from STPs were much higher at the downstream sites. The median particle sizes (D50) of MPs increased in urban areas at the downstream sites and were larger than those in influent and effluent. These results imply the release of larger MPs from non-point sources in urban areas. The size distributions of each polymer and all MPs could be fitted significantly to the Weibull distribution function. Values of D50, shape parameters, and scale parameters estimated from the functions were useful indicators for evaluating size distributions in detail. A significant positive correlation of D50 with the tensile strengths of virgin polymers among 13 dominant polymers detected in the surface water suggests that the fragmentation properties of each polymer are influenced by its physical strength. Multidimensional analysis with concentrations, polymeric compositions, and size distributions of MPs, including FMPs, could provide useful information about their sources and their environmental behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Kameda
- Chiba Institute of Technology, 1-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba, 275-0016, Japan.
| | - Naofumi Yamada
- Chiba Institute of Technology, 1-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba, 275-0016, Japan
| | - Emiko Fujita
- Chiba Institute of Technology, 1-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba, 275-0016, Japan
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137
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Wu D, Li Q, Shang X, Liang Y, Ding X, Sun H, Li S, Wang S, Chen Y, Chen J. Commodity plastic burning as a source of inhaled toxic aerosols. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125820. [PMID: 33887570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Commodity plastic is ubiquitous in daily life and commonly disposed of via unregulated burning, particularly in developing regions. We report here the much higher emission factors (13.1 ± 7.5 g/kg) and toxicities of inhalable aerosols emitted from the unregulated burning of plastic waste based on field measurements and cellular experiments, including oxidative stress and cytotoxic tests in A549 cells. Plastic foam burning emitted aerosols possesses the highest EFs (34.8 ± 4.5 g/kg) and toxicities, which are 4.2- to 13.4-fold and 1.1- to 2.7-fold higher than those emitted from the burning of other waste types. These quantified toxicities are mainly attributed to aerosols containing carbonaceous matter, especially persistent organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins, which originate from incomplete combustion processes. The aerosol emission amounts were estimated from the obtained experimental results. Approximately 70.2 million tons (29%) of plastic waste was burned without regulation worldwide in 2016, leading to 0.92 ± 0.53 million tons of toxic aerosols being released into the air, a majority of which occurred in developing regions. The results indicate improved combustion technology and control strategies are urgently needed in developing regions for discarded plastic -waste to mitigate toxic exposure risks and achieve sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qing Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Xiaona Shang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yingguang Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiang Ding
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shuya Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yingjun Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jianmin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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138
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Wu Q, Liu S, Chen P, Liu M, Cheng SY, Ke H, Huang P, Ding Y, Cai M. Microplastics in seawater and two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Reflection of the social-economic development. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 169:112588. [PMID: 34119964 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic abundance, distribution and source characteristics were investigated for the surface seawaters from the Taiwan Strait as well as those of sediments along its west and east coasts. The microplastic abundances were in the range of 28-208 (mean 90) and 10-246 (mean 69) items/kg (d.w.) along the west and east coasts respectively. The higher microplastic abundance on the west coast might be related to the different local economic development, population, land-use and other human activities. Combined with microplastic pollution and socio-economic development, regression analysis results showed that urbanization level is negatively correlated with foams while positively correlated with fibers. This study, as the first report of microplastics in the Taiwan Strait, suggested further research on microplastics cross-strait transportation and the relationship with economic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Siguang Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen 361013, China
| | - Piao Chen
- Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Mengyang Liu
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Sha-Yen Cheng
- College of Ocean Science and Resource, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, China
| | - Hongwei Ke
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Peng Huang
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yongcheng Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Minggang Cai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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139
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Yang L, Zhang Y, Kang S, Wang Z, Wu C. Microplastics in soil: A review on methods, occurrence, sources, and potential risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146546. [PMID: 33770602 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic is an emerging contaminant of concern in soil globally due to its widespread and potential risks on the ecological system. Some basic issues such as the occurrence, source, and potential risks of microplastics in the soil are still open questions. These problems arise due to the lack of systematic and comprehensive analysis of microplastic in soils. Therefore, we comprehensively reviewed the current status of knowledge on microplastics in soil on detection, occurrence, characterization, source, and potential risk. Our review suggests that microplastics are ubiquitous in soil matrices globally. However, the research progress of microplastics in the soil is restricted by inherent technological inconsistencies and difficulties in analyzing particles in complex matrices, and studies on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil environments remain very scarce, especially in Africa, South America, and Oceania. The consistency of the characteristics and composition of the microplastics in the aquatic environment and soil demonstrate they may share sources and exchange microplastics. Wide and varied sources of microplastic are constantly filling the soil, which causes the accumulation of microplastics in the soil. Studies on the effects and potential risks of microplastics in soil ecosystems are also reviewed. Limited research has shown that the combination and interaction of microplastics with contaminants they absorbed may affect soil health and function, and even migration along the food chain. The occurrence and impact of microplastic on the soil depend on the morphology, chemical components, and natural factors. We conclude that large research gaps exist in the quantification and estimation of regional emissions of microplastics in soil, factors affecting the concentration of microplastics, and microplastic disguising as soil carbon storage, which need more effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yulan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhaoqing Wang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chenxi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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140
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Huang W, Yin H, Yang Y, Jin L, Lu G, Dang Z. Influence of the co-exposure of microplastics and tetrabromobisphenol A on human gut: Simulation in vitro with human cell Caco-2 and gut microbiota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 778:146264. [PMID: 33725607 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution becomes an emergent threat to the ecosystem, and its joint effect with organic contaminants will cause more severe consequences. Recently, MPs has been observed in human feces, suggesting that we are exposed to an uncertain danger. In this study, the joint effect of polyethylene microplastics particles (PEMPs) and Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on human gut was explored through the simulation experiment in vitro with human cell Caco-2 and gut microbiota. The toxicity of TBBPA and PEMPs on Caco-2 human cells was considered by physiological and biochemical indexes such as cell proliferation, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase release, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Besides, microbial community diversity, community structure, and function changes of gut microbiota were investigated using Illumina 16S rRNA gene MiSeq sequencing to reveal the influence of TBBPA and PEMPs on human gut microbiota. The results indicated that both PEMPs and TBBPA would deteriorate the status of Caco-2 cells, and TBBPA played a major role in it; meanwhile, PEMPs affected Caco-2 cells at high concentrations. Particularly, TBBPA and PEMPs exhibited a joint effect on Caco-2 cells to a certain degree. TBBPA selectivity inhibited the growth of gram-positive bacteria such as Enterococcus and Lactobacillus, contributing to the thriving of gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia and Bacteroides. The existence of PEMPs would enhance the proportion of Clostridium, Bacteroides, and Escherichia. Community composition changed dramatically with the interference of PEMPs and TBBPA; this was undesirable to the healthy homeostasis of the human gut. PICRUSt analysis determined both PEMPs and TBBPA interfered with the metabolism pathways of gut microbiota. Hence, the threat of MPs and TBBPA to humans should arouse vigilance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wantang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Yin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yuanyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Lizhu Jin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Guining Lu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
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Weiss L, Ludwig W, Heussner S, Canals M, Ghiglione JF, Estournel C, Constant M, Kerhervé P. The missing ocean plastic sink: Gone with the rivers. Science 2021; 373:107-111. [PMID: 34210886 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Plastic floating at the ocean surface, estimated at tens to hundreds of thousands of metric tons, represents only a small fraction of the estimated several million metric tons annually discharged by rivers. Such an imbalance promoted the search for a missing plastic sink that could explain the rapid removal of river-sourced plastics from the ocean surface. On the basis of an in-depth statistical reanalysis of updated data on microplastics-a size fraction for which both ocean and river sampling rely on equal techniques-we demonstrate that current river flux assessments are overestimated by two to three orders of magnitude. Accordingly, the average residence time of microplastics at the ocean surface rises from a few days to several years, strongly reducing the theoretical need for a missing sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Weiss
- CEFREM, UMR 5110 University of Perpignan-CNRS, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
| | - Wolfgang Ludwig
- CEFREM, UMR 5110 University of Perpignan-CNRS, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Serge Heussner
- CEFREM, UMR 5110 University of Perpignan-CNRS, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Miquel Canals
- CRG Marine Geosciences, Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Claude Estournel
- LEGOS, UMR 5566 University Toulouse III-CNRS/CNES/IRD/UPS, F-31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Mel Constant
- CEFREM, UMR 5110 University of Perpignan-CNRS, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Kerhervé
- CEFREM, UMR 5110 University of Perpignan-CNRS, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
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142
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Peng X, Chen G, Fan Y, Zhu Z, Guo S, Zhou J, Tan J. Lifetime bioaccumulation, gender difference, tissue distribution, and parental transfer of organophosphorus plastic additives in freshwater fish. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 280:116948. [PMID: 33773303 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has been a growing global issue. Various plastic additives may enter the environment with plastic debris, which could also become contaminants. Lifetime bioaccumulation, gender difference, tissue distribution, and parental transfer potential of commonly applied organophosphorus plastic additives (OPPAs) were investigated in wildlife fish of the Pearl River system, China. The OPPAs were widely detected in 7 consumable fish species. Tris (2-chloropropyl) phosphate was the predominant compound, with a median concentration of 18.8 ng/g lipid weight. The total OPPA concentrations (ΣOPPAs) were higher in the livers and swimming bladders, suggesting important roles of lipophilicity on the OPPAs accumulation in the fish. Besides, the livers were more abundant in the non-chlorinated OPPAs relative to the other tissues, indicating potentially stronger metabolism of the chlorinated OPPAs in the livers. Redbelly tilapia contained obviously lower ΣOPPAs than the other species. On the other hand, proportions of the chlorinated OPPAs were obviously lower in barbel chub and Guangdong black bream. For an individual species, higher ΣOPPAs were usually detected in the female than in the male fish. Furthermore, the females contained higher proportions of the non-chlorinated OPPAs. These results suggested potentially more accumulation of the OPPAs, particularly the non-chlorinated OPPAs in the female than in the male fish. Body weight dependence of the OPPAs accumulation showed varied patterns depending on species, tissue, and compound. Species-specific characteristics affected by both ecology and organisms' physiology should be considered in combination in assessing bioaccumulation of the OPPAs. The OPPAs were slightly bioaccumulative with LogBAFs of 1.2-3.3. The OPPAs did not show obvious inclination to be partitioned to biota from sediment. Omnipresence of the OPPAs in both egg/ovary and testis of the fish suggested potential transgenerational transfer of these chemicals, which can be a serious ecological issue and warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Guangshi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yujuan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zewen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianhua Tan
- Guangzhou Institute of Quality Monitoring and Testing, Guangzhou, 510050, China
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143
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Pinheiro LM, Agostini VO, Lima ARA, Ward RD, Pinho GLL. The fate of plastic litter within estuarine compartments: An overview of current knowledge for the transboundary issue to guide future assessments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 279:116908. [PMID: 33774365 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastics can enter biogeochemical cycles and thus be found in most ecosystems. Most studies emphasize plastic pollution in oceanic ecosystems even though rivers and estuaries are acknowledged as the main sources of plastics to the oceans. This review detected few studies approaching the transboundary issue, as well as patterns of estuarine gradients in predicting plastic distribution and accumulation in water, sediments, and organisms. Quantities of plastics in estuaries reach up to 45,500 items m-3 in water, 567,000 items m-3 in sediment, and 131 items per individual in the biota. The role of rivers and estuaries in the transport of plastics to the ocean is far from fully understood due to small sample sizes, short-term approaches, sampling techniques that underestimate small plastics, and the use of site-specific sampling rather than covering environmental gradients. Microfibres are the most commonly found plastic type in all environmental matrices but efforts to re-calculate pathways using novel sampling techniques and estimates are incipient. Microplastic availability to estuarine organisms and rising/sinking is determined by polymer characteristics and spatio-temporal fluctuations in physicochemical, biological, and mineralogical factors. Key processes governing plastic contamination along estuarine trophic webs remain unclear, as most studies used "species" as an ecological unit rather than trophic/functional guilds and ontogenetic shifts in feeding behaviour to understand communities and intraspecific relationships, respectively. Efforts to understand contamination at the tissue level and the contribution of biofouling organisms as vectors of contaminants onto plastic surfaces are increasing. In conclusion, rivers and estuaries still require attention with regards to accurate sampling and conclusions. Multivariate analysis and robust models are necessary to predict the fate of micro- and macroplastics in estuarine environments; and the inclusion of the socio-economic aspects in modelling techniques seems to be relevant regarding management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Microcontaminantes Orgânicos e Ecotoxicologia Aquática - Instituto de Oceanografia - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG). Av. Itália, Km 8, Carreiros, CEP: 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Oceanologia (PPGO), Brazil.
| | - V O Agostini
- Laboratório de Microcontaminantes Orgânicos e Ecotoxicologia Aquática - Instituto de Oceanografia - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG). Av. Itália, Km 8, Carreiros, CEP: 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (PNPD-CAPES/PPGO), Brazil
| | - A R A Lima
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA - College Institute, Department of Biosciences, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R D Ward
- Centre for Aquatic Environments, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom; Institute of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, EE-51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | - G L L Pinho
- Laboratório de Microcontaminantes Orgânicos e Ecotoxicologia Aquática - Instituto de Oceanografia - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG). Av. Itália, Km 8, Carreiros, CEP: 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
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144
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Xu T, Chen J, Chen X, Xie H, Wang Z, Xia D, Tang W, Xie HB. Prediction Models on p Ka and Base-Catalyzed Hydrolysis Kinetics of Parabens: Experimental and Quantum Chemical Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6022-6031. [PMID: 33565873 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Parabens for which the molecules contain hydrolytic and ionizable groups, are emerging pollutants due to their ubiquity in the environment. However, lack of pKa and second-order base-catalyzed hydrolysis kinetics (kB) values limits their environmental persistence assessment. Herein, six parabens were selected as reference compounds for which the pKa and kB values were measured experimentally. A semiempirical quantum chemical (QC) method was selected to calculate pKa of the parabens, and density functional theory (DFT) methods were selected to calculate kB for neutral and anionic forms of the parabens, by comparing the QC-calculated and determined values. Combining the QC-calculated and experimental pKa and kB values, quantitative structure-activity relationships with determination coefficients (R2) being 0.947 and 0.842 for the pKa and kB models, respectively, were developed, which were validated and could be employed to efficiently fill the kB and pKa data gaps of parabens within applicability domains. The base-catalyzed hydrolysis half-lives were estimated to range from 6 h to 1.52 × 106 years (pH 7-9, 25 °C), further necessitating the in silico models due to the tedious and onerous experimental determination, and the huge number of hydrolyzable and ionizable chemicals that may be released into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Huaijun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Deming Xia
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Weihao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Hong-Bin Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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145
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Vázquez OA, Rahman MS. An ecotoxicological approach to microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic organisms: A systematic review in assessment, monitoring and biological impact. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 84:103615. [PMID: 33607259 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine and land plastic debris biodegrades at micro- and nanoscales through progressive fragmentation. Oceanographic model studies confirm the presence of up to ∼2.41 million tons of microplastics across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian subtropical gyres. Microplastics distribute from primary (e.g., exfoliating cleansers) and secondary (e.g., chemical deterioration) sources in the environment. This anthropogenic phenomenon poses a threat to the flora and fauna of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as ingestion and entanglement cases increase over time. This review focuses on the impact of microplastics across taxa at suggested environmentally relevant concentrations, and advances the groundwork for future ecotoxicological-based research on microplastics including the main points: (i) adhesion of chemical pollutants (e.g., PCBs); (ii) biological effects (e.g., bioaccumulation, biomagnification, biotransportation) in terrestrial and aquatic organisms; (iii) physico-chemical properties (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and biodegradation pathways in the environment (e.g., chemical stress, heat stress); and (iv) an ecotoxicological prospect for optimized impact assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar A Vázquez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Md Saydur Rahman
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA; School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA.
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146
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Sharma VK, Ma X, Guo B, Zhang K. Environmental factors-mediated behavior of microplastics and nanoplastics in water: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 271:129597. [PMID: 33460897 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The release of plastics in nature is an increasing global concern due to their degradation from microplastics (MPs) and even to nanoplastics (NPs), which are being recognized as a potential global threat to humans and environment. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the effect of different environmental factors on the aggregation of MPs and NPs in aquatic environment. Stability (or extent of aggregation) of MPs and NPs varies with pH, ionic strength, ion type (monovalent, divalent, and trivalent), kind of minerals, and natural organic matter (NOM) of the aquatic environment. Electrostatic interactions between particles at different pH and ionic strength caused by salts of different valents govern the aggregation. In the presence of minerals (or inorganic colloids), net surface charge of mineral and surface potential of MPs and NPs (i.e., positive or negative surface functionality) play important roles in the heteroaggregation of MPs and NPs. In the presence of NOM, additional complex interactions including hydrophobic interactions and bridging are also involved in the aggregation of particles. Understanding the interactions of MPs and NPs of different surface charge with diverse environmental factors at a wide range of environmental conditions is pivotal to assess the mobility and the fate of degraded plastic particles and their risk to human health and ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virender K Sharma
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Xingmao Ma
- Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Binglin Guo
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kaiyi Zhang
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Zachery Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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147
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Liu S, Fang S, Xiang Z, Chen X, Song Y, Chen C, Ouyang G. Combined effect of microplastics and DDT on microbial growth: A bacteriological and metabolomics investigation in Escherichia coli. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 407:124849. [PMID: 33360188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) can adsorb toxic chemicals in biological or environmental matrixes and thus influence their behavior and availability. In order to investigate how the combined pollution of MPs and toxic organic chemical influence microbial growth and metabolism, Escherichia coli (E. coli) was grown in a complex, well-defined media and treated with polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) and dichloro-diphenyl-tricgloroethane (DDT) at human relevant concentration levels. In vivo metabolites captured by a novel solid phase microextraction (SPME) probe, were used to reflect the metabolic dysregulation of E. coli under different pollution stresses. Results showed that the toxic effect of DDT displayed a distinct dose-dependent phenomenon while the existence of PS decreased the growth and metabolic interference effect of DDT on E. coli. Adsorption results revealed a mechanism that PS weakened the adverse impact of DDT by decreasing its free concentration in the treated culture media. Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle related enzymes activities and antioxidant defense related substances of E. coli also proved the mechanism. The current study is believed to broaden our understanding of the ecotoxicity of MPs with toxic organic chemicals on microorganism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Shuting Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Zhangmin Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Xiaotian Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Yumei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Gangfeng Ouyang
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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148
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Al-Zawaidah H, Ravazzolo D, Friedrich H. Macroplastics in rivers: present knowledge, issues and challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:535-552. [PMID: 33908937 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00517g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Macroplastics are the primary contributor to riverine plastic pollution by mass, posing a wide range of serious threats for riverine systems, from adversely affecting various life forms within the riverine system, to potentially increasing flood risk, and generally resulting in adverse effects on any livelihoods. Compared to other river-related research disciplines, research into riverine macroplastics and their effects has not yet featured prominently. Various quantification methods are presently used to assess the presence of macroplastics at different locations within river systems; however, overcoming limitations and unifying methods remain an essential need. Macroplastic dynamics in rivers are subject to various factors, including both material and river characteristics. We review the diverse factors that potentially influence macroplastic dynamics in rivers, and highlight our knowledge limits. We advocate for future research that enables synergies between improved field quantification techniques, use of global protocols and data sharing, and laboratory experiments. This is needed to obtain a riverine macroplastic budget model, required for the implementation of targeted management practices. Finally, a multilayer potential management strategy is presented: (i) reducing the macroplastic supply into rivers; (ii) removing effectively and safely macroplastics from within rivers; and (iii) treating macroplastics once removed from the riverine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeel Al-Zawaidah
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
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149
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Schmid C, Cozzarini L, Zambello E. A critical review on marine litter in the Adriatic Sea: Focus on plastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 273:116430. [PMID: 33497942 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter affects various habitats across the world. This review focuses on the Adriatic region, considering the presence of marine litter as well as microplastics (mPs) and macroplastics (MPs) in different environments (water, beach, seabed and biota). Data from 53 scientific papers were critically analysed, providing a snapshot of this type of contamination, and evidencing critical issues. The final part of the review provides considerations on spatial and temporal trends, comparing data with the available information provided by transport forecasting models. It emerges that the most investigated areas are those most subjected to the contribution of rivers, tourism or have the greatest relevance to nature conservation. Our analysis also reveals that, even though many international research projects have played a fundamental role in the creation of shared methods and protocols, currently available data are difficult to compare. Nevertheless, our results enhance knowledge of the state of the art in the research carried out so far, and on the situation regarding pollution due to the marine litter in the Adriatic Sea, as well as highlighting avenues for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Schmid
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Cozzarini
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Zambello
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6A, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
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150
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Mai L, He H, Bao LJ, Liu LY, Zeng EY. Plastics Are an Insignificant Carrier of Riverine Organic Pollutants to the Coastal Oceans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15852-15860. [PMID: 33253555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Global rivers act as a dominant transport pathway for land-based plastic debris to the marine environment. Organic pollutants (OPs) affiliated with riverine plastics can also enter the global oceans, but their amounts remain unknown. Microplastic (MP) samples were collected in a one-year sampling event from the surface water of the eight main riverine outlets in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, and analyzed for OPs affiliated with MPs, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The mean concentrations of MP-affiliated ∑16PAH, ∑8PBDE, and ∑14PCB were 2010 (range: 25-40,100), 412 (range: 0.84-14,800), and 67.7 (range: 1.86-456) ng g-1, respectively. Based on these and previous results, the annual riverine outflows of MP-affiliated OPs were 148, 83, and 8.03 g for ∑16PAH, ∑8PBDE, and ∑14PCB, respectively. Assuming that plastic debris of different sizes contained the same concentrations of the target pollutants as MPs, the mean riverine outflows of plastic-bound ∑16PAH, ∑8PBDE, and ∑14PCB were 6.75, 3.77, and 0.37 kg year-1, respectively, which were insignificant compared with the riverine outflows of OPs through riverine water discharge (up to hundred tons per year). Apparently, plastics are an insignificant carrier of riverine OPs to the coastal oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Mai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Hui He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lian-Jun Bao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Liang-Ying Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
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