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Zhao B, Richardson RE, You F. Microplastics monitoring in freshwater systems: A review of global efforts, knowledge gaps, and research priorities. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135329. [PMID: 39088945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
The escalating production of synthetic plastics and inadequate waste management have led to pervasive microplastic (MP) contamination in aquatic ecosystems. MPs, typically defined as particles smaller than 5 mm, have become an emerging pollutant in freshwater environments. While significant concern about MPs has risen since 2014, research has predominantly concentrated on marine settings, there is an urgent need for a more in-depth critical review to systematically summarize the current global efforts, knowledge gaps, and research priorities for MP monitoring in freshwater systems. This review evaluates the current understanding of MP monitoring in freshwater environments by examining the distribution, characteristics, and sources of MPs, alongside the progression of analytical methods with quantitative evidence. Our findings suggest that MPs are widely distributed in global freshwater systems, with higher abundances found in areas with intense human economic activities, such as the United States, Europe, and China. MP abundance distributions vary across different water bodies (e.g., rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands), with sampling methods and size range selections significantly influencing reported MP abundances. Despite great global efforts, there is still a lack of harmonized analyzing framework and understanding of MP pollution in specific regions and facilities. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized analysis protocols and open-source MP datasets to facilitate data comparison. Additionally, exploring the potential of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence for rapid, accurate, and large-scale modeling and characterization of MPs is crucial to inform effective strategies for managing MP pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bu Zhao
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ruth E Richardson
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Fengqi You
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Systems Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Wang L, Huang J, Chen M, Jin H, Wu Y, Chen X. Investigation of microplastics in urban rivers of Eastern China in summer: abundance, characteristics and ecological risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2024; 26:1245-1256. [PMID: 38910540 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00153b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly becoming recognized as worldwide environmental contaminants, exerting a substantial impact on the safety of city rivers. This study explored the abundance and characteristics of MPs in summer 2023, including June and August, representing plum rain and typhoon rain seasons. The Qinhuai River exhibits more spatial fluctuations in six sampling sites with average concentrations of 470 ± 119.56 items per L, and the abundance increases with the water flows in the river. Downstream had the highest MP abundance of 484 ± 121.34 items per L, which were positive with the concentration of suspended solids (SS). Transparent and green MPs were more even in the sampling sites, and the shapes of fragments were predominant in the summer. Interestingly, the proportion of fiber and small-sized (38-75 μm) microplastics was predominant in the plum rain seasons, while the percentage of large-sized (270-5000 μm) and polymers of PE occurred in the typhoon rain seasons. The index of hazard scores of plastic polymers (H) revealed that the studied river had a severe pollution level (IV), which was highly influenced by PVC and PC. Besides, the pollution load index PLI value of different rain seasons was slightly polluted (I), while the PLI in autumn rain seasons was relatively higher than that in other seasons due to the higher variance of MPs. Therefore, the ecological risk of microplastics of PVC and PC in the Qinhuai River during varying seasons should be seriously considered. Our research is expected to provide valuable assistance in improving the management of urban rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luming Wang
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
| | - Juan Huang
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
| | - Ming Chen
- Nanjing Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hui Jin
- Nanjing Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yufeng Wu
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
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Gao S, Zhang S, Sun J, He X, Xue S, Zhang W, Li P, Lin L, Qu Y, Ward-Fear G, Chen L, Li H. Nanoplastic pollution changes the intestinal microbiome but not the morphology or behavior of a freshwater turtle. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173178. [PMID: 38750733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Humans produce 350 million metric tons of plastic waste per year, leading to microplastic pollution and widespread environmental contamination, particularly in aquatic environments. This subsequently impacts aquatic organisms in myriad ways, yet the vast majority of research is conducted in marine, rather than freshwater systems. In this study, we exposed eggs and hatchlings of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) to 80-nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and monitored the impacts on development, behavior and the gut microbiome. We demonstrate that 80-nm PS-NPs can penetrate the eggshell and move into developing embryos. This led to metabolic impairments, as evidenced by bradycardia (a decreased heart rate), which persisted until hatching. We found no evidence that nanoplastic exposure affected hatchling morphology, growth rates, or levels of boldness and exploration, yet we discuss some potential caveats here. Exposure to nanoplastics reduced the diversity and homogeneity of gut microbiota in P. sinensis, with the level of disruption correlating to the length of environmental exposure (during incubation only or post-hatching also). Thirteen core genera (with an initial abundance >1 %) shifted after nanoplastic treatment: pathogenic bacteria increased, beneficial probiotic bacteria decreased, and there was an increase in the proportion of negative correlations between bacterial genera. These changes could have profound impacts on the viability of turtles throughout their lives. Our study highlights the toxicity of environmental NPs to the embryonic development and survival of freshwater turtles. We provide insights about population trends of P. sinensis in the wild, and future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Gao
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shufang Zhang
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiahui Sun
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinni He
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shaoshuai Xue
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Longhui Lin
- Herpetological Research Center, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yanfu Qu
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Georgia Ward-Fear
- School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Lian Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Hong Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Anandhan K, Thangal SH, Yogeshwaran A, Kaaran S, Ajith Kumar TT, Muralisankar T. Microplastics Contamination in the Edible Fish Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from the Selvampathy Wetland of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 112:7. [PMID: 38063899 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03839-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the microplastics (MPs) contamination in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, gills and muscle of the Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus sampled from the Selvampathy Lake of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. MPs abundance was found in 10 to 28, 8 to 27, and 4 to 12 particles and their size ranged between 4.4 and 210, 4.6 to 180, and 4.5 to 194 μm in the GI tract, gills and muscle, respectively. MPs were dominantly shaped as fibres (95%) and fragments (5%) with the following colour pattern of blue > black > pink > transparent > and others. Extracted MPs polymer nature were polyethylene (54%), polyamide (38%) and polypropylene (8%). The present study reveals that the edible fish O. mossambicus had MPs that can be transferred to consumers. Moreover, urban discharges, including domestic wastes, agricultural and rainwater runoff, might be possible MPs sources to the studied wetland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnan Anandhan
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, 641 046, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Said Hamid Thangal
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, 641 046, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arumugam Yogeshwaran
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, 641 046, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saravanan Kaaran
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, 641 046, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Thirunavukkarasu Muralisankar
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, 641 046, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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