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Yusof KMKK, Anuar ST, Mohamad Y, Jaafar M, Mohamad N, Bachok Z, Mohamad N, Ibrahim YS. First evidence of microplastic pollution in the surface water of Malaysian Marine Park islands, South China Sea during COVID-19. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115268. [PMID: 37451046 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115268] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Malaysia is bounded by the South China Sea with many islands that support species megadiversity and coral reef ecosystems. This study investigates the distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the surface water around the four marine park islands (Perhentian, Redang, Kapas, and Tenggol) during COVID-19. The global pandemic has reset human activities, impacting the environment while possibly reducing anthropogenic contributions of microplastic pollution near the South China Sea islands. It was found that Pulau Perhentian recorded the most abundance of MPs (588.33 ± 111.77 items/L), followed by Pulau Redang (314.67 ± 58.08 items/L), Pulau Kapas (359.8 ± 87.70 items/L) and Pulau Tenggol (294.33 ± 101.64 items/L). Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicates a significant difference in total MPs abundance between islands. There are moderate correlations between salinity, pH, temperature and MPs variability. Among these parameters, only temperature is significant (p < 0.05) as proven by the principal component analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Nearly 99 % of MPs are fiber type, with the majority of them being black and transparent. Micro-FTIR spectroscopy revealed polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyamide, phenoxy-resins and polyurethane-acrylic are associated with MPs. The findings provide a new baseline reference for the MPs distribution on Malaysian islands, which contributes to a potential future direction regarding marine sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Sabiqah Tuan Anuar
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Yuzwan Mohamad
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Maisarah Jaafar
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Noorlin Mohamad
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Zainudin Bachok
- Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Najihah Mohamad
- Fisheries Research Institute, 11960, Batu Maung, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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2
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Anuar ST, Abdullah NS, Yahya NKEM, Chin TT, Yusof KMKK, Mohamad Y, Azmi AA, Jaafar M, Mohamad N, Khalik WMAWM, Ibrahim YS. A multidimensional approach for microplastics monitoring in two major tropical river basins, Malaysia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 227:115717. [PMID: 36963716 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) with the size of 1 μm-5 mm are pollutants of great concern ubiquitously found in the environment. Existing efforts have found that most of the MPs present in the seas mainly originated from land via riverine inputs. Asian rivers are known to be among the top in microplastic emissions. However, field data are scarce, especially in Malaysia. This study presents the distribution and characteristics of MPs in the surface water of two major river basins of Malaysia, namely Langat River (West Coast/Straits of Malacca) and Kelantan River (East Coast/South China Sea). Water samples were collected at 21-22 locations in Kelantan and Langat rivers, covering the river, estuary and sea. MPs were physically classified based on sizes, shapes, colours and surface morphology (SEM-EDS). The average of 179.6 items/L and 1464.8 items/L of MPs had been quantified from Kelantan and Langat rivers, respectively. Fibre (91.90%) was highly recorded at Kelantan, compared to Langat whereby both fibre (59.21%) and fragment (38.87%) were prevalence. Anthropogenic activities and urbanised areas contribute to high microplastic abundance, especially in the Langat River. Micro-FTIR analysis identified 14 polymers in Kelantan River, whereas 20 polymers were found in Langat River. Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, phenoxy resins, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane and rayon were discovered in both rivers, although only polyethylene was significant (>1 ppm) when further analysed using pyrolysis-GC/MS. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to explain the relationship between water quality and MP abundance, suggesting only turbidity was positively significant to the microplastic occurrence. This comprehensive study is first to suggest a full-scale monitoring protocol for MPs in Malaysian riverine system and is significant in understanding MPs abundance in correlation to in-situ environmental factors. Consequently, this will allow the right authorities to develop mitigation strategies to address riverine plastic pollution in major river basins in Malaysia and the South East Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabiqah Tuan Anuar
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Nor Salmi Abdullah
- Water Quality Laboratory, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Lot 5377, Jalan Putra Permai, Rizab Melayu Sungai Kuyoh, 43300, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nasehir Khan E M Yahya
- Water Quality Laboratory, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Lot 5377, Jalan Putra Permai, Rizab Melayu Sungai Kuyoh, 43300, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Teen Teen Chin
- ALS Technichem (M) Sdn Bhd., Wisma ALS, No. 21, Jalan Astaka U8/84, Bukit Jelutong, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Yuzwan Mohamad
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Alyza Azzura Azmi
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Maisarah Jaafar
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Noorlin Mohamad
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Wan Mohd Afiq Wan Mohd Khalik
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim
- Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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Ma YB, Xie ZY, Hamid N, Tang QP, Deng JY, Luo L, Pei DS. Recent advances in micro (nano) plastics in the environment: Distribution, health risks, challenges and future prospects. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 261:106597. [PMID: 37311378 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental micro(nano)plastics have become a significant global pollution problem due to the widespread use of plastic products. In this review, we summarized the latest research advances on micro(nano)plastics in the environment, including their distribution, health risks, challenges, and future prospect. Micro(nano)plastics have been found in a variety of environmental media, such as the atmosphere, water bodies, sediment, and especially marine systems, even in remote places like Antarctica, mountain tops, and the deep sea. The accumulation of micro(nano)plastics in organisms or humans through ingestion or other passive ways poses a series of negative impacts on metabolism, immune function, and health. Moreover, due to their large specific surface area, micro(nano)plastics can also adsorb other pollutants, causing even more serious effects on animal and human health. Despite the significant health risks posed by micro(nano)plastics, there are limitations in the methods used to measure their dispersion in the environment and their potential health risks to organisms. Therefore, further research is needed to fully understand these risks and their impacts on the environment and human health. Taken together, the challenges of micro(nano)plastics analysis in the environment and organisms must be addressed, and future research prospects need to be identified. Governments and individuals must take action to reduce plastic waste and minimize the negative impact of micro(nano)plastics on the environment and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Bo Ma
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Zhuo-Yuan Xie
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Naima Hamid
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Qi-Ping Tang
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jiao-Yun Deng
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Lin Luo
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - De-Sheng Pei
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
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Li H, Zhu L, Ma M, Wu H, An L, Yang Z. Occurrence of microplastics in commercially sold bottled water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161553. [PMID: 36640894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous in all environmental compartments, including food and water. A growing body of evidence suggests the potential health impacts of continuous microplastic ingestion on humans. However, a lack of information on microplastic exposure to humans through drinking water and the high heterogeneity of available data limits advancements in health risk assessments. In the present study, laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LD-IR) was used to determine the occurrence of microplastics in bottled water sold in China. Then, the ingestion level of microplastics through drinking water was estimated. The results showed that the average microplastic abundance in bottled water was 72.32 ± 44.64 items/L, which was higher than that detected in tap water (49.67 ± 17.49 items/L). Overall, the microplastic structures were dominated by films and mainly consisted of cellulose and PVC. Their sizes were concentrated in the range of 10-50 μm, accounting for 67.85 ± 8.40 % of the total microplastics in bottled water and 75.50 % in tap water. The estimated daily intake of microplastics (EDI) by infants through bottled water and tap water was almost twice as high as that by adults, although adults ingested more microplastics. The present results provide valuable data for further assessing human health risks associated with exposure to microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Long Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Mindong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Haiwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lihui An
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Zhanhong Yang
- Environmental Standards Institute of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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Ding J, Sun C, He C, Zheng L, Dai D, Li F. Atmospheric microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean: Distribution, source, and deposition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154337. [PMID: 35259376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is recognized as a ubiquitous global issue. However, limited information is available concerning microplastics in the marine air. Here we present the occurrence and distribution of atmospheric microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, with abundance ranging from 0.0046 to 0.064 items/m3. The microplastics were in various shapes and polymer types, of which fibrous rayon (67%) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 23%) accounted for the majority. The atmospheric microplastics in the pelagic area showed higher abundance and smaller size compared to those in the nearshore area, indicating smaller-sized microplastics in the atmosphere might travel long distances over the ocean. The atmospheric microplastic distribution was not only affected by weather conditions but might also be related to the microplastic sources. The microplastic polymer types combined with the backward trajectory model analysis showed that atmospheric microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean mainly originated from the land and the adjacent oceanic atmosphere. Spearman's correlation coefficient of the relationship between the features of microplastics in the atmosphere and surface seawater tended to increase with increasing offshore distances. Our field-based research revealed that atmospheric microplastics were a non-negligible source of marine microplastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Ding
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, and College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Chengjun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Changfei He
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China; Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266200, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Dejun Dai
- First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Fengmin Li
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, and College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
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