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Simon-Sánchez L, Vianello A, Kirstein IV, Molazadeh MS, Lorenz C, Vollertsen J. Assessment of microplastic pollution and polymer risk in the sediment compartment of the Limfjord, Denmark. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175017. [PMID: 39059658 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Estuarine sediments intercept and temporarily retain microplastics before they reach the marine seafloor, impacting various organisms, including key commercial species. This highlights the critical need for research on microplastic exposure in these transitional environments. This study provides a detailed assessment of microplastic pollution in the sediment compartment of the Limfjord, a 1500 km2 large Danish fjord, and introduces the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) as a tool for evaluating polymer-specific risks. Thirteen sediment samples were collected, covering an anthropogenic gradient along the fjord. State-of-the-art methods were applied for extracting and identifying (FPA-μFT-IR imaging) microplastics (10-5000 μm). Our results indicate that microplastic contamination is pervasive across all sampled locations with concentrations ranging from 273 to 4288 particles kg-1, with a predominance of small microplastics (<100 μm). The estimated mass-based concentrations ranged between 2.60 × 104-1.11 × 106 ng kg-1. Overall, we estimated a microplastic stock of 3.8 × 103-1.65 × 105 kg in the surface sediments of the Limfjord, i.e., some 2.5-110 kg km-2. The application of the PHI revealed significant risks associated with specific polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), underscoring the importance of considering polymer-specific hazards in environmental assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Inga V Kirstein
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland 27498, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
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2
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Paul N, Tillmann A, Lannig G, Pogoda B, Lucassen M, Mackay-Roberts N, Gerdts G, Bock C. Microplastics and low tide warming: Metabolic disorders in intertidal Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 284:116873. [PMID: 39151369 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116873] [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: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Sessile intertidal organisms live in a harsh environment with challenging environmental conditions and increasing anthropogenic pressure such as microplastic (MP) pollution. This study focused on effects of environmentally relevant MP concentrations on the metabolism of intertidal Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, and its potential MP-induced vulnerability to warming during midday low tide. Oysters experienced a simulated semidiurnal tidal cycle based on their natural habitat, and were exposed to a mixture of polystyrene microbeads (4, 7.5 and 10 µm) at two environmentally relevant concentrations (0.025 µg L-1 and 25 µg L-1) for 16 days, with tissue samplings after 3 and 12 days to address dose-dependent effects over time. On the last day of exposure, the remaining oysters were additionally exposed to low tide warming (3 °C h-1) to investigate possible MP-induced susceptibility to aerial warming. Metabolites of digestive gland and gill tissues were analysed by using untargeted 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based metabolomics. For the digestive gland metabolite profiles were comparable to each other independent of MP concentration, exposure time, or warming. In contrast, gill metabolites were significantly affected by high MP exposure and warming irrespective of MP, initiating the same cellular stress response to counteract induced oxidative stress. The activated cascade of antioxidant defence mechanisms required energy on top of the general energy turnover to keep up homeostasis, which in turn may lead to subtle, and likely sub-lethal, effects within intertidal oyster populations. Present results underline the importance of examining the effects of environmentally relevant MP concentrations not only alone but in combination with other environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Paul
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Integrative Ecophysiology, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany.
| | - Anette Tillmann
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Integrative Ecophysiology, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany
| | - Gisela Lannig
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Integrative Ecophysiology, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany
| | - Bernadette Pogoda
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Shelf Sea Systems Ecology, Kurpromenade, Helgoland 27498, Germany
| | - Magnus Lucassen
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Integrative Ecophysiology, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany
| | - Nicholas Mackay-Roberts
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Shelf Sea Systems Ecology, Kurpromenade, Helgoland 27498, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Shelf Sea Systems Ecology, Kurpromenade, Helgoland 27498, Germany
| | - Christian Bock
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Integrative Ecophysiology, Am Handelshafen 12, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany.
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3
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Zeghal E, Vaksmaa A, van Bleijswijk J, Niemann H. Environmental factors control microbial colonization of plastics in the North Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 208:116964. [PMID: 39342912 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Large quantities of plastic enter the oceans each year providing extensive attachment surfaces for marine microbes yet understanding their interactions and colonization of plastic debris remains limited. We investigated microbial colonization of various plastic types (polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene-terephthalate, and nylon) in ex-situ incubation experiments. Plastic films, both UV-pretreated and untreated, were exposed to seawater from a coastal and an offshore location in the North Sea. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was employed to assess microbial community structures after 5, 10, 30, and 45 days of incubation. Our findings show the significant influence of time, seawater origin and plastic type on microbial community succession. We also identified several genera associated with hydrocarbon or plastic degradation potential as well as genera selecting for specific plastics such as Ketobacter and Microbacterium. Our results highlight potential role of microorganisms in plastic biodegradation and support the idea that microbial colonizers on marine plastics debris seemingly select distinct substrate types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Zeghal
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, the Netherlands.
| | - Annika Vaksmaa
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, the Netherlands
| | - Judith van Bleijswijk
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, the Netherlands
| | - Helge Niemann
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, the Netherlands; Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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4
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Reineccius J, Waniek JJ. Critical reassessment of microplastic abundances in the marine environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176449. [PMID: 39317250 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pose a growing concern in the marine environment, but their global prevalence remains largely unknown due to the absence of precise and standardized detection methods. This review critically evaluates existing techniques for quantifying MP abundances in marine field studies, addressing inaccuracies resulting from the exclusion of particle sizes, polymer types, or limitations in identification methods. These traced inaccuracies were considered to recalculate MP abundances for particle sizes from 10 to 5000 μm, providing the first corrected global overview of MP distribution that enables quality assessment and reliable comparisons between adjusted data. The recalculations indicate that MP abundances are up to 15 times higher in marine waters (average (1.5 ± 36.2) × 105 items m-3) and up to 11 times higher in the marine sediments (average (2.7 ± 117.9) × 105 items kg-1) than previously reported in the literature. The Australasian Mediterranean Sea (average (1.2 ± 10.6) × 106 items m-3) and the North Atlantic (average (2.1 ± 37.6) × 105 items kg-1) emerged as the most polluted regions in marine waters and sediments, respectively, with primary contributors being the coasts of Southeast Asia and East America. This review demonstrates that previous field studies, global estimates, and models have significantly underestimated MP levels in marine environments in many cases, which could result in misinterpretations of both local and global pollution levels. This work highlights the critical need for precise handling of microplastic samples and urges future researchers to adopt standardized protocols for MP analysis to avoid inaccurate and misleading outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janika Reineccius
- Leibniz Institute of Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, Seestraße 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Joanna J Waniek
- Leibniz Institute of Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, Seestraße 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany
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5
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Menger F, Römerscheid M, Lips S, Klein O, Nabi D, Gandrass J, Joerss H, Wendt-Potthoff K, Bedulina D, Zimmermann T, Schmitt-Jansen M, Huber C, Böhme A, Ulrich N, Beck AJ, Pröfrock D, Achterberg EP, Jahnke A, Hildebrandt L. Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135256. [PMID: 39106725 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Photodegradation of plastic consumer products is known to accelerate weathering and facilitate the release of chemicals and plastic particles into the aquatic environment. However, these processes are complex. In our presented pilot study, eight plastic consumer products were leached in distilled water under strong ultraviolet (UV) light simulating eight months of Central European climate and compared to their respective dark controls (DCs). The leachates and formed plastic particles were exploratorily characterized using a range of chemical analytical tools to describe degradation and leaching processes. These techniques covered (a) microplastic analysis, showing substantial liberation of plastic particles further increased under UV exposure, (b) non-targeted mass spectrometric characterization of the leachates, revealing several hundreds of chemical features with typically only minor agreement between the UV exposure and the corresponding DCs, (c) target analysis of 71 organic analytes, of which 15 could be detected in at least one sample, and (d) metal(loid) analysis, which revealed substantial release of toxic metal(loid)s further enhanced under UV exposure. A data comparison with the US-EPA's ToxVal and ToxCast databases showed that the detected metals and organic additives might pose substantial health and environmental concerns, requiring further study and comprehensive impact assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Menger
- Department of Organic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Mara Römerscheid
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Lips
- Department of Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ole Klein
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Deedar Nabi
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gandrass
- Department of Organic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Hanna Joerss
- Department of Organic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Katrin Wendt-Potthoff
- Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Brueckstr. 3 a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daria Bedulina
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Tristan Zimmermann
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen
- Department of Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Huber
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Böhme
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nadin Ulrich
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Aaron J Beck
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniel Pröfrock
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Eric P Achterberg
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52047 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Lars Hildebrandt
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
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Wu F, Zonneveld KAF, Wolschke H, von Elm R, Primpke S, Versteegh GJM, Gerdts G. Diving into the Depths: Uncovering Microplastics in Norwegian Coastal Sediment Cores. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39258578 PMCID: PMC11428159 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c04360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
High concentrations of microplastics (MPs) have been documented in the deep-sea surface sediments of the Arctic Ocean. However, studies investigating their high-resolution vertical distribution in sediments from the European waters to the Arctic remain limited. This study examines MPs in five sediment cores from the Norwegian Coastal Current (NCC), encompassing the water-sediment interface and sediment layers up to 19 cm depth. Advanced analytical methods for MP identification down to 11 μm in size were combined with radiometric dating and lithology observations. MPs were present across all sediment cores, including layers predating the introduction of plastics, with concentrations exhibiting significant variation (54-12,491 MP kg-1). The smallest size class (11 μm) predominated in most sediment layers (34-100%). A total of 18 different polymer types were identified across all sediment layers, with polymer diversity and depth correlations varying widely between stations. Our findings suggest that differences in seafloor topography and the impact of anthropogenic activities (e.g., fishing) lead to varying environmental conditions at the sampling sites, influencing the vertical distribution of MPs. This challenges the reliability of using environmental parameters to predict MP accumulation zones and questions the use of MPs in sediment cores as indicators of the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhu Wu
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Karin A F Zonneveld
- MARUM - Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Hendrik Wolschke
- Environmental Radiochemistry, Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Robin von Elm
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Gerard J M Versteegh
- MARUM - Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Constructor University, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
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7
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Wu F, Reding L, Starkenburg M, Leistenschneider C, Primpke S, Vianello A, Zonneveld KAF, Huserbråten MBO, Versteegh GJM, Gerdts G. Spatial distribution of small microplastics in the Norwegian Coastal Current. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 942:173808. [PMID: 38848912 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
High concentrations of microplastic (MP) particles have been reported in the Arctic Ocean. However, studies on the high-resolution lateral and vertical transport of MPs from the European waters to the Arctic are still scarce. Here, we provide information about the concentrations and compositions of MPs in surface, subsurface, and deeper waters (< 1 m, ∼ 4 m, and 17-1679 m) collected at 18 stations on six transects along the Norwegian Coastal Current (NCC) using an improved Neuston Catamaran, the COntinuos MicroPlastic Automatic Sampling System (COMPASS), and in situ pumps, respectively. FTIR microscopy and spectroscopy were applied to measure MP concentration, polymer composition, and size distribution. Results indicate that the concentrations of small microplastics (SMPs, <300 μm) varied considerably (0-1240 MP m-3) within the water column, with significantly higher concentrations in the surface (189 MP m-3) and subsurface (38 MP m-3) waters compared to deeper waters (16 MP m-3). Furthermore, the average concentration of SMPs in surface water samples was four orders of magnitude higher than the abundance of large microplastics (LMPs, >300 μm), and overall, SMPs <50 μm account for >80 % of all detected MPs. However, no statistically significant geographical patterns were observed in SMP concentrations in surface/subsurface seawaters between the six sampling transects, suggesting a relatively homogeneous horizontal distribution of SMPs in the upper ocean within the NCC/Norwegian Atlantic Current (NwAC) interface. The Lagrangian particle dispersal simulation model further enabled us to assess the large-scale transport of MPs from the Northern European waters to the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhu Wu
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany.
| | - Lina Reding
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Marrit Starkenburg
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Clara Leistenschneider
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany; Man-Society-Environment Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark
| | - Karin A F Zonneveld
- MARUM - Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Mats B O Huserbråten
- Department of Oceanography and Climate, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Gerard J M Versteegh
- MARUM - Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Constructor University, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
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8
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Shettigar NA, Bi Q, Toorman E. Assimilating Size Diversity: Population Balance Equations Applied to the Modeling of Microplastic Transport. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:16112-16120. [PMID: 39190588 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Modeling of microplastic (MP) transport in the aquatic environment is complicated by the diverse properties of the plastic particles. Traditional modeling methods such as Lagrangian particle tracking and Eulerian discrete class (DC) methods have limitations as they are not best placed to account for the diverse characteristics of individual particles, namely, size, density, and shape, which are crucial for determining the transport of MPs. In this work, we address the issue of particle size diversity by using the population balance equations (PBE) method. In addition to the advection-diffusion terms, the PBE transport equation involves a deposition sink term. Seven size classes of MPs are modeled in the DC method, which is compared to the PBE method. The evolution of particle size distribution is compared between the two methods using a simplified test case of a schematized estuary with tidal forcing and river discharge. This work successfully demonstrates the applicability and appropriateness of the PBE model in modeling the transport of MPs to track the dynamic and complete size distribution at a reduced computational cost in comparison to the DC model. With the PBE method, it is possible to address other diversities of the MPs such as the shape and density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nithin Achutha Shettigar
- Hydraulics and Geotechnics, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Qilong Bi
- Hydraulics and Geotechnics, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Ecosystem and Sediment Dynamics, Deltares, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Toorman
- Hydraulics and Geotechnics, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Blasco N, Ibeas M, Aramendia J, Castro K, Soto M, Izagirre U, Garcia-Velasco N. Depuration kinetics and accumulation of microplastics in tissues of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 202:106731. [PMID: 39276752 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) constitute the predominant plastic type in marine environments. Since they occupy the same size fraction of sediment particles and planktonic organisms they are potentially bioavailable to a broad scope of organisms, such as filter feeders, which are particularly vulnerable to MP ingestion. To understand the potential impact of MPs in filter feeders it is essential to clarify the uptake, accumulation patterns and elimination rates with time of MPs. The aim of this study was to determine the depuration dynamics and accumulation in tissues of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed during 24 h to different size polystyrene MPs (1 μm and 10 μm), and depurated for a maximum of 7 days (T = 24 h, T = 48 h and T = 7 d). Mussels were chemically digested with KOH 10% and filtered to quantify the number of MP ingested, and they were cryostat sliced for MP localization in tissues. Both MP sizes were quantified in all depuration times, but mussels accumulated significantly higher quantities of 10 μm MP throughout depuration compared to 1 μm MP. A significant decrease was observed after 7 d depuration in mussels exposed to 10 μm. Mussels removed the same amount of 1 and 10 μm MP after 7 days depuration. However, the depuration dynamics differed for each size-MPs and showed to be size-dependent. Most of both size MPs were eliminated in the first 24 h, but 1 μm MP showed to pass faster through the digestive tract than 10 μm MP. MPs of 1 μm and 10 μm were localized mainly in the lumen and a few in the epithelium of the digestive tract (stomach, intestine and digestive gland) during the depuration and in the gills after the exposure; as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The usage of chemical digestion and histological analysis as complementary techniques show to be suitable to infer the depuration dynamics of MPs in mussels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagore Blasco
- CBET+ Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), Spain.
| | - Mikel Ibeas
- CBET+ Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), Spain
| | - Julene Aramendia
- IBeA Research Group, Dept. Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain
| | - Kepa Castro
- IBeA Research Group, Dept. Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain
| | - Manu Soto
- CBET+ Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), Spain
| | - Urtzi Izagirre
- CBET+ Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), Spain
| | - Nerea Garcia-Velasco
- CBET+ Research Group, Dept. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), Spain
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Bilbao-Kareaga A, Calvache D, Sargsyan R, Ardura A, Garcia-Vazquez E. In-depth analysis of microplastics reported from animal and algae seafood species: Implications for consumers and environmental health. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116742. [PMID: 39059219 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116742] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Macroalgae are able to retain environmental microplastics (MPs). The potential ingestion of MP through Atlantic agar Gelidium corneum and different animal species (hake, glass eels, mussels, topshells, anemones, sea cucumbers) that are seafood resources in Spain, was estimated from published MPs data calculating daily dose and annual ingestion rate. The study region was Asturias (SW Bay of Biscay). Lower MP ingestion rate from algae than from any animal analysed revealed a reduced risk of MP intake, probably because the alga is harvested from quite clean subtidal zones. However, MP bioconcentration in Atlantic agar was higher than in sea cucumbers, mussels or glass eels. Compared with other algae, G. corneum ranked the highest for MP retention rate, perhaps for its intricate branching and gelatinous surface, suggesting a possible use in MP bioremediation. More experimental studies in MP uptake by macroalgae are recommended to understand their implication in the accumulation of this pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaia Bilbao-Kareaga
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Diana Calvache
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Roza Sargsyan
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Alba Ardura
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Eva Garcia-Vazquez
- University of Oviedo, Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
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11
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Pantó G, Aguilera Dal Grande P, Vanreusel A, Van Colen C. Fauna - Microplastics interactions: Empirical insights from benthos community exposure to marine plastic waste. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 200:106664. [PMID: 39098304 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106664] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic deposition in soft marine sediments raises concerns on their role in sediment habitats and unknown effects on resident macrobenthic communities. To assess the reciprocal influence that MPs and macrobenthos might have on each other, we performed a mesocosm experiment with ambient concentrations of environmental Polyethylene (PE) and a non-manipulated, natural macrobenthic community from the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS). Our results show that PE fragments increase mortality of abundant bivalves (specifically Abra alba) after 30 days of exposure but not for the most abundant polychaete Owenia fusiformis, possibly due to its predominant suspension feeding behavior. Fast burial of surface MPs exposes deep-dwelling burrowers to the pollutant, however reducing the amount of MPs interacting with (sub) surface living fauna. We conclude that macrobenthos promotes the sequestration of deposited MPs, counteracting resuspension, and can have cascading effects on biodiversity due to their effect on abundant and functionally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pantó
- Ghent University, Marine Biology Research Group, Belgium.
| | | | - A Vanreusel
- Ghent University, Marine Biology Research Group, Belgium
| | - C Van Colen
- Ghent University, Marine Biology Research Group, Belgium
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12
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Ciaralli L, Valente T, Monfardini E, Libralato G, Manfra L, Berto D, Rampazzo F, Gioacchini G, Chemello G, Piermarini R, Silvestri C, Matiddi M. Rose or Red, but Still under Threat: Comparing Microplastics Ingestion between Two Sympatric Marine Crustacean Species ( Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Parapenaeus longirostris). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2212. [PMID: 39123738 PMCID: PMC11311061 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing plastic contamination poses a serious threat to marine organisms. Microplastics (MPs) ingestion can represent a risk for the organism itself and for the ultimate consumer. Through the analysis of the gastrointestinal tract, coupled with stable isotope analysis on the muscle tissue, this study provides insights into the relationship between MPs pollution and ecology in two commercial marine species caught in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea: Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Parapenaeus longirostris. Stable isotope analysis was conducted to determine the trophic position and the trophic niche width. The gastrointestinal tracts were processed, and the resultant MPs were analysed under FT-IR spectroscopy to estimate the occurrence, abundance, and typology of the ingested MPs. The trophic level of the species was similar (P. longirostris TP = 3 ± 0.10 and A. foliacea TP = 3.1 ± 0.08), with an important trophic niche overlap, where 38% and 52% of P. longirostris and A. foliacea has ingested MPs, respectively. Though species-level differences may not be evident regarding MP's abundance per individual, a high degree of dissimilarity was noted in the typologies of ingested particles. This research provides valuable insights into how MPs enter marine trophic webs, stressing that isotopic niche analysis should be combined with other methods to explain in detail the differences in MPs ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ciaralli
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Vicinale Cupa Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Tommaso Valente
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
| | - Eleonora Monfardini
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Vicinale Cupa Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Loredana Manfra
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
- Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Villa Comunale, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Berto
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Padre Venturini snc, Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, Italy; (D.B.); (F.R.)
| | - Federico Rampazzo
- ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Padre Venturini snc, Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, Italy; (D.B.); (F.R.)
| | - Giorgia Gioacchini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSVA), Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.G.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulia Chemello
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSVA), Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.G.); (G.C.)
| | - Raffaella Piermarini
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
| | - Cecilia Silvestri
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
| | - Marco Matiddi
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Centro Nazionale Laboratori, Necton Lab, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (T.V.); (E.M.); (L.M.); (R.P.); (C.S.)
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13
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Cho Y, Jeon HJ, Lee SE, Kim C, Kim G, Kim K, Kim YK, Lee SR. Microplastic accumulation dynamics in Han river headwaters: Sediment interactions and environmental implication. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134445. [PMID: 38701727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of microplastic (MP) contamination has become a significant environmental concern due to its pervasive nature and persistent effects. While sediments are considered major repositories for MPs, information on their spatial distribution within these matrices is insufficient. This research examined both the horizontal and vertical presence of MPs in the sediments surrounding Lake Paldang in South Korea, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical characteristics of the samples obtained. The total content of MPs varied from 2.15 to 122.2 particles g-1. The average contents of MPs on surface sediments were 40.47, 34.14, 5.01, and 8.19 particles g-1 in north mainstream (NM), south mainstream (SM), tributary (TB), and Tributary catchment (TC) based on Sonae Island, Gyeongan stream, respectively. The most abundant MP types were polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polypropylene (PP), accounting for more than 70% of the total MPs. The most abundant sizes of MPs were within 45-100 µm. At all sediment depths, polymers were distributed in the order PE, PP, and polyester in NM, SM, and TC, respectively, whereas PTFE mainly occurred in the surface layer. MPs distribution also exhibited seasonal variation as larger inflows and flow rates varied with season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunseo Cho
- Aero-Soil Laboratory, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwang-Ju Jeon
- Red River Research Station, AgCenter, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Bossier City, LA 71112, USA
| | - Sung-Eun Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaeeun Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyuwon Kim
- Aero-Soil Laboratory, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongnam Kim
- Institute of Quality and Safety Evaluation of Agricultural Products, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Kwan Kim
- Sustainable Nanochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Ryong Lee
- Aero-Soil Laboratory, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Hamilton BM, Harris LN, Maksagak B, Nero E, Gilbert MJH, Provencher JF, Rochman CM. Microplastic and other anthropogenic microparticles in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and their coastal habitat: A first-look at a central Canadian Arctic commercial fishery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172854. [PMID: 38685419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172854] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In the recent monitoring guidelines released by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program's Litter and Microplastic Expert Group, Arctic salmonids were recommended as an important species for monitoring plastics in Arctic ecosystems, with an emphasis on aligning microplastic sampling and analysis methods in Arctic fishes. This recommendation was based on the minimal documentation of microplastics in Northern fishes, especially Arctic salmonids. In response, we worked collaboratively with local partners to quantify and characterize microplastics in Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, and their habitats in a commercial fishery near Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut. We sampled Arctic char, surface water, and benthic sediments within their summer foraging habitat at Palik (Byron Bay). We found microplastics in 95 % of char with an average of 26 (SD ± 19) particles per individual. On average, surface water samples had 23 (SD ± 12) particles/L and benthic sediment <1 particles/gww. This is the first documentation of plastic pollution in Arctic char and their coastal habitats. Future work should evaluate seasonal, temporal and spatial trends for long-term monitoring of microplastics in Arctic fishes and their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie M Hamilton
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Les N Harris
- Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Beverly Maksagak
- Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada
| | - Emilie Nero
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew J H Gilbert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, St. John, NB, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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15
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Leistenschneider C, Wu F, Primpke S, Gerdts G, Burkhardt-Holm P. Unveiling high concentrations of small microplastics (11-500 μm) in surface water samples from the southern Weddell Sea off Antarctica. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172124. [PMID: 38565351 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of microplastic (MP) pollution in the global marine environment and these pollutants have been found to contaminate even remote regions, including the Southern Ocean south of the polar front. Previous studies in this region have mostly focused on MPs larger than 300 μm, potentially underestimating the extent of MP pollution. This study is the first to investigate MPs in marine surface waters south of the polar front, with a focus on small MPs 500-11 μm in size. Seventeen surface water samples were collected in the southern Weddell Sea using an in-house-designed sampling system. The analysis of the entire sample using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) with focal plane array (FPA) detection revealed the presence of MPs in all samples, with the vast majority of the MPs detected being smaller than 300 μm (98.3 %). The mean concentration reached 43.5 (± 83.8) MPs m-3, with a wide range from 0.5 to 267.2 MPs m-3. The samples with the highest concentrations differed from the other samples in that they were collected north of the continental slope and the Antarctic Slope Current. Sea ice conditions possibly also influenced these varying concentrations. This study reports high concentrations of MPs compared to other studies in the region. It emphasizes the need to analyze small MPs, down to a size of 11 μm or even smaller, in the Antarctic Treaty Area to gain a more comprehensive understanding of MP pollution and its potential ecological impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Leistenschneider
- Man-Society-Environment Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Fangzhu Wu
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Patricia Burkhardt-Holm
- Man-Society-Environment Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
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16
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Chand R, Putna-Nīmane I, Vecmane E, Lykkemark J, Dencker J, Haaning Nielsen A, Vollertsen J, Liu F. Snow dumping station - A considerable source of tyre wear, microplastics, and heavy metal pollution. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108782. [PMID: 38821018 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Snow dumping stations can be a hotspots for pollutants to water resources. However, little is known about the amount of microplastics including tyre wear particles transported this way. This study investigated microplastics and metals in snow from four snow dumping stations in Riga, Latvia, a remote site (Gauja National Park), and a roof top in Riga. Microplastics other than tyre wear particles were identified with Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) (>500 µm) and focal plane array based micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (FPA-µFTIR) imaging (10-500 µm), tyre wear particles by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GC-MS), and total metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma with Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Microplastics detected by FTIR were quantified by particle counts and their mass estimated, while tyre wear particles were quantified by mass. The concentrations varied substantially, with the highest levels in the urban areas. Microplastic concentrations measured by FTIR ranged between 26 and 2549 counts L-1 of melted snow with a corresponding estimated mass of 19-573 µg/L. Tyre wear particles were not detected at the two reference sites, while other sites held 44-3026 µg/L. Metal concentrations varied several orders of magnitude with for example sodium in the range 0.45-819.54 mg/L and cadmium in the range 0.05-0.94 µg/L. Correlating microplastic measured by FTIR to metal content showed a weak to moderate correlation. Tyre wear particles, however, correlated strongly to many of the metals. The study showed that snow can hold considerable amounts of these pollutants, which upon melting and release of the meltwater to the aquatic environment could impact receiving waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupa Chand
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ieva Putna-Nīmane
- Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Voleru str. 4, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Elina Vecmane
- Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Voleru str. 4, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Jeanette Lykkemark
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jytte Dencker
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Fan Liu
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9200 Aalborg, Denmark.
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17
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König Kardgar A, Doyle D, Warwas N, Hjelleset T, Sundh H, Carney Almroth B. Microplastics in aquaculture - Potential impacts on inflammatory processes in Nile tilapia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30403. [PMID: 38726173 PMCID: PMC11079099 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Aquaculture is essential for meeting the growing global demand for fish consumption. However, the widespread use of plastic and the presence of microplastics in aquaculture systems raise concerns about their impact on fish health and the safety of aquaculture products. This study focused on the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), one of the most important aquaculture fish species globally. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary exposure to a mixture of four conventional fossil fuel-based polymers (microplastics) on the health of adult and juvenile Nile tilapia. Two experiments were conducted, with 36 juvenile tilapia (10-40 g weight) exposed for 30 days and 24 adult tilapia (600-1000 g) exposed for 7 days, the former including a natural particle (kaolin) treatment. In the adult tilapia experiment, no significant effects on intestinal health (Ussing chamber method), oxidative stress, or inflammatory pathways (enzymatic and genetic biomarkers) were observed after exposure to the microplastic mixture. However, in the juvenile tilapia experiment, significant alterations in inflammatory pathways were observed following 30 days of exposure to the microplastic mixture, indicating potential adverse effects on fish health. These results highlight the potential negative impacts of microplastics on fish health and the economics and safety of aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azora König Kardgar
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Darragh Doyle
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Niklas Warwas
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Terese Hjelleset
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Sundh
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bethanie Carney Almroth
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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18
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Hildebrandt L, Fischer M, Klein O, Zimmermann T, Fensky F, Siems A, Zonderman A, Hengstmann E, Kirchgeorg T, Pröfrock D. An analytical strategy for challenging members of the microplastic family: Particles from anti-corrosion coatings. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134173. [PMID: 38603906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Potentially hazardous particles from paints and functional coatings are an overlooked fraction of microplastic (MP) pollution since their accurate identification and quantification in environmental samples remains difficult. We have applied the most relevant techniques from the field of microplastic analysis for their suitability to chemically characterize anti-corrosion coatings containing a variety of polymer binders (LDIR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, Py-GC/MS) and inorganic additives (ICP-MS/MS). We present the basis of a possible toolbox to study the release and fate of coating particles in the (marine) environment. Our results indicate that, due to material properties, spectroscopic methods alone appear to be unsuitable for quantification of coating/paint particles and underestimate their environmental abundance. ICP-MS/MS and an optimized Py-GC/MS approach in combination with multivariate statistics enables a straightforward comparison of the multi-elemental and organic additive fingerprints of paint particles. The approach can improve the identification of unknown particles in environmental samples by an assignment to different typically used coating types. In future, this approach may facilitate allocation of emission sources of different environmental paint/coating particles. Indeed, future work will be required to tackle various remaining analytical challenges, such as optimized particle extraction/separation of environmental coating particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Hildebrandt
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - M Fischer
- Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Marine Sciences Department, Wüstland 2, 22589 Hamburg, Germany
| | - O Klein
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - T Zimmermann
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - F Fensky
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Siems
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Universität Hamburg, Department of Chemistry, Institute for Inorganic and Applied Chemistry, Martin-Luther-King Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Zonderman
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - E Hengstmann
- Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Marine Sciences Department, Wüstland 2, 22589 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Kirchgeorg
- Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Marine Sciences Department, Wüstland 2, 22589 Hamburg, Germany
| | - D Pröfrock
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
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19
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Thomas A, Marchand J, Schwoerer GD, Minor EC, Maurer-Jones MA. Size Distributions of Microplastics in the St Louis Estuary and Western Lake Superior. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8480-8489. [PMID: 38693822 PMCID: PMC11097629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10776] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Identifying the sources and fate of microplastics in natural systems has garnered a great deal of attention because of their implications for ecosystem health. This work characterizes the size fraction, morphology, color, and polymer composition of microplastics in western Lake Superior and its adjacent harbor sampled in August and September 2021. The results reveal that the overall microplastic counts are similar, with the harbor stations ranging from 0.62 to 3.32 microplastics per liter and the lake stations ranged from 0.83 to 1.4 microplastics per liter. However, meaningful differences between the sample locations can be seen in the size fraction trends and polymer composition. Namely, the harbor samples had relatively larger amounts of the largest size fraction and more diversity of polymer types, which can be attributed to the urbanized activity and shorter water residence time. Power law size distribution modeling reveals deviations that help in the understanding of potential sources and removal mechanisms, although it significantly underpredicts microplastic counts for smaller-sized particles (5-45 μm), as determined by comparison with concurrently collected microplastic samples enumerated by Nile Red staining and flow cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariyah Thomas
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Minnesota Duluth, 1038 University Dr. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
| | - Joseph Marchand
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Minnesota Duluth, 1038 University Dr. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
| | - Guenter D. Schwoerer
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Minnesota Duluth, 1038 University Dr. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
| | - Elizabeth C. Minor
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Minnesota Duluth, 1038 University Dr. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
- Large
Lakes Observatory and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2205 East Fifth St. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
| | - Melissa A. Maurer-Jones
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Minnesota Duluth, 1038 University Dr. , Duluth , Minnesota 55812, United States
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20
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Zhang Z, Geng Y, Zhou W, Shao X, Lin H, Zhou Y. Development of a multi-spectroscopy method coupling μ-FTIR and μ-Raman analysis for one-stop detection of microplastics in environmental and biological samples. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170396. [PMID: 38301783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170396] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Current techniques for microplastics (MPs) analysis are diverse. However, most techniques have individual limitations like the detection limit of spatial resolution, susceptibility, high cost, and time-consuming detection. In this study, we proposed a multi-spectroscopy method coupling μ-FTIR and μ-Raman analysis for one-stop MPs detection, in which barium fluoride was used as the substrate alternative to the filter membrane. Compared with commonly used filter membranes (alumina, silver, PTFE and nylon membranes), the barium fluoride substrate showed better spectroscopic detection performance on microscopic observation, broader transmittable wavenumber range for μ-FTIR (750-4000 cm-1) and μ-Raman (250-4000 cm-1) detection, thus suitable for the multi-spectroscopy analysis of spiked samples. Further, the real environmental and biological samples (indoor air, bottled water and human exhaled breath) were collected and detected to verify the applicability of the developed multi-spectroscopy method. The results indicated that the average content of detected MPs could be increased by 30.4 ± 29.9 % for indoor air, 17.1 ± 13.2 % for bottled water and 38.4 ± 16.0 % for human exhaled breath, respectively in comparison with widely used μ-Raman detection, which suggested that MPs exposure might be underestimated using single spectroscopy detection. Moreover, the majority of underestimated MPs were colored and smaller sized (<50 μm) MPs, which could pose higher risks to human body. In addition, the proposed method consumed lower sample pre-treatment costs and was environmental-friendly since the barium fluoride substrate could be used repeatedly after being cleaned by organic solvent with reliable results (n = 10, CV = 10 %, ICC = 0.961), which reduced the cost of MPs detection by at least 2.49 times compared with traditional methods using silver membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichun Zhang
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Geng
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of General Practice, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Linhai 317000, China
| | - Xuehua Shao
- Department of Pediatric, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Linhai 317000, China
| | - Hua Lin
- Bruker (Beijing) Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201103, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Centers for Water and Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pudong New Area centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fudan University Pudong Institute of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai 200136, China.
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21
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Circelli L, Cheng Z, Garwood E, Yuksel K, Di Iorio E, Angelico R, Colombo C. Comparison of ATR-FTIR and NIR spectroscopy for identification of microplastics in biosolids. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170215. [PMID: 38262536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170215] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Biosolids are considered a potentially major input of microplastics (MPs) to agricultural soils. Our study aims to identify the polymeric origin of MPs extracted from biosolid samples by comparing their Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) - Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra with the corresponding near-infrared (NIR) spectra. The reflectance spectra were preprocessed by Savitzky-Golay (SG), first derivative (FD) and compared with analogous spectra acquired on a set of fifty-two selected commercial plastic (SCP) materials collected from readily available products. According to the results portrayed in radar chart and built from both ATR-FTIR and NIR spectral datasets, the MPs showed high correlations with polymers such as polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA), determined in SCP samples. Each unknown MP sample had on average three or more links to several types of SCP, according to the correlation coefficients for each polymer ranging from 0.7 up to 1. The comparison analysis classified the majority of MPs as composed mainly by LDPE/HDPE, according to the top correlation coefficients (r > 0.90). PP and PET were better identified with NIR than ATR-FTIR. In contrast to ATR-FTIR analysis, NIR was unable to identify PS. Based on these results, the primary sources of MPs in the biosolids could be identified as discarded consumer packaging (containers, bags, bottles) and fibers from laundry, disposable glove, and cleaning cloth. SYNOPSIS: Microplastics (MPs) are considered contaminants of emerging concern. This study compares two simple and fast spectroscopy techniques to identify microplastics in the biosolid matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Circelli
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
| | - Zhongqi Cheng
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Graduate Center and Advanced Science Research Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evan Garwood
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Kerem Yuksel
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Erika Di Iorio
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Ruggero Angelico
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Claudio Colombo
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
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22
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Dimante-Deimantovica I, Saarni S, Barone M, Buhhalko N, Stivrins N, Suhareva N, Tylmann W, Vianello A, Vollertsen J. Downward migrating microplastics in lake sediments are a tricky indicator for the onset of the Anthropocene. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi8136. [PMID: 38381821 PMCID: PMC10881056 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are a recent particulate material in Earth's history. Because of plastics persistence and wide-range presence, it has a great potential of being a global age marker and correlation tool between sedimentary profiles. In this research, we query whether microplastics can be considered among the array of proxies to delimit the Anthropocene Epoch (starting from the year 1950 and above). We present a study of microplastics deposition history inferred from sediment profiles of lakes in northeastern Europe. The sediments were dated with independent proxies from the present back to the first half of the 18th century. Regardless of the sediment layer age, microplastic particles were found throughout the cores in all sites. Depending on particles' aspect ratio, less elongated particles were found deeper, while more elongated particles and fibers have reduced mobility. We conclude that interpretation of microplastics distribution in the studied sediment profiles is ambiguous and does not strictly indicate the beginning of the Anthropocene Epoch.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saija Saarni
- University of Turku, Department of Geography and Geology, Turku 20014, Finland
| | - Marta Barone
- Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Riga LV-1007, Latvia
- Daugavpils University, The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia
| | - Natalja Buhhalko
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Marine Systems, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Normunds Stivrins
- University of Latvia, Department of Geography, Riga LV-1004, Latvia
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Geology, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | | | - Wojciech Tylmann
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Gdańsk PL-80309, Poland
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
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23
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Aierken R, Zhang Y, Zeng Q, Yong L, Qu J, Tong H, Wang X, Zhao L. Microplastics Prevalence in Different Cetaceans Stranded along the Western Taiwan Strait. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:641. [PMID: 38396609 PMCID: PMC10885933 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution is of global concern, which poses serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators. In this study, MPs were investigated from nine cetaceans of four different species, comprising one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), and five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait from the East China Sea based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. Mean abundances of 778 identified MPs items were 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual-1 and 0.43 ± 0.19 items g-1 wet weight of intestine contents, which were found predominantly to be transparent, fiber-shaped polyethylene terephthalate (PET) items usually between 0.5 and 5 mm. The abundance of MPs was found at a slightly higher level and significantly correlated with intestine contents mass (p = 0.0004*). The MPs source was mainly likely from synthetic fibers-laden sewage discharged from intense textile industries. Our report represents the first study of MPs in pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans in China, which not only adds baseline data on MPs for cetaceans in Asian waters but also highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyilamu Aierken
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yuke Zhang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qianhui Zeng
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Liming Yong
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jincheng Qu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Haoran Tong
- Museum of Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
| | - Xianyan Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Liyuan Zhao
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; (R.A.); (Y.Z.); (Q.Z.); (L.Y.); (J.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, China
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24
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Bhat MA, Gaga EO, Gedik K. How can contamination be prevented during laboratory analysis of atmospheric samples for microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:159. [PMID: 38231440 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12345-3] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) in the air and indoor environments are of growing concern and have led to increased testing for MPs. This study draws attention to the quality and quantitative measures of MP studies by conducting laboratory experiments (on solutions, filters, and blank samples) that were rarely or were not adopted in the airborne and indoor MP literature. Experiments have been conducted to identify contaminations that may come from experimental procedures while determining MPs in the air samples. MPs in different matrices during experiments were counted and categorized by their shapes. Chemical characterization was performed by Raman Spectroscopy. Results showed that laminar flow is the best option over a fume hood or standard laboratory environment for detecting air MPs to reduce blank levels. Blue-green and Black-Grey were the dominant colors; fiber was the predominant type of MPs seen, and most of them fall under the size range from (1-1000 µm) in different indoor environments and blanks. Common MPs seen were PP, PVA, PTFE, PVC, and HDPE. Thermal treatment of fresh unused filters at 450 °C for 4 h was effective as it reduced the MP count by 50%. Working solutions are mainly contaminated, and their pre-filtration is essential. The average deposition of MPs in blank samples during seven days was around 55 MPs. There is an urgent need for studies on developing quality control and quality assurance of airborne and indoor MPs. Hence, a standard protocol needs to be accepted; by harmonizing procedures, comparable results can be found, uncovering the correct levels of MP contamination, as required for risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoor Ahmad Bhat
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Türkiye.
| | - Eftade O Gaga
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Türkiye
| | - Kadir Gedik
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Türkiye
- Environmental Research Center (ÇEVMER), Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Türkiye
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25
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Gunaalan K, Almeda R, Vianello A, Lorenz C, Iordachescu L, Papacharalampos K, Nielsen TG, Vollertsen J. Does water column stratification influence the vertical distribution of microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122865. [PMID: 37926412 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122865] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has been confirmed in all marine compartments. However, information on the sub-surface microplastics (MPs) abundance is still limited. The vertical distribution of MPs can be influenced by water column stratification due to water masses of contrasting density. In this study, we investigated the vertical distribution of MPs in relation to the water column structure at nine sites in the Kattegat/Skagerrak (Denmark) in October 2020.A CTD was used to determine the stratification and pycnocline depth before sampling. Plastic-free pump-filter sampling devices were used to collect MPs from water samples (1-3 m3) at different depths. MPs concentration (MPs m-3) ranged from 18 to 87 MP m-3 (Median: 40 MP m-3; n = 9) in surface waters. In the mid waters, concentrations ranged from 16 to 157 MP m-3 (Median: 31 MP m-3; n = 6), while at deeper depths, concentrations ranged from 13 to 95 MP m-3 (Median: 34 MP m-3; n = 9). There was no significant difference in the concentration of MPs between depths. Regardless of the depth, polyester (47%), polypropylene (24%), polyethylene (10%), and polystyrene (9%) were the dominating polymers. Approximately 94% of the MPs fell within the size range of 11-300 μm across all depths. High-density polymers accounted for 68% of the MPs, while low-density polymers accounted for 32% at all depths. Overall, our results show that MPs are ubiquitous in the water column from surface to deep waters; we did not find any impact of water density on the depth distribution of MPs despite the strong water stratification in the Kattegat/Skagerrak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuddithamby Gunaalan
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark.
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
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26
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Porter A, Godbold JA, Lewis CN, Savage G, Solan M, Galloway TS. Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8023. [PMID: 38049431 PMCID: PMC10696022 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The microplastic body burden of marine animals is often assumed to reflect levels of environmental contamination, yet variations in feeding ecology and regional trait expression could also affect a species' risk of contaminant uptake. Here, we explore the global inventory of individual microplastic body burden for invertebrate species inhabiting marine sediments across 16 biogeographic provinces. We show that individual microplastic body burden in benthic invertebrates cannot be fully explained by absolute levels of microplastic contamination in the environment, because interspecific differences in behaviour and feeding ecology strongly determine microplastic uptake. Our analyses also indicate a degree of species-specific particle selectivity; likely associated with feeding biology. Highest microplastic burden occurs in the Yellow and Mediterranean Seas and, contrary to expectation, amongst omnivores, predators, and deposit feeders rather than suspension feeding species. Our findings highlight the inadequacy of microplastic uptake risk assessments based on inventories of environmental contamination alone, and the need to understand how species behaviour and trait expression covary with microplastic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Porter
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Ceri N Lewis
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Georgie Savage
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
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27
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Liu Y, Prikler B, Bordós G, Lorenz C, Vollertsen J. Does microplastic analysis method affect our understanding of microplastics in the environment? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166513. [PMID: 37619728 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Two analytical methods - both in active use at different laboratories - were tested and compared against each other to investigate how the procedure influences microplastic (MP) detection with micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μFTIR) imaging. A representative composite water sample collected from the Danube River was divided into 12 subsamples, and processed following two different methods, which differed in MP isolation procedures, the optical substrate utilized for the chemical imaging, and the detection limit of the spectroscopic instruments. The first instrument had a nominal pixel resolution of 5.5 μm, while the second had a nominal resolution of 25 μm. These two methods led to different MP abundance, MP mass estimates, but not MP characteristics. Only looking at MPs > 50 μm, the first method showed a higher MP abundance, namely 418-2571 MP m-3 with MP mass estimates of 703-1900 μg m-3, while the second method yielded 16.7-72.1 MP m-3 with mass estimates of 222-439 μg m-3. Looking deeper into the steps of the methods showed that the MP isolation procedure contributed slightly to the difference in the result. However, the variability between individual samples was larger than the difference caused by the methods. Somewhat sample-dependent, the use of two different substrates (zinc selenide windows versus Anodisc filters) caused a substantial difference between results. This was due to a higher tendency for particles to agglomerate on the Anodisc filters, and an 'IR-halo' around particles on ZnSe windows when scanning with μFTIR. Finally, the μFTIR settings and nominal resolution caused significant differences in identifying MP size and mass estimate, which showed that the smaller the pixel size, the more accurately the particle boundary can be defined. These findings contributed to explaining disagreements between studies and addressed the importance of harmonization of methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanli Liu
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Bence Prikler
- Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Ltd., 6. Anonymus st., Budapest 1045, Hungary; Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Gábor Bordós
- Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Ltd., 6. Anonymus st., Budapest 1045, Hungary
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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28
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Chen Q, Wang J, Yao F, Zhang W, Qi X, Gao X, Liu Y, Wang J, Zou M, Liang P. A review of recent progress in the application of Raman spectroscopy and SERS detection of microplastics and derivatives. Mikrochim Acta 2023; 190:465. [PMID: 37953347 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-06044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The global environmental concern surrounding microplastic (MP) pollution has raised alarms due to its potential health risks to animals, plants, and humans. Because of the complex structure and composition of microplastics (MPs), the detection methods are limited, resulting in restricted detection accuracy. Surface enhancement of Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a spectral technique, offers several advantages, such as high resolution and low detection limit. It has the potential to be extensively employed for sensitive detection and high-resolution imaging of microplastics. We have summarized the research conducted in recent years on the detection of microplastics using Raman and SERS. Here, we have reviewed qualitative and quantitative analyses of microplastics and their derivatives, as well as the latest progress, challenges, and potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Chen
- College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Jiamiao Wang
- College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Fuqi Yao
- College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xiaohua Qi
- Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), Beijing, 100123, China
| | - Xia Gao
- Institute of Analysis and Testing, Beijing Research Institute of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute of Analysis and Testing, Beijing Research Institute of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Jiamin Wang
- Institute of Analysis and Testing, Beijing Research Institute of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Mingqiang Zou
- Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), Beijing, 100123, China.
| | - Pei Liang
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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29
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Digka N, Patsiou D, Kaberi H, Krasakopoulou E, Tsangaris C. Microplastic ingestion and its effects οn sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus: A field study in a coastal East Mediterranean environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115613. [PMID: 37820450 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115613] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as an increasing threat to the marine environment, but little is known about their effects on benthic organisms, including sea urchins, when ingested. For this purpose, wild sea urchins (P. lividus) and seafloor sediment samples were investigated across three coastal areas of Zakynthos Island (Ionian Sea), each exposed to different anthropogenic pressures, revealing a consistent pattern in MP abundance, shape, and color. Biomarkers related to oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and genotoxicity showed no significant effects of MP ingestion in the sea urchins, except for a positive correlation between GST activity and ingested MPs, suggesting a possible activation of their detoxification system in response to MP ingestion. While MP concentrations in sea urchins and sediments were within the low range reported in the global literature, it remains crucial to conduct further investigations in areas with MP pollution approaching predicted levels to fully comprehend the potential effects of MP pollution on marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Digka
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece.
| | - Danae Patsiou
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Helen Kaberi
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Evangelia Krasakopoulou
- Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Catherine Tsangaris
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
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Leistenschneider D, Wolinski A, Cheng J, Ter Halle A, Duflos G, Huvet A, Paul-Pont I, Lartaud F, Galgani F, Lavergne É, Meistertzheim AL, Ghiglione JF. A critical review on the evaluation of toxicity and ecological risk assessment of plastics in the marine environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:164955. [PMID: 37348714 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
The increasing production of plastics together with the insufficient waste management has led to massive pollution by plastic debris in the marine environment. Contrary to other known pollutants, plastic has the potential to induce three types of toxic effects: physical (e.g intestinal injuries), chemical (e.g leaching of toxic additives) and biological (e.g transfer of pathogenic microorganisms). This critical review questions our capability to give an effective ecological risk assessment, based on an ever-growing number of scientific articles in the last two decades acknowledging toxic effects at all levels of biological integration, from the molecular to the population level. Numerous biases in terms of concentration, size, shape, composition and microbial colonization revealed how toxicity and ecotoxicity tests are still not adapted to this peculiar pollutant. Suggestions to improve the relevance of plastic toxicity studies and standards are disclosed with a view to support future appropriate legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leistenschneider
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UMR 7621, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France; SAS Plastic@Sea, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France.
| | - Adèle Wolinski
- SAS Plastic@Sea, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France; Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8222, Laboratoire d'Écogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France
| | - Jingguang Cheng
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UMR 7621, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France
| | - Alexandra Ter Halle
- CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Laboratoire des Interactions Moléculaires et Réactivité Chimique et Photochimique (IMRCP), UMR, 5623, Toulouse, France
| | - Guillaume Duflos
- Unité Physico-chimie des produits de la pêche et de l'aquaculture, ANSES, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Arnaud Huvet
- Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Ika Paul-Pont
- Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Franck Lartaud
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8222, Laboratoire d'Écogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France
| | - François Galgani
- Unité Ressources marines en Polynésie Francaise, Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer), Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | | | | | - Jean-François Ghiglione
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UMR 7621, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, France.
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Sari Erkan H, Takatas B, Ozturk A, Gündogdu S, Aydın F, Koker L, Ozdemir OK, Albay M, Onkal Engin G. Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastic pollution in surface sediments along the coastal areas of Istanbul, Turkey. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115461. [PMID: 37659384 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have become prevalent in various environmental compartments, including air, water, and soil, attracting attention as significant pollutant parameters. This study investigated the prevalence of MP pollution in surface sediments along Istanbul's Marmara Sea, encompassing the megacity and the Bosphorus. A comprehensive sampling approach was employed, covering 43 stations across four seasons and depths ranging from 5 to 70 m. The objective was to assess the impact of terrestrial, social, and industrial activities on MPs. The average concentrations varied per season, with fall, winter, spring, and summer values recorded as 2000 ± 4100, 1600 ± 3900, 4300 ± 12,000, and 9500 ± 20,300 particles/kg-DW. The study identified river stations in the Golden Horn and sea discharge locations as hotspots for high concentrations. Notably, the dominant shape shifted from fibers in fall, winter, and spring to fragments during summer, coinciding with mucilage occurrences. The study identified 11 different polymers, with polyethylene (44 %) and polypropylene (31 %) being the most common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanife Sari Erkan
- Yildiz Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220 Istanbul, Turkiye.
| | - Betul Takatas
- Yildiz Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220 Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Alihan Ozturk
- Yildiz Technical University, Control and Automation Engineering Department, 34349 Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Sedat Gündogdu
- Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkiye
| | - Fatih Aydın
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Department of Freshwater Resources and Management, Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Latife Koker
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Department of Freshwater Resources and Management, Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Oguz Kaan Ozdemir
- Yıldız Technical University, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, 34220 İstanbul, Turkiye
| | - Meric Albay
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Department of Freshwater Resources and Management, Istanbul, Turkiye
| | - Guleda Onkal Engin
- Yildiz Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220 Istanbul, Turkiye
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32
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Rigi N, Zare R, Kor K. Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in the intertidal sediments along the Oman Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115360. [PMID: 37544063 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115360] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have been found in marine systems more frequently. We aim to analyze the MPs abundances, distribution, and characteristics in the intertidal sediments along the Oman Sea. Samples were collected from 7 locations with three replicates. Density separation was used to extract MPs, which were then visually counted and categorized based on their size, shape, and color. MPs abundance ranged between 219.6 ± 38.3 particles.kg-1dw and 617.3 ± 99.9 particles.kg-1dw with a mean abundance of 315.4 ± 24.4 particles.kg-1 dw. Fragments and fibers were the dominant shapes. Red and blue colors were observed in 61.6 % of the collected MPs. In addition, 100-500 μm size range of MPs were more abundant. Micro-Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed polypropylene was the major polymer constituent. The present study revealed the widespread occurrence of MPs as anthropogenic pollutants throughout the Oman Sea and highlighted the urgent need for regulations and policies to reduce the entry of this material into marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navid Rigi
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran
| | - Rouhollah Zare
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran
| | - Kamalodin Kor
- Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), Tehran, Iran.
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33
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Li K, Su H, Xiu X, Liu C, Hao W. Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects-a review and perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90574-90594. [PMID: 37481496 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28899-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
As an important source of microplastics, the water ecological risk of tire wear particles (TWPs) has attracted widespread attention worldwide. However, the occurrence and behavior of TWPs and their biological effects in water environments have not been clearly analyzed. For example, most contemporary studies have focused on the evaluation of the aquatic toxicity of TWPs leachate, and little attention has been paid to the behavior process and potential risks of its surface properties in water environments. In addition, most studies rely on preparing TWPs under laboratory conditions or purchasing commercial TWPs for studying their water environmental behavior or exposure. These obviously cannot meet the requirements of accurate assessment of water ecological risks of TWPs. As thus, in addition to describing the occurrence, distribution, and (aging) transformation of TWPs in different water environments, we further tried to explain the potential water environment behavior process and multiple pathways leading to potential adverse impacts of TWPs on aquatic organisms from the perspectives of particle self-toxicity and release toxicity, as well as synergistic effects of TWPs and other substances are also discussed. The existing data, such as studies on the self-characteristics of TWPs, environmental factors, and subjects, are insufficient to comprehensively evaluate the recent changes in essential water ecosystem services and multifunctions caused by TWPs, implying that the impact of TWPs on water environmental health needs to be further evaluated, and the corresponding countermeasures should be recommended. In this context, the current review provides an outlook on future research on TWPs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing, China.
| | - Han Su
- Changwang School of Honors, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Xiaojia Xiu
- Changwang School of Honors, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Chi Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanqi Hao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing, China
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Taghipour H, Ghayebzadeh M, Ganji F, Mousavi S, Azizi N. Tracking microplastics contamination in drinking water in Zahedan, Iran: From source to consumption taps. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162121. [PMID: 36773917 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) that pollute drinking water are inherently toxic, act as an adsorbent of hazardous pollutants, and threaten human health. So, the fate of microplastics in drinking water from the source to consumption taps (CTs) was assessed in spring and winter in Zahedan city in Iran. Sampling was performed from 4 reservoirs (raw water), before and after two water treatment plants (WTPs), and 10 CTs. The reservoirs were sampled using a plankton net (pore size = 100 μm), and the remaining samples were taken using a sampling device (containing a stainless steel membrane as a filter with pore size = 5 μm). The combination of density separation techniques, digestion, observation, Micro-Raman and FTIR, and SEM analysis was performed to recognize MPs. The average number of MPs in raw water varied between 15.4 and 44.7 MP/m3 (winter) and 22-51.8 MP/m3 (spring). The results before and after the treatment plant showed that about 64 % and 75 % of particles were eliminated in WTP1 and WTP2, respectively. The average number of MPs in CTs was more than treatment water (CTa = 85-390 MP/m3 and CTb = 75-400 MP/m3), which is a probable confirmation of secondary contamination (abrasion from pipes, installations, and sealing materials). The dominant type of polymer detected in raw water, treated water, and consumption taps were PS. The estimated daily intake for children and adults was about 0.16-15 MP/kg/bw/year and 0.07-5.7 MP/kg/bw/year, respectively. The surface morphology of MPs showed that the particles were affected by continuous weathering, mechanical breakage, and oxidation. MPs threaten the environment and human health due to the adsorption and transport of hazardous pollution and their intrinsic toxicity, so a solution must be thought of to prevent the pollution of drinking water by MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Taghipour
- Health and Environment Research Center, School of Public Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ghayebzadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Ganji
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Saeid Mousavi
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nahid Azizi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Hansen J, Hildebrandt L, Zimmermann T, El Gareb F, Fischer EK, Pröfrock D. Quantification and characterization of microplastics in surface water samples from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean using laser direct infrared imaging. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114880. [PMID: 37031558 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
15 filtration samples were collected at eight locations onboard the RV Sonne (cruise SO279 in 2020) from 6 m water depth using a fractionated stainless-steel filtration unit. The size fraction > 300 μm was visually examined and potential microplastic particles were analyzed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The treatment of size class 20 μm < d < 300 μm was based on enzymatic-oxidative microwave-assisted "one-pot" matrix digestion in conjunction with analysis of the microplastics by time-efficient LDIR imaging. Total number concentrations ranged from 47 to 2154 microplastic particles per m3 (average for all stations: 500 ± 700 microplastic particles m-3 (1 SD; n = 8)). In total, 20 polymer types were identified. The most common polymer types were polyethylene terephthalate (20 %) and acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (15 %). 93 % of the detected microplastics were smaller than 100 μm in length. Analysis of sample replicates indicates high spatio-temporal variations in microplastic pollution within the investigated region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Hansen
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lars Hildebrandt
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Tristan Zimmermann
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Fadi El Gareb
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Department of Earth System Sciences, Institute for Geology, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elke Kerstin Fischer
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Pröfrock
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
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36
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Comparison of two rapid automated analysis tools for large FTIR microplastic datasets. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04630-w. [PMID: 36939884 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04630-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
One of the biggest issues in microplastic (MP, plastic items <5 mm) research is the lack of standardisation and harmonisation in all fields, reaching from sampling methodology to sample purification, analytical methods and data analysis. This hampers comparability as well as reproducibility among studies. Concerning chemical analysis of MPs, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscocopy is one of the most powerful tools. Here, focal plane array (FPA) based micro-FTIR (µFTIR) imaging allows for rapid measurement and identification without manual preselection of putative MP and therefore enables large sample throughputs with high spatial resolution. The resulting huge datasets necessitate automated algorithms for data analysis in a reasonable time frame. Although solutions are available, little is known about the comparability or the level of reliability of their output. For the first time, within our study, we compare two well-established and frequently applied data analysis algorithms in regard to results in abundance, polymer composition and size distributions of MP (11-500 µm) derived from selected environmental water samples: (a) the siMPle analysis tool (systematic identification of MicroPlastics in the environment) in combination with MPAPP (MicroPlastic Automated Particle/fibre analysis Pipeline) and (b) the BPF (Bayreuth Particle Finder). The results of our comparison show an overall good accordance but also indicate discrepancies concerning certain polymer types/clusters as well as the smallest MP size classes. Our study further demonstrates that a detailed comparison of MP algorithms is an essential prerequisite for a better comparability of MP data.
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37
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Liu Y, Lorenz C, Vianello A, Syberg K, Nielsen AH, Nielsen TG, Vollertsen J. Exploration of occurrence and sources of microplastics (>10 μm) in Danish marine waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161255. [PMID: 36596418 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) were quantified in Danish marine waters of the Kattegat and the southernmost part of Skagerrak bordering to it. Kattegat is a waterbody between Denmark and Sweden that receives inflow from the Baltic Sea and direct urban runoff from the metropolitan area of Copenhagen and Malmö. MPs were measured in 14 continuous transects while steaming between monitoring stations. MP levels tended to be highest close to the Copenhagen-Malmö area, albeit this was more obvious from the abundance of particles rather than mass. The outcome of the measurements allowed a rough MP budget in the Danish Straits region, suggesting that urban waste- and stormwater discharges could not be neglected as potential MP source in these waters. The marine samples were collected by pumping and filtering water over 10 μm steel filters, hereby sampling a total of 19.3 m3. They were prepared and analyzed by FPA-μFTIR imaging, and the scans interpreted to yield MP size, shape, polymer type, and estimated mass. The average concentration was 103 ± 86 items m-3, corresponding to 23.3 ± 28.3 μg m-3 (17-286 items m-3; 0.6-84.1 μg m-3). Most MPs were smaller than 100 μm and fragments dominated the samples. The carbonyl index was assessed for polyolefins, showing that oxidation increased with decreasing MP size, but did not correlate with distance to urban areas. A rough budget of MP in the Danish Straits region suggested that MPs discharged from urban waste- and stormwaters were an import source of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanli Liu
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kristian Syberg
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Torkel Gissel Nielsen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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38
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Du H, Chen G, Wang J. Highly selective electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-based graphene electrode for rapid detection of microplastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160873. [PMID: 36521612 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160873] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems that caused environmental pollution has attracted worldwide attention. Herein, graphene electrode was initially derived from petroleum waste. Then the electrochemical responses of the electrode were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) toward polystyrene (PS) under various optimum conditions. For the quantitative measurement of PS concentration, principal component analysis (PCA) score images displayed that the data points offered the best discrimination of the classes, and singular value decomposition (SVD) showed that a good linearity was achieved between Z"u(1) and lgCps in the concentration range of 0.01-25 mg L-1. Especially for PS with particle size of 1 μm, the highest correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9914) was obtained. The sensor ability to determine the polystyrene concentration in real samples was evaluated with the recovery of 98.4-113.3 % and reliable reproducibility (RSD < 9.72 %). For the quantitative measurement of the particle size of PS, SVD images exhibited that a linearity was obtained between Z'u(1)and lgDps in the particle size range of 0.08-20 μm. A good linearity with R2 = 0.9877 was obtained when the concentration was 1 mg L-1. The recovery was in the range of 100.8-118.0 % with the RSD < 6.38 %. Therefore, a novel method is established for the rapid detection of PS MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Du
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Guanglong Chen
- Institute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Institute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangzhou 510006, China.
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39
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Ahrendt C, Galbán-Malagón C, Gómez V, Torres M, Mattar C, DeCoite M, Guida Y, Příbylová P, Pozo K. Marine debris and associated organic pollutants in surface waters of Chiloé in the Northern Chilean Patagonia (42°-44°S). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114558. [PMID: 36652856 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114558] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report the occurrence of plastics and associated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in surface waters from Northern Chilean Patagonia. A total of 200 particles were found during the conducted survey. The highest number of particles found was 0.6 item m-3. We found that 53 % of the collected particles corresponded to plastic, with an average of 0.19 ± 0.18 item m-3. Microplastics (68 %) were the dominant size found in the area, followed by macroplastics (18 %) and mesoplastics (14 %). Most plastic particles were white (55 %) while others were <10 % each. Black and light blue represented 9 %; red, dark blue, and other colors 7 %; and green 6 %. Fragments were the most frequent shape of plastic debris (38 %), followed by Styrofoam (30 %) and fiber (27 %). Higher PBDE levels were found in the central zone, and those were higher than DDT, PeCB, HCB, and PCB levels. This study is the first report on POP occurrence in marine plastic debris from Chiloé Sea in the Northern Chilean Patagonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ahrendt
- Fundación Acción Natural, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile, Chile; Plastic Oceans International, 23823 Malibu Road Ste 50-205, Malibu, CA 90265, USA.
| | - C Galbán-Malagón
- Centro GEMA (Genómica, Ecología y Medio Ambiente), Universidad Mayor, Huechuraba, Santiago de Chile, Chile; Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Chile; Institute of Environment, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - V Gómez
- Centro GEMA (Genómica, Ecología y Medio Ambiente), Universidad Mayor, Huechuraba, Santiago de Chile, Chile; Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Chile
| | - M Torres
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción, Chile
| | - C Mattar
- Fundación Bioera, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - M DeCoite
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Y Guida
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - P Příbylová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - K Pozo
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción, Chile; RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
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40
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Gunaalan K, Almeda R, Lorenz C, Vianello A, Iordachescu L, Papacharalampos K, Rohde Kiær CM, Vollertsen J, Nielsen TG. Abundance and distribution of microplastics in surface waters of the Kattegat/ Skagerrak (Denmark). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120853. [PMID: 36509350 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous pollutants in the ocean, and there is a general concern about their persistence and potential effects on marine ecosystems. We still know little about the smaller size-fraction of marine MPs (MPs <300 μm), which are not collected with standard nets for MPs monitoring (e.g., Manta net). This study aims to determine the concentration, composition, and size distribution of MPs down to 10 μm in the Kattegat/Skagerrak area. Surface water samples were collected at fourteen stations using a plastic-free pump-filter device (UFO sampler) in October 2020. The samples were treated with an enzymatic-oxidative method and analyzed using FPA-μFTIR imaging. MPs concentrations ranged between 11 and 87 MP m-3, with 88% of the MPs being smaller than 300 μm. The most abundant shape of MPs were fragments (56%), and polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene were the dominant synthetic polymer types. The concentration of MPs shows a significant positive correlation to the seawater density. Furthermore, there was a tendency towards higher MPs concentrations in the Northern and the Southern parts of the study area. The concentration of MPs collected with the UFO sampler was several orders of magnitude higher than those commonly found in samples collected with the Manta net due to the dominance of MP smaller size fractions. Despite the multiple potential sources of MPs in the study area, the level of MPs pollution in the surface waters was low compared (<100 MP m-3) to other regions. The concentrations of MPs found in the studied surface waters were six orders of magnitude lower than those causing negative effects on pelagic organisms based on laboratory exposure studies, thus is not expected to cause any impact on the pelagic food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuddithamby Gunaalan
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark.
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- National Institute of Aquatic Resource, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; University Institute for Research in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA, EOMAR), Department of Biology, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Denmark
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Nash R, Joyce H, Pagter E, Frias J, Guinan J, Healy L, Kavanagh F, Deegan M, O'Sullivan D. Deep Sea Microplastic Pollution Extends Out to Sediments in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean Margins. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:201-213. [PMID: 36563299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous emerging contaminants found in every habitat surveyed, building upon international databases globally. Costs and accessibility often correlate to few deep sea sediment surveys, restricting the number of stations within a given sampling area. An extensive survey of the Porcupine Seabight, Porcupine Bank, the Goban Spur, and south-western canyons resulted in identifying microplastics in deep sea sediment surface layers from 33 of the 44 stations sampled (75%), with a total of 83 particles (74 synthetic and 9 natural) recorded. No microplastic hotspots were identified, and abundances (kg d.w.-1) were not correlated with distance from land, depth, or the presence of macrolitter on the seafloor. Understanding the sources of deep sea microplastics, such as marine traffic, is crucial to developing effective mitigation strategies as well as further monitoring campaigns targeting microplastic pollution in areas with significant deep sea biodiversity such as the Porcupine Seabright.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róisín Nash
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Galway (ATU, Galway), Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Haleigh Joyce
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Galway (ATU, Galway), Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Elena Pagter
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Galway (ATU, Galway), Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
- Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co., Galway H91 R673, Ireland
| | - João Frias
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Galway (ATU, Galway), Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Janine Guinan
- Geological Survey Ireland, Block 1, Booterstown Hall, Booterstown, Blackrock, Co., Dublin A94 N2R6, Ireland
| | - Louise Healy
- Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co., Galway H91 R673, Ireland
| | - Fiona Kavanagh
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Galway (ATU, Galway), Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | | | - David O'Sullivan
- Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co., Galway H91 R673, Ireland
- INFOMAR, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co., Galway H91 R673, Ireland
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42
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Dao CD, Duong LT, Nguyen THT, Nguyen HLT, Nguyen HT, Dang QT, Dao NN, Pham CN, Nguyen CHT, Duong DC, Bui TT, Nguyen BQ. Plastic waste in sandy beaches and surface water in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam: abundance, characterization, and sources. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:255. [PMID: 36592237 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10868-1] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence and characterization of marine debris on beaches bring opportunities to track back the anthropogenic activities around shorelines as well as aid in waste management and control. In this study, the three largest beaches in Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) were examined for plastic waste, including macroplastics (≥ 5 mm) on sandy beaches and microplastics (MPs) (< 5 mm) in surface water. Among 3803 items collected on the beaches, plastic waste accounted for more than 98%. The majority of the plastic wastes found on these beaches were derived from fishing boats and food preservation foam packaging. The FT-IR data indicated that the macroplastics comprised 77% polystyrene, 17% polypropylene, and 6% high-density polyethylene, while MPs discovered in surface water included other forms of plastics such as polyethylene- acrylate, styrene/butadiene rubber gasket, ethylene/propylene copolymer, and zein purified. FT-IR data demonstrated that MPs might also be originated from automobile tire wear, the air, and skincare products, besides being degraded from macroplastics. The highest abundance of MPs was 44.1 items/m3 at Hai Tien beach, while the lowest was 15.5 items/m3 at Sam Son beach. The results showed that fragment form was the most frequent MP shape, accounting for 61.4 ± 14.3% of total MPs. MPs with a diameter smaller than 500 μm accounted for 70.2 ± 7.6% of all MPs. According to our research, MPs were transformed, transported, and accumulated due to anthropogenic activities and environmental processes. This study provided a comprehensive knowledge of plastic waste, essential in devising long-term development strategies in these locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cham Dinh Dao
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Lim Thi Duong
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Thuy Huong Thi Nguyen
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Huong Lan Thi Nguyen
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Hue Thi Nguyen
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Quan Tran Dang
- Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Nhiem Ngoc Dao
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
- Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Chuc Ngoc Pham
- Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Chi Ha Thi Nguyen
- Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Dien Cong Duong
- Institute of Mechanics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Thu Thi Bui
- Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Bac Quang Nguyen
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam.
- Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam.
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43
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Marchesi C, Rani M, Federici S, Alessandri I, Vassalini I, Ducoli S, Borgese L, Zacco A, Núñez-Delgado A, Bontempi E, Depero LE. Quantification of ternary microplastic mixtures through an ultra-compact near-infrared spectrometer coupled with chemometric tools. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114632. [PMID: 36347397 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous distribution of plastics and microplastics (MPs) and their resistance to biological and chemical decay is adversely affecting the environment. MPs are considered as emerging contaminants of concern in all the compartments, including terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments. Efficient monitoring, detection, and removal technologies require reliable methods for a qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs, considering point-of-need testing a new evolution and a great trend at the market level. In the last years, portable spectrometers have gained popularity thanks to the excellent capability for fast and on-site measurements. Ultra-compact spectrometers coupled with chemometric tools have shown great potential in the polymer analysis, showing promising applications in the environmental field. Nevertheless, systematic studies are still required, in particular for the identification and quantification of fragments at the microscale. This study demonstrates the proof-of-concept of a Miniaturized Near-Infrared (MicroNIR) spectrometer coupled with chemometrics for the quantitative analysis of ternary mixtures of MPs. Polymers were chosen representing the three most common polymers found in the environment (polypropylene, polyethene, and polystyrene). Daily used plastic items were mechanically fragmented at laboratory scale mimicking the environmental breakdown process and creating "true-to-life" MPs for the assessment of analytical methods for MPs identification and quantification. The chemical nature of samples before and after fragmentation was checked by Raman spectroscopy. Sixty three different mixtures were prepared: 42 for the training set and 21 for the test set. Blends were investigated by the MicroNIR spectrometer, and the dataset was analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square (PLS) Regression. PCA score plot showed a samples distribution consistent with their composition. Quantitative analysis by PLS showed the great capability prediction of the polymer's percentage in the mixtures, with R2 greater than 0.9 for the three analytes and a low and comparable Root-Mean Square Error. In addition, the developed model was challenged with environmental weathered materials to validate the system with real plastic pollution. The findings show the feasibility of employing a portable tool in conjunction with chemometrics to quantify the most abundant forms of MPs found in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Marchesi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
| | - Monika Rani
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
| | - Stefania Federici
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Ivano Alessandri
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Irene Vassalini
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Ducoli
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Borgese
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
| | - Annalisa Zacco
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
| | - Avelino Núñez-Delgado
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Engineering Polytech. School, Univ. Santiago de Compostela, Campus Univ, Lugo, Spain
| | - Elza Bontempi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
| | - Laura E Depero
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per La Scienza e Tecnologia Dei Materiali (INSTM), 50121, Firenze, Italy
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44
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Bäuerlein PS, Erich MW, van Loon WMGM, Mintenig SM, Koelmans AA. A monitoring and data analysis method for microplastics in marine sediments. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105804. [PMID: 36410161 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In Europe, policy frameworks demand the monitoring of microplastics in marine sediments. Here we provide a monitoring and data analysis method for microplastic particles designed to be used in the context of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and OSPAR policy frameworks. Microplastics were analysed in marine sediments at four different locations in Dutch coastal and transitional waters using replicate sampling to investigate micro-spatial variation. Particle size distribution followed a power law with slope 3.76. Thirteen polymers were identified, with their composition varying between sediments near densely populated West coast areas versus the more rural Wadden Sea area. We quantify differences in the micro-spatial variation of microplastic concentrations between locations using the relative standard error of the mean (RSEM). This metric provides an opportunity to optimize the sensitivity of trend detection in microplastic monitoring networks by selecting locations with relatively low micro-spatial variation. We provide a method to optimize the number of replicate samples for a given location using its relationship with the RSEM. Two replicate samples appear to be cost-effective for relatively homogenous locations, whereas more heterogenous locations require four replicates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Willem M G M van Loon
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Svenja M Mintenig
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Albert A Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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45
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Li Y, Xiao P, Donnici S, Cheng J, Tang C. Spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics in various environmental compartments around Sishili Bay of North Yellow Sea, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114372. [PMID: 36442313 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114372] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in the marine environment is closely linked to human activities, particularly in coastal areas. Seasonal samples were collected on the beach, in rivers, surface water, bottom water, and subtidal sediments from May 2019 to February 2020. Microplastics in environment metrices showed different seasonal variation characteristics of both abundance and shapes, and their spatial distribution varied in different environment metrices. The most common shapes of microplastic in water and sediment were fibers and fragments. Foams were evident on the beach sand with seasonal distribution. Results from this study show that microplastics in coastal areas are vulnerable to human activities, such as marine aquaculture and fishery activity. The variation in vertical profiles indicated the presence of a complicated mechanism in water column. The typical microplastics inventory suggested sediment as the main sink in coastal area. More investigations are needed to understand the distribution of microplastic in the coastal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Li
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shandong, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, CAS, Qingdao, China
| | - Pei Xiao
- Marine Environmental monitoring and Forecast Centre, Yantai Municipal Bureau of Marine Development and Fisheries, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Sandra Donnici
- National Research Council, Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via Gradenigo, 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Jiaojiao Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shandong, China
| | - Cheng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shandong, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, CAS, Qingdao, China.
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46
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Leistenschneider C, Le Bohec C, Eisen O, Houstin A, Neff S, Primpke S, Zitterbart DP, Burkhardt-Holm P, Gerdts G. No evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri) from the Atka Bay colony (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158314. [PMID: 36041615 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (<5 mm; MP) pollution has been an emerging threat for marine ecosystems around the globe with increasing evidence that even the world's most remote areas, including Antarctica, are no longer unaffected. Few studies however, have examined MP in Antarctic biota, and especially those from Antarctic regions with low human activity, meaning little is known about the extent to which biota are affected. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the occurrence of MP in the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), the only penguin species breeding around Antarctica during the austral winter, and an endemic apex predator in the Southern Ocean. To assess MP ingestion, the gizzards of 41 emperor penguin chicks from Atka Bay colony (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica), were dissected and analyzed for MP >500 μm using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. A total of 85 putative particles, mostly in the shape of fibers (65.9 %), were sorted. However, none of the particles were identified as MP applying state-of-the-art methodology. Sorted fibers were further evidenced to originate from contamination during sample processing and analyses. We find that MP concentrations in the local food web of the Weddell Sea and Dronning Maud Land coastal and marginal sea-ice regions; the feeding grounds to chick-rearing emperor penguin adults, are currently at such low levels that no detectable biomagnification is occurring via trophic transfer. Being in contrast to MP studies on other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguin species, our comparative discussion including these studies, highlights the importance for standardized procedures for sampling, sample processing and analyses to obtain comparable results. We further discuss other stomach contents and their potential role for MP detection, as well as providing a baseline for the long-term monitoring of MP in apex predator species from this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Leistenschneider
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Man-Society-Environment Program, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Kurpromenade, 27498 Helgoland, Germany.
| | - Céline Le Bohec
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, IPHC UMR, 7178 Strasbourg, France; Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Département de Biologie Polaire, Monaco City, Monaco
| | - Olaf Eisen
- Glaciology, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Aymeric Houstin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, IPHC UMR, 7178 Strasbourg, France; Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Département de Biologie Polaire, Monaco City, Monaco
| | - Simon Neff
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Kurpromenade, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Daniel P Zitterbart
- Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Patricia Burkhardt-Holm
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Man-Society-Environment Program, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Kurpromenade, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
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47
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Simon-Sánchez L, Grelaud M, Lorenz C, Garcia-Orellana J, Vianello A, Liu F, Vollertsen J, Ziveri P. Can a Sediment Core Reveal the Plastic Age? Microplastic Preservation in a Coastal Sedimentary Record. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16780-16788. [PMID: 36375087 PMCID: PMC9730841 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The seafloor is the major sink for microplastic (MP) pollutants. However, there is a lack of robust data on the historical evolution of MP pollution in the sediment compartment, particularly the sequestration and burial rate of small MPs. By combining a palaeoceanographic approach and state-of-the-art analytical methods for MP identification down to 11 μm in size, we present the first high-resolution reconstruction of MP pollution from an undisturbed sediment core collected in the NW Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, we investigate the fate of MPs once buried in the sediments by evaluating the changes in the size distribution of the MPs and the weathering status of the polyolefins, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Our results indicate that the MP mass sequestered in the sediment compartment mimics the global plastic production from 1965 to 2016. We observed an increase in the weathering status of the polyolefins as the size decreased. However, the variability in the size and weathering status of the MPs throughout the sedimentary record indicated that these pollutants, once incorporated into sediments, remain preserved with no further degradation under conditions lacking remobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Simon-Sánchez
- Institute
of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra08193, Spain
| | - Michaël Grelaud
- Institute
of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra08193, Spain
| | - Claudia Lorenz
- Department
of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, Aalborg Øst9220, Denmark
| | - Jordi Garcia-Orellana
- Institute
of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra08193, Spain
- Departament
de Física, Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra08193, Spain
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department
of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, Aalborg Øst9220, Denmark
| | - Fan Liu
- Department
of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, Aalborg Øst9220, Denmark
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department
of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, Aalborg Øst9220, Denmark
| | - Patrizia Ziveri
- Institute
of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra08193, Spain
- Catalan
Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona08010, Spain
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48
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Materić D, Holzinger R, Niemann H. Nanoplastics and ultrafine microplastic in the Dutch Wadden Sea - The hidden plastics debris? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157371. [PMID: 35863583 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the marine environment has been identified as a global problem; different polymer types and fragment sizes have been detected across all marine regions, from sea ice to the equator and the surface to the deep sea. However, quantification of marine plastics debris in the size range of nanoplastics (<1 μm) and ultrafine microplastics (<10 μm) is not constrained, because such minuscule particles are challenging to measure. In this work, we applied a novel analytical assay using Thermal Desorption - Proton Transfer Reaction - Mass Spectrometry (TD-PTR-MS), which is suitable to detect and identify plastics in the nanogram range. From two stations in the Wadden Sea (the Netherlands), we measured nanoplastics directly from seawater aliquots, and from filters with different mesh sizes. Our results show the presence of Polystyrene (PS) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanopalstics as well as ultrafine microplastics in the Wadden Sea water column. The mass concentration of PS nanoplastics was 4.2 μg/L on average, indicating a substantial contribution of nanoplastics to the Wadden Sea's total plastic budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dušan Materić
- Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584CC Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Rupert Holzinger
- Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584CC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Helge Niemann
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Landsdiep 4, 1797 SZ 't Horntje (Texel), the Netherlands; Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584CC Utrecht, the Netherlands
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49
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Islam MS, Islam Z, Hasan MR. Pervasiveness and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the Buriganga River, Bangladesh. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135945. [PMID: 35944680 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental problem due to their all-around existence and extraordinary stability. A significant number of studies are found in recent literature on the occurrence, distribution, transport, and fate of the MPs in several environmental compartments. In this study, we have investigated the occurrence and characteristics of MPs in the surface water and sediment of the Buriganga river, located beside the mega-city of Dhaka in Bangladesh. In the Buriganga river, the concentration of MPs in the surface water was found from 4.33 ± 0.58 to 43.67 ± 0.58 items L-1, and in the sediment, MPs varied from 17.33 ± 1.53 to 133.67 ± 5.51 items kg-1 of dry sediment. Fragment-type MPs were predominant in the surface water and sediment, which was 72.7% and 85.5% respectively. The most abundant polymer type polypropylene (PP) was found -to be 46% in the surface water and 61% in the sediment sample. The next major category, polyethylene (PE) was found to be 26% and 21%, respectively. Polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyamide (PA) were other commonly detected polymer types. The MPs were found to be contaminated by Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, and Sn from Energy dispersive-X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) analysis. Tannery-induced Cr was detected in the highest concentrations in the MPs, which were 20.67 ± 1.66 mg kg-1 (in surface water) and 14.2 ± 1.25 mg kg-1 (in sediment). The pollution load index (PLI) of the MPs contamination in different sampling sites along the Buriganga river was found in the risk level category of I and II. The anthropogenic influence of the city area was reflected in the PLI values, which had an increasing trend from the upstream sampling points (1.00 ± 1.00, 1.00 ± 1.00) to the downstream sites (10.09 ± 1.00, 7.71 ± 3.60).
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saiful Islam
- Fiber and Polymer Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh.
| | - Zahidul Islam
- Fiber and Polymer Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rashed Hasan
- Fiber and Polymer Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
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50
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Mason VG, Skov MW, Hiddink JG, Walton M. Microplastics alter multiple biological processes of marine benthic fauna. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157362. [PMID: 35843327 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Marine sediments are a sink for microplastics, making seabed organisms particularly exposed. We used meta-analysis to reveal general patterns in a surge in experimental studies and to test for microplastic impact on biological processes including invertebrate feeding, survival and energetics. Using Hedge's effect size (g), which assesses the mean response of organisms exposed to microplastics compared to control groups, we found negative impacts (significant negative g values) across all life stages (overall effect size (g) = -0.57 95 % CI [-0.76, -0.38]), with embryos most strongly affected (g = -1.47 [-2.21, -0.74]). Six of seven biological process rates were negatively impacted by microplastic exposure, including development, reproduction, growth and feeding. Survival strongly decreased (g = -0.69 [-1.21, -0.17]), likely due to cumulative effects on other processes such as feeding and growth. Among feeding habits, omnivores and deposit feeders were most negatively impacted (g = -0.93 [-1.69, -0.16] and -0.92 [-1.53, -0.31], respectively). The study incorporated the first meta-analysis to contrast the effects of leachates, virgin, aged and contaminated particles. Exposure to leachates had by far the strongest negative effects (g = -0.93 [-1.35, -0.51]), showing studies of contaminants and leachates are critical to future research. Overall, our meta-analysis reveals stronger and more consistent negative impacts of microplastics on seabed invertebrates than recorded for other marine biota. Seabed invertebrates are numerous and diverse, and crucial to bottom-up processes, including nutrient remineralisation, bentho-pelagic coupling and energy transfer through the ocean food web. Marine sediments will store microplastics over long timescales. The reveal that microplastics impinge on multiple fundamental biological processes of seabed fauna implies plastic pollution could have significant and enduring effects on the functioning of the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Mason
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Isle of Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK.
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Isle of Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Jan Geert Hiddink
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Isle of Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Mark Walton
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Isle of Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
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