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Souza AMC, Ferreira GVB, de Los Santos CB, Frédou FL, Magalhães KM. Anthropogenic microparticles accumulation in small-bodied seagrass meadows: The case of tropical estuarine species in Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 207:116799. [PMID: 39178521 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116799] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows have recently been highlighted as potential hotspots for microplastic and anthropogenic microparticles (APs). This study assessed AP accumulation in shallow sediments vegetated by small-bodied seagrass species (Halodule wrightii, Halophila decipiens, and H. baillonii) and in the adjacent unvegetated area in a tropical estuary on the East Coast of South America, Brazil, over the seasonal cycle. Anthropogenic microparticles were detected in 80 % of the samples, with a mean abundance of 142 ± 140 particles kg-1 dw (N = 80). Particles were predominantly blue (51 %), fiber (73 %), and smaller than 1 mm (80 %). We observed that seagrass sediments retained APs, although no significant variation was observed between seagrass and the unvegetated area, nor between the dry and rainy seasons. A positive correlation was found between sediment grain size and AP abundance. This study represents the first record of AP contamination in seagrasses from the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic bioregion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M C Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade (PPGBio), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE CEP 52171-900, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Avenida São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (DEPAQ/UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil.
| | - Carmen B de Los Santos
- Centre a of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
| | - Flávia L Frédou
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade (PPGBio), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE CEP 52171-900, Brazil; Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (DEPAQ/UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil.
| | - Karine M Magalhães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade (PPGBio), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE CEP 52171-900, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - DB/UFRPE, Campus Sede, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil.
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Radford F, Horton AA, Felgate S, Lichtschlag A, Hunt J, Andrade V, Sanders R, Evans C. Factors influencing microplastic abundances in the sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124483. [PMID: 38960123 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows are one of the world's most diverse ecosystems offering habitats for an extensive array of species, as well as serving as protectors of coral reefs and vital carbon sinks. Furthermore, they modify hydrodynamics by diminishing water flow velocities and enhancing sediment deposition, indicating the potential for microplastic accumulation in their sediments. The build-up of microplastics could potentially have ecological impacts threatening to ecosystems, however little is known about microplastic abundance and controlling factors in seagrass sediments. Here we investigated microplastic characteristics and abundances within sediments underlying four seagrass meadow sites on the Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Sediment cores were collected and sub-sampled to include a range of replicate surface sediments (0-4 cm) and depth cores (sediment depths 0-2, 2-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm). These were analysed using 25 μm resolution μFTIR, with spectral maps processed using siMPle software. Microplastics were prevalent across the sites with an abundance range (limit of detection (LOD) blank-corrected) of < LOD to 17137 microplastics kg-1 dw found on the east side of the atoll. However, their abundances varied greatly between the replicate samples. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most commonly detected polymers overall, although the dominant polymer type varied between sites. There were no differences in the abundance of microplastics between sites, nor could abundance distributions be explained by seagrass cover. However, abundances of microplastics were highest in sediments with lower proportions of fine grained particles (clay, <4 μm) suggesting that hydrodynamics override seagrass effects. Additionally, no patterns were seen between microplastic abundance and depth of sediment. This suggests that microplastic abundance and distribution in seagrass meadows may vary significantly depending on the specific geographical locations within those meadows, and that more complex hydrodynamic factors influence spatial variability at a localised scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Radford
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK; Biospheric Microplastics Research Cluster, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Alice A Horton
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Stacey Felgate
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Anna Lichtschlag
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - James Hunt
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Valdemar Andrade
- Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA), 1216 Blue Marlin Boulevard, Belize City, Belize
| | - Richard Sanders
- NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Jahnebakken 5, 5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Claire Evans
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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3
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Lozano-Hernández EA, Ramírez-Álvarez N, Rios Mendoza LM, Macías-Zamora JV, Mejía-Trejo A, Beas-Luna R, Hernández-Guzmán FA. Kelp forest food webs as hot spots for the accumulation of microplastic and polybrominated diphenyl ether pollutants. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 257:119299. [PMID: 38824984 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119299] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Kelp forests (KFs) are one of the most significant marine ecosystems in the planet. They serve as a refuge for a wide variety of marine species of ecological and economic importance. Additionally, they aid with carbon sequestration, safeguard the coastline, and maintain water quality. Microplastic (MP) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentrations were analyzed across trophic levels in KFs around Todos Santos Bay. Spatial variation patterns were compared at three sites in 2021 and temporal change at Todos Santos Island (TSI) in 2021 and 2022. We analyzed these MPs and PBDEs in water, primary producers (Macrocystis pyrifera), grazers (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), predators (Semicossyphus pulcher), and kelp detritus. MPs were identified in all samples (11 synthetic and 1 semisynthetic polymer) and confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (μ-FTIR-ATR). The most abundant type of MP is polyester fibers. Statistically significant variations in MP concentration were found only in kelps, with the greatest average concentrations in medium-depth kelps from TSI in 2022 (0.73 ± 0.58 MP g-1 ww) and in the kelp detritus from TSI in 2021 (0.96 ± 0.64 MP g-1 ww). Similarly, PBDEs were found in all samples, with the largest concentration found in sea urchins from Punta San Miguel (0.93 ± 0.24 ng g-1 ww). The similarity of the polymers can indicate a trophic transfer of MPs. This study shows the extensive presence of MP and PBDE subtropical trophic web of a KF, but correlating these compounds in environmental samples is highly complex, influenced by numerous factors that could affect their presence and behavior. However, this suggests that there is a potential risk to the systems and the services that KFs offer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Antonio Lozano-Hernández
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
| | - Nancy Ramírez-Álvarez
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
| | | | - José Vinicio Macías-Zamora
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
| | - Adán Mejía-Trejo
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
| | - Rodrigo Beas-Luna
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
| | - Félix Augusto Hernández-Guzmán
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Colonia Playitas, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico. C.P. 22860.
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Amato A, Esposito R, Viel T, Glaviano F, Cocca M, Manfra L, Libralato G, Somma E, Lorenti M, Costantini M, Zupo V. Effects of biodegradable microplastics on the crustacean isopod Idotea balthica basteri Audouin, 1826. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124897. [PMID: 39243934 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a notable environmental issue, being plastic widespread and characterized by long lifetime. Serious environmental problems are caused by the improper management of plastic end-of-life. In fact, plastic litter is currently detected in any environment. Biodegradable Polymers (BPs) are promising materials if correctly applied and managed at their end of life, to minimize environmental problems. However, poor data on the fate and toxicity of BPs on marine organisms still limit their applicability. In this work we tested the effects of five biodegradable polymers (polybutylene succinate, PBS; polybutylene succinate-co-butylene adipate, PBSA; polycaprolactone, PCL; poly (3-hydroxybutyrates, PHB; polylactic acid, PLA) widely used for several purposes. Adult individuals of the isopod Idotea balthica basteri were fed on these polymers for twenty-seven days by adding biodegradable microplastic polymers (BMPs) to formulated feeds at two concentrations, viz. 0.84 and 8.4 g/kg feed. The plastic fragments affected the mortality rates of the isopods, as well as the expression levels of eighteen genes (tested by Real Time qPCR) involved in stress response and detoxification processes. Our findings confirmed that I. balthica basteri is a convenient model organism to study the response to environmental pollution and emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment, and highlighted the need for the correct use of BMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Amato
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cinthia 21, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Esposito
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy
| | - Thomas Viel
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Glaviano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Ischia Marine Centre, 80077, Ischia, Italy
| | - Mariacristina Cocca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Loredana Manfra
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy; Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cinthia 21, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuele Somma
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Ischia Marine Centre, 80077, Ischia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Lorenti
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, 80077 Ischia, Italy
| | - Maria Costantini
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133, Naples, Italy.
| | - Valerio Zupo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Ischia Marine Centre, 80077, Ischia, Italy
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5
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Lima LVS, do Nascimento RF, de Barros-Barreto MBB, Silva AA, Furtado CRG, Figueiredo GM. Microplastics associated with stranded macroalgae on an impacted estuarine beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116772. [PMID: 39068709 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116772] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants widely distributed in marine ecosystems. Only few studies approached MP interactions with marine plants, which are considered potential traps for MPs. Here, we determined MPs' densities and types associated with stranded macroalgae on a eutrophic beach in Guanabara Bay. Our results showed that red algae exhibited higher MP densities (1.48 MPs g-1), possibly due to their more branched thalli, than green algae (0.27 MPs g-1). The predominant MP types were blue and white fragments <3 mm in size and polymers were classified as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in fragments, and polypropylene in fibers. The higher densities of MPs in algae seemed to be influenced by the inner bay waters. The densities of MPs associated with algae from Guanabara Bay surpassed those reported in other studies. High MPs densities increase the chances that organisms associated with algae entangle or ingest MPs, impacting their health and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vinícius Sousa Lima
- Postgraduation Program in Marine Biology and coastal Environments - Federal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil
| | | | | | - Arianne Aparecida Silva
- Department of Chemical Processes, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Gisela Mandali Figueiredo
- Postgraduation Program in Marine Biology and coastal Environments - Federal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil; Department of Marine Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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6
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Novak AB, Gerstenbacher CM, Lord KS, Rotjan RD. Microplastic abundance and accumulation patterns in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadows throughout coastal Massachusetts, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:775. [PMID: 39093340 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12943-1] [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: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics are fast-emerging as another potential threat to already globally declining seagrass ecosystems, but there is a paucity of in situ surveys showing their accumulations. Here, we surveyed multiple Zostera marina L. meadows in 2020 and 2021 across Massachusetts, USA, for microplastic contamination, as well as identified factors related to patterns of accumulation. We found that microplastics were ubiquitous throughout all sites regardless of proximity to human development, with fibers being the most common microplastic type. In addition, we showed that accumulation of microplastics within seagrass meadows was related to epiphytic cover on leaves, plant morphology, and bulk-density in sediments. The results of this study provide the first in situ baseline microplastic concentrations on Z. marina plants and sediments for the temperate western North Atlantic. Additionally, we identify specific biotic and abiotic factors related to patterns of microplastic accumulation in these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa B Novak
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Cecelia M Gerstenbacher
- Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Haverhill, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karina Scavo Lord
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Randi D Rotjan
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Ren Y, Liu S, Luo H, Jiang Z, Liang J, Wu Y, Huang X, Macreadie PI. Seagrass decline weakens sediment organic carbon stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 937:173523. [PMID: 38797423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows are globally recognized as critical natural carbon sinks, commonly known as 'blue carbon'. However, seagrass decline attributed to escalating human activities and climate change, significantly influences their carbon sequestration capacity. A key aspect in comprehending the impact of seagrass decline on carbon sequestration is understanding how degradation affects the stored blue carbon, primarily consisting of sediment organic carbon (SOC). While it is widely acknowledged that seagrass decline affects the input of organic carbon, little is known about its impact on SOC pool stability. To address this knowledge, we examined variations in total SOC and recalcitrant SOC (RSOC) at a depth of 15 cm in nine seagrass meadows located on the coast of Southern China. Our findings revealed that the ratio of RSOC to SOC (RSOC/SOC) ranged from 27 % to 91 % in the seagrass meadows, and the RSOC/SOC increased slightly with depth. Comparing different seagrass species, we observed that SOC and RSOC stocks were 1.94 and 3.19-fold higher under Halophila beccarii and Halophila ovalis meadows compared to Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides meadows. Redundancy and correlation analyses indicated that SOC and RSOC content and stock, as well as the RSOC/SOC ratio, decreased with declining seagrass shoot density, biomass, and coverage. This implies that the loss of seagrass, caused by human activities and climate change, results in a reduction in carbon sequestration stability. Further, the RSOC decreased by 15 %, 29 %, and 40 % under unvegetated areas compared to adjacent Halophila spp., T. hemprichii and E. acoroides meadows, respectively. Given the anticipated acceleration of seagrass decline due to climate change and increasing coastal development, our study provides timely information for developing coastal carbon protection strategies. These strategies should focus on preserving seagrass and restoring damaged seagrass meadows, to maximize their carbon sequestration capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzheng Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Songlin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Hongxue Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Zhijian Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Jiening Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yunchao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Xiaoping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia; Biosciences and Food Technology Discipline, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Rimmer C, Fisher J, Turner A. Biomonitoring of microplastics, anthropogenic microfibres and glass retroreflective beads by marine macroalgae. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123801. [PMID: 38527581 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123801] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and other microscopic debris are a concern in the coastal environment but measurements in the water column and sediment are often problematic and rely on non-standardised and highly variable methodologies. To this end, we explore the potential of different species of temperate-cold marine macroalgae as passive biomonitors of anthropogenic microparticles at three contrasting locations in southwest England. Specifically, fronds from samples of fucoids and Ulva lactuca (n = 9 in total, and three from each location) have been sectioned and analysed directly under a microscope and anthropogenic microparticles counted and subsequently characterised for chemical composition. Microparticles were heterogeneously distributed throughout sections from the same sample. However, on a dry weight basis, combined microparticle concentrations for each sample ranged from about 7.5 g-1 to 110 g-1, and from about 0.2 cm-2 to 0.9 cm-2, and for a given species were higher in samples from a semi-enclosed harbour and urban beach than in samples from a protected beach facing the open sea. These values compare with published concentrations of microplastics and microfibres reported for the regional water column on the order of 0.1 m-3. Most particles were cellulosic (e.g., rayon) and petroleum-based (mainly polyester and polyethylene terephthalate) fibres but plastic fragments were also present on most samples. Glass retroreflective beads derived from road markings were also present at up to 18 g-1 on fucoids from the urban beach because of its proximity to a stormwater effluent. Most microparticles were adhered to the smooth parts of the macroalgal surface but some displayed wrapping around edges and creases or entrapment by appendages. The practical and environmental implications of macroalgae passively capturing significant quantities of anthropogenic microparticles are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerys Rimmer
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Jodie Fisher
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
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Martinez M, Minetti R, La Marca EC, Montalto V, Rinaldi A, Costa E, Badalamenti F, Garaventa F, Mirto S, Ape F. The power of Posidonia oceanica meadows to retain microplastics and the consequences on associated macrofaunal benthic communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123814. [PMID: 38499170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123814] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
In the coastal environment, a large amount of microplastics (MPs) can accumulate in the sediments of seagrass beds. However, the potential impact these pollutants have on seagrasses and associated organisms is currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the differences in MPs abundance and composition (i.e., shape, colour and polymer type) in marine sediments collected at different depths (-5 m, -15 m, -20 m) at two sites characterized by the presence of Posidonia oceanica meadows and at one unvegetated site. In the vegetated sites, sediment samples were collected respectively above and below the upper and lower limits of the meadow (-5 m and -20 m), out of the P. oceanica meadow, and in the central portion of the meadow (-15 m). By focusing on the central part of the meadow, we investigated if the structural features (i.e. shoots density and leaf surface) can affect the amount of MPs retained within the underlying sediment and if these, in turn, can affect the associated benthic communities. Results showed that the number of MPs retained by P. oceanica meadows was higher than that found at the unvegetated site, showing also a different composition. In particular, at vegetated sites, we observed that MPs particles were more abundant within the meadow (at - 15 m), compared to the other depths, on unvegetated sediment, with a dominance of transparent fragments of polypropylene (PP). We observed that MPs entrapment by P. oceanica was accentuated by the higher shoots density, while the seagrass leaf surface did not appear to have any effect. Both the abundance and richness of macrofauna associated with P. oceanica rhizomes appear to be negatively influenced by the MPs abundance in the sediment. Overall, this study increases knowledge of the potential risks of MPs accumulation in important coastal habitats such as the Posidonia oceanica meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Martinez
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Roberta Minetti
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Via De Marini 16, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Claudia La Marca
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Montalto
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rinaldi
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elisa Costa
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Via De Marini 16, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Garaventa
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Via De Marini 16, 16149, Genova, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simone Mirto
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Ape
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council (ISMAR-CNR) Via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
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10
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Ledet J, Tan C, Guan XH, Yong CLX, Ying L, Todd P. Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 197:106487. [PMID: 38583358 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106487] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass beds can trap large amounts of marine debris leading to areas of accumulation, known as 'sinks', of anthropogenic particles. While the presence of vegetation can enhance accumulation, less is known about how the trapping effect changes from vegetated to less vegetated patches. To test this, vegetation and sediment were sampled along a vegetation percent cover gradient from the centre of seagrass beds to nearby less vegetated patches. To determine whether trapped particles can lead to increased accumulation in associated fauna, gastropods were also collected from the transects laid across this gradient. Extracted anthropogenic particles were counted and characterised. Particles were detected in all sample types and reached quantifiable limits in at least 50% of sediment and gastropod samples. There was no significant difference in the distribution of particles found in seagrass beds compared to less vegetated patches, suggesting other factors contribute to the trapping efficiency of biogenic habitats besides simply the presence or absence of vegetation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Ledet
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558
| | - Chloe Tan
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558
| | - Xing Hua Guan
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558
| | - Clara Lei Xin Yong
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558
| | - Lynette Ying
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558
| | - Peter Todd
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Block S3 Level 2, Singapore, 117558.
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11
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Okoffo ED, Tan E, Grinham A, Gaddam SMR, Yip JYH, Twomey AJ, Thomas KV, Bostock H. Plastic pollution in Moreton Bay sediments, Southeast Queensland, Australia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170987. [PMID: 38365023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The mounting issue of plastic waste in the aquatic ecosystem is a growing source of concern. Most plastic waste originates on land and a significant proportion of this eventually finds its way into the marine environment, which is widely regarded as a major repository for plastic debris. Currently, there exists a substantial gap in our understanding of how much plastic, the main polymer types, and the distribution of plastic in the marine environment. This study aimed to provide information on mass concentrations of a range of plastics in the surface sediments in the semi-enclosed Moreton Bay, just offshore the large city of Brisbane, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Surface sediment samples were quantitatively analysed for a suite of 7 common plastic polymer types (i.e., polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) using a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) followed by double-shot microfurnace pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). The advantage of this approach is that it can measure plastics below the limit of visual detection. The study revealed that Σ7plastics were consistently present in the samples, although the concentrations displayed a wide range of concentrations from 3.3 to 2194.2 μg/g across different sites. Among the polymers analysed, PE and PVC were found at the highest concentrations, ranging from 2.3 to 1885.9 μg/g and 3.0-979.5 μg/g, respectively. Based on the average concentrations of plastics measured, the dry bulk density and volume of sediments within the top 10 cm of the bay, it was estimated that there is a minimum of 7000 t of plastics stored in the surface sediments of the bay. This study is the first to report the mass concentrations of identified plastics and identify the main polymer types in Moreton Bay. This is important information to develop management plans to reduce the plastic waste entering the coastal marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Emmeline Tan
- School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Alistair Grinham
- School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology, University of Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Josie Yee Hang Yip
- School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Alice J Twomey
- School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Helen Bostock
- School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
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12
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McIlwraith HK, Lindeque PK, Miliou A, Tolhurst TJ, Cole M. Microplastic shape influences fate in vegetated wetlands. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123492. [PMID: 38311156 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123492] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Coastal areas are prone to plastic accumulation due to their proximity to land based sources. Coastal vegetated habitats (e.g., seagrasses, saltmarshes, mangroves) provide a myriad of ecosystem functions, such as erosion protection, habitat refuge, and carbon storage. The biological and physical factors that underlie these functions may provide an additional benefit: trapping of marine microplastics. While microplastics occurrence in coastal vegetated sediments is well documented, there is conflicting evidence on whether the presence of vegetation enhances microplastics trapping relative to bare sites and the factors that influence microplastic trapping remain understudied. We investigated how vegetation structure and microplastic type influences trapping in a simulated coastal wetland. Through a flume experiment, we measured the efficiency of microplastic trapping in the presence of branched and grassy vegetation and tested an array of microplastics that differ in shape, size, and polymer. We observed that the presence of vegetation did not affect the number of microplastics trapped but did affect location of deposition. Microplastic shape, rather than polymer, was the dominant factor in determining whether microplastics were retained in the sediment or adhered to the vegetation canopy. Across the canopy, microfibre concentrations decreased from the leading edge to the interior which suggests that even on a small-scale, vegetation has a filtering effect. The outcome of this study enriches our understanding of coastal vegetation as a microplastics sink and that differences among microplastics informs where they are most likely to accumulate within a biogenic canopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley K McIlwraith
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK; University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Penelope K Lindeque
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Anastasia Miliou
- Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Pythagorio, Samos, 83103, Greece
| | - Trevor J Tolhurst
- University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Matthew Cole
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK.
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13
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Kerpen NB, Larsen BE, Schlurmann T, Paul M, Guler HG, Goral KD, Carstensen S, Christensen ED, Fuhrman DR. Microplastic retention in marine vegetation canopies under breaking irregular waves. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169280. [PMID: 38128667 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The present study provides indications and underlying drivers of wave-induced transport and retention potential of microplastic particles (MP) in marine vegetation canopies having different densities. The anthropogenic occurrence of MP in coastal waters is well documented in the recent literature. It is acknowledged that coastal vegetation can serve as a sink for MP due to its energy dissipating features, which can mimic a novel ecosystem service. While the transport behavior of MP in vegetation has previously been investigated to some extent for stationary flow conditions, fundamental investigations for unsteady surf zone flow conditions under irregular waves are still lacking. Herein, we demonstrate by means of hydraulic model tests that a vegetation's retention potential of MP in waves increases with the vegetation shoot density, the MP settling velocity and decreasing wave energy. It is found that particles migrating by traction (predominantly in contact with the bed) are trapped in the wake regions around a canopy, whereas suspended particles are able to pass vegetated areas more easily. Very dense canopies can also promote the passage of MP with diameters larger than the plant spacing, as the canopies then show characteristics of a solid sill and avoid particle penetration. The particle migration ability through a marine vegetation canopy is quantified, and the key drivers are described by an empirical expression based on the particle settling velocity, the canopy length and density. The findings of this study may contribute to improved prediction and assessment of MP accumulation hotspots in vegetated coastal areas and, thus, may help in tracing MP sinks. Such knowledge can be considered a prerequisite to develope methods or new technologies to recover plastic pollutants and rehabilitate valuable coastal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils B Kerpen
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Ludwig-Franzius-Institute for Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering, Nienburger Str. 4, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bjarke Eltard Larsen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Torsten Schlurmann
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Ludwig-Franzius-Institute for Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering, Nienburger Str. 4, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Maike Paul
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Ludwig-Franzius-Institute for Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering, Nienburger Str. 4, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hasan Gokhan Guler
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Middle East Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering, Ocean Engineering Research Center, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Deniz Goral
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stefan Carstensen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Erik Damgaard Christensen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David R Fuhrman
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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14
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Mendrik F, Houseago RC, Hackney CR, Parsons DR. Microplastic trapping efficiency and hydrodynamics in model coral reefs: A physical experimental investigation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123094. [PMID: 38072017 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123094] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, are vulnerable to microplastic pollution input from proximal riverine and shoreline sources. However, deposition, retention, and transport processes are largely unevaluated, especially in relation to hydrodynamics. For the first time, we experimentally investigate the retention of biofilmed microplastic by branching 3D printed corals (staghorn coral Acropora genus) under various unidirectional flows (U = {0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30} ms-1) and canopy densities (15 and 48 corals m-2). These variables are found to drive trapping efficiency, with 79-98% of microplastics retained in coral canopies across the experimental duration at high flow velocities (U = 0.25-0.30 ms-1), compared to 10-13% for the bare bed, with denser canopies retaining only 15% more microplastics than the sparse canopy at highest flow conditions (U = 0.30 ms-1). Three fundamental trapping mechanisms were identified: (a) particle interception, (b) settlement on branches or within coral, and (c) accumulation in the downstream wake region of the coral. Corresponding hydrodynamics reveal that microplastic retention and spatial distribution is modulated by the energy-dissipative effects of corals due to flow-structure interactions reducing in-canopy velocities and generating localised turbulence. The wider ecological implications for coral systems are discussed in light of the findings, particularly in terms of concentrations and locations of plastic accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freija Mendrik
- Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull, UK; International Marine Litter Research Unit, University of Plymouth, UK; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK.
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15
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Liu S, Liang J, Jiang Z, Li J, Wu Y, Fang Y, Ren Y, Zhang X, Huang X, Macreadie PI. Temporal and spatial variations of air-sea CO 2 fluxes and their key influence factors in seagrass meadows of Hainan Island, South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 910:168684. [PMID: 37981158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168684] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass ecosystems have received a great deal of attention for contributing to uptake of atmospheric CO2, and thereby helping to mitigate global climate change ('blue carbon'). Carbon budgets for seagrass ecosystems are developed by estimating air-sea CO2 fluxes. Data for air-sea CO2 flux for tropical seagrass ecosystems are lacking, which is problematic for constraining global seagrass carbon budgets. Here, we sought to address this important data gap for tropical seagrass ecosystems (dominated by Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides) from the Hainan Island of South China Sea, while also testing what the main factors driving the variations of air-sea CO2 fluxes are. We found that air-sea CO2 fluxes exhibited a U-shape diurnal variability from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. of the next day, with the highest and lowest air-sea CO2 fluxes values at early morning and afternoon, respectively. Biological processes were the driving force for mediating diurnal variations of seawater pCO2. The pCO2, sea in different seasons displayed a trend of increasing from spring, reaching maximum in summer and then a decreasing trend after summer, where water temperature, wind speed and seagrass growth mainly drove the variations. This resulted in net uptake of CO2 in all seasons except during summer in our study seagrass ecosystems, with greater negative values found in autumn (-3.63 ± 0.76 mmol m-2 d-1) than those in winter (-2.84 ± 0.60 mmol m-2 d-1). While the nutrient loading induced seagrass biomass changes (especially the seagrass T. hemprichii), which mediated the air-sea CO2 fluxes changes among different seagrass meadows. Net annual CO2 uptake potential under low nutrient loading (-0.77 ± 0.16 mol m-2 yr-1) was 23-54 % greater than high nutrient loading seagrass meadows, with the average annual air-sea CO2 flux of the three seagrass meadows as -0.64 ± 0.13 mol m-2 yr-1. These results suggest that tropical seagrass meadows of Hainan Island are a significant CO2 sink of atmospheric CO2, but this capacity can be diminished by nutrient loading. Scaling up, we estimate the annual atmospheric CO2 uptake by seagrass meadows of Hainan Island (total area 55.28 km2) was 1544 t of CO2 yr-1, equivalent to the annual emissions from the wholesale, retail, accommodation and catering industries of 164,000 tourists in Hainan Island. With carbon neutrality becoming an important part of global climate governance, this study provides timely information for capitalising on the ability of seagrasses to contribute to natural climate solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songlin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Jiening Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Zhijian Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Jinlong Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yunchao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yang Fang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yuzheng Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Xiaoping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
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16
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Yang Q, Ma L, Qiu K, Feng Z, Wang Y, Zhong Z, Cheng F, Zhai T, Zeng J, Huang W. Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in laver from the Yueqing Bay. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106258. [PMID: 37989678 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106258] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution is regarded as a global challenge for ocean. As an important food source of human, macroalgae could suffer MP pollution and transmit MPs into human via food web. However, few studies have revealed the relationship of MP pollution between macroalgae and its habitat. In order to evaluate the trapping and accumulation of MPs in macroalgae and surface water, the present study investigated MP pollution in a typical aquaculture macroalgae species, laver (Porphyra haitanensis) in the Yueqing Bay. The results indicated MP abundance in laver (1.45 ± 0.26 items/g) was at a medium level while MP abundance in surface water (0.21 ± 0.15 item/m3) was at a relatively low level worldwide. Distribution trend and characteristics of MPs in laver and surface water showed highly similarity. Besides, heavy metal elements (Fe and Zr) were detected on the surface of MPs trapped by laver. Pollution load index (PLI) in surface water of the whole bay was low, indicating MP pollution was not serious in the Yueqing Bay. Due to the discharging of domestic sewage in recent years, fiber-shaped, textile MPs accounted for most in laver and surface water of the Yueqing Bay. These results indicated that MPs in surface water could be trapped by P. haitanensis, thus macroalgae cultivation might be a potential way to alleviate seawater MP pollution in the nearshore areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qikun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Lukuo Ma
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Kecheng Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Youji Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China.
| | - Zhen Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Fangping Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Tianqi Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Jiangning Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China.
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17
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da Costa ID, Costa LL, Zalmon IR. Are fishes selecting the trash they eat? Influence of feeding mode and habitat on microplastic uptake in an artificial reef complex (ARC). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166788. [PMID: 37666344 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166788] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Every year, coastal countries generate ∼275 million tons of plastic, and the oceans receive from 4.8 to 12.7 million tons3. Pollution by synthetic polymers is even more problematic for the environment when this material is fragmented into small portions, forming microplastics (MPs). In the present study, we analyze the selection of MPs by the ichthyofauna based on the availability of the morphotypes and polymeric composition of microplastic in the environment and compare the amount of MP in surface water, water column, sediments and fish in different organs, trophic categories, habitats and areas with and without artificial reefs. In order to achieve this goal, the shape, color, abundance and chemical composition of MPs in the digestive tract and gills of 18 fish species in artificial reefs area and control area, were evaluated. A total of 216 fish were analyzed, and 149 (60 %) had MPs in at least one organ and showed a mean concentration of 1.55 ± 3.31 MPs/g. Of the 18 fish species collected in the reef complex area, 17 (94 %) included individuals with at least one MP in digestive tract or gills. Four species showed the higher selectivity of MP types, colors, and polymers. More MPs were found in the fish, surface water, water column and sediment in the artificial reef area compared to the control areas. This is the first evidence of MP selection by commercially important fish species in artificial marine structures worldwide. These results provide useful information on MP pollution in RAs and highlight yet another issue that must be considered in the management of fisheries resources in the region and in other reef complexes around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor David da Costa
- Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Biológicas e da Terra, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Santo Antônio de Pádua 28470-000, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Regulação de Recursos Hídricos, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, 76900-726 Rondônia, Brazil; Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo Lopes Costa
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ilana Rosental Zalmon
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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18
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Li C, Zhu L, Li WT, Li D. Microplastics in the seagrass ecosystems: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166152. [PMID: 37567296 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166152] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine microplastic (MP) pollution represents a global environmental issue that has ignited considerable apprehension within the international community. Seagrass beds, which serve as nearshore marine ecosystems, have emerged as focal points of plastic and MP contamination due to the pronounced density of anthropogenic activities and the hydrological mitigating effects of submerged vegetation. Nevertheless, our comprehension of MPs within seagrass ecosystems remains constrained. In this study, we employed bibliometric analyses and comprehensive data exploration to summarize the historical progression of the development, pivotal areas of interest, and research deficiencies, followed by proposing future research directions for MP pollution in seagrass beds. The 37 selected papers were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection scientific database as of December 31st, 2022. Based on the current evaluation, MPs are ubiquitously discovered within seagrass canopies, sediments, and marine organisms, while less than 15 % of seagrass species worldwide have been investigated. Moreover, methodological inconsistencies in sampling, processing and visualization between studies hindered the fusion and comparison of data. MPs in upper sediments and seagrass blades were the most widely investigated, with an average abundance of 263.4 ± 309.2 n/kg and 0.09 ± 0.03 n/blade. In all environmental compartments, the prevalent forms of MPs comprise fibrous and fragmented particles, encompassing the dominant polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. However, the source of MPs in seagrass beds based on MP characteristics and local hydrodynamics has not been comprehensively analyzed in previous studies. The evidence for MPs acting as pollutants and contaminant carries impacting the growth and decline of seagrass is also weak. Currently, the precise implications of MPs on submerged vegetation, organisms, and the broader seagrass ecosystem remain inconclusive. However, considering the persistent accumulation of MPs, it is imperative to explore the ecological hazards they may pose within the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjun Li
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, China.
| | - Lixin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wen-Tao Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Yang Z, Arakawa H. A beaker method for determination of microplastic concentration by micro-Raman spectroscopy. MethodsX 2023; 11:102251. [PMID: 37448948 PMCID: PMC10336159 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102251] [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: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy method for measuring small microplastic (SMP) concentration in marine environment is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to sample pre-treatment. In contrast, Raman spectroscopy is less influenced by water and can directly measure SMP samples in water, making it a more efficient method to measure SMP concentration. Therefore, a method that can directly estimate the concentration of SMPs in water was developed, and the relationship between SMP concentration and experimental Raman spectra were established by testing with standard polyethylene (PE) samples. It was found that average spectra acquired in water solution could reflect characteristic peaks of the plastic after baseline correction. Further investigation found that there is a significant functional relationship between correlation coefficient of sample spectra and the concentration of PE particles, and such relationship can be modelled by Langmuir model. The empirical functional relationships can be used to estimate SMP concentrations by measuring average Raman spectra. The developed methodology is helpful for developing rapid SMP identification and monitoring methods in a more complex manner.•A method of directly measuring MP concentration in water is proposed.•Experimental procedures are provided.•Data analysis methods are outlined.
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20
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Soares MO, Rizzo L, Ximenes Neto AR, Barros Y, Martinelli Filho JE, Giarrizzo T, Rabelo EF. Do coral reefs act as sinks for microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122509. [PMID: 37690465 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122509] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has been detected in coral reefs, raising concerns regarding its global impact. Although they cover a small portion (<1%) of the total area of the world's oceans, coral reefs are geological and biological structures that trap MPs and disproportionately enhance their accumulation. In this review, we attempted to understand how coral reefs act as short- and long-term sinks for MPs. We describe five characteristics that lead to the enrichment of microplastics in coral reefs: 1) adhesion on reef-building corals at distinct depths; 2) ingestion by reef organisms (e.g., suspension feeders, such as sponges, ascidians, and corals), bioconcentration, and formation of short-term (i.e., years to decades) biological sinks for MPs; 3) formation of long-term (i.e., centuries) MP sinks in coral skeletons and unconsolidated subsurface sediments; 4) reduction of sediment resuspension and seafloor turbulent kinetic energy by complex marine forest architecture that reduces bottom shear stress, facilitates the retention, and deposition of small (<0.5 mm) and high-density floating MPs; and 5) diagenesis of Anthropocene sedimentary rocks containing MPs. We estimate that reef processes may remove more than 10% of floating MPs in shallow tropical waters yearly. Statistical results show that microplastic abundance for reef-building corals are higher than values found in reef sediments and especially in seawater. Moreover, pellets, films, foams and mainly fragments and fibers have been found. These field-based data support our hypothesis of sinks in the reef sediments and organisms. We highlight the role of these seascapes in the interception of MPs as traps and sinks in reef sediments, biota, and carbonate frameworks. As coral reefs are prone to MP accumulation and can become pollution hotspots, global initiatives are necessary to conserve these rich ecosystems and prevent rapidly increasing plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo O Soares
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil; Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Reef Systems Group, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany.
| | - Lucia Rizzo
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council (CNR-ISPA), Via Prov.le Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Rodrigues Ximenes Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Ambiental (Labogeo), Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil; Departamento de Geografia/CERES, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Caicó, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Barros
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Martinelli Filho
- Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade (CEABIO) and Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Tommaso Giarrizzo
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Emanuelle F Rabelo
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal Rural Do Semiárido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Brazil
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21
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Hassen B, Sghaier DB, Matmati E, Mraouna R, El Bour M. Detection and quantification of microplastics in Posidonia oceanica banquettes in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-30798-w. [PMID: 37953419 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30798-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution and microplastic (MP) debris are some of the most significant solid waste pollutants, threatening the marine environment and causing sediment accumulation. Coastal seagrass areas are usually important habitats that support multiple living species and provide several ecosystem services. This study aimed to determine the abundance, characteristics, and composition of microplastics on the southern side of the Tunisian Mediterranean Sea by using Posidonia oceanica (P. oceanica) as a crucial trap for microplastics. Samples of Posidonia leaves were collected from the Tunisian coastal area of Gabes-City. The characterization of microplastic detritus was carried out by stereomicroscopy, and acid digestion of Posidonia tissue leaves was performed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs using NMR spectroscopy. The study revealed pellets, threads, and fragments of polymers as the frequent forms found in MPs. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and bis(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalates were the most abundant materials detected. P. oceanica leaves contributed notably to microplastic subsidence, seafloor horizontal migration, and sediment burial. Thus, marine flora appeared to be a good tool to detect and monitor plasticizers, and further studies of the P. oceanica seagrass areas will help in developing a more comprehensive knowledge of chemicals spreading over a geographical zone. The results obtained will be used for developing baseline data on plasticizer contamination on the wide-ranging marine coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilel Hassen
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Laboratory, The National Institute of Science and Technology of the Sea, University of Carthage, 2025, Tunis, Salammbô, Tunisia.
| | - Dhouha Belhaj Sghaier
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Laboratory, The National Institute of Science and Technology of the Sea, University of Carthage, 2025, Tunis, Salammbô, Tunisia
| | - Emna Matmati
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Laboratory, The National Institute of Science and Technology of the Sea, University of Carthage, 2025, Tunis, Salammbô, Tunisia
| | - Radhia Mraouna
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Laboratory, The National Institute of Science and Technology of the Sea, University of Carthage, 2025, Tunis, Salammbô, Tunisia
| | - Monia El Bour
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Laboratory, The National Institute of Science and Technology of the Sea, University of Carthage, 2025, Tunis, Salammbô, Tunisia
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22
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Egea LG, Cavijoli-Bosch J, Casal-Porras I, Yamuza-Magdaleno A, Brun FG, Jiménez-Ramos R. Comparison of macroplastics dynamic across a tidal-dominated coastal habitat seascape including seagrasses, salt marshes, rocky bottoms and soft sediments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115590. [PMID: 37776740 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115590] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Coastal environments are usually composed by heterogeneous coastal-seascape, which can modify macroplastics accumulation dynamic. We evaluated seasonally the litter trapped on tidal-dominated habitats including two seagrass species, salt marsh, sandy beach, bare sediment and rocky bottom. Vegetated habitats showed the highest plastic accumulation in autumn-winter seasons, especially in medium-lower tidal-elevation zones. Seagrasses accumulated most of the degraded macroplastics, whereas averaged smaller sizes of litter were found in the salt marsh. The trapping ability of macrophytes was related to aboveground-biomass properties (i.e., height, width or flexibility) rather than shoot-density. Sandy beaches exhibited the highest plastics accumulation matching with the touristic-peak in the area, whereas rocky bottom was an important sink for macroplastics. This study provides authorities with comprehensible information to address the marine plastic litter problem taking into account the habitat-connectivity, the litter trap-ability of macrophytes and the tidal-elevation influence in order to improve future actions to deal with plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Egea
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Javier Cavijoli-Bosch
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Isabel Casal-Porras
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Alba Yamuza-Magdaleno
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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23
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Fong J, Lee SHR, Sun Y, Lim CL, Tan YAJ, Tan YH, Neo ML. Litter traps: A comparison of four marine habitats as sinks for anthropogenic marine macro-litter in Singapore. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115645. [PMID: 37862845 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115645] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The potential for marine litter being trapped in biodiverse marine habitats such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs is poorly understood. This study presents the first comprehensive investigation on the status of macro-litter across four marine habitats in Singapore during the two monsoonal seasons. Overall, litter density did not vary considerably between the southwest and the northeast monsoon. The litter density in terms of count was generally lower in seagrass meadows and coral reefs compared to mangroves and beaches. Plastic was the major type of litter found across most habitat types. Notably, many fishing-related items were found on coral reefs, while drinking straws were abundant at the mangrove strandlines during the southwest monsoon. Foam fragments and cigarette butts were common at the beach strandlines. These results suggest that mangroves among other habitats examined here should be prioritised for clean-up efforts in order to restore these critical coastal habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Fong
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore.
| | - Samuel Hsien Rong Lee
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Yuchen Sun
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Cheng Ling Lim
- Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore, 469A Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259770, Singapore
| | - Yean Ai Jolin Tan
- Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964, Singapore
| | - Yi Hong Tan
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Mei Lin Neo
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore.
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24
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Fagiano V, Compa M, Alomar C, Morató M, Deudero S. The hyperbenthic environment: A forgotten habitat for plastic pollution. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115291. [PMID: 37459771 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115291] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the abundances and composition of microplastics (MP) among the shallow layers of a coastal Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (Cabrera MPA), seafloor sediments, hyperbenthic environment, and the water column. The mid waters samples were collected mid-way between the sea surface and the seafloor and hyperbenthic samples at the water layer adjacent to the seafloor. Sampling was carried out on patchiness seafloor of Posidonia oceanica meadows. The seafloor sediments showed a mean abundance of 378,769.20 ± 508,109.11 MPs/m3, three orders of magnitude higher than the hyperbenthic (209.17 ± 117.07 MPs/m3), and the mid waters layer (106.48 ± 107.17 MPs/m3). An increasing vertical gradient in MP abundances, mainly composed of fibers was observed. Fibers were made-up mainly of polystyrene (PS, 25 %), expanded polystyrene (EPS, 18 %) and cellulose acetate (CA, 16 %). The results stress the need to increase efforts to find solutions to mitigate fiber pollution in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Fagiano
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Mallorca, Spain; University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - M Compa
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Mallorca, Spain
| | - C Alomar
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Mallorca, Spain
| | - M Morató
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Mallorca, Spain
| | - S Deudero
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Mallorca, Spain
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25
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Gu YG, Wang YS, Jordan RW, Su H, Jiang SJ. Probabilistic ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metal and rare earth element mixtures in aquatic biota using the DGT technique in coastal sediments. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 329:138592. [PMID: 37023907 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138592] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) are routine contaminants due to their extensive use worldwide. Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants because of their global exploitation for use in the high-tech sector. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) are an effective method for measuring the bioavailable component of pollutants. This study represents the first assessment of the mixture toxicity of HMs and REEs in aquatic biota using the DGT technique in sediments. Xincun Lagoon was chosen as the case study site because it has been contaminated by pollutants. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) analysis reveals that a wide variety of pollutants (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, InHg, Co, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) are primarily impacted by sediment characteristics. Appraisal of single HM-REE toxicity reveals that the risk quotient (RQ) values for Y, Yb and Ce notably exceeded 1, demonstrating that the adverse effects of these single HMs and REEs should not be ignored. The combined toxicity of HM-REE mixtures in terms of probabilistic ecological risk assessment shows that the Xincun surface sediments had a medium probability (31.29%) of toxic effects on aquatic biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Guang Gu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, 990-8560, Japan; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, 572025, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China; Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Key Laboratory of Open-Sea Fishery Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510300, China.
| | - Ya-Su Wang
- College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing, 245700, China
| | - Richard W Jordan
- Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, 990-8560, Japan
| | - Hong Su
- College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shi-Jun Jiang
- College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing, 245700, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China
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26
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Zhou X, Xiao C, Li X, Chen T, Yang X. Microplastics in coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A global Meta-analysis of its distribution, driving mechanisms, and potential risks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163048. [PMID: 36990230 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, as emerging pollutants, have become a global environmental concern. Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) are threatened by microplastics. Although substantial studies have explored the dynamics and threats of microplastics in BCEs, the fate and driving factors of microplastics in BCEs on a global scale remain largely unknown. Here, the occurrence, driving factors, and risks of microplastics in global BCEs were investigated by synthesizing a global meta-analysis. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in BCEs has notable spatial differences worldwide, with the highest microplastic concentrations in Asia, especially in South and Southeast Asia. Microplastic abundance is influenced by the vegetation habitat, climate, coastal environment, and river runoff. The interaction of geographic location, ecosystem type, coastal environment, and climate enhanced the effects of microplastic distribution. In addition, we found that microplastic accumulation in organisms varied according to feeding habits and body weight. Significant accumulation was observed in large fish; however, growth dilution effects were also observed. The effect of microplastics on the organic carbon content of sediments from BCEs varies by ecosystem; microplastic concentrations do not necessarily increase organic carbon sequestration. Global BCEs are at a high risk of microplastic pollution, with high microplastic abundance and toxicity driving the high pollution risk. Finally, this review provides scientific evidence that will form the basis for future microplastic research, focusing on the transport of microplastics in BCEs; effects on the growth, development, and primary productivity of blue carbon plants; and soil biogeochemical cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Cunde Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xueying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Tao Chen
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Xiaofan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 510006, China.
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27
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Nantege D, Odong R, Auta HS, Keke UN, Ndatimana G, Assie AF, Arimoro FO. Microplastic pollution in riverine ecosystems: threats posed on macroinvertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9. [PMID: 37248351 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants of emerging concern that have been reported in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as in food items. The increasing production and use of plastic materials have led to a rise in MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This review aimed at providing an overview of the abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems and the potential effects posed on macroinvertebrates. Microplastics in riverine ecosystems are reported in all regions, with less research in Africa, South America, and Oceania. The abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems are mainly affected by population density, economic activities, seasons, and hydraulic regimes. Ingestion of MPs has also been reported in riverine macroinvertebrates and has been incorporated in caddisflies cases. Further, bivalves and chironomids have been reported as potential indicators of MPs in aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to ingest MPs relative to environmental concentration. Fiber and fragments are the most common types reported. Meanwhile, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (polyester), polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride are the most common polymers. These MPs are from materials/polymers commonly used for packaging, shopping/carrier bags, fabrics/textiles, and construction. Ingestion of MPs by macroinvertebrates can physically harm and inhibit growth, reproduction, feeding, and moulting, thus threatening their survival. In addition, MP ingestion can trigger enzymatic changes and cause oxidative stress in the organisms. There is a need to regulate the production and use of plastic materials, as well as disposal of the wastes to reduce MP pollution in riverine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Nantege
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria.
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Robinson Odong
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helen Shnada Auta
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Unique Ndubuisi Keke
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Gilbert Ndatimana
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Attobla Fulbert Assie
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Francis Ofurum Arimoro
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
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Kalčíková G. Beyond ingestion: Adhesion of microplastics to aquatic organisms. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 258:106480. [PMID: 36948066 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The interactions of microplastics with aquatic organisms have been studied primarily using animal species, with dietary ingestion being the most important uptake route. However, recent research indicated that microplastics also interact with biota via bioadhesion. This process has been studied in aquatic macrophytes under laboratory conditions where microplastics adhered to their biomass, but monitoring studies also confirmed that microplastic bioadhesion occurs in other species and in the natural environment. Similarly, microplastics adhere to microorganisms, and in the aquatic environment they can be retained by ubiquitous biofilms. This can occur on a natural substrate such as sediment or rocks, but biofilms are also responsible for enhanced bioadhesion of microplastics to other biotic surfaces such as plant surfaces. Adhesion to these large biotic surfaces could influence the abundance and bioavailability of microplastics in the environment. Only few studies have been conducted on the bioadhesion of microplastics to animals, but their results confirmed that bioadhesion may be even greater than particle ingestion by some animals, such as corals or bivalves. However, the ecotoxicological effects are not yet fully understood and the possible transport of microplastics, e.g. adhered to fish or aquatic insects, also needs to be considered. In summary, bioadhesion seems to be an important process for the interactions of microplastics and biota. Neglecting bioadhesion in an environmental context may limit our understanding of the behavior, fate, and effects of microplastics in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Kalčíková
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Huang S, Jiang R, Craig NJ, Deng H, He W, Li JY, Su L. Accumulation and re-distribution of microplastics via aquatic plants and macroalgae - A review of field studies. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 187:105951. [PMID: 36958953 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105951] [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] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The aquatic plants and macroalgae are primary producers with major roles regarding the maintenance of ecosystems but their interaction with microplastics (MPs) has received less attention than animals. We summarize the methodologies used, the MPs abundances and their characteristics across the literature on MPs pollution in aquatic plants and macroalgae. The sampling and quantification of MPs still lacks consistency between studies, which increased the uncertainty in cross-comparisons. The abundance of MPs varied by orders of magnitude between species and were mostly fibers and polymers with large degrees of production and applications. Filamentous species contained more MPs than others. The average ratio of MPs between vegetated and unvegetated sites reached 3:1. The average ratio of MPs between the biotic and abiotic fractions reached 2193:1, suggesting a high level of retention in fields. Our findings supported that aquatic plants and macroalgae are critical in the plastic flux within the marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Huang
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Ruitong Jiang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of River and Lake Biochain Construction and Resource Utilization, Shanghai, 201702, China
| | - Nicholas J Craig
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200142, China
| | - Wenhui He
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of River and Lake Biochain Construction and Resource Utilization, Shanghai, 201702, China
| | - Juan-Ying Li
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of River and Lake Biochain Construction and Resource Utilization, Shanghai, 201702, China
| | - Lei Su
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of River and Lake Biochain Construction and Resource Utilization, Shanghai, 201702, China.
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30
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Zheng X, Sun R, Dai Z, He L, Li C. Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in typical ecosystems in the South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163678. [PMID: 37100141 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in the marine environment has attracted worldwide attention. The South China Sea is considered a hotspot for microplastic pollution due to the developed industries and high population density around the South China Sea. The accumulation of microplastics in ecosystems can adversely affect the health of the environment and organisms. This paper reviews the recent microplastic studies conducted in the South China Sea, which novelty summarizes the abundance, types, and potential hazards of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems, seagrass bed ecosystems, and macroalgal ecosystems. A summary of the microplastic pollution status of four ecosystems and a risk assessment provides a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of microplastic pollution on marine ecosystems in the South China Sea. Microplastic abundances of up to 45,200 items/m3 were reported in coral reef surface waters, 5738.3 items/kg in mangrove sediments, and 927.3 items/kg in seagrass bed sediments. There are few studies of microplastics in the South China Sea macroalgae ecosystems. However, studies from other areas indicate that macroalgae can accumulate microplastics and are more likely to enter the food chain or be consumed by humans. Finally, this paper compared the current risk levels of microplastics in the coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass bed ecosystems based on available studies. Pollution load index (PLI) ranges from 3 to 31 in mangrove ecosystems, 5.7 to 11.9 in seagrass bed ecosystems, and 6.1 to 10.2 in coral reef ecosystems, respectively. The PLI index varies considerably between mangroves depending on the intensity of anthropogenic activity around the mangrove. Further studies on seagrass beds and macroalgal ecosystems are required to extend our understanding of microplastic pollution in marine environments. Recent microplastic detection in fish muscle tissue in mangroves requires more research to further the biological impact of microplastic ingestion and the potential food safety risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanjing Zheng
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Ruikun Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zhenqing Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China.
| | - Lei He
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chengyong Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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Cardoso-Mohedano JG, Ruiz-Fernández AC, Sanchez-Cabeza JA, Camacho-Torres SM, Ontiveros-Cuadras JF. Microplastics transport in a low-inflow estuary at the entrance of the Gulf of California. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161825. [PMID: 36716892 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as a global emergent pollution impact, which can affect all food chains. Estimating MPs transport pathways in coastal ecosystems is needed to assess their likely effects. Here, we studied MPs accumulation and transport pathways in the Estero de Urias lagoon system (low-inflow estuary) using field data and a 3D particle model. Field results showed that the MPs present similar abundances throughout the study area during the dry and rainy seasons. Model simulations indicated that i) morphology and tidal currents caused the MPs discharged in the lagoon to remain inside, and ii) wind-induced currents caused the MPs in the coastal area to be transported to the southwest. These transport processes may be responsible for homogenizing MPs concentrations through the studied area. In addition, model simulations suggested that EUL-dense waters can export MPs from the coastal area to the sea bottom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Gilberto Cardoso-Mohedano
- Estación el Carmen, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Carmen-Puerto Real km. 9.5, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico.
| | - Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Calz. Joel Montes Camarena s/n, 82040 Mazatlán, Mexico
| | - Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Calz. Joel Montes Camarena s/n, 82040 Mazatlán, Mexico
| | | | - Jorge Feliciano Ontiveros-Cuadras
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica Procesos Oceánicos y Costeros, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Li J, Shan E, Zhao J, Teng J, Wang Q. The factors influencing the vertical transport of microplastics in marine environment: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161893. [PMID: 36731545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
There have been numerous studies that have identified the presence of low-density microplastics (MPs) in the water column and sediments. The focus of current MPs research has shifted towards the interaction of MPs with marine organisms and their potential hazards, including the uptake characteristics, biological transport and toxicological effects of MPs, but the processes involved in the deposition behavior of MPs are still poorly understood. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on the vertical transport of MPs influenced by their physicochemical properties and marine organisms, and discuss their potential impact on MPs deposition. The physicochemical properties of MPs determine their initial distribution. The density, shape, and size of MPs influence their settling state in the marine environment. Marine biota play a key role in the transport of MPs to deep marine environment, mainly by changing the density and adsorption of MPs. Biofouling can alter the surface properties of MPs and increase the overall density, thus affecting the vertical flux of the plastic. Macroalgae may trap MPs particles by producing chemicals or by using electrostatic interactions. Marine swimming organisms ingest MPs and excrete them encapsulated in fecal particles, while the activity of marine benthic organisms may contribute to the transfer of MPs from surface sediments to deeper layers. In addition, MPs may be incorporated into organic particles produced by marine organisms such as marine snow or marine aggregates, increasing the vertical flux of MPs. However, due to the complexity of different sea areas and MPs properties, the deposition behavior of MPs may be the result of the interaction of multiple factors. Thus, the effects of MPs properties, marine organisms and the natural environment on MPs deposition in marine environment needs further research to fill this gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasen Li
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Encui Shan
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Jianmin Zhao
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Jia Teng
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Qing Wang
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China.
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Rozman U, Filker S, Kalčíková G. Monitoring of biofilm development and physico-chemical changes of floating microplastics at the air-water interface. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121157. [PMID: 36716948 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics in the aquatic environment serve as a habitat for microbial life, on which they can form biofilms. However, how the development of the biofilm alters the properties of floating microplastics that are at the air-water interface and, therefore, not fully submerged, is not well understood. In this context, an aging experiment was conducted to monitor biofilm formation and changes in physico-chemical properties of low-density polyethylene (floating) microplastics over time. The growth of the biofilm followed the typical bacterial/biofilm growth phases and reached about 30% of the total mass of the microplastics, while the concentration of extracellular polymeric substances within the biofilm remained stable. Presence of chlorophyll a and urease activity indicated presence of photosynthetic microrganisms within the biofilm which was also confirmed by analysis of the biofilm composition. Chemical characterization by FTIR showed the formation of additional functional groups attributed to the formed biofilm, and SEM imaging showed cracks on the surface of the aged microplastics, indicating incipient degradation of the polyethylene. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of the aged particles for metals (Pb(II)) was 52% higher compared to the pristine ones. Aging increased the density and size of the particles; however, it did not lead to the submersion of the aged particles even after 12 weeks of aging, suggesting that additional environmental processes may influence the transport of microplastics from the air-water interface into the water body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ula Rozman
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sabine Filker
- RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Faculty of Biology, Department of Molecular Ecology, Erwin-Schroedinger-Str. 14, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Gabriela Kalčíková
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Rios-Fuster B, Compa M, Alomar C, Morató M, Ryfer D, Villalonga M, Deudero S. Are seafloor habitats influencing the distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments of a Marine Protected Area? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:49875-49888. [PMID: 36787062 PMCID: PMC9925937 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25536-1] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment is affected by the increasing presence of microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm), and the seafloor acts as a sink for these particles. Locations with different predominant seafloor habitat and protection level applied were selected from Cabrera Marine-Terrestrial National Park (henceforth, Cabrera MPA) (western Mediterranean Sea) with the aim to assess the distribution of MPs along the sediments of this Mediterranean MPA. A total of 37 samples were collected. A high diversity of sediment between locations was detected according to the Udden-Wentworth classification and locations were clustered into two main groups according to the predominance of different particle size fractions. The identification of MPs was carried out according to the sediment particle size classification. A total of 1431 MPs and a mean value (± SD) of 314.53 ± 409.94 items kg-1 D.W. were identified, and 70% of the particles were fibers. Statistically higher abundances of MPs were found in sediments collected from sandy habitats, with a mean value of 630.80 ± 636.87 items kg-1 D.W., compared to the abundances of MPs found in locations with different predominant seafloor habitats, that ranged from 136.79 ± 156.33 items kg-1 D.W. in habitats with similar predominance of seagrass and sand to 223.02 ± 113.35 items kg-1 D.W. in habitats with similar predominance of rocks and sand. The abundance of MPs regarding each sediment particle size fraction differed between years and locations, and the abundance of MPs according to each identified shape differed between sampling years, particle size fraction, and predominant seafloor habitat. The present study highlights the ubiquitous presence of MPs in seafloor sediments from a MPA. Furthermore, the results suggest that the predominant seafloor habitat can modulate the presence of MPs in marine environments in both general abundances and shape of items.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Rios-Fuster
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Montserrat Compa
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Carme Alomar
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Mercè Morató
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Diane Ryfer
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Margarita Villalonga
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Wang S, Shi Y, Wang H, Li Z, Zhao M. Succession of Bacteria Attached to Microplastics After Transferring from a Mariculture Area to a Seagrass Meadow. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 110:69. [PMID: 36943489 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03700-0] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been recognized as a novel niche for bacteria. However, studies have characterized the plastisphere microbial community in situ without exploring the microbial changes after transferring to other ecosystems. Here we focus on bacterial succession on typical microplastics (polypropylene and expanded polystyrene) and natural substrates (wood) after transferring from mariculture area to seagrass meadows system. Using high-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA, we found that alpha diversity significantly reduced after transferring and microplastics especially PP had significant separations on PCoA plots at different succession stages. The abundance and metabolic pathways of potential pathogen-associated microorganisms are significantly decreased. The relative abundance of xenobiotics biodegradation pathways was significantly lower and of energy metabolism pathways was significantly higher by comparing before and after transferring. Main environmental factors affecting microbial communities changed from nutrient characteristics to basic physicochemical properties after transferring. The succession times of the microbial communities of the three materials were different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Bay Innovation Institute/Modern Marine Ranching Engineering Research Center of Hainan/Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, China
| | - Yunfeng Shi
- Bay Innovation Institute/Modern Marine Ranching Engineering Research Center of Hainan/Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Bay Innovation Institute/Modern Marine Ranching Engineering Research Center of Hainan/Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, China
| | - Zhaoyang Li
- Bay Innovation Institute/Modern Marine Ranching Engineering Research Center of Hainan/Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, China
| | - Muqiu Zhao
- Bay Innovation Institute/Modern Marine Ranching Engineering Research Center of Hainan/Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, China.
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36
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Tuuri EM, Leterme SC. How plastic debris and associated chemicals impact the marine food web: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 321:121156. [PMID: 36709917 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121156] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Contamination from plastic debris is omnipresent in marine environments, posing a substantial risk to marine organisms, food webs and the ecosystem. The overlap between the size range of marine plastic pollution with prey means that plastics are readily available for consumption by organisms at all trophic levels. Large plastic debris can directly result in the death of larger marine organisms, through entanglement, strangulation, choking and starvation through a false sense of satiation. Whereas smaller plastic debris, such as micro- and nano-plastics can have adverse impact to marine organisms due to their large surface area to volume ratio and their ability to translocate within an organism. Various physiological processes are reported to be impacted by these small contaminants, such as feeding behaviour, reproductive outputs, developmental anomalies, changes in gene expression, tissue inflammation and the inhibition of growth and development to both adults and their offspring. Micro- and nano-plastics are still relatively poorly understood and are considered a hidden threat. Plastic is a complex contaminant due to the diversity in sizes, shapes, polymer compositions, and chemical additives. These factors can each have unique and species-specific impacts. Consumption of plastics can occur directly, through ingestion and indirectly, through trophic transfer, entanglement of prey, adherence of plastics to external surfaces, and adherence of organisms to the external surfaces of plastics. This review investigated the intrusion of plastics into the marine food web and the subsequent consequences of plastic pollution to marine biota.The objective of this review was to identify the complexity of impacts to marine organisms through the food web from plastic contamination. Through a concise analysis of the available literature the review has shown that plastic pollution and their associated additives can adversely impact environmental and biological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M Tuuri
- Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
| | - Sophie Catherine Leterme
- Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia; ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
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37
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Wang Y, Jiao M, Li T, Li R, Liu B. Role of mangrove forest in interception of microplastics (MPs): Challenges, progress, and prospects. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130636. [PMID: 37056008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mangroves receive microplastics (MPs) from terrestrial, marine and atmospheric sources, acting as a huge filter for environmental MPs between land and sea. Due to the high primary production and complex hydrodynamic conditions in mangroves, MPs are extensively intercepted in various ways while flowing through mangroves, leading to a long-standing but fiercely increasing MPs accumulation. However, current researches mainly focused on the occurrence, source and fate of MPs pollution in mangroves, ignoring the role of mangrove forests in the interception of MPs. Our study firstly demonstrates that mangrove ecosystems have significantly greater MPs interception capacity than their surrounding environments. Then, the current status of studies related to the interception of MPs in mangrove ecosystems is comprehensively reviewed, with the main focus on the interception process and mechanisms. At last, the most pressing shortcomings of current research are highlighted regarding the intercepted flux, interception mechanisms, retention time and ecological risks of MPs in mangrove ecosystems and the relevant future perspectives are provided. This review is expected to emphasize the critical role of mangrove forests in the interception of MPs and provide the foundational knowledge for evaluating the MPs interception effect of mangrove forests globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijin Wang
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Meng Jiao
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Tiezhu Li
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ruilong Li
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Beibei Liu
- Environmental and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China.
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Krishnan RY, Manikandan S, Subbaiya R, Karmegam N, Kim W, Govarthanan M. Recent approaches and advanced wastewater treatment technologies for mitigating emerging microplastics contamination - A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159681. [PMID: 36302412 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been identified as an emerging pollutant due to their irrefutable prevalence in air, soil, and particularly, the aquatic ecosystem. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are seen as the last line of defense which creates a barrier between microplastics and the environment. These microplastics are discharged in large quantities into aquatic bodies due to their insufficient containment during water treatment. As a result, WWTPs are regarded as point sources of microplastics release into the environment. Assessing the prevalence and behavior of microplastics in WWTPs is therefore critical for their control. The removal efficiency of microplastics was 65 %, 0.2-14 %, and 0.2-2 % after the successful primary, secondary and tertiary treatment phases in WWTPs. In this review, other than conventional treatment methods, advanced treatment methods have also been discussed. For the removal of microplastics in the size range 20-190 μm, advanced treatment methods like membrane bioreactors, rapid sand filtration, electrocoagulation and photocatalytic degradation was found to be effective and these methods helps in increasing the removal efficiency to >99 %. Bioremediation based approaches has found that sea grasses, lugworm and blue mussels has the ability to mitigate microplastics by acting as a natural trap to the microplastics pollutants and could act as candidate species for possible incorporation in WWTPs. Also, there is a need for controlling the use and unchecked release of microplastics into the environment through laws and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhakrishnan Yedhu Krishnan
- Department of Food Technology, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirappally, Kottayam 686 518, Kerala, India
| | - Sivasubramanian Manikandan
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai 602 105. Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramasamy Subbaiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Jambo Drive, P O Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Natchimuthu Karmegam
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem 636 007, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Woong Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
| | - Muthusamy Govarthanan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Ben-Haddad M, Abelouah MR, Hajji S, Rangel-Buitrago N, Alla AA. The halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 as a trap of plastic litter on the Moroccan coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114574. [PMID: 36634536 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Some plant communities of coastal dunes may affect the magnitude and distribution of litter on the ecosystem. In this study, the aim is to assess the aptitude of the halophyte Cakile maritima Scop. 1772 to be a trap and sink of plastic litter on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Overall, a significant difference was noted between plastic litter trapped in C. maritima patches (1173 items) and control plots (502 items). Food containers and ropes were the most common trapped items. Shoreline and recreational activities, followed by dumping and ocean/waterway activities are the main sources of the trapped plastic items. The findings suggest the expansion of the cleaning operations to include coastal dunes, the need to change behavior among beachgoers in regard to food plastics disposal, as well the control of C. maritima distribution in the study area, and similar plant species in other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ben-Haddad
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco.
| | - Mohamed Rida Abelouah
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - Sara Hajji
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programa de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlantico, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia; Programa de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
| | - Aicha Ait Alla
- Laboratory of Aquatic Systems, Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco.
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40
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Wright J, Hovey RK, Paterson H, Stead J, Cundy A. Microplastic accumulation in Halophila ovalis beds in the Swan-Canning Estuary, Western Australia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114480. [PMID: 36566516 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Small ephemeral seagrass (Halophila ovalis) beds in the Swan-Canning Estuary, Western Australia, were sampled to determine if microplastics attach to seagrass blades and accumulate in higher concentrations in seagrass sediment compared to bare sediment. Three microplastics were observed attached to sampled seagrass blades (n = 108). Microplastics had a mean concentration in seagrass sediments of 1000 ± 100.37se particles kg-1 and in bare sediment of 972 ± 92.19se particles kg-1. ATR FTIR further verified 64.2 % of subsample particles as plastic (n = 28). This is the first known study to identify microplastics within the leaf canopy of H. ovalis however we could not support our hypothesis that this seagrass species acts as a sink for microplastic particles in sediments, as seen in studies on other seagrass species. The ability for seagrass habitats to trap and accumulate microplastics in sediments is likely influenced by species morphology, seagrass canopy density and life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joné Wright
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Renae K Hovey
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; School of Biological Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Harriet Paterson
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; UWA Great Southern Marine Research Facility, Albany, WA 6330, Australia
| | - Jessica Stead
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Cundy
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
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41
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Tong Y, Lin L, Tao Y, Huang Y, Zhu X. The occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159601. [PMID: 36283530 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159601] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bay is a unique part of the ecosystem, acting as the intersection for marine and terrestrial systems and hosting diverse biological organisms. The ubiquitous application of plastics has resulted in a massive amount of plastic waste released and accumulated in the bay ecosystem, posing significant ecological effects. Thus, thoroughly understanding plastic pollution's occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect in the bay ecosystems is of vital importance. We conducted a comprehensive review on the sources and distribution of plastics in the bay ecosystem, and the associate ecological effects, from individual toxicity to trophic transfer in ecosystems. Among bay areas around the world, the concentrations of microplastics vary from 0.01 to 3.62 × 105 item/m3 in seawater and 0 to 6.75 × 105 item/kg in sediment. Small-sized plastic particles (mostly <2 mm) were widely reported in bay organisms with the concentration range of 0 to 22.5 item/ind. Besides, the toxicity of plastics on marine organisms has been documented in terms of mortality, growth, development, reproduction, enzyme activity and transcription. Since abundance of small plastic particles (e.g., micro- and nano-scale) is far greater than large plastic debris in the bay ecosystems, in-depth risk assessment of small-sized plastics needs to be conducted under environmentally realistic conditions. Our review could provide a better understanding on the occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Tong
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi Tao
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuxiong Huang
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xiaoshan Zhu
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; South Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering (Guangdong, Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
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42
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Boshoff BJ, Robinson TB, von der Heyden S. The role of seagrass meadows in the accumulation of microplastics: Insights from a South African estuary. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114403. [PMID: 36462418 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114403] [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: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are widespread in marine ecosystems, where they threaten biota and human wellbeing. Seagrasses may act as natural filters of microplastics due to their particle trapping abilities, yet little is known about the extent of microplastics in the sediment of seagrass beds. The aim of this study was to compare microplastic accumulation in the sediments of Zostera capensis meadows with adjacent bare sediments at a small spatial scale (~5 km) in the Knysna estuary in South Africa. No significant difference in total microplastic counts were found between seagrass and unvegetated sediments. However, fibre microplastic counts differed significantly between the two locations at which samples were collected. This may be due to pollution levels and proximity to larger human population densities. Importantly, our study reveals variability in microplastic abundance and type even at small spatial scales, an important consideration for the design of future studies aiming to monitor for microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca J Boshoff
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Tamara B Robinson
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Sophie von der Heyden
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa.
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43
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Cozzolino L, Nicastro KR, Seuront L, McQuaid CD, Zardi GI. The relative effects of interspecific and intraspecific diversity on microplastic trapping in coastal biogenic habitats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157771. [PMID: 35926622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of how anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and plastic pollution interact with biodiversity is being widened to include diversity below the species level, i.e., intraspecific variation. The emerging appreciation of the key ecological importance of intraspecific diversity and its potential loss in the Anthropocene, further highlights the need to assess the relative importance of intraspecific versus interspecific diversity. One such issue is whether a species responds as a homogenous whole to plastic pollution. Using manipulative field transplant experiments and laboratory-controlled hydrodynamic simulations, we assessed the relative effects of intraspecific and interspecific diversity on microplastic trapping in coastal biogenic habitats dominated by two key bioengineers, the brown intertidal macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus and F. guiryi. At the individual level, northern morphotypes of F. guiryi trapped more microplastics than southern individuals, and F. vesiculosus trapped more microplastics than F. guiryi. Canopy density varied among species, however, leading to reversed patterns of microplastic accumulation, with F. guiryi canopies accumulating more microplastics than those of F. vesiculosus, while no differences were observed between the canopies of F. guiryi morphotypes. We emphasize the importance of assessing the effects of intraspecific variation which, along with other crucial factors such as canopy density, flow velocity and polymer composition, modulates the extent of microplastic accumulation in coastal biogenic habitats. Our findings indicate that a realistic estimation of plastic accumulation in biogenic habitats requires an understanding of within- and between-species traits at both the individual and population levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Cozzolino
- CCMAR-Centro de Ciencias do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.
| | - Katy R Nicastro
- CCMAR-Centro de Ciencias do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Laurent Seuront
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Christopher D McQuaid
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Gerardo I Zardi
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Normandie Université, UNICAEN, Laboratoire Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, UMR 8067 BOREA (CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, UCBN, IRD-207), CS 14032, 14000 Caen, France
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44
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Rozman U, Kalčíková G. The Response of Duckweed Lemna minor to Microplastics and Its Potential Use as a Bioindicator of Microplastic Pollution. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2953. [PMID: 36365405 PMCID: PMC9658923 DOI: 10.3390/plants11212953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biomonitoring has become an indispensable tool for detecting various environmental pollutants, but microplastics have been greatly neglected in this context. They are currently monitored using multistep physico-chemical methods that are time-consuming and expensive, making the search for new monitoring options of great interest. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using an aquatic macrophyte as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution in freshwaters. Therefore, the effects and adhesion of three types of microplastics (polyethylene microbeads, tire wear particles, and polyethylene terephthalate fibers) and two types of natural particles (wood dust and cellulose particles) to duckweed Lemna minor were investigated. The results showed that fibers and natural particles had no effect on the specific growth rate, chlorophyll a content, and root length of duckweed, while a significant reduction in the latter was observed when duckweed was exposed to microbeads and tire wear particles. The percentage of adhered particles was ten times higher for polyethylene microbeads than for other microplastics and natural particles, suggesting that the adhesion of polyethylene microbeads to duckweed is specific. Because the majority of microplastics in freshwaters are made of polyethylene, the use of duckweed for their biomonitoring could provide important information on microplastic pollution in freshwaters.
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45
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Kannankai MP, Alex RK, Muralidharan VV, Nazeerkhan NP, Radhakrishnan A, Devipriya SP. Urban mangrove ecosystems are under severe threat from microplastic pollution: a case study from Mangalavanam, Kerala, India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:80568-80580. [PMID: 35725875 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of microplastics in urban mangrove ecosystems has received little scientific attention despite their immense ecological significance. An investigation was conducted to assess the microplastic abundance and characteristics in three different environmental compartments viz; soil (933 ± 564 particles/kg), sediment (1275 ± 532 particles/kg d.w.), and water (101.6 ± 24 particles/liter) of the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary, a protected mangrove forest in the Cochin city of India. Microplastic fibres were predominant in water, while soil and sediment contained a higher proportion of microplastic fragments. Importantly, surrounding urban features and tidal fluctuation were considered to be influencing microplastic metrics in the area. The colour composition of microplastics was found to be similar in all three environmental compartments and most of the identified polymers were those which are scarcely recycled. Altogether, this study highlights the importance of adopting location-specific measures to protect the area from microplastic pollution and provides the baseline data required for further assessing the impacts of microplastic pollution on mangroves, avifauna, and other components of biodiversity in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuraj Palat Kannankai
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682022, India
| | - Riya Kumbukattu Alex
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682022, India
| | | | | | - Amal Radhakrishnan
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682022, India
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Narayanan M, Chanthini A, Devarajan N, Saravanan M, Sabour A, Alshiekheid M, Chi NTL, Brindhadevi K. Antibacterial and antioxidant efficacy of ethyl acetate extract of Cymodocea serrulata and assess the major bioactive components in the extract using GC-MS analysis. Process Biochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2022.10.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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López-Rosales A, Andrade JM, López-Mahía P, Muniategui-Lorenzo S. Development of an analytical procedure to analyze microplastics in edible macroalgae using an enzymatic-oxidative digestion. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 183:114061. [PMID: 36055080 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Besides being food and a refuge to marine species, macroalgae are a powerful and renewable economic resource. However, they may introduce microplastics (MPs) in the trophic chain. We developed a reliable analytical method to characterize and quantify MPs in common and edible macroalgae. Several digestion methods and filters, along with various measurement options, were studied. A new enzymatic-oxidative protocol with a unique final filtration was selected and validated with a mixture of 5 commercial macroalgae (Undaria pinnatifida spp, Porphyra spp, Ulva spp, Laminaria ochroleuca and Himanthalia elongate). Further, it was shown that washing the macroalgae to release MPs is suboptimal and the potential adhesion of MPs to macroalgae was evaluated. A filter subsampling strategy that scans 33.64 % of its surface reduced the time required to characterize <70 μm particles and fibres directly on the 47 mm diameter filter using an IR microscope (1 sample/day).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián López-Rosales
- Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Universidade da Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, E-15071 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Jose M Andrade
- Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Universidade da Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, E-15071 A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Purificación López-Mahía
- Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Universidade da Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, E-15071 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo
- Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Universidade da Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, E-15071 A Coruña, Spain
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48
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Omeyer LCM, Duncan EM, Aiemsomboon K, Beaumont N, Bureekul S, Cao B, Carrasco LR, Chavanich S, Clark JR, Cordova MR, Couceiro F, Cragg SM, Dickson N, Failler P, Ferraro G, Fletcher S, Fong J, Ford AT, Gutierrez T, Shahul Hamid F, Hiddink JG, Hoa PT, Holland SI, Jones L, Jones NH, Koldewey H, Lauro FM, Lee C, Lewis M, Marks D, Matallana-Surget S, Mayorga-Adame CG, McGeehan J, Messer LF, Michie L, Miller MA, Mohamad ZF, Nor NHM, Müller M, Neill SP, Nelms SE, Onda DFL, Ong JJL, Pariatamby A, Phang SC, Quilliam R, Robins PE, Salta M, Sartimbul A, Shakuto S, Skov MW, Taboada EB, Todd PA, Toh TC, Valiyaveettil S, Viyakarn V, Wonnapinij P, Wood LE, Yong CLX, Godley BJ. Priorities to inform research on marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156704. [PMID: 35718174 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Southeast Asia is considered to have some of the highest levels of marine plastic pollution in the world. It is therefore vitally important to increase our understanding of the impacts and risks of plastic pollution to marine ecosystems and the essential services they provide to support the development of mitigation measures in the region. An interdisciplinary, international network of experts (Australia, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam) set a research agenda for marine plastic pollution in the region, synthesizing current knowledge and highlighting areas for further research in Southeast Asia. Using an inductive method, 21 research questions emerged under five non-predefined key themes, grouping them according to which: (1) characterise marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia; (2) explore its movement and fate across the region; (3) describe the biological and chemical modifications marine plastic pollution undergoes; (4) detail its environmental, social, and economic impacts; and, finally, (5) target regional policies and possible solutions. Questions relating to these research priority areas highlight the importance of better understanding the fate of marine plastic pollution, its degradation, and the impacts and risks it can generate across communities and different ecosystem services. Knowledge of these aspects will help support actions which currently suffer from transboundary problems, lack of responsibility, and inaction to tackle the issue from its point source in the region. Being profoundly affected by marine plastic pollution, Southeast Asian countries provide an opportunity to test the effectiveness of innovative and socially inclusive changes in marine plastic governance, as well as both high and low-tech solutions, which can offer insights and actionable models to the rest of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy C M Omeyer
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom.
| | - Emily M Duncan
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom; Institute of Marine Sciences - Okeanos, University of the Azores, Rua Professor Doutor Frederico Machado 4, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal.
| | - Kornrawee Aiemsomboon
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Nicola Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Sujaree Bureekul
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Bin Cao
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Luis R Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - Suchana Chavanich
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Aquatic Resources Research Institute Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - James R Clark
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad R Cordova
- Research Centre for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jalan Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia; Research Centre for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jalan Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia
| | - Fay Couceiro
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3AH, United Kingdom
| | - Simon M Cragg
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 9LY, United Kingdom; Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DY, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Dickson
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Failler
- Centre for Blue Governance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Gianluca Ferraro
- Centre for Blue Governance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Fletcher
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3DE, United Kingdom; UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Fong
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alex T Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 9LY, United Kingdom
| | - Tony Gutierrez
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Fauziah Shahul Hamid
- Centre for Research in Waste Management, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jan G Hiddink
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Pham T Hoa
- School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Hinh City, Viet Nam
| | - Sophie I Holland
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lowenna Jones
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom; Department of Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Nia H Jones
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Koldewey
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom; Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federico M Lauro
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Charlotte Lee
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Lewis
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Danny Marks
- School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Dublin 9 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sabine Matallana-Surget
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | | | - John McGeehan
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DY, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren F Messer
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Michie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 9LY, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle A Miller
- Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zeeda F Mohamad
- Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hazimah Mohamed Nor
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Moritz Müller
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Kuching 93350, Malaysia
| | - Simon P Neill
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom
| | - Deo Florence L Onda
- The Marine Science Institute, Velasquez St., University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Joyce J L Ong
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Agamuthu Pariatamby
- Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia
| | - Sui C Phang
- Centre for Blue Governance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3DE, United Kingdom; The Nature Conservancy, London Office, 5 Chancery Lane Suite 403, London WC2A 1LG, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Quilliam
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - Peter E Robins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Salta
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DY, United Kingdom
| | - Aida Sartimbul
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia; Marine Resources Exploration and Management (MEXMA) Research Group, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Shiori Shakuto
- Department of Anthropology, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Sydney, Social Sciences Building, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Evelyn B Taboada
- BioProcess Engineering and Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
| | - Peter A Todd
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558, Singapore
| | - Tai Chong Toh
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; College of Alice & Peter Tan, National University of Singapore, 8 College Avenue East, 138615, Singapore
| | - Suresh Valiyaveettil
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543, Singapore
| | - Voranop Viyakarn
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Aquatic Resources Research Institute Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Passorn Wonnapinij
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Centre for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Louisa E Wood
- Centre for Blue Governance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Clara L X Yong
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558, Singapore
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom
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49
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Menicagli V, Castiglione MR, Balestri E, Giorgetti L, Bottega S, Sorce C, Spanò C, Lardicci C. Early evidence of the impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution on the growth and physiology of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156514. [PMID: 35679937 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous in natural habitats and the risks their presence poses to marine environments and organisms are of increasing concern. There is evidence that seagrass meadows are particularly prone to accumulate plastic debris, including polystyrene particles, but the impacts of this pollutant on seagrass performance are currently unknown. This is a relevant knowledge gap as seagrasses provide multiple ecosystem services and are declining globally due to anthropogenic impact and climate-change-related stressors. Here, we explored the potential effects of a 12 day-exposure of seagrasses to one concentration (68 μg/L) of polystyrene MPs and NPs on the growth, oxidative status, and photosynthetic efficiency of plants using the foundation species Cymodocea nodosa as a model. Among plant organs, adventitious roots were particularly affected by MPs and NPs showing complete degeneration. The number of leaves per shoot was lower in MPs- and NPs-treated plants compared to control plants, and leaf loss exceeded new leaf production in MPs-treated plants. MPs also reduced photochemical efficiency and increased pigment content compared to control plants. Shoots of NPs-treated plants showed a greater oxidative damage and phenol content than those of control plants and MPs-treated plants. Biochemical data about oxidative stress markers were consistent with histochemical results. The effects of MPs on C. nodosa could be related to their adhesion to plant surface while those of NPs to entering tissues. Our study provides the first experimental evidence of the potential harmful effects of MPs/NPs on seagrass development. It also suggests that the exposure of seagrasses to MPs/NPs in natural environments could have negative consequences on the functioning of seagrass ecosystems. This stresses the importance of implementing cleaning programs to remove all plastics already present in marine habitats as well as of undertaking specific actions to prevent the introduction of these pollutants within seagrass meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Menicagli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy
| | - Monica Ruffini Castiglione
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Balestri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Lucia Giorgetti
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (IBBA-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Bottega
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlo Sorce
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carmelina Spanò
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy
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50
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Cui T, Shi W, Wang H, Lihui AN. Standardizing microplastics used for establishing recovery efficiency when assessing microplastics in environmental samples. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154323. [PMID: 35257760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154323] [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: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Reports of microplastic contamination in the environment are ever-increasing allowing for global assessments of their distribution and abundance. However, differences in sampling and analytical methods used to assess microplastic contamination vary among investigators, resulting in uncertainties when comparing or compiling data. The determination of recovery efficiency is one aspect of the assessment process that can mire comparability among investigations. We evaluated recovery efficiency among studies published in 2020 and found that appreciable variability existed concerning the density and size of the microplastics used in the recovery efficiency determinations. Further, the established recovery efficiency may not be reflective of that obtained with mixtures of microplastics found in environmental samples. Herein, we recommend that microplastic standards at least containing three types of polymer with different densities, three shapes, and a similar size to the detection limit, should be tested simultaneously when conducting analytical methods. The inclusion of such information will aid in the comparison of results among different investigations and will aid in assessing the global distribution of these contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiefeng Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Wenzhuo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - A N Lihui
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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