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Zhang Q, Zhou X, Sun Y, Deng Q, Wu Q, Wen Z, Chen H. Harmful effects of microplastics on respiratory system of aquatic animals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 273:107003. [PMID: 38901219 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107003] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
The presence of microplastics in the aquatic environment has attracted widespread attention. A large number of studies have assessed the effects of microplastics on the respiratory system of aquatic animals, but the results are not directly comparable across studies due to inconsistent evaluation criteria. Therefore, we adopted an integrated research approach that can integrate and parse complex data to improve reliability, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 published studies, and elucidated the mechanisms of microplastic damage to cells. The results showed that PE had the greatest impact on aquatic animals, and fish were the most sensitive to the effects caused by microplastics, with oxidative stress induced by exposure concentrations exceeding 1000 µg/L or exposure times exceeding 28 days, leading to depletion of antioxidant defenses, cellular damage, inflammatory responses, and behavioral abnormalities. As this review is based on existing studies, there may be limitations in terms of literature quality, data availability and timeliness. In conclusion, we suggest to combat microplastic pollution by limiting plastic use, promoting plastic substitution and recycling, and enhancing microplastic capture degradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiurong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control & Evaluation Technology of Medicine, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control & Evaluation Technology of Medicine, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control & Evaluation Technology of Medicine, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Qingfang Deng
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control & Evaluation Technology of Medicine, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Qing Wu
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Innovation Laboratory, The Third Experiment Middle School, China
| | - Zhirui Wen
- College of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Qiannan Normal College for Nationalities, No.5, Middle Jianjiang Avenue, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Huaguo Chen
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Guizhou Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control & Evaluation Technology of Medicine, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China.
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Parolini M, Romano A. Geographical and ecological factors affect microplastic body burden in marine fish at global scale. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 352:124121. [PMID: 38723708 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124121] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) contamination has been identified as a worrisome environmental issue at the global level. Fish are the taxonomic group more extensively investigated to assess MP contamination in marine environment. A large variability in MP bioaccumulation (i.e., body burden) was reported in fish but to date there is a dearth of information concerning the drivers underlying this process. The present systematic review aimed at summarizing the results of the scientific literature on MP body burden in the digestive tract of marine fish to quantitatively shed light on the contribution of different geographical (i.e., latitudinal origin of the sample, distance from the coastline and field- or marked-collected) and ecological (i.e., trophic strategy, milieu, and body size) factors driving bioaccumulation. The mean (±SE) MPs/individual was 4.13 ± 2.87, and the mean MPs/ww (i.e., MPs/g) was 5.92 ± 0.94. Overall, MP abundance expressed as MPs/individual of fish from tropical areas was significantly higher compared to the other latitudinal bands, with species sampled close to the coastline that accumulated a larger number of MPs compared to those collected offshore. Neither the trophic strategy, nor the milieu and the market or field origin of fish explained the MP body burden. However, fish body size resulted as a determinant of MP body burden (as MPs/individual), with small fish accumulating a lower amount of MPs compared to larger ones. Qualitatively, but not statistically significant, similar results were generally obtained for MPs/ww, except for an opposite, and significant, variation according to species body size. Our findings showed that geographical, rather than ecological factors represent the main drivers of MP body burden in marine fish, suggesting that environmental variables and/or local pollution sources mainly contribute to explaining the large variability underlying the ingestion and bioaccumulation processes of these contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, I-20133, Milan, Italy
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Ferreira O, Barboza LGA, Rudnitskaya A, Moreirinha C, Vieira LR, Botelho MJ, Vale C, Fernandes JO, Cunha S, Guilhermino L. Microplastics in marine mussels, biological effects and human risk of intake: A case study in a multi-stressor environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115704. [PMID: 37944437 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115704] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
This study documented seasonal levels of microplastics (MPs) and biomarkers (condition index, neurotoxicity, energy, oxidative stress) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), and water physico-chemical parameters in the Douro estuary (NE Atlantic coast), and estimated the human risk of MP intake (HRI) through mussels. Mussel stress was determined through the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR). HRI was estimated from mussel MP concentrations and consumer habits. MPs were mainly micro-fibres (72 %) with varied chemical composition. Seasonal MP means (±SEM) in mussels ranged from 0.111 ± 0.044 (spring) to 0.312 ± 0.092 MPs/g (summer). Seasonal variations of mussel stress (IBR: 1.4 spring to 9.7 summer) and MP concentrations were not related. MeO-BDEs, PBDEs, temperature, salinity and other factors likely contributed to mussel stress variation. HRI ranged from 2438 to 2650 MPs/year. Compared to the literature, MP contamination in mussels is low, as well as the human risk of MP intake through their consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlanda Ferreira
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - L Gabriel A Barboza
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - Alisa Rudnitskaya
- Chemistry Department and CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Moreirinha
- Chemistry Department and CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Luís R Vieira
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - M João Botelho
- CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; IPMA - IPMA, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Av. Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Algés, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Vale
- CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - José O Fernandes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Sara Cunha
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Lúcia Guilhermino
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR / CIMAR-LA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health and Research Team of Contaminant Pathways and Interactions with Marine Organisms, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
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Thodhal Yoganandham S, Hamid N, Junaid M, Duan JJ, Pei DS. Micro(nano)plastics in commercial foods: A review of their characterization and potential hazards to human health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116858. [PMID: 37562740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Micro (nano)plastics (MNPs) are pollutants of worldwide concern for their ubiquitous environmental presence and associated impacts. The higher consumption of MNPs contaminated commercial food can cause potential adverse human health effects. This review highlights the evidence of MNPs in commercial food items and summarizes different sampling, extraction, and digestion techniques for the isolation of MNPs, such as oxidizing digestion, enzymatic digestion, alkaline digestion and acidic digestion. Various methods for the characterization and quantification of microplastics (MPs) are also compared, including μ-Raman spectroscopy, μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis and Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Finally, we share our concerns about the risks of MNPs to human health through the consumption of commercial seafood. The knowledge of the potential human health impacts at a subcellular or molecular level of consuming mariculture products contaminated with MNPs is still limited. Moreover, MNPs are somewhat limited, hard to measure, and still contentious. Due to the nutritional significance of fish consumption, the risk of exposure to MNPs and the associated health effects are of the utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naima Hamid
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510641, China
| | - Jin-Jing Duan
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - De-Sheng Pei
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Celis-Hernandez O, Ávila E, Rendón-von Osten J, Briceño-Vera EA, Borges-Ramírez MM, Gómez-Ponce AM, Capparelli VM. Environmental risk of microplastics in a Mexican coastal lagoon ecosystem: Anthropogenic inputs and its possible human food risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163095. [PMID: 37001666 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Coastal lagoons are ecosystems that are considered providers of a variety species of commercial value to the humans. However, they are currently threatened by a variety of anthropogenic-derived impacts, including environmental pollution by microplastics (MPs). For these reasons, it is necessary to identify suitable biomonitors for monitoring MP activities in aquatic environments and for estimating human ingestion of MPs from the consumption of commercial shellfish species. Therefore, our aims were to identify the anthropogenic activities that supply MPs into a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico and their variety; to determine whether oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are suitable biomonitors to perform MPs monitoring activities and to conduct an estimation of how many MPs could a human consume by the ingestion of a commercial portion of oysters harvested in this coastal lagoon. Our results noted that MP concentrations from water and sediment collected in Laguna de Terminos were 210,000 and 11.3 times higher than values reported in other protected areas worldwide. MPs chemical composition revealed that fishing and urban activities supply mainly polyethylene (21.1 %), poly (butadiene) diol (12.6 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (9.5 %). It was also determined that oysters did not reflect the spatial distribution of MPs within the study area and that a human could consume up to 806.1 MPs per 237.1 g serving of an oyster cocktail. Finally, a coastal lagoon polluted with MPs increases the risk of affecting species used for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Celis-Hernandez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Estación el Carmen, Campeche, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico; Dirección de Cátedras CONACYT, Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Alcaldía Benito Juárez, 03940 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Enrique Ávila
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Estación el Carmen, Campeche, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico
| | - Jaime Rendón-von Osten
- Instituto de Ecología, Pesquería y Oceanografía del Golfo de Méxcio (EPOMEX), Campus VI, Av. Héroes de Nacozari 480, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, 24070 Campeche, Mexico
| | - E Antony Briceño-Vera
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - M Merle Borges-Ramírez
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Avenida Rancho, Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial Lerma, C.P. 24500, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
| | - A Mario Gómez-Ponce
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Estación el Carmen, Campeche, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico
| | - V Mariana Capparelli
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Estación el Carmen, Campeche, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.
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Santonicola S, Volgare M, Cocca M, Dorigato G, Giaccone V, Colavita G. Impact of Fibrous Microplastic Pollution on Commercial Seafood and Consumer Health: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1736. [PMID: 37889673 PMCID: PMC10252135 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The omnipresence of microfibers in marine environments has raised concerns about their availability to aquatic biota, including commercial fish species. Due to their tiny size and wide distribution, microfibers may be ingested by wild-captured pelagic or benthic fish and farmed species. Humans are exposed via seafood consumption. Despite the fact that research on the impact of microfibers on marine biota is increasing, knowledge on their role in food security and safety is limited. The present review aims to examine the current knowledge about microfiber contamination in commercially relevant fish species, their impact on the marine food chain, and their probable threat to consumer health. The available information suggests that among the marine biota, edible species are also contaminated, but there is an urgent need to standardize data collection methods to assess the extent of microfiber occurrence in seafood. In this context, natural microfibers should also be investigated. A multidisciplinary approach to the microfiber issue that recognizes the interrelationship and connection of environmental health with that of animals and humans should be used, leading to the application of strategies to reduce microfiber pollution through the control of the sources and the development of remediation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Santonicola
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;
| | - Michela Volgare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials, and Industrial Production, University of Naples Federico II, P. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy;
| | - Mariacristina Cocca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;
| | | | - Valerio Giaccone
- Department of Animal Medicine, Productions and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | - Giampaolo Colavita
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
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Ji J, Wu X, Li X, Zhu Y. Effects of microplastics in aquatic environments on inflammatory bowel disease. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115974. [PMID: 37088319 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing in recent years, particularly in newly industrialized nations. Environmental factors have been identified as playing a crucial role in IBD pathogenesis. Microplastics (MPs), a novel class of environmental pollutants, are a significant global pollution concern. MPs are found in almost all aquatic environments. MPs in the environment may pose health risks, specifically concerning the intestinal system, due to prolonged exposure through the consumption of aquatic foods and drinking water. In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the impact of MPs in water resources on the occurrence and progression of IBD. Our systematic analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies found that MPs induce intestinal barrier dysfunction, imbalance in the intestinal microbiome, and metabolic abnormalities, ultimately leading to IBD. In addition, MP exposure causes greater harm to individuals with preexisting gastrointestinal disorders than those without them. Our analysis of this literature review highlights the need for further research to improve the understanding of the complex relationship between MP exposure and IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Ji
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Xinyue Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xi Li
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Ya Zhu
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:23. [PMID: 36969097 PMCID: PMC10038118 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth's environment. These harms occur at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of the coal, oil, and gas that are its main feedstocks through to ultimate disposal into the environment. The extent of these harms not been systematically assessed, their magnitude not fully quantified, and their economic costs not comprehensively counted. Goals The goals of this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health are to comprehensively examine plastics' impacts across their life cycle on: (1) human health and well-being; (2) the global environment, especially the ocean; (3) the economy; and (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, and the world's children. On the basis of this examination, the Commission offers science-based recommendations designed to support development of a Global Plastics Treaty, protect human health, and save lives. Report Structure This Commission report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents a narrative review of the processes involved in plastic production, use, and disposal and notes the hazards to human health and the environment associated with each of these stages. Section 3 describes plastics' impacts on the ocean and notes the potential for plastic in the ocean to enter the marine food web and result in human exposure. Section 4 details plastics' impacts on human health. Section 5 presents a first-order estimate of plastics' health-related economic costs. Section 6 examines the intersection between plastic, social inequity, and environmental injustice. Section 7 presents the Commission's findings and recommendations. Plastics Plastics are complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% of plastics are produced from fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. Plastics are comprised of a carbon-based polymer backbone and thousands of additional chemicals that are incorporated into polymers to convey specific properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, and ultraviolet resistance. Many of these added chemicals are highly toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate flame retardants. They are integral components of plastic and are responsible for many of plastics' harms to human health and the environment.Global plastic production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, and in this time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) of plastic have been manufactured. Annual production volume has grown from under 2 Mt in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019, a 230-fold increase, and is on track to triple by 2060. More than half of all plastic ever made has been produced since 2002. Single-use plastics account for 35-40% of current plastic production and represent the most rapidly growing segment of plastic manufacture.Explosive recent growth in plastics production reflects a deliberate pivot by the integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations that produce coal, oil and gas and that also manufacture plastics. These corporations are reducing their production of fossil fuels and increasing plastics manufacture. The two principal factors responsible for this pivot are decreasing global demand for carbon-based fuels due to increases in 'green' energy, and massive expansion of oil and gas production due to fracking.Plastic manufacture is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. At present, plastic production is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the contribution of Brazil. This fraction is projected to increase to 4.5% by 2060 if current trends continue unchecked. Plastic Life Cycle The plastic life cycle has three phases: production, use, and disposal. In production, carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, and oil-are transformed through energy-intensive, catalytic processes into a vast array of products. Plastic use occurs in every aspect of modern life and results in widespread human exposure to the chemicals contained in plastic. Single-use plastics constitute the largest portion of current use, followed by synthetic fibers and construction.Plastic disposal is highly inefficient, with recovery and recycling rates below 10% globally. The result is that an estimated 22 Mt of plastic waste enters the environment each year, much of it single-use plastic and are added to the more than 6 gigatons of plastic waste that have accumulated since 1950. Strategies for disposal of plastic waste include controlled and uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, and export. Vast quantities of plastic waste are exported each year from high-income to low-income countries, where it accumulates in landfills, pollutes air and water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches and estuaries, and harms human health-environmental injustice on a global scale. Plastic-laden e-waste is particularly problematic. Environmental Findings Plastics and plastic-associated chemicals are responsible for widespread pollution. They contaminate aquatic (marine and freshwater), terrestrial, and atmospheric environments globally. The ocean is the ultimate destination for much plastic, and plastics are found throughout the ocean, including coastal regions, the sea surface, the deep sea, and polar sea ice. Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist in the global environment for decades. Macro- and micro-plastic particles have been identified in hundreds of marine species in all major taxa, including species consumed by humans. Trophic transfer of microplastic particles and the chemicals within them has been demonstrated. Although microplastic particles themselves (>10 µm) appear not to undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic plastic-associated chemicals bioaccumulate in marine animals and biomagnify in marine food webs. The amounts and fates of smaller microplastic and nanoplastic particles (MNPs <10 µm) in aquatic environments are poorly understood, but the potential for harm is worrying given their mobility in biological systems. Adverse environmental impacts of plastic pollution occur at multiple levels from molecular and biochemical to population and ecosystem. MNP contamination of seafood results in direct, though not well quantified, human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Marine plastic pollution endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends for food, oxygen, livelihood, and well-being. Human Health Findings Coal miners, oil workers and gas field workers who extract fossil carbon feedstocks for plastic production suffer increased mortality from traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, neurotoxic injury, and decreased fertility. Workers producing plastic textiles die of bladder cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and interstitial lung disease at increased rates. Plastic recycling workers have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, and lung cancer. Residents of "fenceline" communities adjacent to plastic production and waste disposal sites experience increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.During use and also in disposal, plastics release toxic chemicals including additives and residual monomers into the environment and into people. National biomonitoring surveys in the USA document population-wide exposures to these chemicals. Plastic additives disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for premature births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive birth defects, infertility, obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed through the environmental degradation of plastic waste can enter living organisms, including humans. Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates that MNPs may cause toxicity due to their physical and toxicological effects as well as by acting as vectors that transport toxic chemicals and bacterial pathogens into tissues and cells.Infants in the womb and young children are two populations at particularly high risk of plastic-related health effects. Because of the exquisite sensitivity of early development to hazardous chemicals and children's unique patterns of exposure, plastic-associated exposures are linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer. Early-life exposures to plastic-associated chemicals also increase the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. Economic Findings Plastic's harms to human health result in significant economic costs. We estimate that in 2015 the health-related costs of plastic production exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, and that in the USA alone the health costs of disease and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP exceeded $920 billion (2015 Int$). Plastic production results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 1.96 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) social cost of carbon metric, we estimate the annual costs of these GHG emissions to be $341 billion (2015 Int$).These costs, large as they are, almost certainly underestimate the full economic losses resulting from plastics' negative impacts on human health and the global environment. All of plastics' economic costs-and also its social costs-are externalized by the petrochemical and plastic manufacturing industry and are borne by citizens, taxpayers, and governments in countries around the world without compensation. Social Justice Findings The adverse effects of plastics and plastic pollution on human health, the economy and the environment are not evenly distributed. They disproportionately affect poor, disempowered, and marginalized populations such as workers, racial and ethnic minorities, "fenceline" communities, Indigenous groups, women, and children, all of whom had little to do with creating the current plastics crisis and lack the political influence or the resources to address it. Plastics' harmful impacts across its life cycle are most keenly felt in the Global South, in small island states, and in disenfranchised areas in the Global North. Social and environmental justice (SEJ) principles require reversal of these inequitable burdens to ensure that no group bears a disproportionate share of plastics' negative impacts and that those who benefit economically from plastic bear their fair share of its currently externalized costs. Conclusions It is now clear that current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment, and the economy as well as for deep societal injustices.The main driver of these worsening harms is an almost exponential and still accelerating increase in global plastic production. Plastics' harms are further magnified by low rates of recovery and recycling and by the long persistence of plastic waste in the environment.The thousands of chemicals in plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, and non-intentionally added substances-include amongst their number known human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals are responsible for many of plastics' known harms to human and planetary health. The chemicals leach out of plastics, enter the environment, cause pollution, and result in human exposure and disease. All efforts to reduce plastics' hazards must address the hazards of plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations To protect human and planetary health, especially the health of vulnerable and at-risk populations, and put the world on track to end plastic pollution by 2040, this Commission supports urgent adoption by the world's nations of a strong and comprehensive Global Plastics Treaty in accord with the mandate set forth in the March 2022 resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures such as a Global Plastics Treaty are needed to curb plastic production and pollution, because the harms to human health and the environment caused by plastics, plastic-associated chemicals and plastic waste transcend national boundaries, are planetary in their scale, and have disproportionate impacts on the health and well-being of people in the world's poorest nations. Effective implementation of the Global Plastics Treaty will require that international action be coordinated and complemented by interventions at the national, regional, and local levels.This Commission urges that a cap on global plastic production with targets, timetables, and national contributions be a central provision of the Global Plastics Treaty. We recommend inclusion of the following additional provisions:The Treaty needs to extend beyond microplastics and marine litter to include all of the many thousands of chemicals incorporated into plastics.The Treaty needs to include a provision banning or severely restricting manufacture and use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, especially single-use items such as manufactured plastic microbeads.The Treaty needs to include requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) that make fossil carbon producers, plastic producers, and the manufacturers of plastic products legally and financially responsible for the safety and end-of-life management of all the materials they produce and sell.The Treaty needs to mandate reductions in the chemical complexity of plastic products; health-protective standards for plastics and plastic additives; a requirement for use of sustainable non-toxic materials; full disclosure of all components; and traceability of components. International cooperation will be essential to implementing and enforcing these standards.The Treaty needs to include SEJ remedies at each stage of the plastic life cycle designed to fill gaps in community knowledge and advance both distributional and procedural equity.This Commission encourages inclusion in the Global Plastic Treaty of a provision calling for exploration of listing at least some plastic polymers as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.This Commission encourages a strong interface between the Global Plastics Treaty and the Basel and London Conventions to enhance management of hazardous plastic waste and slow current massive exports of plastic waste into the world's least-developed countries.This Commission recommends the creation of a Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body to guide the Treaty's implementation. The main priorities of this Body would be to guide Member States and other stakeholders in evaluating which solutions are most effective in reducing plastic consumption, enhancing plastic waste recovery and recycling, and curbing the generation of plastic waste. This Body could also assess trade-offs among these solutions and evaluate safer alternatives to current plastics. It could monitor the transnational export of plastic waste. It could coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, and air-based MNP monitoring programs.This Commission recommends urgent investment by national governments in research into solutions to the global plastic crisis. This research will need to determine which solutions are most effective and cost-effective in the context of particular countries and assess the risks and benefits of proposed solutions. Oceanographic and environmental research is needed to better measure concentrations and impacts of plastics <10 µm and understand their distribution and fate in the global environment. Biomedical research is needed to elucidate the human health impacts of plastics, especially MNPs. Summary This Commission finds that plastics are both a boon to humanity and a stealth threat to human and planetary health. Plastics convey enormous benefits, but current linear patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal that pay little attention to sustainable design or safe materials and a near absence of recovery, reuse, and recycling are responsible for grave harms to health, widespread environmental damage, great economic costs, and deep societal injustices. These harms are rapidly worsening.While there remain gaps in knowledge about plastics' harms and uncertainties about their full magnitude, the evidence available today demonstrates unequivocally that these impacts are great and that they will increase in severity in the absence of urgent and effective intervention at global scale. Manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue. However, reckless increases in plastic production, and especially increases in the manufacture of an ever-increasing array of unnecessary single-use plastic products, need to be curbed.Global intervention against the plastic crisis is needed now because the costs of failure to act will be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Landrigan
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Maureen Cropper
- Economics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, US
| | - Caroline Bald
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Fenichel
- Université Côte d’Azur
- Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Nice, FR
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | | | | | | | - Carly Griffin
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, US
| | - Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Richard Hixson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Hannah Ianelli
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Amalia Laborde
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, UY
| | | | - Keith Martin
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health, US
| | - Jenna Mu
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lead City University, NG
| | - Jia Niu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, US
| | - Sabine Pahl
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Maria-Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), Sorbonne Université, FR
| | | | | | - Bhedita Jaya Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
| | | | - John J. Stegeman
- Biology Department and Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - William Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US
| | | | - Hideshige Takada
- Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JP
| | | | | | - Zhanyun Wang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, WEmpa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Technology, CH
| | - Ella Whitman
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | - Aroub K. Yousuf
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Sarah Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
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Hassoun A, Pasti L, Chenet T, Rusanova P, Smaoui S, Aït-Kaddour A, Bono G. Detection methods of micro and nanoplastics. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2023; 103:175-227. [PMID: 36863835 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Plastics and related contaminants (including microplastics; MPs and nanoplastics; NPs) have become a serious global safety issue due to their overuse in many products and applications and their inadequate management, leading to possible leakage into the environment and eventually to the food chain and humans. There is a growing literature reporting on the occurrence of plastics, (MPs and NPs) in both marine and terrestrial organisms, with many indications about the harmful impact of these contaminants on plants and animals, as well as potential human health risks. The presence of MPs and NPs in many foods and beverages including seafood (especially finfish, crustaceans, bivalves, and cephalopods), fruits, vegetables, milk, wine and beer, meat, and table salts, has become popular research areas in recent years. Detection, identification, and quantification of MPs and NPs have been widely investigated using a wide range of traditional methods, such as visual and optical methods, scanning electron microscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, but these methods are burdened with a number of limitations. In contrast, spectroscopic techniques, especially Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, and other emerging techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging are increasingly being applied due to their potential to enable rapid, non-destructive, and high-throughput analysis. Despite huge research efforts, there is still an overarching need to develop reliable analytical techniques with low cost and high efficiency. Mitigation of plastic pollution requires establishing standard and harmonized methods, adopting holistic approaches, and raising awareness and engaging the public and policymakers. Therefore, this chapter focuses mainly on identification and quantification techniques of MPs and NPs in different food matrices (mostly seafood).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdo Hassoun
- Sustainable AgriFoodtech Innovation & Research (SAFIR), Arras, France; Syrian Academic Expertise (SAE), Gaziantep, Turkey.
| | - Luisa Pasti
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tatiana Chenet
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Polina Rusanova
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council (IRBIM-CNR), Mazara del Vallo, TP, Italy; Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) - Marine Biology and Fisheries Laboratory of Fano (PU), University of Bologna (BO), Bologna, Italy
| | - Slim Smaoui
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Engineering Enzymes (LMBEE), Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | | | - Gioacchino Bono
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council (IRBIM-CNR), Mazara del Vallo, TP, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università Di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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10
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Dawson AL, Santana MFM, Nelis JLD, Motti CA. Taking control of microplastics data: A comparison of control and blank data correction methods. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130218. [PMID: 36367473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130218] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although significant headway has been achieved regarding method harmonisation for the analysis of microplastics, analysis and interpretation of control data has largely been overlooked. There is currently no consensus on the best method to utilise data generated from controls, and consequently many methods are arbitrarily employed. This study identified 6 commonly implemented strategies: a) No correction; b) Subtraction; c) Mean Subtraction; d) Spectral Similarity; e) Limits of detection/ limits of quantification (LOD/LOQ) or f) Statistical analysis, of which many variations are possible. Here, the 6 core methods and 45 variant methods (n = 51) thereof were used to correct a dummy dataset using control data. Most of the methods tested were too inflexible to account for the inherent variation present in microplastic data. Only 7 of the 51 methods tested (six LOD/LOQ methods and one statistical method) showed promise, removing between 96.3 % and 100 % of the contamination data from the dummy set. The remaining 44 methods resulted in deficient corrections for background contamination due to the heterogeneity of microplastics. These methods should be avoided in the future to avoid skewed results, especially in low abundance samples. Overall, LOD/LOQ methods or statistical analysis comparing means are recommended for future use in microplastic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Dawson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia.
| | - Marina F M Santana
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Joost L D Nelis
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
| | - Cherie A Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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11
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The measurement of food safety and security risks associated with micro- and nanoplastic pollution. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
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12
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Piskuła P, Astel AM. Microplastics in Commercial Fishes and By-Catch from Selected FAO Major Fishing Areas of the Southern Baltic Sea. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030458. [PMID: 36766347 PMCID: PMC9913095 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030458] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
According to recent world wide studies, microplastics (MPs) have been found in many fish species; however, the majority of research has focused only on the gastrointestinal tract, neglecting edible organs. This study aimed to assess the presence of microplastics in the non-edible (gills, digestive tract) and edible organs (liver) of three commercial fish species and twoby-catch species from the southern Baltic Sea. Fish (Clupea harengus, Gadus morhua, Platichthy sflesus, Taurulus baublis, Cyclopterus lumpus) were caught in 108 and 103 FAO Fishing Zones belonging to the Polish fishing zone. The abundanceof MPs ranged from 1 to 12 items per fish, with an average of 4.09 items. MPs were observed in different organs, such as the liver, gills, and digestive tract of all five tested species. MPs recognized as fibers were the most abundant. Other shapes of polymers found in fish organs were pellets and particles of larger plastic pieces. The dominant color of the MPs was blue, but there were also red, black, transparent, yellow, green, and white items found. According to dimensions, dominant MPs were between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in size. The chemical characterization of polymers accomplished by the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy demonstrated the abundance of cellophane, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl propionate, polyacrylonitrile, and polyester.
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13
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Liu J, Zhu B, An L, Ding J, Xu Y. Atmospheric microfibers dominated by natural and regenerated cellulosic fibers: Explanations from the textile engineering perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120771. [PMID: 36455767 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120771] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A large number of synthetic fibers found in the environment have aroused public conern about microfiber pollution. However, more studies have found that the number of natural fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers in the environment is much higher than that of synthetic fibers. If humans are exposed to excessive amounts of these two types of fibers for a long time, they may also suffer physiological injury. However, this is often ignored by previous research on microfiber pollution. Recently, some publications attributed the dominating amounts of natural fiber and regenerated cellulosic fibers in the environment to the past yield advantage and low durability compared to synthetic fibers. This correspondence supports that view and further discusses the main reasons for the domination of natural and regenerated cellulosic fibers: their physicochemical properties, material sources, manufacturing processes (staple yarn and filament) and applications. This correspondence aims to arouse attention to the potential impact of natural fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Liu
- School of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214021, China.
| | - Bo Zhu
- School of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214021, China
| | - Lihui An
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Jiannan Ding
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Yuyao Xu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China, Ningbo, 315100, China; Institute of Urban Environment, Ningbo Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315800, China
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14
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Relationship between shellfish consumption and urinary phthalate metabolites: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017). Ann Occup Environ Med 2023; 35:e2. [PMID: 36925631 PMCID: PMC10011409 DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are widely used in the production of items of daily life such as in polyvinylchloride plastics, insecticides, and medical devices. This study aimed to determine the association between phthalate exposure and shellfish consumption using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017), which is a nationally representative survey. Methods In this study, we analyzed the KoNEHS cycle 3 data of 3,333 (1,526 men and 1,807 women) adults aged more than 19 years. Data related to the variables of sociodemographic factors, health-related behaviors, dietary factors, seafood consumption frequency, and urinary phthalate metabolites concentrations were collected. The concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites of all the participants were divided into quartiles to define high and low concentration groups based on the 75th percentile concentration. A χ2 test was conducted to analyze the distribution of independent variables. To analyze the relationship between shellfish consumption and phthalate exposure, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results Total adults with shellfish consumption frequency of over once a week showed the following adjusted ORs for high concentrations of the following metabolites compared with the group that consumed shellfish once a week or less: 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.06) for mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01-2.03) for mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), 1.57 (95% CI: 1.10-2.24) for ∑di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (∑DEHP), 2.01 (95% CI: 1.46-2.77) for mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), 1.56 (95% CI: 1.11-2.18) for mono-carboxy-isononly phthalate (MCNP), and 2.57 (95% CI: 1.85-3.56) for mono (3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP). Conclusions The concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites (MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, MCOP, MCNP, and MCPP) were higher in adults with a higher frequency of shellfish consumption.
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15
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Wootton N, Sarakinis K, Varea R, Reis-Santos P, Gillanders BM. Microplastic in oysters: A review of global trends and comparison to southern Australia. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:136065. [PMID: 35995196 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have been documented in a plethora of marine environments and organisms. These small plastics threaten ecosystem health, with implications for seafood species' health. Oysters are an important cultural and economic aquaculture species globally. Due to their filter feeding mechanisms, they can act as an indicator species and proxy for environmental contamination. This makes them an ideal organism for investigating microplastic pollution. Here, we first systematically reviewed the global literature investigating microplastic in oysters. Globally, 94.4% of all oysters had microplastics, with an average of 1.41 ± 0.33 per gram of soft tissue wet weight (gww). The review showed that wild-caught oysters contained more than double the amount of microplastic than aquaculture raised specimens, likely reflecting the clean and productive waters in which oyster aquaculture systems are commonly located. Second, we quantified microplastic presence and polymer type in commercially farmed oysters (Crassostrea gigas and Saccostrea glomerata) across a broad spatial scale, covering eight sites in southern Australia. Microplastics were present in 49.4% of all sampled oysters, with specimens from all locations containing microplastics. On average, whole oysters contained 0.83 ± 0.08 microplastics per individual or 0.09 ± 0.01 microplastics gww. Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, we identified that 62% of the verified microplastics were vexar plastic netting, a low-density polyethylene commonly used in aquaculture production. Understanding the abundance and source of microplastic in these key seafood species is essential to determine if oysters are vulnerable to these contaminants and pose a risk to the oyster aquaculture industry as an important food resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wootton
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | - Koster Sarakinis
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Rufino Varea
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Patrick Reis-Santos
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Bronwyn M Gillanders
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
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Lu J, Yu Z, Ngiam L, Guo J. Microplastics as potential carriers of viruses could prolong virus survival and infectivity. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119115. [PMID: 36137436 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are emerging contaminants in various aquatic environments, leading to human and environmental health concerns. Viruses have also been ubiquitously detected in aquatic environments, and there is an unknown risk of microplastics-mediated virus migration through adsorption. This study applied polystyrene microplastics as the carrier and the T4 bacteriophage (or phage) as the virus model, and a violet side scatter/green fluorescence double-gated flow cytometry approach to investigate the adsorption capacity of viruses on microplastics. Our results show that up to 98.6±0.2% of the dosed viruses can be adsorbed by microplastics, and such adsorptions are dependent on size and surface functional groups. Both Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence-labelled confocal microscopy confirmed that the virus can successfully adsorb onto microplastics. Zeta potential characterisation revealed that the electrostatic interaction is the primary adsorption mechanism associated with the adsorption of viruses. UV-aging was found to enhance the adsorption capacities of viruses on microplastics. Both pristine and UV-aged microplastics were found to significantly prolong the infectivity of the adsorbed viruses, even under elevated temperatures. Collectively, our findings highlight that microplastics are associated with the biological risks of water-borne viral transmission through virus adsorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lyman Ngiam
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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Kaur H, Rawat D, Poria P, Sharma U, Gibert Y, Ethayathulla AS, Dumée LF, Sharma RS, Mishra V. Ecotoxic effects of microplastics and contaminated microplastics - Emerging evidence and perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156593. [PMID: 35690218 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The high prevalence and persistence of microplastics (MPs) in pristine habitats along with their accumulation across environmental compartments globally, has become a matter of grave concern. The resilience conferred to MPs using the material engineering approaches for outperforming other materials has become key to the challenge that they now represent. The characteristics that make MPs hazardous are their micro to nano scale dimensions, surface varied wettability and often hydrophobicity, leading to non-biodegradability. In addition, MPs exhibit a strong tendency to bind to other contaminants along with the ability to sustain extreme chemical conditions thus increasing their residence time in the environment. Adsorption of these co-contaminants leads to modification in toxicity varying from additive, synergistic, and sometimes antagonistic, having consequences on flora, fauna, and ultimately the end of the food chain, human health. The resulting environmental fate and associated risks of MPs, therefore greatly depend upon their complex interactions with the co-contaminants and the nature of the environment in which they reside. Net outcomes of such complex interactions vary with core characteristics of MPs, the properties of co-contaminants and the abiotic factors, and are required to be better understood to minimize the inherent risks. Toxicity assays addressing these concerns should be ecologically relevant, assessing the impacts at different levels of biological organization to develop an environmental perspective. This review analyzed and evaluated 171 studies to present research status on MP toxicity. This analysis supported the identification and development of research gaps and recommended priority areas of research, accounting for disproportionate risks faced by different countries. An ecological perspective is also developed on the environmental toxicity of contaminated MPs in the light of multi-variant stressors and directions are provided to conduct an ecologically relevant risk assessment. The presented analyses will also serve as a foundation for developing environmentally appropriate remediation methods and evaluation frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harveen Kaur
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Deepak Rawat
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India; Department of Environmental Studies, Janki Devi, Memorial College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110060, India
| | - Pankaj Poria
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Udita Sharma
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Yann Gibert
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | | | - Ludovic F Dumée
- Khalifa University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Research and Innovation Center on CO(2) and Hydrogen, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Radhey Shyam Sharma
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India; Delhi School of Climate Change & Sustainability, Institute of Eminence, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
| | - Vandana Mishra
- Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
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18
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Ding J, Sun C, Li J, Shi H, Xu X, Ju P, Jiang F, Li F. Microplastics in global bivalve mollusks: A call for protocol standardization. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129490. [PMID: 35792432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence shows that microplastic pollution is ubiquitous in bivalve mollusks globally and is of particular concern due to its potential impact on human health. However, non-standardized sampling, processing, and analytical techniques increased the difficulty of direct comparisons among existing studies. Based on 61 peer-reviewed papers, we summarized the current knowledge of microplastics in bivalve mollusks globally and provided an in-depth analysis of factors affecting the outcome of microplastic data, with the main focus on the effects of different species and methodologies. We found no significant differences in microplastic abundance among genera from the same family but significant differences among bivalve families, indicating habitats play an important role in microplastic ingestion by bivalve mollusks. This also provided foundational knowledge for using epifaunal and infaunal bivalves to monitor microplastic pollution in water and sediment, respectively. Recommendations for microplastic monitoring protocol in bivalve mollusks were proposed according to the results of this review, covering (i) a sample size of at least 50 bivalves in the study area, (ii) the use of 10 % KOH as the digestion solution, and (iii) the pore size of a filter membrane of < 5 µm. Acknowledging the need for a standard procedure, more efforts towards protocol standardization used in long-term and large-scale microplastic monitoring programs in bivalve mollusks are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Ding
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, and College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Chengjun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China; Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jingxi Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xiangrong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China.
| | - Peng Ju
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Fenghua Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Fengmin Li
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, and College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
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19
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Kumar R, Manna C, Padha S, Verma A, Sharma P, Dhar A, Ghosh A, Bhattacharya P. Micro(nano)plastics pollution and human health: How plastics can induce carcinogenesis to humans? CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134267. [PMID: 35301996 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are key indicators of the plasticine era, widely spread across different ecosystems. MPs and NPs become global stressors due to their inherent physicochemical characteristics and potential impact on ecosystems and humans. MPs and NPs have been exposed to humans via various pathways, such as tap water, bottled water, seafood, beverages, milk, fish, salts, fruits, and vegetables. This paper highlights MPs and NPs pathways to the food chains and how these plastic particles can cause risks to human health. MPs have been evident in vivo and vitro and have been at health risks, such as respiratory, immune, reproductive, and digestive systems. The present work emphasizes how various MPs and NPs, and associated toxic chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), impact human health. Polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are common MPs and NPs, reported in human implants via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure, which can cause carcinogenesis, according to Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports. Inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure-response cause genotoxicity, cell division and viability, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress induction, metabolism disruption, DNA damage, inflammation, and immunological responses in humans. Lastly, this review work concluded with current knowledge on potential risks to human health and knowledge gaps with recommendations for further investigation in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar, 803116, India
| | - Camelia Manna
- Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700037, India
| | - Shaveta Padha
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 181143, India
| | - Anurag Verma
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar, 803116, India
| | - Prabhakar Sharma
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Bihar, 803116, India.
| | - Anjali Dhar
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 181143, India
| | - Ashok Ghosh
- Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre, Phulwarisharif, Patna, 801505, Bihar, India; Bihar Pollution Control Board, Patna, 800010, Bihar, India
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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F M Santana M, Kroon FJ, van Herwerden L, Vamvounis G, Motti CA. An assessment workflow to recover microplastics from complex biological matrices. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 179:113676. [PMID: 35500374 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A criteria-guided workflow was applied to assess the effectiveness of microplastic separation methods on complex marine biological matrices. Efficacy of four methods (nitric acid, HNO3, and potassium hydroxide, KOH, digestions, and sodium chloride, NaCl, and potassium iodide, KI, density flotations) was evaluated on four taxa (hard coral, sponge, sea squirt, sea cucumber) using five microplastics (polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, PET, polyvinylchloride, rayon). Matrix clarification was only unacceptably low for KOH. PET discoloured regardless of reagent. Rayon threads unravelled into monofilaments after exposure to all reagents, with discolouration also occurring with HNO3. Recovery rates were overall high, except for dense microplastics treated with NaCl and only KI yielded high rayon recovery efficiency. All polymers were accurately assigned, with subtle spectral changes observed. These results demonstrate specific limitations to separation methods applied to different biological matrices and microplastics and highlight the need to assess their suitability to provide estimates of microplastic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina F M Santana
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
| | - Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Lynne van Herwerden
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - George Vamvounis
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Cherie A Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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21
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Lu HC, Ziajahromi S, Neale PA, Leusch FDL. Letter to the Editor regarding "Microplastics: A review of analytical methods, occurrence and characteristics in food, and potential toxicities to biota" by Bai et al. (2022). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:152706. [PMID: 35007593 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Cheng Lu
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia.
| | - Shima Ziajahromi
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia
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22
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Ferrante M, Pietro Z, Allegui C, Maria F, Antonio C, Pulvirenti E, Favara C, Chiara C, Grasso A, Omayma M, Gea OC, Banni M. Microplastics in fillets of Mediterranean seafood. A risk assessment study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112247. [PMID: 34678256 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are considered as emergent threat to human health. No complete data still exists on MPs presence in fish tissue and their transmission to humans. The present study aims to detect and quantify the presence of MPs (<3 μm) in several edible seafood (Sardina pilchardus, wild and farmed Sparus aurata, Mullus surmuletus, Solea solea and musselMytilus galloprovincialis) from the south coast of Mediterranean Sea. MPs were detected through an innovative extraction method coupled to the SEM-EDX technology. The Estimated Daily Intakes (EDIs) for adults and children for each species were calculated. The higher median level (IQR) of MPs (9.09E+04) was found inM. surmuletus. Conversely, the lower median (IQR) level was observed in S. pilchardus (7.04E+04). The smallest and biggest median (IQR)diameter of MPs (1.8 and 2.5 μm) were identified in M. galloprovincialisand S. solea, respectively. The highest EDIs (25.50E+03; 48.09E+03) arefor ingestion of farmedS. auratarespectively for adults and children. Instead, the lowest EDIs (2.37E+02; 4.48E+02) are due to M. galloprovincialisingestion for adults and children, respectively. Our data should be carefully considered in view of the direct exposure of humans to plastic particles under 3 μm through seafood consumption to better manage the related risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Ferrante
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Zuccarello Pietro
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Chaima Allegui
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Sousse University, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, Monastir University, Tunisia
| | - Fiore Maria
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Cristaldi Antonio
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Eloise Pulvirenti
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Claudia Favara
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Copat Chiara
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Alfina Grasso
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Missawi Omayma
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Sousse University, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, Monastir University, Tunisia
| | - Oliveri Conti Gea
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy.
| | - Mohamed Banni
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Sousse University, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, Monastir University, Tunisia.
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23
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Gündogdu S, Rathod N, Hassoun A, Jamroz E, Kulawik P, Gokbulut C, Aït-Kaddour A, Özogul F. The impact of nano/micro-plastics toxicity on seafood quality and human health: facts and gaps. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 63:6445-6463. [PMID: 35152807 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2033684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Contamination of the food and especially marine environment with nano/micro-plastic particles has raised serious concern in recent years. Environmental pollution and the resulting seafood contamination with microplastic (MP) pose a potential threat to consumers. The absorption rate of the MP by fish is generally considered low, although the bioavailability depends on the physical and chemical properties of the consumed MP. The available safety studies are inconclusive, although there is an indication that prolonged exposure to high levels of orally administered MP can be hazardous for consumers. This review details novel findings about the occurrence of MP, along with its physical and chemical properties, in the marine environment and seafood. The effect of processing on the content of MP in the final product is also reviewed. Additionally, recent findings regarding the impact of exposure of MP on human health are discussed. Finally, gaps in current knowledge are underlined, and the possibilities for future research are indicated in the review. There is an urgent need for further research on the absorption and bioavailability of consumed MP and in vivo studies on chronic exposure. Policymakers should also consider the implementation of novel legislation related to MP presence in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Gündogdu
- Department of Basic Sciences, Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries, Adana, Turkey
| | - Nikheel Rathod
- Department of Post Harvest Management of Meat, Poultry and Fish, Post Graduate Institute of Post-harvest Management (Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth), Dapoli, Maharashtra State, India
| | - Abdo Hassoun
- Sustainable AgriFoodtech Innovation & Research (SAFIR), Arras, France
- Syrian Academic Expertise (SAE), Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Ewelina Jamroz
- Department of Animal Products Technology, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture, Karakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Kulawik
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Adnan Menderes, Isikli Koyu, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Cengiz Gokbulut
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Balikesir University, Cagis Campus, Balikesir, Turkey
| | | | - Fatih Özogul
- Department of Seafood Processing Technology, Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries, Adana, Turkey
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24
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Seafood Processing, Preservation, and Analytical Techniques in the Age of Industry 4.0. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12031703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fish and other seafood products are essential dietary components that are highly appreciated and consumed worldwide. However, the high perishability of these products has driven the development of a wide range of processing, preservation, and analytical techniques. This development has been accelerated in recent years with the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) technologies, digitally transforming almost every industry, including the food and seafood industry. The purpose of this review paper is to provide an updated overview of recent thermal and nonthermal processing and preservation technologies, as well as advanced analytical techniques used in the seafood industry. A special focus will be given to the role of different Industry 4.0 technologies to achieve smart seafood manufacturing, with high automation and digitalization. The literature discussed in this work showed that emerging technologies (e.g., ohmic heating, pulsed electric field, high pressure processing, nanotechnology, advanced mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques, and hyperspectral imaging sensors) are key elements in industrial revolutions not only in the seafood industry but also in all food industry sectors. More research is still needed to explore how to harness the Industry 4.0 innovations in order to achieve a green transition toward more profitable and sustainable food production systems.
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25
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Li Z, Chang X, Hu M, Fang JKH, Sokolova IM, Huang W, Xu EG, Wang Y. Is microplastic an oxidative stressor? Evidence from a meta-analysis on bivalves. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127211. [PMID: 34844346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is a major threat to the marine environment attracting attention from scientific and public communities. Although we have sufficient evidence that microplastic is ubiquitous in all ecosystems, the question of the harmfulness of microplastic exposure is still under debate. Filter feeders like bivalves are commonly exposed to microplastics in water and sediments and thus can serve as excellent biological indicators for microplastic pollution. A relatively rich toxicological literature has been focusing on microplastic effects on bivalves but we have yet to reach an agreement on the toxic effects and mechanisms of microplastics. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis and bibliometrics analysis of the microplastic studies in bivalves. The bibliometric analysis (used to evaluate the general research trends) showed that the investigation of microplastic distribution in the marine environment and the molecular mechanisms of microplastic toxicity are the two major hot spots of research. Based on analyses of ecologically and environmentally relevant microplastics concentrations, particle sizes and polymer types, we discuss the physiological effects of microplastics on bivalves, and the severity and direction of the effects at the cellular, tissue, organ and organismal levels. The meta-analysis results show that microplastics can induce time-dependent oxidative stress in bivalves. Generally, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased during short-term exposure but declined after long-term exposure to microplastics. Non-linear response of GPx, GST and SOD enzymes to MP exposure over time indicate that these enzymes are not good biomarkers of MPs effects in marine bivalves. The tissue glutathione levels and catalase (CAT activity) showed an increase during both short- and long term MP exposures and thus can be used as oxidative stress biomarkers of sublethal MPs effects in marine bivalves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoqing Li
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueqing Chang
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Menghong Hu
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
| | - James Kar-Hei Fang
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Food Safety and Technology Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Inna M Sokolova
- Department of Marine Biology, Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China
| | - Elvis Genbo Xu
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M 5230, Denmark
| | - Youji Wang
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
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26
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Mistri M, Sfriso AA, Casoni E, Nicoli M, Vaccaro C, Munari C. Microplastic accumulation in commercial fish from the Adriatic Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113279. [PMID: 34959102 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the presence and concentration of microplastics in fishes from the Northern Adriatic Sea on sale for human consumption. Microplastics were extracted from the digestive tract of 180 specimens, belonging to 6 different species (2 pelagic, and 4 demersal). Microplastics were identified through Nile red staining, and selected particles were analyzed by μ-Raman spectroscopy. The 47.8% of examined fish were found to contain microplastics (233 fragments). The mean concentration of microplastics in the 6 species ranged between 4.11 ± 2.85 items/individual in Adriatic soles, and 1.75 ± 0.71 items/individual in pilchards. Microplastics ranged in size between 0.054 mm and 0.765 mm. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the polymer types identified through μ-Raman spectroscopy. Despite our estimates are underestimations, these results are of particular concern, as the fish analyzed are consumed without being eviscerated, and the microplastics they contain are transferred directly to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Mistri
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricoltural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Andrea Augusto Sfriso
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricoltural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elia Casoni
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricoltural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Nicoli
- Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 2, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carmela Vaccaro
- Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 2, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Cristina Munari
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricoltural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Coffin S, Bouwmeester H, Brander S, Damdimopoulou P, Gouin T, Hermabessiere L, Khan E, Koelmans AA, Lemieux CL, Teerds K, Wagner M, Weisberg SB, Wright S. Development and application of a health-based framework for informing regulatory action in relation to exposure of microplastic particles in California drinking water. MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS 2022; 2:12. [PMID: 35634037 PMCID: PMC9132802 DOI: 10.1186/s43591-022-00030-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Microplastics have been documented in drinking water, but their effects on human health from ingestion, or the concentrations at which those effects begin to manifest, are not established. Here, we report on the outcome of a virtual expert workshop conducted between October 2020 and October 2021 in which a comprehensive review of mammalian hazard studies was conducted. A key objective of this assessment was to evaluate the feasibility and confidence in deriving a human health-based threshold value to inform development of the State of California's monitoring and management strategy for microplastics in drinking water. A tiered approach was adopted to evaluate the quality and reliability of studies identified from a review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature. A total of 41 in vitro and 31 in vivo studies using mammals were identified and subjected to a Tier 1 screening and prioritization exercise, which was based on an evaluation of how each of the studies addressed various quality criteria. Prioritized studies were identified largely based on their application and reporting of dose-response relationships. Given that methods for extrapolating between in vitro and in vivo systems are currently lacking, only oral exposure in vivo studies were identified as fit-for-purpose within the context of this workshop. Twelve mammalian toxicity studies were prioritized and subjected to a Tier 2 qualitative evaluation by external experts. Of the 12 studies, 7 report adverse effects on male and female reproductive systems, while 5 reported effects on various other physiological endpoints. It is notable that the majority of studies (83%) subjected to Tier 2 evaluation report results from exposure to a single polymer type (polystyrene spheres), representing a size range of 0.040 to 20 µm. No single study met all desired quality criteria, but collectively toxicological effects with respect to biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress represented a consistent trend. While it was possible to derive a conservative screening level to inform monitoring activities, it was not possible to extrapolate a human-health-based threshold value for microplastics, which is largely due to concerns regarding the relative quality and reliability of current data, but also due to the inability to extrapolate data from studies using monodisperse plastic particles, such as polystyrene spheres to an environmentally relevant exposure of microplastics. Nevertheless, a conservative screening level value was used to estimate a volume of drinking water (1000 L) that could be used to support monitoring activities and improve our overall understanding of exposure in California's drinking water. In order to increase confidence in our ability to derive a human-health-based threshold value in the future, several research recommendations are provided, with an emphasis towards strengthening how toxicity studies should be conducted in the future and an improved understanding of human exposure to microplastics, insights critically important to better inform future risk assessments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43591-022-00030-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Coffin
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Hans Bouwmeester
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Susanne Brander
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Dept, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Newport, OR USA
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Todd Gouin
- TG Environmental Research, Sharnbrook, MK44 1PL UK
| | - Ludovic Hermabessiere
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Elaine Khan
- California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Albert A. Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Christine L. Lemieux
- Safe Environments Directorate, Health Canada, Water and Air Quality Bureau, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Katja Teerds
- Department of Animal Sciences, Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin Wagner
- Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Stephanie Wright
- Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Sir Michael Uren Hub, 86 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ UK
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Wootton N, Reis-Santos P, Dowsett N, Turnbull A, Gillanders BM. Low abundance of microplastics in commercially caught fish across southern Australia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:118030. [PMID: 34461419 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has increased significantly in the past decades and is now a major global environmental issue. Plastic objects enter the ocean and are broken down into smaller pieces, while wastewater and runoff also carry microplastics (plastics <5 mm) into the ocean. Plastic has been found in over 700 different species of marine wildlife but little research has examined fish sold for human consumption. We determined the microplastic abundance in nine commercially important, wild-caught fish species purchased from seafood markets across 4000 km of Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales). For microplastic quantification, fish gastro-intestinal tracts were chemically digested and the amount and type of microplastic identified under a microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Across all states, an average of 35.5% of fish samples had at least one piece of microplastic in their gastro-intestinal tract. South Australia had the highest percentage of fish with plastic (49%) and Tasmania the lowest (20%). The average microplastic load was 0.94 piece per fish but ranged from 0 to 17 pieces, with polyolefin identified as the dominant polymer group. Overall, the ingestion of microplastic was widespread across species, locations, diets and habitat niches of fish species investigated, but the average plastic ingestion was less than other similar global studies. This study provides novel insights on the use of fish species from seafood markets to assess environmental contamination by microplastic, as well as an important perspective of the potential for microplastic contamination to enter the human food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Wootton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | | | - Natalie Dowsett
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia; South Australian Research and Development Institute, Food Sciences Division, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Alison Turnbull
- South Australian Research and Development Institute, Food Sciences Division, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia; Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, Tasmania, 7053, Australia
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Santonicola S, Volgare M, Di Pace E, Cocca M, Mercogliano R, Colavita G. Occurrence of potential plastic microfibers in mussels and anchovies sold for human consumption: Preliminary results. Ital J Food Saf 2021; 10:9962. [PMID: 35071059 PMCID: PMC8743644 DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2021.9962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a global concern over the impact of microplastics on marine species and trophic webs. Microfibers commonly represent the greater portion of microplastics in the aquatic environment, but little is known about fiber uptake and accumulation by marine biota. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential plastic microfiber contamination in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the Tyrrhenian Sea sold for human consumption. Anthropogenic debris was extracted from the digestive tracts of fish and the whole shellfish using a 10% KOH solution and quantified under a light microscope. The preliminary results showed the occurrence of potential plastic and natural microfibers in 73% of the samples. On average mussels contained 1.33 microfibers/g w.w. and 7.66 items/individual, while anchovies contained 9.06 microfibers/individual. Considering that mussels are consumed as a whole, and small pelagic fish, as anchovy, may be eaten without removing the gastrointestinal tract, microfiber contamination may lead to human exposure. More research is required to adequately assess the risk that microplastics, including microfibers, may pose for food safety and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Santonicola
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso
| | - Michela Volgare
- Institute of Polymer, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA)
| | - Emilia Di Pace
- Institute of Polymer, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA)
| | - Mariacristina Cocca
- Institute of Polymer, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA)
| | | | - Giampaolo Colavita
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso
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Wu M, Tu C, Liu G, Zhong H. Time to Safeguard the Future Generations from the Omnipresent Microplastics. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 107:793-799. [PMID: 34223933 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03252-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) as a ubiquitous environmental pollutant have drawn growing attention, and it is concerning that children are more sensitive to MPs than adults. Unfortunately, information about the link between children and MPs is insufficient. Therefore, we review the sources and exposure routes of children to MPs and collect evidence for the potential risks. Children can ingest and/or inhale MPs derived from various foodstuffs and plastic products. Despite the limited knowledge on the toxicity to humans, current studies have proved the accumulation and translocation of MPs in different tissues and organs. Main damages including cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity can be caused by pristine polymers and/or co-contaminants. There is much more to be understood about MPs, especially their health effects, and this study has made it clear that it is time to protect our future generations from the threat of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Guangxia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
- Environmental and Life Sciences Program (EnLS), Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
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