1
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Liu S, Chen Q, Ding H, Song Y, Pan Q, Deng H, Zeng EY. Differences of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban waters: Environmental behaviors, hazards, and removal. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121895. [PMID: 38875856 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and have caused widespread concerns globally due to their potential hazards to humans. Especially, NPs have smaller sizes and higher penetrability, and therefore can penetrate the human barrier more easily and may pose potentially higher risks than MPs. Currently, most reviews have overlooked the differences between MPs and NPs and conflated them in the discussions. This review compared the differences in physicochemical properties and environmental behaviors of MPs and NPs. Commonly used techniques for removing MPs and NPs currently employed by wastewater treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants were summarized, and their weaknesses were analyzed. We further comprehensively reviewed the latest technological advances (e.g., emerging coagulants, new filters, novel membrane materials, photocatalysis, Fenton, ozone, and persulfate oxidation) for the separation and degradation of MPs and NPs. Microplastics are more easily removed than NPs through separation processes, while NPs are more easily degraded than MPs through advanced oxidation processes. The operational parameters, efficiency, and potential governing mechanisms of various technologies as well as their advantages and disadvantages were also analyzed in detail. Appropriate technology should be selected based on environmental conditions and plastic size and type. Finally, current challenges and prospects in the detection, toxicity assessment, and removal of MPs and NPs were proposed. This review intends to clarify the differences between MPs and NPs and provide guidance for removing MPs and NPs from urban water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuan Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qiqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Haojie Ding
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 123456, China
| | - Yunqian Song
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Qixin Pan
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Huiping Deng
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters (Ministry of Education), School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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2
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Abdeljaoued A, Ruiz BL, Tecle YE, Langner M, Bonakdar N, Bleyer G, Stenner P, Vogel N. Efficient removal of nanoplastics from industrial wastewater through synergetic electrophoretic deposition and particle-stabilized foam formation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5437. [PMID: 38937451 PMCID: PMC11211448 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48142-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Microplastic particles have been discovered in virtually all ecosystems worldwide, yet they may only represent the surface of a much larger issue. Nanoplastics, with dimensions well below 1 µm, pose an even greater environmental concern. Due to their size, they can infiltrate and disrupt individual cells within organisms, potentially exacerbating ecological impacts. Moreover, their minute dimensions present several hurdles for removal, setting them apart from microplastics. Here, we describe a process to remove colloidally stable nanoplastics from wastewater, which synergistically combines electrophoretic deposition and the formation of particle-stabilized foam. This approach capitalizes on localized changes in particle hydrophilicity induced by pH fluctuations resulting from water electrolysis at the electrode surface. By leveraging these pH shifts to enhance particle attachment to nascent bubbles proximal to the electrode, separation of colloidal particles from aqueous dispersions is achieved. Using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal particles as a model, we gain insights into the separation mechanisms, which are subsequently applied to alternative model systems with varying surface properties and materials, as well as to real-world industrial wastewaters from dispersion paints and PMMA fabrication processes. Our investigations demonstrate removal efficiencies surpassing 90%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Abdeljaoued
- Particle Processing, Process Technology & Engineering, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457, Wolfgang, Germany
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Beatriz López Ruiz
- Particle Processing, Process Technology & Engineering, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457, Wolfgang, Germany
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yikalo-Eyob Tecle
- Particle Processing, Process Technology & Engineering, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457, Wolfgang, Germany
| | - Marie Langner
- Particle Processing, Process Technology & Engineering, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457, Wolfgang, Germany
| | - Natalie Bonakdar
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gudrun Bleyer
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Patrik Stenner
- Particle Processing, Process Technology & Engineering, Evonik Operations GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457, Wolfgang, Germany
| | - Nicolas Vogel
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstrasse 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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Wang H, Hu C, Li Y, Shen Y, Guo J, Shi B, Alvarez PJJ, Yu P. Nano-sized polystyrene and magnetite collectively promote biofilm stability and resistance due to enhanced oxidative stress response. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:134974. [PMID: 38905973 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Despite the growing prevalence of nanoplastics in drinking water distribution systems, the collective influence of nanoplastics and background nanoparticles on biofilm formation and microbial risks remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that nano-sized polystyrene modified with carboxyl groups (nPS) and background magnetite (nFe3O4) nanoparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations can collectively stimulate biofilm formation and prompt antibiotic resistance. Combined exposure of nPS and nFe3O4 by P. aeruginosa biofilm cells stimulated intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) production more significantly compared with individual exposure. The resultant upregulation of quorum sensing (QS) and c-di-GMP signaling pathways enhanced the biosynthesis of polysaccharides by 50 %- 66 % and increased biofilm biomass by 36 %- 40 % relative to unexposed control. Consistently, biofilm mechanical stability (measured as Young's modulus) increased by 7.2-9.1 folds, and chemical stress resistance (measured with chlorine disinfection) increased by 1.4-2.0 folds. For P. aeruginosa, the minimal inhibitory concentration of different antibiotics also increased by 1.1-2.5 folds after combined exposure. Moreover, at a microbial community-wide level, metagenomic analysis revealed that the combined exposure enhanced the multi-species biofilm's resistance to chlorine, enriched the opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, and promoted their virulence and antibiotic resistance. Overall, the enhanced formation of biofilms (that may harbor opportunistic pathogens) by nanoplastics and background nanoparticles is an overlooked phenomenon, which may jeopardize the microbial safety of drinking water distribution systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chisheng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yukang Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yun Shen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Pingfeng Yu
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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4
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Mao Y, Hu Z, Li H, Zheng H, Yang S, Yu W, Tang B, Yang H, He R, Guo W, Ye K, Yang A, Zhang S. Recent advances in microplastic removal from drinking water by coagulation: Removal mechanisms and influencing factors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123863. [PMID: 38565391 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are widely detected in drinking water and pose a potential risk to humans. Therefore, the MP removal from drinking water is a critical challenge. Recent studies have shown that MPs can be removed by coagulation. However, the coagulation removal of MPs from drinking water remains inadequately understood. Herein, the efficiency, mechanisms, and influencing factors of coagulation for removing MPs from drinking water are critically reviewed. First, the efficiency of MP removal by coagulation in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and laboratories was comprehensively summarized, which indicated that coagulation plays an important role in MP removal from drinking water. The difference in removal effectiveness between the DWTPs and laboratory was mainly due to variations in treatment conditions and limitations of the detection techniques. Several dominant coagulation mechanisms for removing MPs and their research methods are thoroughly discussed. Charge neutralization is more relevant for small-sized MPs, whereas large-sized MPs are more dependent on adsorption bridging and sweeping. Furthermore, the factors influencing the efficiency of MP removal were jointly analyzed using meta-analysis and a random forest model. The meta-analysis was used to quantify the individual effects of each factor on coagulation removal efficiency by performing subgroup analysis. The random forest model quantified the relative importance of the influencing factors on removal efficiency, the results of which were ordered as follows: MPs shape > Coagulant type > Coagulant dosage > MPs concentration > MPs size > MPs type > pH. Finally, knowledge gaps and potential future directions are proposed. This review assists in the understanding of the coagulation removal of MPs, and provides novel insight into the challenges posed by MPs in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Mao
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China; Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Zuoyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Huaili Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shengfa Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Bingran Tang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Ruixu He
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Wenshu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Kailai Ye
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Aoguang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Shixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China.
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Yang L, Kang S, Luo X, Wang Z. Microplastics in drinking water: A review on methods, occurrence, sources, and potential risks assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123857. [PMID: 38537794 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics in drinking water captured widespread attention following reports of widespread detection around the world. Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of microplastics in drinking water on human health. Given the widespread interest in this research topic, there is an urgent need to compile existing data and assess current knowledge. This paper provides a systematic review of studies on microplastics in drinking water, their evidence, key findings, knowledge gaps, and research needs. The data collected show that microplastics are widespread in drinking water, with large variations in reported concentrations. Standardized methodologies of sampling and analysis are urgently needed. There were more fibrous and fragmented microplastics, with the majority being <10 μm in size and composed of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Little attention has been paid to the color of microplastics. More research is needed to understand the occurrence and transfer of microplastics throughout the water supply chain and the treatment efficiency of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Methods capable of analyzing microplastics <10 μm and nanoplastics are urgently needed. Potential ecological assessment models for microplastics currently in use need to be improved to take into account the complexity and specificity of microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhaoqing Wang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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6
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Adhikari M, Biswas C, Mazumdar P, Sarkar S, Pramanick K. Evaluating the potential of daily intake of polystyrene microplastics via drinking water in inducing PCOS and its ovarian fibrosis progression using female zebrafish. NANOIMPACT 2024; 34:100507. [PMID: 38663500 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2024.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene microplastics, extensively considered endocrine disrupting chemicals, disturb the reproductive system of living organisms. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the reproductive endocrinopathy, is longstanding concern due to its eternal impacts as reproductive disorder and infertility. Despite several reports in reproductive and endocrine toxicity, there is inadequate literature regarding the daily intake of polystyrene-microplastics via drinking water in causing PCOS and leading to ovarian fibrosis in long-term. The present study investigated whether daily consumption of polystyrene-microplastics at doses equivalent to human exposure can cause PCOS and progress to ovarian fibrosis, using female zebrafish as model. Resembling letrozole-PCOS zebrafish model, daily intake of polystyrene-microplastics displayed hallmark PCOS pathophysiology; like excess body weight and %Gonadosomatic index, decreased Follicle Stimulating Hormone and β-estradiol, increased Luteinising Hormone, brain and ovarian Testosterone (39.3% and 75% respectively). Correspondingly, ovarian histology revealed more developing (stage I and II) oocytes and less mature oocytes alongwith cystic lesions; like follicular membrane disorganization, zona pellucida invagination, theca hypertrophy, basophilic granular accumulation and oocyte buddings. Lipid deposition in intestinal and ovarian tissues was evidenced and increased fasting blood glucose manifesting insulin resistance. The expression of PCOS biomarkers (tox3, dennd1a, fem1a) was significantly disturbed. Polystyrene microplastics played vital role in inducing PCOS further enhancing oxidative stress, which positively influences inflammation and aggravate ovarian mitophagy, shedding light on its ability to harshen PCOS into ovarian fibrosis, which is characterized by collagen deposition and upregulation of pro-fibrogenic biomarker genes. These findings illustrate the potential of daily microplastics intake via drinking water in triggering PCOS and its progression to ovarian fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuchhanda Adhikari
- Integrative Biology Research Unit (IBRU), Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India
| | - Chayan Biswas
- Integrative Biology Research Unit (IBRU), Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India
| | - Piyali Mazumdar
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India
| | - Shampa Sarkar
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India
| | - Kousik Pramanick
- Integrative Biology Research Unit (IBRU), Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, India.
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Shi K, Zhang H, Yang Y, Huang Y, Gao J, Zhang J, Kan G, Jiang Y, Jiang J. Efficient Extraction and Analysis of Nanoplastics by Ionic Liquid-Assisted Cloud-Point Extraction Coupled with Electromagnetic Heating Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4514-4520. [PMID: 38447135 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics have attracted much attention due to their potential hazards. However, analysis of nanoplastics remains challenging. In this study, ionic liquid-assisted cloud-point extraction (IL-assisted CPE) was developed to enrich nanoplastics in the aqueous environment and further coupled with electromagnetic heating pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The use of trace ILs improves the extraction efficiency of CPE for nanoplastics. The effects of ILs (types, contents), nanoplastic properties (type, size), and environmental factors (aging time, humic acid content) were systematically investigated to evaluate the applicability. The limits of detection of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) were determined to be 1.78 and 2.67 μg/L, respectively. Real environmental samples including lake water, rainwater, and influent and effluent from wastewater treatment plant were analyzed with good accuracy (79.58-116.87%) and satisfactory precision (RSD ≤ 11.99%). A possible mechanism for ILs being absorbed into the ordered surfactant micellar and generating larger micelles to synergically enclose hydrophobic nanoplastics was proposed. This work provides a simple and efficient approach to the extraction and analysis of nanoplastics in aqueous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Shi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | | | - Yuelin Huang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Jikun Gao
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Jiaqian Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Yanxiao Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
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8
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Xiao S, Filippini A, Casadei M, Caracciolo G, Digiacomo L, Rossetta A. Fast and portable fluorescence lifetime analysis for early warning detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 244:117936. [PMID: 38109963 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117936] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The presence of plastic fragments in aquatic environments, particularly at the micro- and nano-scale, has become a significant global concern. However, current detection methods are limited in their ability to reveal the presence of such particles in liquid samples. In this study, we propose the use of a fluorescence lifetime analysis system for the detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water. This approach relies on the inherent endogenous fluorescence of plastic materials and involves the collection of single photons emitted by plastic fragments upon exposure to a pulsed laser beam. Briefly, a pulsed laser beam (repetition frequency = 40 MHz) shines onto a sample solution, and the emitted light is filtered, collected, and used to trace the time distributions of the photons with high temporal resolution. Finally, the fluorescence lifetime was measured using fitting procedures and a phasor analysis. Phasor analysis is a fit-free method that allows the measurement of the fluorescence lifetime of a sample without any assumptions or prior knowledge of the sample decay pattern. The developed instrument was tested using fluorescence references and validated using unlabelled micro- and nano-scale particles. Our system successfully detected polystyrene particles in water, achieving a remarkable sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.01 mg/mL, without the need for sample pre-treatment or visual inspection. Although further studies are necessary to enhance the detection limit of the technique and distinguish between different plastic materials, this proof-of-concept study suggests the potential of the fluorescence lifetime-based approach as a rapid, robust, and cost-effective method for early warning detection and identification of plastic contaminants in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyao Xiao
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Filippini
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Casadei
- FLIM LABS S.r.l., Via della Farnesina 3, 00135, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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9
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Peng M, Félix RC, Canário AVM, Power DM. The physiological effect of polystyrene nanoplastic particles on fish and human fibroblasts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169979. [PMID: 38215851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have identified the detrimental effects for the biosphere of large plastic debris, the effect of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) is less clear. The skin is the first point of contact with NPs, and skin fibroblasts have a vital role in maintaining skin structure and function. Here, a comparative approach is taken using three fibroblast cell lines from the zebrafish (SJD.1), human male newborn (BJ-5ta) and female adult (HDF/TERT164) and their response to polystyrene NP (PS-NPs) exposure is characterized. Cells were exposed to environmentally relevant PS-NP sizes (50, 500 and 1000 nm) and concentrations (0.001 to 10 μg/ml) and their uptake (1000 nm), and effect on cell viability, proliferation, migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AP) determined. All fibroblasts took up PS-NPs, and a relationship between PS-NP particle size and concentration and the inhibition of proliferation and cell migration was identified. The inhibitory effect of PS-NPs on proliferation was more pronounced for human skin fibroblasts. The presence of PS-NPs negatively affected fibroblast migration in a time-, size- and concentration-dependent manner with larger PS-NPs at higher concentrations causing a more significant inhibition of cell migration, with human fibroblasts being the most affected. No major changes were detected in ROS production or apoptosis in NP challenged fibroblasts. While the ALP activity was increased in all fibroblast cell lines, only fish fibroblasts showed a significant increase in AP activity. The heterogeneous response of fibroblasts induced by PS-NPs was clearly revealed by the segregation of HDF, BJ.5ta and SJD.1 fibroblasts in principal component analysis. Our results demonstrate that PS-NP exposure adversely affected cellular processes in a cell-type and dose-specific manner in distinct fibroblast cell lines, emphasizing the need for further exploration of NP interactions with different cell types to better understand potential implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoxiao Peng
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Rute C Félix
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Adelino V M Canário
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; International Institution of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Deborah M Power
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; International Institution of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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10
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Hashemihedeshi M, Haywood E, Gatch DC, Jantunen L, Helm PA, Diamond ML, Dorman FL, Cahill LS, Jobst KJ. Size-Resolved Identification and Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics in Indoor Air Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:275-284. [PMID: 38239096 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to differing levels of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) through inhalation, but few studies have attempted to measure <1 μm MNPs in air, in part due to a paucity of analytical methods. We developed an approach to identify and quantify MNPs in indoor air using a novel pyrolysis gas chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometer (pyr-GCxcIMS). Four common plastic types were targeted for identification, namely, (polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The method was applied to size-resolved particulate (56 nm to 18 μm) collected from two different indoor environments using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDI) model 110 cascade impactor. Comprehensive two-dimensional separation by GCxcIMS also enabled the retrospective analysis of other polymers and plastic additives. The mean concentrations of MNP particles with diameters of <10 μm and <2.5 μm in the laboratory were estimated to be 47 ± 5 and 27 ± 4 μg/m3, respectively. In the private residence, the estimated concentrations were 24 ± 3 and 16 ± 2 μg/m3. PS was the most abundant MNP type in both locations. Nontargeted screening revealed the presence of plastic additives, such as TDCPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate) whose abundance correlated with that of polyurethane (PU). This is consistent with their use as flame retardants in PU-based upholstered furniture and building insulation. This study provides evidence of indoor exposure to MNPs and underlines the need for further study of this route of exposure to MNPs and the plastic additives carried with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahin Hashemihedeshi
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Avenue, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Ethan Haywood
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Avenue, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Daniel C Gatch
- Gerstel, 701 Digital Drive, Linthicum Heights, Maryland 21090, United States
| | - Liisa Jantunen
- Environment & Climate Change Canada, 6248 8th Line, Egbert, ON L0L 1N0, Canada
| | - Paul A Helm
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Etobicoke, ON M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences and School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hannover, New Hampshire 03755, United States
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Avenue, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Avenue, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
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11
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Li Y, Zhang C, Tian Z, Cai X, Guan B. Identification and quantification of nanoplastics (20-1000 nm) in a drinking water treatment plant using AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132933. [PMID: 37951177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132933] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics, owing to their small particle size, pose a significant threat to creatures, deserving heightened attention. Numerous studies have investigated microplastics pollution and their removal efficiency in drinking water treatment plants, none of which have involved nanoplastics due to lacking a suitable analytical method. This study introduced a feasible method of combing AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS to identify and quantify nanoplastics (20-1000 nm) for a preliminary understanding of their fate during drinking water treatment processes. Resolving of chemical functional groups and pyrolysis products from AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS data demonstrated the presence of PE and PVC nanoplastics in this drinking water treatment plant. The initial influent abundances of PE and PVC nanoplastics were 0.86 μg/L and 137.31 μg/L, with subsequent increase to 4.49 μg/L and 208.64 μg/L in ozonation contact tank unit. Then a gradual decreasing was observed along water process, achieving 98.4% removal of PE nanoplastics and 44.0% removal of PVC nanoplastics, respectively. Although this drinking water treatment plant has exhibited a certain level of nanoplastics removal efficiency, particular attention should be directed to the oxidation unit, which appears to be a significant source of nanoplastics. This study will lay a foundation for revealing nanoplastics pollution in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Chuanming Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Tian
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xueyi Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Baohong Guan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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12
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Qian N, Gao X, Lang X, Deng H, Bratu TM, Chen Q, Stapleton P, Yan B, Min W. Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2300582121. [PMID: 38190543 PMCID: PMC10801917 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300582121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastics are now omnipresent in our daily lives. The existence of microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm in length) and possibly even nanoplastics (<1 μm) has recently raised health concerns. In particular, nanoplastics are believed to be more toxic since their smaller size renders them much more amenable, compared to microplastics, to enter the human body. However, detecting nanoplastics imposes tremendous analytical challenges on both the nano-level sensitivity and the plastic-identifying specificity, leading to a knowledge gap in this mysterious nanoworld surrounding us. To address these challenges, we developed a hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) imaging platform with an automated plastic identification algorithm that allows micro-nano plastic analysis at the single-particle level with high chemical specificity and throughput. We first validated the sensitivity enhancement of the narrow band of SRS to enable high-speed single nanoplastic detection below 100 nm. We then devised a data-driven spectral matching algorithm to address spectral identification challenges imposed by sensitive narrow-band hyperspectral imaging and achieve robust determination of common plastic polymers. With the established technique, we studied the micro-nano plastics from bottled water as a model system. We successfully detected and identified nanoplastics from major plastic types. Micro-nano plastics concentrations were estimated to be about 2.4 ± 1.3 × 105 particles per liter of bottled water, about 90% of which are nanoplastics. This is orders of magnitude more than the microplastic abundance reported previously in bottled water. High-throughput single-particle counting revealed extraordinary particle heterogeneity and nonorthogonality between plastic composition and morphologies; the resulting multidimensional profiling sheds light on the science of nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naixin Qian
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Xin Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Xiaoqi Lang
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Huiping Deng
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY10964
| | | | - Qixuan Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
| | - Phoebe Stapleton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ08854
| | - Beizhan Yan
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY10964
| | - Wei Min
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
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13
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Zambrano-Pinto MV, Tinizaray-Castillo R, Riera MA, Maddela NR, Luque R, Díaz JMR. Microplastics as vectors of other contaminants: Analytical determination techniques and remediation methods. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168244. [PMID: 37923271 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous and persistent presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has raised global concerns due to their detrimental effects on human health and the natural environment. These minuscule plastic fragments not only threaten biodiversity but also serve as vectors for contaminants, absorbing organic and inorganic pollutants, thereby causing a range of health and environmental issues. This review provides an overview of microplastics and their effects. This work highlights available analytical techniques for detecting and characterizing microplastics in different environmental matrices, assessing their advantages and limitations. Additionally, this review explores innovative remediation approaches, such as microbial degradation and other advanced methods, offering promising prospects for combatting microplastic accumulation in contaminated environments. The focus on environmentally-friendly technologies, such as the use of microorganisms and enzymes for microplastic degradation, underscores the importance of sustainable solutions in plastic pollution management. In conclusion, this article not only deepens our understanding of the microplastic issue and its impact but also advocates for the urgent need to develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate this critical environmental challenge. In this context, the crucial role of advanced technologies, like quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (qNMR), as promising tools for rapid and efficient microplastic detection, is emphasized. Furthermore, the potential of the enzyme PETase (polyethylene terephthalate esterase) in microplastic degradation is examined, aiming to address the growing plastic pollution, particularly in saline environments like oceanic ecosystems. These innovations offer hope for effectively addressing microplastic accumulation in contaminated environments and minimizing its adverse impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Veronica Zambrano-Pinto
- Departamento de Procesos Químicos, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo 130104, Ecuador.
| | - Rolando Tinizaray-Castillo
- Departamento de Construcciones Civiles, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador.
| | - María A Riera
- Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo 130104, Ecuador.
| | - Naga Raju Maddela
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo 130105, Ecuador.
| | - Rafael Luque
- Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho Maklaya str., 117198 Moscow, Russian Federation; Universidad ECOTEC, Km. 13.5 Samborondón, Samborondón EC092302, Ecuador.
| | - Joan Manuel Rodríguez Díaz
- Departamento de Procesos Químicos, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo 130104, Ecuador.
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14
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Zhao Z, Zhao X, Shan J, Wang X. Concentration analysis of metal-labeled nanoplastics in different water samples using electrochemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168013. [PMID: 37871815 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite the threats posed by nanoplastics to the environment and human health, little was known about the occurrence, formation, migration, and environmental impacts of nanoplastics due to the lack of quantitative and sensitive detection techniques. In this work, an electrochemical strategy for the detection of nanoplastics based on Ag labeling was proposed. Positively charged silver ions were attached to negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs), and then the silver ions on the surface of PSNPs were reduced to Ag by sodium borohydride. Subsequently, the concentration of PSNPs was determined by identifying the signal of Ag by differential pulse voltammetry. The method showed different sensitivity for PSNPs of different sizes (100, 367, 500 nm). For tap water samples, the reason for the change in Ag electrochemical signal was discussed. The sensitivity of the method to PSNPs in tap water was investigated. The feasibility of the method for environmental water samples was verified using spiked lake water and spiked seawater, and satisfactory recoveries (93-112 %) were obtained for PSNPs of different sizes and concentrations. This study provided a sensitive, low-cost, and simple method without complex instrumentation, which was important for the determination of PSNPs in environmental water samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Zhao
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Jiajia Shan
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Xue Wang
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China.
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15
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Li P, Li Q, Lai Y, Yang S, Yu S, Liu R, Jiang G, Liu J. Direct entry of micro(nano)plastics into human blood circulatory system by intravenous infusion. iScience 2023; 26:108454. [PMID: 38077139 PMCID: PMC10709129 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the pathways of human exposure to micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) is crucial for assessing their health impacts. Intravenous infusion can induce MNPs direct entry into the human blood, posing serious risks on human health, but remains unclear. Herein, we developed comprehensive analytical methods to detect polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MNPs down to 20 nm, and found about 0.52 μg equal to 105-1011 particles of PVC-MNPs released from intravenous infusion products (IVIPs) during each intravenous infusion of 250 mL injection. The released amounts of MNPs from IVIPs were dependent on the plastic materials, and the injection volume and composition. These findings indicated that the released MNPs should be directly introduced into the human blood circulatory system, causing serious impacts on human health. Our study reveals a previously ignored but important pathway of human exposure to MNPs, and calls for further research on the potential risks of these MNPs on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Li
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Shuping Yang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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16
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Xing Y, Li J, Yang J, Li J, Pang W, Martin FL, Xu L. Application of spectrochemical analysis with chemometrics to profile biochemical alterations in nanoplastic-exposed HepG 2 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122309. [PMID: 37543068 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Humans are routinely exposed to nanoplastics (NPs) in various ways, and this exposure presents a significant health risk. Nevertheless, there remain gaps in our knowledge, particularly in the mechanisms of toxicity of NPs with different surface charges at very low environmental concentrations. Herein, a spectrochemical approach was used to profile the cytotoxicity of NPs with different surface charges in HepG2 cells. It was found that all three NPs can cause some biomolecular alterations in cells, affecting cellular lipids, proteins, amino acids, and genetic material. Of these, PS and PS-COOH led to a non-linear dose-response, which may be related to a biphasic dose-response, whereas PS-NH2 led to a linear dose-response with a gradual increase in toxicity with increasing exposure concentration. In addition, the spectroscopic results showed that surface modifications led to cellular biochemical changes and caused adverse biological effects, with PS-NH2 exhibiting higher toxicity compared to PS or PS-COOH along with an inhibition of cell proliferation. Surprisingly PS-COOH, although considered the least toxic NP, appears to cause DNA damage. Overall, the toxic effects of different surface-modified NPs in cells were detected for the first time by applying spectrochemical techniques, and these findings provide important data towards understanding the emerging widespread environmental pollution of NPs and their effects on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xing
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jingjing Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Junyi Li
- National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou, 215128, China
| | - Weiyi Pang
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China
| | - Francis L Martin
- Biocel Ltd, Hull, HU10 7TS, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, UK
| | - Li Xu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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17
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Leso V, Battistini B, Vetrani I, Reppuccia L, Fedele M, Ruggieri F, Bocca B, Iavicoli I. The endocrine disrupting effects of nanoplastic exposure: A systematic review. Toxicol Ind Health 2023; 39:613-629. [PMID: 37753827 DOI: 10.1177/07482337231203053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Good mechanical properties and low costs have led to a global expansion of plastic production and use. Unfortunately, much of this material can be released into the environment as a waste product and cleaved into micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) whose impact on the environment and human health is still largely unknown. Considering the growing worldwide awareness on exposure to chemicals that can act as endocrine disruptors, a systematic review was performed to assess the impact of NPs on the endocrine function of in vitro and in vivo models. Although a limited number of investigations is currently available, retrieved findings showed that NPs may induce changes in endocrine system functionality, with evident alterations in reproductive and thyroid hormones and gene expression patterns, also with a trans-generational impact. Nanoplastic size, concentration, and the co-exposure to other endocrine disrupting pollutants may have an influencing role on these effects. Overall, although it is still too early to draw conclusions regarding the human health risks derived from NPs, these preliminary results support the need for further studies employing a wider range of plastic polymer types, concentrations, and time points as well as species and life stages to address a great variety of endocrine outcomes and to achieve a broader and shared consensus on the role of NPs as endocrine disruptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veruscka Leso
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Battistini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vetrani
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Liberata Reppuccia
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mauro Fedele
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Ruggieri
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Bocca
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivo Iavicoli
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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18
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Zhou G, Wu Q, Wei XF, Chen C, Ma J, Crittenden JC, Liu B. Tracing microplastics in rural drinking water in Chongqing, China: Their presence and pathways from source to tap. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132206. [PMID: 37543018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132206] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the significant attention given to microplastics in urban areas, our understanding of microplastics in rural drinking water systems is still limited. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the presence and pathways of microplastics in rural drinking water system, including reservoir, water treatment plant (WTP), and tap water of end-users. The results showed that the treatment processes in the WTP, including coagulation-sedimentation, sand-granular active carbon filtration, and ultrafiltration, completely removed microplastics from the influent. However, the microplastic abundance increased during pipe transport from WTP to residents' homes, resulting in the presence of 1.4 particles/L of microplastics in tap water. This microplastic increase was also observed during the transportation from the reservoir to the WTP, suggesting that the plastic pipe network is a key source of microplastics in the drinking water system. The main types of polymers were PET, PP, and PE, and plastic breakdown, atmospheric deposition, and surface runoff were considered as their potential sources. Furthermore, this study estimated that rural residents could ingest up to 1034 microplastics annually by drinking 2 L of tap water every day. Overall, these findings provide essential data and preliminary insights into the fate of microplastics in rural drinking water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Zhou
- College of Architecture and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China; Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology, Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, Sichuan 644000, PR China
| | - Qidong Wu
- College of Architecture and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China; Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology, Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, Sichuan 644000, PR China
| | - Xin-Feng Wei
- Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chen Chen
- Litree Purifying Technology Co., Ltd, Haikou, Hainan 571126, PR China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - John C Crittenden
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 332, USA
| | - Baicang Liu
- College of Architecture and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China; Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology, Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, Sichuan 644000, PR China.
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19
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Stine JS, Aziere N, Harper BJ, Harper SL. A Novel Approach for Identifying Nanoplastics by Assessing Deformation Behavior with Scanning Electron Microscopy. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1903. [PMID: 37893340 PMCID: PMC10609349 DOI: 10.3390/mi14101903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
As plastic production continues to increase globally, plastic waste accumulates and degrades into smaller plastic particles. Through chemical and biological processes, nanoscale plastic particles (nanoplastics) are formed and are expected to exist in quantities of several orders of magnitude greater than those found for microplastics. Due to their small size and low mass, nanoplastics remain challenging to detect in the environment using most standard analytical methods. The goal of this research is to adapt existing tools to address the analytical challenges posed by the identification of nanoplastics. Given the unique and well-documented properties of anthropogenic plastics, we hypothesized that nanoplastics could be differentiated by polymer type using spatiotemporal deformation data collected through irradiation with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We selected polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to capture a range of thermodynamic properties and molecular structures encompassed by commercially available plastics. Pristine samples of each polymer type were chosen and individually milled to generate micro and nanoscale particles for SEM analysis. To test the hypothesis that polymers could be differentiated from other constituents in complex samples, the polymers were compared against proxy materials common in environmental media, i.e., algae, kaolinite clay, and nanocellulose. Samples for SEM analysis were prepared uncoated to enable observation of polymer deformation under set electron beam parameters. For each sample type, particles approximately 1 µm in diameter were chosen, and videos of particle deformation were recorded and studied. Blinded samples were also prepared with mixtures of the aforementioned materials to test the viability of this method for identifying near-nanoscale plastic particles in environmental media. Based on the evidence collected, deformation patterns between plastic particles and particles present in common environmental media show significant differences. A computer vision algorithm was also developed and tested against manual measurements to improve the usefulness and efficiency of this method further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared S. Stine
- School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Nicolas Aziere
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Bryan J. Harper
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Stacey L. Harper
- School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
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20
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Li D, Tian X, Yang W, Wang X, Liu Y, Shan J. Hydrophobicity-driven self-assembly of nanoplastics and silver nanoparticles for the detection of polystyrene microspheres using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139775. [PMID: 37567275 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) accumulated in the environment have been identified as a major global issue due to their potential harm to wildlife. Current research in the detection of MPs is well established. However, the detection of NPs remains challenging. The aim of this paper is to investigate the detection of polystyrene (PS) NPs on a super-hydrophobic substrate using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology after high-speed centrifugation of PS NPs and AgNPs. The hydrophobic substrate reduces the contact area of droplet, concentrating PS NPs and AgNPs on a small spot, which eliminates the random distribution of nano particles. The condensed PS NPs and AgNPs improve the SERS intensity, reproductivity and detection sensitivity. The results show that SERS measurement on a hydrophobic substrate could significantly improve the detection sensitivity of PS NPs, with the detection limits of PS NPs as low as 0.5 mg/L (500 nm PS NPs) and 1 mg/L (100 nm PS NPs). The study provides an effective and rapid method for the detection of NPs at trace concentration, demonstrating more possibility for the future detection of trace NPs in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tian
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Weiqing Yang
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China
| | - Xue Wang
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China
| | - Jiajia Shan
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China.
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21
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Maurizi L, Iordachescu L, Kirstein I, Nielsen A, Vollertsen J. It matters how we measure - Quantification of microplastics in drinking water by μFTIR and μRaman. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20119. [PMID: 37809658 PMCID: PMC10559862 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20119] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The water treatment for microplastics (MP) at a Danish groundwater-based waterworks was assessed by Fourier-Transform IR micro-spectroscopy (μFTIR) (nominal size limit 6.6 μm) and compared to results from Raman micro-spectroscopy (μRaman) (nominal size limit 1.0 μm) on the same sample set. The MP abundance at the waterworks' inlet and outlet was quantified as MP counts per cubic metre (N/m3) and estimated MP mass per cubic metre (μg/m3). The waterworks' MP removal efficiency was found to be higher when analysing by μFTIR (counts: 78.14 ± 49.70%, mass: 98.73 ± 11.10%) and less fluctuating than when using μRaman (counts: 43.2%, mass: 75.1%). However, both techniques pointed to a value of ∼80% for the counts' removal efficiency of MPs >6.6 μm. Contrarily to what was shown by μRaman, no systematic leaking of MPs from the plastic elements of the facility could be identified for the μFTIR dataset, either from the counts (inlet 31.86 ± 17.17 N/m3, outlet 4.98 ± 2.09 N/m3) or mass estimate (inlet 76.30 ± 106.30 μg/m3, outlet 2.81 ± 2.78 μg/m3). The estimation of human MP intake from drinking water calculated from the μFTIR data (5 N/(year·capita)) proved to be approximately 332 times lower than that calculated from the μRaman dataset, although in line with previous studies employing μFTIR. By merging the MP length datasets from the two techniques, it could be shown that false negatives became prevalent in the μFTIR dataset already below 50 μm. Further, by fitting the overall frequency of the MP length ranges with a power function, it could be shown that μFTIR missed approximately 95.7% of the extrapolated MP population (1-1865.9 μm). Consequently, relying on only μFTIR may have led to underestimating the MP content of the investigated drinking water, as most of the 1-50 μm MP would have been missed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Maurizi
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - L. Iordachescu
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - I.V. Kirstein
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - A.H. Nielsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - J. Vollertsen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
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22
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Kadac-Czapska K, Trzebiatowska PJ, Knez E, Zaleska-Medynska A, Grembecka M. Microplastics in food - a critical approach to definition, sample preparation, and characterisation. Food Chem 2023; 418:135985. [PMID: 36989641 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) is a more and more frequently brought up topic. The fact that such particles are present in food raises particular concern. Information regarding the described contamination is incoherent and difficult to interpret. Problems appear already at the level of the definition of MPs. This paper will discuss ways of explaining the concept of MPs and methods used for its analysis. Isolation of characterised particles is usually performed using filtration, etching and/or density separation. Spectroscopic techniques are commonly applied for analysis, whereas visual evaluation of the particles is possible thanks to microscopic analysis. Basic information about the sample can be obtained by the combination of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy and microscopy or using the thermal method combined with spectroscopy or chromatography. The unification of the research methodology will allow a credible assessment of the influence of this pollution coming from food on health.
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23
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Li Y, Li Y, Li J, Song Z, Zhang C, Guan B. Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human embryonic kidney cells and human normal liver cells: Effect of particle size and Pb 2+ enrichment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 328:138545. [PMID: 37011817 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics pollution in drinking water has aroused wide concern, but their effects on human health are still poorly understood. Herein we explore the responses of human embryonic kidney 293T cells and human normal liver LO2 cells to polystyrene nanoplastics, mainly focusing on the effects of particle sizes and enrichment of Pb2+. When the exposed particle size is higher than 100 nm, there is no obvious death for these two different cell lines. As the particle size decreases from 100 nm, cell mortality goes up. Although the internalization of polystyrene nanoplastics in LO2 cells is at least 5 times higher than that in 293T cells, the mortality of LO2 cells is lower than that of 293T cells, illustrating that LO2 cells are more resistant to polystyrene nanoplastics than 293T cells. Additionally, the Pb2+ enrichment on polystyrene nanoplastics in water can further enhance their toxicity, which should be taken seriously. The cytotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to cell lines works through a molecular mechanism involving oxidative stress-induced damage of mitochondria and cell membranes, resulting in a decrease in ATP production and an increase in membrane permeability. Referenced to nanoplastics pollution in drinking water, there is no necessary to panic about the adverse effects of plastic itself on human health, but the enrichment of contaminants should get more attention. This work provides a reference for the risk assessment of nanoplastics in drinking water to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China.
| | - Yaning Li
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China
| | - Zirong Song
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China
| | - Chuanming Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China
| | - Baohong Guan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China.
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24
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Râpă M, Darie-Niță RN, Matei E, Predescu AM, Berbecaru AC, Predescu C. Insights into Anthropogenic Micro- and Nanoplastic Accumulation in Drinking Water Sources and Their Potential Effects on Human Health. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15112425. [PMID: 37299225 DOI: 10.3390/polym15112425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous pollutants found in aquatic, food, soil and air environments. Recently, drinking water for human consumption has been considered a significant pathway for ingestion of such plastic pollutants. Most of the analytical methods developed for detection and identification of MPs have been established for particles with sizes > 10 μm, but new analytical approaches are required to identify NPs below 1 μm. This review aims to evaluate the most recent information on the release of MPs and NPs in water sources intended for human consumption, specifically tap water and commercial bottled water. The potential effects on human health of dermal exposure, inhalation, and ingestion of these particles were examined. Emerging technologies used to remove MPs and/or NPs from drinking water sources and their advantages and limitations were also assessed. The main findings showed that the MPs with sizes > 10 μm were completely removed from drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The smallest NP identified using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS) had a diameter of 58 nm. Contamination with MPs/NPs can occur during the distribution of tap water to consumers, as well as when opening and closing screw caps of bottled water or when using recycled plastic or glass bottles for drinking water. In conclusion, this comprehensive study emphasizes the importance of a unified approach to detect MPs and NPs in drinking water, as well as raising the awareness of regulators, policymakers and the public about the impact of these pollutants, which pose a human health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Râpă
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Niță
- Physical Chemistry of Polymers Department, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ecaterina Matei
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andra-Mihaela Predescu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei-Constantin Berbecaru
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Predescu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
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25
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Gálvez-Blanca V, Edo C, González-Pleiter M, Albentosa M, Bayo J, Beiras R, Fernández-Piñas F, Gago J, Gómez M, Gonzalez-Cascon R, Hernández-Borges J, Landaburu-Aguirre J, Martínez I, Muniategui-Lorenzo S, Romera-Castillo C, Rosal R. Occurrence and size distribution study of microplastics in household water from different cities in continental Spain and the Canary Islands. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 238:120044. [PMID: 37156103 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in drinking water in Spain by comparing tap water from different locations using common sampling and identification procedures. We sampled tap water from 24 points in 8 different locations from continental Spain and the Canary Islands by means of 25 μm opening size steel filters coupled to household connections. All particles were measured and spectroscopically characterized including not only MPs but also particles consisting of natural materials with evidence of industrial processing, such as dyed natural fibres, referred insofar as artificial particles (APs). The average concentration of MPs was 12.5 ± 4.9 MPs/m3 and that of anthropogenic particles 32.2 ± 12.5 APs/m3. The main synthetic polymers detected were polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene, with lower counts of other polymers including the biopolymer poly(lactic acid). Particle size and mass distributions were parameterized by means of power law distributions, which allowed performing estimations of the concentration of smaller particles provided the same scaling parameter of the power law applies. The calculated total mass concentration of the identified MPs was 45.5 ng/L. The observed size distribution of MPs allowed an estimation for the concentration of nanoplastics (< 1 µm) well below the ng/L range; higher concentrations are not consistent with scale invariant fractal fragmentation. Our findings showed that MPs in the drinking water sampled in this work do not represent a significant way of exposure to MPs and would probably pose a negligible risk for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Gálvez-Blanca
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Edo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Pleiter
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Albentosa
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Calle Varadero, 1, 30740, San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Javier Bayo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 44, E-30203, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Ricardo Beiras
- entro de Investigación Mariña da Universidade de Vigo (CIM-UVigo), Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Francisca Fernández-Piñas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Gago
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain
| | - May Gómez
- Grupo de Ecofisiología de Organismos Marinos (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Rosario Gonzalez-Cascon
- Department of Environment, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Hernández-Borges
- Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL). Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n. 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n. 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Ico Martínez
- Grupo de Ecofisiología de Organismos Marinos (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo
- University of A Coruña. Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Department of Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences. A Coruña 15071, Spain
| | - Cristina Romera-Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar-CSIC, Paseo Maritimo de la Barceloneta, 37, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Rosal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
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26
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Annenkov VV, Pal'shin VA, Annenkova NV, Zelinskiy SN, Danilovtseva EN. Uptake and Effects of Nanoplastics on the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1124-1133. [PMID: 36920033 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plastic nanoparticles (NPs) are the final state of plastic degradation in the environment before they disintegrate into low-molecular-weight organic compounds. Unicellular organisms are highly sensitive to the toxic effects of nanoplastics, because they are often capable of phagotrophy but are unable to consume a foreign material such as synthetic plastic. We studied the effect of polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl acrylate), and poly(methyl methacrylate) NPs on the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium Sundström, Kremp et Daugbjerg. Fluorescent tagged particles were used to visualize plastic capture by dinoflagellate cells. We found that these dinoflagellates are capable of phagotrophic nutrition and thus should be regarded as mixotrophic species. This causes their susceptibility to the toxic effects of plastic NPs. Living cells ingest plastic NPs and accumulate in the cytoplasm as micrometer-level aggregates, probably in food vacuoles. The action of nanoplastics leads to a dose-dependent increase in the level of reactive oxygen species in dinoflagellate cells, indicating plastic degradation in the cells. The introduction of a methyl group into the main chain in the α-position in the case of poly(methyl methacrylate) causes a drastic reduction in toxicity. We expect that such NPs can be a tool for testing unicellular organisms in terms of heterotrophic feeding ability. We suggest a dual role of dinoflagellates in the ecological fate of plastic waste: the involvement of nanoplastics in the food chain and its biochemical destruction. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1124-1133. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim V Annenkov
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Viktor A Pal'shin
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Nataliia V Annenkova
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Stanislav N Zelinskiy
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Elena N Danilovtseva
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
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27
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Zhou K, Maugard V, Zhang W, Zhou J, Zhang X. Effects of Gas Type, Oil, Salts and Detergent on Formation and Stability of Air and Carbon Dioxide Bubbles Produced by Using a Nanobubble Generator. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13091496. [PMID: 37177046 PMCID: PMC10180106 DOI: 10.3390/nano13091496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in ultrafine bubble generation have opened up new possibilities for applications in various fields. Herein, we investigated how substances in water affect the size distribution and stability of microbubbles generated by a common nanobubble generator. By combining light scattering techniques with optical microscopy and high-speed imaging, we were able to track the evolution of microbubbles over time during and after bubble generation. Our results showed that air injection generated a higher number of microbubbles (<10 μm) than CO2 injection. Increasing detergent concentration led to a rapid increase in the number of microbubbles generated by both air and CO2 injection and the intensity signal detected by dynamic light scattering (DLS) slightly increased. This suggested that surface-active molecules may inhibit the growth and coalescence of bubbles. In contrast, we found that salts (NaCl and Na2CO3) in water did not significantly affect the number or size distribution of bubbles. Interestingly, the presence of oil in water increased the intensity signal and we observed that the bubbles were coated with an oil layer. This may contribute to the stability of bubbles. Overall, our study sheds light on the effects of common impurities on bubble generation and provides insights for analyzing dispersed bubbles in bulk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Vincent Maugard
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Wenming Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Joe Zhou
- Disruptive Separation Technology Ltd. (DSTL), Edmonton, AB T6X 1M5, Canada
| | - Xuehua Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
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28
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Wang Q, Tian C, Shi B, Wang D, Feng C. Efficiency and mechanism of micro- and nano-plastic removal with polymeric Al-Fe bimetallic coagulants: Role of Fe addition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130978. [PMID: 36860083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and even nanoplastics (NPs) in tap water has raised considerable attention. As a pre-treatment and also the most important process in drinking water treatment plants, coagulation has been widely studied to remove MPs, but few studies focused on the removal pattern and mechanism of NPs, especially no study paid attention to the coagulation enhanced by prehydrolysed Al-Fe bimetallic coagulants. Therefore, in this study, polymeric species and coagulation behaviour of MPs and NPs influenced by Fe fraction in polymeric Al-Fe coagulants were investigated. Special attention was given to the residual Al and the floc formation mechanism. The results showed that asynchronous hydrolysis of Al and Fe sharply decreases the polymeric species in coagulants and that the increase of Fe proportion changes the sulfate sedimentation morphology from dendritic to layered structures. Fe weakened the electrostatic neutralization effect and inhibited the removal of NPs but enhanced that of MPs. Compared with monomeric coagulants, the residual Al decreased by 17.4 % and 53.2 % in the MP and NP systems (p < 0.01), respectively. With no new bonds detected in flocs, the interaction between micro/nanoplastics and Al/Fe was merely electrostatic adsorption. According to the mechanism analysis, sweep flocculation and electrostatic neutralization were the dominant removal pathways of MPs and NPs, respectively. This work provides a better coagulant option for removing micro/nanoplastics and minimizing Al residue, which has promising potential for application in water purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Chenhao Tian
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Chenghong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
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29
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Barreto A, Santos J, Calisto V, Rocha LS, Amorim MJB, Maria VL. Cocktail effects of emerging contaminants on zebrafish: Nanoplastics and the pharmaceutical diphenhydramine. NANOIMPACT 2023; 30:100456. [PMID: 36841353 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2023.100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPLs) became ubiquitous in the environment, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. One of the main concerns about the NPLs risks is their role as carrier of other environmental contaminants, potentially increasing their uptake, bioaccumulation and toxicity to the organisms. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to understand how the presence of polystyrene NPLs (∅ 44 nm) will influence the toxicity (synergism, additivity or antagonism) of the antihistamine diphenhydramine (DPH), towards zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, when in dual mixtures. After 96 hours (h) exposure, at the organismal level, NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (10 mg/L) induced embryo mortality (90%) and malformations (100%) and decreased hatching (80%) and heartbeat rates (60%). After 120 h exposure, NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (0.01 mg/L) decreased larvae swimming distance (30-40%). At the biochemical level, increased glutathione S-transferases (55-122%) and cholinesterase (182-343%) activities were found after 96 h exposure to NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (0.01 mg/L). However, catalase (CAT) activity remained similar to the control group in the mixtures, inhibiting the effects detected after the exposure to 1.5 mg/L NPLs alone (increased 230% of CAT activity). In general, the effects of dual combination - NPLs + DPH (even at concentrations as low as 10 μg/L of DPH) - were more harmful than the correspondent individual exposures, showing the synergistic interactions of the dual mixture and answering to the main question of this work. The obtained results, namely the altered toxicity patterns of NPLs + DPH compared with the individual exposures, show the importance of an environmental risk assessment considering NPLs as a co-contaminant due to the potential NPLs role as vector for other contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vânia Calisto
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luciana S Rocha
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mónica J B Amorim
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vera L Maria
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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30
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Li Y, Zhang C, Shen C, Jiang G, Guan B. Enhanced ozonation of polystyrene nanoplastics in water with CeOx@MnOx catalyst. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 220:115220. [PMID: 36608764 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The nanoplastics released into the environment pose a critical threat to creatures, and thus it is necessary to remove them. However, their natural decomposition usually takes years or even decades, which raises an imminent demand for an efficient removal technology. Herein we report a core-shell CeOx@MnOx catalyst for enhancing ozonation of polystyrene nanoplastics in water. Ozonation achieves 31.67% molecular weight removal of polystyrene nanoplastics in the first 10 min reaction, which is increased to 51.67% in catalytic ozonation by MnOx and further improved to 73.33% in catalytic ozonation via CeOx@MnOx. The remarkable thing is the CeOx@MnOx could achieve almost 96.70% molecular weight removal after 50 min reaction. The specific catalytic mechanism is ozone decomposes into reactive oxygen radicals (•OH, •O2- and 1O2) after capturing electrons from MnOx, improving the polystyrene nanoplastics removal. Meanwhile, the Mn averaged valence state increases, making it harder to donate electrons to ozone. This can be alleviated by encapsulating the CeOx core in the MnOx, enabling electrons replenishment from the CeOx core to the MnOx shell, which is verified by the experiment and density functional theory calculations. The repeated experiment demonstrates the CeOx@MnOx possesses excellent stability, maintaining 95.25-96.70% removal efficiency of polystyrene nanoplastics. This research provides a possibility for the efficient removal of nanoplastics in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Chuanming Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Chunyang Shen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Guangming Jiang
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, PR China
| | - Baohong Guan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
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31
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AbdelHamid A, Elgamouz A, Khanfer M, Kawde AN. COVID-19 Chloroquine Drug Detection Using Novel, Highly Sensitive SnO2-Based Electrochemical Sensor. ARAB J CHEM 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
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Mandemaker LDB, Meirer F. Spectro-Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202210494. [PMID: 36278811 PMCID: PMC10100025 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202210494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs), small (<1 μm) polymer particles formed from bulk plastics, are a potential threat to human health and the environment. Orders of magnitude smaller than microplastics (MPs), they might behave differently due to their larger surface area and small size, which allows them to diffuse through organic barriers. However, detecting NPs in the environment and organic matrices has proven to be difficult, as their chemical nature is similar to these matrices. Furthermore, as their size is smaller than the (spatial) detection limit of common analytical tools, they are hard to find and quantify. We highlight different micro-spectroscopic techniques utilized for NP detection and argue that an analysis procedure should involve both particle imaging and correlative or direct chemical characterization of the same particles or samples. Finally, we highlight methods that can do both simultaneously, but with the downside that large particle numbers and statistics cannot be obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurens D. B. Mandemaker
- Inorganic Chemistry and CatalysisDebye Institute for Nanomaterial ScienceUniversiteitsweg 993584 CGUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Florian Meirer
- Inorganic Chemistry and CatalysisDebye Institute for Nanomaterial ScienceUniversiteitsweg 993584 CGUtrechtThe Netherlands
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Keerthana Devi M, Karmegam N, Manikandan S, Subbaiya R, Song H, Kwon EE, Sarkar B, Bolan N, Kim W, Rinklebe J, Govarthanan M. Removal of nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157168. [PMID: 35817120 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are drawing a significant attention as a result of their propensity to spread across the environment and pose a threat to all organisms. The presence of nanoplastics in water is given attention nowadays as the transit of nanoplastics occurs through the aquatic ecosphere besides terrestrial mobility. The principal removal procedures for macro-and micro-plastic particles are effective, but nanoparticles escape from the treatment, increasing in the water and significantly influencing the society. This critical review is aimed to bestow the removal technologies of nanoplastics from aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on the treatment of freshwater, drinking water, and wastewater, as well as the importance of transit and its impact on health concerns. Still, there exists a gap in providing a collective knowledge on the methods available for nanoplastics removal. Hence, this review offered various nanoplastic removal technologies (microorganism-based degradation, membrane separation with a reactor, and photocatalysis) that could be the practical/effective measures along with the traditional procedures (filtration, coagulation, centrifugation, flocculation, and gravity settling). From the analyses of different treatment systems, the effectiveness of nanoplastics removal depends on various factors, source, size, and type of nanoplastics apart from the treatment method adopted. Combined removal methods, filtration with coagulation offer great scope for the removal of nanoplastics from drinking water with >99 % efficiency. The collected data could serve as base-line information for future research and development in water nanoplastics cleanup.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Keerthana Devi
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - N Karmegam
- Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem 636 007, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - S Manikandan
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Subbaiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Jambo Drive, P O Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Hocheol Song
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-Dong, Guangjin-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eilhann E Kwon
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Binoy Sarkar
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
| | - Woong Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water and Waste Management, Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India; Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-Dong, Guangjin-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - M Govarthanan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 600 077, India.
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Shi Z, Rao L, Wang P, Zhang L. The photocatalytic activity and purification performance of g-C 3N 4/carbon nanotubes composite photocatalyst in underwater environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:83981-83992. [PMID: 35776310 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21535-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising photocatalyst for its high catalytic activity, low-cost and high-biosafety characteristics. Due to the complexity of underwater photochemical reaction conditions and the disadvantages of g-C3N4 itself such as low specific surface area, easy recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and insufficient light absorption capacity, the application of g-C3N4 in the field of water purification is limited. For improving underwater photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4, a g-C3N4/carbon nanotubes (CNT-CN) composite photocatalyst with high specific surface area and enhanced light absorption capacity were prepared by in situ solvothermal method. Its photodegradation efficiency at different underwater transmission light was further studied. The results show that CNT has good compatibility with g-C3N4. g-C3N4 can grow in situ on the surface of CNT and form a stable composite structure. Moreover, its degradation efficiency under long-wavelength irradiation is improved significantly. The degradation rate of CNT-CN at 550-700 nm was about 3 times than that of g-C3N4. Furthermore, CNT-CN can maintain higher photocatalytic activity under water. At 40 cm depth where light intensity and ultraviolet spectra were attenuated 63.8% and 80.1%, respectively, the degradation rate of CNT-CN3 can still reach 3.49 times than that of g-C3N4. Based on this study, the introduction of CNT effectively promotes the electron-hole separation efficiency of g-C3N4, widens its spectral response range, and thus improves its underwater degradation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Shi
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development On Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Lei Rao
- College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Peifang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development On Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development On Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
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Microplastics and nanoplastics in food, water, and beverages, part II. Methods. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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36
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Vega-Herrera A, Llorca M, Borrell-Diaz X, Redondo-Hasselerharm PE, Abad E, Villanueva CM, Farré M. Polymers of micro(nano) plastic in household tap water of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118645. [PMID: 35635914 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPLs) are emerging persistent pollutants affecting drinking water systems, and different studies have reported their presence in tap water. However, most of the work has a focus on particles in the 100-5 µm range. Here, a workflow to identify and quantify polymers of micro and nanoplastics (MNPLs), with sizes from 0.7 to 20 µm in tap water, is presented. The analytical method consisted of water fractionated filtration followed by toluene ultrasonic-assisted extraction and size-exclusion chromatography, using an advanced polymer chromatography column coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure photoionization source with negative and positive ionization conditions (HPLC(APC)-APPI(±)-HRMS) and normal phase chromatography HILIC LUNA® column and electrospray ionisation source in positive and negative mode (HPLC(HILIC)-ESI(±)-HRMS). The acquisition was performed in full scan mode, and the subsequent tentative identification of MNPLs polymers has been based on increasing the confirmation level, including the characterisation of monomers by using Kendrick Mass Defect (KMD) analysis, and confirmation and quantification using standards. This approach was applied to assess MNPLs in tap water samples of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (BMA), that were collected from August to October 2020 from home taps of volunteers distributed in the 42 postal codes of the BMA. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyisoprene (PI), polybutadiene (PBD), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), and polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) were identified. PE, PP, and PA were the most highly detected polymers, and PI and PBD were found at the highest concentrations (9,143 and 1,897 ng/L, respectively). A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to assess differences in MNPLs occurrence in drinking water, that was provided from the two drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) suppliers. Results showed that no significant differences (at 95% confidence level) were established between the drinking water supplies to the different areas of the BMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Vega-Herrera
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C. Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Marta Llorca
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C. Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Xavier Borrell-Diaz
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C. Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Paula E Redondo-Hasselerharm
- ISGlobal, C. Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona (Spain); Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Pl. de la Mercè, 10-12, 08002, Barcelona (Spain); CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid (Spain)
| | - Esteban Abad
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C. Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Cristina M Villanueva
- ISGlobal, C. Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona (Spain); Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Pl. de la Mercè, 10-12, 08002, Barcelona (Spain); CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid (Spain); Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Passeig Marítim, 25-29, 08028, Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Marinella Farré
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C. Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona (Spain).
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37
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Yu F, Hu X. Machine learning may accelerate the recognition and control of microplastic pollution: Future prospects. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128730. [PMID: 35338937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128730] [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: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs, sizes <5 mm) have been found to be widely distributed in various environments, such as marine, freshwater, terrestrial and atmospheric systems. Machine learning provides a potential solution for evaluating the ecological risks of MPs based on big data. Compared with traditional models, data-driven machine learning can accelerate the realization of the control of hazardous MPs and reduce the impact of MPs at both local and global scales. However, there are some urgent issues that should be resolved. For example, lack of MP databases and incomparable literatures causing the current MP data cannot fully support big data research. Therefore, it is imperative to formulate a set of standard and universal MP collection and testing protocols. For machine learning, predictions of large-scale MP distribution and the corresponding environmental risks remain lacking. To accelerate studies of MPs in the future, the methods and theories achieved for other particle pollutants, such as nanomaterials and aerosols, can be referenced. Beyond predication alone, the improvement of causality and interpretability of machine learning deserves attention in the studies of MP risks. Overall, this perspective paper provides insights for the development of machine learning methods in research on the environmental risks of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fubo Yu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10050270. [PMID: 35622683 PMCID: PMC9147381 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are particles ranging in size between 1 and 1000 nm, and they are a form of environmental contaminant of great ecotoxicological concern. Although NPs are widespread across ecosystems, they have only recently garnered growing attention from both the scientific community and regulatory bodies. The present study reviews scientific literature related to the exposure and effects of NPs and identifies research gaps that impede the finalization of related environmental risk assessments (ERAs). Approximately 80 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were considered. Very few studies (eight articles) focused on the presence of NPs in biotic matrices, whereas the majority of the studies (62 articles) assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Whilst many studies focused on nude NPs, only a few considered their association with different aggregates. Amongst NPs, the effects of polystyrene are the most extensively reported to date. Moreover, the effects of NPs on aquatic organisms are better characterized than those on terrestrial organisms. NP concentrations detected in water were close to or even higher than the sublethal levels for organisms. An ERA framework specifically tailored to NPs is proposed.
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Nanomechanical Atomic Force Microscopy to Probe Cellular Microplastics Uptake and Distribution. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020806. [PMID: 35054990 PMCID: PMC8775627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The concerns regarding microplastics and nanoplastics pollution stimulate studies on the uptake and biodistribution of these emerging pollutants in vitro. Atomic force microscopy in nanomechanical PeakForce Tapping mode was used here to visualise the uptake and distribution of polystyrene spherical microplastics in human skin fibroblast. Particles down to 500 nm were imaged in whole fixed cells, the nanomechanical characterization allowed for differentiation between internalized and surface attached plastics. This study opens new avenues in microplastics toxicity research.
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