1
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Gan M, Zhang Y, Shi P, Cui L, Zhang C, Guo J. Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116656. [PMID: 38950516 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk assessments remain limited. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban river were examined to evaluate their distribution, sources, and ecological risks. It was observed that the abundance of MPs in sediments (220-2840 items·kg-1 dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (2.9-10.3 items·L-1), indicating that the sediment is the "sink" of river MPs. Surface water and sediment were dominated by small particle size MPs (< 0.5 mm). Fiber and debris were common shapes of MPs in rivers and sediments. The microplastics in river water and sediments were primarily white and transparent, respectively. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the major polymers found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mufan Gan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Peng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Lingzhou Cui
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Chengqian Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Jiahua Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
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2
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Büngener L, Schäffer SM, Schwarz A, Schwalb A. Microplastics in a small river: Occurrence and influencing factors along the river Oker, Northern Germany. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 264:104366. [PMID: 38759476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Much attention regarding the environmental pollution by plastics had focused on the Oceans. More recently, contamination of freshwater ecosystems has been addressed but information from smaller rivers in moderately populated catchments is still comparatively scarce. This study explored the microplastic (MP) occurrence in the small regional river Oker, Northern Germany (catchment area 1822 km2, population of ca. 500,000, discharge approx. 12 m3 s-1). MPs (fibers and fragments in the size range 0.3-5 mm, identification by microscopy) were found in all 10 in-stream samples collected along the course of the river, ranging between 28 and 134 particles m-3 with an overall average of 63 particles m-3. This MP concentration found in the small river Oker is similar to, or higher than, that reported for larger rivers in similar environments in Central Europe. On average, higher MP concentration was found at urban (71 particles m-3) compared to rural sampling sites (51 particles m-3). Within the Oker catchment, in-stream MP concentration showed no or low correlation to the catchment-scale factors of catchment size and population. Additional samples taken from three locations directly influenced by discharges of potential MP point sources confirmed wastewater treatment plants of different capacities and an urban rainwater sewer as sources. Our results support findings that MP concentrations in small rivers are crucially influenced by local sources, superimposing linear relationships to factors of catchment size and -population. They show that even small rivers draining moderately populated catchments may exhibit comparatively high concentrations of MPs, and thereby represent underestimated pathways of MP in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Büngener
- Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Sarah-Maria Schäffer
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anja Schwarz
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Antje Schwalb
- Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
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3
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Amenábar M, Aguilera MA, Gallardo C, Moore C, De Vine R, Lattin G, Gamba A, Luna-Acosta A, Thiel M. Spatial distribution of microplastics in a coastal upwelling region: Offshore dispersal from urban sources in the Humboldt Current System. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123157. [PMID: 38142808 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123157] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
In coastal waters, higher concentrations of microplastics (MPs) are generally related to densely populated and industrialized areas, but intense upwelling and offshore transport in the Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) may influence this pattern. The Humboldt Current System (HCS) along the coast of northern-central Chile represents a perfect model to test whether the abundance of MP at the sea surface decreases with distance from land-based sources, e.g., river mouths, harbors, and submarine wastewater outfalls. The sea surface was sampled with a manta trawl to examine the abundance, composition, and distribution of floating MPs, and Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMMs) were performed to examine the relationship between MP abundance (particles km-2) and the distance to putative sources. MPs were found in all 57 net tows, with an average of ⁓120,000 MP km-2 and maximum values of ⁓1,500,000 MP km-2. The composition of MPs was dominated by fragments (>50% of the total count) and over 80% of all MPs were ≥1 mm. The combined effect of the various sources, spatially concentrated in urban areas, makes it difficult to distinguish their relative contributions, but the MP composition suggested that rivers are more important sources, followed by submarine wastewater outfalls and then harbors. A significant and steep negative relationship with the "distance to source" explained 15.2% of the variance of "MP abundance", suggesting rapid offshore displacement within the HCS. This is the first study to report this pattern along the edges of the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre (SPSG), revealing that continuous offshore transport of microplastic from land-based sources is occurring over large scales and contributing to the accumulation of microplastics in the center of the SPSG. However, the findings additionally suggested that processes at meso- and submeso-spatial scales (driven by geographic and seasonal variables) are disrupting the general pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Amenábar
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, 1781421, Chile
| | - Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Gallardo
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, 1781421, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Charles Moore
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, USA; Algalita Marine Research and Education, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Raquelle De Vine
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, USA; Algalita Marine Research and Education, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Gwen Lattin
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, USA; Algalita Marine Research and Education, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Angela Gamba
- Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea Luna-Acosta
- Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martin Thiel
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, 1781421, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; MarineGEO Program, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA.
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4
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Budziak M, Fyda J. Effect of microplastic particles on the population growth rate and clearance rate of selected ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:6907-6921. [PMID: 38157169 PMCID: PMC10821840 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31635-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), due to their micro size, which overlaps with the typical food size of various aquatic organisms, can be ingested and move up the food chain, accumulating in the bodies of organisms at higher trophic levels. Few studies have focused on the uptake of MPs by ciliates, which are an important element of the microbial cycle. Three different ciliate species were used in this study: Blepharisma japonicum, Euplotes sp., and Spirostomum teres, as well as polystyrene beads with diameters of 1 and 2 µm at two concentrations (106 and 107 beads × mL-1). The results of the experiments showed that MPs have a variable, species-specific effect on the population growth rate of ciliates, which is directly dependent on their concentration in the environment (P < 0.01). It was also observed that the number of MPs ingested changed over time depending on their concentration and size. On average, the highest number of ingested MPs (883.11 ± 521.47) was recorded at 60 min of exposure to a low concentration of small beads in B. japonicum. The lowest number of beads was ingested after 5 min of exposure to a low concentration of large beads in the same species. The rate of MP uptake by the ciliate species was significantly dependent on their concentration, exposure time, and size (P < 0.001). The highest clearance rate was observed in the fifth minute of the experiment in the environment with the lowest MP concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Budziak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Janusz Fyda
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
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Tan Y, Dai J, Xiao S, Tang Z, Zhang J, Wu S, Wu X, Deng Y. Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:165979. [PMID: 37543313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, as global emerging pollutants, have received significant attention worldwide due to their ubiquitous presence in the rivers. However, there is still a lack of clarity on the occurrence, driving factors, and ecological risks of microplastics in rivers worldwide. In this study, a global microplastic dataset based on 862 water samples and 445 sediment samples obtained from 63 articles was constructed, which revealed the temporal and spatial distribution of abundance and morphological characteristics of microplastics in rivers across the globe. In global rivers, the abundance of MPs in both water and sediment spans across 10 and 4 orders of magnitude, respectively. The MP comprehensive diversity index based on the physical morphological characteristics of MPs indicated a significant positive correlation between the pollution sources of MPs in different environmental media. Based on the data was aligned to the full-scale MPs, a novel framework was provided to evaluate the ecological risk of MPs and the interaction effects between the influencing factors driving the distribution characteristics of MPs in rivers around the world. The results obtained demonstrated a wide variation in the key driving factors affecting the distribution of microplastics in different environmental media (water and sediment) in rivers globally. The diversity indices of the morphological characteristics of MPs in densely populated areas of lower-middle income countries in Asia were significantly higher, implying that the sources of microplastics in these regions are more complex and extensive. More than half of the rivers are exposed to potential ecological risks of MPs; however, microplastics may pose only immediate risks to aquatic species in Burigang River, Bangladesh. This can provide valuable insights for formulating more effective scientific strategies for the management of MP pollution in rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Tan
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625000, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jiangyu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Shuwen Xiao
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625000, China
| | - Zhiqiang Tang
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625000, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Shiqiang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiufeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yu Deng
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625000, China.
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6
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Bertoldi C, Lara LZ, Fernandes AN. Revealing microplastic dynamics: the impact of precipitation and depth in urban river ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:111231-111243. [PMID: 37807031 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30241-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Research on microplastics in Latin America is limited compared to a global perspective. Brazil plays a significant role in this context, as it possesses 12% of the world's freshwater reserves, constituting 53% of South America's water resources. There has been growing concern regarding the plastic pollution of the country's freshwater systems in recent years. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of plastic pollution on the Guaíba River, a significant watercourse in the southern region of Brazil that is subjected to high anthropogenic pressure. Additionally, we examined correlations between the presence of microplastics and key factors influencing their distribution in the river. Thus, freshwater was collected in seven sampling campaigns from 2019 to 2020, totaling 66 samples. The microplastics were quantified and characterized according to their color, shape, and polymeric composition. The concentration of microplastics varied between 2.9 and 53.8 items m-3, and the distribution and transport were positively influenced by the population density, precipitations, and depth of each sampling point. White-transparent color category (51%) and fragment shape (89%) were predominant among the found particles. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) represented 37% and 57% of the analyzed particles. The non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis indicated that similar contamination sources, such as domestic sewage, could influence three out of ten sampled points. Several microplastics presented the formation of cracks, with sizes smaller than 10 μm on their surface, which might indicate an erosion process, resulting in the formation of nanoplastics. The color fading observed in microplastics suggests that the particles were subjected to environmental stressors, leading to the leaching or degradation of the dye on the plastic. The results confirmed the ubiquity of microplastics in Guaíba River, highlighting the importance of improving the regulations on plastic waste disposal in the country to prevent the contamination of freshwater bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crislaine Bertoldi
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, RS, 950091501-970, Brazil.
| | - Larissa Z Lara
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, RS, 950091501-970, Brazil
| | - Andreia N Fernandes
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, RS, 950091501-970, Brazil
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De Veer D, Baeza-Álvarez J, Bolaños S, Cavour Araya S, Darquea JJ, Díaz Poblete MA, Domínguez G, Holtmann-Ahumada G, Honorato-Zimmer D, Gaibor N, Gallardo MDLÁ, Guevara Torrejón V, León Chumpitaz A, Marcús Zamora L, Mora V, Muñoz Araya JM, Pernía B, Purca S, Rivadeneira MM, Sánchez OA, Sepúlveda JM, Urbina M, Vásquez N, Vélez Tacuri J, Villalobos V, Villanueva Brücher B, Thiel M. Citizen scientists study beach litter along 12,000 km of the East Pacific coast: A baseline for the International Plastic Treaty. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115481. [PMID: 37857060 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic Marine Litter (AML) accumulating on beaches causes damage to coastal ecosystems and high costs to local communities. Volunteers sampled AML on 130 beaches along the central and southern East Pacific coasts, with AML densities ranging from 0.46 to 2.26 items m-2 in the different countries. AML composition was dominated by plastics and cigarette butts, the latter especially in Mexico and Chile. The accumulation of AML in the upper zones of the beaches and substantial proportions of cigarette butts, glass and metal pointed mainly to local sources. Statistical modelling of litter sources on continental beaches revealed that tourism, access and related infrastructure (e.g. parking lots) best explained AML densities, while plastic densities were also influenced by the distance from river mouths and national Gross Domestic Product. Large-scale monitoring can be a useful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies that should primarily focus on land sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diamela De Veer
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Jostein Baeza-Álvarez
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Solange Bolaños
- Reserva Marina El Pelado, Ministerio del Ambiente Agua y Transición Ecológica de Ecuador, Km 21,5 Ruta de la Spondylus, Valdivia 240110, Ecuador
| | - Sebastián Cavour Araya
- Laboratorio de Estudios Algales (ALGALAB), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Fundación Valve, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jodie J Darquea
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Avda. Principal La Libertad, Santa Elena, 240204 La Libertad, Ecuador
| | - Manuel A Díaz Poblete
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Gustavo Domínguez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Nikita Gaibor
- Instituto Publico de Investigación de Acuicultura y Pesca, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Universidad del Pacífico, Vía a la Costa, Av. José Rodríguez Bonín, Guayaquil 090904, Ecuador
| | - María de Los Ángeles Gallardo
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile
| | | | - Alejandra León Chumpitaz
- Fundación Valve, Concepción, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Lara Marcús Zamora
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Lago Panguipulli 1390, 5501842 Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Valentina Mora
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Juan Manuel Muñoz Araya
- Programa Parque Marino del Pacífico, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional (UNA), Heredia 40101, Costa Rica; Parque Marino del Pacífico, Paseo de los Turistas, Puntarenas 60101, Costa Rica
| | - Beatriz Pernía
- Facultad Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s/n y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil 090150, Ecuador
| | - Sara Purca
- Área Funcional de Investigaciones Marino Costeras (AFIMC), Dirección General de Investigaciones en Acuicultura (DGIA), Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Esquina Gamarra y Gral. Valle S/N, Chucuito-Callao, Peru
| | - Marcelo M Rivadeneira
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Osmel Alberto Sánchez
- Universidad Gerardo Barrios, Campus San Miguel Calle Las Flores y Avenida Las Magnolias Colonia Escolán, San Miguel, El Salvador
| | - José Miguel Sepúlveda
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Colegio Eusebio Lillo, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Mauricio Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, PO Pox 1313, Concepción, Chile
| | - Nelson Vásquez
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - José Vélez Tacuri
- Fundación Red de Agentes por la Conservación y Sostenibilidad de los Ecosistemas (RACSE), Villas del Seguro Av. Florencia y Calle Oliva Miranda 130204, Manta, Manabí, Ecuador
| | - Vieia Villalobos
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | | | - Martin Thiel
- Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile.
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8
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Ergas M, Figueroa D, Paschke K, Urbina MA, Navarro JM, Vargas-Chacoff L. Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115380. [PMID: 37562239 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Human settlements within the Antarctic continent have caused significant coastal pollution by littering plastic. The present study assessed the potential presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus, endemic to the polar region, and in the sub-Antarctic fish Harpagifer bispinis. H. antarcticus. A total of 358 microfibers of multiple colors were found in 89 % of H. antarcticus and 73 % of H. bispinis gastrointestinal track. A Micro-FTIR analysis characterized a sub-group (n = 42) of microfibers. It revealed that most of the fibers were cellulose (69 %). Manmade fibers such as microplastics polyethylene terephtalate, acrylics, and semisynthetic/natural cellulosic fibers were present in the fish samples. All the microfibers extracted were textile fibers of blue, black, red, green, and violet color. Our results suggest that laundry greywater discharges of human settlements near coastal waters in Antarctica are a major source of these pollutants in the Antarctic fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Ergas
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Daniela Figueroa
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Kurt Paschke
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile; Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Mauricio A Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jorge M Navarro
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Luis Vargas-Chacoff
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Integrative Biology Group, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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9
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Xia F, Wang Y, Wang D, Cai Y, Zhang J. Seasonal pulse effect of microplastics in the river catchment-From tributary catchment to mainstream. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 342:118316. [PMID: 37290303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Rivers have received extensive attention as a major pathway for microplastics (<5000 μm) from land to ocean. This study investigated the seasonal variation of microplastic contamination in surface water of the Liangfeng River catchment, a tributary of the Li River in China, based on a fluorescence-based protocol, and further explored the migration process of microplastic in the river catchment. The abundance of microplastics (50-5000 μm) was (6.20 ± 0.57)-(41.93 ± 8.13) items/L, of which 57.89-95.12% were small-sized microplastics (<330 μm). The microplastic fluxes in the upper Liangfeng River, lower Liangfeng River, and upper Li River were (14.89 ± 1.24) × 1012, (5.71 ± 1.15) × 1012, and (1.54 ± 0.55) × 1014 items/year, respectively. The 3.70% of microplastic load in the mainstream came from the tributary input. Fluvial processes can effectively retain 61.68% of microplastics in the surface water of river catchments, especially for small-sized microplastics. The rainy season is the main period of microplastic retention (91.87%) in the tributary catchment by fluvial processes, while exporting 77.42% of one-year microplastic emissions from the tributary catchment into the mainstream. This study is the first to reveal the transport characteristics of small-sized microplastics in river catchments based on flux variation, which not only can partly explain the "missing small-sized microplastic fraction" in the ocean, but also contribute to improving microplastic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Xia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watershed, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yelin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watershed, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Dunqiu Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Yanpeng Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watershed, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China.
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Nantege D, Odong R, Auta HS, Keke UN, Ndatimana G, Assie AF, Arimoro FO. Microplastic pollution in riverine ecosystems: threats posed on macroinvertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9. [PMID: 37248351 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants of emerging concern that have been reported in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as in food items. The increasing production and use of plastic materials have led to a rise in MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This review aimed at providing an overview of the abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems and the potential effects posed on macroinvertebrates. Microplastics in riverine ecosystems are reported in all regions, with less research in Africa, South America, and Oceania. The abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems are mainly affected by population density, economic activities, seasons, and hydraulic regimes. Ingestion of MPs has also been reported in riverine macroinvertebrates and has been incorporated in caddisflies cases. Further, bivalves and chironomids have been reported as potential indicators of MPs in aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to ingest MPs relative to environmental concentration. Fiber and fragments are the most common types reported. Meanwhile, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (polyester), polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride are the most common polymers. These MPs are from materials/polymers commonly used for packaging, shopping/carrier bags, fabrics/textiles, and construction. Ingestion of MPs by macroinvertebrates can physically harm and inhibit growth, reproduction, feeding, and moulting, thus threatening their survival. In addition, MP ingestion can trigger enzymatic changes and cause oxidative stress in the organisms. There is a need to regulate the production and use of plastic materials, as well as disposal of the wastes to reduce MP pollution in riverine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Nantege
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria.
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Robinson Odong
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helen Shnada Auta
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Unique Ndubuisi Keke
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Gilbert Ndatimana
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Attobla Fulbert Assie
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Francis Ofurum Arimoro
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
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Firmino VC, Martins RT, Brasil LS, Cunha EJ, Pinedo-Garcia RB, Hamada N, Juen L. Do microplastics and climate change negatively affect shredder invertebrates from an amazon stream? An ecosystem functioning perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 321:121184. [PMID: 36736567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pollution and climate change are among the main threats to the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems in the 21st century. We experimentally tested the effects of microplastic and climate change (i.e., increase in temperature and CO2) on the survival and consumption by an Amazonian-stream shredder invertebrate. We tested three hypotheses. (1) Increased microplastic concentrations and climate change reduce shredder survival. We assumed that the combined stressors would increase toxic stress. (2) Increased concentrations of microplastics have negative effects on shredder food consumption. We assumed that blockage of the digestive tract by microplastics would lead to reduced ability to digest food. In addition, increased temperature and CO2 would lead to an increase in metabolic cost and reduced consumption. (3) The interaction between microplastics and climate change have greater negative effects on survival and consumption than either alone. We combined different concentrations of microplastic and climate change scenarios to simulate in real-time increases in temperature and CO2 forecast for 2100 for Amazonia. We found that both stressors had lethal effects, increasing mortality risk, but there was no interaction effect. Shredder consumption was negatively affected only by climate change. The interaction of microplastics and climate change on shredder consumption was dose-dependent and more intense in the extreme climate scenario, leading to reduced consumption. Our results indicate that microplastic and climate change may have strong effects on the consumption and/or survival of insect shredders in Amazonian streams. In addition, microplastic and climate change effects may affect not only populations but also ecosystem functioning (e.g., nutrient cycling). Integrative approaches to better understand and mitigate the effects of both stressors are necessary because plastic pollution and climate change co-occur in environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Caetano Firmino
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, PA, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, PA, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Renato Tavares Martins
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP: 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Leandro Schlemmer Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, PA, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Campus Araguaia, Avenida Universitária, 3,500, Pontal do Araguaia, MT, CEP: 78.698-000, Brazil
| | - Erlane José Cunha
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, R. Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, PA, CEP: 66055-090, Brazil
| | - Raul Bismarck Pinedo-Garcia
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP: 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Neusa Hamada
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP: 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Leandro Juen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, PA, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, PA, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil
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Kieu-Le TC, Thuong QT, Truong TNS, Le TMT, Tran QV, Strady E. Baseline concentration of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the northern branches of the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114605. [PMID: 36652860 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, is concerned by numerous microplastic-related issues such as a lack of wastewater treatment facilities and mismanagement of plastic waste released from agriculture, aquaculture and related activities. This study aimed to examine the presence of microplastics in surface water and sediment by collecting samples from six sites along the Tien River and its distributaries in February 2019. The results showed that the average concentration of microplastics over the entire area was 53.8 ± 140.7 items m-3 in surface water and 6.0 ± 2.0 items g-1 dried weight in sediment, with a predominance of microplastic fibres rather than fragments, respectively 85 % and 98 % in surface water and sediment. In the main flow of surface water, the concentration of microplastics was stable; however, in the sediment, microplastic concentration was affected by the high dynamic flow regime rather than the sources where microplastics are released.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Chung Kieu-Le
- Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Quoc-Thinh Thuong
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Tran-Nguyen-Sang Truong
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Thi-Minh-Tam Le
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Quoc-Viet Tran
- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Viet Nam; Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam
| | - Emilie Strady
- Asian Center for Water Research (CARE), Ho Chi Minh City of Technology (HCMUT), Viet Nam; Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France.
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13
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He B, Liu A, Duan H, Wijesiri B, Goonetilleke A. Risk associated with microplastics in urban aquatic environments: A critical review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129587. [PMID: 35863231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The presence of microplastics (MPs) has been recognized as a significant environmental threat due to adverse effects spanning from molecular level, organism health, ecosystem services to human health and well-being. MPs are complex environmental contaminants as they bind to a wide range of other contaminants. MPs associated contaminants include toxic chemical substances that are used as additives during the plastic manufacturing process and adsorbed contaminants that co-exist with MPs in aquatic environments. With the transfer between the water column and sediments, and the migration within aquatic systems, such contaminants associated MPs potentially pose high risk to aquatic systems. However, only limited research has been undertaken currently to link the environmental risk associated with MPs occurrence and movement behaviour in aquatic systems. Given the significant environmental risk and current knowledge gaps, this review focuses on the role played by the abundance of different MP species in water and sediment compartments as well as provides the context for assessing and quantifying the multiple risks associated with the occurrence and movement behaviour of different MP types. Based on the review of past literature, it is found that the physicochemical properties of MPs influence the release/sorption of other contaminants and current MPs transport modelling studies have primarily focused on virgin plastics rather than aged plastics. Additionally, risk assessment of contaminants-associated MPs needs significantly more research. This paper consolidates the current state-of-the art knowledge on the source to sink movement behaviour of MPs and methodologies for assessing the risk of different MP species. Moreover, knowledge gaps and emerging trends in the field are also identified for future research endeavours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei He
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - An Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Huabo Duan
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Buddhi Wijesiri
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), P.O. Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia
| | - Ashantha Goonetilleke
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), P.O. Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia
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