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Kumar D, Biswas JK, Mulla SI, Singh R, Shukla R, Ahanger MA, Shekhawat GS, Verma KK, Siddiqui MW, Seth CS. Micro and nanoplastics pollution: Sources, distribution, uptake in plants, toxicological effects, and innovative remediation strategies for environmental sustainability. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 213:108795. [PMID: 38878390 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108795] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), are minute particles resulting from plastic fragmentation, have raised concerns due to their widespread presence in the environment. This study investigates sources and distribution of MNPs and their impact on plants, elucidating the intricate mechanisms of toxicity. Through a comprehensive analysis, it reveals that these tiny plastic particles infiltrate plant tissues, disrupting vital physiological processes. Micro and nanoplastics impair root development, hinder water and nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and induce oxidative stress and cyto-genotoxicity leading to stunted growth and diminished crop yields. Moreover, they interfere with plant-microbe interactions essential for nutrient cycling and soil health. The research also explores the translocation of these particles within plants, raising concerns about their potential entry into the food chain and subsequent human health risks. The study underscores the urgency of understanding MNPs toxicity on plants, emphasizing the need for innovative remediation strategies such as bioremediation by algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants and eco-friendly plastic alternatives. Addressing this issue is pivotal not only for environmental conservation but also for ensuring sustainable agriculture and global food security in the face of escalating plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharmendra Kumar
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi-110007, Delhi, India
| | - Jayanta Kumar Biswas
- International Centre for Ecological Engineering, Department of Ecological Studies, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia- 741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Sikandar I Mulla
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied Health Sciences, REVA University, Bangalore- 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Rachana Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida- 201308, India
| | - Ravindra Shukla
- Department of Botany, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak- 484887, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Mohammad Abass Ahanger
- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Gyan Singh Shekhawat
- Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, 342005, Rajasthan, India
| | - Krishan K Verma
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning-530007, China
| | - Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui
- Department of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour-813210, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
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Das S, Chatterjee NH, Choudhury A, Ray A, Rana N, Banerjee A, Ray M, Ray S. Characterization and ecological risk assessment of microplastics accumulated in sea water, sand, sediment, shell water and selected tissues of hermit crab of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124484. [PMID: 38960120 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Sundarban, a Ramsar site of India, has been encountering an ecological threat due to the presence of microplastic (MP) wastes generated from different anthropogenic sources. Clibanarius longitarsus, an intertidal hermit crab of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, resides within the abandoned shell of a gastropod mollusc, Telescopium telescopium. We characterized and estimated the MP in the gills and gut of hermit crab, as well as in the water present in its occupied gastropod shell. The average microplastic abundance in sea water, sand and sediment were 0.175 ± 0.145 MP L-1, 42 ± 15.03 MP kg-1 and 67.63 ± 24.13 MP kg-1 respectively. The average microplastic load in hermit crab was 1.94 ± 0.59 MP crab-1, with 33.89 % and 66.11 % in gills and gut respectively. Gastropod shell water exhibited accumulation of 1.69 ± 1.43 MP L-1. Transparent and fibrous microplastics were documented as the dominant polymers of water, sand and sediment. Shell water exhibited the prevalence of green microplastics followed by transparent ones. Microscopic examination revealed microplastics with 100-300 μm size categories were dominant across all abiotic compartments. ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed polyethylene and polypropylene as the prevalent polymers among the five identified polymers of biotic and abiotic components. The target group index indicated green and black as the preferable microplastics of crab. The ecological risk analysis indicated a considerable level of environmental pollution risk in Sundarban and its inhabiting organisms. This important information base may facilitate in developing a strategy of mitigation to limit the MP induced ecological risk at Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Das
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
| | - Nilanjan Hari Chatterjee
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
| | - Abhigyan Choudhury
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
| | - Abhishek Ray
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
| | - Nabakumar Rana
- Department of Physics, University of Calcutta, 92 A.P.C Road, Kolkata, 700009, West Bengal, India.
| | - Aritra Banerjee
- Department of Physics, University of Calcutta, 92 A.P.C Road, Kolkata, 700009, West Bengal, India.
| | - Mitali Ray
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
| | - Sajal Ray
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
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Teampanpong J, Duengkae P. Using feces to indicate plastic pollution in terrestrial vertebrate species in western Thailand. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17596. [PMID: 38948236 PMCID: PMC11212639 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a widespread and growing concern due to its transformation into microplastics (MPs), which can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study, aimed to identify plastic pollution in the feces of terrestrial vertebrates using convenience sampling both inside and outside protected areas in Western Thailand. We hypothesized that MPs are likely to be detectable in the feces of all vertebrate species, primarily in the form of small black fragments. We predicted varying quantities of MPs in the feces of the same species across different protected areas. Furthermore, we expected that factors indicating human presence, landscape characteristics, scat weight, and the MP abundance in water, soils, and sediments would influence the presence of plastics in feces. Among 12 terrestrial species studied, potential MPs were found in 41.11% of 90 samples, totaling 83 pieces across eight species including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), and Butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana). Specifically, 3.61% of all potential MPs (three pieces) were macroplastics, and the remaining 96.39% were considered potential MPs with the abundance of 0.92 ± 1.89 items.scat-1 or 8.69 ± 32.56 items.100 g-1 dw. There was an association between the numbers of feces with and without potential plastics and species (χ2 = 20.88, p = 0.012). Most potential plastics were fibers (95.18%), predominantly black (56.63%) or blue (26.51%), with 74.70% smaller than two millimeters. Although there were no significant associations between species and plastic morphologies, colors, and sizes, the abundance classified by these characteristics varied significantly. FTIR identified 52.38% as natural fibers, 38.10% as synthetic fibers (rayon, polyurethane (PUR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and PUR blended with cotton), and 9.52% as fragments of PET and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Human-related factors were linked to the occurrence of potential plastics found in the feces of land-dwelling wildlife. This study enhances the understanding of plastic pollution in tropical protected areas, revealing the widespread of MPs even in small numbers from the areas distant from human settlements. Monitoring plastics in feces offers a non-invasive method for assessing plastic pollution in threatened species, as it allows for easy collection and taxonomic identification without harming live animals. However, stringent measures to assure the quality are necessitated to prevent exogenous MP contamination. These findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, especially regarding plastic products from clothing and plastic materials used in agriculture and irrigation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiraporn Teampanpong
- Department of Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prateep Duengkae
- Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
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Liu Z, Liang T, Liu X. Characteristics, distribution patterns and sources of atmospheric microplastics in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171906. [PMID: 38531455 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Although the prevalence of microplastics in the atmosphere has recently received considerable attention, there is little information available regarding the distribution of atmospheric microplastics over oceanic regions. In this study, during the summer and autumn months of 2022, we investigated atmospheric microplastics in four marine regions off the eastern coast of mainland China, namely, the southern, middle, and northern regions of the Yellow Sea, and the Bohai Sea. The abundance of atmospheric microplastics in these regions ranged from 1.65 to 16.80 items/100 m3 during summer and from 0.38 to 14.58 items/100 m3 during autumn, although we detected no significant differences in abundance among these regions. Polyamide, chlorinated polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were identified as the main types of plastic polymer. On the basis of meteorological data and backward trajectory model analyses, we established that the atmospheric microplastics detected during summer were mainly derived from the adjacent marine atmosphere and that over the continental landmass in the vicinity of the sampling area, whereas microplastics detected during autumn appear to have originated mainly from the northeast of China. By influencing the settlement and migration of microplastics, meteorological factors, such as relative humidity and wind speed, were identified as potential factors determining the distribution and characteristics of the detected microplastics. Our findings in this study, revealing the origin and fate of marine atmospheric microplastics, make an important contribution to our current understanding of the distribution and transmission of microplastics within the surveyed region and potentially worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjinhao Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ting Liang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiaoshou Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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Corte Pause F, Urli S, Crociati M, Stradaioli G, Baufeld A. Connecting the Dots: Livestock Animals as Missing Links in the Chain of Microplastic Contamination and Human Health. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:350. [PMID: 38275809 PMCID: PMC10812800 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global diffuse threat, especially considering its fragmentation into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). Since the contamination of the aquatic environment is already well studied, most studies have now focused on the soil. Moreover, the number of studies on the exposure routes and toxic effects of MNPs in humans is continuously increasing. Although MNPs can cause inflammation, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and immune toxicity in livestock animals, which can accumulate ingested/inhaled plastic particles and transfer them to humans through the food chain, research on this topic is still lacking. In considering farm animals as the missing link between soil/plant contamination and human health effects, this paper aims to describe their importance as carriers and vectors of MNP contamination. As research on this topic is in its early stages, there is no standard method to quantify the amount and the characteristics of MNPs in different matrices. Therefore, the creation of a common database where researchers can report data on MNP characteristics and quantification methods could be helpful for both method standardization and the future training of an AI tool for predicting the most abundant/dangerous polymer(s), thus supporting policy decisions to reduce plastic pollution and perfectly fitting with One Health principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Corte Pause
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy; (F.C.P.); (S.U.)
| | - Susy Urli
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy; (F.C.P.); (S.U.)
| | - Martina Crociati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
- Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Stradaioli
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy; (F.C.P.); (S.U.)
| | - Anja Baufeld
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
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Bilal M, Yaqub A, Hassan HU, Akhtar S, Rafiq N, Ali Shah MI, Hussain I, Salman Khan M, Nawaz A, Manoharadas S, Rizwan Khan M, Arai T, Ríos-Escalante PDL. Microplastic Quantification in Aquatic Birds: Biomonitoring the Environmental Health of the Panjkora River Freshwater Ecosystem in Pakistan. TOXICS 2023; 11:972. [PMID: 38133373 PMCID: PMC10748139 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11120972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of twenty (20) duck samples were brought up for four months and 13 days on the banks of the river, with no food intake outside the river. When they reached an average weight of 2.41 ± 0.53 kg, all samples were sacrificed, dissected, and transported in an ice box to the laboratory for further analysis. After sample preparation, such as digestion with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), density separation, filtration, and identification, the MP content was counted. A total of 2033 MP particles were recovered from 20 ducks with a mean value of 44.6 ± 15.8 MPs/crop and 57.05 ± 18.7 MPs/gizzard. MPs detected in surface water were 31.2 ± 15.5 MPs/L. The major shape types of MPs recovered were fragments in crop (67%) and gizzard (58%) samples and fibers in surface water (56%). Other types of particles recovered were fibers, sheets, and foams. The majority of these detected MP particles were in the size range of 300-500 µm (63%) in crops, and 50-150 µm (55%) in gizzards, while in water samples the most detected particles were in the range of 150-300 µm (61%). Chemical characterization by FTIR found six types of polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) had the greatest polymer detection rate (39.2%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (28.3%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (22.7%), polystyrene (6.6%), co-polymerized polypropylene (2.5%), and polypropylene homopolymer (0.7%). This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the crops and gizzards of ducks, as well as in river surface water. The results revealed the significant and pervasive occurrence of microplastics in both the avian digestive systems and the surrounding water environment. These findings highlight the potential threat of microplastic pollution to wildlife and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies to address this pressing environmental concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Bilal
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (M.B.); (A.Y.)
| | - Atif Yaqub
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (M.B.); (A.Y.)
| | - Habib Ul Hassan
- Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
- Fisheries Development Board, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sohail Akhtar
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan;
| | - Naseem Rafiq
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (N.R.); (M.S.K.)
| | | | - Ibrar Hussain
- Department of Statistics, Government College University Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Salman Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (N.R.); (M.S.K.)
| | - Asad Nawaz
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China;
| | - Salim Manoharadas
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammad Rizwan Khan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Takaomi Arai
- Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE 1410, Brunei;
| | - Patricio De Los Ríos-Escalante
- Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile;
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Wang Z, Sedighi M. Dispersion properties of nanoplastic spheres in granular media at low Reynolds numbers. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2023; 259:104244. [PMID: 37741030 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2023.104244] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastic particles (<1 μm) are among the contaminants of emerging concern, and compared to microplastic (<5 mm), our understanding of the transport and fate of nanoplastic in water, sediments and soil is very limited. This paper focuses on developing fundamental insight into the dispersion behaviour (sum of hydrodynamic dispersion and diffusion) of nanoplastic spheres, which are likely the most mobile shape of nanoplastic. We measured the dispersion coefficient and dispersivity of nanoplastic spheres (100 nm, 300 nm and 1000 nm diameter) in granular media with a range of pore sizes. We investigated the mechanisms that control the behaviour at low Reynolds number (smaller than 2), relevant to the dispersion of nanoplastic across the riparian area at water velocities of the common river and shallow groundwater. The measured dispersion coefficients were compared with the predictions by two commonly used models. The results show that there are significant differences between measurements and predictions for the case of colloidal size nanoplastics (MAPE>100%). The retarded dispersion caused by the size-exclusion effect was observed to be important in the case of 1.7 mm and 0.4 mm granular media for 300 nm and 1000 nm nanoplastics, reducing the dispersivity and sensitivity to Reynolds number. The methodology in this paper can be adopted in studies on other sizes and shapes of nanoplastic, assisting with predicting the transport and fate of nanoplastic granular media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziheng Wang
- School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
| | - Majid Sedighi
- School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
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Mapossa AB, da Silva Júnior AH, de Oliveira CRS, Mhike W. Thermal, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Multifunctional Composites Based on Biodegradable Polymers/Bentonite Clay: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3443. [PMID: 37631500 PMCID: PMC10458906 DOI: 10.3390/polym15163443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The extensive use of non-biodegradable plastic products has resulted in significant environmental problems caused by their accumulation in landfills and their proliferation into water bodies. Biodegradable polymers offer a potential solution to mitigate these issues through the utilization of renewable resources which are abundantly available and biodegradable, making them environmentally friendly. However, biodegradable polymers face challenges such as relatively low mechanical strength and thermal resistance, relatively inferior gas barrier properties, low processability, and economic viability. To overcome these limitations, researchers are investigating the incorporation of nanofillers, specifically bentonite clay, into biodegradable polymeric matrices. Bentonite clay is an aluminum phyllosilicate with interesting properties such as a high cation exchange capacity, a large surface area, and environmental compatibility. However, achieving complete dispersion of nanoclays in polymeric matrices remains a challenge due to these materials' hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature. Several methods are employed to prepare polymer-clay nanocomposites, including solution casting, melt extrusion, spraying, inkjet printing, and electrospinning. Biodegradable polymeric nanocomposites are versatile and promising in various industrial applications such as electromagnetic shielding, energy storage, electronics, and flexible electronics. Additionally, combining bentonite clay with other fillers such as graphene can significantly reduce production costs compared to the exclusive use of carbon nanotubes or metallic fillers in the matrix. This work reviews the development of bentonite clay-based composites with biodegradable polymers for multifunctional applications. The composition, structure, preparation methods, and characterization techniques of these nanocomposites are discussed, along with the challenges and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Benjamim Mapossa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Afonso Henrique da Silva Júnior
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88037-000, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Washington Mhike
- Polymer Technology Division, Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0183, South Africa
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Carvalho Ferreira H, Lôbo-Hajdu G. Microplastics in coastal and oceanic surface waters and their role as carriers of pollutants of emerging concern in marine organisms. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 188:106021. [PMID: 37257340 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (Mps) pose a significant environmental challenge with global implications. To examine the effect of Mps on coastal and oceanic surface waters, as well as in marine organisms, 167 original research papers published between January 2013 and September 2022 were analyzed. The study revealed an unequal distribution of research efforts across the world. Fragments and fibers were the most frequently detected particles in ocean surface waters and marine biota, which mainly consisted of colored and transparent microparticles. Sampling of Mps was primarily done using collecting nets with a mesh size of 330 μm. Most articles used a stereomicroscope and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy for identification and composition determination, respectively. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most frequent polymers found, both in coastal waters and in marine organisms. The major impact observed on marine organisms was a reduction in growth rate, an increase in mortality, and reduced food consumption. The hydrophobic nature of plastics encourages the formation of biofilms called the "plastisphere," which can carry pollutants that are often toxic and can enter the food chain. To better define management measures, it is necessary to standardize investigations that assess Mp pollution, considering not only the geomorphological and oceanographic features of each region but also the urban and industrial occupation of the studied marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson Carvalho Ferreira
- Laboratory of Marine Genetics, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PHLC, Office 205, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil; Graduate Program in Oceanography (PPGOCN), State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PJLF, Bl. E, Office 4018, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Gisele Lôbo-Hajdu
- Laboratory of Marine Genetics, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PHLC, Office 205, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, Brazil.
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