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Seewoo BJ, Wong EV, Mulders YR, Goodes LM, Eroglu E, Brunner M, Gozt A, Toshniwal P, Symeonides C, Dunlop SA. Impacts associated with the plastic polymers polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutadiene across their life cycle: A review. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32912. [PMID: 39022097 PMCID: PMC11253235 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymers are the main building blocks of plastic, with the annual global production volume of fossil carbon-based polymers reaching over 457 million metric tons in 2019 and this figure is anticipated to triple by 2060. There is potential for environmental harm and adverse human health impacts associated with plastic, its constituent polymers and the chemicals therein, at all stages of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of raw materials, production and manufacturing, consumption, through to ultimate disposal and waste management. While there have been considerable research and policy efforts in identifying and mitigating the impacts associated with problematic plastic products such as single-use plastics and hazardous chemicals in plastics, with national and/or international regulations to phase out their use, plastic polymers are often overlooked. In this review, the polymer dimension of the current knowledge on environmental release, human exposure and health impacts of plastic is discussed across the plastic life cycle, including chemicals used in production and additives commonly used to achieve the properties needed for applications for which the polymers are generally used. This review focuses on polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutadiene, four common plastic polymers made from the hazardous monomers, bisphenol, styrene, vinyl chloride and 1,3-butadiene, respectively. Potential alternative polymers, chemicals, and products are considered. Our findings emphasise the need for a whole system approach to be undertaken for effective regulation of plastics whereby the impacts of plastics are assessed with respect to their constituent polymers, chemicals, and applications and across their entire life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhedita J. Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Enoch V.S. Wong
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yannick R. Mulders
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Louise M. Goodes
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ela Eroglu
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Manuel Brunner
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Gozt
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Priyanka Toshniwal
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah A. Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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He M, Tian F, Zhai X, Zhou K, Zhang L, Guo X, Tang Z, Chen H. Distribution and typologies of anthropogenic seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116505. [PMID: 38772172 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116505] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Marine litter pollution poses a significant threat to offshore ecosystems, eliciting widespread concern. We investigated seafloor litter patterns in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters of China in 2023 via bottom trawl survey. Average number and weight densities were found to be 154.34 ± 30.95 n/km2 and 2384.63 ± 923.98 g/km2, respectively. Plastic was the most abundant material by number density (79.07 %), and rubber the highest by weight density (22.93 %). Overall number density varied from 40.50 ± 22.50 to 221.13 ± 52.44 n/km2, with the highest in Daya Bay and the lowest in Guanghai Bay. Weight density varied from 189.93 ± 71.94 to 5386.70 ± 3050.30 g/km2, with the highest in Qiao Island and the lowest in Honghai Bay. The main source was plastic bags and wrappers. The Pearl River Delta and Daya Bay were identified as seafloor litter distribution hotspots. Controlling plastic waste input is crucial for reducing seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqiao He
- College of Fisheries and Life, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Fei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhai
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Linbao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Zhenzhao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China.
| | - Haigang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China.
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3
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Chang J, Liang J, Zhang Y, Zhang R, Fang W, Zhang H, Lam SS, Zhang P, Zhang G. Insights into the influence of polystyrene microplastics on the bio-degradation behavior of tetrabromobisphenol A in soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134152. [PMID: 38552398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134152] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Soil contamination by emerging pollutants tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and microplastics has become a global environmental issue in recent years. However, little is known about the effect of microplastics on degradation of TBBPA in soil, especially aged microplastics. In this study, the effect of aged polystyrene (PS) microplastics on the degradation of TBBPA in soil and the mechanisms were investigated. The results suggested that the aged microplastics exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on the degradation of TBBPA in soil than the pristine microplastics, and the degradation efficiency of TBBPA decreased by 21.57% at the aged microplastic content of 1%. This might be related to the higher TBBPA adsorption capacity of aged microplastics compared to pristine microplastics. Aged microplastics strongly altered TBBPA-contaminated soil properties, reduced oxidoreductase activity and affected microbial community composition. The decrease in soil oxidoreductase activity and relative abundance of functional microorganisms (e.g., Bacillus, Pseudarthrobacter and Sphingomonas) caused by aged microplastics interfered with metabolic pathways of TBBPA. This study indicated the importance the risk assessment and soil remediation for TBBPA-contaminated soil with aged microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianning Chang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jinsong Liang
- School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ru Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wei Fang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haibo Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Center for Global Health Research (CGHR), Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Panyue Zhang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Guangming Zhang
- School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.
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Tao H, Zhou L, Yu D, Chen Y, Luo Y, Lin T. Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the metabolic level of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171335. [PMID: 38423332 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171335] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Given the widespread presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water and its threat to human health, the metabolic changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa when exposed to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) exposure were studied, focusing on molecular level. Through non-targeted metabolomics, a total of 64 differential metabolites were screened out under positive ion mode and 44 under negative ion mode. The content of bacterial metabolites changed significantly, primarily involving lipids, nucleotides, amino acids, and organic acids. Heightened intracellular oxidative damage led to a decrease in lipid molecules and nucleotide-related metabolites. The down-regulation of amino acid metabolites, such as L-Glutamic and L-Proline, highlighted disruptions in cellular energy metabolism and the impaired ability to synthesize proteins as a defense against oxidation. The impact of PS-MPs on organic acid metabolism was evident in the inhibition of pyruvate and citrate, thereby disrupting the cells' normal participation in energy cycles. The integration of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that PS-MPs mainly caused changes in metabolic pathways, including ABC transporters, Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Purine metabolism, Glycerophospholipid metabolism and TCA cycle in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Most of the differential metabolites enriched in these pathways were down-regulated, demonstrating that PS-MPs hindered the expression of metabolic pathways, ultimately impairing the ability of cells to synthesize proteins, DNA, and RNA. This disruption affected cell proliferation and information transduction, thus hampering energy circulation and inhibiting cell growth. Findings of this study supplemented the toxic effects of microplastics and the defense mechanisms of microorganisms, in turn safeguarding drinking water safety and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Tao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China.
| | - Lingqin Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Duo Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Yiyang Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Yunxin Luo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Tao Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
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Reichert J, Tirpitz V, Plaza K, Wörner E, Bösser L, Kühn S, Primpke S, Schubert P, Ziegler M, Wilke T. Common types of microdebris affect the physiology of reef-building corals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169276. [PMID: 38086480 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169276] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Marine debris, particularly microdebris (< 1 mm) poses a potential threat to marine life, including reef-building corals. While previous research has mainly focused on the impact of single polymer microplastics, the effects of natural microdebris, composed of a mixture of materials, have not been explored. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of different microdebris, originating from major sources of pollution, on reef-building corals. For this, we exposed two scleractinian coral species, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, known to frequently ingest microplastics, to four types of microdebris in an 8-week laboratory experiment: fragmented environmental plastic debris, artificial fibers from clothing, residues from the automobile sector consisting of tire wear, brake abrasion, and varnish flakes, a single polymer microplastic treatment consisting of polyethylene particles, and a microdebris-free control treatment. Specifically, we (I) compared the effects of the different microdebris on coral growth, necrosis, and photosynthesis, (II) investigated the difference between the microdebris mixtures and the exposure to the single polymer treatment, and (III) identified potential mechanisms causing species-specific effects by contrasting the feeding responses of the two coral species on microdebris and natural food. We show that the fibers and tire wear had the strongest effects on coral physiology, with P. verrucosa being more affected than S. pistillata. Both species showed increased volume growth in response to the microdebris treatments, accompanied by decreased calcification in P. verrucosa. Photosynthetic efficiency of the symbionts was enhanced in both species. The species-specific physiological responses might be attributed to feeding reactions, with P. verrucosa responding significantly more often to microdebris than S. pistillata. These findings highlight the effect of different microdebris on coral physiology and the need for future studies to use particle mixtures to better mimic naturally occurring microdebris and assess its effect on corals in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Reichert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, HI, Kāne'ohe, USA.
| | - Vanessa Tirpitz
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Katherine Plaza
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Wörner
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Department of Geoscience, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Luisa Bösser
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Susanne Kühn
- Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Patrick Schubert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Liza AA, Ashrafy A, Islam MN, Billah MM, Arafat ST, Rahman MM, Karim MR, Hasan MM, Promie AR, Rahman SM. Microplastic pollution: a review of techniques to identify microplastics and their threats to the aquatic ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:285. [PMID: 38374279 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), small synthetic particles, have emerged as perilous chemical pollutants in aquatic habitats, causing grave concerns about their disruptive effects on ecosystems. The fauna and flora inhabiting these specific environments consume these MPs, unwittingly introducing them into the intricate web of the food chain. In this comprehensive evaluation, the current methods of identifying MPs are amalgamated and their profound impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems are discussed. There are many potential risks associated with MPs, including the dangers of ingestion and entanglement, as well as internal injuries and digestive obstructions, both marine and freshwater organisms. In this review, the merits and limitations of diverse identification techniques are discussed, including spanning chemical analysis, thermal identification, and spectroscopic imaging such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescent microscopy. Additionally, it discusses the prevalence of MPs, the factors that affect their release into aquatic ecosystems, as well as their plausible impact on various aquatic ecosystems. Considering these disconcerting findings, it is imperative that appropriate measures should be taken to assess the potential risks of MP pollution, protect aquatic life and human health, and foster sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afroza Akter Liza
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Asifa Ashrafy
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Md Nazrul Islam
- Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Morsaline Billah
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Shaikh Tareq Arafat
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-847, Japan
| | - Md Moshiur Rahman
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
- Fish Conservation and Culture Lab, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Md Rezaul Karim
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mehedi Hasan
- Global Sanitation Graduate School, Institute of Disaster Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna-9203, Bangladesh
| | | | - Sheikh Mustafizur Rahman
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
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Pastorino P. Sunscreens and micro(nano)plastics: Are we aware of these threats to the Egyptian coral reefs? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 910:168587. [PMID: 37984652 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168587] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
During a snorkeling trip to Marsa Alam and Hamata (southern Red Sea Riviera, Egypt) I explored the coral reefs and the diverse marine habitats of fish and invertebrate species. The area invites recreational diving and snorkeling, but the beaches are littered with all sorts of solid waste (mainly fragmented plastics). Also, there are no local restrictions on sunscreen use. The development of tourism to the area raises questions about the environmental impact and how its further growth will have on coral reefs. Every year, 1.2 million tourists visit the Red Sea coast (about 3287 tourists per day) and release about 1.7 tons/month of sunscreen into the Red Sea. As an ecologist and editorial board member of Science of the Total Environment, I ask myself how we as scientists can increase public awareness and call for prompt actions to protect the coral reefs. The discussion underlines two major threats to the Egyptian coral reefs: sunscreen use and micro(nano)plastics waste. The discussion closes with possible solutions, future perspectives, and recommendations to protect the coral reefs ecosystem of the Egyptian Red Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pastorino
- The Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy.
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Rosner A, Ballarin L, Barnay-Verdier S, Borisenko I, Drago L, Drobne D, Concetta Eliso M, Harbuzov Z, Grimaldi A, Guy-Haim T, Karahan A, Lynch I, Giulia Lionetto M, Martinez P, Mehennaoui K, Oruc Ozcan E, Pinsino A, Paz G, Rinkevich B, Spagnuolo A, Sugni M, Cambier S. A broad-taxa approach as an important concept in ecotoxicological studies and pollution monitoring. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:131-176. [PMID: 37698089 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic invertebrates play a pivotal role in (eco)toxicological assessments because they offer ethical, cost-effective and repeatable testing options. Additionally, their significance in the food chain and their ability to represent diverse aquatic ecosystems make them valuable subjects for (eco)toxicological studies. To ensure consistency and comparability across studies, international (eco)toxicology guidelines have been used to establish standardised methods and protocols for data collection, analysis and interpretation. However, the current standardised protocols primarily focus on a limited number of aquatic invertebrate species, mainly from Arthropoda, Mollusca and Annelida. These protocols are suitable for basic toxicity screening, effectively assessing the immediate and severe effects of toxic substances on organisms. For more comprehensive and ecologically relevant assessments, particularly those addressing long-term effects and ecosystem-wide impacts, we recommended the use of a broader diversity of species, since the present choice of taxa exacerbates the limited scope of basic ecotoxicological studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of (eco)toxicological studies, focusing on major aquatic invertebrate taxa and how they are used to assess the impact of chemicals in diverse aquatic environments. The present work supports the use of a broad-taxa approach in basic environmental assessments, as it better represents the natural populations inhabiting various ecosystems. Advances in omics and other biochemical and computational techniques make the broad-taxa approach more feasible, enabling mechanistic studies on non-model organisms. By combining these approaches with in vitro techniques together with the broad-taxa approach, researchers can gain insights into less-explored impacts of pollution, such as changes in population diversity, the development of tolerance and transgenerational inheritance of pollution responses, the impact on organism phenotypic plasticity, biological invasion outcomes, social behaviour changes, metabolome changes, regeneration phenomena, disease susceptibility and tissue pathologies. This review also emphasises the need for harmonised data-reporting standards and minimum annotation checklists to ensure that research results are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), maximising the use and reusability of data. The ultimate goal is to encourage integrated and holistic problem-focused collaboration between diverse scientific disciplines, international standardisation organisations and decision-making bodies, with a focus on transdisciplinary knowledge co-production for the One-Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rosner
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Loriano Ballarin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padova, I-35121, Italy
| | - Stéphanie Barnay-Verdier
- Sorbonne Université; CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d'Azur, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice, 28 avenue Valombrose, Nice, F-06107, France
| | - Ilya Borisenko
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Embryology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya embankment 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | - Laura Drago
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padova, I-35121, Italy
| | - Damjana Drobne
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, Ljubljana, 1111, Slovenia
| | - Maria Concetta Eliso
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, 80121, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Zoya Harbuzov
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
- Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Koushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Annalisa Grimaldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant, Varese, 3-21100, Italy
| | - Tamar Guy-Haim
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Arzu Karahan
- Middle East Technical University, Institute of Marine Sciences, Erdemli-Mersin, PO 28, 33731, Turkey
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Maria Giulia Lionetto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, via prov. le Lecce -Monteroni, Lecce, I-73100, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina, 61, Palermo, I-90133, Italy
| | - Pedro Martinez
- Department de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institut Català de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Kahina Mehennaoui
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 41, rue du Brill, Belvaux, L-4422, Luxembourg
| | - Elif Oruc Ozcan
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, Cukurova University, Balcali, Saricam, Adana, 01330, Turkey
| | - Annalisa Pinsino
- National Research Council, Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146, Italy
| | - Guy Paz
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, 80121, Italy
| | - Michela Sugni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Sébastien Cambier
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 41, rue du Brill, Belvaux, L-4422, Luxembourg
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9
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Casagrande N, Silva CO, Verones F, Sobral P, Martinho G. Ecotoxicity effect factors for plastic additives on the aquatic environment: a new approach for life cycle impact assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122935. [PMID: 37977358 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122935] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
All plastic contains additives. Once in the environment, these will start to leach out and will expose and harm aquatic biota, causing potentially lethal and sub-lethal toxic effects. Even though life cycle assessment covers the toxic impacts of several thousands of chemicals, models to assess the toxic impacts of plastic additives are only emerging. We gathered 461 data points from the literature (266 for freshwater and 195 for marine ecosystems) for 75 species belonging to 9 different phyla. The endpoints effective concentration and lethal concentration, no observed effects concentrations and lowest observed effect concentration tested in acute and chronic exposure, were harmonized into chronic values by applying extrapolation factors. The collected data points covered 75 main plastic additives. This allowed us to calculate 25 Effect factors, 19 for single chemicals and four for overarching categories (alkylphenols, benzophenones, brominated flame retardants and phosphates. In addition, we calculated an aggregated effect factor for chemicals that did not fit in any of the previous groups, as well as a Generic effect factor including 404 gathered data points. The estimated potentially affected fraction (PAF) for the single additives varied between 20.69 PAF·m3·kg-1 for diethyl phthalate and 11081.85 PAF·m3·kg-1 for 4-Nonylphenol. The factors can in future be combined with fate and exposure factors to derive a characterization factor for toxicity caused by additives in aquatic species. This is an important advancement for the assessment of the impacts of plastic debris on aquatic species, thus providing information for decision-makers, as well as guiding policies for the use of additives, ultimately aiming to make the plastic value chain more sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Casagrande
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Carla O Silva
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Francesca Verones
- Industrial Ecology Programme, Department for Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Paula Sobral
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Graça Martinho
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
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10
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Peñalver R, Pérez-Álvarez MD, Arroyo-Manzanares N, Campillo N, Viñas P. Determination of extractable pollutants from microplastics to vegetables: Accumulation and incorporation into the food chain. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140141. [PMID: 37696477 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The presence and impacts of microplastics (MPs) are being extensively researched and reviewed, especially in the marine environment. However, mobility, transportation routes, and accumulation of leaching compounds such as additives in plastic waste including MPs are scarcely studied. Information regarding ecotoxicity and leachability of compounds related to MPs contamination in the environment is limited. Current work presents the levels of leachates from plastic materials in edible-root and non-edible root vegetables. Samples were analyzed by static headspace and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SHS-GC-MS) and the presence of 93 putative compounds was accurately monitored in the samples by the usage of Mass Spectrometry-Data Independent Analysis software. The application of chemometrics to the SHS-GC-MS dataset allowed differentiation between the levels of plastic related compounds in edible root and non-edible root vegetables, the former showing a higher content of plastic leachates. For SHS sampling, 3 g of the sample were incubated at 130 °C for 35 min in the HS vial and toluene and naphthalene were added as internal standards for quantification purposes. The developed SHS-GC-MS methodology is straightforward, reliable, and robust and allowed the quantification of sixteen plastic associated compounds in the samples studied in a range from 0.14 to 28800 ng g-1 corresponding to 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and p,α-dimethylstyrene, respectively. Several of the quantified compounds pointed out to potential contamination of polystyrene and/or polyvinyl chloride MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Peñalver
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - María Dolores Pérez-Álvarez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Arroyo-Manzanares
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Campillo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar Viñas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100, Murcia, Spain.
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11
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Iftikhar B, Alih SC, Vafaei M, Ali M, Javed MF, Asif U, Ismail M, Umer M, Gamil Y, Amran M. Experimental study on the eco-friendly plastic-sand paver blocks by utilising plastic waste and basalt fibers. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17107. [PMID: 37484238 PMCID: PMC10361302 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17107] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste poses a significant hazard to the environment as a result of its high production rates, which endanger both the environment and its inhabitants. Similarly, another concern is the production of cement, which accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions. Thus, recycling plastic waste as a replacement for cementitious materials may be a more effective strategy for waste minimisation and cement elimination. Therefore, in this study, plastic waste (low-density polyethylene) is utilised in the production of plastic sand paver blocks without the use of cement. In addition to this, basalt fibers which is a green industrial material is also added in the production of eco-friendly plastic sand paver blocks to satisfy the standard of ASTM C902-15 of 20 N/mm2 for the light traffic. In order to make the paver blocks, the LDPE waste plastic was melted outside in the open air and then combined with sand. Variations were made to the ratio of LDPE to sand, the proportion of basalt fibers, and sand particle size. Paver blocks were evaluated for their compressive strength, water absorption, and at different temperatures. Including 0.5% percent basalt fiber of length 4 mm gives us the best result by enhancing compressive strength by 20.5% and decreasing water absorption by 50.5%. The best results were obtained with a ratio of 30:70 LDPE to sand, while the finest sand provides the greatest compressive strength. Moreover, the temperature effect was also studied from 0 to 60 °C, and the basalt fibers incorporated in plastic paver blocks showed only a 20% decrease in compressive strength at 60 °C. This research has produced eco-friendly paver blocks by removing cement and replacing it with plastic waste, which will benefit the environment, save money, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and be suitable for low-traffic areas, all of which contribute to sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bawar Iftikhar
- School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru Johor, Malaysia
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan
| | - Sophia C. Alih
- Institute of Noise and Vibration, School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru Johor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammadreza Vafaei
- School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru Johor, Malaysia
| | - Mujahid Ali
- Department of Transport Systems, Traffic Engineering and Logistics, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8 Street, Katowice, Poland
| | - Muhammad Faisal Javed
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan
| | - Usama Asif
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ismail
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umer
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan
| | - Yaser Gamil
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
- Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mugahed Amran
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, 11942, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Civil Engineering, Amran University, 9677, Amran, Yemen
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12
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Rahman MN, Shozib SH, Akter MY, Islam ARMT, Islam MS, Sohel MS, Kamaraj C, Rakib MRJ, Idris AM, Sarker A, Malafaia G. Microplastic as an invisible threat to the coral reefs: Sources, toxicity mechanisms, policy intervention, and the way forward. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 454:131522. [PMID: 37146332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution waste is a global macro problem, and research on MP contamination has been done in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Preventing MP pollution from hurting them is essential to maintaining coral reefs' ecological and economic benefits. However, the public and scientific communities must pay more attention to MP research on the coral reef regions' distribution, effects, mechanisms, and policy evaluations. Therefore, this review summarizes the global MP distribution and source within the coral reefs. Current knowledge extends the impacts of MP on coral reefs, existing policy, and further recommendations to mitigate MPs contamination on corals are critically analyzed. Furthermore, mechanisms of MP on coral and human health are also highlighted to pinpoint research gaps and potential future studies. Given the escalating plastic usage and the prevalence of coral bleaching globally, there is a pressing need to prioritize research efforts on marine MPs that concentrate on critical coral reef areas. Such investigations should encompass an extensive and crucial understanding of the distribution, destiny, and effects of the MPs on human and coral health and the potential hazards of those MPs from an ecological viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Naimur Rahman
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
| | | | - Mst Yeasmin Akter
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Reza Md Towfiqul Islam
- Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh; Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Saiful Islam
- Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Md Salman Sohel
- Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
| | - Chinnaperumal Kamaraj
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM), Directorate of Research, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Md Refat Jahan Rakib
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Abubakr M Idris
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia; Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aniruddha Sarker
- Department of Agro-food Safety and Crop Protection, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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13
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Goldstein J, Javidpour J. Selective feeding protects moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita s.l.) from overloading with microplastics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114702. [PMID: 36791554 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Jellyfish blooms may be important bioindicators for marine ecosystem degradation, including the accumulation of microplastics in pelagic food webs. Here we show growth, respiration and filtration rates of the moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita s.l.) when fed high concentrations (350 L-1) of zooplankton prey (Artemia salina nauplii) and polystyrene (PS) or reference particles (charcoal; size range 50-500 μm). Our controlled feeding experiments reveal that inedible particles are ingested less efficiently compared to prey (retention efficiency ~60 % for PS) and actively removed from the gastrovascular system of ephyrae and medusae. Increased metabolic demands for excretion of inedible material (up to 76.7 ± 3.1 % of ingested prey biomass) suggest that overloading with microplastics can decelerate growth (observed maxima 26.1 % d-1 and 12.6 % d-1, respectively) and reproductive rates when food is limited. Possible consequences of this selective feeding strategy in response to proceeding microplastic pollution in the world's future oceans are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Goldstein
- Marine Biological Research Centre, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark.
| | - Jamileh Javidpour
- Marine Biological Research Centre, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
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14
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Barhoumi B, Metian M, Oberhaensli F, Mourgkogiannis N, Karapanagioti HK, Bersuder P, Tolosa I. Extruded polystyrene microplastics as a source of brominated flame retardant additives in the marine environment: long-term field and laboratory experiments. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107797. [PMID: 36773563 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) in the environment have become a global concern, not only for the physical effects of the plastic particles themselves but also for being vectors of chemical additives. In this context, little is known about the ability of MPs, particularly extruded polystyrene microplastics (XPS-MPs), to release organic chemical additives in the marine environment. In this study, a series of field and laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the leaching behaviour of organic additives including brominated flame retardants from XPS-MPs into seawater. The conducted experiments confirmed a rapid release of bisphenol A (BPA), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers (α-, β-, and γ-HBCDD) from the studied MPs followed by a slower rate of release over time. The effects of environmental factors on the leaching rates of these additives were also examined. Increasing Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) concentrations and the temperature of the seawater enhanced the release of additives by increasing their solubility and polymer flexibility. In contrast, pH tested at 7, 7.5 and 8 was found to have a minor effect on additives leaching; and salinity negatively affected the leaching rate likely due to their reduced solubility and reduced diffusion from the MPs. The present study provides empirical evidence of the behaviour of XPS-MPs as a source of organic additives in the marine environment that merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badreddine Barhoumi
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
| | - Marc Metian
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - François Oberhaensli
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | | | | | - Philippe Bersuder
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Imma Tolosa
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
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15
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Qiao R, Mortimer M, Richter J, Rani-Borges B, Yu Z, Heinlaan M, Lin S, Ivask A. Hazard of polystyrene micro-and nanospheres to selected aquatic and terrestrial organisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 853:158560. [PMID: 36087672 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastics contamination in the environment is a major concern. Risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics (MPL and NPL) poses significant challenges due to MPL and NPL heterogeneity regarding compositional polymers, particle sizes and morphologies in the environment. Yet, there exists considerable toxicological literature on commercial polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanospheres. Although such particles do not directly represent the environmental MPL and NPL, their toxicity data should be used to advance the hazard assessment of plastics. Here, toxicity data of PS micro- and nanospheres for microorganisms, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, fish, and higher plants was collected and analyzed. The evaluation of 294 papers revealed that aquatic invertebrates were the most studied organisms, nanosized PS was studied more often than microsized PS, acute exposures prevailed over chronic exposures, the toxicity of PS suspension additives was rarely addressed, and ∼40 % of data indicated no organismal effects of PS. Toxicity mechanisms were mainly studied in fish and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, providing guidance for relevant studies in higher organisms. Future studies should focus on environmentally relevant plastics concentrations, wide range of organisms, co-exposures with other pollutants, and method development for plastics identification and quantification to fill the gap of bioaccumulation assessment of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxia Qiao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Jelizaveta Richter
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Bárbara Rani-Borges
- Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Alto da Boa Vista, Sorocaba, São Paulo 18087-180, Brazil; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu 51010, Estonia
| | - Zhenyang Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Margit Heinlaan
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Tallinn 12618, Estonia.
| | - Sijie Lin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Angela Ivask
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu 51010, Estonia.
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16
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Vered G, Shenkar N. Limited effects of environmentally-relevant concentrations in seawater of dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, bisphenol A, and 4-nonylphenol on the reproductive products of coral-reef organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 314:120285. [PMID: 36179999 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastic additives (PAs) are chemical compounds incorporated into the plastic during the manufacturing process. Phthalate acid esters, bisphenols, and nonylphenols are all PAs found in marine environments and associated with endocrine-disrupting processes. However, our knowledge regarding the impact of endocrine-disrupting PAs on coral-reef organisms is limited. As reef population structure is directly linked to reproduction and larval settlement processes, interference with hormonal systems can impact coral-reef community structure, particularly if the effects of PAs differ among species. In the current study we exposed the reproductive products of four tropical coral-reef invertebrates to environmentally-relevant concentrations of four prevalent PAs in seawater: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate, (DMP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and bisphenol A (BPA), as well as to 103 higher laboratory concentrations of these PAs. Our results revealed that apart from the significant negative effect of the 1 μg/L of 4-NP on the settlement of the soft coral Rhytisma fulvum, none of the other tested materials demonstrated a significant effect on the exposed organisms at environmentally-relevant concentrations in seawater. The 4-NP high laboratory concentration (1000 μg/L), however, had significant negative effects on all the examined species. The high laboratory BPA concentration (1000 μg/L) significantly reduced fertilization success in the solitary ascidian Herdmaniamomus, up to its complete failure to reproduce. Moreover, the high laboratory DMP concentration (100 μg/L) had a significant negative effect on planulae settlement of the stony coral Stylophora pistillata. Our findings demonstrate the negative and selective effects of PAs on the development and reproduction of coral-reef organisms; and, specifically, the significant effect found following exposure to 4-NP. Consequently, if we aim to fully understand the impact of these contaminants on this endangered ecosystem, we suggest that the actual concentrations within the living organism tissues should be tested in order to produce relevant risk assessments for brooding-coral species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Vered
- The School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel
| | - Noa Shenkar
- The School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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17
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Seuront L, Zardi GI, Uguen M, Bouchet VMP, Delaeter C, Henry S, Spilmont N, Nicastro KR. A whale of a plastic tale: A plea for interdisciplinary studies to tackle micro- and nanoplastic pollution in the marine realm. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157187. [PMID: 35868387 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous sources of both contamination and pollution of the Anthropocene, and accumulates virtually everywhere on the planet. As such, plastic threatens the environment, the economy and human well-being globally. The related potential threats have been identified as a major global conservation issue and a key research priority. As a consequence, plastic pollution has become one of the most prolific fields of research in research areas including chemistry, physics, oceanography, biology, ecology, ecotoxicology, molecular biology, sociology, economy, conservation, management, and even politics. In this context, one may legitimately expect plastic pollution research to be highly interdisciplinary. However, using the emerging topic of microplastic and nanoplastic leachate (i.e., the desorption of molecules that are adsorbed onto the surface of a polymer and/or absorbed into the polymer matrix in the absence of plastic ingestion) in the ocean as a case study, we argue that this is still far from being the case. Instead, we highlight that plastic pollution research rather seems to remain structured in mostly isolated monodisciplinary studies. A plethora of analytical methods are now available to qualify and quantify plastic monomers, polymers and the related additives. We nevertheless show though a survey of the literature that most studies addressing the effects of leachates on marine organisms essentially still lack of a quantitative assessment of the chemical nature and content of both plastic items and their leachates. In the context of the ever-increasing research effort devoted to assess the biological and ecological effects of plastic waste, we subsequently argue that the lack of a true interdisciplinary approach is likely to hamper the development of this research field. We finally introduce a roadmap for future research which has to evolve through the development of a sound and systematic ability to chemically define what we biologically compare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Seuront
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France; Department of Marine Energy and Resource, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
| | - Gerardo I Zardi
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Marine Uguen
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Vincent M P Bouchet
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Camille Delaeter
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Solène Henry
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Nicolas Spilmont
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Katy R Nicastro
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; CCMAR-Centro de Ciencias do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
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18
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Urgoitia G, Herrero MT, SanMartin R. Metal-Catalyzed, Photo-Assisted Selective Transformation of Tertiary Alkylbenzenes and Polystyrenes into Carbonyl Compounds. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202200940. [PMID: 35713591 PMCID: PMC9544855 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202200940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Every year, thousands of tons of polystyrene are produced and discarded, filling landfills and polluting the marine environment. Although several degradation alternatives have been proposed, the need for an effective procedure for the chemical recycling of polystyrene still remains. Here, a vanadium-catalyzed reaction, assisted by visible light, promoted the direct, selective conversion of tertiary alkylbenzenes into acetophenone and other ketone derivatives. Likewise, standard polystyrene samples as well as polystyrenes from insulation and packaging waste could be chemically recycled into acetophenone in a scalable way regardless of their molecular weight, polydispersity, or form. Preliminary mechanistic investigations revealed the participation of singlet oxygen, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical species in this homogenously catalyzed process. Acetophenone could be used as an additive to accelerate the reaction and to increase the yields in some cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi Urgoitia
- Department of Organic and Inorganic ChemistryFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)Sarriena auzoa, z/g.48940LeioaSpain
| | - María Teresa Herrero
- Department of Organic and Inorganic ChemistryFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)Sarriena auzoa, z/g.48940LeioaSpain
| | - Raul SanMartin
- Department of Organic and Inorganic ChemistryFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)Sarriena auzoa, z/g.48940LeioaSpain
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Gao Z, Yu H, Li M, Li X, Lei J, He D, Wu G, Fu Y, Chen Q, Shi H. A battery of baseline toxicity bioassays directed evaluation of plastic leachates-Towards the establishment of bioanalytical monitoring tools for plastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154387. [PMID: 35276177 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There are increasing concerns regarding the ecological risks of plastics to the natural environment, especially the potential effects of plastic leachates on organisms, which contain various toxic components. However, appropriate methods to assess the overall environmental risks of plastics are limited. In this study, five different plastic products (three conventional and two biodegradable plastics) were immersed in simulated freshwater, and their toxicity was assessed using a battery of bioassays. We evaluated the effects of plastic leachates effects on organisms from four trophic levels of species (nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans; algae, Scenedesmus obliquus; daphnids, Daphnia magna; and fish, Danio rerio) by measuring their acute and chronic toxicity. Our results indicated that all plastic leachates exhibited poor acute and chronic toxicity to the organisms. The acute toxicity of conventional plastic leachates with EC20 values <1.6 g plastic/L was higher than that of the biodegradable polydioxanone (PPDO) leachate (EC20: 16.2-796.1 g plastic/L); however, the toxicity of PPDO-octane (EC20: 0.04-1.9 g plastic/L) was similar to that of polyethylene or polystyrene (excluding toxicity in D. magna). Similarly, the leachates of the three conventional plastics and PPDO-octane had obvious inhibitory effects on the growth of C. elegans at exposure concentrations higher than 0.01 g plastic/L; however, the toxicity of the PPDO leachates was at least an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, the environmental related concentration of the plastic leachates did not have significant toxic effects. Considering that a single bioassay does not provide comprehensive information on biological implications, this study provided a new integrated and efficient method for the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plastic leachates. Moreover, the toxicity sensitivity of different organisms varied following exposure to different plastics, thus demonstrating that multiple organisms from different trophic levels should be included in the ERA for plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Hairui Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mingyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jin Lei
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Defu He
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Gang Wu
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ye Fu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Qiqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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20
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Delaeter C, Spilmont N, Bouchet VMP, Seuront L. Plastic leachates: Bridging the gap between a conspicuous pollution and its pernicious effects on marine life. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 826:154091. [PMID: 35219681 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With 4 to 12 million tons of plastic entering the marine environment each year, plastic pollution has become one of the most ubiquitous sources of pollution of the Anthropocene threatening the marine environment. Beyond the conspicuous physical damages, plastics may release a cocktail of harmful chemicals, i.e. monomers, additives and persistent organic pollutants. Although known to be highly toxic, plastic leachates seemingly appear, however, as the "somewhat sickly child" of the plastic pollution literature. We reviewed the only 26 studies investigating the impact of plastic leachates on marine microbes and invertebrates, and concluded that the observed effects essentially depend on the species, polymer type, plastic composition, accumulated contaminants and weathering processes. We identified several gaps that we believe may hamper progress in this emerging area of research and discussed how they could be bridged to further our understanding of the effects of the compounds released by plastic items on marine organisms. We first stress the lack of a consensus on the use of the term 'leachate', and subsequently introduce the concepts of primary and secondary leachates, based on the intrinisic or extrinsic origin of the products released in bulk seawater. We discuss how methodological inconsistencies and the discrepancy between the polymers used in experiments and their abundance in the environment respectively limit comparison between studies and a comprehensive assessment of the effects leachate may actually have in the ocean. We also discuss how the imbalanced in the variety of both organisms and polymers considered, the mostly unrealistic concentrations used in laboratory experiments, and the lack of investigation on key ecosystem engineers may considerably narrow the spectrum of our understanding of the plastic leachates' effects. We finally discuss how increasing multi-disciplinarity through collaborations between different research fields may benefit to an area of research which is still in its early infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Delaeter
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Nicolas Spilmont
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Vincent M P Bouchet
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Laurent Seuront
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
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21
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Turner A. PBDEs in the marine environment: Sources, pathways and the role of microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 301:118943. [PMID: 35150801 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are an important group of additives in plastics that increase resistance to ignition and slow down the rate of burning. Because of concerns about their environmental and human health impacts, however, some of the most widely employed BFRs, including hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and commercial mixtures of penta-, octa- and deca- (poly)bromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been restricted or phased out. In this review, the oceanic sources and pathways of PBDEs, the most widely used BFRs, are evaluated and quantified, with particular focus on emissions due to migration from plastics into the atmosphere versus emissions associated with the input of retarded or contaminated plastics themselves. Calculations based on available measurements of PBDEs in the environment suggest that 3.5 and 135 tonnes of PBDEs are annually deposited in the ocean when scavenged by aerosols and through air-water gas exchange, respectively, with rivers contributing a further ∼40 tonnes. Calculations based on PBDE migration from plastic products in use or awaiting or undergoing disposal yield similar net inputs to the ocean but indicate a relatively rapid decline over the next two decades in association with the reduction in the production and recycling of these chemicals. Estimates associated with the input of PBDEs to the ocean when "bound" to marine plastics and microplastics range from about 360 to 950 tonnes per year based on the annual production of plastics and PBDEs over the past decade, and from about 20 to 50 tonnes per annum based on the abundance and distribution of PBDEs in marine plastic litter. Because of the persistence and pervasiveness of plastics in the ocean and diffusion coefficients for PBDEs on the order of 10-20 to 10-27 m2 s-1, microplastics are likely to act as a long-term source of these chemicals though gradual migration. Locally, however, and more important from an ecotoxicological perspective, PBDE migration may be significantly enhanced when physically and chemically weathered microplastics are exposed to the oily digestive fluids conditions of fish and seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
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22
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Senathirajah K, Kemp A, Saaristo M, Ishizuka S, Palanisami T. Polymer prioritization framework: A novel multi-criteria framework for source mapping and characterizing the environmental risk of plastic polymers. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128330. [PMID: 35121294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128330] [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: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are an intrinsic part of modern life with many beneficial uses for society. Yet, there is increasing evidence that plastic and microplastic pollution poses a risk to the environment and human health. Microplastics are increasingly grouped as a complex mix of polymers with different physicochemical and toxicological properties. This study attempts to assess the hazardous properties of common polymer types through the development of an integrated multi-criteria framework. The framework establishes a systematic approach to identify plastic polymers of concern. A semi-quantitative method was devised using twenty-one criteria. We used a case study from Victoria, Australia, to evaluate the effectiveness of the framework to characterize the environmental risk of common polymer types. A wide range of data sources were interrogated to complete an in-depth analysis across the material life cycle. We found that three polymers had the highest risk of harm: polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and polystyrene; with dominant sectors being: building and construction, packaging, consumer and household, and automotive sectors; and greatest leakage of plastics at the end-of-life stages. Our findings illustrate the complexity of microplastics as an emerging contaminant, and its scalability supports decision-makers globally to identify and prioritize management strategies to address the risks posed by plastics. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The hazardous nature of mismanaged plastics is an international concern. The negative impacts on the environment and human health are increasingly coming to light. Consequently, resource constraints limits the ability to address all problems. Our work adopts a holistic approach to evaluate the risk of harm from microplastics across the entire life cycle to allow for targeted management measures. The hazard assessment of common polymer types developed using a multi-criteria framework, presents a systematic approach to prioritize polymers at any scale. This allows for the development of optimal investments and interventions to ensure that high-risk environmental problems are addressed first.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kala Senathirajah
- Environmental and Plastic Innovation Cluster (EPIC), Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Science Division, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Alison Kemp
- Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Science Division, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Minna Saaristo
- Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Science Division, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Shige Ishizuka
- Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Science Division, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Thava Palanisami
- Environmental and Plastic Innovation Cluster (EPIC), Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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23
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Meziere Z, Rich WA, Carvalho S, Benzoni F, Morán XAG, Berumen ML. Stylophora under stress: A review of research trends and impacts of stressors on a model coral species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151639. [PMID: 34780827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sometimes called the "lab rat" of coral research, Stylophora pistillata (Esper, 1797) has been extensively used in coral biology in studies ranging from reef ecology to coral metabolic processes, and has been used as a model for investigations into molecular and cellular biology. Previously thought to be a common species spanning a wide distribution through the Indo-Pacific region, "S. pistillata" is in fact four genetically distinct lineages (clades) with different evolutionary histories and geographical distributions. Here, we review the studies of stress responses of S. pistillatasensulato (clades 1-4) and highlight research trends and knowledge gaps. We identify 126 studies on stress responses including effects of temperature, acidification, eutrophication, pollutants and other local impacts. We find that most studies have focused on the effect of single stressors, especially increased temperature, and have neglected the combined effects of multiple stressors. Roughly 61% of studies on S. pistillata come from the northern Red Sea (clade 4), at the extreme limit of its current distribution; clades 2 and 3 are virtually unstudied. The overwhelming majority of studies were conducted in laboratory or mesocosm conditions, with field experiments constituting only 2% of studies. We also note that a variety of experimental designs and treatment conditions makes it difficult to draw general conclusions about the effects of particular stressors on S. pistillata. Given those knowledge gaps and limitations in the published research, we suggest a more standardized approach to compare responses across geographically disparate populations and more accurately anticipate responses to predicted future climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Meziere
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Walter A Rich
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francesca Benzoni
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xosé Anxelu G Morán
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón/Xixón, Gijón/Xixón, Spain
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Fauser P, Vorkamp K, Strand J. Residual additives in marine microplastics and their risk assessment - A critical review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113467. [PMID: 35314391 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the risk assessment of plastic-associated residual additives, i.e. residual monomers, degradation products and additives, in the marine environment, also considering effects of weathering and bioavailability. Experimental studies have found a number of organic and metal additive compounds in leachates from plastics, and the analysis of weathered plastic particles, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene particles sampled on beaches and shorelines, has identified residual additives, such as flame retardants, plasticizers, UV stabilizers and antioxidants. While the transfer of e.g. PBDEs to organisms upon ingestion has been demonstrated, studies on uptake and bioaccumulation of plastic-associated chemicals are inconclusive. Studies on hazard and risk assessments are few, and focus on monomers and/or a limited number of high concentration additives, such as phthalates and flame retardants. The risk assessment results vary between low, moderate and high risks of specific additives, and are not necessarily consistent for the same compound. Given the large number of chemicals potentially introduced into the marine environment with plastic particles and the challenges associated with the correct quantification of exposure concentrations and toxicity thresholds, the question arises whether new risk assessment concepts may be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Fauser
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jakob Strand
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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25
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Ma Y, Stubbings WA, Abdallah MAE, Cline-Cole R, Harrad S. Formal waste treatment facilities as a source of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters to the environment: A critical review with particular focus on outdoor air and soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150747. [PMID: 34619188 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Extensive use of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) has generated great concern about their adverse effects on environmental and ecological safety and human health. As well as emissions during use of products containing such chemicals, there are mounting concerns over emissions when such products reach the waste stream. Here, we review the available data on contamination with HFRs and OPEs arising from formal waste treatment facilities (including but not limited to e-waste recycling, landfill, and incinerators). Evidence of the transfer of HFRs and OPEs from products to the environment shows that it occurs via mechanisms such as: volatilisation, abrasion, and leaching. Higher contaminant vapour pressure, increased temperature, and elevated concentrations of HFRs and OPEs in products contribute greatly to their emissions to air, with highest emission rates usually observed in the early stages of test chamber experiments. Abrasion of particles and fibres from products is ubiquitous and likely to contribute to elevated FR concentrations in soil. Leaching to aqueous media of brominated FRs (BFRs) is likely to be a second-order process, with elevated dissolved humic matter and temperature of leaching fluids likely to facilitate such emissions. However, leaching characteristics of OPEs are less well-understood and require further investigation. Data on the occurrence of HFRs and OPEs in outdoor air and soil in the vicinity of formal e-waste treatment facilities suggests such facilities exert a considerable impact. Waste dumpsites and landfills constitute a potential source of HFRs and OPEs to soil, and improper management of waste disposal might also contribute to HFR contamination in ambient air. Current evidence suggests minimal impact of waste incineration plants on BFR contamination in outdoor air and soil, but further investigation is required to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - William A Stubbings
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Department of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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26
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The effects of aluminum and silicon phosphates on thermal stability and flammability of polystyrene. J CHEM SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12039-021-02006-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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27
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Tolosa I, Huertas D, Choyke S, Sander S, Aminot Y. A comprehensive evaluation of two sample treatment procedures for the determination of emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants in biota. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:59345-59357. [PMID: 33026620 PMCID: PMC8542007 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10966-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Two different sample preparation protocols for the determination of 37 emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in marine tissues were compared with regards to extraction recovery, lipid removal efficiency, repeatability, reproducibility, and ability to measure sub-ng g-1 (dry weight) concentrations in marine biota. One method involved a purification step using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) followed by a HPLC fractionation step on a Partisil amino-cyano normal phase (GPC-Partisil procedure) and the other more traditional method was based on sulphuric acid treatment followed by silica column fractionation (H2SO4-silica procedure). The samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Sample fractionation in both methods enabled unique sample preparation procedures to isolate the GC from the LC amenable compounds. Both methods could remove > 99% of the lipids which was necessary prior to GC- and LC-MS/MS analyses. The majority of the target compounds (70%) had acceptable recoveries between 60-120% for both methods. However, the sulphuric acid treatment resulted in the degradation of the TBP-AE and the silica column fractionation resulted in the loss of BEH-TEBP and the elution of PBB-Acr and TBBPA-BME in the unsuitable fraction. High recoveries of DBE-DBCH (α+β), EHTBB, BTBPE, BEH-TEBP, and PBB-Acr were attributed to matrix effects, suggesting the need to use isotope-labelled surrogate standards of the target compounds. The optimisation of the silica column chromatography, GPC, and Partisil fractionation is described and discussed to afford easy implementation of the method. The method using GPC followed by Partisil fractionation is more efficient and more reproducible than the sulphuric acid-silica procedure. The application of this method to marine biota reference materials revealed the presence of relatively high concentrations of DBE-DBCH isomers and BDE-47 in fish samples. The method detection limits comply with the recommendations of the European Commission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imma Tolosa
- IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
| | - David Huertas
- IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Sarah Choyke
- IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Sylvia Sander
- IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Yann Aminot
- IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
- IFREMER, Laboratory of Biogeochemistry of Organic Contaminants, Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311, Nantes Cedex 3, France
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28
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Masry M, Rossignol S, Gardette JL, Therias S, Bussière PO, Wong-Wah-Chung P. Characteristics, fate, and impact of marine plastic debris exposed to sunlight: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112701. [PMID: 34245992 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The increase of plastic production from the middle of the twentieth century was inevitably followed by an increase in the amount of plastic dumped in the natural environment. There, the plastic debris are exposed to sunlight, temperature, humidity, and physical stress. This can induce photo-oxidative and thermal degradation. This review discusses the mechanism of plastics UV weathering and its characteristics. Comparison of the photodegradation rate and physico-chemical properties are made according to the weathering mode (natural/accelerated) and medium (air/water). Since the photodegradation can lead to plastics fragmentation, this phenomenon is described along with the methodologies used in literature to evaluate the fragmentation. The impact of the photodegraded plastic debris on the marine environment is also presented in term of (i) photodegradation products and stabilizers leakage, (ii) organic pollutants accumulation, transfer, and leakage, and (iii) toxicity on marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Masry
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Jean-Luc Gardette
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, UMR 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF), 8 Avenue Blaise Pascal, TSA 60026, CS 60026, 63178 Aubière cedex, France.
| | - Sandrine Therias
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, UMR 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF), 8 Avenue Blaise Pascal, TSA 60026, CS 60026, 63178 Aubière cedex, France.
| | - Pierre-Olivier Bussière
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, UMR 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF), 8 Avenue Blaise Pascal, TSA 60026, CS 60026, 63178 Aubière cedex, France.
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Minet L, Blum A, Fernández SR, Rodgers KM, Singla V, Soehl A, Diamond ML. Response to Comment on "High Production, Low Information: We Need To Know More About Polymeric Flame Retardants". ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10890-10891. [PMID: 34286962 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Minet
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Arlene Blum
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | - Seth R Fernández
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | | | - Veena Singla
- Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
| | - Anna Soehl
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E8, Canada
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Bridson JH, Gaugler EC, Smith DA, Northcott GL, Gaw S. Leaching and extraction of additives from plastic pollution to inform environmental risk: A multidisciplinary review of analytical approaches. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 414:125571. [PMID: 34030416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is prevalent worldwide and has been highlighted as an issue of global concern due to its harmful impacts on wildlife. The extent and mechanism by which plastic pollution effects organisms is poorly understood, especially for microplastics. One proposed mechanism by which plastics may exert a harmful effect is through the leaching of additives. To determine the risk to wildlife, the chemical identity and exposure to additives must be established. However, there are few reports with disparate experimental approaches. In contrast, a breadth of knowledge on additive release from plastics is held within the food, pharmaceutical and medical, construction, and waste management industries. This includes standardised methods to perform migration, extraction, and leaching studies. This review provides an overview of the approaches and methods used to characterise additives and their leaching behaviour from plastic pollution. The limitations of these methods are highlighted and compared with industry standardised approaches. Furthermore, an overview of the analytical strategies for the identification and quantification of additives is presented. This work provides a basis for refining current leaching approaches and analytical methods with a view towards understanding the risk of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Bridson
- Scion, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand; School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand.
| | | | - Dawn A Smith
- Scion, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
| | - Grant L Northcott
- Northcott Research Consultants Limited, 20 River Oaks Place, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
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Ranjbar Jafarabadi A, Mashjoor S, Riyahi Bakhtiari A, Cappello T. Ecotoxico Linking of Phthalates and Flame-Retardant Combustion Byproducts with Coral Solar Bleaching. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5970-5983. [PMID: 33886295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Persian Gulf coral reefs are unique biota communities in the global sunbelts in being able to survive in multiple stressful fields during summertime (>36 °C). Despite the high-growth emerging health-hazard microplastic additive type of contaminants, its biological interactions with coral-algal symbiosis and/or its synergistic effects linked to solar-bleaching events remain unknown. This study investigated the bioaccumulation patterns of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and phthalate ester (PAE) pollutants in six genera of living/bleached corals in Larak Island, Persian Gulf, and their ambient abiotic matrixes. Results showed that the levels of ∑18PBDEs and ∑13PAEs in abiotic matrixes followed the order of SPMs > surface sediments > seawater, and the cnidarian POP-uptake patterns (soft corals > hard corals) were as follows: coral mucus (138.49 ± 59.98 and 71.57 ± 47.39 ng g-1 dw) > zooxanthellae (82.05 ± 28.27 and 20.14 ± 12.65 ng g-1 dw) ≥ coral tissue (66.26 ± 21.42 and 34.97 ± 26.10 ng g-1 dw) > bleached corals (45.19 ± 8.73 and 13.83 ± 7.05 ng g-1 dw) > coral skeleton (35.66 ± 9.58 and 6.47 ± 6.47 ng g-1 dw, respectively). Overall, findings suggest that mucus checking is a key/facile diagnostic approach for fast detection of POP bioaccumulation (PB) in tropical corals. Although studied corals exhibited no consensus concerning hazardous levels of PB (log BSAF < 3.7), our bleaching evidence showed soft corals as the ultimate "summer winners" due to their flexibility/recovering ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ranjbar Jafarabadi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Sakineh Mashjoor
- Marine Pharmaceutical Science Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Tiziana Cappello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Multiple impacts of microplastics can threaten marine habitat-forming species. Commun Biol 2021; 4:431. [PMID: 33785849 PMCID: PMC8010021 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics are recognised as a potential global threat to marine ecosystems, but the biological mechanisms determining their impact on marine life are still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of microplastics on the red coral, a long-lived habitat-forming organism belonging to the Corallium genus, which is present at almost all latitudes from shallow-water to deep-sea habitats. When exposed to microplastics, corals preferentially ingest polypropylene, with multiple biological effects, from feeding impairment to mucus production and altered gene expression. Microplastics can alter the coral microbiome directly and indirectly by causing tissue abrasions that allow the proliferation of opportunistic bacteria. These multiple effects suggest that microplastics at the concentrations present in some marine areas and predicted for most oceans in the coming decades, can ultimately cause coral death. Other habitat-forming suspension-feeding species are likely subjected to similar impacts, which may act synergistically with climate-driven events primarily responsible for mass mortalities.
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Huang W, Chen M, Song B, Deng J, Shen M, Chen Q, Zeng G, Liang J. Microplastics in the coral reefs and their potential impacts on corals: A mini-review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:143112. [PMID: 33172634 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plastic debris exists worldwide and research on microplastic pollution has gradually spread from the oceans to freshwater and terrestrial systems. Coral reefs not only serve as one of the most charismatic and biodiverse ecosystems on our planet, but also maintain the human harvesting of natural resources and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. However, the abundance and distribution characteristics of microplastics in coral reef systems receive little scientific attention. Meanwhile, the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on coral health and its potential mechanisms remain further studied. Herein, this review first summarized the current status of microplastics pollution in global coral reefs, especially included (i) abundance and distribution characteristics of microplastics in different media (e.g., seawater, sediment, corals), and (ii) possible sources of microplastics in reef regions. Furthermore, the main interaction mechanisms between microplastics and corals are highlighted. Following this, the direct or indirect impacts of microplastics on coral species are discussed. With the rapid increase of plastic consumption and background of pervasive global coral bleaching, research on marine microplastics must focus on the critical coral reef regions and include a comprehensive knowledge about the distribution, fate, and potential risks from an ecosystem perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Ming Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Biao Song
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Jiaqin Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Maocai Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Qiang Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Guangming Zeng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
| | - Jie Liang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
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De-la-Torre GE, Dioses-Salinas DC, Pizarro-Ortega CI, Saldaña-Serrano M. Global distribution of two polystyrene-derived contaminants in the marine environment: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111729. [PMID: 33039793 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is one of the major issues impacting on the marine environment. Plastic polymers are known to leach industrial chemicals and associated contaminants. In this review, we focused on assessing the global distribution and concentration of two polystyrene-derived contaminants, hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) and styrene oligomers (SOs), in marine sediments and seawater. Overall, most of the studies were carried out in Asia, North America, and Europe. Relatively high concentrations of these contaminants are generally attributed to the proximity of urban cities, plastic industries, polystyrene pollution, and aquaculture. Moreover, the concentrations in sediments are many times higher than in seawater. HBCDs were found to be a negligible risk to marine biota when compared to the ecotoxicological endpoints. However, realistic concentrations of SOs could compromise the wellbeing of certain species in highly polluted sites. The future perspectives and research were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Miguel Saldaña-Serrano
- Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Av. La Fontana 501, Lima 12, Peru; Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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