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Soares MO, Rizzo L, Ximenes Neto AR, Barros Y, Martinelli Filho JE, Giarrizzo T, Rabelo EF. Do coral reefs act as sinks for microplastics? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122509. [PMID: 37690465 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122509] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has been detected in coral reefs, raising concerns regarding its global impact. Although they cover a small portion (<1%) of the total area of the world's oceans, coral reefs are geological and biological structures that trap MPs and disproportionately enhance their accumulation. In this review, we attempted to understand how coral reefs act as short- and long-term sinks for MPs. We describe five characteristics that lead to the enrichment of microplastics in coral reefs: 1) adhesion on reef-building corals at distinct depths; 2) ingestion by reef organisms (e.g., suspension feeders, such as sponges, ascidians, and corals), bioconcentration, and formation of short-term (i.e., years to decades) biological sinks for MPs; 3) formation of long-term (i.e., centuries) MP sinks in coral skeletons and unconsolidated subsurface sediments; 4) reduction of sediment resuspension and seafloor turbulent kinetic energy by complex marine forest architecture that reduces bottom shear stress, facilitates the retention, and deposition of small (<0.5 mm) and high-density floating MPs; and 5) diagenesis of Anthropocene sedimentary rocks containing MPs. We estimate that reef processes may remove more than 10% of floating MPs in shallow tropical waters yearly. Statistical results show that microplastic abundance for reef-building corals are higher than values found in reef sediments and especially in seawater. Moreover, pellets, films, foams and mainly fragments and fibers have been found. These field-based data support our hypothesis of sinks in the reef sediments and organisms. We highlight the role of these seascapes in the interception of MPs as traps and sinks in reef sediments, biota, and carbonate frameworks. As coral reefs are prone to MP accumulation and can become pollution hotspots, global initiatives are necessary to conserve these rich ecosystems and prevent rapidly increasing plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo O Soares
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil; Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Reef Systems Group, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany.
| | - Lucia Rizzo
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council (CNR-ISPA), Via Prov.le Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Rodrigues Ximenes Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Ambiental (Labogeo), Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil; Departamento de Geografia/CERES, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Caicó, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Barros
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Martinelli Filho
- Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade (CEABIO) and Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Tommaso Giarrizzo
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal Do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Emanuelle F Rabelo
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal Rural Do Semiárido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Brazil
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Ayala F, Rangel-Vega A, Quinde E, Reyes E, Zeta-Flores M, Tume-Ruiz J, De-la-Torre GE. Bibliometric review on microplastic contamination in the Pacific Alliance countries. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1369. [PMID: 37880459 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11990-4] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, capable of absorbing persistent organic compounds, heavy metals, and emerging pollutants, are of global concern due to their potential to alter the behavior and metabolism of biota. In Latin America, the Pacific Alliance, comprising Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile, stands out for its biological wealth and productive ecosystems, which account for 37% of the region's gross domestic product. The leaders of these countries expressed their concern about microplastic pollution and pledged to take joint action. We conducted an analysis of the scientific production of these countries and the collaborations of their researchers, focused on the period 2015-2023, using Scopus and SCImago. We observed that marine-coastal/wetland ecosystems are the most studied, with a focus on fish, and that Mexico leads in publications, followed by Colombia, Peru, and Chile. In addition, we note the absence of an inter-institutional group dedicated to microplastics research in these countries. We recommend promoting collaboration between academic institutions specialized in microplastic research and government agencies dedicated to the promotion of science and technology in the countries belonging to the Pacific Alliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Ayala
- Centro para la Sostenibilidad Ambiental, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
| | - Antia Rangel-Vega
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Edgardo Quinde
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Eddy Reyes
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Martín Zeta-Flores
- Facultad de Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Juan Tume-Ruiz
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
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Nawab J, Khan H, Ghani J, Zafar MI, Khan S, Toller S, Fatima L, Hamza A. New insights into the migration, distribution and accumulation of micro-plastic in marine environment: A critical mechanism review. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 330:138572. [PMID: 37088212 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the marine environment, posing a significant threat to marine biota. The contribution of anthropogenic and terrestrial sources to the aquatic ecosystem has led to an increase in MPs findings, and their abundance in aquatic biota has been reported to be of concern. MPs are formed mainly via photo degradation of macroplastics (large plastic debris), and their release into the environment is a result of the degradation of additives. Eco-toxicological risks are increasing for marine organisms, due to the ingestion of MPs, which cause damage to gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and stomach. Plastics with a size <5 mm are considered MPs, and they are commonly identified by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Laser direct infrared (LDIR). The size, density and additives are the main factors influencing the abundance and bioavailability of MPs. The most abundant type of MPs found in fishes are fiber, polystyrenes, and fragments. These microscale pellets cause physiological stress and growth deformities by targeting the GI tracts of fishes and other biota. Approximately 80% MPs come from terrestrial sources, either primary, generated during different products such as skin care products, tires production and the use of MPs as carrier for pharmaceutical products, or secondary plastics, disposed of near coastal areas and water bodies. The issue of MPs and their potential effects on the marine ecosystem require proper attention. Therefore, this study conducted an extensive literature review on assessing MPs levels in fishes, sediments, seawater, their sources, and effects on marine biota (especially on fishes), chemo-physical behavior and the techniques used for their identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Nawab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
| | - Haris Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Junaid Ghani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mazhar Iqbal Zafar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Simone Toller
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laraib Fatima
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, 2300, Pakistan
| | - Amir Hamza
- Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
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