1
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She Y, Qi X, Li Z. Insights into soil autotrophic ammonium oxidization under microplastics stress: Crossroads of nitrification, comammox, anammox and Feammox. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135443. [PMID: 39128156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135443] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in agroecosystems and profoundly impact soil microbiome and nutrient cycling. However, the effects of MPs on soil autotrophic ammonium oxidization processes, including nitrification, complete ammonium oxidation (comammox), anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), and anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled to iron reduction (Feammox), remain unclear. These processes are the rate-limiting steps of nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems. Here, our work unveiled that exposures of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) MPs significantly modulated ammonium oxidization pathways with distinct type- and dose-dependent effects. Nitrification remained the main contributor (56.4-70.7 %) to soil ammonium removal, followed by comammox (11.7-25.6 %), anammox (5.0-20.2 %) and Feammox (3.3-11.6 %). Compared with conventional nonbiodegradable MPs (i.e., PE and PP), biodegradable MPs (i.e., PLA and PBAT) exhibited more pronounced impacts on soil nutrient conditions and functional microbes, which collectively induced alterations in soil ammonium oxidation. Interestingly, low-dose PLA and PBAT remarkably enhanced the roles of anammox and Feammox in soil ammonium removal, contributing to the mitigation of soil acidification in agroecosystems. This study highlights the diverse responses of ammonium oxidization pathways to MPs, further deepening our understanding of how MPs affect biogeochemical cycling and enriching strategies for agricultural managements amid increasing MPs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuecheng She
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhengkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Zhao S, Rillig MC, Bing H, Cui Q, Qiu T, Cui Y, Penuelas J, Liu B, Bian S, Monikh FA, Chen J, Fang L. Microplastic pollution promotes soil respiration: A global-scale meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17415. [PMID: 39005227 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution likely affects global soil carbon (C) dynamics, yet it remains uncertain how and to what extent MP influences soil respiration. Here, we report on a global meta-analysis to determine the effects of MP pollution on the soil microbiome and CO2 emission. We found that MP pollution significantly increased the contents of soil organic C (SOC) (21%) and dissolved organic C (DOC) (12%), the activity of fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (FDAse) (10%), and microbial biomass (17%), but led to a decrease in microbial diversity (3%). In particular, increases in soil C components and microbial biomass further promote CO2 emission (25%) from soil, but with a much higher effect of MPs on these emissions than on soil C components and microbial biomass. The effect could be attributed to the opposite effects of MPs on microbial biomass vs. diversity, as soil MP accumulation recruited some functionally important bacteria and provided additional C substrates for specific heterotrophic microorganisms, while inhibiting the growth of autotrophic taxa (e.g., Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria). This study reveals that MP pollution can increase soil CO2 emission by causing shifts in the soil microbiome. These results underscore the potential importance of plastic pollution for terrestrial C fluxes, and thus climate feedbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuling Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Haijian Bing
- Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingliang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Qiu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yongxing Cui
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josep Penuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF- CSIC- UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Caalonia, Spain
| | - Baiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiqi Bian
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies, and Innovation, Technical University of Liberec Bendlova 1409/7, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linchuan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Utilization of Critical Non-metallic Mineral Resources, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
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Withana PA, Li J, Senadheera SS, Fan C, Wang Y, Ok YS. Machine learning prediction and interpretation of the impact of microplastics on soil properties. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122833. [PMID: 37931672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122833] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The annual microplastic (MP) release into soils is 4-23 times higher than that into oceans, significantly impacting soil quality. However, the mechanisms underlying how MPs impact soil properties remain largely unknown. Soil-MP interactions are complex because of soil heterogeneity and varying MP properties. This lack of understanding was exacerbated by the diverse experimental conditions and soil types used in this study. Predicting changes in soil properties in the presence of MPs is challenging, laborious, and time-consuming. To address these issues, machine learning was applied to fit datasets from peer-reviewed publications to predict and interpret how MPs influence soil properties, including pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total P, NO3--N, NH4+-N, and acid phosphatase enzyme activity (acid P). Among the developed models, the gradient boost regression (GBR) model showed the highest R2 (0.86-0.99) compared to the decision tree and random forest models. The GBR model interpretation showed that MP properties contributed more than 50% to altering the acid P and NO3--N concentrations in soils, whereas they had a negligible impact on total P and 10-20% impact on soil pH, DOC, and NH4+-N. Specifically, the size of MPs was the dominant factor influencing acid P (89.3%), pH (71.6%), and DOC (44.5%) in soils. NO3--N was mainly affected by the MP type (52.0%). The NH4+-N was mainly affected by the MP dose (46.8%). The quantitative insights into the impact of MPs on soil properties of this study could aid in understanding the roles of MPs in soil systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piumi Amasha Withana
- Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; International ESG Association (IESGA), Seoul, 06621, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Sachini Supunsala Senadheera
- Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; International ESG Association (IESGA), Seoul, 06621, Republic of Korea
| | - Chuanfang Fan
- Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Yin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yong Sik Ok
- Korea Biochar Research Center, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; International ESG Association (IESGA), Seoul, 06621, Republic of Korea; Institute of Green Manufacturing Technology, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Xiang Y, Peñuelas J, Sardans J, Liu Y, Yao B, Li Y. Effects of microplastics exposure on soil inorganic nitrogen: A comprehensive synthesis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132514. [PMID: 37708652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, a growing environmental concern, impact soil inorganic nitrogen (N) transformation, specifically affecting water-extractable nitrate N (NO3--N) and ammonium N (NH4+-N). However, inconsistencies among relevant findings necessitate a systematic analysis. Accordingly, the present meta-analysis addresses these discrepancies by evaluating the effects of microplastics on soil inorganic N and identifying key influencing factors. Our meta-analysis of 216 paired observations from 47 studies demonstrates microplastics exposure causes an overall significant reduction of 7.89% in soil NO3--N concentration, but has no significant impact on NH4+-N concentration. Subgroup analysis further revealed effects of microplastics on soil inorganic N were modulated by microplastics characteristics, experimental conditions (exposure time, experimental temperature, plant effects), and soil properties (soil texture, initial soil pH, initial soil organic carbon, soil total N concentration). We found that microplastics exposure above 27 ℃ enhances soil NO3--N concentration, a finding linked to specific soil properties and conditions, underscoring the impacts of global warming. Importantly, the microplastics polymer type was the most influential predictor of effects on soil NO3--N concentration, while soil NH4+-N concentration was primarily affected by soil texture and microplastics type. These findings illuminate the complex effects of microplastics on soil inorganic N, informing soil management amid increasing microplastics pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhou Xiang
- School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF - Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF - Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Bin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Yuan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems of Lanzhou University, National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou 730020, China.
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5
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Huang F, Zhang Q, Wang L, Zhang C, Zhang Y. Are biodegradable mulch films a sustainable solution to microplastic mulch film pollution? A biogeochemical perspective. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132024. [PMID: 37572603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Mulch film residue contributes significantly to global plastic pollution, and consequently biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) are being adopted as a solution. BDMs decompose relatively quickly, but their complete biodegradation requires suitable conditions that are difficult to achieve in nature, causing biodegradable microplastics (bio-MPs) to be more likely to accumulate in soil than traditional microplastics (MPs). If BDMs are to be considered as a sustainable solution, long-term and in-depth studies to investigate the impact of bio-MPs on the biogeochemical processes are vital to agroecosystems operation and ecosystem services supply. Although bio-MP-derived carbon can potentially convert into biomass during decomposition, its contribution to soil carbon stocks is insignificant. Instead, given their biodegradability, bio-MPs can result in greater alterations of soil biodiversity and community composition. Their high carbon-nitrogen ratios may also significantly regulate various processes involved in the natural decomposition and transformation of soil organic matter, including the reduction of nutrient availability and increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Soil ecosystems are complex organic entities interconnected by disturbance-feedback mechanisms. Given the prevailing knowledge gaps regarding the impact of bio-MPs on soil biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem balance, this study emphasized the safety and sustainability assessment of bio-MPs and the prevailing comprehensive challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuxin Huang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Qiyu Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Congyu Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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Meng K, Teng Y, Ren W, Wang B, Geissen V. Degradation of commercial biodegradable plastics and temporal dynamics of associated bacterial communities in soils: A microcosm study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161207. [PMID: 36581270 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161207] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics (BDPs) have been introduced to replace conventional fossil-based non-biodegradable plastics in agricultural production to reduce the accumulation of plastic debris in soils. However, the degradation performance of commercially available BDP products in real soils and the response of soil microbial communities to biodegradation remain unclear. Here, we explored the degradation characteristics of a commercial BDP product (made from starch, polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)) in different soils in a microcosm system over a period of 360 days. Temporal dynamics of associated bacterial communities in different soil niches (control soil, plastic surface soil and bulk soil (soil without close contact with plastics)) were profiled. Weight loss reached 42.0±1.2% to 48.0±2.2% in different soils after 360 days. The degradation of BDP followed the same pattern in different soils characterized by two distinct stages. In the first stage (day 0-30), BDPs experienced major weight loss (35.8-41.9%) which coincided with a drastic increase in the soil dissolve organic carbon (1.53-2.25 times the control soil) and the forming of distinct bacterial communities in the plastic surface soil. Thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the fast depletion of starch in this stage. In addition, observations with naked eyes and scanning electron microscope confirmed intensive microbial colonization on BDP surfaces. In the second stage (day 30-360), the degradation of remaining PLA and PBAT continued at a relatively slow rate. Meanwhile bacterial communities in the plastic surface soil started to gradually recover from the disturbance caused by fast biodegradation in the first stage in a soil-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that the degradation performance of BDPs was limited by the degradation rate of relatively recalcitrant components and the temporal dynamics of associated soil bacterial communities synchronized with the degradation of BDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Meng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ying Teng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Wenjie Ren
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Chah CN, Banerjee A, Gadi VK, Sekharan S, Katiyar V. A systematic review on bioplastic-soil interaction: Exploring the effects of residual bioplastics on the soil geoenvironment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158311. [PMID: 36037904 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158311] [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: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Growing demand for plastic and increasing plastic waste pollution have led to significant environmental challenges and concerns in today's world. Bioplastics offer exciting new opportunities and possibilities where biodegradable and bio-based plastics are expected to be more eco-friendly and rely on renewable resources. With all its promises, evaluating its real impact and fate on the geoenvironment is paramount for promoting bioplastic use. This paper presents a systematic literature review to understand current bioplastic-soil research and the effects of its residues on the geoenvironment. 632 studies related to bioplastic research in soil since 1973 were identified and categorized into different relevant topics. Publication trend showed bioplastic-soil research grew exponentially after 2010 wherein field studies accounted to 33.1 % of the total studies and only about 9.7 % studied the effects of bioplastic residues on the geoenvironment. Majority of the lab studies were on development and subsequent stability of bioplastics in soil. Short-term studies (in months) dominated the longer-term studies and studies over 4 years were almost non-existent. Lab and field experiments often gave inconsistent results with seasonal, climatic and bio-geographical factors strongly influencing the field results and bioplastic stability in soil. Most existing studies reported significant effects for microbioplastic concentrations at or above 1 % w/w. Bioplastic residues were found to substantially affect soil C/N ratio, impact soil microbial diversity by favouring certain microbial taxa and alter soil physical structure by influencing soil aggregates formation. At higher concentrations, plant health and germination success were also negatively affected. Conclusively, the review found it important to focus more on long-term field experiments to better understand the degree and extent of bioplastic residue impact on soil physico-chemical properties, mechanical properties, soil biology, soil-bioplastic-plant response, nutrients and toxicity. There are also very few studies investigating contaminant transport and migration of micro or nano-bioplastics in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charakho N Chah
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India; Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India
| | - Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India; Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India
| | - Vinay Kumar Gadi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India
| | - Sreedeep Sekharan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India; Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India.
| | - Vimal Katiyar
- Centre for Sustainable Polymers, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, 781039, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India
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Lian Y, Liu W, Shi R, Zeb A, Wang Q, Li J, Zheng Z, Tang J. Effects of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics on plant growth and bacterial community in the soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 435:129057. [PMID: 35650727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), especially biodegradable MPs (BMPs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, the effects of MPs with different biodegradability on the soil-plant systems are not well explored. In this study, the effects of polyethylene MPs (PEMPs) and polylactic acid MPs (PLAMPs) on physio-biochemical performance and metabolomic profile of soybean (Glycine max), as well as the bacterial communities in soil were investigated. Our results showed that PEMPs had no noticeable toxicity on the plant growth, while 0.1% PLAMPs significantly decreased the root length by 27.53% when compared with the control. The peroxidase (POD) activity was reduced and catalase (CAT) activity was increased by MPs in plant leaves. The metabolomics study suggested that the significantly affected metabolic pathway is amino acid metabolism. Additionally, Shannon and Simpson indices of rhizosphere soil were changed only under 0.1% PLAMPs. The key bacteria involved in the dinitrogen fixation were also altered. This study provides a novel insight into the potential effects of MPs with different biodegradability on soil-plant systems and highlights that BMPs might have stronger negative effects for terrestrial ecosystem, which needs to be further explored in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Lian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Weitao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Ruiying Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Aurang Zeb
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiantao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zeqi Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
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9
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Li C, Cui Q, Li Y, Zhang K, Lu X, Zhang Y. Effect of LDPE and biodegradable PBAT primary microplastics on bacterial community after four months of soil incubation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128353. [PMID: 35123132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics would be gradually degraded by microbes after being used and discarded, forming biodegradable microplastics (BMPs). It is however not clear if it, like conventional microplastics, can affect the original soil ecological balance. In this study, the non-degradable LDPE (low density polyethylene) was used as the reference primary microplastic, and the BMP PBAT (polyadipate/butylene terephthalate) was used as the test object. The effects of the amount of PBAT on soil physical-chemical properties, bacterial community were investigated using high throughput sequencing. The results showed that when the highest amount of PBAT applied was up to 250 times higher than the normal application amount, resulted in a certain dose-effect, and a higher amount of PBAT would reduce the content of NO3--N and TP. The lower amount of PBAT relatively increased the diversity of soil bacterial communities, and the relative abundance of the unique Azotobacter increased with increasing PBAT amount. The abundance of bacterial community in soil with different PBAT amounts was significantly correlated with the soil's physical-chemical properties. In addition, Mesorhizobium, TM7a and Azotobacter were observed to be highly tolerant bacteria in PBAT containing soil which can be actively explored to study the biodegradation of BMPs PBAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengtao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
| | - Qian Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Yan Li
- Research Institute of Oil and Gas Technology, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Branch, Xi'an 710200, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xueqiang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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10
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Fan P, Yu H, Xi B, Tan W. A review on the occurrence and influence of biodegradable microplastics in soil ecosystems: Are biodegradable plastics substitute or threat? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107244. [PMID: 35436719 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Plastic products are widely used around the world, but waste plastic is not reasonably managed and causes serious plastic pollution. Biodegradable plastics (BPs) provide an alternative to conventional plastics, but not all BPs can be completely degraded under natural conditions. Instead, they may break down into microplastics (MPs) faster than conventional plastics, posing an additional threat to soil environment. In this paper, the definition, applications, and degradation behaviors of BPs, including biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), are reviewed, and we comprehensively summarized the eco-toxicological effects of BMPs in soil ecosystems, in terms of physical and chemical properties of soil, soil nutrient cycling, soil bacterial and fungal communities, soil flora and fauna. The compound effects of BMPs and other pollutants were also addressed. The results revealed that BMPs made different or more severely effects compared to conventional MPs. Overall, this review aims to address gaps in knowledge, shed light on the ecological effects of BPs and BMPs in soil. BPs are not a perfect substitute to solve plastic pollution, and further exploration should focus on their generation, environmental behavior, ecological impact and whether BMPs cause more harm than conventional MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Hong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Beidou Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
| | - Wenbing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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Wei H, Wu L, Liu Z, Saleem M, Chen X, Xie J, Zhang J. Meta-analysis reveals differential impacts of microplastics on soil biota. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 230:113150. [PMID: 34999340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of microplastics (MPs) is a global environmental issue that has received much attention from the scientific and public communities due to ecological concerns in recent decades. Comparing with aquatic ecosystems, soil systems, regardless of the high importance and complexity, have been less studied under widely existing and increasing MP contamination. This review, combined with data assimilation and meta-analysis methods, has summarized current contamination conditions of soil MPs across different sites reported in earlier studies. While performing this meta-analysis, we investigated the effects of MPs on soil biota including their numbers, biomass, diversity, and physiological properties. The results showed that abundance of soil MPs ranged from 0.34 to 410958.9 items kg-1 and concentration ranged from 0.002 to 67500 mg kg-1 across sites, with agricultural soils containing significantly lower abundance and concentration of MPs than others. Presence of MPs significantly decreased the individual number of soil biota, operational taxonomic unit, diversity index (Simpson), movement index and reproduction rate, whereas the mortality rate was significantly increased by the soil MPs. Despite these significant effects, MPs did not significantly alter the biomass of soil biota, which could be due to a counteraction of their negative and positive effects on different groups of soil organisms. Moreover, we observed that soil MPs could significantly increase the Chao1 index, suggesting that MPs may act as a food resource for the soil rare biosphere. Based on the existing knowledge, we suggest that future studies should focus on research areas that include but are not limited to methodological improvements, intensive field investigations, risk assessment from the perspective of soil food web and bioaccumulation, MPs induced antibiotic resistance, and restoration strategies to reduce their concentrations in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lizhu Wu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ziqiang Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Muhammad Saleem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Xuan Chen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiefen Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaen Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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12
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Manfra L, Marengo V, Libralato G, Costantini M, De Falco F, Cocca M. Biodegradable polymers: A real opportunity to solve marine plastic pollution? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125763. [PMID: 33839500 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is a ubiquitous material in our life, and its durability represents a great problem for the environment. Several studies reported the occurrence of plastic litter in different environmental compartments and, consequently, numerous efforts are currently focused on how improving its recycling process and produce environmentally friendly solutions. In recent years, biodegradable polymers/plastics (BPs) have been proposed to reduce environmental impacts in specific applications (e.g., when conventional plastics are difficult or expensive to remove from the environment). Their wide use in commercial products, especially in the packaging sector, is causing new pollution alarm. Research studies are ongoing to improve BPs manufacturing and characteristics, but few data are reported about their behavior and toxicity into the marine environment. This paper reviewed the current state of the art highlighting that, even though the degradation of BPs in simulated or real marine environments is quite investigated, only eleven papers reported their effects on marine organisms (e.g., behavioral and oxidative stress and potential cascading effects on marine ecosystems). Presently, the main benefits of BPs are linked to waste management (including collection and recycling of organic waste). Due to the existing knowledge gaps, BPs cannot be deemed yet as a solution to marine plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Manfra
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Marengo
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cinthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Costantini
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Francesca De Falco
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegri, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
| | - Mariacristina Cocca
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegri, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
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Li C, Cui Q, Zhang M, Vogt RD, Lu X. A commonly available and easily assembled device for extraction of bio/non-degradable microplastics from soil by flotation in NaBr solution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:143482. [PMID: 33261878 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Soil microplastic pollution has caused widespread research attention worldwide. It is necessary to efficiently separate microplastic particles from soil matrixes in order to conduct studies of microplastic. And so far, few studies have described the separation and extraction devices of biodegradable microplastic. Here we present a commonly available device for extraction of non-degradable and biodegradable microplastics from soil samples in a NaBr solution based on density flotation. The device has a combined circulation and recovery system for the salt solution, which increases its environmental-friendliness. The accuracy and precision of the device was verified through spike and recovery experiments using three types of biodegradable microplastics (PBS, PBAT, PLA) and four types of non-degradable microplastics (LDPE, PS, PP, PVC), all with different particle sizes, and all microplastics are grinded autonomously, closer to reality. In despite of differences in particle size and density, for both biodegradable and non-degradable microplastics the device exhibited good extraction precision, with recovery rates ranging from 92% to 99.6%, over a wide range of particle densities and sizes. The recovery rates slightly increased with increased polymer density and microplastic particle size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengtao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
| | - Qian Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Rolf D Vogt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Xueqiang Lu
- College of Environment Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Abstract
Microplastics, as an emerging contaminant, have been shown to threaten the sustainability of ecosystems, and there is also concern about human exposure, as microplastic particles tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. While microplastics in marine environments have been extensively studied, research on microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems is just starting to gain momentum. In this paper, we used scientometric analysis to understand the current status of microplastic research in terrestrial systems. The global scientific literature on microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems, based on data from the Web of Science between 1986 and 2020, was explored with the VOSviewer scientometric software. Co-occurrence visualization maps and citation analysis were used to identify the relationship among keywords, authors, organizations, countries, and journals focusing on the issues of terrestrial microplastics. The results show that research on microplastics in terrestrial systems just started in the past few years but is increasing rapidly. Science of the Total Environment ranks first among the journals publishing papers on terrestrial microplastics. In addition, we also highlighted the desire to establish standards/protocols for extracting and quantifying microplastics in soils. Future studies are recommended to fill the knowledge gaps on the abundance, distribution, ecological and economic effects, and toxicity of microplastics.
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Structure and Function of Bacterial Microbiota in Eucommia ulmoides Bark. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:3623-3632. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02157-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Satti SM, Shah AA. Polyester-based biodegradable plastics: an approach towards sustainable development. Lett Appl Microbiol 2020; 70:413-430. [PMID: 32086820 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Non-degradability of conventional plastics, filling of landfill sites, raising water and land pollution and rapid depletion of fossil resources have raised the environmental issues and global concerns. The current demand and production of plastics is putting immense pressure on fossil resources, consuming about 6% of the global oil and is expected to grow up to 20%. The polyester-based biodegradable plastics (BPs) are considered as a remedy to the issue of plastics waste in the environment. BPs appear to manage the overflow of plastics by providing new means of waste management system and help in securing the non-renewable resources of nature. This review comprehensively presents the environmental burdens due to conventional plastics as well as production of polyester-based BPs as an alternative to conventional commodity plastics. The diversity of micro-organisms and their enzymes that degrade various polyester-based BPs (PLA, PCL, PHB/PHBV and PET) has also been described in detail. Moreover, the impact of plastics degradation products on soil ecology and ecosystem functions has critically been discussed. The report ends with special focus on future recommendations for the development of sustainable waste management strategies to control pollution due to plastics waste. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Polyester-based BPs considered as a solution to current plastic waste problem as well as leading polymers in terms of biodegradability and sustainability has been critically discussed. The role of microorganisms and their enzymes involved in the biodegradation of these polymers and ecotoxicological impact of degradation products of BPs on soil microbial community and biogeochemical cycles has also been described. This report will provide an insight on the key research areas to bridge the gap for development of simulated systems as an effective and emerging strategy to divert the overflow of plastic in the environment as well as for the greener solution to the plastic waste management problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Satti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.,University Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - A A Shah
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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