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Yan R, Li J, Li J, Liu Y, Xu Z, Ge X, Lu X, Yadav KK, Obaidullah AJ, Tang Y. Deciphering morphology patterns of environmental microfibers: Insights into source apportionment. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121814. [PMID: 38820730 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121814] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Microfibers, a prevalent form of microplastics, undergo diverse environmental interactions resulting in varied morphological changes. These changes can offer insights into their environmental trajectories. Despite its importance, comprehensive studies on microfiber morphology are scarce. This study collected 233 microfibers from the East China Sea and South China Sea. Based on morphological features observed in microscopic images of microfibers, such as curvature, cross-sectional shapes, diameter variations, and crack shapes, we identified a general morphological pattern, classifying the environmental microfibers into three distinct morphological types. Our findings highlight noticeable differences in morphological metrics (e.g., length, diameter, and surface roughness) across three types, especially the diameter. Microfibers of Type I had an average diameter of 19.45 ± 4.93 μm, significantly smaller than Type II (263.00 ± 75.15 μm) and Type III (299.68 ± 85.62 μm). Within the three-dimensional (3D) space fully defined by these quantitative parameters, the clustering results of microfibers are also consistent with the proposed morphology pattern, with each category showing a potential correlation with specific chemical compositions. Type I microfibers correspond to synthetic cellulose, while 94.79 % of Types II and III are composed of polymers. Notably, we also validated the great applicability of the morphology categories to microfibers in diverse environmental compartments, including water and sediments in nearshore and offshore areas. This classification aids in the efficient determination of microfiber sources and the assessment of their ecological risks, marking a significant advancement in microfiber environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoqun Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Jiangpeng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Zhe Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Xinyu Ge
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Krishna Kumar Yadav
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Madhyanchal Professional University, Ratibad, Bhopal, 462044, India; Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences Research Group, Scientific Research Center, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Nasiriyah 64001, Iraq
| | - Ahmad J Obaidullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
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Chen Y, Chen Q, Zuo C, Zhang S, Zhang M, Hou X, Shi H. Leaching potentials of microplastic fibers and UV stabilizers from coastal-littered face masks. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:134999. [PMID: 38925055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic fibrous textiles are ubiquitous plastic commodities in everyday existence. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of understanding regarding their environmental occurrence and the releasing capacities of associated additives. In this study, ten additives were determined in twenty-eight kinds of daily used plastic products including face masks, synthetic clothing, and food containers. Our results revealed that a typical kind of fibrous plastic, face masks, contained a greater variety of additives with UV stabilizers in particular, when compared to other plastic commodities. The above phenomena triggered our field investigation for the occurrence and release potentials of face mask fibers and the co-existing UV stabilizers into the environment. We further collected 114 disposed masks from coastal areas and analyzed their UV stabilizer concentrations. Results showed that the abundance of littered face masks ranged from 40-1846 items/km2 along the Yangtze Estuary, China; and UV stabilizers were of 0.3 ± 0.7 ng/g and 0.7 ± 1.7 ng/g in main bodies and ear ropes, respectively. The UV stabilizer concentrations in the field collected masks were only ∼7 % of their new counterparts, implying their potential leaching after disposal. By simulating the weathering scenario, we predict that a substantial amount of microplastics, with 1.1 × 1010 polypropylene fibers and 3.7 × 1010 polyester fibers, are probably be released daily into the coastal environment after face masks disposal; whereas the accompanied leaching amount of UV stabilizers was relatively modest under the current scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Qiqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai, China.
| | - Chencheng Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Sijia Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Mengdan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaohong Hou
- School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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Ke Y, Lin L, Zhang G, Hong H, Yan C. Aging behavior and leaching characteristics of microfibers in landfill leachate: Important role of surface mesh structure. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134092. [PMID: 38554515 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Mesh-structured films formed by the post-processing of microfibers improves their permeability and dexterity, such as disposable masks. However, the aging behavior and potential risks of mesh-structured microfibers (MS-MFs) in landfill leachate remain poorly understood. Herein, the aging behavior and mechanisms of MS-MFs and ordinary polypropylene-films (PP-films) microplastics, as well as their leaching concerning dissolved organic matter (DOM) in landfill leachate were investigated. Results revealed that MS-MFs underwent more significant physicochemical changes than PP-films during the aging process in landfill leachate, due to their rich porous habitats. An important factor in the photoaging of MS-MFs was related to reactive oxygen species produced by DOM, and this process was promoted by photoelectrons under UV irradiation. Compared with PP-films, MS-MFs released more DOM and nano-plastics fragments into landfill leachate, altering the composition and molecular weight of DOM. Aged MS-MFs-DOM generated new components, and humus-like substances produced by photochemistry showed the largest increase. Correlation analysis revealed that leached DOM was positively correlated with oxygen-containing groups accumulated in aged MS-MFs. Overall, MS-MFs will bring higher environmental risks and become a new long-term source of DOM contaminants in landfill leachate. This study provides new insights into the impact of novel microfibers on landfill leachate carbon dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ke
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Lujian Lin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Guanglong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Hualong Hong
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China.
| | - Chongling Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China.
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Mikac L, Csáki A, Zentai B, Rigó I, Veres M, Tolić A, Gotić M, Ivanda M. UV Irradiation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polypropylene and Detection of Formed Microplastic Particles Down to 1 μm. Chempluschem 2024; 89:e202300497. [PMID: 37882964 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of plastics upon UVC irradiation in aqueous solution and the formation of microplastic (MP) particles were investigated. Polypropylene (PP) and recycled and virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were irradiated with a UV lamp emitting light at 254 nm. Irradiation was performed for 15 and 30 min, respectively, at an intensity of about 0.3 W cm-2 . The formation of MP was studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that MP particles were formed after irradiation and that their number was significantly higher in the recycled PET than in the virgin material. The number of PP MP formed was lower compared to PET and was not significantly different after 15 and 30 min. In addition, ethanol was used as an alternative solvent to investigate how its chemical properties and interactions with UVC irradiation affect the degradation of PET and PP plastics. The use of ethanol and recycled PET resulted in a lower number of MP particles at both irradiation times. When ethanol was used after 30 min of irradiation, significantly more PP MP formed. The different chemical structures of PET and PP combined with the different solvent properties of water and ethanol contribute to the differences in their susceptibility to UVC degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Mikac
- Molecular Physics and New Materials Synthesis Laboratory, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Applied and Nonlinear Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Csáki
- Department of Applied and Nonlinear Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Benedek Zentai
- Department of Applied and Nonlinear Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Rigó
- Department of Applied and Nonlinear Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Veres
- Department of Applied and Nonlinear Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ana Tolić
- Molecular Physics and New Materials Synthesis Laboratory, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijan Gotić
- Molecular Physics and New Materials Synthesis Laboratory, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mile Ivanda
- Molecular Physics and New Materials Synthesis Laboratory, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
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Zuo C, Li Y, Chen Y, Jiang J, Qiu W, Chen Q. Leaching of heavy metals from polyester microplastic fibers and the potential risks in simulated real-world scenarios. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132639. [PMID: 37778306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132639] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals have been incorporated as additives into synthetic textiles to enhance their functional properties. However, these fibers are susceptible to shedding due to mechanical wear, and the release of heavy metals from microplastic fibers (MFs) remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, this study sought to quantify the levels of heavy metals in textiles, evaluate their leaching capabilities under various scenarios, and ultimately assess the potential health risks associated with MFs ingestion. First, we determined the metal content in eight commonly used polyester textiles. Subsequently, we estimated the metal leaching capacities of specific MFs sourced from carpets, curtains, sweaters, and scarves in freshwater, human saliva, human lung fluid, and fish gastric fluid at distinct time intervals. The results indicated that carpets contained the highest amount of total metals, with a concentration of 218 ± 8 mg/kg. Ultraviolet weathering, coupled with longer exposure durations, led to surface coarsening of MFs, which may be the primary reason for the enhanced leaching of metals in freshwater. Furthermore, our findings revealed that carbonyl index was unsuitable for characterizing aging because polyester inherently contains carbonyl groups. Instead, the O/C ratio emerged as a more suitable indicator. The leached concentrations and percentages of metals from MFs exhibited the following order in biofluids: Sb>Mn>Cr and Cr>Mn>Pb in biofluids, respectively. Finally, the estimated daily intake of metals was significantly below the tolerable thresholds (0.0014-0.14 mg/kg/d for fish and 0.0036-1.0 mg/kg/d for humans), indicating a negligible risk of heavy metal exposure through MFs for both fish and humans. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: In recent years, the ecological risks posed by heavy metal contaminants loaded onto microplastic fibers have become an increasing concern. Therefore, our study sought to characterize the accumulation of heavy metals on plastic fabrics and the potential for these loaded heavy metals to be released when microplastic fibers originating from these fabrics enter freshwater environments and interact with organisms. This vector-like behavior underscores the importance of investigating the ecological hazards associated with microplastic fibers carrying contaminants in both environmental and organismal contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chencheng Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Wenhui Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qiqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai 200241, China.
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Xie L, Luo S, Liu Y, Ruan X, Gong K, Ge Q, Li K, Valev VK, Liu G, Zhang L. Automatic Identification of Individual Nanoplastics by Raman Spectroscopy Based on Machine Learning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:18203-18214. [PMID: 37399235 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of nanoplastics in the environment underscores the need for effective detection and monitoring techniques. Current methods mainly focus on microplastics, while accurate identification of nanoplastics is challenging due to their small size and complex composition. In this work, we combined highly reflective substrates and machine learning to accurately identify nanoplastics using Raman spectroscopy. Our approach established Raman spectroscopy data sets of nanoplastics, incorporated peak extraction and retention data processing, and constructed a random forest model that achieved an average accuracy of 98.8% in identifying nanoplastics. We validated our method with tap water spiked samples, achieving over 97% identification accuracy, and demonstrated the applicability of our algorithm to real-world environmental samples through experiments on rainwater, detecting nanoscale polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Despite the challenges of processing low-quality nanoplastic Raman spectra and complex environmental samples, our study demonstrated the potential of using random forests to identify and distinguish nanoplastics from other environmental particles. Our results suggest that the combination of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning holds promise for developing effective nanoplastic particle detection and monitoring strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Xie
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Siheng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Ruan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Kedong Gong
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Qiuyue Ge
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Kejian Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
| | - Ventsislav Kolev Valev
- Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials and Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Guokun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, Center for Marine Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Liwu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, Peoples' Republic of China
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Shahi NK, Kim JY, Dockko S. Process analysis of microplastic aging during the photochemical oxidation process and its effect on the adsorption behavior of dissolved organic matter. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:139980. [PMID: 37648171 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139980] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Information on microplastics (MPs) interactions with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is essential for understanding their environmental impacts. However, research is scarce regarding the adsorption behavior of DOM with different characteristics onto pristine and aged MPs. This research thus investigates MPs aging behavior accelerated by UV/Persulfate and UV/chlorine oxidation processes and the adsorption behavior of organic matter with low-specific ultraviolet absorbance (L-SUVA) and high-SUVA (H-SUVA) characteristics. MPs were degraded by UV/Cl and UV/Persulfate for 30 days. Changes in thermal properties, surface morphology, and chemistry were studied using different analytical techniques. The adsorption behavior was assessed by adsorption kinetic and isotherm study. After oxidation, the surface of the MPs showed a significant increase in the oxygen-containing functional groups, contact angle, surface roughness, and surface energy, and a decrease in crystallinity. The oxidation effect follows the order of UV/Cl > UV/Persulfate. The kinetic and equilibrium data of H-SUVA adsorption on pristine and aged MPs well-fitted the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model. In contrast, L-SUVA well-fitted the pseudo-first-order and Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity (qm) increased in the following orders: 8.11 > 5.87>4.29 mg g-1 for H-SUVA and 19.81 > 6.662>5.315 mg g-1 for L-SUVA by MPs aged with UV/Cl, UV/Persulfate and pristine MPs, respectively. The larger the surface damage of MPs, the greater the adsorption affinity of DOM. The result was attributed to the physical adsorption process, hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic, hydrogen, and halogen bonding. These findings are beneficial to provide new insights involving the adsorption behavior and interaction mechanisms of DOM onto MPs for the environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmal Kumar Shahi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yup Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Dockko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
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Liu YJ, Yang HY, Hu YY, Li ZH, Yin H, He YT, Zhong KQ, Yuan L, Zheng X, Sheng GP. Face mask derived micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds potentially induce threat to aquatic ecosystem security revealed by toxicogenomics-based assay. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120251. [PMID: 37356160 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120251] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastics widely detected in aquatic environments have caused serious threat to water quality security. However, as a potential important source of micro(nano)plastics in surface water during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ecological risks of face mask waste to aquatic environments remain poorly understood. Herein, we comprehensively characterized the micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds released from four daily used face masks in aqueous environments and further evaluated their potential impacts on aquatic ecosystem safety by quantitative genotoxicity assay. Results from spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrum showed that plastic microfibers/particles (∼11%-83%) and leachable organic compounds (∼15%-87%) were dominantly emitted pollutants, which were significantly higher than nanoplastics (< ∼5%) based on mass of carbon. Additionally, a toxicogenomics approach using green fluorescence protein-fused whole-cell array revealed that membrane stress was the primary response upon the exposure to micro(nano)plastics, whereas the emitted organic chemicals were mainly responsible for DNA damage involving most of the DNA repair pathways (e.g., base/nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair), implying their severe threat to membrane structure and DNA replication of microorganisms. Therefore, the persistent release of discarded face masks derived pollutants might exacerbate water quality and even adversely affect aquatic microbial functions. These findings would contribute to unraveling the potential effects of face mask waste on aquatic ecosystem security and highlight the necessity for more developed management regulations in face mask disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - He-Yun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yan-Yun Hu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zheng-Hao Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Hao Yin
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yun-Tian He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Keng-Qiang Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Li Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Guo-Ping Sheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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9
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Yan Y, Yu Y, Sima J, Geng C, Yang J. Aging behavior of microplastics accelerated by mechanical fragmentation: alteration of intrinsic and extrinsic properties. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90993-91006. [PMID: 37468782 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28736-x] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) inevitably undergo multiple aging processes during their life cycle in the environment. However, the information regarding the mechanical fragmentation behavior of MPs remained unclear, including the changes in the intrinsic properties of aged MPs, the measurement of aging degree, the underlying mechanism, and the interaction with heavy metals. Here, MPs (PS, PP, PET) were aged by crushing (-CR) and ball-milling (-BM) to simulate mild and severe mechanical fragmentation, respectively. Our results indicated that mechanical fragmentation significantly affected the morphology of MPs. The aging degree of MP-BM was deeper compared to MP-CR owing to smaller particle size, larger specific surface area, poorer heat resistance, better hydrophilicity, and richer oxygen-containing functional groups. The carbonyl index (CI) and O/C ratio were used to measure the aging degree of the two mechanical aging treatments. Besides, the mechanism was proposed and the discrepancy between the two treatments was elaborated from three aspects including the excitation energy source, reaction interface, and reaction dynamics. Furthermore, the extrinsic properties of MPs altered with the increase of aging degree; specifically, the adsorption capacities of heavy metals were enhanced. Meanwhile, it was unveiled that the CI value and O/C ratio played a vital role in estimating the adsorption ability of heavy metals. The findings not only reveal the mechanical fragmentation behavior of MPs but also provide new insights into the assessment of the potential risks of the aged MPs via chemical indexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Yan
- The Ecological Technique and Engineering College, Shanghai Institute of Technology, No. 100 Haiquan Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, 201418, China
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yulu Yu
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jingke Sima
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China.
| | - Chunnu Geng
- The Ecological Technique and Engineering College, Shanghai Institute of Technology, No. 100 Haiquan Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, 201418, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
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