1
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Junaid M, Liu S, Liao H, Yue Q, Wang J. Environmental nanoplastics quantification by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the Pearl River, China: First insights into spatiotemporal distributions, compositions, sources and risks. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135055. [PMID: 38941826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs, size <1000 nm) are ubiquitous plastic particles, potentially more abundant than microplastics in the environment; however, studies highlighting their distribution dynamics in freshwater are rare due to analytical limitations. Here, we investigated spatiotemporal levels of nine polymers of NPs in surface water samples (n = 30) from the full stretch of the Pearl River (sites, n = 15) using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Six polymers were detected, including polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon/polyamide 66 (PA66), polyester (PES), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polyethylene (PE), where three polymers showed high detection frequencies; PS (100 % in winter and summer), followed by PVC (73 % in winter and 87 % in summer) and PA66 (53 % in winter and 67 % in summer). The spatiotemporal distribution revealed the sites related to aquaculture (AQ) and shipping (SHP) showed higher NP levels than those of human settlement (HS) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (p = 0.004), and relatively high average levels of NPs in the urban sites compared to rural sites (p = 0.04), albeit showed no obvious seasonal differences (p = 0.78). For instance, the average PS levels in the Pearl River were in the following order: AQ 411.55 µg/L > SHP 81.75 µg/L > WWTP 56.66 µg/L > HS 47.75 µg/L in summer and HS 188.1 µg/L > SHP 103.55 µg/L > AQ 74.7 µg/L > WWTP 62.1 µg/L in winter. Source apportionment showed a higher contribution through domestic plastic waste emissions among urban sites, while rural sites showed an elevated contribution via aquaculture, agriculture, and surface run-off to the NP pollution. Risk assessment revealed that NPs at SHP and AQ sites posed a higher integrated risk in terms of pollution load index (PLI) than those at WWTP and HS sites. Regarding polymer hazard index (HI), 80 % of sampling sites in summer and 60 % of sampling sites in winter posed level III polymer risk, with PVC posing the highest risk. This study provides novel insights into the seasonal contamination and polymer risks of NP in the Pearl River, which will help to regulate the production and consumption of plastics in the region. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: The contamination dynamics of field nanoplastics (NPs) in freshwater resources remain little understood, mainly attributed to analytical constraints. This study aims to highlight the spatiotemporal distribution of NPs in the Pearl River among various land use types, urban-rural comparison, seasonal comparison, their compositional profiles, potential sources, interaction with environmental factors, and ecological and polymer hazard assessments of investigated polymers in the full stretch of the Pearl River from Liuxi Reservoir to the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. This study, with a comparatively large number of samples and NP polymers, will offer novel insights into the contamination profiles of nano-sized plastic particles in one of the important freshwater riverine systems in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Junaid
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Shulin Liu
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Hongping Liao
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Qiang Yue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China.
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2
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Ye H, Zheng X, Yang H, Kowal MD, Seifried TM, Singh GP, Aayush K, Gao G, Grant E, Kitts D, Yada RY, Yang T. Cost-Effective and Wireless Portable Device for Rapid and Sensitive Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics. ACS Sens 2024. [PMID: 39133267 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) in ecosystems poses tremendous environmental risks for terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Designing rapid, field-deployable, and sensitive devices for assessing the potential risks of MNPs pollution is critical. However, current techniques for MNPs detection have limited effectiveness. Here, we design a wireless portable device that allows rapid, sensitive, and on-site detection of MNPs, followed by remote data processing via machine learning algorithms for quantitative fluorescence imaging. We utilized a supramolecular labeling strategy, employing luminescent metal-phenolic networks composed of zirconium ions, tannic acid, and rhodamine B, to efficiently label various sizes of MNPs (e.g., 50 nm-10 μm). Results showed that our device can quantify MNPs as low as 330 microplastics and 3.08 × 106 nanoplastics in less than 20 min. We demonstrated the applicability of the device to real-world samples through determination of MNPs released from plastic cups after hot water and flow induction and nanoplastics in tap water. Moreover, the device is user-friendly and operative by untrained personnel to conduct data processing on the APP remotely. The analytical platform integrating quantitative imaging, customized data processing, decision tree model, and low-cost analysis ($0.015 per assay) has great potential for high-throughput screening of MNPs in agrifood and environmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxin Ye
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Xinzhe Zheng
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Haoming Yang
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Matthew D Kowal
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Teresa M Seifried
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Gurvendra Pal Singh
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Krishna Aayush
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Guang Gao
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z2, Canada
| | - Edward Grant
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - David Kitts
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Rickey Y Yada
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Tianxi Yang
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
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3
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Zhang C, Li L, Alava JJ, Yan Z, Chen P, Gul Y, Wang L, Xiong D. Female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces reproductive toxicity in mother and their offspring. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 273:107023. [PMID: 39059103 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107023] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) have been commonly detected in aquatic ecosystems, and their negative effects on aquatic organisms have raised concerns in the scientific community and general public. The acute toxicity, neurotoxicity, and metabolic toxicity induced by NPs on fishes have been reported by many studies, although less attention has been focused on how mother exposed to NPs affected their offspring in aquatic organisms. Here, female zebrafish (F0) were exposed to 0, 200 and 2000 μg/L polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) for 42 d, with their offspring (F1) reared in clear water until sexual maturity. The results showed that PS-NPs were detected in various organs of F0 and F1. PS-NPs exposure significantly decreased gonadal 17-estradiol (E2), while increasing testosterone (T) contents. Lower levels of cyp19a1a, lhr and erα expressions in the 2000 μg/L group were consistent with a reduced number of mature oocytes (MO), but an increase in perinucleolar oocytes (PO). Interestingly, the expression of vtg was only up-regulated by 200 μg/L PS-NPs. After exposure, the egg production was dramatically reduced, but the hatching rate and heartbeat of F1 embryos from treated females were significantly higher than those observed in females from the control group. Maternal PS-NPs exposure significantly decreased the E2 and T levels in F1 adults, while PS-NPs exposure significantly up-regulated the sox9a but down-regulated the foxl2a in F1 larvae of 30 days post fertilization (dpf). This study showed that PS-NPs caused reproductive toxicity by changing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis-related genes, impairing the reproductive capacity of female zebrafish, affecting the development and disrupting the endocrine function of F1. These results suggested that PS-NPs had adverse effects on fish reproductive system both in the directly exposed generation and in their unexposed offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Luoxin Li
- Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, China
| | - Juan Jose Alava
- Ocean Pollution Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries University of British Columbia, AERL 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Zebang Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Fisheries Research Institute, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830000, China
| | - Yasmeen Gul
- Department of Zoology, Government College Women University, Faisalabad 38860, Pakistan
| | - Lixin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Dongmei Xiong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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4
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Xu S, Li H, Xiao L, Feng S, Fan J, Pawliszyn J. Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:10772-10779. [PMID: 38902946 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
A simple, sustainable, and sensitive monitoring approach of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) in aqueous samples is crucial since it helps in assessing the extent of contamination and understanding the potential risks associated with their presence without causing additional stress to the environment. In this study, a novel strategy for qualitative and quantitative determination of MNPs in water by direct solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was proposed for the first time. Spherical poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and irregularly shaped polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC) were used to evaluate the feasibility and performance of the proposed method. The results demonstrated that both PMMA and PVDC MNPs were efficiently extracted by the homemade SPME coating of nitrogen-doped porous carbons (N-SPCs) and exhibited sufficient thermal decomposition in the GC-MS injection port. Excellent extraction performances of N-SPCs coating for MNPs are attributed to hydrophobic cross-linking, electrostatic forcing, hydrogen bonding, and pore trapping. Methyl methacrylate was identified as the marker for PMMA, while 1,3-dichlorobenzene and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene were the indicators for PVDC. Under the optimal extraction and decomposition conditions, the proposed method exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 0.0041 μg/L for PMMA and 0.0054 μg/L for PVDC. Notably, a programmed temperature strategy for the GC-MS injector was developed to discriminate and eliminate the potential interferences of intrinsic indicator compounds. Owing to the integration of sampling, extraction, injection, and decomposition into one step by SPME, the proposed method demonstrates exceptional sensitivity, eliminating the necessity for complex sample pretreatment procedures and the use of organic solvents. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied in the determination of PMMA and PVDC MNPs in real aqueous samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengrui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Huimin Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Li Xiao
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Suling Feng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Jing Fan
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Janusz Pawliszyn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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5
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Okoffo ED, Lu WC, Yenney E, Thomas KV. Limited exposure of captive Australian marsupials to plastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172716. [PMID: 38663626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172716] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The global concern regarding the ubiquitous presence of plastics in the environment has led to intensified research on the impact of these materials on wildlife. In the Australian context, marsupials represent a unique and diverse group of mammals, yet little is known about their exposures to plastics. This study aimed to assess the contamination levels of seven common plastics (i.e., polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) in both the diet and faeces of kangaroos, wallabies and koalas sampled from a sanctuary in Northeastern Australia. Quantitative analysis was performed by pressurized liquid extraction followed by double-shot microfurnace pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Interestingly, the analysis of the food and faeces samples revealed the absence of detectable plastic particles; with this preliminary finding suggesting a relatively limited exposure of captive Australian marsupials to plastics. This study contributes valuable insights into the current state of plastic contamination in Australian marsupials, shedding light on the limited exposures and potential risks, and highlighting the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts. The results underscore the importance of proactive measures to mitigate plastic pollution and protect vulnerable wildlife populations in Australia's unique ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Wei-Cheng Lu
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Emma Yenney
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserlautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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6
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Caldwell J, Rodriguez-Lorenzo L, Espiña B, Beck A, Stock F, Voges K, Pabortsava K, Feltham C, Horton A, Lampitt R, Rothen-Rutishauser B, Taladriz-Blanco P, Petri-Fink A. Detection of submicron- and nanoplastics spiked in environmental fresh- and saltwater with Raman spectroscopy. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116468. [PMID: 38744048 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116468] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Detection of small plastic particles in environmental water samples has been a topic of increasing interest in recent years. A multitude of techniques, such as variants of Raman spectroscopy, have been employed to facilitate their analysis in such complex sample matrices. However, these studies are often conducted for a limited number of plastic types in matrices with relatively little additional materials. Thus, much remains unknown about what parameters influence the detection limits of Raman spectroscopy for more environmentally relevant samples. To address this, this study utilizes Raman spectroscopy to detect six plastic particle types; 161 and 33 nm polystyrene, < 450 nm and 36 nm poly(ethylene terephthalate), 121 nm polypropylene, and 126 nm polyethylene; spiked into artificial saltwater, artificial freshwater, North Sea, Thames River, and Elbe River water. Overall, factors such as plastic particle properties, water matrix composition, and experimental setup were shown to influence the final limits of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Caldwell
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo
- Water Quality Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Begoña Espiña
- Water Quality Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Aaron Beck
- GEOMAR - Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - Friederike Stock
- German Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Kathrin Voges
- German Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Katsia Pabortsava
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | | | - Alice Horton
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Richard Lampitt
- National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | | | - Patricia Taladriz-Blanco
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Water Quality Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Alke Petri-Fink
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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7
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Mou L, Zhang Q, Li R, Zhu Y, Zhang Y. A powerful method for In Situ and rapid detection of trace nanoplastics in water-Mie scattering. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134186. [PMID: 38574664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134186] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in environmental media has raised significant concerns regarding their implications for environmental safety and human health. However, owing to their tiny size and low level in the environment, there is still a lack of effective methods for measuring the amount of NPs. Leveraging the principles of Mie scattering, a novel approach for rapid in situ quantitative detection of small NPs in low concentrations in water has been developed. A limit of detection of 4.2 μg/L for in situ quantitative detection of polystyrene microspheres as small as 25 nm was achieved, and satisfactory recoveries and relative standard deviations were obtained. The results of three self-ground NPs showed that the method can quantitatively detect the concentration of NPs in a mixture of different particle sizes. The satisfactory recoveries (82.4% to 110.3%) of the self-ground NPs verified the good anti-interference ability of the method. The total concentrations of the NPs in the five brands of commercial bottled water were 0.07 to 0.39 μg/L, which were directly detected by the method. The proposed method presents a potential approach for conducting in situ and real-time environmental risk assessments of NPs on human and ecosystem health in actual water environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Mou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qinzhou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, Xiamen University, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ruilong Li
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Yaxian Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, Xiamen University, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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8
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Okoffo ED, Thomas KV. Mass quantification of nanoplastics at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121397. [PMID: 38461599 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121397] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in the collection and redistribution of plastic particles from both households and industries, contributing to their presence in the environment. Previous studies investigating the levels of plastics in WWTPs, and their removal rates have primarily focused on polymer type, size, shape, colour, and particle count, while comprehensive understanding of the mass concentration of plastic particles, particularly those <1 µm (nanoplastics), remains unclear and lacking. In this study, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to simultaneously determine the mass concentration of nine selected polymers (i.e., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), nylon 6, nylon 66, polyvinylchloride (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC)) below 1 µm in size across the treatment processes or stages of three WWTPs in Australia. All the targeted nanoplastics were detected at concentrations between 0.04 and 7.3 µg/L. Nylon 66 (0.2-7.3 µg/L), PE (0.1-6.6 µg/L), PP (0.1-4.5 µg/L), Nylon 6 (0.1-3.6 µg/L) and PET (0.1-2.2 µg/L), were the predominant polymers in the samples. The mass concentration of the total nanoplastics decreased from 27.7, 18 and 9.1 µg/L in the influent to 1, 1.4 and 0.8 µg/L in the effluent, with approximate removal rates of 96 %, 92 % and 91 % in plants A, B and C, respectively. Based on annual wastewater effluent discharge, it is estimated that approximately 24, 2 and 0.7 kg of nanoplastics are released into the environment per year for WWTPs A, B and C, respectively. This study investigated the mass concentrations and removal rates of nanoplastics with a size range of 0.01-1 µm in wastewater, providing important insight into the pollution levels and distribution patterns of nanoplastics in Australian WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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9
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Song J, Zheng R, Yang R, Yu S, Xiao J, Liu J. Species selective concentration and determination of nano-selenium and inorganic selenium species in environmental waters by micropore membrane filtration and ICP-MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:3271-3280. [PMID: 38584179 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05278-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Accurate quantification of nano-selenium (nSe) and other ionic Se species in aquatic environments is a prerequisite for reliable estimation of their potential hazards. In this study, a micropore membrane filtration-based method followed by ICP-MS analysis was proposed for the selective concentration and determination of nSe in the water column. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nylon micropore filtration membranes were proven to efficiently capture nSe under optimal conditions (retention > 91.0 ± 0.87%). At the same time, ionic selenite and selenate could escape from the membranes, realizing the isolation of nSe and ionic Se species. The interference of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during separation can be resolved by adding Ca(II) ions, which can induce the formation of DOM aggregates by cation bridging effects. nSe retained on PVDF membranes could be effectively eluted with FL-70 (a powerful alkaline surfactant) aqueous solutions (0.5%, m/v) while maintaining the original size and morphology. Although nSe trapped on nylon membranes could not be easily eluted, quantification can also be achieved after membrane digestion. Speciation of ionic selenite and selenate in the filtrate was further conducted with an anion exchange column by using HPLC coupled with ICP-MS. The developed method was used to analyze Se species in six real water samples. Spiking experiments showed that the recoveries of nSe ranged from 70.2 ± 2.7% to 85.8 ± 1.3% at a spike level of 0.2 µg/L, and the recoveries of Se(IV) and Se(VI) ranged from 83.6 ± 0.5% to 101 ± 1% at a spike level of 0.55 µg/L, verifying the feasibility for the analysis of environmental water samples. This work provides possibilities to investigate the transformation and potential risks of nSe in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
- School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ronggang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Junping Xiao
- School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
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10
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Cecchi T, Poletto D, Berbecaru AC, Cârstea EM, Râpă M. Assessing Microplastics and Nanoparticles in the Surface Seawater of Venice Lagoon-Part I: Methodology of Research. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1759. [PMID: 38673116 PMCID: PMC11051501 DOI: 10.3390/ma17081759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) both represent significant concerns in environmental sciences. This paper aims to develop a convenient and efficient methodology for the detection and measurement of MPs and nanoparticles from surface seawater and to apply it to the water samples collected from the UNESCO site of Venice and its lagoon, more precisely in the Venice-Lido Port Inlet, Grand Canal under Rialto Bridge, and Saint Marc basin. In this study, MPs were analyzed through optical microscopy for their relative abundance and characterized based on their color, shape, and size classes, while the concentration and the mean of nanoparticles were estimated via the Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis technique. Bulk seawater sampling, combined with filtration through a cascade of stainless-steel sieves and subsequent digestion, facilitates the detection of MPs of relatively small sizes (size classes distribution: >1 mm, 1000-250 μm, 250-125 μm, 125-90 μm, and 90-32 μm), similar to the size of MPs ingested by marine invertebrates and fishes. A protocol for minimizing interference from non-plastic nanoparticles through evaporation, digestion, and filtration processes was proposed to enrich the sample for NPs. The findings contribute to the understanding of the extent and characteristics of MPs and nanoparticle pollution in the Venice Lagoon seawater, highlighting the potential environmental risks associated with these pollutants and the need for coordinated approaches to mitigate them. This article is based on scientific research carried out within the framework of the H2020 In-No-Plastic-Innovative approaches towards prevention, removal and reuse of marine plastic litter project (G.A. ID no. 101000612).
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cecchi
- Chemistry Department, Istituto Technico Technologico, Via Montani 7, 63900 Fermo, Italy;
| | - Davide Poletto
- Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, Castello 2641, 30122 Venice, Italy
| | - Andrei Constantin Berbecaru
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Elfrida Mihaela Cârstea
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Atomistilor 409, 077125 Magurele, Romania;
| | - Maria Râpă
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
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11
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Liu X, Yang Y, Takizawa S, Graham NJD, Chen C, Pu J, Ng HY. New insights into the concentration-dependent regulation of membrane biofouling formation via continuous nanoplastics stimulation. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121268. [PMID: 38340700 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121268] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The release of nanoplastics (NPs) into the environment is growing due to the extensive use of plastic products. Numerous studies have confirmed the negative effects of NPs on microorganisms, which poses uncertainties concerning their impact on nanofiltration (NF) membrane biofouling. This study investigated the initial cell adhesion process, NF membrane biofouling kinetic processes and bacterial responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) exposed to varied NPs concentrations (0-50 mg·L-1). Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that low concentration of NPs (0.1 mg·L-1) promoted bacterial quorum sensing, energy metabolism, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and bacterial secretion systems. Correspondingly, the polysaccharide content increased remarkably to 2.77 times the unexposed control, which served as a protective barrier for bacteria to avoid the impact of NPs-induced stress. Suppressed homologous recombination, microbial metabolic potentials and flagellar assembly were detected in bacteria exposed to a high concentration (50 mg·L-1) of NPs, mainly due to the triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, genomic DNA damage, and decreased energy production. Overall, enhanced formation of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and aggravated membrane flux decline were observed when NPs interacted with the membrane surface by cell secretions (low NPs levels) or cell lysis (high NPs levels). These findings shed light on understanding the microbial metabolism mechanism and membrane biofouling propensity with NPs stress at both the molecular and gene levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhui Liu
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yu Yang
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Satoshi Takizawa
- Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Nigel J D Graham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Chao Chen
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jian Pu
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Jingumae 5-53-70, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan; Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - How Yong Ng
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; National University of Singapore Environmental Research Institute, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
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12
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Ye Q, Wu Y, Liu W, Ma X, He D, Wang Y, Li J, Wu W. Identification and quantification of nanoplastics in different crops using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 354:141689. [PMID: 38492677 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141689] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Quantitative studies of nanoplastics (NPs) abundance on agricultural crops are crucial for understanding the environmental impact and potential health risks of NPs. However, the actual extent of NP contamination in different crops remains unclear, and therefore insufficient quantitative data are available for adequate exposure assessments. Herein, a method with nitric acid digestion, multiple organic extraction combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) quantification was used to determine the chemical composition and mass concentration of NPs in different crops (cowpea, flowering cabbage, rutabagas, and chieh-qua). Recoveries of 74.2-109.3% were obtained for different NPs in standard products (N = 6, RSD <9.6%). The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.02-0.5 μg and 0.06-1.5 μg, respectively. The detection method for NPs exhibited good external calibration curves and linearity with 0.99. The results showed that poly (vinylchloride) (PVC), poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polyadiohexylenediamine (PA66) NPs could be detected in crop samples, although the accumulation levels associated with the various crops varied significantly. PVC (N.D.-954.3 mg kg-1, dry weight (DW)) and PE (101.3-462.9 mg kg-1, DW) NPs were the dominant components in the samples of all four crop species, while high levels of PET (414.3-1430.1 mg kg-1, DW) NPs were detected in cowpea samples. Furthermore, there were notable differences in the accumulation levels of various edible crop parts, such as stems (60.2%) > leaves (39.8%) in flowering cabbage samples and peas (58.8%) > pods (41.2%) in cowpea samples. This study revealed the actual extent of NP contamination in different types of crops and provided crucial reference data for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanyun Ye
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Yingxin Wu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
| | - Wangrong Liu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Xiaorui Ma
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Dechun He
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Yuntao Wang
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Junfei Li
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Wencheng Wu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
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Shi K, Zhang H, Gao J, Zhang J, Zhang X, Kan G, Jiang J. Detection of nanoplastics released from consumer plastic food containers by electromagnetic heating pyrolysis mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1296:342344. [PMID: 38401923 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics released from consumer plastic food containers are emerging environmental pollutants and directly ingested as part of the diet. However, quantification methods for nanoplastics are still lacking. Herein, a rapid identification and mass quantification approach was developed for nanoplastics analysis by combining electromagnetic heating with pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Eh-Py-MS). The pyrolysis products directly entered into the MS, which omits the gas phase separation process and shortens the detection time. A compact pyrolysis chamber was used and this increased the sample transfer efficiency and lowered power requirement. The operational parameters were systematically examined. The influence of nanoplastic size, additive, humic acid, and aging on detection was investigated, and it was concluded that environmental factors (humic acid, aging) and plastic properties (size, additives) did not influence the detection. The developed chamber showed that the limit of detection of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics was 15.72 ng. Several typical food packages were demonstrated with satisfactory recovery rates (87.5-110%) and precision (RSD ≤11.36%). These results suggested that the consumer plastic food containers are a significant source of direct exposure to nanoplastics in humans from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Shi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China; School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China.
| | - Jikun Gao
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China
| | - Jiaqian Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China
| | - Xiangnan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051, PR China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China; School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China.
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14
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Xiao Z, Zhang X, Hong S, Zhang H, Zhang Y. A platform for microplastic assessment in aquatic environments based on the protein corona-induced aggregation effect. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 249:116037. [PMID: 38237214 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The environmental hazards of microplastics have received widespread attention. However, the in-situ detection of microplastics, particularly in aquatic environments, has been challenged by the limitations of detection methods, the large-scale instruments, and small size. Herein, a photoelectrochemical sensor based on the protein corona-induced aggregation effect is designed for the detection of polystyrene microplastics. The sensor has advantages of high sensitivity, reproducibility, and detection capability. A linear detection range of 0.5-500 μg mL-1, a method detection limit of 0.06 μg mL-1, and a limit of quantification of 0.14 μg mL-1 are achieved. Furthermore, the relative standard deviations of intra-day and inter-day precision, ranging from 0.56% to 4.63% and 0.84%-3.36% are obtained. A digital multimeter was employed to construct a platform for the real-time detection in real water samples, streamlining the detection process and yielding clear results. We believe this sensor provides new insight for the in-situ real-time detection of microplastics and has broad applications for the analysis of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Xiao
- Lab of Optoelectronic Technology for Low Dimensional Nanomaterials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Lab of Optoelectronic Technology for Low Dimensional Nanomaterials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Siyi Hong
- Lab of Optoelectronic Technology for Low Dimensional Nanomaterials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Ye Zhang
- Lab of Optoelectronic Technology for Low Dimensional Nanomaterials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
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15
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Shi K, Zhang H, Yang Y, Huang Y, Gao J, Zhang J, Kan G, Jiang Y, Jiang J. Efficient Extraction and Analysis of Nanoplastics by Ionic Liquid-Assisted Cloud-Point Extraction Coupled with Electromagnetic Heating Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4514-4520. [PMID: 38447135 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics have attracted much attention due to their potential hazards. However, analysis of nanoplastics remains challenging. In this study, ionic liquid-assisted cloud-point extraction (IL-assisted CPE) was developed to enrich nanoplastics in the aqueous environment and further coupled with electromagnetic heating pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The use of trace ILs improves the extraction efficiency of CPE for nanoplastics. The effects of ILs (types, contents), nanoplastic properties (type, size), and environmental factors (aging time, humic acid content) were systematically investigated to evaluate the applicability. The limits of detection of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) were determined to be 1.78 and 2.67 μg/L, respectively. Real environmental samples including lake water, rainwater, and influent and effluent from wastewater treatment plant were analyzed with good accuracy (79.58-116.87%) and satisfactory precision (RSD ≤ 11.99%). A possible mechanism for ILs being absorbed into the ordered surfactant micellar and generating larger micelles to synergically enclose hydrophobic nanoplastics was proposed. This work provides a simple and efficient approach to the extraction and analysis of nanoplastics in aqueous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Shi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | | | - Yuelin Huang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Jikun Gao
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Jiaqian Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Yanxiao Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
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16
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Peng M, Félix RC, Canário AVM, Power DM. The physiological effect of polystyrene nanoplastic particles on fish and human fibroblasts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169979. [PMID: 38215851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have identified the detrimental effects for the biosphere of large plastic debris, the effect of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) is less clear. The skin is the first point of contact with NPs, and skin fibroblasts have a vital role in maintaining skin structure and function. Here, a comparative approach is taken using three fibroblast cell lines from the zebrafish (SJD.1), human male newborn (BJ-5ta) and female adult (HDF/TERT164) and their response to polystyrene NP (PS-NPs) exposure is characterized. Cells were exposed to environmentally relevant PS-NP sizes (50, 500 and 1000 nm) and concentrations (0.001 to 10 μg/ml) and their uptake (1000 nm), and effect on cell viability, proliferation, migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AP) determined. All fibroblasts took up PS-NPs, and a relationship between PS-NP particle size and concentration and the inhibition of proliferation and cell migration was identified. The inhibitory effect of PS-NPs on proliferation was more pronounced for human skin fibroblasts. The presence of PS-NPs negatively affected fibroblast migration in a time-, size- and concentration-dependent manner with larger PS-NPs at higher concentrations causing a more significant inhibition of cell migration, with human fibroblasts being the most affected. No major changes were detected in ROS production or apoptosis in NP challenged fibroblasts. While the ALP activity was increased in all fibroblast cell lines, only fish fibroblasts showed a significant increase in AP activity. The heterogeneous response of fibroblasts induced by PS-NPs was clearly revealed by the segregation of HDF, BJ.5ta and SJD.1 fibroblasts in principal component analysis. Our results demonstrate that PS-NP exposure adversely affected cellular processes in a cell-type and dose-specific manner in distinct fibroblast cell lines, emphasizing the need for further exploration of NP interactions with different cell types to better understand potential implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoxiao Peng
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Rute C Félix
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Adelino V M Canário
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; International Institution of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Deborah M Power
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; International Institution of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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17
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Pitt JA, Hahn ME, Aluru N. Implications of exposure route for the bioaccumulation potential of nanopolystyrene particles. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141133. [PMID: 38199495 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics are found in marine biota across a wide range of trophic levels and environments. While a large portion of the information about plastic exposure comes from gastrointestinal (GI) data, the relevance of particle accumulation from an oral exposure compared with other types of exposure (e.g. dermal, respiratory) is unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, larval zebrafish (7 days post fertilization) were exposed to two different sizes of nanoplastics through either oral gavage or a waterborne exposure. Larvae were tracked for 48 h post exposure (hpe) to assess the migration and elimination of plastics. Larvae eliminated orally gavaged nanoplastics within 48 hpe. Oral gavage showed limited particle movement from the GI tract into other tissues. In contrast, waterborne nanoplastic-exposed larvae displayed notable fluorescence in tissues outside of the GI tract. The 50 nm waterborne-exposed larvae retained the particles past 48 hpe, and showed accumulation with neuromasts. For both sizes of plastic particles, the nanoplastics were eliminated from non-GI tract tissues by 24 hpe. Our results suggest that waterborne exposure leads to greater accumulation of plastic in comparison to oral exposure, suggesting that plastic accumulation in certain tissues is greater via routes of exposure other than oral consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A Pitt
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Joint Graduate Program in Oceanography and Oceanographic Engineering, USA; Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole, MA 02543 10, USA.
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole, MA 02543 10, USA
| | - Neelakanteswar Aluru
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole, MA 02543 10, USA
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18
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Okoffo ED, Thomas KV. Quantitative analysis of nanoplastics in environmental and potable waters by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133013. [PMID: 37988869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are emerging environmental contaminants, but their presence in environmental and potable water remains largely understudied due to the absence of quantitative analytical methods. In this study, we developed and validated a pretreatment method that combines hydrogen peroxide digestion and Amicon® Stirred Cell ultrafiltration (at 100 kDa, approximately 10 nm) with subsequent detection by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). This method allows for the simultaneous identification and quantification of nine selected nanoplastic types, including poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), nylon 6, and nylon 66, in environmental and potable water samples based on polymer-specific mass concentration. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.01 to 0.44 µg/L, demonstrating the method's ability to quantitatively detect nanoplastics in environmental and potable water samples. Most of the selected nanoplastics were detected at concentrations of between 0.04 and 1.17 µg/L, except for PC, which was consistently below the limit of detection (<0.44 µg/L). The prevalent polymer components in the samples were PE (0.10 - 1.17 µg/L), PET (0.06 - 0.91 µg/L), PP (0.04 - 0.79 µg/L), and PS (0.06 - 0.53 µg/L) nanoplastics. The presented analytical method offers an accurate means to identify, quantify, and monitor nanoplastics in complex environmental and potable water samples. It fills gaps in our understanding of nanoplastic pollution levels, providing a valuable methodology and crucial reference data for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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Masseroni A, Fossati M, Ponti J, Schirinzi G, Becchi A, Saliu F, Soler V, Collini M, Della Torre C, Villa S. Sublethal effects induced by different plastic nano-sized particles in Daphnia magna at environmentally relevant concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123107. [PMID: 38070641 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of studies have reported the toxic effects of nanoplastics (NPs) on organisms. However, the focus of these studies has almost exclusively been on the use of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres. Herein, we aim to evaluate the sublethal effects on Daphnia magna juveniles of three different NP polymers: PS-NPs with an average size of 200 nm, polyethylene [PE] NPs and polyvinyl chloride [PVC] NPs with a size distribution between 50 and 350 nm and a comparable mean size. For each polymer, five environmentally relevant concentrations were tested (from 2.5 to 250 μg/L) for an exposure time of 48 h. NP effects were assessed at the biochemical level by investigating the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and at the behavioral level by evaluating the swimming behavior (distance moved). Our results highlight that exposure to PVC-NPs can have sublethal effects on Daphnia magna at the biochemical and behavioral levels. The potential role of particle size on the measured effects cannot be excluded as PVC and PE showed a wider size range distribution than PS, with particles displaying sizes from 50 to 350 nm. However, we infer that the chemical structure of PVC, which differs from that of PE of the same range size, concurs to explain the observed effects. Consequently, as PS seems not to be the most hazardous polymer, we suggest that the use of data on PS toxicity alone can lead to an underestimation of NP hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Masseroni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Fossati
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Ponti
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Becchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Saliu
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Soler
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Maddalena Collini
- Department of Physics "Giuseppe Occhialini, " University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 3, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Della Torre
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Villa
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
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20
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Xu S, Li H, Xiao L, Wang M, Feng S, Fan J, Pawliszyn J. Quantitative Determination of Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Micro/Nanoplastics by Cooling-Assisted Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Theoretical and Experimental Insights. Anal Chem 2024; 96:2227-2235. [PMID: 38272489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Determinations of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) in environmental samples are essential to assess the extent of their presence in the environment and their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. With the aim to provide a sensitive method with simplified pretreatment steps, cooling-assisted solid-phase microextraction (CA-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is proposed as a new approach to quantify mass concentrations of MNPs in water and soil samples. The herein proposed CA-SPME method offers the unique advantage of integrating the thermal decomposition of MNPs and enrichment of signature compounds into one step. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was used as a model substance to verify the method performance in this work. Theoretical insights demonstrated that pyrolysis is the rate-determining step during the extraction process and that PMMA is effectively decomposed at 350 °C with an estimated incubation time of 13 min. Eight compounds were identified in the pyrolysis products by CA-SPME-GC-MS with the use of a DVB/CAR/PDMS coating, wherein methyl methacrylate was considered as the best indicator and dimethyl 2-methylenesuccinate was selected as the confirmation compound. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method exhibited wide linearity (0.5-2000 μg for water and 5-1000 μg for soil) and high sensitivity, with limits of detection of 0.014 and 0.28 μg for water and soil, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for determinations of PMMA MNPs in real water and soil samples with satisfactory recoveries attained. The method only required the employment of a filter membrane for water analysis, while soil samples were analyzed directly without any pretreatment. The solvent-free approach, straightforward operation, and high sensitivity of the proposed method show great potential for the analysis of MNPs in different environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengrui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Huimin Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Li Xiao
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Suling Feng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Jing Fan
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, P. R. China
| | - Janusz Pawliszyn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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21
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Cavazzoli S, Ferrentino R, Scopetani C, Monperrus M, Andreottola G. Analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in wastewater treatment plants: key steps and environmental risk considerations. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1483. [PMID: 37971551 PMCID: PMC10654204 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment is a critical objective due to their ubiquitous presence in natural habitats, as well as their occurrence in various food, beverage, and organism matrices. MNPs pose significant concerns due to their direct toxicological effects and their potential to serve as carriers for hazardous organic/inorganic contaminants and pathogens, thereby posing risks to both human health and ecosystem integrity. Understanding the fate of MNPs within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) holds paramount importance, as these facilities can be significant sources of MNP emissions. Additionally, during wastewater purification processes, MNPs can accumulate contaminants and pathogens, potentially transferring them into receiving water bodies. Hence, establishing a robust analytical framework encompassing sampling, extraction, and instrumental analysis is indispensable for monitoring MNP pollution and assessing associated risks. This comprehensive review critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of commonly employed methods for studying MNPs in wastewater, sludge, and analogous environmental samples. Furthermore, this paper proposes potential solutions to address identified methodological shortcomings. Lastly, a dedicated section investigates the association of plastic particles with chemicals and pathogens, alongside the analytical techniques employed to study such interactions. The insights generated from this work can be valuable reference material for both the scientific research community and environmental monitoring and management authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Cavazzoli
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77 - 38123, Trento (TN), Italy.
| | - Roberta Ferrentino
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77 - 38123, Trento (TN), Italy
| | - Costanza Scopetani
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu, 73 - 15140, Lahti, Finland
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff' (DICUS), University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia, 13 - 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Mathilde Monperrus
- UMR 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM-MIRA, 64600, Anglet, France
| | - Gianni Andreottola
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77 - 38123, Trento (TN), Italy
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22
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Leso V, Battistini B, Vetrani I, Reppuccia L, Fedele M, Ruggieri F, Bocca B, Iavicoli I. The endocrine disrupting effects of nanoplastic exposure: A systematic review. Toxicol Ind Health 2023; 39:613-629. [PMID: 37753827 DOI: 10.1177/07482337231203053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Good mechanical properties and low costs have led to a global expansion of plastic production and use. Unfortunately, much of this material can be released into the environment as a waste product and cleaved into micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) whose impact on the environment and human health is still largely unknown. Considering the growing worldwide awareness on exposure to chemicals that can act as endocrine disruptors, a systematic review was performed to assess the impact of NPs on the endocrine function of in vitro and in vivo models. Although a limited number of investigations is currently available, retrieved findings showed that NPs may induce changes in endocrine system functionality, with evident alterations in reproductive and thyroid hormones and gene expression patterns, also with a trans-generational impact. Nanoplastic size, concentration, and the co-exposure to other endocrine disrupting pollutants may have an influencing role on these effects. Overall, although it is still too early to draw conclusions regarding the human health risks derived from NPs, these preliminary results support the need for further studies employing a wider range of plastic polymer types, concentrations, and time points as well as species and life stages to address a great variety of endocrine outcomes and to achieve a broader and shared consensus on the role of NPs as endocrine disruptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veruscka Leso
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Battistini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vetrani
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Liberata Reppuccia
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mauro Fedele
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Ruggieri
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Bocca
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivo Iavicoli
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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23
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Barreto A, Santos J, Andrade G, Santos M, Maria VL. New Insights into Nanoplastics Ecotoxicology: Effects of Long-Term Polystyrene Nanoparticles Exposure on Folsomia candida. TOXICS 2023; 11:876. [PMID: 37888726 PMCID: PMC10610651 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the growing concern over nanoplastics' (NPls) environmental impacts, their long-term effects on terrestrial organisms remain poorly understood. The main aim of this study was to assess how NPls exposure impacts both the parental (F1) and subsequent generations (F2 and F3) of the soil-dwelling species Folsomia candida. After a standard exposure (28 days), we conducted a multigenerational study along three generations (84 days), applying polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs; diameter of 44 nm) as representatives of NPls. Endpoints from biochemical to individual levels were assessed. The standard test: PS NPs (0.015 to 900 mg/kg) had no effect in F. candida survival or reproduction. The multigenerational test: PS NPs (1.5 and 300 mg/kg) induced no effects on F. candida survival and reproduction along the three generations (F1 to F3). PS NPs induced no effects in catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferases, and acetylcholinesterase activities for the juveniles of the F1 to F3. Oxidative damage through lipid peroxidation was detected in the offspring of F1 but not in the juveniles of F2 and F3. Our findings underscore the importance of evaluating multigenerational effects to gain comprehensive insights into the contaminants long-term impact, particularly when organisms are continuously exposed, as is the case with NPls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos
- Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Andrade
- Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Matilde Santos
- Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vera L Maria
- Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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24
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Song S, Cai L, Liu Y, Peng Z, Liu C, Jiao H, Li P, Liu Q, Yu M, Zhou T, Zhang Q, Hollert H, Zhao X, Jiang G. Development of a solubility parameter calculation-based method as a complementary tool to traditional techniques for indoor dust microplastic determination and risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132189. [PMID: 37557042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Herein, a method based on solubility parameter calculation was first used to analyze microplastics in indoor dust. The limit of quantification (LOQ) reached 0.2 mg/g, and the result of reference material SRM 2585 (n = 3) was 14.8 mg/g ± 1.8 %, suggesting satisfying sensitivity and precision. Recoveries of spiking experiments were > 80 % with no obvious matrix interferences observed, except ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) MPs. Further, 69 indoor dust samples were analyzed to verify the method and to assess exposure scenarios for graduate students in Tianjin, China. EPDM was identified in an indoor environment for the first time as the second most widely detected type after PET in this work. The mass-based result is complementary to the outcomes from thermogravimetric analysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and laser direct infrared imaging. Significant correlations were found between total organic carbon (TOC), microplastics, and BDE-209 concentrations, indicating microplastics important contaminant vectors in indoor dust. Dormitory stays and PET contributed the most to health risks among the three exposure scenarios and detected four polymers, respectively. This work provides an approach with the potential for the standardized determination of microplastics in complex environmental matrices and reveals exposure characteristics of indoor dust microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanjun Song
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Limei Cai
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yuhui Liu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Zijuan Peng
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Hui Jiao
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Penghui Li
- Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Miao Yu
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Tao Zhou
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Qinghe Zhang
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Xingchen Zhao
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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25
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Barreto A, Silva ARR, Capitão A, Sousa ÉML, Calisto V, Maria VL. Nanoplastics increase the toxicity of a pharmaceutical, at environmentally relevant concentrations - A mixture design with Daphnia magna. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 103:104258. [PMID: 37666394 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
In aquatic environments, nanoplastics (NPls) can adsorb pharmaceuticals. However, throughout the scientific community, there is scarce knowledge about the interactive effects of the mixture nanoplastics (NPls) with pharmaceuticals to aquatic organisms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if the pharmaceutical diphenhydramine (DPH) toxicological effects alters when in presence of polystyrene NPls (PSNPls). To achieve this, Daphnia magna immobilization and different biochemical biomarkers (48-hours exposure) were assessed. Synergistic interactions occurred at environmentally relevant concentrations, PSNPls+DPH induced oxidative damage, whereas no effect was observed at single exposures. With the increase of PSNPls concentration, the DPH concentration causing 50% of effect (EC50) for organisms' immobilization decreased to 0.001 mg/L. In silico analysis suggested that the DPH toxicity to D. magna occurs via the sodium-dependent serotonin transporter. The results showed interactive effects between PSNPls and DPH (implying harmful effects on D. magna), allowing more thoughtful decisions by society and policymakers regarding plastics and pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Ana Rita R Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Capitão
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Research Institute, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Érika M L Sousa
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vânia Calisto
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vera L Maria
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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26
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Li P, Lai Y, Zheng RG, Li QC, Sheng X, Yu S, Hao Z, Cai YQ, Liu J. Extraction of Common Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Embedded in Environmental Solid Matrices by Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide Digestion and Dichloromethane Dissolution for Py-GC-MS Determination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12010-12018. [PMID: 37506359 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Determination of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), especially small MPs and NPs (<150 μm), in solid environmental matrices is a challenging task due to the formation of stable aggregates between MNPs and natural colloids. Herein, a novel method for extracting small MPs and NPs embedded in soils/sediments/sludges has been developed by combining tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) digestion with dichloromethane (DCM) dissolution. The solid samples were digested with TMAH, and the collected precipitate was washed with anhydrous ethanol to eliminate the natural organic matter. Then, the MNPs in precipitate were extracted by dissolving in DCM under ultrasonic conditions. Under the optimized digestion and extraction conditions, the factors including sizes and concentrations of MNPs showed insignificant effects on the extraction process. The feasibility of this sample preparation method was verified by the satisfactory spiked recoveries (79.6-91.4%) of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate MNPs in soil/sediment/sludge samples. The proposed sample preparation method was coupled with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine trace small MPs and NPs with a relatively low detection limit of 2.3-29.2 μg/g. Notably, commonly used MNPs were successfully detected at levels of 4.6-51.4 μg/g in 6 soil/sediment/sludge samples. This proposed method is promising for evaluating small solid-embedded MNP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Rong-Gang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Cun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueying Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Zhineng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ya-Qi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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27
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Rex M C, Debroy A, Nirmala MJ, Mukherjee A. Ecotoxicological significance of bio-corona formation on micro/nanoplastics in aquatic organisms. RSC Adv 2023; 13:22905-22917. [PMID: 37520083 PMCID: PMC10375451 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra04054b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The unsustainable manufacturing, utilization and inadequate handling of plastics have led to a surge in global plastic pollution. In recent times, there has been increasing concern about the plausible hazards associated with exposure to micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs). As aquatic systems are considered to be the likely sink for M/NPs, it is crucial to comprehend their environmental behavior. The bioavailability, toxicity and fate of M/NPs in the environment are predominantly dictated by their surface characteristics. In the aquatic environment, M/NPs are prone to be internalized by aquatic organisms. This may facilitate their interaction with a diverse array of biomolecules within the organism, resulting in the formation of a biocorona (BC). The development of BC causes modifications in the physicochemical attributes of the M/NPs including changes to their size, stability, surface charge and other properties. This review details the concept of BC formation and its underlying mechanism. It provides insight on the analytical techniques employed for characterizing BC formation and addresses the associated challenges. Further, the eco-toxicological implications of M/NPs and the role of BC in modifying their potential toxicity on aquatic organisms is specified. The impact of BC formation on the fate and transport of M/NPs is discussed. A concise outlook on the future perspectives is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camil Rex M
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore 632014 India
| | - Abhrajit Debroy
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore 632014 India
| | - M Joyce Nirmala
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras Chennai 600036 India
| | - Amitava Mukherjee
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore 632014 India
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28
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Li Q, Sun H, Bai Q, Li P, Lai Y, Yu S, Liu X, Yao Z, Cai Y, Liu J. Spatial distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics and small microplastics in the Bohai Sea, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163222. [PMID: 37019231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution has attracted public concerns. Currently, most environmental researches focus on large microplastics (MPs), while small MNPs that have great impacts on marine ecosystems are rarely reported. Understanding the pollution levels and distribution patterns of small MNPs could help assess their potential impacts on the ecosystem. Polystyrene (PS) MNPs were often used as models to assess their toxicity, hence, we collected 21 sites in a Chinese sea area (the Bohai Sea) to analyze their pollution level and horizontal distribution in surface water samples, and vertical distributions in five sites with the water depth >25 m. Samples were filtered by glass membranes (1 μm) to trap MPs, which were frozen, ground, dried, and detected by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (pyGC-MS); while the nanoplastics (NPs) in the filtrate were captured with alkylated ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) to form aggregates, which were separated by glass membrane (300 nm) filtration for pyGC-MS determination. Small PS MPs (1-100 μm) and NPs (<1 μm) were detected in 18 samples with the mass concentrations ranging from <0.015 to 0.41 μg/L, indicating that PS MNPs are widely present in Bohai Sea. Our study contributes to understanding the pollution levels and distribution patterns of MNPs (<100 μm) in the marine system and provides valuable data for their further risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Helin Sun
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Qingsheng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Ziwei Yao
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yaqi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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29
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Zhang YH, Gao RY, Wang ZJ, Shao QQ, Hu YW, Jia HB, Liu XJ, Dong FQ, Fu LM, Zhang JP. Daphnia magna uptake and excretion of luminescence-labelled polystyrene nanoparticle as visualized by high sensitivity real-time optical imaging. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 326:138341. [PMID: 36925008 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The environmental and ecological consequences of nanoplastics (NPs) draw increasing research interests and social concerns. However, the in situ and real-time detection of NPs from living organisms and transferring media remains as a major technical obstacle for scientific investigation. Herein we report a novel time-gated imaging (TGI) strategy capable of real-time visualizing the intake of NPs by an individual living organism, which is based on the polystyrene NPs labelled with lanthanide up-conversion luminescence. The limit of detection (LOD) of the TGI apparatus was 600 pg (SNR = 3) in a field of view of 2.4 × 3.8 mm. Taking Daphnia magna as the aquatic model, we investigated the dynamics of uptake and accumulation of NPs (500 μg/L) for 24 h, and the subsequent excretion process (in clean medium) for 48 h, and quantitively analyzed the distribution and the overall mass of NPs deposited in D. magna. The uptake of NPs via filter-feeding occurred in a few minutes, whereas a longer accumulation was found, in a timescale of several hours. And similar behaviors (bi-phase elimination) were also seen in the excretion, indicating the migration of NPs into the circulatory system. The average mass of NPs accumulated in an individual D. magna was ∼12 ng after 24 h exposure, indicating that D. magna as a filter feeder tends to retain NPs. The observed NPs accumulation in D. magna exemplifies the potential risk of aquatic ecosystem on exposure to NP contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Rong-Yao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Ze-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Qian-Qian Shao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Ya-Wen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Hua-Bing Jia
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Feng-Qin Dong
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Li-Min Fu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China.
| | - Jian-Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
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30
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Gao H, Liu C, Wang H, Shen H. Raman spectra characterization of size-dependent aggregation and dispersion of polystyrene particles in aquatic environments. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 333:138939. [PMID: 37182713 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous environments are generally thought to be a source of pooling and re-distribution for both micro-plastics (MPs) and nano-plastics (NPs); however, significantly less data on NPs than MPs have been reported. The occurrence of salts, proteins, and other organic matter may promote or inhibit the aggregation of NPs to form agglomeration particles, making their detection more difficult. In this study, 80 and 500 nm polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) modified by four different functional groups (PS-Bare, PS-COOH, PS-NH2, and PS-CHO-500 nm) were selected to mimic the flocculation and/or sedimentation of NPs in salts (NaCl, CaCl2, and Na2SO4) and protein solutions. The results showed that the 80 nm PS-NPs are only colloidal in pure water. All four strong electrolyte solutions that were tested significantly promoted the aggregation of PS-NPs, including those that were protein-coated. In addition, 500 nm PS-CHO did not flocculate but gradually settled into sedimentation. Therefore, Raman spectrometry can be used to analyze assembled PS-NPs, but is not suitable for analyzing normal PS-NPs. By combining fractal morphology, this study provides insight into the comprehensive analysis of PS-NPs in water solutions, including the digestion of biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Zhoushan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316021, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University,Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Zhoushan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316021, China.
| | - Heqing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, Fujian, China.
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31
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Barreto A, Santos J, Calisto V, Rocha LS, Amorim MJB, Maria VL. Cocktail effects of emerging contaminants on zebrafish: Nanoplastics and the pharmaceutical diphenhydramine. NANOIMPACT 2023; 30:100456. [PMID: 36841353 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2023.100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPLs) became ubiquitous in the environment, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. One of the main concerns about the NPLs risks is their role as carrier of other environmental contaminants, potentially increasing their uptake, bioaccumulation and toxicity to the organisms. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to understand how the presence of polystyrene NPLs (∅ 44 nm) will influence the toxicity (synergism, additivity or antagonism) of the antihistamine diphenhydramine (DPH), towards zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, when in dual mixtures. After 96 hours (h) exposure, at the organismal level, NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (10 mg/L) induced embryo mortality (90%) and malformations (100%) and decreased hatching (80%) and heartbeat rates (60%). After 120 h exposure, NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (0.01 mg/L) decreased larvae swimming distance (30-40%). At the biochemical level, increased glutathione S-transferases (55-122%) and cholinesterase (182-343%) activities were found after 96 h exposure to NPLs (0.015 or 1.5 mg/L) + DPH (0.01 mg/L). However, catalase (CAT) activity remained similar to the control group in the mixtures, inhibiting the effects detected after the exposure to 1.5 mg/L NPLs alone (increased 230% of CAT activity). In general, the effects of dual combination - NPLs + DPH (even at concentrations as low as 10 μg/L of DPH) - were more harmful than the correspondent individual exposures, showing the synergistic interactions of the dual mixture and answering to the main question of this work. The obtained results, namely the altered toxicity patterns of NPLs + DPH compared with the individual exposures, show the importance of an environmental risk assessment considering NPLs as a co-contaminant due to the potential NPLs role as vector for other contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santos
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vânia Calisto
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luciana S Rocha
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mónica J B Amorim
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vera L Maria
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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32
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Tamayo-Belda M, Pérez-Olivares AV, Pulido-Reyes G, Martin-Betancor K, González-Pleiter M, Leganés F, Mitrano DM, Rosal R, Fernández-Piñas F. Tracking nanoplastics in freshwater microcosms and their impacts to aquatic organisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130625. [PMID: 37056024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we used palladium-doped polystyrene NPLs (PS-NPLs with a primary size of 286 ± 4 nm) with an irregular surface morphology which allowed for particle tracking and evaluation of their toxicity on two primary producers (cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC7120 and green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) and one primary consumer (crustacean, Daphnia magna). the concentration range for Anabaena and C. reinhardtii was from 0.01 to 1000 mg/L and for D. magna, the range was from 7.5 to 120 mg/L.EC50 s ranged from 49 mg NPLs/L for D. magna (48hEC50 s) to 248 mg NPLs/L (72hEC50 s for C. reinhardtii). PS-NPLs induced dose-dependent reactive oxygen species overproduction, membrane damage and metabolic alterations. To shed light on the environmental fate of PS-NPLs, the short-term distribution of PS-NPLs under static (using lake water and sediments) and stirring (using river water and sediments) conditions was studied at laboratory scale. The results showed that most NPLs remained in the water column over the course of 48 h. The maximum percentage of settled particles (∼ 30 %) was found under stirring conditions in comparison with the ∼ 10 % observed under static ones. Natural organic matter increased the stability of the NPLs under colloidal state while organisms favored their settlement. This study expands the current knowledge of the biological effects and fate of NPLs in freshwater environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Tamayo-Belda
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gerardo Pulido-Reyes
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environment and Agronomy, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), Crta. de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Keila Martin-Betancor
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Pleiter
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Leganés
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Denise M Mitrano
- Environmental Systems Science Department, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Rosal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
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33
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Hao T, Gao Y, Li ZC, Zhou XX, Yan B. Size-Dependent Uptake and Depuration of Nanoplastics in Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) and Distinct Intestinal Impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2804-2812. [PMID: 36749610 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs, <1 μm) are of great concern worldwide because of their high potential risk toward organisms in aquatic systems, while very little work has been focused on their tissue-specific toxicokinetics due to the limitations of NP quantification for such a purpose. In this study, NPs with two different sizes (86 and 185 nm) were doped with palladium (Pd) to accurately determine the uptake and depuration kinetics in various tissues (intestine, stomach, liver, gill, and muscle) of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in water, and subsequently, the corresponding toxic effects in the intestine were explored. Our results revealed uptake and depuration constants of 2.70-378 L kg-1 day-1 and 0.138-0.407 day-1 for NPs in tilapia for the first time, and the NPs in tissues were found to be highly dependent on the particle size. The intestine exhibited the greatest relative accumulation of both sizes of NPs; the smaller NPs caused more severe damage than the larger NPs to the intestinal mucosal layer, while the larger NPs induced a greater impact on microbiota composition. The findings of this work explicitly indicate the size-dependent toxicokinetics and intestinal toxicity pathways of NPs, providing new insights into the ecological effects of NPs on aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Hao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 226237, China
| | - Ze-Chen Li
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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34
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The review of nanoplastics in plants: Detection, analysis, uptake, migration and risk. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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35
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Dang F, Wang Q, Yan X, Zhang Y, Yan J, Zhong H, Zhou D, Luo Y, Zhu YG, Xing B, Wang Y. Threats to Terrestrial Plants from Emerging Nanoplastics. ACS NANO 2022; 16:17157-17167. [PMID: 36200753 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are ubiquitous in ecosystems and impact planetary health. However, our current understanding on the impacts of nanoplastics upon terrestrial plants is fragmented. The lack of systematic approaches to evaluating these impacts limits our ability to generalize from existing studies and perpetuates regulatory barriers. Here, we undertook a meta-analysis to quantify the overall strength of nanoplastic impacts upon terrestrial plants and developed a machine learning approach to predict adverse impacts and identify contributing features. We show that adverse impacts are primarily associated with toxicity metrics, followed by plant species, nanoplastic mass concentration and size, and exposure time and medium. These results highlight that the threats of nanoplastics depend on a diversity of reactions across molecular to ecosystem scales. These reactions are rooted in both the spatial and functional complexities of nanoplastics and, as such, are specific to both the plastic characteristics and environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate the utility of interrogating the diversity of toxicity data in the literature to update both risk assessments and evidence-based policy actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Dang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, P.R. China
| | - Qingyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, P.R. China
| | - Xiliang Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou510006, P.R. China
| | - Yuanye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, P.R. China
| | - Jiachen Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou510006, P.R. China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. China
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, P.R. China
| | - Yongming Luo
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen361021, P.R. China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts01003, United States
| | - Yujun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, P.R. China
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36
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Jing S, Huang Y, Chen Y, He X, Chen Z, Lu X, Wu M, Wanger TC. Non-Destructive Extraction and Separation of Nano- and Microplastics from Environmental Samples by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation. Anal Chem 2022; 94:15280-15287. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Jing
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 200438 Shanghai, China
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering lab, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules of Zhejiang Province, School of Science, Instrumentation and Service Center for Molecular Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yinjuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules of Zhejiang Province, School of Science, Instrumentation and Service Center for Molecular Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xueqing He
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering lab, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
- ChinaRiceNetwork.org, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules of Zhejiang Province, School of Science, Instrumentation and Service Center for Molecular Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xingyu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules of Zhejiang Province, School of Science, Instrumentation and Service Center for Molecular Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Minghuo Wu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, 124221 Panjin, China
| | - Thomas C. Wanger
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering lab, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
- ChinaRiceNetwork.org, Hangzhou, 310024 Zhejiang Province, China
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37
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Li Y, Gao Y, Jia J, Deng Y, Zhang K, Yan B, Zhou X. Protein corona-induced extraction coupled to Fenton oxidation for selective and non-destructive preconcentration of Ag 2S nanoparticles from waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 224:119042. [PMID: 36103778 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sulfidation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to generate silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S-NPs) significantly influences their fate and toxicity in natural environments. However, the correlational research in this field was limited by the lack of methods for speciation analysis of Ag2S-NPs. To address this challenge, a novel protocol for the selective Ag2S-NP extraction from real waters was developed using protein corona-induced extraction coupled to Fenton oxidation of AgNPs with Fe3+/H2O2 reagents. The ability of various concentrations of Fe3+/H2O2 to selectively dissociate AgNPs into ions was first evaluated. Then, selective separation and preconcentration of the remaining Ag2S-NPs was established by optimizing the parameters that may affect the protein corona-induced extraction efficiency, followed by quantification with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), enabling an ultrahigh enrichment factor of 10,000 and extremely low detection limit (LOD) of 1.8 ng/L. The presence of humic acid (HA), inorganic salts and particles at the environmentally relevant levels had limited effects on Ag2S-NP extraction. As demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis and single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS), the sizes, shapes, and compositions of Ag2S-NPs extracted with the proposed method remain in intact. Good recoveries of 83.7-105% were achieved for the Ag2S-NPs spiked in four natural waters at the level of 97.8 ng/L. Due to the high yields and applicability to Ag2S-NPs at environmentally relevant concentrations, this proposed method is particularly suitable to track the generation and transformation of Ag2S-NPs in various scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianbo Jia
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Youwei Deng
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Kena Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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38
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Li Q, Bai Q, Sheng X, Li P, Zheng R, Yu S, Liu J. Influence of particle characteristics, heating temperature and time on the pyrolysis product distributions of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1682:463503. [PMID: 36152483 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) has been widely used for the detection of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment. However, there is a lack of thorough investigation on the effects of pyrolysis temperature and time, as well as the particle source, size and mass of MNPs on the pyrolysis efficiency and pyrolysis product distribution of MNPs. Herein, taking the common plastics polystyrene (PS) as a model, we systematically evaluated the influences of the above factors on the pyrolysis of PS MNPs. Results showed that pyrolysis temperature and time significantly affect the pyrolysis efficiency. By measuring the relative response values of the indicator compound styrene trimers to styrene monomer, the optimum condition was determined as the temperature of 510 ℃ and pyrolysis time longer than 18 s. Meanwhile, the mass of MNPs also affected the distribution of PS pyrolysis products. The proportions of styrene dimers and trimers increased slightly with PS MNP mass, while the source, particle size of MNPs have little effect on the pyrolysis product distribution. This work proposed a suitable pyrolysis temperature and time for the determination of PS by Py-GC/MS, which would contribute to the accurate analysis of PS MNPs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingsheng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueying Sheng
- China University of Petroleum Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ronggang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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39
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Zhang P, Liu Y, Zhang L, Xu M, Gao L, Zhao B. The interaction of micro/nano plastics and the environment: Effects of ecological corona on the toxicity to aquatic organisms. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 243:113997. [PMID: 35988380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113997] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the micro/nano plastics (MNPs) exposure risks have risen in recent years. The ecological corona (EC), which is generated by the interaction between MNPs and environmental substances, has a significant impact on their environmental fate and ecological risks. As the largest sink of MNPs, the aquatic environment is of great significance for understanding the environmental behaviour of MNPs. Transmission Electron Microscope (TME), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and other analytical methods have been used as effective methods to analyse the formation process of EC and detect the existing EC directly or indirectly on the surface of MNPs. The physicochemical properties of MNPs, complex aquatic environments and ageing time have been identified as the key factors affecting EC formation in aquatic environments. Moreover, the EC absorbed on MNPs significantly changed their environmental behaviour and toxicity to aquatic organisms. This review gives a full understanding of the EC formation progress on the surface of MNPs and different analytical methods for EC have been summarised which can further assist the ecological risk assessment of MNPs in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiming Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yin Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| | - Long Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Nonferrous Metals, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China
| | - Ming Xu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lirong Gao
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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40
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Li J, Wang G, Gou X, Xiang J, Huang QT, Liu G. Revealing Trace Nanoplastics in Food Packages─An Electrochemical Approach Facilitated by Synergistic Attraction of Electrostatics and Hydrophobicity. Anal Chem 2022; 94:12657-12663. [PMID: 36070514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Most food packages are made of plastics, nanoplastics released from which can be directly ingested and induce serious damage to organisms. Therefore, it is urgent to develop an effective and convenient method for nanoplastic determinations in food packages. In this work, we present a sandwich-based electrochemical strategy for nanoplastic determination. Positively charged Au nanoparticles were coated onto a Au electrode to selectively capture negatively charged nanoplastics in an aqueous environment. Subsequently, the nanoplastics were recognized by the signal molecule ferrocene via the hydrophobic interaction and determined by differential pulse voltammetry. Our sandwich-type detection depends on both electronegativity and hydrophobicity of nanoplastics, which make the method applicable for the assays of packages made of widely commercialized polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyamide (PA). The method displays different sensitivities to above four nanoplastics but the same dynamic range from 1 to 100 μg·L-1. Based on it, the nanoplastics released from several typical food packages were assayed. Teabags were revealed with significant nanoplastic release, while instant noodle boxes, paper cups, and take-out boxes release slightly. The good recoveries in nanoplastic-spiked samples confirm the accuracy and applicability of this method. This work provides a sensitive, low-cost, and simple method without complicated instruments and pretreatment, which is of great significance for the determination of nanoplastics released from food packages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Gan Wang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Gou
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Juan Xiang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Qiu-Ting Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, P. R. China
| | - Guokun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, P. R. China
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41
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Yang Q, Zhang S, Su J, Li S, Lv X, Chen J, Lai Y, Zhan J. Identification of Trace Polystyrene Nanoplastics Down to 50 nm by the Hyphenated Method of Filtration and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based on Silver Nanowire Membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10818-10828. [PMID: 35852947 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are emerging pollutants that pose potential threats to the environment and organisms. However, in-depth research on nanoplastics has been hindered by the absence of feasible and reliable analytical methods, particularly for trace nanoplastics. Herein, we propose a hyphenated method involving membrane filtration and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to analyze trace nanoplastics in water. In this method, a bifunctional Ag nanowire membrane was employed to enrich nanoplastics and enhance their Raman spectra in situ, which omitted sample transfer and avoided losing smaller nanoplastics. Good retention rates (86.7% for 50 nm and approximately 95.0% for 100-1000 nm) and high sensitivity (down to 10-7 g/L for 50-1000 nm and up to 105 SERS enhancement factor) of standard polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics were achieved using the proposed method. PS nanoplastics with concentrations from 10-1 to 10-7 g/L and sizes ranging from 50 to 1000 nm were successfully detected by Raman mapping. Moreover, PS micro- and nanoplastics in environmental water samples collected from the seafood market were also detected at the μg/L level. Consequently, the proposed method provides more possibilities for analyzing low-concentration nanoplastics in aquatic environments with high enrichment efficiency, minimal sample loss, and high sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Shaoying Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jie Su
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Shu Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiaochen Lv
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yongchao Lai
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Jinhua Zhan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
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Sorasan C, Edo C, González-Pleiter M, Fernández-Piñas F, Leganés F, Rodríguez A, Rosal R. Ageing and fragmentation of marine microplastics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154438. [PMID: 35276161 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The generation of small fragments from the environmental ageing of microplastics (MPs) is still a poorly known process. This work addresses the fragmentation of MPs obtained from marine debris consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene (PE and PP in environmental mixture) and polystyrene (PS) after exposure to accelerated ageing by irradiation and mechanical stirring. Number particle size distribution in the 1-100 μm range was assessed by combining laser diffractometry with particle counts from flow cytometry. The results showed the generation of a high number of small MP particles, which reached 105-106 items/mg of plastic with most fragments <2 μm. The results showed that environmentally aged MPs give rise to a larger number of small MPs in a pattern consistent with progressive fragmentation in the three spatial dimensions. The proportion of small MPs was much higher than that found in current sampling campaigns, suggesting a severe underestimation of the environmental presence of small MPs. We also demonstrated the generation of nanoplastics (NPs) in the fraction <1 μm from irradiated runs. The results showed that the mechanism that produced nanoplastics (NPs) from MPs was irradiation, which yielded up to 1011-1013 NPs/g with particle size in the few hundreds of nm range. Our results are relevant for the assessment of fate and risk of plastic debris in the environment showing that the number of small plastic fragments produced during the ageing of MPs is much larger than expect from the extrapolation of larger size populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sorasan
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Edo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Pleiter
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisca Fernández-Piñas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Leganés
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Rosal
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain.
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43
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Li Q, Lai Y, Li P, Liu X, Yao Z, Liu J, Yu S. Evaluating the Occurrence of Polystyrene Nanoparticles in Environmental Waters by Agglomeration with Alkylated Ferroferric Oxide Followed by Micropore Membrane Filtration Collection and Py-GC/MS Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:8255-8265. [PMID: 35652387 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although nanoplastics (NPs) are recognized as emerging anthropogenic particulate pollutants, the occurrence of NPs in the environment is rarely reported, partly due to the lack of sensitive methods for the concentration and detection of NPs. Herein, we present an efficient method for enriching NPs of different compositions and various sizes. Alkylated ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) particles were prepared as adsorbents for highly efficient capture of NPs in environmental waters, and the formed large Fe3O4-NP agglomerates were separated by membrane filtration. Detection limits of 0.02-0.03 μg/L were obtained for polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) NPs by detection with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). When analyzing real water samples from different sources, it is remarkable that PS NPs were detected in 11 out of 15 samples with concentrations ranging from <0.07 to 0.73 μg/L, while PMMA were not detected. The wide detection of PS NPs in our study confirms the previous speculation that NPs may be ubiquitous in the environmental waters. The accurate quantification of PS NPs in environmental waters make it possible to monitor the pollution status of NPs in aquatic systems and evaluate their potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xing Liu
- National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Ziwei Yao
- National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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44
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Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10050270. [PMID: 35622683 PMCID: PMC9147381 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are particles ranging in size between 1 and 1000 nm, and they are a form of environmental contaminant of great ecotoxicological concern. Although NPs are widespread across ecosystems, they have only recently garnered growing attention from both the scientific community and regulatory bodies. The present study reviews scientific literature related to the exposure and effects of NPs and identifies research gaps that impede the finalization of related environmental risk assessments (ERAs). Approximately 80 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were considered. Very few studies (eight articles) focused on the presence of NPs in biotic matrices, whereas the majority of the studies (62 articles) assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Whilst many studies focused on nude NPs, only a few considered their association with different aggregates. Amongst NPs, the effects of polystyrene are the most extensively reported to date. Moreover, the effects of NPs on aquatic organisms are better characterized than those on terrestrial organisms. NP concentrations detected in water were close to or even higher than the sublethal levels for organisms. An ERA framework specifically tailored to NPs is proposed.
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45
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Hu R, Zhang K, Wang W, Wei L, Lai Y. Quantitative and sensitive analysis of polystyrene nanoplastics down to 50 nm by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128388. [PMID: 35236023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite being an emerging risk to the environment and human health, little is known about the occurrence, formation, transport, and environmental impact of nanoplastics owing to the lack of quantitative and sensitive sensing techniques. Herein, a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method was developed for quantitative sensitive nanoplastics analysis, in which KI was added to Ag nanoparticles as a coagulant and cleaner to remove surface impurities. Polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics with four sizes (50, 100, 200, and 500 nm) were used to evaluate the proposed method, which exhibited high sensitivity (detection limit of 6.25 μg/mL for 100 nm PS nanoplastics), interference resistance, good repeatability, and quantitative analysis ability (R2 > 0.970). The feasibility of extending the proposed method to real-world water samples was verified using spiked lake water, and satisfactory recovery rates (87.5-110%) were obtained for nanoplastics with different sizes and concentrations. Thus, this study serves as a solid step in the quantitative analysis of nanoplastics, and the findings can be applied to other areas of research on nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hu
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Kaining Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Long Wei
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Yongchao Lai
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China.
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46
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Bioanalytical approaches for the detection, characterization, and risk assessment of micro/nanoplastics in agriculture and food systems. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:4591-4612. [PMID: 35459968 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04069-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses the most recent literature (mostly since 2019) on the presence and impact of microplastics (MPs, particle size of 1 μm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, particle size of 1 to 1000 nm) throughout the agricultural and food supply chain, focusing on the methods and technologies for the detection and characterization of these materials at key entry points. Methods for the detection of M/NPs include electron and atomic force microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman), hyperspectral (bright field and dark field) and fluorescence imaging, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Microfluidic biosensors and risk assessment assays of MP/NP for in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models have also been used. Advantages and limitations of each method or approach in specific application scenarios are discussed to highlight the scientific and technological obstacles to be overcome in future research. Although progress in recent years has increased our understanding of the mechanisms and the extent to which MP/NP affects health and the environment, many challenges remain largely due to the lack of standardized and reliable detection and characterization methods. Most of the methods available today are low-throughput, which limits their practical application to food and agricultural samples. Development of rapid and high-throughput field-deployable methods for onsite screening of MP/NPs is therefore a high priority. Based on the current literature, we conclude that detecting the presence and understanding the impact of MP/NP throughout the agricultural and food supply chain require the development of novel deployable analytical methods and sensors, the combination of high-precision lab analysis with rapid onsite screening, and a data hub(s) that hosts and curates data for future analysis.
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47
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Li L, Xu Y, Li S, Zhang X, Feng H, Dai Y, Zhao J, Yue T. Molecular modeling of nanoplastic transformations in alveolar fluid and impacts on the lung surfactant film. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:127872. [PMID: 34862107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Airborne nanoplastics can be inhaled to threaten human health, but research on the inhaled nanoplastic toxicity is in its infancy, and interaction mechanisms are largely unknown. By means of molecular dynamics simulation, we employed spherical nanoplastics of different materials and aging properties to predict and elucidate nanoplastic transformations in alveolar fluid and impacts on the lung surfactant (LS) film at the alveolar air-water interface. Results showed spontaneous adsorption of LS molecules on nanoplastics of 10 nm in diameter, and the adsorption layer can be defined as coronas, which increased the particle size, reduced and equalized the surface hydrophobicity, and endowed nanoplastics with negative surface charges. Nanoplastics of polypropylene and polyvinylchloride materials were dissolved by LS, which could increase bioavailability of polymers and toxic additives. Aging properties represented by the nanoplastic size, polymer's molecular weight and surface chemistry altered nanoplastic transformations through modulating competition between polymer-LS and polymer-polymer interactions. Upon transferred to the alveolar air-water interface through vesicle fusion, nanoplastics could interfere with the normal biophysical function of LS through disrupting the LS ultrastructure and fluidity, and prompting collapse of the LS film. These results provide new molecular level insights into fate and toxicity of airborne nanoplastics in human respiratory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhi Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yan Xu
- College of Electronic Engineering and Automation, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Shixin Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xiaoyang Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Hao Feng
- College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yanhui Dai
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Tongtao Yue
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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48
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Xiao F, Feng LJ, Sun XD, Wang Y, Wang ZW, Zhu FP, Yuan XZ. Do Polystyrene Nanoplastics Have Similar Effects on Duckweed ( Lemna minor L.) at Environmentally Relevant and Observed-Effect Concentrations? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4071-4079. [PMID: 35290020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although the biological effects of nanoplastics (<100 nm in size) in aquatic environments have been increasingly investigated, almost all such studies have been performed at observed-effect concentrations (higher than 1 μg/mL). The use of observed-effect concentrations of nanoplastics can provide essential data for evaluating the potential risks, but how these results apply to the effects of concentrations of nanoplastics observed in the environment remains unclear. Here, we show that exposure to both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics at the observed-effect concentration (ranging from 0 to 50 μg/mL) can result in physiological changes of Lemna minor L., a typical flowering aquatic plant species, inducing H2O2 and O2- accumulation and even cell death. However, the nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (lower than 0.1 μg/mL) had no obvious effects on phenotype of L. minor. Moreover, nanoplastics at both observed-effect and environmentally relevant concentrations were adsorbed onto the roots and fronds of the plants, whereas uptake by the roots and fronds occurred only at the observed-effect concentration. Although no phenotypic changes across 30 generations of cultivation were observed when the plants were exposed to 0.015 μg/mL nanoplastics, the expression of genes related to the response to stimuli and to oxidative and osmotic stress was upregulated under both observed-effect and environmentally relevant concentrations. Our findings suggest that the long-term presence of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations might induce some variations in the transcription level and have potential threat to floating microphytes and aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Xiao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
| | - Li-Juan Feng
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Dong Sun
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
| | - Yue Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
| | - Zhong-Wei Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
| | - Fan-Ping Zhu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
| | - Xian-Zheng Yuan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
- Sino-French Research Institute for Ecology and Environment (ISFREE), Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
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49
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Dang F, Wang Q, Huang Y, Wang Y, Xing B. Key knowledge gaps for One Health approach to mitigate nanoplastic risks. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH (ONLINE) 2022; 1:11-22. [PMID: 38078201 PMCID: PMC10702905 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2023]
Abstract
There are increasing concerns over the threat of nanoplastics to environmental and human health. However, multidisciplinary barriers persist between the communities assessing the risks to environmental and human health. As a result, the hazards and risks of nanoplastics remain uncertain. Here, we identify key knowledge gaps by evaluating the exposure of nanoplastics in the environment, assessing their bio-nano interactions, and examining their potential risks to humans and the environment. We suggest considering nanoplastics a complex and dynamic mixture of polymers, additives, and contaminants, with interconnected risks to environmental and human health. We call for comprehensive integration of One Health approach to produce robust multidisciplinary evidence to nanoplastics threats at the planetary level. Although there are many challenges, this holistic approach incorporates the relevance of environmental exposure and multi-sectoral responses, which provide the opportunity to identify the risk mitigation strategies of nanoplastics to build resilient health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Dang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qingyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingnan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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50
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Wang J, Su G, Yan X, Zhang W, Jia J, Yan B. Predicting cytotoxicity of binary pollutants towards a human cell panel in environmental water by experimentation and deep learning methods. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132324. [PMID: 34563777 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Biological assays are useful in water quality evaluation by providing the overall toxicity of chemical mixtures in environmental waters. However, it is impossible to elucidate the source of toxicity and some lethal combination of pollutants simply using biological assays. As facile and cost-effective methods, computation model-based toxicity assessments are complementary technologies. Herein, we predicted the human health risk of binary pollutant mixtures (i.e., binary combinations of As(III), Cd(II), Cr(VI), Pb(II) and F(I)) in water using in vitro biological assays and deep learning methods. By employing a human cell panel containing human stomach, colon, liver, and kidney cell lines, we assessed the human health risk mimicking cellular responses after oral exposures of environmental water containing pollutants. Based on the experimental cytotoxicity data in pure water, multi-task deep learning was applied to predict cellular response of binary pollutant mixtures in environmental water. Using additive descriptors and single pollutant toxicity data in pure water, the established deep learning model could predict the toxicity of most binary mixtures in environmental water, with coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.65 and root mean squared error (RMSE) < 0.22. Further combining the experimental data on synergistic and antagonistic effects of pollutant mixtures, deep learning helped improve the predictive ability of the model (R2 > 0.74 and RMSE <0.17). Moreover, predictive models allowed us identify a number of toxicity source-related physiochemical properties. This study illustrates the combination of experimental findings and deep learning methods in the water quality evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Gaoxing Su
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Xiliang Yan
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jianbo Jia
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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