1
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Lin L, Yuan B, Liu H, Ke Y, Zhang W, Li H, Lu H, Liu J, Hong H, Yan C. Microplastics emerge as a hotspot for dibutyl phthalate sources in rivers and oceans: Leaching behavior and potential risks. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 475:134920. [PMID: 38880047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer has been widely used in the processing of plastic products. Nevertheless, these DBP additives have the potential to be released into the environment throughout the entire life cycle of plastic products. Herein, the leaching behavior of DBP from PVC microplastics (MPs) in freshwater and seawater and its potential risks were investigated. The results show that the plasticizer content, UV irradiation, and hydrochemical conditions have a great influence on the leaching of DBP from the MPs. The release of DBP into the environment increases proportionally with higher concentrations of additive DBP in MPs, particularly when it exceeds 15 %. The surface of MPs undergoes accelerated oxidation and increased hydrophilicity under UV radiation, thereby facilitating the leaching of DBP. Through 30 continuous leaching experiments, the leaching of DBP from MPs in freshwater and seawater can reach up to 12.28 and 5.42 mg g-1, respectively, indicating that MPs are a continuous source of DBP pollution in the aquatic environment. Moreover, phthalate pollution index (PPI) indicates that MPs can significantly increase DBP pollution in marine environment through land and sea transport processes. Therefore, we advocate that the management of MPs waste containing DBP be prioritized in coastal sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujian Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Huiling Liu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Yue Ke
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Hanyi Li
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Haoliang Lu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Jingchun Liu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China
| | - Hualong Hong
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China.
| | - Chongling Yan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China.
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2
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Vilke JM, Fonseca TG, Alkimin GD, Gonçalves JM, Edo C, Errico GD, Seilitz FS, Rotander A, Benedetti M, Regoli F, Lüchmann KH, Bebianno MJ. Looking beyond the obvious: The ecotoxicological impact of the leachate from fishing nets and cables in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134479. [PMID: 38762985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134479] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Once in the marine environment, fishing nets and cables undergo weathering, breaking down into micro and nano-size particles and leaching plastic additives, which negatively affect marine biota. This study aims to unravel the ecotoxicological impact of different concentrations of leachate obtained from abandoned or lost fishing nets and cables in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis under long-term exposure (28 days). Biochemical biomarkers linked to antioxidant defense system, xenobiotic biotransformation, oxidative damage, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity were evaluated in different mussel tissues. The chemical nature of the fishing nets and cables and the chemical composition of the leachate were assessed and metals, plasticizers, UV stabilizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, intermediates and photo initiators were detected. The leachate severely affected the antioxidant and biotransformation systems in mussels' tissues. Following exposure to 1 mg·L-1 of leachate, mussels' defense system was enhanced to prevent oxidative damage. In contrast, in mussels exposed to 10 and 100 mg·L-1 of leachate, defenses failed to overcome pro-oxidant molecules, resulting in genotoxicity and oxidative damage. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Weight of Evidence (WOE) evaluation confirmed that mussels were significantly affected by the leachate being the hazard of the leachate concentrations of 10 mg·L-1 ranked as major, while 1 and 100 mg·L-1 was moderate. These results highlighted that the leachate from fishing nets and cables can be a threat to the heath of the mussel M. galloprovincialis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano M Vilke
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal; Multicenter Program in Postgraduate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - PMBqBM, Santa Catarina State University, Lages 88520-000, Brazil
| | - Tainá G Fonseca
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Gilberto D Alkimin
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Joanna M Gonçalves
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal
| | - Carlos Edo
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Giuseppe d' Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Anna Rotander
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Maura Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Karim H Lüchmann
- Department of Scientific and Technological Education, Santa Catarina State University, Florianopolis 88035-001, Brazil
| | - Maria João Bebianno
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - CIMA/ARNET - Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8000-139, Portugal.
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3
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James BD, Medvedev AV, Makarov SS, Nelson RK, Reddy CM, Hahn ME. Moldable Plastics (Polycaprolactone) can be Acutely Toxic to Developing Zebrafish and Activate Nuclear Receptors in Mammalian Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 38981095 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00693] [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] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Popularized on social media, hand-moldable plastics are formed by consumers into tools, trinkets, and dental prosthetics. Despite the anticipated dermal and oral contact, manufacturers share little information with consumers about these materials, which are typically sold as microplastic-sized resin pellets. Inherent to their function, moldable plastics pose a risk of dermal and oral exposure to unknown leachable substances. We analyzed 12 moldable plastics advertised for modeling and dental applications and determined them to be polycaprolactone (PCL) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The bioactivities of the most popular brands advertised for modeling applications of each type of polymer were evaluated using a zebrafish embryo bioassay. While water-borne exposure to the TPU pellets did not affect the targeted developmental end points at any concentration tested, the PCL pellets were acutely toxic above 1 pellet/mL. The aqueous leachates of the PCL pellets demonstrated similar toxicity. Methanolic extracts from the PCL pellets were assayed for their bioactivity using the Attagene FACTORIAL platform. Of the 69 measured end points, the extracts activated nuclear receptors and transcription factors for xenobiotic metabolism (pregnane X receptor, PXR), lipid metabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, PPARγ), and oxidative stress (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, NRF2). By nontargeted high-resolution comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC-HRT), we tentatively identified several compounds in the methanolic extracts, including PCL oligomers, a phenolic antioxidant, and residues of suspected antihydrolysis and cross-linking additives. In a follow-up zebrafish embryo bioassay, because of its stated high purity, biomedical grade PCL was tested to mitigate any confounding effects due to chemical additives in the PCL pellets; it elicited comparable acute toxicity. From these orthogonal and complementary experiments, we suggest that the toxicity was due to oligomers and nanoplastics released from the PCL rather than chemical additives. These results challenge the perceived and assumed inertness of plastics and highlight their multiple sources of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Alexander V Medvedev
- Attagene, Research Triangle Park, Morrisville, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sergei S Makarov
- Attagene, Research Triangle Park, Morrisville, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Robert K Nelson
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
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4
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Dvorakova D, Tsagkaris AS, Pulkrabova J. Novel strategies for the determination of plastic additives derived from agricultural plastics in soil using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174492. [PMID: 38969113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Certain agricultural plastics, i.e., mulching films, are generally considered as potent sources of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), due to their direct application on soil and waste mishandling. During the synthesis and fabrication of such agricultural plastics, it is necessary to use chemicals, the so-called plastic additives (PAs), improving the physicochemical properties of the final polymeric product. However, since PAs are loosely bound on the polymer matrix, they can potentially leach into the soil environment with unidentified effects. Clearly, to monitor the fate of PAs in the terrestrial ecosystem, it is necessary to develop accurate, sensitive and robust analytical methods. To this end, a comprehensive analytical strategy was developed for monitoring 16 PAs with diverse physicochemical properties (partition coefficient; -3 < logP<19) in soil samples using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). For this purpose, two different extraction procedures were developed, namely, a single step ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using ethyl acetate or an aqueous solution of methanol and a binary extraction, combining Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) and UAE principles with n-hexane as the extractant. Interestingly, within the sample preparation investigation, we identified in-lab contamination sources of PAs, e.g., centrifuge tubes or microfilters. Such consumables are made of plastic contaminating the procedural blanks and omitting their use was necessary to acquire satisfactory analytical performance. In detail, method validation was performed for 16 compounds achieving recoveries mainly in the range 70-120 %, repeatability (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD %) < 20 % and limits of quantification (LOQs) ranging between 0.2 and 20 ng/g dry weight (dw). Importantly, the presented strategies are added to the very limited available for PA determination in soil, a topical issue with a significant and rather understudied impact on agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Dvorakova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6 - Dejvice, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Aristeidis S Tsagkaris
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6 - Dejvice, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Pulkrabova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6 - Dejvice, Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Barthelemy N, Mermillod-Blondin F, Krause S, Simon L, Mimeau L, Devers A, Vidal JP, Datry T. The Duration of Dry Events Promotes PVC Film Fragmentation in Intermittent Rivers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38954776 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The majority of microplastics (MPs) found in the environment originate from plastic fragmentation occurring in the environment and are influenced by environmental factors such as UV irradiation and biotic interactions. However, the effects of river drying on plastic fragmentation remain unknown, despite the global prevalence of watercourses experiencing flow intermittence. This study investigates, through laboratory experiments, the coupled effects of drying duration and UV irradiation on PVC film fragmentation induced by artificial mechanical abrasion. This study shows that PVC film fragmentation increases with drying duration through an increase in the abundance and size of formed MPs as well as mass loss from the initial plastic item, with significant differences for drying durations >50% of the experiment duration. The average abundance of formed MPs in treatments exposed to severe drying duration was almost two times higher than in treatments nonexposed to drying. Based on these results, we developed as a proof of concept an Intermittence-Based Plastic Fragmentation Index that may provide insights into plastic fragmentation occurring in river catchments experiencing large hydrological variability. The present study suggests that flow intermittence occurring in rivers and streams can lead to increasing plastic fragmentation, unraveling new insights into plastic pollution in freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nans Barthelemy
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LEHNA UMR 5023, CNRS, ENTPE, Villeurbanne F-69622, France
- Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, UR RiverLy, INRAE, Villeurbanne 69625, France
| | | | - Stefan Krause
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Simon
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LEHNA UMR 5023, CNRS, ENTPE, Villeurbanne F-69622, France
| | - Louise Mimeau
- Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, UR RiverLy, INRAE, Villeurbanne 69625, France
| | - Alexandre Devers
- Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, UR RiverLy, INRAE, Villeurbanne 69625, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Vidal
- Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, UR RiverLy, INRAE, Villeurbanne 69625, France
| | - Thibault Datry
- Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, UR RiverLy, INRAE, Villeurbanne 69625, France
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6
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Stevens S, Bartosova Z, Völker J, Wagner M. Migration of endocrine and metabolism disrupting chemicals from plastic food packaging. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 189:108791. [PMID: 38838488 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Plastics constitute a vast array of substances, with over 16000 known plastic chemicals, including intentionally and non-intentionally added substances. Thousands of chemicals, including toxic ones, are extractable from plastics, however, the extent to which these compounds migrate from everyday products into food or water remains poorly understood. This study aims to characterize the endocrine and metabolism disrupting activity, as well as the chemical composition of migrates from plastic food contact articles (FCAs) from four countries as significant sources of human exposure. Fourteen plastic FCAs covering seven polymer types with high global market shares were migrated into water and a water-ethanol mixture as food simulants according to European regulations. The migrates were analyzed using reporter gene assays for nuclear receptors relevant to human health and non-target chemical analysis to characterize the chemical composition. Chemicals migrating from each FCA interfered with at least two nuclear receptors, predominantly targeting pregnane X receptor (24/28 migrates). Moreover, peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma was activated by 19 out of 28 migrates, though mostly with lower potencies. Estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity was detected in eight and seven migrates, respectively. Fewer chemicals and less toxicity migrated into water compared to the water-ethanol mixture. However, 73 % of the 15 430 extractable chemical features also transferred into food simulants, and the water-ethanol migrates exhibited a similar toxicity prevalence compared to methanol extracts. The chemical complexity differed largely between FCAs, with 8 to 10631 chemical features migrating into food simulants. Using stepwise partial least squares regressions, we successfully narrowed down the list of potential active chemicals, identified known endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as triphenyl phosphate, and prioritized chemical features for further identification. This study demonstrates the migration of endocrine and metabolism disrupting chemicals from plastic FCAs into food simulants, rendering a migration of these compounds into food and beverages probable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Stevens
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Zdenka Bartosova
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Johannes Völker
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Innovative Environmental Services (IES) Ltd, Benkenstrasse 260, 4108 Witterswill, Switzerland
| | - Martin Wagner
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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7
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Baettig CG, Laroche O, Ockenden A, Smith KF, Lear G, Tremblay LA. Characterization of the transcriptional effects of the plastic additive dibutyl phthalate alone and in combination with microplastic on the green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1604-1614. [PMID: 38771199 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The presence and persistence of microplastics (MPs) in diverse aquatic environments are of global concern. Microplastics can impact marine organisms via direct physical interaction and the release of potentially harmful chemical additives incorporated into the plastic. These chemicals are physically bound to the plastic matrix and can leach out. The hazards associated with chemical additives to exposed organisms is not well characterized. We investigated the hazards of plastic additives leaching from plastic. We used the common plasticizer dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a chemical additive proxy and the New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) as a model. We used early-adult P. canaliculus exposed to combinations of virgin and DBP-spiked polyvinyl chloride (PVC), MPs, and DBP alone for 7 days. Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to assess whether leaching of DBP from MPs poses a hazard. The differences between groups were evaluated using pairwise permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), and all treatments were significantly different from controls. In addition, a significant difference was seen between DBP and PVC MP treatment. Transcriptome analysis revealed that mussels exposed to DBP alone had the most differentially expressed genes (914), followed by PVC MP + DBP (448), and PVC MP (250). Gene ontology functional analysis revealed that the most enriched pathway types were in cellular metabolism, immune response, and endocrine disruption. Microplastic treatments enriched numerous pathways related to cellular metabolism and immune response. The combined exposure of PVC MP + DBP appears to cause combined effects, suggesting that DBP is bioavailable to the exposed mussels in the PVC MP + DBP treatment. Our results support the hypothesis that chemical additives are potentially an important driver of MP toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1604-1614. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille G Baettig
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Kirsty F Smith
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Lear
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Louis A Tremblay
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
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8
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Mitchell S, Martín AJ, Guillén-Gosálbez G, Pérez-Ramírez J. The Future of Chemical Sciences is Sustainable. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318676. [PMID: 38570864 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318676] [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: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Chemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia-industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Antonio J Martín
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Javier Pérez-Ramírez
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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9
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Vincoff S, Schleupner B, Santos J, Morrison M, Zhang N, Dunphy-Daly MM, Eward WC, Armstrong AJ, Diana Z, Somarelli JA. The Known and Unknown: Investigating the Carcinogenic Potential of Plastic Additives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10445-10457. [PMID: 38830620 PMCID: PMC11191590 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics are routinely ingested and inhaled by humans and other organisms. Despite the frequency of plastic exposure, little is known about its health consequences. Of particular concern are plastic additives─chemical compounds that are intentionally or unintentionally added to plastics to improve functionality or as residual components of plastic production. Additives are often loosely bound to the plastic polymer and may be released during plastic exposures. To better understand the health effects of plastic additives, we performed a comprehensive literature search to compile a list of 2,712 known plastic additives. Then, we performed an integrated toxicogenomic analysis of these additives, utilizing cancer classifications and carcinogenic expression pathways as a primary focus. Screening these substances across two chemical databases revealed two key observations: (1) over 150 plastic additives have known carcinogenicity and (2) the majority (∼90%) of plastic additives lack data on carcinogenic end points. Analyses of additive usage patterns pinpointed specific polymers, functions, and products in which carcinogenic additives reside. Based on published chemical-gene interactions, both carcinogenic additives and additives with unknown carcinogenicity impacted similar biological pathways. The predominant pathways involved DNA damage, apoptosis, the immune response, viral diseases, and cancer. This study underscores the urgent need for a systematic and comprehensive carcinogenicity assessment of plastic additives and regulatory responses to mitigate the potential health risks of plastic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Vincoff
- Department
of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and
Urologic Cancer, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Beatrice Schleupner
- Department
of Orthopaedics, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Jasmine Santos
- Department
of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and
Urologic Cancer, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Margaret Morrison
- Nicholas
School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Newland Zhang
- Department
of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and
Urologic Cancer, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Meagan M. Dunphy-Daly
- Division
of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment,
Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke
University, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States
| | - William C. Eward
- Department
of Orthopaedics, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Andrew J. Armstrong
- Department
of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and
Urologic Cancer, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Zoie Diana
- Division
of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment,
Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke
University, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States
- Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University
of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks
Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3B2, Canada
| | - Jason A. Somarelli
- Department
of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and
Urologic Cancer, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
- Nicholas
School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
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10
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Gündoğdu S, Bour A, Köşker AR, Walther BA, Napierska D, Mihai FC, Syberg K, Hansen SF, Walker TR. Review of microplastics and chemical risk posed by plastic packaging on the marine environment to inform the Global Plastics Treaty. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174000. [PMID: 38901589 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Plastic overproduction and the resulting increase in consumption has made plastic pollution ubiquitous in all ecosystems. Recognizing this, the United Nations (UN) has started negotiations to establish a global treaty to end plastic pollution, especially in the marine environment. The basis of the treaty has been formulated in terms of turning off the tap, signaling the will to prevent plastic pollution at its source. Based on the distribution of plastic production by sector, the plastic packaging sector consumes the most plastic. The volume and variety of chemicals used in plastic packaging, most of which is single-use, is a major concern. Single-use plastics including packaging is one of the most dominant sources of plastic pollution. Plastic waste causes pollution in water, air and soil by releasing harmful chemicals into the environment and can also lead to exposure through contamination of food with micro- and nano-plastic particles and chemicals through packaging. Marine life and humans alike face risks from plastic uptake through bioaccumulation and biomagnification. While the contribution of plastics ingested to chemical pollution is relatively minor in comparison to other pathways of exposure, the effect of plastic waste on marine life and human consumption of seafood is beyond question. To reduce the long-term impact of plastic, it is crucial to establish a global legally binding instrument to ensure the implementation of upstream rather than downstream solutions. This will help to mitigate the impact of both chemicals and microplastics, including from packaging, on the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Gündoğdu
- Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries Department of Basic Science, 01330 Adana, Türkiye.
| | - Agathe Bour
- Dept. of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ali Rıza Köşker
- Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries Department of Seafood Processing, 01330 Adana, Türkiye
| | - Bruno Andreas Walther
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | | | - Florin-Constantin Mihai
- CERNESIM Center, Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Carol I Blvd 11, 700506 Iași, Romania
| | - Kristian Syberg
- Dept. of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Steffen Foss Hansen
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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11
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Yu JT, Diamond ML, Maguire B, Miller FA. Bioplastics: No solution to healthcare's plastic pollution problem. Healthc Manage Forum 2024:8404704241259652. [PMID: 38881533 DOI: 10.1177/08404704241259652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
As Canadian policy-makers recognize the urgency for concerted actions to reduce plastics (e.g., Canada's involvement in the International Plastics Treaty negotiations, Zero Plastic Waste Strategy, and single-use plastics regulations), the healthcare sector must also consider a more sustainable plastics system. In this context, the potential for novel bioplastics to mitigate healthcare's substantial plastic waste problem must be carefully interrogated. Our analysis examines the complexities of bioplastics, highlighting the technical challenges of identifying legitimate sustainable alternatives, and the practical barriers for implementing bioplastics as substitutes for consumable plastics in healthcare. We focus on the Canadian healthcare sector and regulatory landscape with the insights gained being applicable to other sectors and countries. Given the limitations identified, the focus on reducing consumption should remain the priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine T Yu
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health and Sustainable Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brittany Maguire
- Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health and Sustainable Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fiona A Miller
- Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health and Sustainable Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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12
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Ziembowicz S, Kida M. The effect of water ozonation in the presence of microplastics on water quality and microplastics degradation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172595. [PMID: 38642756 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of microplastics in water treatment plants poses a concern for the quality of treated water. When microplastics pass through water treatment plants, they can be oxidized, changing their surface characteristics and the quality of the treated water. This work aimed to investigate the impact of ozone and the association of ozone and hydrogen peroxide on five different microplastic particles that are commonly detected in water samples. The changes in the concentration of total organic carbon and the change in the pH of the water, the leaching of phthalic acid esters, as well as the changes in size and chemical changes in the structure of the tested microplastics were evaluated. The influence of ozonation time, water pH, and type of microplastics, as well as the influence of the addition of hydrogen peroxide, was analyzed. The effect of ozonation was an increase in DOC values ranging from 0.8 to 28 mg/L. The eluting substances included phthalic acid esters, plasticizers with a proven negative impact on organisms. The percentage loss of the surface area of the microplastic was in the range of 1.3 to 26.7 %. PE was more susceptible to degradation. LDIR analyzes were carried out to investigate the effect of O3 and O3/H2O2 treatments on the surface of MPs. This study demonstrated that MPs could change their physical and chemical characteristics if they are subjected to oxidation processes used in water treatment plants. The parameters of purified water change to unfavorable ones due to the leaching of additives. Although much research has been conducted on the occurrence of microplastics in treated water, awareness needs to be raised about the interactions between plastic particles and water treatment technology processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Ziembowicz
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszów University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Kida
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszów University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, Poland
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13
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Chen Q, Ma C, Lee YH, Marques Dos Santos M, Kim MS, Meng G, Snyder SA, Lee JS, Shi H. Non-negligible Toxicity to Fish in the Early Life Stages Triggered by Aqueous Leachate of Takeaway Plastic Containers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10041-10051. [PMID: 38788731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Ordering takeout is a growing social phenomenon and may raise public health concerns. However, the associated health risk of compounds leaching from plastic packaging is unknown due to the lack of chemical and toxicity data. In this study, 20 chemical candidates were tentatively identified in the environmentally relevant leachate from plastic containers through the nontargeted chemical analysis. Three main components with high responses and/or predicted toxicity were further verified and quantified, namely, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (BHC), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), and 9-octadecenamide (oleamide). The toxicity to zebrafish larvae of BHC, a degradation product of a widely used antioxidant Irganox 1010, was quite similar to that of the whole plastic leachate. In the same manner, RNA-seq-based ingenuity analysis showed that the affected canonical pathways of zebrafish larvae were quite comparable between BHC and the whole plastic leachate, i.e., highly relevant to neurological disease, metabolic disease, and even behavioral disorder. Longer-term exposure (35 days) did not cause any effect on adult zebrafish but led to decreased hatching rate and obvious neurotoxicity in zebrafish offspring. Collectively, this study strongly suggests that plastic containers can leach out a suite of compounds causing non-negligible impacts on the early stages of fish via direct or parental exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Cuizhu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Young Hwan Lee
- Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, College of Life Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea
| | - Mauricius Marques Dos Santos
- Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #06-08, 637141 Singapore
| | - Min-Sub Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Ge Meng
- Agilent Technologies, 412 Yinglun Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Shane Allen Snyder
- Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #06-08, 637141 Singapore
| | - Jae-Seong Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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14
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Megill C, Shaw K, Knauer K, Seeley M, Lynch J. Plastic additives in the ocean: Use of a comprehensive dataset for meta-analysis and method development. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142172. [PMID: 38685322 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142172] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In excess of 13,000 chemicals are added to plastics ('additives') to improve performance, durability, and production of plastic products. They are categorized into numerous chemical classes including flame retardants, light stabilizers, antioxidants, and plasticizers. While research on plastic additives in the marine environment has increased over the past decade, there is a lack of methodological standardization. To direct future measurement of plastic additives, we compiled a first-of-its-kind dataset of literature assessing plastic additives in marine environments, delineated by sample type (plastic debris, seawater, sediment, biota). Using this dataset, we performed a meta-analysis to summarize the state of the science. Currently, our dataset includes 217 publications published between 1978 and May 2023. The majority of publications analyzed plastic additives in biota collected from Europe and Asia. Analyses concentrated on plasticizers, brominated flame retardants, and bisphenols. Common sample preparation techniques included Solvent - Agitation extraction for plastic, sediment, and biota samples, and Solid Phase Extraction for seawater samples with dichloromethane and solvent mixtures including dichloromethane as the organic extraction solvent. Finally, most analyses were performed utilizing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. There are a variety of data gaps illuminated by this meta-analysis, most notably the small number of compounds that have been targeted for detection compared to the large number of additives used in plastic production. The provided dataset facilitates future investigation of trends in plastic additive concentration data in the marine environment (allowing for comparison to toxicity thresholds) and acts as a starting point for optimizing and harmonizing plastic additive analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Megill
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA.
| | - Katherine Shaw
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA
| | - Katrina Knauer
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver W Pkwy, Golden, CO 80401, USA; The BOTTLE Consortium, 15013 Denver W Pkwy, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Meredith Seeley
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA
| | - Jennifer Lynch
- Hawai'i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy Ste 9 Waimanalo, HI 96795-1898, USA
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15
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Redko V, Wolska L, Olkowska E, Tankiewicz M, Cieszyńska-Semenowicz M. Long-Term Polyethylene (Bio)Degradation in Landfill: Environmental and Human Health Implications from Comprehensive Analysis. Molecules 2024; 29:2499. [PMID: 38893375 PMCID: PMC11173707 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112499] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the process of long-term (bio)degradation of polyethylene (PE) in an old municipal waste landfill (MWL) and its implications for environmental and human health. Advanced techniques, such as ICP-ES/MS and IC-LC, were used to analyze heavy metals and anions/cations, demonstrating significant concentration deviations from control samples. The soil's chemical composition revealed numerous hazardous organic compounds, further indicating the migration of additives from PE to the soil. Toxicological assessments, including Phytotoxkit FTM, Microtox® bioassay, and Ostracodtoxkit®, demonstrated phytotoxicity, acute toxicity, and high mortality in living organisms (over 85% for Heterocypris Incongruens). An unusual concentration of contaminants in the MWL's middle layers, linked to Poland's economic changes during the 1980s and 1990s, suggests increased risks of pollutant migration, posing additional environmental and health threats. Moreover, the infiltration capability of microorganisms, including pathogens, into PE structures raises concerns about potential groundwater contamination through the landfill bottom. This research underscores the need for vigilant management and updated strategies to protect the environment and public health, particularly in older landfill sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslav Redko
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Lidia Wolska
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa Olkowska
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Maciej Tankiewicz
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Cieszyńska-Semenowicz
- Division of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa 23 A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
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16
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Marhoon A, Hernandez MLH, Billy RG, Müller DB, Verones F. Mapping Plastic and Plastic Additive Cycles in Coastal Countries: A Norwegian Case Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8336-8348. [PMID: 38703133 PMCID: PMC11097394 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The growing environmental consequences caused by plastic pollution highlight the need for a better understanding of plastic polymer cycles and their associated additives. We present a novel, comprehensive top-down method using inflow-driven dynamic probabilistic material flow analysis (DPMFA) to map the plastic cycle in coastal countries. For the first time, we covered the progressive leaching of microplastics to the environment during the use phase of products and modeled the presence of 232 plastic additives. We applied this methodology to Norway and proposed initial release pathways to different environmental compartments. 758 kt of plastics distributed among 13 different polymers was introduced to the Norwegian economy in 2020, 4.4 Mt was present in in-use stocks, and 632 kt was wasted, of which 15.2 kt (2.4%) was released to the environment with a similar share of macro- and microplastics and 4.8 kt ended up in the ocean. Our study shows tire wear rubber as a highly pollutive microplastic source, while most macroplastics originated from consumer packaging with LDPE, PP, and PET as dominant polymers. Additionally, 75 kt of plastic additives was potentially released to the environment alongside these polymers. We emphasize that upstream measures, such as consumption reduction and changes in product design, would result in the most positive impact for limiting plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Marhoon
- Industrial
Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7034, Norway
| | | | - Romain Guillaume Billy
- Industrial
Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7034, Norway
| | - Daniel Beat Müller
- Industrial
Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7034, Norway
| | - Francesca Verones
- Industrial
Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7034, Norway
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17
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Borgatta M, Breider F. Inhalation of Microplastics-A Toxicological Complexity. TOXICS 2024; 12:358. [PMID: 38787137 PMCID: PMC11125820 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Humans are chronically exposed to airborne microplastics (MPs) by inhalation. Various types of polymer particles have been detected in lung samples, which could pose a threat to human health. Inhalation toxicological studies are crucial for assessing the effects of airborne MPs and for exposure-reduction measures. This communication paper addresses important health concerns related to MPs, taking into consideration three levels of complexity, i.e., the particles themselves, the additives present in the plastics, and the exogenous substances adsorbed onto them. This approach aims to obtain a comprehensive toxicological profile of deposited MPs in the lungs, encompassing local and systemic effects. The physicochemical characteristics of MPs may play a pivotal role in lung toxicity. Although evidence suggests toxic effects of MPs in animal and cell models, no established causal link with pulmonary or systemic diseases in humans has been established. The transfer of MPs and associated chemicals from the lungs into the bloodstream and/or pulmonary circulation remains to be confirmed in humans. Understanding the toxicity of MPs requires a multidisciplinary investigation using a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Borgatta
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté-Lausanne), University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Breider
- Central Environmental Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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18
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Alijagic A, Suljević D, Fočak M, Sulejmanović J, Šehović E, Särndahl E, Engwall M. The triple exposure nexus of microplastic particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants from a human health perspective. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108736. [PMID: 38759545 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The presence of microplastics (MPs) is increasing at a dramatic rate globally, posing risks for exposure and subsequent potential adverse effects on human health. Apart from being physical objects, MP particles contain thousands of plastic-associated chemicals (i.e., monomers, chemical additives, and non-intentionally added substances) captured within the polymer matrix. These chemicals are often migrating from MPs and can be found in various environmental matrices and human food chains; increasing the risks for exposure and health effects. In addition to the physical and chemical attributes of MPs, plastic surfaces effectively bind exogenous chemicals, including environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants). Therefore, MPs can act as vectors of environmental pollution across air, drinking water, and food, further amplifying health risks posed by MP exposure. Critically, fragmentation of plastics in the environment increases the risk for interactions with cells, increases the presence of available surfaces to leach plastic-associated chemicals, and adsorb and transfer environmental pollutants. Hence, this review proposes the so-called triple exposure nexus approach to comprehensively map existing knowledge on interconnected health effects of MP particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants. Based on the available data, there is a large knowledge gap in regard to the interactions and cumulative health effects of the triple exposure nexus. Each component of the triple nexus is known to induce genotoxicity, inflammation, and endocrine disruption, but knowledge about long-term and inter-individual health effects is lacking. Furthermore, MPs are not readily excreted from organisms after ingestion and they have been found accumulated in human blood, cardiac tissue, placenta, etc. Even though the number of studies on MPs-associated health impacts is increasing rapidly, this review underscores that there is a pressing necessity to achieve an integrated assessment of MPs' effects on human health in order to address existing and future knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Alijagic
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Damir Suljević
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Muhamed Fočak
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Jasmina Sulejmanović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Elma Šehović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Eva Särndahl
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Magnus Engwall
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
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19
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Peng X, Yang T, Guo S, Zhou J, Chen G, Zhu Z, Tan J. Revealing chemical release from plastic debris in animals' digestive systems using nontarget and suspect screening and simulating digestive fluids. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123793. [PMID: 38513944 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123793] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Plastic debris in the environment are not only pollutants but may also be important sources of a variety of contaminants. This work simulated kinetics and potential of chemical leaching from plastic debris in animals' digestive systems by incubating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cord particles in artificial digestive fluids combined with nontarget and suspect screening based on UHPLC-Orbitrap HRMS. Impacts of particle size, aging, and digestive fluid were investigated to elucidate mechanisms of chemical leaching. Thousands of chemical features were screened in the leachates of PVC cord particles in the artificial digestive fluids, among which >60% were unknown. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the dominant identified CL1 compounds. Finer size and aging of the PVC particles and prolonged incubation time enhanced chemical release, resulting in greater numbers, higher levels, and more complexity in components of the released chemicals. The gastrointestinal fluid was more favorable for chemical leaching than the gastric fluid, with greater numbers and higher levels. Hundreds to thousands of chemical features were screened and filtered in the leachates of consumer plastic products, including food contact products (FCPs) in the artificial bird gastrointestinal fluid. In addition to BPA and DEHP, several novel bisphenol analogues were identified in the leachate of at least one FCP. The results revealed that once plastic debris are ingested by animals, hundreds to thousands of chemicals may be released into animals' digestive tracts in hours, posing potential synergistic risks of plastic debris and chemicals to plastic-ingesting animals. Future research should pay more attentions to identification, ecotoxicities, and environmental fate of vast amounts of unknown chemicals potentially released from plastics in order to gain full pictures of plastic pollution in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Tao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangshi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zewen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianhua Tan
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou, 510050, China
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20
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Lenoble V, Cindrić AM, Briand JF, Pedrotti ML, Lacerda AL, Muniategui-Lorenzo S, Fernández-González V, Moscoso-Pérez CM, Andrade-Garda JM, Casotti R, Murano C, Donnarumma V, Frizzi S, Hannon C, Joyce H, Nash R, Frias J. Bioaccumulation of trace metals in the plastisphere: Awareness of environmental risk from a European perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123808. [PMID: 38521396 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123808] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The term "Plastisphere" refers to the biofilm layer naturally formed by microorganisms attaching to plastic surfaces. This layer possesses the capability to adsorb persistent organic and inorganic pollutants, particularly trace metals, which are the focus of this research study. Immersion experiments were concurrently conducted in five locations spanning four European countries (France, Ireland, Spain, and Italy) utilising eight distinct polymers. These immersions, repeated every three months over a one-year period, aimed to evaluate the baseline bioaccumulation of 12 trace metals. The study underscores the intricate nature of metal bioaccumulation, influenced by both micro-scale factors (such as polymer composition) and macro-scale factors (including geographical site and seasonal variations). Villefranche Bay in France exhibited the lowest metals bioaccumulation, whereas Naples in Italy emerged as the site where bioaccumulation was often the highest for the considered metals. Environmental risk assessment was also conducted in the study. The lightweight nature of certain plastics allows them to be transported across significant distances in the ocean. Consequently, evaluating trace metal concentrations in the plastisphere is imperative for assessing potential environmental repercussions that plastics, along with their associated biota, may exert even in locations distant from their point of emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Lenoble
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France.
| | - Ana-Marija Cindrić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Center for Marine and Environmental Research, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Maria Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), UPMC Université Paris 06, CNRS UMR 7093, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche sur Mer, France.
| | - Ana Luzia Lacerda
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), UPMC Université Paris 06, CNRS UMR 7093, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche sur Mer, France
| | - Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo
- University of A Coruña. Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Department of Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences. A Coruña 15071, Spain.
| | - Veronica Fernández-González
- University of A Coruña. Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Department of Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences. A Coruña 15071, Spain.
| | - Carmen Ma Moscoso-Pérez
- University of A Coruña. Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Department of Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences. A Coruña 15071, Spain.
| | - José M Andrade-Garda
- University of A Coruña. Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente (IUMA), Department of Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences. A Coruña 15071, Spain.
| | | | - Carola Murano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Donnarumma
- Institute of Marine Sciences - National Research Council ISMAR-CNR. Forte Santa Teresa Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 La Spezia, Italy.
| | - Sébastien Frizzi
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France
| | - Colin Hannon
- Marine & Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Road, H91 T8NW, Galway, Ireland
| | - Haleigh Joyce
- Marine & Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Road, H91 T8NW, Galway, Ireland
| | - Róisín Nash
- Marine & Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Road, H91 T8NW, Galway, Ireland.
| | - João Frias
- Marine & Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Road, H91 T8NW, Galway, Ireland.
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21
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Jimenez-Guri E, Paganos P, La Vecchia C, Annona G, Caccavale F, Molina MD, Ferrández-Roldán A, Donnellan RD, Salatiello F, Johnstone A, Eliso MC, Spagnuolo A, Cañestro C, Albalat R, Martín-Durán JM, Williams EA, D'Aniello E, Arnone MI. Developmental toxicity of pre-production plastic pellets affects a large swathe of invertebrate taxa. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 356:141887. [PMID: 38583530 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141887] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics pose risks to marine organisms through ingestion, entanglement, and as carriers of toxic additives and environmental pollutants. Plastic pre-production pellet leachates have been shown to affect the development of sea urchins and, to some extent, mussels. The extent of those developmental effects on other animal phyla remains unknown. Here, we test the toxicity of environmental mixed nurdle samples and new PVC pellets for the embryonic development or asexual reproduction by regeneration of animals from all the major animal superphyla (Lophotrochozoa, Ecdysozoa, Deuterostomia and Cnidaria). Our results show diverse, concentration-dependent impacts in all the species sampled for new pellets, and for molluscs and deuterostomes for environmental samples. Embryo axial formation, cell specification and, specially, morphogenesis seem to be the main processes affected by plastic leachate exposure. Our study serves as a proof of principle for the potentially catastrophic effects that increasing plastic concentrations in the oceans and other ecosystems can have across animal populations from all major animal superphyla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Jimenez-Guri
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy; Center for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK.
| | - Periklis Paganos
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia La Vecchia
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Annona
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources, Naples, Italy
| | - Filomena Caccavale
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Dolores Molina
- Department of Genetica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Catalunya, Spain
| | - Alfonso Ferrández-Roldán
- Department of Genetica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Rory Daniel Donnellan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Salatiello
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Adam Johnstone
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Concetta Eliso
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Cristian Cañestro
- Department of Genetica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Department of Genetica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José María Martín-Durán
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A Williams
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico D'Aniello
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Ina Arnone
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Naples, Italy
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22
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Hu J, Lyu Y, Li M, Wang L, Jiang Y, Sun W. Discovering Novel Organophosphorus Compounds in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents through Suspect Screening and Nontarget Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6402-6414. [PMID: 38546437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Limited knowledge on the structure of emerging organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) hampers our comprehensive understanding of their environmental occurrence and potential risks. Through suspect and nontarget screening, combining data-dependent acquisition, data-independent acquisition, and parallel reaction monitoring modes, we identified 60 OPCs (17 traditional and 43 emerging compounds) in effluents of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Beijing and Qinghai, China. These OPCs comprise 26 organophosphate triesters, 17 organophosphate diesters, 6 organophosphonates, 7 organothiophosphate esters, and 4 other OPCs. Notably, 14 suspect OPCs were newly identified in WWTP effluents, and 16 nontarget OPCs were newly discovered in environmental matrices. Specifically, the cyclic phosphonate, (5-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-5-yl)methyl dimethyl phosphonate P-oxide (PMMMPn), consistently appeared in all WWTP effluents, with semiquantitative concentrations ranging from 44.4 to 282 ng/L. Its analogue, di-PMMMPn, presented in 93% of wastewater samples. Compositional differences between the WWTP effluents of two cities were mainly attributed to emerging OPCs. Hazard and ecological risk assessment underscored the substantial contribution of chlorinated organophosphate esters and organothiophosphate esters to overall risks of OPCs in WWTP effluents. This study provides the most comprehensive OPC profiles in WWTP effluents to date, highlighting the need for further research on their occurrence, fate, and risks, particularly for chlorinated OPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yitao Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Mingzhen Li
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Agriculture, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weiling Sun
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
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23
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Pereyra‐Camacho MA, Pardo I. Plastics and the Sustainable Development Goals: From waste to wealth with microbial recycling and upcycling. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14459. [PMID: 38588222 PMCID: PMC11001195 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastics pollution has become one of the greatest concerns of the 21st century. To date, around 10 billion tons of plastics have been produced almost exclusively from non-renewable sources, and of these, <10% have been recycled. The majority of discarded plastic waste (>70%) is accumulating in landfills or the environment, causing severe impacts to natural ecosystems and human health. Considering how plastics are present in every aspect of our daily lives, it is evident that a transition towards a Circular Economy of plastics is essential to achieve several of the Sustainable Development Goals. In this editorial, we highlight how microbial biotechnology can contribute to this shift, with a special focus on the biological recycling of conventional plastics and the upcycling of plastic-waste feedstocks into new value-added products. Although important hurdles will need to be overcome in this endeavour, recent success stories highlight how interdisciplinary approaches can bring us closer to a bio-based economy for the sustainable management of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Pereyra‐Camacho
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSICMadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform SusPlast, CSICMadridSpain
| | - Isabel Pardo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSICMadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform SusPlast, CSICMadridSpain
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24
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Wohlleben W, Bossa N, Mitrano DM, Scott K. Everything falls apart: How solids degrade and release nanomaterials, composite fragments, and microplastics. NANOIMPACT 2024; 34:100510. [PMID: 38759729 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2024.100510] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
To ensure the safe use of materials, one must assess the identity and quantity of exposure. Solid materials, such as plastics, metals, coatings and cements, degrade to some extent during their life cycle, and releases can occur during manufacturing, use and end-of-life. Releases (e.g., what is released, how does release happen, and how much material is released) depend on the composition and internal (nano)structures of the material as well as the applied stresses during the lifecycle. We consider, in some depth, releases from mechanical, weathering and thermal stresses and specifically address the use cases of fused-filament 3D printing, dermal contact, food contact and textile washing. Solid materials can release embedded nanomaterials, composite fragments, or micro- and nanoplastics, as well as volatile organics, ions and dissolved organics. The identity of the release is often a heterogenous mixture and requires adapted strategies for sampling and analysis, with suitable quality control measures. Control materials enhance robustness by enabling comparative testing, but reference materials are not always available as yet. The quantity of releases is typically described by time-dependent rates that are modulated by the nature and intensity of the applied stress, the chemical identity of the polymer or other solid matrix, and the chemical identity and compatibility of embedded engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) or other additives. Standardization of methods and the documentation of metadata, including all the above descriptors of the tested material, applied stresses, sampling and analytics, are identified as important needs to advance the field and to generate robust, comparable assessments. In this regard, there are strong methodological synergies between the study of all solid materials, including the study of micro- and nanoplastics. From an outlook perspective, we review the hazard of the released entities, and show how this informs risk assessment. We also address the transfer of methods to related issues such as tyre wear, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing, biodegradable polymers, and non-solid matrices. As the consideration of released entities will become more routine in industry via lifecycle assessment in Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design practices, release assessments will require careful design of the study with quality controls, the use of agreed-on test materials and standardized methods where these exist and the adoption of clearly defined data reporting practices that enable data reuse, meta-analyses, and comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendel Wohlleben
- BASF SE, Dept. of Analytical and Materials Science, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
| | - Nathan Bossa
- TEMAS Solutions GmbH, Lätterweg 5, 5212 Hausen, Switzerland; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Denise M Mitrano
- Environmental Systems Science Department, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Keana Scott
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS-8372, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, United States
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25
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Bastardo-Fernández I, Chekri R, Oster C, Thoury V, Fisicaro P, Jitaru P, Noireaux J. Assessment of TiO 2 (nano)particles migration from food packaging materials to food simulants by single particle ICP-MS/MS using a high efficiency sample introduction system. NANOIMPACT 2024; 34:100503. [PMID: 38514026 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2024.100503] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
TiO2 is the most widely used white pigment in plastics and food packaging industry, thus the question of its migration towards food and hence the impact on consumers is raised. Since recent research indicate its potential toxicity, it is necessary to study TiO2 contamination as a consequence of food storage. For this purpose, plastic containers from commercially-available dairy products and custom-made TiO2-spiked polypropylene materials were put in contact with 50% (v/v) ethanol and 3% (w/v) acetic acid, which were used here as food simulants. The migration assays were carried out under standard contact conditions of packaging use (as recommended by Commission Regulation (EU) N° 10/2011 for food contact migration testing), and under conditions of extreme mechanical degradation of the packaging. The TiO2 (nano)particles released in the food simulants were analysed by single particle inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry in mass-shift mode and using a high efficiency sample introduction system (APEX™ Ω) to avoid matrix effects from food simulants. For the dairy product containers and for the spiked polypropylene, results showed release of TiO2 particles of rather large sizes (average size: 164 and 175 nm, respectively) under mechanical degradation conditions, i.e. when the polymeric structure is damaged. The highest amounts of TiO2 were observed in 50% ethanol after 10 days of storage at 50 °C (0.62 ng cm-2) for the dairy product containers and after 1 day of storage at 50 °C (0.68 ng cm-2) for the spiked polypropylene. However, the level of Ti released in particle form was very small compared to the total Ti content in the packaging and far below the acceptable migration limits set by European legislation. Release under standard contact conditions of use of the container was not measurable, thus the migration of TiO2 particles from this packaging to dairy products among storage is expected to be negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Bastardo-Fernández
- Laboratory for Food Safety, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; LNE, Environment and Climate Change Department, Paris, France
| | - Rachida Chekri
- Laboratory for Food Safety, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Caroline Oster
- LNE, Environment and Climate Change Department, Paris, France
| | - Valentin Thoury
- IPC, Industrial Technical Centre for Plastics and Composites, Alençon, France
| | | | - Petru Jitaru
- Laboratory for Food Safety, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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26
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Su H, Li J, Ye L, Su G. Establishment of compound database of emerging antioxidants and high-resolution mass spectrometry screening in lake sediment from Taihu Lake Basin, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:28341-28352. [PMID: 38532220 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32855-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Antioxidants are ubiquitous in various environmental samples, leading to increasing concern regarding their potential risk to environments or humans. However, there is dearth of information regarding the environmental fate of antioxidants and unknown/unexpected antioxidants in the environment. Here, we established a compound database (CDB) containing 320 current-used antioxidants by collecting the chemicals from EPA's functional use database and published documents. Physical-chemical characteristics of these antioxidants were estimated, and 19 ones were considered as persistent and bioaccumulative (P&B) substances. This CDB was further coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) technique, which was employed for suspect screening of antioxidants in extracts of sediments (n = 88) collected from Taihu Lake basin. We screened 119 HRMS features that can match 135 chemical formulas in the CDB, and 20 out of them exhibited the detection frequencies ≥ 90%. The total concentrations of suspect antioxidants in sediments ranged from 6.41 to 830 ng/g dw. Statistical analysis demonstrated that concentrations of suspect antioxidants in Taihu Lake were statistically significantly lower than those in Shihu and Jiulihu Lake, but greater than those from other small lakes. Collectively, this study provided a CDB that could be helpful for further monitoring studies of antioxidant in the environments, and also provided the first evidence regarding the ubiquity of antioxidants in aquatic environment of Taihu Lake basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijun Su
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Low Metamorphic Coal Clean Utilization, Yulin Engineering Research Center of Coal Chemical Wastewater, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yulin University, Yulin, 719000, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Langjie Ye
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Guanyong Su
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China.
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27
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Stevens S, McPartland M, Bartosova Z, Skåland HS, Völker J, Wagner M. Plastic Food Packaging from Five Countries Contains Endocrine- and Metabolism-Disrupting Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4859-4871. [PMID: 38441001 PMCID: PMC10956434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are complex chemical mixtures of polymers and various intentionally and nonintentionally added substances. Despite the well-established links between certain plastic chemicals (bisphenols and phthalates) and adverse health effects, the composition and toxicity of real-world mixtures of plastic chemicals are not well understood. To assess both, we analyzed the chemicals from 36 plastic food contact articles from five countries using nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry and reporter-gene assays for four nuclear receptors that represent key components of the endocrine and metabolic system. We found that chemicals activating the pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator receptor γ (PPARγ), estrogen receptor α (ERα), and inhibiting the androgen receptor (AR) are prevalent in plastic packaging. We detected up to 9936 chemical features in a single product and found that each product had a rather unique chemical fingerprint. To tackle this chemical complexity, we used stepwise partial least-squares regressions and prioritized and tentatively identified the chemical features associated with receptor activity. Our findings demonstrate that most plastic food packaging contains endocrine- and metabolism-disrupting chemicals. Since samples with fewer chemical features induce less toxicity, chemical simplification is key to producing safer plastic packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Stevens
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Molly McPartland
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Zdenka Bartosova
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hanna Sofie Skåland
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Johannes Völker
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martin Wagner
- Department
of Biology, Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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28
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McPartland M, Stevens S, Bartosova Z, Vardeberg IG, Völker J, Wagner M. Beyond the Nucleus: Plastic Chemicals Activate G Protein-Coupled Receptors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4872-4883. [PMID: 38440973 PMCID: PMC10956435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are central mediators of cell signaling and physiological function. Despite their biological significance, GPCRs have not been widely studied in the field of toxicology. Herein, we investigated these receptors as novel targets of plastic chemicals using a high-throughput drug screening assay with 126 human non-olfactory GPCRs. In a first-pass screen, we tested the activity of triphenol phosphate, bisphenol A, and diethyl phthalate, as well as three real-world mixtures of chemicals extracted from plastic food packaging covering all major polymer types. We found 11 GPCR-chemical interactions, of which the chemical mixtures exhibited the most robust activity at adenosine receptor 1 (ADORA1) and melatonin receptor 1 (MTNR1A). We further confirm that polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane products contain ADORA1 or MTNRA1 agonists using a confirmatory secondary screen and pharmacological knockdown experiments. Finally, an analysis of the associated gene ontology terms suggests that ADORA1 and MTNR1A activation may be linked to downstream effects on circadian and metabolic processes. This work highlights that signaling disruption caused by plastic chemicals is broader than that previously believed and demonstrates the relevance of nongenomic pathways, which have, thus far, remained unexplored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly McPartland
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Sarah Stevens
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Zdenka Bartosova
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Ingrid Gisnås Vardeberg
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | | | - Martin Wagner
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
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29
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Landrigan PJ. Plastics, Fossil Carbon, and the Heart. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:948-950. [PMID: 38446681 DOI: 10.1056/nejme2400683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Landrigan
- From the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Boston, and Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco
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30
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Jasinski J, Völkl M, Wilde MV, Jérôme V, Fröhlich T, Freitag R, Scheibel T. Influence of the polymer type of a microplastic challenge on the reaction of murine cells. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133280. [PMID: 38141312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133280] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Due to global pollution derived from plastic waste, the research on microplastics is of increasing public interest. Until now, most studies addressing the effect of microplastic particles on vertebrate cells have primarily utilized polystyrene particles (PS). Other studies on polymer microparticles made, e.g., of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), or poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), cannot easily be directly compared to these PS studies, since the used microparticles differ widely in size and surface features. Here, effects caused by pristine microparticles of a narrow size range between 1 - 4 µm from selected conventional polymers including PS, PE, and PVC, were compared to those of particles made of polymers derived from biological sources like polylactic acid (PLA), and cellulose acetate (CA). The microparticles were used to investigate cellular uptake and assess cytotoxic effects on murine macrophages and epithelial cells. Despite differences in the particles' properties (e.g. ζ-potential and surface morphology), macrophages were able to ingest all tested particles, whereas epithelial cells ingested only the PS-based particles, which had a strong negative ζ-potential. Most importantly, none of the used model polymer particles exhibited significant short-time cytotoxicity, although the general effect of environmentally relevant microplastic particles on organisms requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Jasinski
- Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Matthias Völkl
- Process Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Magdalena V Wilde
- Gene Center Munich, Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), LMU München, Munich, Germany; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology & Geobiology, LMU München, Munich, Germany
| | - Valérie Jérôme
- Process Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Fröhlich
- Gene Center Munich, Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), LMU München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ruth Freitag
- Process Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany; Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany; Bayreuth Center for Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany; Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany; Bayreuth Center for Material Science (BayMAT), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany; Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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31
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Chen X, Han W, Chen J, Xie H, Xie Q, Zhu M, Wang Z, Cui Y, Tang W. Composition and release rates of chemicals in inkjet fabrics determined by non-targeted screening and targeted analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123312. [PMID: 38199480 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Unveiling composition and release rates of chemicals in chemical-intensive products (CIPs) such as inkjet fabrics that are applied extensively in advertising and publicizing industries, is of importance to sound management of chemicals. This study tentatively identified 212 compounds from 69 inkjet fabric samples using gas chromatograph coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS). Contents of six phthalate esters (PAEs) were quantified to range from 3.0 × 102 mg/kg to 3.1 × 105 mg/kg with GC-MS. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was predominantly detected to average 96 g/kg. The inkjet fabrics collected from southern China contained fewer non-intentionally added substances (NIASs) than from northern China. Annual mass release rates (RM) of the 6 PAEs from inkjet fabrics to air were estimated to range from 1.4 × 10-2 kg/year to 2.8 × 104 kg/year in China in 2020, and the mean indoor RM was comparable with the outdoor one. Equilibrium partition coefficients of the compounds between the product and air, ambient temperature, and concentrations of chemicals in the product, are key factors leading to RM with the high variance. The findings indicate that contents of the NIASs in the CIPs should be minimized, and the refining concept should be adopted in design of the CIPs, so as to control the release of chemicals from the CIPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Wenjing Han
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
| | - Huaijun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Minghua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Yunhan Cui
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Weihao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
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32
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Zhang D, Wang Z, Oberschelp C, Bradford E, Hellweg S. Enhanced Deep-Learning Model for Carbon Footprints of Chemicals. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:2700-2708. [PMID: 38389904 PMCID: PMC10880087 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c07038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Millions of chemicals have been designed; however, their product carbon footprints (PCFs) are largely unknown, leaving questions about their sustainability. This general lack of PCF data is because the data needed for comprehensive environmental analyses are typically not available in the early molecular design stages. Several predictive tools have been developed to estimate the PCF of chemicals, which are applicable to only a narrow range of common chemicals and have limited predictive ability. Here, we propose FineChem 2, which is based on a novel transformer framework and first-hand industry data, for accurately predicting the PCF of chemicals. Compared to previous tools, FineChem 2 demonstrates significantly better predictive power, and its applicability domains are improved by ∼75% on a diverse set of chemicals on the global market, including the high-production-volume chemicals identified by regulators, daily chemicals, and chemical additives in food and plastics. In addition, through better interpretability from the attention mechanism, FineChem 2 may successfully identify PCF-intensive substructures and critical raw materials of chemicals, providing insights into the design of more sustainable molecules and processes. Therefore, we highlight FineChem 2 for estimating the PCF of chemicals, contributing to advancements in the sustainable transition of the global chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dachuan Zhang
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Ecological Systems
Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Ecological Systems
Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
- Technology
and Society Laboratory, Empa-Swiss Federal
Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, St. Gallen CH-9014, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Oberschelp
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Ecological Systems
Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Eric Bradford
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Ecological Systems
Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Hellweg
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Ecological Systems
Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
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Patel KG, Maynard RK, Ferguson LS, Broich ML, Bledsoe JC, Wood CC, Crane GH, Bramhall JA, Rust JM, Williams-Rhaesa A, Locklin JJ. Experimentally Determined Hansen Solubility Parameters of Biobased and Biodegradable Polyesters. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:2386-2393. [PMID: 38362530 PMCID: PMC10865435 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c07284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) of 15 commercially relevant biobased and biodegradable polyesters were experimentally determined by applying a novel approach to the classic solubility study method. In this approach, the extent of swelling in polymer films was determined using a simple equation based on the mass difference between swollen and nonswollen film samples to obtain normalized solvent uptake (N). Using N and HSPiP software, highly accurate HSP values were obtained for all 15 polyesters. Qualitative evaluation of the HSP values was conducted by predicting the miscibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHB-co-HHx, 7 mol % HHx) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with a novel lignin-based plasticizer (ethyl 3-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, EP) with a relative energy difference (RED) less than 0.4. Additionally, an HSP-predicted plasticizer (di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, DA) with a larger RED (>0.7) was used to demonstrate the effects of less-miscible additives. Plasticized samples were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy (POM) to determine the Tg depression, with EP showing linear Tg depression up to 50% plasticizer loading, whereas DA shows minimal Tg depression past 10% loading. Further analysis by POM reveals that the DA phase separates from both polymers at loadings as low as 2.5% (PHB-co-HHx, 7 mol % HHx) and 5% (PLA), while the EP phase separates at a much higher loading of 50% (PHB-co-HHx, 7 mol% HHx) and 30% (PLA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kush G. Patel
- School
of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, 597 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Ryan K. Maynard
- Department
of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, 140 Cedar Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Lawrence S. Ferguson
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Michael L. Broich
- School
of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, 597 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Joshua C. Bledsoe
- Department
of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, 140 Cedar Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Caitlin C. Wood
- Department
of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, 140 Cedar Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Grant H. Crane
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bramhall
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Rust
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Amanda Williams-Rhaesa
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jason J. Locklin
- School
of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, 597 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, 140 Cedar Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
- New
Materials Institute, University of Georgia, 220 Riverbend R., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
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Huang YQ, Zeng Y, Mai JL, Huang ZS, Guan YF, Chen SJ. Disposable Plastic Waste and Associated Antioxidants and Plasticizers Generated by Online Food Delivery Services in China: National Mass Inventories and Environmental Release. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38316131 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
China's online food delivery (OFD) services consume enormous amounts of disposable plastics. Here, we investigated and modeled the national mass inventories and environmental release of plastics and chemical additives in the plastic. The extra-tree regression identified six key descriptors in determining OFD sales in Chinese cities. Approximately 847 kt of OFD plastic waste was generated in 2021 (per capita 1.10 kg/yr in the megacities and 0.39 kg/yr in other cities). Various additives were extensively detected, with geomean concentrations of 140.96, 4.76, and 0.25 μg/g for ∑8antioxidants, ∑21phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA), respectively. The estimated mass inventory of these additives in the OFD plastics was 164.7 t, of which 51.1 t was released into the atmosphere via incineration plants and 51.0 t was landfilled. The incineration also released 8.07 t of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 39.1 kt of particulate matter into the atmosphere. Takeout food may increase the dietary intake of phthalates and BPA by 30% to 50% and raise concerns about considerable exposure to antioxidant transformation products. This study provides profound environmental implications for plastic waste in the Chinese OFD industry. We call for a sustainable circular economy action plan for waste disposal, but mitigating the hazardous substance content and their emissions is urgent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qi Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuan Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jin-Long Mai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhen-Shan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yu-Feng Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - She-Jun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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35
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Han W, Wang Z, Xie Q, Chen X, Su L, Xie H, Chen J, Fu Z. Plastic protective nets: A significant but neglected "reservoir" for priority chemicals as revealed by composition analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132905. [PMID: 37944235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
As chemical-intensive products, plastics are potential sources of emerging contaminants and pose risks to the ecosystem. However, knowledge on the inventory and emissions of chemicals in plastics remains scarce, prohibiting the lifecycle assessment of their environmental exposure. Herein, full compositions of plastic protective nets (PPNs, one globally used plastics) were analyzed via nontarget screening with mass spectrometry, optical emission spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Nontarget screening identified 861 non-polymeric organic chemicals, which were classified by network-like similarity analysis into 9 communities, dominated by phthalates (PAEs), aliphatic/oxalic esters and branched alkanes. Notably, around 80.8% (696) of the chemicals were first observed in plastics, suggesting aplenty plastic additives have previously been overlooked. Quantification results indicated PPNs contained higher levels of priority chemicals, including detrimental lead (1.17 × 104 ng/g), benzotriazoles ultraviolet stabilizers (6.66 × 103 ng/g) and PAEs (1.87 × 104 ng/g) than other plastics commonly reported. Emission projections revealed that dibutyl phthalate in PPNs had an annual release (1.83 × 103 kg) comparable to that from greenhouse films in China. These findings suggest PPNs are a significant but neglected "reservoir" for priority chemicals, which could inform future research on resolving plastic compositions, so as to promote sound chemical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Han
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Lihao Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Huaijun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), Dalian Key Laboratory on Chemicals Risk Control and Pollution Prevention Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
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36
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Kang J, Kim JY, Sung S, Lee Y, Gu S, Choi JW, Yoo CJ, Suh DJ, Choi J, Ha JM. Chemical upcycling of PVC-containing plastic wastes by thermal degradation and catalysis in a chlorine-rich environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123074. [PMID: 38048870 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123074] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Chlorine (Cl)-containing chemicals, including hydrogen chloride, generated during thermal degradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and corresponding mixture impede the chemical recycling of PVC-containing plastic wastes. While upgrading plastic-derived vapors, the presence of Cl-containing chemicals may deactivate the catalysts. Accordingly, herein, catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis vapor prepared from a mixture of PVC and polyolefins is performed using a fixed-bed reactor comprising zeolites. Among the H-forms of zeolites (namely, ZSM-5, Y, β, and chabazite) used in this study, a higher yield of gas products composed of hydrocarbons with lower carbon numbers is obtained using H-ZSM-5, thus indicating further decomposition of the pyrolysis vapor to C1-C4 hydrocarbons on it. Although the formation of aromatic compounds is better on H-ZSM-5, product distributions can be adjusted by further modifying the acidic properties via the alteration of the Si/Al molar ratio, and maximum yields of C1-C4 compounds (60.8%) and olefins (64.7%) are achieved using a Si/Al molar ratio of 50. Additionally, metal ion exchange on H-ZSM-5 is conducted, and upgrading of PVC-containing waste-derived vapor to aromatic chemicals and small hydrocarbon molecules was successfully performed using Co-substituted H-ZSM-5. It reveals that the highest yield of gas products on 1.74 wt% cobalt (Co)-substituted H-ZSM-5 is acquired via the selection of an appropriate metal and metal ion concentration adjustment. Nevertheless, introduction of excess Co into the H-ZSM-5 surface decreases the cracking activity, thereby implying that highly distributed Co is required to achieve excellent cracking activity. The addition of Co also adjusted the acid types of H-ZSM-5, and more Lewis acid sites compared to Brønsted acid sites selectively produced olefins and naphthenes over paraffins and aromatics. The proposed approach can be a feasible process to produce valuable petroleum-replacing chemicals from Cl-containing mixed plastic wastes, contributing to the closed loops for upcycling plastic wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisong Kang
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Young Kim
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhyeon Sung
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerin Lee
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangseo Gu
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Wook Choi
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun-Jae Yoo
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jin Suh
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungkyu Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong-Myeong Ha
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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37
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Khalifa Z, Patel AB. Tri-substituted 1,3,5-triazine-based analogs as effective HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): A systematic review. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22154. [PMID: 38349259 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) have significantly impacted the HIV-1 wild-type due to their high specificity and superior potency. As well as different combinations of NNRTIs have been used on clinically approved combining highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to resist the growth of HIV-1 and decrease the mortality rate of HIV/AIDS. Although the feeble strength against the drug-resistant mutant strains and the long-term damaging effects have been reducing the effectiveness of HAART, it could be a crucial challenge to develop novel Anti-HIV leads with a vital mode of action and the least side effects. The extensive chemical reactivity and the diverse chemotherapeutic applications of the 1,3,5-triazine have provided a wide scope of research in medicinal chemistry via a structural modification. In this review, we focused on the Anti-HIV profile of the tri-substituted s-triazine derivatives with structure-based features and also discussed the active mode of action to evaluate the significant findings. The tri-substituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives have been found more promising to inhibit the growth of the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant variants of HIV-1, especially HIV-1 wild-type, HIV-1 K103N/Y181C, and HIV-1 Tyr181Cys. It has been observed that these derivatives have interacted with the enzyme protein residues via a significantπ $\pi $ -π $\pi $ interaction and hydrogen bonding to resist the proliferation of the viral genomes. Further, the SAR and the active binding modes are critically described and highlight the role of structural variations with functional groups along with the binding affinity of targeted enzymes, which may be beneficial for rational drug discovery to develop highly dynamic Anti-HIV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zebabanu Khalifa
- Department of Chemistry, Government College, Daman (Affiliated to Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat), Daman, India
| | - Amit B Patel
- Department of Chemistry, Government College, Daman (Affiliated to Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat), Daman, India
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38
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Miralha A, Contins M, Carpenter LBT, Pinto RL, Marques Calderari MRC, Neves RAF. Leachates of weathering plastics from an urban sandy beach: Toxicity to sea urchin fertilization and early development. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115980. [PMID: 38171163 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115980] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Plastic leachates have chemical and biological implications for marine environments. This study experimentally evaluated acute effects of weathering plastic leachates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 %) on fertilization and early development of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. Fertilization, embryonic and larval development were drastically inhibited (~75 %) when gametes were exposed to intermediate and high leachate concentrations or delayed when exposed to the lowest concentration. Fertilization and first cleavage stages were highly affected by exposure to intermediate and high leachate concentrations. None of the cells incubated at concentrations from 50 % reached blastula stage, suggesting that embryonic development was the most sensitive stage. Abnormalities in embryos and larvae were observed in all leachate treatments. Chemical analysis detected high concentration of bisphenol A, which may induce these observed effects. Our results highlight the potential threats of plastic pollution to sea urchin populations, which may severely affect the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Miralha
- Graduate Program in Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil; Research Group of Experimental and Applied Aquatic Ecology, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil
| | - Mariana Contins
- Science and Culture Forum, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - Letícia B T Carpenter
- Centre of Analysis Fernanda Coutinho, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil
| | - Rafael L Pinto
- Centre of Analysis Fernanda Coutinho, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil
| | | | - Raquel A F Neves
- Graduate Program in Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil; Research Group of Experimental and Applied Aquatic Ecology, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Biosciences (IBIO), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil.
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39
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Wiesinger H, Bleuler C, Christen V, Favreau P, Hellweg S, Langer M, Pasquettaz R, Schönborn A, Wang Z. Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1894-1907. [PMID: 38241221 PMCID: PMC10832040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Hazardous chemicals in building and construction plastics can lead to health risks due to indoor exposure and may contaminate recycled materials. We systematically sampled new polyvinyl chloride floorings on the Swiss market (n = 151). We performed elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence, targeted and suspect gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of ortho-phthalates and alternative plasticizers, and bioassay tests for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, and endocrine, mutagenic, and genotoxic activities (for selected samples). Surprisingly, 16% of the samples contained regulated chemicals above 0.1 wt %, mainly lead and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Their presence is likely related to the use of recycled PVC in new flooring, highlighting that uncontrolled recycling can delay the phase-out of hazardous chemicals. Besides DEHP, 29% of the samples contained other ortho-phthalates (mainly diisononyl and diisodecyl phthalates, DiNP and DiDP) above 0.1 wt %, and 17% of the samples indicated a potential to cause biological effects. Considering some overlap between these groups, they together make up an additional 35% of the samples of potential concern. Moreover, both suspect screening and bioassay results indicate the presence of additional potentially hazardous substances. Overall, our study highlights the urgent need to accelerate the phase-out of hazardous substances, increase the transparency of chemical compositions in plastics to protect human and ecosystem health, and enable the transition to a safe and sustainable circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Wiesinger
- Chair
of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Bleuler
- Service
de l’air, du bruit et des rayonnements non ionisants (SABRA), Geneva Cantonal Office for the Environment, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Verena Christen
- Institute
for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland,
FHNW, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Favreau
- Service
de l’air, du bruit et des rayonnements non ionisants (SABRA), Geneva Cantonal Office for the Environment, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Hellweg
- Chair
of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Institute of Environmental
Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Langer
- Institute
for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland,
FHNW, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
- Eawag—Swiss
Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Roxane Pasquettaz
- Service
de l’air, du bruit et des rayonnements non ionisants (SABRA), Geneva Cantonal Office for the Environment, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Schönborn
- Institute
of Natural Resource Sciences, ZHAW Zurich
University of Applied Science, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Chair
of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, Institute of Environmental
Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
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40
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James BD, Ward CP, Hahn ME, Thorpe SJ, Reddy CM. Minimizing the Environmental Impacts of Plastic Pollution through Ecodesign of Products with Low Environmental Persistence. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:1185-1194. [PMID: 38273987 PMCID: PMC10806995 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c05534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
While plastic pollution threatens ecosystems and human health, the use of plastic products continues to increase. Limiting its harm requires design strategies for plastic products informed by the threats that plastics pose to the environment. Thus, we developed a sustainability metric for the ecodesign of plastic products with low environmental persistence and uncompromised performance. To do this, we integrated the environmental degradation rate of plastic into established material selection strategies, deriving material indices for environmental persistence. By comparing indices for the environmental impact of on-the-market plastics and proposed alternatives, we show that accounting for the environmental persistence of plastics in design could translate to societal benefits of hundreds of millions of dollars for a single consumer product. Our analysis identifies the materials and their properties that deserve development, adoption, and investment to create functional and less environmentally impactful plastic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D. James
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Department
of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Collin P. Ward
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Department
of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Steven J. Thorpe
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of Toronto; Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
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41
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Casagrande N, Silva CO, Verones F, Sobral P, Martinho G. Ecotoxicity effect factors for plastic additives on the aquatic environment: a new approach for life cycle impact assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122935. [PMID: 37977358 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
All plastic contains additives. Once in the environment, these will start to leach out and will expose and harm aquatic biota, causing potentially lethal and sub-lethal toxic effects. Even though life cycle assessment covers the toxic impacts of several thousands of chemicals, models to assess the toxic impacts of plastic additives are only emerging. We gathered 461 data points from the literature (266 for freshwater and 195 for marine ecosystems) for 75 species belonging to 9 different phyla. The endpoints effective concentration and lethal concentration, no observed effects concentrations and lowest observed effect concentration tested in acute and chronic exposure, were harmonized into chronic values by applying extrapolation factors. The collected data points covered 75 main plastic additives. This allowed us to calculate 25 Effect factors, 19 for single chemicals and four for overarching categories (alkylphenols, benzophenones, brominated flame retardants and phosphates. In addition, we calculated an aggregated effect factor for chemicals that did not fit in any of the previous groups, as well as a Generic effect factor including 404 gathered data points. The estimated potentially affected fraction (PAF) for the single additives varied between 20.69 PAF·m3·kg-1 for diethyl phthalate and 11081.85 PAF·m3·kg-1 for 4-Nonylphenol. The factors can in future be combined with fate and exposure factors to derive a characterization factor for toxicity caused by additives in aquatic species. This is an important advancement for the assessment of the impacts of plastic debris on aquatic species, thus providing information for decision-makers, as well as guiding policies for the use of additives, ultimately aiming to make the plastic value chain more sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Casagrande
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Carla O Silva
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Francesca Verones
- Industrial Ecology Programme, Department for Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Paula Sobral
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Graça Martinho
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre | ARNET - Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
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42
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Green-Ojo B, Botelho MT, Umbuzeiro GDA, Gomes V, Parker MO, Grinsted L, Ford AT. Evaluation of precopulatory pairing behaviour and male fertility in a marine amphipod exposed to plastic additives. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122946. [PMID: 37977364 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Plastics contain a mixture of chemical additives that can leach into the environment and potentially cause harmful effects on reproduction and the endocrine system. Two of these chemicals, N-butyl benzenesulfonamide (NBBS) and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), are among the top 30 organic chemicals detected in surface and groundwater and are currently placed on international watchlist for evaluation. Although bans have been placed on legacy pollutants such as diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), their persistence remains a concern. This study aimed to examine the impact of plastic additives, including NBBS, TPHP, DBP, and DEHP, on the reproductive behaviour and male fertility of the marine amphipod Echinogammarus marinus. Twenty precopulatory pairs of E. marinus were exposed to varying concentrations of the four test chemicals to assess their pairing behaviour. A high-throughput methodology was developed and optimised to record the contact time and re-pair time within 15 min and additional point observations for 96 h. The study found that low levels of NBBS, TPHP, and DEHP prolonged the contact and re-pairing time of amphipods and the proportion of pairs reduced drastically with re-pairing success ranging from 75% to 100% in the control group and 0%-85% in the exposed groups at 96 h. Sperm count declined by 40% and 60% in the 50 μg/l and 500 μg/l DBP groups, respectively, whereas TPHP resulted in significantly lower sperms in 50 μg/l exposed group. Animals exposed to NBBS and DEHP showed high interindividual variability in all exposed groups. Overall, this study provides evidence that plastic additives can disrupt the reproductive mechanisms and sperm counts of amphipods at environmentally relevant concentrations. Our research also demonstrated the usefulness of the precopulatory pairing mechanism as a sensitive endpoint in ecotoxicity assessments to proactively mitigate population-level effects in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidemi Green-Ojo
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Marina Tenório Botelho
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, UK; Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Praça Do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Vicente Gomes
- Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Praça Do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mathew O Parker
- School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Science, White Swan Road, St. Michael's Building, Portsmouth, UK; Surrey Sleep Research Centre, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Lena Grinsted
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, King Henry 1 Street, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Alex T Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, UK.
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43
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da Costa JP, Avellan A, Tubić A, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T. Understanding Interface Exchanges for Assessing Environmental Sorption of Additives from Microplastics: Current Knowledge and Perspectives. Molecules 2024; 29:333. [PMID: 38257246 PMCID: PMC10820944 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020333] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the impacts of plastic pollution have long been recognized, the presence, pervasiveness, and ecotoxicological consequences of microplastic-i.e., plastic particles < 5 mm-contamination have only been explored over the last decade. Far less focus has been attributed to the role of these materials and, particularly, microplastics, as vectors for a multitude of chemicals, including those (un)intentionally added to plastic products, but also organic pollutants already present in the environment. Owing to the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in all environmental matrices and to the diverse nature of their chemical and physical characteristics, thoroughly understanding the mechanistic uptake/release of these compounds is inherently complex, but necessary in order to better assess the potential impacts of both microplastics and associated chemicals on the environment. Herein, we delve into the known processes and factors affecting these mechanisms. We center the discussion on microplastics and discuss some of the most prominent ecological implications of the sorption of this multitude of chemicals. Moreover, the key limitations of the currently available literature are described and a prospective outlook for the future research on the topic is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pinto da Costa
- Department of Chemistry & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.C.D.); (T.R.-S.)
| | - Astrid Avellan
- Géosciences-Environnement-Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563 CNRS, UPS, IRD, CNES, OMP, 14, Avenue Edouard Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France;
| | - Aleksandra Tubić
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Armando C. Duarte
- Department of Chemistry & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.C.D.); (T.R.-S.)
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- Department of Chemistry & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.C.D.); (T.R.-S.)
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44
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Chang Y, Blanton SJ, Andraos R, Nguyen VS, Liotta CL, Schork FJ, Sievers C. Kinetic Phenomena in Mechanochemical Depolymerization of Poly(styrene). ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:178-191. [PMID: 38213546 PMCID: PMC10777454 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c05296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic polyolefinic plastics comprise one of the largest shares of global plastic waste, which is being targeted for chemical recycling by depolymerization to monomers and small molecules. One promising method of chemical recycling is solid-state depolymerization under ambient conditions in a ball-mill reactor. In this paper, we elucidate kinetic phenomena in the mechanochemical depolymerization of poly(styrene). Styrene is produced in this process at a constant rate and selectivity alongside minor products, including oxygenates like benzaldehyde, via mechanisms analogous to those involved in thermal and oxidative pyrolysis. Continuous monomer removal during reactor operation is critical for avoiding repolymerization, and promoting effects are exhibited by iron surfaces and molecular oxygen. Kinetic independence between depolymerization and molecular weight reduction was observed, despite both processes originating from the same driving force of mechanochemical collisions. Phenomena across multiple length scales are shown to be responsible for differences in reactivity due to differences in grinding parameters and reactant composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Chang
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Sylvie J. Blanton
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ralph Andraos
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Van Son Nguyen
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Charles L. Liotta
- School
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - F. Joseph Schork
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Carsten Sievers
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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45
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Zeng Y, Wang H, Liang D, Yuan W, Shen Y, Shen Z, Gu Q. Shape- and polymer-considered simulation to unravel the estuarine microplastics fate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132679. [PMID: 37793263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental microplastics (MPs) constitute various sizes, polymers, and shape components. In estuaries, such differences are related to the reliability of assessing the seaward fate of MPs, aggregation hotspots, and ecological risks. This study sets the MP particle mass gradient using the shape factor and size probability density function to categorically estimate the MP load in the surface layer of the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE), which is the largest contributor of plastics to the sea. During the high plastic input period in July, the optimized estimated MP load through the surface layer of the YRE was 9766 kg/month, which was overestimated by 821 kg/month based on the empirical average particle mass. While tracking MP transport classified by shape and polymer type, the resuspension of MPs that accumulate in the intertidal zone cannot be neglected. The average relative error of the simulation was as low as 19.6% after including the abovementioned factors. Finally, the simulation results of the sensitive regions were extracted to assess the new MP risk index, which considers shape, abundance, and polymer type. By introducing these essential tools, this study helps to understand the fate of riverine MPs entering estuaries, where valuable opportunities for removing MPs exist before they spread to the oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichuan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Dongfang Liang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
| | - Weihao Yuan
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Yuhan Shen
- Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Zilin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Qihui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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46
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Trasande L, Krithivasan R, Park K, Obsekov V, Belliveau M. Chemicals Used in Plastic Materials: An Estimate of the Attributable Disease Burden and Costs in the United States. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvad163. [PMID: 38213907 PMCID: PMC10783259 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvad163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Chemicals used in plastics have been described to contribute to disease and disability, but attributable fractions have not been quantified to assess specific contributions. Without this information, interventions proposed as part of the Global Plastics Treaty cannot be evaluated for potential benefits. Objective To accurately inform the tradeoffs involved in the ongoing reliance on plastic production as a source of economic productivity in the United States, we calculated the attributable disease burden and cost due to chemicals used in plastic materials in 2018. Methods We first analyzed the existing literature to identify plastic-related fractions (PRF) of disease and disability for specific polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE), phthalates, bisphenols, and polyfluoroalkyl substances and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We then updated previously published disease burden and cost estimates for these chemicals in the United States to 2018. By uniting these data, we computed estimates of attributable disease burden and costs due to plastics in the United States. Results We identified PRFs of 97.5% for bisphenol A (96.25-98.75% for sensitivity analysis), 98% (96%-99%) for di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, 100% (71%-100%) for butyl phthalates and benzyl phthalates, 98% (97%-99%) for PBDE-47, and 93% (16%-96%) for PFAS. In total, we estimate $249 billion (sensitivity analysis: $226 billion-$289 billion) in plastic-attributable disease burden in 2018. The majority of these costs arose as a result of PBDE exposure, though $66.7 billion ($64.7 billion-67.3 billion) was due to phthalate exposure and $22.4 billion was due to PFAS exposure (sensitivity analysis: $3.85-$60.1 billion). Conclusion Plastics contribute substantially to disease and associated social costs in the United States, accounting for 1.22% of the gross domestic product. The costs of plastic pollution will continue to accumulate as long as exposures continue at current levels. Actions through the Global Plastics Treaty and other policy initiatives will reduce these costs in proportion to the actual reductions in chemical exposures achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NewYork, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NewYork, NY 10016, USA
- NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NewYork, NY 10012, USA
| | | | - Kevin Park
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NewYork, NY 10016, USA
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47
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Zurub RE, Cariaco Y, Wade MG, Bainbridge SA. Microplastics exposure: implications for human fertility, pregnancy and child health. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1330396. [PMID: 38239985 PMCID: PMC10794604 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1330396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastics found in our everyday environment are becoming an increasing concern for individual and population-level health, and the extent of exposure and potential toxic effects of these contaminants on numerous human organ systems are becoming clear. Microplastics (MPs), tiny plastic particles, appear to have many of the same biological effects as their plastic precursors and have the compounded effect of potential accumulation in different organs. Recently, microplastic accumulation was observed in the human placenta, raising important questions related to the biological effects of these contaminants on the health of pregnancies and offspring. These concerns are particularly heightened considering the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) framework, which postulates that in utero exposure can programme the lifelong health of the offspring. The current review examines the state of knowledge on this topic and highlights important avenues for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rewa E. Zurub
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Yusmaris Cariaco
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G. Wade
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon A. Bainbridge
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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48
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Song XC, Canellas E, Dreolin N, Goshawk J, Lv M, Qu G, Nerin C, Jiang G. Application of Ion Mobility Spectrometry and the Derived Collision Cross Section in the Analysis of Environmental Organic Micropollutants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21485-21502. [PMID: 38091506 PMCID: PMC10753811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a rapid gas-phase separation technique, which can distinguish ions on the basis of their size, shape, and charge. The IMS-derived collision cross section (CCS) can serve as additional identification evidence for the screening of environmental organic micropollutants (OMPs). In this work, we summarize the published experimental CCS values of environmental OMPs, introduce the current CCS prediction tools, summarize the use of IMS and CCS in the analysis of environmental OMPs, and finally discussed the benefits of IMS and CCS in environmental analysis. An up-to-date CCS compendium for environmental contaminants was produced by combining CCS databases and data sets of particular types of environmental OMPs, including pesticides, drugs, mycotoxins, steroids, plastic additives, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as their well-known transformation products. A total of 9407 experimental CCS values from 4170 OMPs were retrieved from 23 publications, which contain both drift tube CCS in nitrogen (DTCCSN2) and traveling wave CCS in nitrogen (TWCCSN2). A selection of publicly accessible and in-house CCS prediction tools were also investigated; the chemical space covered by the training set and the quality of CCS measurements seem to be vital factors affecting the CCS prediction accuracy. Then, the applications of IMS and the derived CCS in the screening of various OMPs were summarized, and the benefits of IMS and CCS, including increased peak capacity, the elimination of interfering ions, the separation of isomers, and the reduction of false positives and false negatives, were discussed in detail. With the improvement of the resolving power of IMS and enhancements of experimental CCS databases, the practicability of IMS in the analysis of environmental OMPs will continue to improve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Chao Song
- School
of the Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Department
of Analytical Chemistry, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research
I3A, EINA, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Elena Canellas
- Department
of Analytical Chemistry, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research
I3A, EINA, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Nicola Dreolin
- Waters
Corporation, Stamford
Avenue, Altrincham Road, SK9 4AX Wilmslow, United Kingdom
| | - Jeff Goshawk
- Waters
Corporation, Stamford
Avenue, Altrincham Road, SK9 4AX Wilmslow, United Kingdom
| | - Meilin Lv
- State
Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Research
Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of
Sciences, Northeastern University, 110819 Shenyang, China
| | - Guangbo Qu
- School
of the Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Institute
of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Cristina Nerin
- Department
of Analytical Chemistry, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research
I3A, EINA, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Guibin Jiang
- School
of the Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Institute
of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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Landrigan P, Symeonides C, Raps H, Dunlop S. The global plastics treaty: why is it needed? Lancet 2023; 402:2274-2276. [PMID: 37863083 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02198-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Landrigan
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco MA 02467, USA.
| | | | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco MA 02467, USA
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Maddela NR, Kakarla D, Venkateswarlu K, Megharaj M. Additives of plastics: Entry into the environment and potential risks to human and ecological health. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119364. [PMID: 37866190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119364] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
A steep rise in global plastic production and significant discharge of plastic waste are expected in the near future. Plastics pose a threat to the ecosystem and human health through the generation of particulate plastics that act as carriers for other emerging contaminants, and the release of toxic chemical additives. Since plastic additives are not covalently bound, they can freely leach into the environment. Due to their occurrence in various environmental settings, the additives exert significant ecotoxicity. However, only 25% of plastic additives have been characterized for their potential ecological concern. Despite global market statistics highlighting the substantial environmental burden caused by the unrestricted production and use of plastic additives, information on their ecotoxicity remains incomplete. By focusing on the ecological impacts of plastic additives, the present review aims to provide detailed insights into the following aspects: (i) diversity and occurrence in the environment, (ii) leaching from plastic materials, (iii) trophic transfer, (iv) human exposure, (v) risks to ecosystem and human health, and (vi) legal guidelines and mitigation strategies. These insights are of immense value in restricting the use of toxic additives, searching for eco-friendly alternatives, and establishing or revising guidelines on plastic additives by global health and environmental agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naga Raju Maddela
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, 130105, Ecuador
| | - Dhatri Kakarla
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
- Formerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu, 515003, India
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), The University of Newcastle, ATC Building, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
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