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Oluwoye I, Tanaka S, Okuda K. Pilot-scale performance of gravity-driven ultra-high flux fabric membrane systems for removing small-sized microplastics in wastewater treatment plant effluents. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 363:121438. [PMID: 38861885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitous nature and environmental impacts of microplastic particles and fibers demand effective solutions to remove such micropollutants from sizable point sources, including wastewater treatment plants and road runoff facilities. While advanced methods, e.g., microfiltration and ultrafiltration, have shown high removal efficiencies of small-sized microplastics (<150 μm), the low flux encountered in these systems implies high operation costs and makes them less effective in high-capacity wastewater facilities. The issue presents new opportunities for developing cheap high-flux membrane systems, deployable in low-to high-income economies, to remove small-sized microplastic and nanoplastics in wastewater. Here, we report on developing an ultra-high flux gravity-driven fabric membrane system, assessed through a laboratory-scale filtration and large-scale performance in an actual wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The method followed a carefully designed water sampling, pre-treatment protocol, and analytical measurements involving Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and laser direct infrared (LDIR) imaging. The result shows that the ultra-high flux (permeance = 550,000 L/m2h⋅bar) fabric membrane system can effectively remove small-sized microplastics (10-300 μm) in the secondary effluent of an actual WWTP at high efficiency greater than 96 %. The pilot system demonstrated a continuous treatment capacity of 300,000 L/day through a 1 m2 surface area disc, with steady removal rates of microplastics. These findings demonstrate the practical, cheap, and sustainable removal of small-sized microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, and their potential value for other large-scale point sources, e.g., stormwater treatment facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibukun Oluwoye
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshidahonmachi, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan; Curtin Corrosion Centre, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
| | - Shuhei Tanaka
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshidahonmachi, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kensuke Okuda
- Metawater R&D Center, Water Regeneration Technology Development Department, Tokyo, 101-0041, Japan
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2
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Codrington J, Varnum AA, Hildebrandt L, Pröfrock D, Bidhan J, Khodamoradi K, Höhme AL, Held M, Evans A, Velasquez D, Yarborough CC, Ghane-Motlagh B, Agarwal A, Achua J, Pozzi E, Mesquita F, Petrella F, Miller D, Ramasamy R. Detection of microplastics in the human penis. Int J Impot Res 2024:10.1038/s41443-024-00930-6. [PMID: 38890513 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-024-00930-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The proliferation of microplastics (MPs) represents a burgeoning environmental and health crisis. Measuring less than 5 mm in diameter, MPs have infiltrated atmospheric, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, penetrating commonplace consumables like seafood, sea salt, and bottled beverages. Their size and surface area render them susceptible to chemical interactions with physiological fluids and tissues, raising bioaccumulation and toxicity concerns. Human exposure to MPs occurs through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. To date, there is no direct evidence identifying MPs in penile tissue. The objective of this study was to assess for potential aggregation of MPs in penile tissue. Tissue samples were extracted from six individuals who underwent surgery for a multi-component inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). Samples were obtained from the corpora using Adson forceps before corporotomy dilation and device implantation and placed into cleaned glassware. A control sample was collected and stored in a McKesson specimen plastic container. The tissue fractions were analyzed using the Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) Chemical Imaging System (Agilent Technologies. Moreover, the morphology of the particles was investigated by a Zeiss Merlin Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), complementing the detection range of LDIR to below 20 µm. MPs via LDIR were identified in 80% of the samples, ranging in size from 20-500 µm. Smaller particles down to 2 µm were detected via SEM. Seven types of MPs were found in the penile tissue, with polyethylene terephthalate (47.8%) and polypropylene (34.7%) being the most prevalent. The detection of MPs in penile tissue raises inquiries on the ramifications of environmental pollutants on sexual health. Our research adds a key dimension to the discussion on man-made pollutants, focusing on MPs in the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Codrington
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alexandra Aponte Varnum
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lars Hildebrandt
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Daniel Pröfrock
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Joginder Bidhan
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kajal Khodamoradi
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Anke-Lisa Höhme
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Martin Held
- Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Aymara Evans
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David Velasquez
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Christina C Yarborough
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bahareh Ghane-Motlagh
- Dr. J.T. MacDonald Foundation BioNIUM, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ashutosh Agarwal
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Justin Achua
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Edoardo Pozzi
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Urology, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Mesquita
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Francis Petrella
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David Miller
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ranjith Ramasamy
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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Ji Q, Zhang Y, Xia Y, Wang X, He M, Yang Y, Sabel CE, Huang B, Zhu F, Shao M, Xie E, Yan G, Li G, Zhou A, He H, Zhang L, Jin Z. Centennial Records of Microplastics in Lake Cores in Huguangyan Maar Lake, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38867458 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic records from lake cores can reconstruct the plastic pollution history. However, the associations between anthropogenic activities and microplastic accumulation are not well understood. Huguangyan Maar Lake (HML) is a deep-enclosed lake without inlets and outlets, where the sedimentary environment is ideal for preserving a stable and historical microplastic record. Microplastic (size: 10-500 μm) characteristics in the HML core were identified using the Laser Direct Infrared Imaging system. The earliest detectable microplastics appeared unit in 1955 (1.1 items g-1). The microplastic abundance ranged from n.d. to 615.2 items g-1 in 1955-2019 with an average of 134.9 items g-1. The abundance declined slightly during the 1970s and then increased rapidly after China's Reform and Opening Up in 1978. Sixteen polymer types were detectable, with polyethylene and polypropylene dominating, accounting for 23.5 and 23.3% of the total abundance, and the size at 10-100 μm accounted for 80%. Socioeconomic factors dominated the microplastic accumulation based on the random forest modeling, and the contributions of GDP per capita, plastic-related industry yield, and total crop yield were, respectively, 13.9, 35.1, and 9.3% between 1955-2019. The total crop yield contribution further increased by 1.7% after 1978. Coarse sediment particles increased with soil erosion exacerbated microplastics discharging into the sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsong Ji
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yanxia Zhang
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- BERTHA - Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Yubao Xia
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinkai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Maoyong He
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Clive E Sabel
- BERTHA - Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K
| | - Bin Huang
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fengxiao Zhu
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Min Shao
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Enze Xie
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Guojing Yan
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Guonai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Aoyu Zhou
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huan He
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Limin Zhang
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhangdong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
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Hu B, Dai Y, Zhou H, Sun Y, Yu H, Dai Y, Wang M, Ergu D, Zhou P. Using artificial intelligence to rapidly identify microplastics pollution and predict microplastics environmental behaviors. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134865. [PMID: 38861902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
With the massive release of microplastics (MPs) into the environment, research related to MPs is advancing rapidly. Effective research methods are necessary to identify the chemical composition, shape, distribution, and environmental impacts of MPs. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven machine learning methods have demonstrated excellent performance in analyzing MPs in soil and water. This review provides a comprehensive overview of machine learning methods for the prediction of MPs for various tasks, and discusses in detail the data source, data preprocessing, algorithm principle, and algorithm limitation of applied machine learning. In addition, this review discusses the limitation of current machine learning methods for various task analysis in MPs along with future prospect. Finally, this review finds research potential in future work in building large generalized MPs datasets, designing high-performance but low-computational-complexity algorithms, and evaluating model interpretability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Hu
- College of Electronic and Information, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Yaodan Dai
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Hai Zhou
- College of Electronic and Information, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Ying Sun
- College of Electronic and Information, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Hongfang Yu
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yueyue Dai
- School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Daji Ergu
- College of Electronic and Information, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Pan Zhou
- College of Electronic and Information, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China.
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5
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Phuong NN, Duong TT, Pham QT, Ngo TXT, Nguyen TMD, Phuong NA, Le TPQ, Duong TN, Dhivert E, Zalouk-Vergnoux A, Poirier L, Gasperi J. Anthropogenic particle abundance and characteristics in seawater and intertidal sediments of the Tonkin Bay Coast (North Vietnam). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:514. [PMID: 38709331 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12674-3] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs, plastic items from 1 µm to 5 mm in size) are present in all environmental compartments. The evaluation of their concentration, fate, and spatial distribution is still a challenge for the scientific community. This concern is just debuting in developing countries, (i.e., Asia, South America, and Africa). This study deals with the MP contamination in the abiotic marine compartments of Northern Vietnam: seawater and intertidal sediments. Four sites located in the intertidal zone or near the coastline in Tonkin Bay, Vietnam were studied. A total of 16 samples (eight for each compartment) were collected in July 2020 (rainy season) and January 2021 (dry season). Anthropogenic particles (total observed fibers and fragments) were found at levels ranging from 3 to 303 particles/m3 in seawater and from 63 to 955 particles/kg dry weight in sediments. Most of these were fibers less than 300-µm long. Higher levels of seawater at the Nam Dinh site were found in the rainy season compared to the dry one. As the river flow was estimated six times higher during the rainy season than during the dry season, these results suggest the river discharge is a potential source of contamination for the coastal zone. The temporal variability was lower for the sediments than for the seawater, suggesting the long-term integration of the anthropogenic particles in this compartment. A small portion of sorted particles were analyzed by µFTIR (8.35%), and this sub-sample was only composed of fragments. Still, fragments were mostly composed of polypropylene (PP, 82%), polyethylene (PE, 9%), and polystyrene (PS, 9%). The fragment size was similar in the two studied compartments, but it was dependent on polymer types since PS fragments (140 ± 17 µm) were smaller than those made of PE (622 ± 123 µm) and PP (869 ± 905 µm). Future works should investigate the smallest fraction of MP (even nanoplastics) as well as find solutions in order to mitigate MP contamination in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Nam Phuong
- PhuTho College of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2201 Hung Vuong Boulevard, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, 290000, Vietnam.
| | - Thi Thuy Duong
- Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Quoc Tuan Pham
- PhuTho College of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2201 Hung Vuong Boulevard, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, 290000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Xuan Thinh Ngo
- PhuTho College of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2201 Hung Vuong Boulevard, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, 290000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Minh Diep Nguyen
- PhuTho College of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2201 Hung Vuong Boulevard, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, 290000, Vietnam
| | - Ngoc Anh Phuong
- Vietnam National Lung Hospital, 463 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thi Phuong Quynh Le
- Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thanh Nghi Duong
- Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, 246 Da Nang Street, Ngo Quyen, Hai Phong, Vietnam
| | - Elie Dhivert
- EA 6293 GéoHydrosystèmes Continentaux, University of Tours, F-37200, Tours, France
| | - Aurore Zalouk-Vergnoux
- Institut Des Substances Et Organismes de La Mer, ISOMer, Nantes Université, UR 2160, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Laurence Poirier
- Institut Des Substances Et Organismes de La Mer, ISOMer, Nantes Université, UR 2160, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Johnny Gasperi
- GERS-LEE Université Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, 44344, Bouguenais, France
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Xie J, Gowen A, Xu W, Xu J. Analysing micro- and nanoplastics with cutting-edge infrared spectroscopy techniques: a critical review. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024; 16:2177-2197. [PMID: 38533677 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay01808c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The escalating prominence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) as emerging anthropogenic pollutants has sparked widespread scientific and public interest. These minuscule particles pervade the global environment, permeating drinking water and food sources, prompting concerns regarding their environmental impacts and potential risks to human health. In recent years, the field of MNP research has witnessed the development and application of cutting-edge infrared (IR) spectroscopic instruments. This review focuses on the recent application of advanced IR spectroscopic techniques and relevant instrumentation to analyse MNPs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, encompassing articles published within the past three years. The findings revealed that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy stands as the most used technique, with focal plane array FTIR (FPA-FTIR) representing the cutting edge in FTIR spectroscopy. The second most popular technique is quantum cascade laser infrared (QCL-IR) spectroscopy, which has facilitated rapid analysis of plastic particles. Following closely is optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, which can furnish submicron spatial resolution. Subsequently, there is atomic force microscopy-based infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy, which has made it feasible to analyse MNPs at the nanoscale level. The most advanced IR instruments identified in articles covered in this review were compared. Comparison metrics encompass substrates/filters, data quality, spatial resolution, data acquisition speed, data processing and cost. The limitations of these IR instruments were identified, and recommendations to address these limitations were proposed. The findings of this review offer valuable guidance to MNP researchers in selecting suitable instrumentation for their research experiments, thereby facilitating advancements in research aimed at enhancing our understanding of the environmental and human health risks associated with MNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Xie
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Aoife Gowen
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Center for Coastal Studies, College of Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, USA
| | - Junli Xu
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Song X, Chen T, Chen Z, Du L, Qiu X, Zhang Y, Li Y, Zhu Y, Tan Z, Mo Y, Feng X. Micro(nano)plastics in human urine: A surprising contrast between Chongqing's urban and rural regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170455. [PMID: 38286288 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170455] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (100 nm-5 mm) and nanoplastics (<100 nm) collectively referred to as micro(nano)plastics (MNPs), which are emerging pollutants all over the world. Environmental differences affect its distribution. The content of MNPs differs between urban and rural environments, according to previous studies. To understand the actual situation of human exposure to MNPs in various environments, this study collected 12 urine samples from volunteers in urban and rural regions of Chongqing and used pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LDIR) to detect and analyze MNPs in urine. With an average abundance of 1.50 (2.31) mg/kg, MNPs were found in 9 samples by Py-GC/MS. Polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyamide 66 (PA66), three different types of MNPs were found, with PE content being the highest among them. By using LDIR, MNPs were found in 7 samples, with an average abundance of 15.17 (23.13) particles/kg. Five different types of MNPs were found, with acrylates (ACR) being the main type, followed by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The findings demonstrated that urban region had much greater levels and more types of MNPs in human urine than rural. Additionally, regular contact with plastic toys and the use of personal care products are linked to the presence of MNPs. The influence of environmental factors on the actual exposure of the human body to MNPs was preliminary explored in this study, and two different methods were used for the first time to simultaneously detect and analyze MNPs in human urine. This allowed for the feasibility of comprehensively and effectively quantitatively analyzing the actual exposure of the human body to MNPs, and also provided the theoretical foundation for further research on the harm of MNPs to human health in different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Song
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Chengdu BOE Hospital, Chengdu 610219, China
| | - Tian Chen
- Health Management Center, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China
| | - Zongwen Chen
- Department of Comprehensive Pediatric Internal Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China
| | - Lixia Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chengdu BOE Hospital, Chengdu 610219, China
| | - Xihong Qiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu BOE Hospital, Chengdu 610219, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu BOE Hospital, Chengdu 610219, China
| | - Yan Li
- Health Management Center, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital (the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University), Kunming 650118, China
| | - Zhongyou Tan
- Department of Comprehensive Pediatric Internal Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China
| | - Yunbo Mo
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China
| | - Xiaoqian Feng
- Department of Comprehensive Pediatric Internal Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404010, China.
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8
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Lao W, Dial S, Salmon M, Wong CS. Development and validation of an acid/alkaline digestion method for efficient microplastic extraction from wastewater treatment plant effluents: Sulfuric acid concentration and contact time do matter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170528. [PMID: 38296103 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Accurate analysis of microplastic particles (MPs) in environmental samples requires removal of interferences during sample preparation. Wastewater samples are interference-rich and thus particularly challenging, with concentrated sulfuric acid currently deemed impractical as a reagent. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a straightforward, effective, and safe method employing concentrated sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide to eliminate interferents from effluent samples obtained from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). We found that 80 % sulfuric acid at room temperature with a brief contact time of 5 min was viable through a qualitative spot test involving 37 plastics categorized into three types (I, II, and III) based on their polymer structure's oxygen position. A quantitative assessment revealed that treatments involving H2SO4 and KOH (20 %, 24 h, 48 °C), either separately or in combination, had no discernible physical impact on the overall plastics, except for a subtle one for Type III plastics (e.g., nylon and PMMA) known to be labile under harsh pH conditions. This acid/alkaline digestion (AAD) method, incorporating such conditions for H2SO4 and KOH treatments, yielded a high mass removal efficacy (97.8 ± 2.4 %, n = 13) for eliminating natural particle interferents for primary, secondary, and tertiary effluent samples. Furthermore, the AAD method allowed for the determination of MPs in effluents with high surrogate particle recoveries (e.g., 95.1 % for larger than 500 μm size fraction). This method is readily adaptable to create appropriate protocols for different types of environmental matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
| | - Sydney Dial
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Marina Salmon
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
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9
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Ghanadi M, Joshi I, Dharmasiri N, Jaeger JE, Burke M, Bebelman C, Symons B, Padhye LP. Quantification and characterization of microplastics in coastal environments: Insights from laser direct infrared imaging. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168835. [PMID: 38029976 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The study identified and quantified nine plastic polymers frequently detected in the environment by collecting sediment and seawater samples from coastal areas in Auckland, New Zealand. Polymer types, size distributions, and number of microplastics (MPs) were analyzed using a laser direct infrared (LDIR) imaging technique. Compared to conventional spectroscopic or microscopic methods, LDIR enabled capturing and quantifying MPs in much lower size ranges (20-5000 μm). The results demonstrated the widespread occurrence of MPs in the Auckland coastal environment, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) being the most frequently detected plastic polymer. MP contamination levels ranged from 13 to 83 particles per liter of coastal water and from 1200 to 3400 particles/kg of dry sand in beach sediments. Six additional locations were investigated to assess the contribution of MPs from stormwater drains to the coastal environment. The total count of identified MPs extracted from sediments near stormwater drains reached a maximum of 18,000 particles/kg of dry sand, representing an order of magnitude increase compared to MP levels found in beach sediments at the same location. In contrast to the prevalence of PET and polyamide observed in beach sediments and coastal waters, polyurethane and polyethylene emerged as the predominant plastic polymers in the vicinity of stormwater drain sediments, implying that the variation could potentially stem from distinct sources of plastics. This significant disparity in quality and quantity underscored the potential link between urban runoff and MP pollution in marine ecosystems. A sample preparation method using 100 g sediment samples was developed and used to assess and compare MPs detection in sediment samples. The commonly used 5 g sample method showed higher extraction efficiency and better detection of the most abundant MPs, but the new 100 g method enabled the detection of previously missed, less abundant plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahyar Ghanadi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Isha Joshi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Nirupama Dharmasiri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Julia E Jaeger
- Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & New Zealand, Australia
| | - Matthew Burke
- Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & New Zealand, Australia
| | - Cathy Bebelman
- Auckland Transport, 20 Viaduct Harbor Ave, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Bob Symons
- Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & New Zealand, Australia
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
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10
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Liu K, Zhu L, Wei N, Li D. Underappreciated microplastic galaxy biases the filter-based quantification. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132897. [PMID: 37935065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Long-term environmental loading of microplastics (MPs) causes alarming exposure risks for a variety of species worldwide, considered a planetary threat to the well-being of ecosystems. Robust quantitative estimates of MP extents and featured diversity are the basis for comprehending their environmental implications precisely, and of these methods, membrane-based characterizations predominate with respect to MP inspections. However, though crucial to filter-based MP quantification, aggregation statuses of retained MPs on these substrates remain poorly understood, leaving us a "blind box" that exaggerates uncertainty in quantitive strategies of preselected areas without knowing overview loading structure. To clarify this uncertainty and estimate their impacts on MP counting, using MP imaging data assembled from peer-reviewed studies through a systematic review, here we analyze the particle-specific profiles of MPs retained on various substrates according to their centre of mass with a fast-random forests algorithm. We visualize the formation of distinct galaxy-like MP aggregation-similar to the solar system and Milky Way System comprised of countless stars-across the pristine and environmental samples by leveraging two spatial parameters developed in this study. This unique pattern greatly challenges the homogeneously or randomly distributed MP presumption adopted extensively for simplified membrane-based quantification purposes and selective ROI (region of interest) estimates for smaller-sized plastics down to the nano-range, as well as the compatibility theory using pristine MPs as the standard to quantify the presence of environmental MPs. Furthermore, our evaluation with exemplified numeration cases confirms these location-specific and area-dependent biases in many imaging analyses of a selective filter area, ascribed to the minimum possibility of reaching an ideal turnover point for the selective quantitive strategies. Consequently, disproportionate MP schemes on loading substrates yield great uncertainty in their quantification processing, highlighting the prompt need to include pattern-resolved calibration prior to quantification. Our findings substantially advance our understanding of the structure, behavior, and formation of these MP aggregating statuses on filtering substrates, addressing a fundamental question puzzling scientists as to why reproducible MP quantification is barely achievable even for subsamples. This study inspires the following studies to reconsider the impacts of aggregating patterns on the effective counting protocols and target-specific removal of retained MP aggregates through membrane separation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Lixin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China; Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nian Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, 94 Økernveien, Oslo 0579, Norway
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China
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11
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Rhee H, Jeong S, Lee H, Cho MG, Choi DS. Rapid detection and identification of microplastics from nonchemically treated soil with CARS microspectroscopy. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123080. [PMID: 38043768 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123080] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In conventional microplastic (MP) analysis, acid or alkaline digestion is a necessary pretreatment step to remove residual organic matter from environmental samples. However, such a digestion process is not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but also possibly cause severe chemical damage to the MP itself, often making accurate MP characterization difficult. This study demonstrates that broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy is useful for rapidly detecting and identifying MPs in natural soil without any digestion process. A feasibility test is performed with soil samples, which are known to require the most complicated chemical pretreatment for MP analysis, deliberately mixed with various MP particles. The C-H bond-specific CARS imaging and spectral analysis allow rapid MP particle search and chemical identification even in the presence of other residual particles and strongly fluorescent substances from the soil. It is anticipated that this nondestructive, chemical pretreatment-free CARS approach will be a beneficial tool for studying the ecological impacts of MPs absorbed by terrestrial life, such as plants and soil organisms, as well as for complementary analysis of MPs subject to chemical degradation by digestion in investigating the environmental contamination of the MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanju Rhee
- Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seulki Jeong
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayeong Lee
- Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Gyu Cho
- Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Sik Choi
- R&D Center, Uniotech, Daejeon, 34013, Republic of Korea
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12
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Li Y, Lin X, Wang J, Xu G, Yu Y. Quantification of nanoplastics uptake and transport in lettuce by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Talanta 2023; 265:124837. [PMID: 37379754 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) can enter the edible parts of crop and threaten human health, which attract widespread attention. However, the precise quantification of NPs in crop is still a tremendous challenge. Herein, a method with Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) digestion, dichloromethane extraction combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) quantification was present to quantify polystyrene (PS) NPs uptake in lettuce (Lactuca sativa). 25% of TMAH was optimized as extraction solvent and 590 °C was selected as pyrolysis temperature. Recoveries of 73.4-96.9% were obtained for PS-NPs at spiking level of 4-100 μg/g in control samples (RSD < 8.6%). The method exhibited good intra-day and inter-day reproducibility, detection limits of 34-38 ng/g and linearity with 0.998-0.999. The reliability of Py-GC/MS method was verified by europium-chelated PS using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To simulate different environmental conditions, hydroponic culture and soil incubated lettuce were exposed to different concentrations of NPs. Higher levels of PS-NPs were detected in roots and very few was transferred to the shoots. NPs in lettuce were confirmed by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The developed method provides new opportunities for the quantification of NPs in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xiaolong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China
| | - Guanghui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China
| | - Yong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China.
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13
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Liu S, You H, Mu H, Cheng J, Kuang S, Wang F, Chen H, Zheng M, Xu Y, Liu T. Abundance, characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in aquatic sediments: A comparative study in the Yellow River and Yellow Sea. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 172:326-334. [PMID: 37948828 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.10.029] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has become an increasingly serious threat to public health. Marine sediments are considered the final recipients of all microplastic pollution from inland rivers, however, whether and how the MPs differ in these two ecosystems remains poorly known due to the divergent MPs detection methods employed in previous studies. Here, we investigated the abundance, size, and types of MPs in sediment samples from the Yellow River and Yellow Sea using laser direct infrared (LDIR), and assessed their ecological risks. The abundance of MPs in the Yellow Sea is 2.9 times higher than that in the Yellow River, with an average abundance of 54813.2 ± 19355.9 and 18780.2 ± 9951.8 particles·kg-1 (dry sediment), respectively. Notably, the predominant polymer types in both sediment environments were silicone, fluororubber, and polypropylene (PP). MPs with sizes < 100 μm accounted for > 90 % of the total MPs number. Risk assessment demonstrated all the sediment environments exhibited high ecological risks. The dominance of small MPs highlighted the importance of using a method with high resolution to delineate the truthful status of MP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Hairong You
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Hongyu Mu
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Jiaxin Cheng
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Shaoping Kuang
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Fayuan Wang
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
| | - Minggang Zheng
- Research Center for Marine Ecology, First Institute of Oceanography, MNR, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Xu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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14
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Deng L, Yuan Y, Xi H, Wan C, Yu Y, Wu C. The destiny of microplastics in one typical petrochemical wastewater treatment plant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165274. [PMID: 37406692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) is a type of emerging contaminant that is verified to be threatening to some organisms. Controlling MP emission from the source is preferred for its refractory characteristic. The petrochemical industry is a possible contributor, responsible for the most plastic production, and wastewater is the most possible sink of MP. This study applied the Agilent 8700 Laser infrared imaging spectrometer (LDIR) to detect MPs in one typical petrochemical wastewater treatment plant (PWWTP). It was determined that the abundances of MPs in the influent and effluent of the target PWWTP were as high as 7706 and 608 particles/L. The primary treatment removed most MPs (87.5 %) with a final removal efficiency of 92.1 %. 23 types of MPs were identified, and Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Silicone resin prevailed in the effluent. All the MPs were smaller than 483.9 μm. All in all, this study preliminarily unveiled the ignorable status of the petrochemical industry in releasing MPs into the water environment for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Deng
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yue Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Hongbo Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Chunli Wan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Changyong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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15
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Pereira LG, Ferreira GVB, Justino AKS, de Oliveira KMT, de Queiroz MT, Schmidt N, Fauvelle V, Carvalho VL, Lucena-Frédou F. Exploring microplastic contamination in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis): Insights into plastic pollution in the southwestern tropical Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115407. [PMID: 37611337 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals are considered sentinel species and may act as indicators of ocean health. Plastic residues are widely distributed in the oceans and are recognised as hazardous contaminants, and once ingested can cause several adverse effects on wildlife. This study aimed to identify and characterise plastic ingestion in the Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic by evaluating the stomach contents of stranded individuals through KOH digestion and identification of subsample of particles by LDIR Chemical Imaging System. Most of the individuals were contaminated, and the most common polymers identified were PU, PET and EVA. Microplastics were more prevalent than larger plastic particles (meso- and macroplastics). Smaller particles were detected during the rainy seasons. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the stomach content mass and the number of microplastics, suggesting contamination through trophic transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Gonçalves Pereira
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade - Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Anne K S Justino
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Kelen Melo Tavares de Oliveira
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil
| | - Monique Torres de Queiroz
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil; Instituto Oceanográfico - Universidade de São Paulo, Praça Oceanográfico, 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Vitor Luz Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade - Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil; Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
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16
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Qian Y, Shang Y, Zheng Y, Jia Y, Wang F. Temporal and spatial variation of microplastics in Baotou section of Yellow River, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 338:117803. [PMID: 37027953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater rivers play the key role in providing drinking water sources and building the bridge of oceans and lands. Hence, environmental pollutants can be transferred into drinking water through a water treatment process and transported land-based microplastics into the ocean. Microplastics are considered a new pollutant that is becoming a threat to freshwater ecosystems. The present study investigated the temporal and spatial variation of microplastics abundance and their characteristics of occurrence in surface water, sediment and soil samples of Baotou section of Yellow River in China in March 2021 and September 2021. According to the LDIR analysis, the average abundances of microplastics in wet season (surface water 2510.83 ± 2971.27n/L, sediment 6166.67 ± 2914.56n/kg) were higher than that in dry season(surface water 432.5 ± 240.54n/L, sediment 3766.67 ± 1625.63n/kg), particularly being significant difference in the dry and wet seasons of surface water. The predominant polymer types in surface water (PBS and PET during the dry season, PP during the wet season) demonstrated that the temporal variation of microplastics abundance in surface water could be attributed to the combined effect of the regional precipitation, fishing activities and improper disposal of plastic waste. And the results of spatial abundances of microplastics showed that the microplastics abundance of soil and sediment was higher than that in river water and microplastics abundance in the river of the south side was the higher than other water sampling sites, revealing the differences of microplastics burden at the different sampling sites. Moreover, it is worth noting that a large amount of PAM was detected in sediments and soil, but not in water, and the biodegradable plastics PBS and PLA were also detected in the Yellow River. It was a very useful information for evaluating environmental impacts and ecological effects of degradable plastics compared to the traditional plastics after the implementation of a new environmental policy in the future. Thus, this study provided insights into the temporal-spatial characteristics of microplastics in an urban river and raised environmental management awareness of the long-term threat to drinking water safety by microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Qian
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, 014040, China
| | - Yunxu Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 10012, China
| | - Yixin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 10012, China
| | - Yuqiao Jia
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, 014040, China.
| | - Feifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 10012, China.
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17
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Wu J, Ye Q, Sun L, Liu J, Huang M, Wang T, Wu P, Zhu N. Impact of persistent rain on microplastics distribution and plastisphere community: A field study in the Pearl River, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163066. [PMID: 37004292 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination is a global problem which has been threatening human health and the environment. There is still a knowledge gap about the effect of persistent rain on microplastics distribution and plastisphere community in fluvial environments. In this study, the abundance and composition of microplastics in the sediment and surface water from the Pearl River was investigated. Thirty polymers (10-500 μm) were identified from thirty-eight samples collected at ten sites using the newly developed laser direct infrared (LDIR) technique. The average concentrations of microplastics in the sediment and surface water were 1974 particles kg-1 and 290 particles L-1, respectively. Abnormally high concentrations of polyurethanes (PU) were possibly due to particulate pollution from ship antifouling. The persistent rain increased the abundance and diversity of microplastics in the surface water, whereas an opposite trend was observed in the sediment. Sediments could temporarily switch from microplastics sinks to potential sources under the effect of violent hydrodynamic disturbances. Additionally, plastisphere communities and predicted functional profiles indicated significant differences before and after the rain. Our study highlights the important impact of persistent rain on microplastic contamination in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Wu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Quanyun Ye
- Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for System Control of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Pollution, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Leiye Sun
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Jieyu Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Minye Huang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Tianming Wang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Pingxiao Wu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Nengwu Zhu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
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18
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Peng BY, Sun Y, Zhang X, Sun J, Xu Y, Xiao S, Chen J, Zhou X, Zhang Y. Unveiling the residual plastics and produced toxicity during biodegradation of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics by mealworms (Larvae of Tenebrio molitor). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 452:131326. [PMID: 37027925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for plastic degradation by mealworms has been reported. However, little is known about the residual plastics derived from incomplete digestion during mealworm-mediated plastic biodegradation. We herein reveal the residual plastic particles and toxicity produced during mealworm-mediated biodegradation of the three most common microplastics, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). All three microplastics are effectively depolymerized and biodegraded. We discover that the PVC-fed mealworms exhibit the lowest survival rate (81.3 ± 1.5%) and the highest body weight reduction (15.1 ± 1.1%) among the experimental groups by the end of the 24-day experiment. We also demonstrate that the residual PVC microplastic particles are more difficult to depurate and excrete for the mealworms compared to the residual PE and PS particles by using laser direct infrared spectrometry. The levels of oxidative stress responses, including reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation, are also highest in the PVC-fed mealworms. Sub-micron microplastics and small microplastics are found in the frass of mealworms fed with PE, PS, and PVC, with the smallest particles detected at diameters of 5.0, 4.0, and 5.9 µm, respectively. Our findings provide insights into the residual microplastics and microplastic-induced stress responses in macroinvertebrates under micro(nano)plastics exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Eco-environmental Protection Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Jingjing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yazhou Xu
- National Engineering Research Center of Protected Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Protected Agriculture, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shaoze Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiabin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuefei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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19
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Deng L, Xi H, Wan C, Fu L, Wang Y, Wu C. Is the petrochemical industry an overlooked critical source of environmental microplastics? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 451:131199. [PMID: 36933504 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been verified to be harmful to organisms. The petrochemical industry is a possible contributor, for it is the primary plastic producer but is not focused on. In this background, MPs in the influent, effluent, activated sludge, and expatriate sludge of a typical petrochemical wastewater treatment plant (PWWTP) were identified by the laser infrared imaging spectrometer (LDIR). It revealed that the abundances of MPs in the influent and effluent were as high as 10310 and 1280 items/L with a removal efficiency of 87.6%. The removed MPs accumulated in the sludge, and the MP abundances in activated and expatriate sludge reached 4328 and 10767 items/g, respectively. It is estimated that 1440,000 billion MPs might be released into the environment by the petrochemical industry in 2021 globally. For the specific PWWTP, 25 types of MPs were identified, among which Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), and Silicone resin were dominant. All of the detected MPs were smaller than 350 µm, and those smaller than 100 µm prevailed. As for the shape, the fragment was dominant. The study confirmed the critical status of the petrochemical industry in releasing MPs for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Hongbo Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Chunli Wan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Liya Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Changyong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Research Center of Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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20
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Justino AKS, Ferreira GVB, Fauvelle V, Schmidt N, Lenoble V, Pelage L, Lucena-Frédou F. Exploring microplastic contamination in reef-associated fishes of the Tropical Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115087. [PMID: 37263026 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine compartments, and their transboundary distribution favours the dispersion and accumulation of particles in ecosystems. This study investigated MP contamination in four coastal fish species (Haemulon squamipinna, Chaetodon ocellatus, Syacium micrurum, and Alphestes afer) from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic. An alkaline treatment was applied to extract MPs from the digestive tracts, and a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) system was used to identify polymers. All species analysed were contaminated with MPs, with Alphestes afer being the most contaminated (1.45 ± 1.09 MPs individual-1; frequency of occurrence 80 %). No significant differences were found in the number and size of detected particles among species. The most common shapes were fibres and films, and polyethylene was the most abundant polymer. This study provides important baseline data on MP contamination in coastal fish species inhabiting complex habitat areas relevant for conserving marine biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K S Justino
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil; Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France.
| | - Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Véronique Lenoble
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France
| | - Latifa Pelage
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil
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21
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Hansen J, Hildebrandt L, Zimmermann T, El Gareb F, Fischer EK, Pröfrock D. Quantification and characterization of microplastics in surface water samples from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean using laser direct infrared imaging. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114880. [PMID: 37031558 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
15 filtration samples were collected at eight locations onboard the RV Sonne (cruise SO279 in 2020) from 6 m water depth using a fractionated stainless-steel filtration unit. The size fraction > 300 μm was visually examined and potential microplastic particles were analyzed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The treatment of size class 20 μm < d < 300 μm was based on enzymatic-oxidative microwave-assisted "one-pot" matrix digestion in conjunction with analysis of the microplastics by time-efficient LDIR imaging. Total number concentrations ranged from 47 to 2154 microplastic particles per m3 (average for all stations: 500 ± 700 microplastic particles m-3 (1 SD; n = 8)). In total, 20 polymer types were identified. The most common polymer types were polyethylene terephthalate (20 %) and acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (15 %). 93 % of the detected microplastics were smaller than 100 μm in length. Analysis of sample replicates indicates high spatio-temporal variations in microplastic pollution within the investigated region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Hansen
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lars Hildebrandt
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Tristan Zimmermann
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Fadi El Gareb
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Department of Earth System Sciences, Institute for Geology, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elke Kerstin Fischer
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Pröfrock
- Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
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22
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Nawab J, Khan H, Ghani J, Zafar MI, Khan S, Toller S, Fatima L, Hamza A. New insights into the migration, distribution and accumulation of micro-plastic in marine environment: A critical mechanism review. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 330:138572. [PMID: 37088212 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the marine environment, posing a significant threat to marine biota. The contribution of anthropogenic and terrestrial sources to the aquatic ecosystem has led to an increase in MPs findings, and their abundance in aquatic biota has been reported to be of concern. MPs are formed mainly via photo degradation of macroplastics (large plastic debris), and their release into the environment is a result of the degradation of additives. Eco-toxicological risks are increasing for marine organisms, due to the ingestion of MPs, which cause damage to gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and stomach. Plastics with a size <5 mm are considered MPs, and they are commonly identified by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Laser direct infrared (LDIR). The size, density and additives are the main factors influencing the abundance and bioavailability of MPs. The most abundant type of MPs found in fishes are fiber, polystyrenes, and fragments. These microscale pellets cause physiological stress and growth deformities by targeting the GI tracts of fishes and other biota. Approximately 80% MPs come from terrestrial sources, either primary, generated during different products such as skin care products, tires production and the use of MPs as carrier for pharmaceutical products, or secondary plastics, disposed of near coastal areas and water bodies. The issue of MPs and their potential effects on the marine ecosystem require proper attention. Therefore, this study conducted an extensive literature review on assessing MPs levels in fishes, sediments, seawater, their sources, and effects on marine biota (especially on fishes), chemo-physical behavior and the techniques used for their identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Nawab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
| | - Haris Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Junaid Ghani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mazhar Iqbal Zafar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Simone Toller
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laraib Fatima
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, 2300, Pakistan
| | - Amir Hamza
- Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
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23
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Ferreira GVB, Justino AKS, Eduardo LN, Schmidt N, Martins JR, Ménard F, Fauvelle V, Mincarone MM, Lucena-Frédou F. Influencing factors for microplastic intake in abundant deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161478. [PMID: 36634781 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plastic debris is ubiquitous in the hydrosphere. Yet, we lack an understanding of contamination among deep-sea species and primarily how each trait can influence microplastic intake. We investigated microplastic contamination in the digestive tract of hyper-abundant mesopelagic lanternfishes (n = 364 individuals) from the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic, captured from 90 to 1000 m depth. Overall, microplastics were detected in most individuals analysed (frequency of occurrence = 68 %). Large microplastics, mostly of a filamentous shape were the most frequent, followed by smaller fragments and foams. Microplastics made of high-density polymers (PET, PVC, PA, SBR rubber) were more prevalent than low-density ones (PE, EVA and PBD rubber), especially under deeper layers. Larger microplastics were detected in lanternfishes captured off the northeastern Brazilian coast (mean 0.88 ± SE 0.06 mm) compared to those from around the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (0.70 ± 0.07 mm; p≤ 0.05), ∼350 km from the continent. Moreover, lanternfishes that migrate from the upper mesopelagic (200-500 m) to the epipelagic layers (<200 m) had simultaneously the highest intake and the smallest particles (1.65 ± 0.17 particles individual-1 and 0.55 ± 0.07 mm; p≤ 0.05). Biological mediated transport of microplastics from the epipelagic to the mesopelagic waters was evinced, but fishes foraging in shallower layers had the lowest intake (1.11 ± 0.10 part. ind.-1; p≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the jaw length was positively associated with an increment in microplastic intake (Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.1; p≤ 0.05). The lanternfishes that preferably prey upon fish larvae are more prone to microplastic intake than their counterparts, which forage mostly on crustaceans and gelatinous zooplankton (p≤ 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil.
| | - Anne K S Justino
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil; Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Toulon, France
| | - Leandro N Eduardo
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil; MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France
| | - Júlia R Martins
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Conservação (PPG-CiAC), Av. São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Ménard
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Michael M Mincarone
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Av. São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, 1 University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
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24
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Yang J, Monnot M, Sun Y, Asia L, Wong-Wah-Chung P, Doumenq P, Moulin P. Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 232:119711. [PMID: 36796150 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics of millimeter dimensions have been widely investigated in environmental compartments and today, studies are mainly focused on particles of smaller dimensions (< 500 µm). However, as there are no relevant standards or policies for the preparation and analysis of complex water samples containing such particles, the results may be questionable. Therefore, a methodological approach for 10 µm to 500 µm microplastic analysis was developed using μ-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with the siMPle analytical software. This was undertaken on different water samples (sea, fresh, and wastewater) taking into consideration rinsing water, digestion protocols, collection of microplastics, and sample characteristics. Ultrapure water was the optimal rinsing water and ethanol was also proposed with a mandatory previous filtration. Although water quality could give some guidelines for the selection of digestion protocols, it is not the only decisive factor. The methodology approach by μ-FTIR spectroscopy was finally assessed to be effective and reliable. This improved quantitative and qualitative analytical methodology for microplastic detection can then be used to assess the removal efficiency of conventional and membrane treatment processes in different water treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yang
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France
| | - M Monnot
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France
| | - Y Sun
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France
| | - L Asia
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France
| | | | - P Doumenq
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France
| | - P Moulin
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France.
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25
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Kuznetsova OV, Shtykov SN, Timerbaev AR. Mass Spectrometry Insight for Assessing the Destiny of Plastics in Seawater. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15061523. [PMID: 36987303 PMCID: PMC10052999 DOI: 10.3390/polym15061523] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become an increasingly serious environmental issue that requires using reliable analytical tools to unravel the transformations of primary plastics exposed to the marine environment. Here, we evaluated the performance of the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) technique for identifying the origin of polymer material contaminating seawater and monitoring the compositional alterations due to its chemical degradation. Of twenty-six plastic specimens available as consumer products or collected from the Mediterranean Sea, five plastics were shown to originate from biobased polymeric materials. Natural abundance carbon and hydrogen isotope measurements revealed that biopolymers incline to substantial chemical transformation upon a prolonged exposure to seawater and sunlight irradiation. To assess the seawater-mediated aging that leads to the release of micro/nano fragments from plastic products, we propose to use microfiltration. Using this non-destructive separation technique as a front end to IRMS, the fragmentation of plastics (at the level of up to 0.5% of the total mass for plant-derived polymers) was recorded after a 3-month exposure and the rate and extent of disintegration were found to be substantially different for the different classes of polymers. Another potential impact of plastics on the environment is that toxic metals are adsorbed on their surface from the seashore water. We addressed this issue by using inductively coupled mass spectrometry after nitric acid leaching and found that several metals occur in the range of 0.1-90 µg per g on naturally aged plastics and accumulate at even higher levels (up to 10 mg g-1) on pristine plastics laboratory-aged in contaminated seawater. This study measured the degradation degree of different polymer types in seawater, filling in the gaps in our knowledge about plastic pollution and providing a useful methodology and important reference data for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Kuznetsova
- Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey N Shtykov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 410012 Saratov, Russia
| | - Andrei R Timerbaev
- Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, 410012 Saratov, Russia
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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26
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Li T, Zhang W, Yu H, Hai C, Wang Y, Yu S, Tsedevdorj SO. Research status and prospects of microplastic pollution in lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:485. [PMID: 36933078 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11043-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging pollutant, microplastics have attracted widespread concern around the world. Research on microplastics was first conducted in oceans, and in recent years, inland water, especially lakes, has gradually become a hot spot. This paper systematically reviews the sampling, separation, purification, and identification technologies used to assess microplastics in lakes and summarizes the occurrence of lake microplastics worldwide. The results show that microplastics are widespread in lake water and sediment. There are obvious geographical differences in the occurrence of microplastics. The abundance of microplastics in different lakes varies greatly. The forms are mostly fibrous and fragments, and the main polymers are polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). Previous papers have failed to comment in as much detail on the microplastic sampling techniques employed within lake systems. The sampling and analysis methods are critical to accurately evaluating contamination results. Due to the widespread presence of microplastics and the lack of uniform standards, there are various sampling methods. Trawls and grabs are most widely used in the sampling of lake water bodies and sediment, and sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide are the most widely used media for flotation and digestion, respectively. In the future, it will be critical to establish unified standards for lake microplastic sampling and analysis technology, further explore the migration mechanism of microplastics in lake systems, and pay attention to the impact of microplastics on lake ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China
| | - Weiqing Zhang
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China.
| | - Hui Yu
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China
| | - Chunxing Hai
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China
| | - Yong Wang
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China
| | - Shan Yu
- School of Geography, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010022, China
| | - Ser-Od Tsedevdorj
- Department of Geography, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Mongolian National University of Education, Ulaanbaatar, 14191, Mongolia
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27
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Laser microdissection pressure catapulting (LMPC): a new technique to handle single microplastic particles for number-based validation strategies. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04611-z. [PMID: 36869899 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04611-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
This study examines laser microdissection pressure catapulting (LMPC) as an innovative method for microplastic research. Laser pressure catapulting as part of commercially available LMPC microscopes enables the precise handling of microplastic particles without any mechanical contact. In fact, individual particles with sizes between several micrometers and several hundred micrometers can be transported over centimeter-wide distances into a collection vial. Therefore, the technology enables the exact handling of defined numbers of small microplastics (or even individual ones) with the greatest precision. Herewith, it allows the production of particle number-based spike suspensions for method validation. Proof-of-principle LMPC experiments with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate model particles in the size range from 20 to 63 µm and polystyrene microspheres (10 µm diameter) demonstrated precise particle handling without fragmentation. Furthermore, the ablated particles showed no evidence of chemical alteration as seen in the particles' IR spectra acquired via laser direct infrared analysis. We propose LMPC as a promising new tool to produce future microplastic reference materials such as particle-number spiked suspensions, since LMPC circumvents the uncertainties resulting from the potentially heterogeneous behavior or inappropriate sampling from microplastic suspensions. Furthermore, LMPC could be advantageous for the generation of very accurate calibration series of spherical particles for microplastic analysis via pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (down to 0.54 ng), as it omits the dissolution of bulk polymers.
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28
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Shi R, Liu W, Lian Y, Zeb A, Wang Q. Type-dependent effects of microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.): Focus on root exudates and metabolic reprogramming. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160025. [PMID: 36356752 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Much attention has been paid to the prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems. MPs have been shown to affect the physio-biochemical properties of plants. Different MPs may have distinctive behaviors and diverse effects on plant growth. In the present study, the effects of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) MPs on physio-biochemical properties, root exudates, and metabolomics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under hydroponic conditions were investigated. Our results show that MPs exposure has adverse effects on tomato growth. MPs exposure had a significant type-dependent effect (p < 0.001) on photosynthetic gas parameters, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities. After exposure to MPs, the content of low molecular weight organic acids in tomato root exudates was significantly increased, which was considered as a strategy to alleviate the toxicity of MPs. In addition, MPs treatment significantly changed the metabolites of tomato root and leaf. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that MPs treatment had a great effect on amino acid metabolism. We also found that plants exposed to PS and PP MPs produced more significant metabolic reprogramming than those exposed to PE MPs. This study provides important implications for the mechanism studies on the toxic effect of various MPs on crops and their future risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Weitao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Yuhang Lian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Aurang Zeb
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China
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Liu MJ, Guo HY, Gao J, Zhu KC, Guo L, Liu BS, Zhang N, Jiang SG, Zhang DC. Characteristics of microplastic pollution in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) aquaculture areas and the relationship between colonized-microbiota on microplastics and intestinal microflora. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159180. [PMID: 36191704 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MPs) pollution is a global marine environmental problem. The effects of MPs on the gut microbiota of aquatic organisms have received considerable attention. For example, microbes colonizing MPs in pond cultures alter the structure and function of the intestinal microbes of shrimp and fish. It was hypothesized that bacteria on MPs in natural mariculture areas also interact with the intestinal flora of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) because biofilms can form on the surface of MPs during long-term floating in seawater. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate MPs pollution in T. ovatus aquaculture. DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis confirmed the effect of microbial colonization of MPs on the intestinal flora of T. ovatus. The MPs detected in the gut wet weight (w.w.) of golden pompano (546 ± 52 items/g) were mainly pellets and fragments of blue or green, whereas the sediment MPs dry weight (d.w.) (4765 ± 116 items/kg) were mainly black fibers. The MPs richness in the sediment gradually increased from the open-sea aquaculture area to the estuarine aquaculture area and was positively correlated with the MPs richness in the intestinal tract of golden pompano. MPs 20-200 μm were the most common in the gut and sediment. The intake of MPs increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and decreased that of Firmicutes in the intestinal flora. The functional compositions of MP-colonizing microbes and gut microbiota were similar, suggesting that the two communities influence each other. Network analysis further confirmed this and revealed that Vibrio plays a key role in the intestinal flora and surface microorganisms of MPs. Overall, the intake of MPs by aquatic animals not only affects the intestinal flora and intestinal microbial function, but also poses potential risks to aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jian Liu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China; College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, 300384 Tianjin, China
| | - Hua-Yang Guo
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jie Gao
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ke-Cheng Zhu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liang Guo
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bao-Suo Liu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shi-Gui Jiang
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Tropical Aquaculture Research and Development Center, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Sanya 572018, China
| | - Dian-Chang Zhang
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, Hainan Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, Guangdong Province, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, Guangdong Province, China; Tropical Aquaculture Research and Development Center, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Sanya 572018, China.
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Zhi Xiang JK, Bairoliya S, Cho ZT, Cao B. Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107716. [PMID: 36587499 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially within the last few years. In this review, we first briefly summarise methods and techniques used in exploring plastic-microbe interactions. Then we highlight research gaps and provide future research opportunities for marine plastisphere studies, especially, on plastic characterisation and standardised biodegradation tests, the fate of "environmentally friendly" plastics, and plastisphere of coastal habitats. Located in the tropics, Southeast Asian (SEA) countries are significant contributors to marine plastic debris. However, plastisphere studies in this region are lacking and therefore, we discuss how the unique environmental conditions in the SEA seas may affect plastic-microbe interaction and why there is an imperative need to conduct plastisphere studies in SEA marine environments. Finally, we also highlight the lack of understanding of the pathogenicity and ecotoxicological effects of plastisphere on marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Sakcham Bairoliya
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Zin Thida Cho
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Bin Cao
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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