1
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Lu Y, Ji T, Xu W, Chen D, Gui P, Long F. Rapid, sensitive, and non-destructive on-site quantitative detection of nanoplastics in aquatic environments using laser-backscattered fiber-embedded optofluidic chip. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 479:135591. [PMID: 39213771 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
A definitive link between the micro- and nano-plastics (NPLs) and human health has been firmly established, emphasizing the higher risks posed by NPLs. The urgent need for a rapid, non-destructive, and reliable method to quantify NPLs remains unmet with current detection techniques. To address this gap, a novel laser-backscattered fiber-embedded optofluidic chip (LFOC) was constructed for the rapid, sensitive, and non-destructive on-site quantitation of NPLs based on 180º laser-backscattered mechanism. Our theoretical and experimental findings reveal that the 180º laser-backscattered intensities of NPLs were directly proportional to their mass and particle number concentration. Using the LFOC, we have successfully detected polystyrene (PS) NPLSs of varying sizes, with a minimum detection limit of 0.23 μg/mL (equivalent to 5.23 ×107 particles/mL). Moreover, PS NPLs of different sizes can be readily differentiated through a simple membrane-filtering method. The LFOC also demonstrates high sensitivity in detecting other NPLs, such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polymethylmethacrylate. To validate its practical application, the LFOC was used to detect PS NPLs in various aquatic environments, exhibiting excellent accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability. The LFOC provides a simple, versatile, and efficient tool for direct, on-site, quantitative detection of NPLs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkai Lu
- School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Tianxiang Ji
- School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Wenjuan Xu
- School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Dan Chen
- School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Ping Gui
- China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Feng Long
- School of Chemistry and Life Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China.
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2
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Maruthupandy M, Jeon JH, Noh J, Yang SI, Cho WS. Mitigated toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in combination exposure with copper ions by transformation into copper (I) oxide: Inhibits the oxidative potential of nanoplastics. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143288. [PMID: 39243901 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The combined impact of trace metals and polystyrene (PS) microplastics is extremely concerning for human health because PS microplastics can serve as a vehicle for other contaminants. Herein, we investigated the combined effect of copper ions (Cu2+) on the toxicity of PS nanoplastics in vivo and in vitro. The pristine PS (PPS) and ultraviolet irradiated oxidized PS (OPS) nanoplastics with 50 nm-size were conjugated with Cu2+ (13-27 mg/g) for 4 days to get four types of samples: PPS, OPS, PPS/Cu, and OPS/Cu. The comparative toxic potentials of test samples were evaluated using a mouse pharyngeal aspiration model and relevant human cell lines (A549 and differentiated THP-1 cells). The results showed an antagonistic effect in vivo and in vitro by the presence of Cu ions: PPS > PPS/Cu; OPS > OPS/Cu. Furthermore, the OPS produced significantly increased toxic potentials compared to the corresponding PPS: OPS > PPS; OPS/Cu > PPS/Cu. The antagonistic effect of Cu2+ on the toxicity of PS was due to the transformation of Cu2+ and balanced the surface charge of the nanoplastics, which inhibited the oxidative potential of corresponding nanoplastics. These antagonistic effects may provide a better understanding of the combined effects of metals on the intrinsic toxic potential of microplastics under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthuchamy Maruthupandy
- Lab of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, 37, Nakdong-daero 550 beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun Hui Jeon
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Noh
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ik Yang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, 17104, Republic of Korea.
| | - Wan-Seob Cho
- Lab of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, 37, Nakdong-daero 550 beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Wang Z, Kong Y, Cao X, Liu N, Wang C, Li X, Xing B. Co-photoaging inhibited the heteroaggregation between polystyrene nanoplastics and different titanium dioxide nanoparticles. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121831. [PMID: 38810346 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Heteroaggregation between nanoplastics (NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) determines their environmental fates and ecological risks in aquatic environments. However, the co-photoaging scenario of NPs and TiO2NPs, interaction mechanisms of TiO2NPs with (aged) NPs, as well as the dependence of their heteroaggregation on TiO2NPs facets remain elusive. We found the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) with coexisting RTiO2NPs was 1.9 - 2.2 times larger than that with coexisting ATiO2NPs, suggesting a better suspension stability of PSNPs+RTiO2NPs. In addition, CCC of TiO2NPs with coexisting photoaged PSNPs (APSNPs) was larger 1.7 - 2.2 times than that with PSNPs coexisting, indicating photoaging inhibited their heteroaggregation due to increasing electrostatic repulsion derived from increased negative charges on APSNPs and the polymer-derived dissolved organic carbon. Coexisted TiO2NPs promoted oxidation of PSNPs with the action of HO· and O2·- under UV light, leading to inhibited heteroaggregation. Moreover, Van der Waals and Lewis-acid interaction dominated the formation of primary heteroaggregates of PSNPs-TiO2NPs (ESE = ‒2.20 ∼ ‒2.78 eV) and APSNPs-TiO2NPs (ESE = ‒3.29 ∼ ‒3.67 eV), respectively. The findings provide a mechanistic insight into the environmental process of NPs and TiO2NPs, and are significant for better understanding their environmental risks in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Yu Kong
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xuesong Cao
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chuanxi Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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4
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Xu S, Li H, Xiao L, Feng S, Fan J, Pawliszyn J. Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:10772-10779. [PMID: 38902946 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
A simple, sustainable, and sensitive monitoring approach of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) in aqueous samples is crucial since it helps in assessing the extent of contamination and understanding the potential risks associated with their presence without causing additional stress to the environment. In this study, a novel strategy for qualitative and quantitative determination of MNPs in water by direct solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was proposed for the first time. Spherical poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and irregularly shaped polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC) were used to evaluate the feasibility and performance of the proposed method. The results demonstrated that both PMMA and PVDC MNPs were efficiently extracted by the homemade SPME coating of nitrogen-doped porous carbons (N-SPCs) and exhibited sufficient thermal decomposition in the GC-MS injection port. Excellent extraction performances of N-SPCs coating for MNPs are attributed to hydrophobic cross-linking, electrostatic forcing, hydrogen bonding, and pore trapping. Methyl methacrylate was identified as the marker for PMMA, while 1,3-dichlorobenzene and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene were the indicators for PVDC. Under the optimal extraction and decomposition conditions, the proposed method exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 0.0041 μg/L for PMMA and 0.0054 μg/L for PVDC. Notably, a programmed temperature strategy for the GC-MS injector was developed to discriminate and eliminate the potential interferences of intrinsic indicator compounds. Owing to the integration of sampling, extraction, injection, and decomposition into one step by SPME, the proposed method demonstrates exceptional sensitivity, eliminating the necessity for complex sample pretreatment procedures and the use of organic solvents. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied in the determination of PMMA and PVDC MNPs in real aqueous samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengrui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Huimin Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Li Xiao
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Suling Feng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Jing Fan
- Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental Pollution and Control, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Janusz Pawliszyn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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5
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Richardson SD, Manasfi T. Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues. Anal Chem 2024; 96:8184-8219. [PMID: 38700487 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Richardson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, JM Palms Center for GSR, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Tarek Manasfi
- Eawag, Environmental Chemistry, Uberlandstrasse 133, Dubendorf 8600, Switzerland
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6
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Mou L, Zhang Q, Li R, Zhu Y, Zhang Y. A powerful method for In Situ and rapid detection of trace nanoplastics in water-Mie scattering. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134186. [PMID: 38574664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in environmental media has raised significant concerns regarding their implications for environmental safety and human health. However, owing to their tiny size and low level in the environment, there is still a lack of effective methods for measuring the amount of NPs. Leveraging the principles of Mie scattering, a novel approach for rapid in situ quantitative detection of small NPs in low concentrations in water has been developed. A limit of detection of 4.2 μg/L for in situ quantitative detection of polystyrene microspheres as small as 25 nm was achieved, and satisfactory recoveries and relative standard deviations were obtained. The results of three self-ground NPs showed that the method can quantitatively detect the concentration of NPs in a mixture of different particle sizes. The satisfactory recoveries (82.4% to 110.3%) of the self-ground NPs verified the good anti-interference ability of the method. The total concentrations of the NPs in the five brands of commercial bottled water were 0.07 to 0.39 μg/L, which were directly detected by the method. The proposed method presents a potential approach for conducting in situ and real-time environmental risk assessments of NPs on human and ecosystem health in actual water environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Mou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qinzhou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, Xiamen University, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ruilong Li
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Yaxian Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, Xiamen University, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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7
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Okoffo ED, Thomas KV. Mass quantification of nanoplastics at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121397. [PMID: 38461599 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in the collection and redistribution of plastic particles from both households and industries, contributing to their presence in the environment. Previous studies investigating the levels of plastics in WWTPs, and their removal rates have primarily focused on polymer type, size, shape, colour, and particle count, while comprehensive understanding of the mass concentration of plastic particles, particularly those <1 µm (nanoplastics), remains unclear and lacking. In this study, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to simultaneously determine the mass concentration of nine selected polymers (i.e., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), nylon 6, nylon 66, polyvinylchloride (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC)) below 1 µm in size across the treatment processes or stages of three WWTPs in Australia. All the targeted nanoplastics were detected at concentrations between 0.04 and 7.3 µg/L. Nylon 66 (0.2-7.3 µg/L), PE (0.1-6.6 µg/L), PP (0.1-4.5 µg/L), Nylon 6 (0.1-3.6 µg/L) and PET (0.1-2.2 µg/L), were the predominant polymers in the samples. The mass concentration of the total nanoplastics decreased from 27.7, 18 and 9.1 µg/L in the influent to 1, 1.4 and 0.8 µg/L in the effluent, with approximate removal rates of 96 %, 92 % and 91 % in plants A, B and C, respectively. Based on annual wastewater effluent discharge, it is estimated that approximately 24, 2 and 0.7 kg of nanoplastics are released into the environment per year for WWTPs A, B and C, respectively. This study investigated the mass concentrations and removal rates of nanoplastics with a size range of 0.01-1 µm in wastewater, providing important insight into the pollution levels and distribution patterns of nanoplastics in Australian WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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8
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Zhang Y, Hunter JR, Ullah A, Shao Q, Shi J. Lignin derived hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of nanoplastics from water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 467:133695. [PMID: 38341895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
As a growing concern in aqueous systems, micro- and nano-plastics, especially nanoplastics (NPs), have been widely detected in the environment and organisms, posing a potential threat to ecosystems and human health. Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) have emerged as environmentally friendly solvents that have shown promise for extracting pollutants from water, either for detection or removal purposes. Herein, we investigated the extraction of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NPs from aqueous solution using lignin based HDESs as sustainable solvents. Rapid extraction of both PET and PS NPs was observed with the high extraction efficiency achieved (> 95%). The extraction capacities for PET and PS could reach up to 525.877 mg/mL and 183.520 mg/mL, respectively, by the Thymol-2,6-dimethoxyphenol 1:2 HDES. Moreover, the extraction mechanism was studied using various techniques including Fourier-transform infrared analysis, contact angle measurements, molecular dynamics simulation, kinetics, and isotherm studies. This work lays a foundational basis for the future development of innovative HDES-based technologies in the detection and remediation of NPs as part of the grand challenge of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhang
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
| | - Jameson R Hunter
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Ahamed Ullah
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Qing Shao
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Jian Shi
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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9
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Ma Y, Xu D, Wan Z, Wei Z, Chen Z, Wang Y, Han X, Chen Y. Exposure to different surface-modified polystyrene nanoparticles caused anxiety, depression, and social deficit in mice via damaging mitochondria in neurons. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170739. [PMID: 38340854 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are unavoidable hazardous materials that result from the human production and use of plastics. While there is evidence that NPs can bioaccumulate in the brain, no enough research regarding the pathways by which NPs reach the brain was conducted, and it is also urgently needed to evaluate the health threat to the nervous system. Here, we observed accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) with different surface modifications (PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2) in mouse brains. Further studies showed that PS-NPs disrupted the tight junctions between endothelial cells and transport into endothelial cells via the endocytosis and macropinocytosis pathways. Additionally, NPs exposure induced a series of alternations in behavioral tests, including anxiety- and depression-like changes and impaired social interaction performance. Further results identified that NPs could be internalized into neurons and localized in the mitochondria, bringing about mitochondrial dysfunction and a concurrent decline of ATP production, which might be associated with abnormal animal behaviors. The findings provide novel insights into the neurotoxicity of NPs and provide a basis for the formulation of policy on plastic production and usage by relevant government agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Dihui Xu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Zicheng Wan
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Ziyang Wei
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Zining Chen
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yuheng Wang
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
| | - Yabing Chen
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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10
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Okoffo ED, Thomas KV. Quantitative analysis of nanoplastics in environmental and potable waters by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133013. [PMID: 37988869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are emerging environmental contaminants, but their presence in environmental and potable water remains largely understudied due to the absence of quantitative analytical methods. In this study, we developed and validated a pretreatment method that combines hydrogen peroxide digestion and Amicon® Stirred Cell ultrafiltration (at 100 kDa, approximately 10 nm) with subsequent detection by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). This method allows for the simultaneous identification and quantification of nine selected nanoplastic types, including poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), nylon 6, and nylon 66, in environmental and potable water samples based on polymer-specific mass concentration. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.01 to 0.44 µg/L, demonstrating the method's ability to quantitatively detect nanoplastics in environmental and potable water samples. Most of the selected nanoplastics were detected at concentrations of between 0.04 and 1.17 µg/L, except for PC, which was consistently below the limit of detection (<0.44 µg/L). The prevalent polymer components in the samples were PE (0.10 - 1.17 µg/L), PET (0.06 - 0.91 µg/L), PP (0.04 - 0.79 µg/L), and PS (0.06 - 0.53 µg/L) nanoplastics. The presented analytical method offers an accurate means to identify, quantify, and monitor nanoplastics in complex environmental and potable water samples. It fills gaps in our understanding of nanoplastic pollution levels, providing a valuable methodology and crucial reference data for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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11
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Li P, Liu J. Micro(nano)plastics in the Human Body: Sources, Occurrences, Fates, and Health Risks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38315819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The increasing global attention on micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) is a result of their ubiquity in the water, air, soil, and biosphere, exposing humans to MNPs on a daily basis and threatening human health. However, crucial data on MNPs in the human body, including the sources, occurrences, behaviors, and health risks, are limited, which greatly impedes any systematic assessment of their impact on the human body. To further understand the effects of MNPs on the human body, we must identify existing knowledge gaps that need to be immediately addressed and provide potential solutions to these issues. Herein, we examined the current literature on the sources, occurrences, and behaviors of MNPs in the human body as well as their potential health risks. Furthermore, we identified key knowledge gaps that must be resolved to comprehensively assess the effects of MNPs on human health. Additionally, we addressed that the complexity of MNPs and the lack of efficient analytical methods are the main barriers impeding current investigations on MNPs in the human body, necessitating the development of a standard and unified analytical method. Finally, we highlighted the need for interdisciplinary studies from environmental, biological, medical, chemical, computer, and material scientists to fill these knowledge gaps and drive further research. Considering the inevitability and daily occurrence of human exposure to MNPs, more studies are urgently required to enhance our understanding of their potential negative effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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12
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Moon S, Martin LMA, Kim S, Zhang Q, Zhang R, Xu W, Luo T. Direct observation and identification of nanoplastics in ocean water. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh1675. [PMID: 38277449 PMCID: PMC10816700 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Millions of tons of plastics enter the oceans yearly, and they can be fragmented by ultraviolet and mechanical means into nanoplastics. Here, we report the direct observation of nanoplastics in global ocean water leveraging a unique shrinking surface bubble deposition (SSBD) technique. SSBD involves optically heating plasmonic nanoparticles to form a surface bubble and leveraging the Marangoni flow to concentrate suspended nanoplastics onto the surface, allowing direct visualization using electron microscopy. With the plasmonic nanoparticles co-deposited in SSBD, the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy effect is enabled for direct chemical identification of trace amounts of nanoplastics. In the water samples from two oceans, we observed nanoplastics made of nylon, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate-all common in daily consumables. The plastic particles have diverse morphologies, such as nanofibers, nanoflakes, and ball-stick nanostructures. These nanoplastics may profoundly affect marine organisms, and our results can provide critical information for appropriately designing their toxicity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyun Moon
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Leisha M. A. Martin
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
- MNT SmartSolutions, 204 Bryn Mawr, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Seongmin Kim
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Qiushi Zhang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Renzheng Zhang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| | - Tengfei Luo
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Center for Sustainable Energy of Notre Dame (ND Energy), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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13
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Li P, Li Q, Lai Y, Yang S, Yu S, Liu R, Jiang G, Liu J. Direct entry of micro(nano)plastics into human blood circulatory system by intravenous infusion. iScience 2023; 26:108454. [PMID: 38077139 PMCID: PMC10709129 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the pathways of human exposure to micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) is crucial for assessing their health impacts. Intravenous infusion can induce MNPs direct entry into the human blood, posing serious risks on human health, but remains unclear. Herein, we developed comprehensive analytical methods to detect polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MNPs down to 20 nm, and found about 0.52 μg equal to 105-1011 particles of PVC-MNPs released from intravenous infusion products (IVIPs) during each intravenous infusion of 250 mL injection. The released amounts of MNPs from IVIPs were dependent on the plastic materials, and the injection volume and composition. These findings indicated that the released MNPs should be directly introduced into the human blood circulatory system, causing serious impacts on human health. Our study reveals a previously ignored but important pathway of human exposure to MNPs, and calls for further research on the potential risks of these MNPs on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Li
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Shuping Yang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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14
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Wang M, Wang WX. Infiltration of freshwater food chain by nanoplastics: An examination of trophic transfer and biological impact. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 345:140541. [PMID: 37890797 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140541] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of freshwater by nanoplastics (NPs) poses a significant threat to various organisms. However, the influence of food factors on the NPs toxicity and the associated risks to water safety remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed highly fluorescent NPs incorporating aggregation-induced emission fluorogens to quantify and visualize the interactions of NPs with freshwater phytoplanktonic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and zooplankton Daphnia magna, including the uptake of NPs by algae and daphnids, as well as gut environment responses through both waterborne and foodborne routes. NPs at environmentally relevant concentrations were capable of aggregating and internalizing in planktonic algae, thus permeating the food chain and potentially causing ecological risks. Notably, positively charged NPs exhibited greater infiltration than the negatively charged NPs. Our findings indicated that NPs had a greater tendency to accumulate in Daphnia via the food chain rather than through direct exposure to water. This was attributed to the loss of selectivity, suggesting a potential mechanism for NP accumulation in aquatic food chains. However, daphnids exposed to NPs through waterborne route exhibited more gut pH acidification, esterase activity, and gut inflammation compared to those exposed via the foodborne route. Moreover, chronic exposure to NPs through waterborne routes significantly disrupted the growth, molting, and reproduction of Daphnia compared to the foodborne group. These findings provided valuable insights into the complexities of plastic pollution on primary trophic levels in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjing Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
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15
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Li P, Lai Y, Zheng RG, Li QC, Sheng X, Yu S, Hao Z, Cai YQ, Liu J. Extraction of Common Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Embedded in Environmental Solid Matrices by Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide Digestion and Dichloromethane Dissolution for Py-GC-MS Determination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12010-12018. [PMID: 37506359 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Determination of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), especially small MPs and NPs (<150 μm), in solid environmental matrices is a challenging task due to the formation of stable aggregates between MNPs and natural colloids. Herein, a novel method for extracting small MPs and NPs embedded in soils/sediments/sludges has been developed by combining tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) digestion with dichloromethane (DCM) dissolution. The solid samples were digested with TMAH, and the collected precipitate was washed with anhydrous ethanol to eliminate the natural organic matter. Then, the MNPs in precipitate were extracted by dissolving in DCM under ultrasonic conditions. Under the optimized digestion and extraction conditions, the factors including sizes and concentrations of MNPs showed insignificant effects on the extraction process. The feasibility of this sample preparation method was verified by the satisfactory spiked recoveries (79.6-91.4%) of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate MNPs in soil/sediment/sludge samples. The proposed sample preparation method was coupled with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine trace small MPs and NPs with a relatively low detection limit of 2.3-29.2 μg/g. Notably, commonly used MNPs were successfully detected at levels of 4.6-51.4 μg/g in 6 soil/sediment/sludge samples. This proposed method is promising for evaluating small solid-embedded MNP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Rong-Gang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Cun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueying Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Zhineng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ya-Qi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Yu S, Liu H, Yang R, Zhou W, Liu J. Aggregation and stability of selenium nanoparticles: Complex roles of surface coating, electrolytes and natural organic matter. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 130:14-23. [PMID: 37032031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The application of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as nanofertilizers may lead to the release of SeNPs into aquatic systems. However, the environmental behavior of SeNPs is rarely studied. In this study, using alginate-coated SeNPs (Alg-SeNPs) and polyvinyl alcohol-coated SeNPs (PVA-SeNPs) as models, we systematically investigated the aggregation and stability of SeNPs under various water conditions. PVA-SeNPs were highly stable in mono- and polyvalent electrolytes, probably due to the strong steric hindrance of the capping agent. Alg-SeNPs only suffered from a limited increase in size, even at 2500 mmol/L NaCl and 200 mmol/L MgCl2, while they underwent apparent aggregation in CaCl2 and LaCl3 solutions. The binding of Ca2+ and La3+ with the guluronic acid part in alginate induced the formation of cross-linking aggregates. Natural organic matter enhanced the stability of Alg-SeNPs in monovalent electrolytes, while accelerated the attachment of Alg-SeNPs in polyvalent electrolytes, due to the cation bridge effects. The long-term stability of SeNPs in natural water showed that the aggregation sizes of Alg-SeNPs and PVA-SeNPs increased to several hundreds of nanometers or above 10 µm after 30 days, implying that SeNPs may be suspended in the water column or further settle down, depending on the surrounding water chemistry. The study may contribute to the deep insight into the fate and mobility of SeNPs in the aquatic environment. The varying fate of SeNPs in different natural waters also suggests that the risks of SeNPs to organisms living in diverse depths in the aquatic compartment should be concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenjing Zhou
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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17
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Li Q, Sun H, Bai Q, Li P, Lai Y, Yu S, Liu X, Yao Z, Cai Y, Liu J. Spatial distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics and small microplastics in the Bohai Sea, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163222. [PMID: 37019231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution has attracted public concerns. Currently, most environmental researches focus on large microplastics (MPs), while small MNPs that have great impacts on marine ecosystems are rarely reported. Understanding the pollution levels and distribution patterns of small MNPs could help assess their potential impacts on the ecosystem. Polystyrene (PS) MNPs were often used as models to assess their toxicity, hence, we collected 21 sites in a Chinese sea area (the Bohai Sea) to analyze their pollution level and horizontal distribution in surface water samples, and vertical distributions in five sites with the water depth >25 m. Samples were filtered by glass membranes (1 μm) to trap MPs, which were frozen, ground, dried, and detected by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (pyGC-MS); while the nanoplastics (NPs) in the filtrate were captured with alkylated ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) to form aggregates, which were separated by glass membrane (300 nm) filtration for pyGC-MS determination. Small PS MPs (1-100 μm) and NPs (<1 μm) were detected in 18 samples with the mass concentrations ranging from <0.015 to 0.41 μg/L, indicating that PS MNPs are widely present in Bohai Sea. Our study contributes to understanding the pollution levels and distribution patterns of MNPs (<100 μm) in the marine system and provides valuable data for their further risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Helin Sun
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Qingsheng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Ziwei Yao
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yaqi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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18
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Sheng XY, Lai YJ, Yu SJ, Li QC, Zhou QX, Liu JF. Quantitation of Atmospheric Suspended Polystyrene Nanoplastics by Active Sampling Prior to Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37428629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic has been demonstrated to release nanoplastics (NPs) into the atmosphere under sunlight irradiation, posing a continuous health risk to the respiratory system. However, due to lack of reliable quantification methods, the occurrence and distribution of NPs in the atmosphere remain unclear. Polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent a crucial component of atmospheric MNPs. In this study, we proposed a simple and robust method for determining the concentration of atmospheric PS NPs using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Following active sampling, the filter membrane is directly ground and introduced into the Py-GC/MS system to quantify PS NPs. The proposed method demonstrates excellent reproducibility and high sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as down to 15 pg/m3 for PS NPs. By using this method, the occurrence of PS NPs in both indoor and outdoor atmospheres has been confirmed. Furthermore, the results showed that the abundance of outdoor PS NPs was significantly higher than that of indoor samples, and there was no significant difference in NP vertical distribution within a height of 28.6 m. This method can be applied for the routine monitoring of atmospheric PS NPs and for evaluating their risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ying Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yu-Jian Lai
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Su-Juan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Cun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Xiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Jing-Fu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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19
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Yu S, Tan Z, Lai Y, Li Q, Liu J. Nanoparticulate pollutants in the environment: Analytical methods, formation, and transformation. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 2023; 2:61-73. [PMID: 38075291 PMCID: PMC10702925 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The wide application of nanomaterials and plastic products generates a substantial number of nanoparticulate pollutants in the environment. Nanoparticulate pollutants are quite different from their bulk counterparts because of their unique physicochemical properties, which may pose a threat to environmental organisms and human beings. To accurately predict the environmental risks of nanoparticulate pollutants, great efforts have been devoted to developing reliable methods to define their occurrence and track their fate and transformation in the environment. Herein, we summarized representative studies on the preconcentration, separation, formation, and transformation of nanoparticulate pollutants in environmental samples. Finally, some perspectives on future research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiqiang Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yujian Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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20
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Tang Y, Hardy TJ, Yoon JY. Receptor-based detection of microplastics and nanoplastics: Current and future. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 234:115361. [PMID: 37148803 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is an emerging environmental concern, gaining significant attention worldwide. They are classified into microplastics (MP; defined from 1 μm to 5 mm) and smaller nanoplastics (NP; <1 μm). NPs may pose higher ecological risks than MPs. Various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques have been used to detect MPs, and the same methods have occasionally been used for NPs. However, they are not based on receptors, which provide high specificity in most biosensing applications. Receptor-based micro/nanoplastics (MNP) detection can provide high specificity, distinguishing MNPs from the environmental samples and, more importantly, identifying the plastic types. It can also offer a low limit of detection (LOD) required for environmental screening. Such receptors are expected to detect NPs specifically at the molecular level. This review categorizes the receptors into cells, proteins, peptides, fluorescent dyes, polymers, and micro/nanostructures. Detection techniques used with these receptors are also summarized and categorized. There is plenty of room for future research to test for broader classes of environmental samples and many plastic types, to lower the LOD, and to apply the current techniques for NPs. Portable and handheld MNP detection should also be demonstrated for field use since the current demonstrations primarily utilized laboratory instruments. Detection on microfluidic platforms will also be crucial in miniaturizing and automating the assay and, eventually, collecting an extensive database to support machine learning-based classification of MNP types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisha Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Trinity J Hardy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Jeong-Yeol Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
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21
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Guo M, Zhang M, Gao S, Wang L, Zhang J, Huang Z, Dong Y. Quantitative Detection of Natural Rubber Content in Eucommia ulmoides by Portable Pyrolysis-Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083330. [PMID: 37110564 PMCID: PMC10142753 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083330] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) is a natural polymer predominantly consisting of trans-1,4-polyisoprene. Due to its excellent crystallization efficiency and rubber-plastic duality, EUG finds applications in various fields, including medical equipment, national defense, and civil industry. Here, we devised a portable pyrolysis-membrane inlet mass spectrometry (PY-MIMS) approach to rapidly, accurately, and quantitatively identify rubber content in Eucommia ulmoides (EU). EUG is first introduced into the pyrolyzer and pyrolyzed into tiny molecules, which are then dissolved and diffusively transported via the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane before entering the quadrupole mass spectrometer for quantitative analysis. The results indicate that the limit of detection (LOD) for EUG is 1.36 μg/mg, and the recovery rate ranges from 95.04% to 104.96%. Compared to the result of pyrolysis-gas chromatography (PY-GC), the average relative error is 1.153%, and the detection time was reduced to less than 5 min, demonstrating that the procedure was reliable, accurate, and efficient. The method has the potential to be employed to precisely identify the rubber content of natural rubber-producing plants such as Eucommia ulmoides, Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS), Guayule, and Thorn lettuce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minmin Guo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mingjian Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shunkai Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lu Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jichuan Zhang
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- College of Materials and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical and Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zejian Huang
- Center for Advanced Measurement Science, National Institute of Metrology, Technology Innovation Center of Mass Spectrum for State Market Regulation, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yiyang Dong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Rubber Plant Research Center, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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22
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Li Y, Li X, Zhang L, Luan X, Jiang J, Zhang L, Li M, Wang J, Duan J, Zhao H, Zhao Y, Huang C. From the teapot effect to tap-triggered self-wetting: a 3D self-driving sieve for whole blood filtration. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:30. [PMID: 36960347 PMCID: PMC10027851 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00490-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Achieving passive microparticle filtration with micropore membranes is challenging due to the capillary pinning effect of the membranes. Inspired by the teapot effect that occurs when liquid (tea) is poured from a teapot spout, we proposed a tap-triggered self-wetting strategy and utilized the method with a 3D sieve to filter rare cells. First, a 3D-printed polymer tap-trigger microstructure was implemented. As a result, the 3 µm micropore membrane gating threshold (the pressure needed to open the micropores) was lowered from above 3000 to 80 Pa by the tap-trigger microstructure that facilated the liquid leakage and spreading to self-wet more membrane area in a positive feedback loop. Then, we implemented a 3D cone-shaped cell sieve with tap-trigger microstructures. Driven by gravity, the sieve performed at a high throughput above 20 mL/min (DPBS), while the micropore size and porosity were 3 µm and 14.1%, respectively. We further filtered leukocytes from whole blood samples with the proposed new 3D sieve, and the method was compared with the traditional method of leukocyte isolation by chemically removing red blood cells. The device exhibited comparable leukocyte purity but a higher platelet removal rate and lower leukocyte simulation level, facilitating downstream single-cell analysis. The key results indicated that the tap-triggered self-wetting strategy could significantly improve the performance of passive microparticle filtration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuang Li
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Xue Li
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University / Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149 China
| | - Xiaofeng Luan
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Jiahong Jiang
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Lingqian Zhang
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Mingxiao Li
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University / Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149 China
| | - Jiangang Duan
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Haiping Zhao
- Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Chengjun Huang
- Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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23
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Hao T, Gao Y, Li ZC, Zhou XX, Yan B. Size-Dependent Uptake and Depuration of Nanoplastics in Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) and Distinct Intestinal Impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2804-2812. [PMID: 36749610 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs, <1 μm) are of great concern worldwide because of their high potential risk toward organisms in aquatic systems, while very little work has been focused on their tissue-specific toxicokinetics due to the limitations of NP quantification for such a purpose. In this study, NPs with two different sizes (86 and 185 nm) were doped with palladium (Pd) to accurately determine the uptake and depuration kinetics in various tissues (intestine, stomach, liver, gill, and muscle) of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in water, and subsequently, the corresponding toxic effects in the intestine were explored. Our results revealed uptake and depuration constants of 2.70-378 L kg-1 day-1 and 0.138-0.407 day-1 for NPs in tilapia for the first time, and the NPs in tissues were found to be highly dependent on the particle size. The intestine exhibited the greatest relative accumulation of both sizes of NPs; the smaller NPs caused more severe damage than the larger NPs to the intestinal mucosal layer, while the larger NPs induced a greater impact on microbiota composition. The findings of this work explicitly indicate the size-dependent toxicokinetics and intestinal toxicity pathways of NPs, providing new insights into the ecological effects of NPs on aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Hao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 226237, China
| | - Ze-Chen Li
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River De lta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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24
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The review of nanoplastics in plants: Detection, analysis, uptake, migration and risk. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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25
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Pradel A, Catrouillet C, Gigault J. The environmental fate of nanoplastics: What we know and what we need to know about aggregation. NANOIMPACT 2023; 29:100453. [PMID: 36708989 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2023.100453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The presence of nanoplastics in the environment has been proven. There is now an urgent need to determine how nanoplastics behave in the environment and to assess the risks they may pose. Here, we examine nanoplastic homo- and heteroaggregation, with a focus on environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models. We made a systematic analysis of experimental studies, and ranked the environmental relevance of 377 different solution chemistries, and 163 different nanoplastic particle models. Since polymer latex spheres are not environmentally relevant (due to their monodisperse size, spherical shape, and smooth surface), their aggregation behavior in natural conditions is not transferable to nanoplastics. A few recent studies suggest that nanoplastic particle models that more closely mimic incidentally produced nanoplastics follow different homoaggregation pathways than latex sphere particle models. However, heteroaggregation of environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models has seldom been studied. Despite this knowledge gap, the current evidence suggests that nanoplastics may be more sensitive to heteroaggregation than previously expected. We therefore provide an updated hypothesis about the likely environmental fate of nanoplastics. Our review demonstrates that it is essential to use environmentally relevant nanoplastic particle models, such as those produced with top-down methods, to avoid biased interpretations of the fate and impact of nanoplastics. Finally, it will be necessary to determine how the heteroaggregation kinetics of nanoplastics impact their settling rate to truly understand nanoplastics' fate and effect in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pradel
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Charlotte Catrouillet
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; Université Paris Cité, Institut de physique du globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Julien Gigault
- Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118, F-35000 Rennes, France; TAKUVIK CNRS/Université Laval, IRL 3376, G1V 0A6 Québec, Canada.
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