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Estoppey N, Castro G, Slinde GA, Hansen CB, Løseth ME, Krahn KM, Demmer V, Svenni J, Tran TVAT, Asimakopoulos AG, Arp HPH, Cornelissen G. Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170501. [PMID: 38307289 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170501] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) produced from organic waste have the potential to reduce societal dependence on limited and energy-intensive mineral fertilizers. BBFs, thereby, contribute to a circular economy for fertilizers. However, BBFs can contain plastic fragments and hazardous additives such as phthalate plasticizers, which could constitute a risk for agricultural soils and the environment. This study assessed the exposure associated with plastic and phthalates in BBFs from three types of organic wastes: agricultural and food industry waste (AgriFoodInduWaste), sewage sludge (SewSludge), and biowaste (i.e., garden, park, food and kitchen waste). The wastes were associated with various treatments like drying, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting. The number of microplastics (0.045-5 mm) increased from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs (15-258 particles g-1), to SewSludge-BBFs (59-1456 particles g-1) and then to Biowaste-BBFs (828-2912 particles g-1). Biowaste-BBFs mostly contained packaging plastics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), with the mass of plastic (>10 g kg-1) exceeding the EU threshold (3 g kg-1, plastics >2 mm). Other BBFs mostly contained small (< 1 mm) non-packaging plastics in amounts below the EU limit. The calculated numbers of microplastics entering agricultural soils via BBF application was high (107-1010 microplastics ha-1y-1), but the mass of plastic released from AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs was limited (< 1 and <7 kg ha-1y-1) compared to Biowaste-BBFs (95-156 kg ha-1y-1). The concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP; < 2.5 mg kg-1) and phthalate transformation products (< 8 mg kg-1) were low (< benchmark of 50 mg kg-1 for DEHP), attributable to both the current phase-out of DEHP as well as phthalate degradation during waste treatment. The Biowaste-BBF exposed to vermicomposting indicated that worms accumulated phthalate transformation products (4 mg kg-1). These results are overall positive for the implementation of the studied AgriFoodInduWaste-BBFs and SewSludge-BBFs. However, the safe use of the studied Biowaste-BBFs requires reducing plastic use and improving sorting methods to minimize plastic contamination, in order to protect agricultural soils and reduce the environmental impact of Biowaste-BBFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Estoppey
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Research in Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gøril Aasen Slinde
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Caroline Berge Hansen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Engvig Løseth
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Viona Demmer
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørgen Svenni
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | - Teresa-Van-Anh Thi Tran
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet, 0176 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box. 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432 Ås, Norway
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Vo PHN, Ky Le G, Huy LN, Zheng L, Chaiwong C, Nguyen NN, Nguyen HTM, Ralph PJ, Kuzhiumparambil U, Soroosh D, Toft S, Madsen C, Kim M, Fenstermacher J, Hai HTN, Duan H, Tscharke B. Occurrence, spatiotemporal trends, fate, and treatment technologies for microplastics and organic contaminants in biosolids: A review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133471. [PMID: 38266587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133471] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, fate, treatment and multi-criteria analysis of microplastics (MPs) and organic contaminants (OCs) in biosolids. A meta-analysis was complementarily analysed through the literature to map out the occurrence and fate of MPs and 10 different groups of OCs. The data demonstrate that MPs (54.7% occurrence rate) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants (44.2% occurrence rate) account for the highest prevalence of contaminants in biosolids. In turn, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) have the lowest rates (<0.01%). The occurrence of several OCs (e.g., dioxin, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceutical and personal care products, ultraviolet filters, phosphate flame retardants) in Europe appear at higher rates than in Asia and the Americas. However, MP concentrations in biosolids from Australia are reported to be 10 times higher than in America and Europe, which required more measurement data for in-depth analysis. Amongst the OC groups, brominated flame retardants exhibited exceptional sorption to biosolids with partitioning coefficients (log Kd) higher than 4. To remove these contaminants from biosolids, a wide range of technologies have been developed. Our multicriteria analysis shows that anaerobic digestion is the most mature and practical. Thermal treatment is a viable option; however, it still requires additional improvements in infrastructure, legislation, and public acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong H N Vo
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Gia Ky Le
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Lai Nguyen Huy
- Environmental Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Lei Zheng
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Chawalit Chaiwong
- Environmental Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Nam Nhat Nguyen
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Hong T M Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Danaee Soroosh
- Biotechnology Department, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran 3353-5111, Iran
| | - Sonja Toft
- Urban Utilities, Level 10/31 Duncan St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Craig Madsen
- Urban Utilities, Level 10/31 Duncan St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Mikael Kim
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | | | - Ho Truong Nam Hai
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Haoran Duan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ben Tscharke
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
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3
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Li X, Liu X, Zhang J, Chen F, Khalid M, Ye J, Romantschuk M, Hui N. Hydrolase and plastic-degrading microbiota explain degradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics during high-temperature composting. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 393:130108. [PMID: 38040305 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130108] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
This research aims to explore the degradation properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by PET hydrolase (WCCG) in high-temperature composting and its impact on microbial communities. PET degradation, composting parameters and microbial communities were assessed in 220 L sludge composters with PET and WCCG using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that WCCG addition led to a deceleration of the humification process and a reduction in the relative abundance of thermophilic genera. Potential PET degrading microbiota, e.g. Acinetobacter, Bacillus, were enriched in the plastisphere in the composters where PET reduced by 26 % without WCCG addition. The external introduction of the WCCG enzyme to compost predominantly instigates a chemical reaction with PET, concurently curtailing the proliferation of plastic-degrading bacteria, leading to a 35 % degradation of PET. Both the WCCG enzyme and the microbiota associated with plastic-degradation showed the potential for reducing PET, offering a novel method for mitigating pollution caused by environmental microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Li
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Xinxin Liu
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Junren Zhang
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Fu Chen
- School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Muhammad Khalid
- College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | - Jieqi Ye
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Martin Romantschuk
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, Lahti 15140, Finland.
| | - Nan Hui
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, Lahti 15140, Finland; Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Eco-Environmental Change and Management Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, 800 Dongchuan Rd., 200240, Shanghai; Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 800 Dongchuan Rd., 200240, Shanghai, China.
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Ding Z, Li W, Chen Z, Wang L, Huang S, Evrendilek F, Yang C, Cai H, Zhong S, Yang Z, Liu J. Microplastics as emerging contaminants in textile dyeing sludge: Their impacts on co-combustion/pyrolysis products, residual metals, and temperature dependency of emissions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133465. [PMID: 38246059 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
As emerging contaminants in textile dyeing sludge (TDS), the presence and types of microplastics (MPs) inevitably influence the combustion and pyrolysis of TDS. Their effects on the co-combustion/pyrolysis emissions and residual metals of TDS remain poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the impacts of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) on the transports and transformations of gaseous emissions and residual metals generated during the TDS combustion and pyrolysis in the air, oxy-fuel, and nitrogen atmospheres. Thermal degradation of the MPs in TDS occurred between 242-600 °C. MPs decomposed and interacted with the organic components of TDS to the extent that they increased the release of VOCs, dominated by oxygenated VOCs and hydrocarbons under the incineration and pyrolysis conditions, respectively. The presence of PE exerted a limited impact on the concentration and chemical form of metals, while PP reduced the residual amount of most metals due to the decomposition of mineral additives. Also, PP (with CaCO3 filler) reduced the acid-extractable content of cadmium, copper, and manganese in the bottom slag or coke but increased that of chromium. This study provides actionable insights into optimizing gas emissions, energy recovery, and ash reuse, thus reinforcing the pollution control strategies for both the MPs and TDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Ding
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Weijie Li
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510535, China.
| | - Zhibin Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Wang
- China Construction Fourth Engineering Division Corp, Ltd, China
| | - Shenzheng Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fatih Evrendilek
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Chunxiao Yang
- School of Guangdong University of Technology, Analysis and Test Center 51006, China
| | - Haiming Cai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng Zhong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zuoyi Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingyong Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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5
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Song S, Cai L, Liu Y, Peng Z, Liu C, Jiao H, Li P, Liu Q, Yu M, Zhou T, Zhang Q, Hollert H, Zhao X, Jiang G. Development of a solubility parameter calculation-based method as a complementary tool to traditional techniques for indoor dust microplastic determination and risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132189. [PMID: 37557042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Herein, a method based on solubility parameter calculation was first used to analyze microplastics in indoor dust. The limit of quantification (LOQ) reached 0.2 mg/g, and the result of reference material SRM 2585 (n = 3) was 14.8 mg/g ± 1.8 %, suggesting satisfying sensitivity and precision. Recoveries of spiking experiments were > 80 % with no obvious matrix interferences observed, except ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) MPs. Further, 69 indoor dust samples were analyzed to verify the method and to assess exposure scenarios for graduate students in Tianjin, China. EPDM was identified in an indoor environment for the first time as the second most widely detected type after PET in this work. The mass-based result is complementary to the outcomes from thermogravimetric analysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and laser direct infrared imaging. Significant correlations were found between total organic carbon (TOC), microplastics, and BDE-209 concentrations, indicating microplastics important contaminant vectors in indoor dust. Dormitory stays and PET contributed the most to health risks among the three exposure scenarios and detected four polymers, respectively. This work provides an approach with the potential for the standardized determination of microplastics in complex environmental matrices and reveals exposure characteristics of indoor dust microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanjun Song
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Limei Cai
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yuhui Liu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Zijuan Peng
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China; Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Hui Jiao
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Penghui Li
- Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Miao Yu
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Tao Zhou
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Qinghe Zhang
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Xingchen Zhao
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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Williams GB, Ma H, Khusnutdinova AN, Yakunin AF, Golyshin PN. Harnessing extremophilic carboxylesterases for applications in polyester depolymerisation and plastic waste recycling. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:715-729. [PMID: 37334661 PMCID: PMC10423841 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The steady growth in industrial production of synthetic plastics and their limited recycling have resulted in severe environmental pollution and contribute to global warming and oil depletion. Currently, there is an urgent need to develop efficient plastic recycling technologies to prevent further environmental pollution and recover chemical feedstocks for polymer re-synthesis and upcycling in a circular economy. Enzymatic depolymerization of synthetic polyesters by microbial carboxylesterases provides an attractive addition to existing mechanical and chemical recycling technologies due to enzyme specificity, low energy consumption, and mild reaction conditions. Carboxylesterases constitute a diverse group of serine-dependent hydrolases catalysing the cleavage and formation of ester bonds. However, the stability and hydrolytic activity of identified natural esterases towards synthetic polyesters are usually insufficient for applications in industrial polyester recycling. This necessitates further efforts on the discovery of robust enzymes, as well as protein engineering of natural enzymes for enhanced activity and stability. In this essay, we discuss the current knowledge of microbial carboxylesterases that degrade polyesters (polyesterases) with focus on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is one of the five major synthetic polymers. Then, we briefly review the recent progress in the discovery and protein engineering of microbial polyesterases, as well as developing enzyme cocktails and secreted protein expression for applications in the depolymerisation of polyester blends and mixed plastics. Future research aimed at the discovery of novel polyesterases from extreme environments and protein engineering for improved performance will aid developing efficient polyester recycling technologies for the circular plastics economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwion B Williams
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K
| | - Hairong Ma
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K
| | - Anna N Khusnutdinova
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K
| | - Alexander F Yakunin
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K
| | - Peter N Golyshin
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, U.K
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Casella C, Sol D, Laca A, Díaz M. Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:63382-63415. [PMID: 37079238 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27151-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) represent a serious problem for the environment and for this reason they have been studied in many articles, especially their presence in aquatic environments and soils. MPs have been found in wastewater and sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Most part of the published works have focused on the detection and elimination of MPs in the water line and several reviews have been published in the last years. In addition, the application of sewage sludge produced from WWTPs for agricultural use is known to be a primary source of MPs in soils. However, in the scientific literature less attention has been paid to the sludge and little is known about MPs fate when it is applied in agriculture. This work aims to give a global revision on the most used techniques to identify and detect MPs in sludges, their characteristics and incidence, their effect on sludge treatments and their impact on the environment. As far as we know, there are no standardized protocols for MPs extraction from soil and the possible repercussions on the cultivation of plants are not known. This review evidences that more studies are necessary to stablished standardized protocols and decipher the main mechanisms and the effects of MPs from sewage sludge in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Casella
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/ Julián Clavería S/N, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Daniel Sol
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/ Julián Clavería S/N, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Adriana Laca
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/ Julián Clavería S/N, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Mario Díaz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/ Julián Clavería S/N, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
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8
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Unaccounted Microplastics in the Outlet of Wastewater Treatment Plants—Challenges and Opportunities. Processes (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/pr11030810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the 1950s, plastic production has skyrocketed. Various environmental and human activities are leading to the formation and accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, causing detrimental effects on water, soil, plants, and living creatures. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the primary MP management centers meant to check their entry into the natural systems. However, there are considerable limitations in effectively capturing, detecting, and characterizing these MPs in the inlet and outlet of WWTPs leading to “unaccounted MPs” that are eventually discharged into our ecosystems. In order to assess the holistic picture of the MPs’ distribution in the ecosystems, prevent the release of these omitted MPs into the environment, and formulate regulatory policies, it is vital to develop protocols that can be standardized across the globe to accurately detect and account for MPs in different sample types. This review will cover the details of current WWTP adoption procedures for MP management. Specifically, the following aspects are discussed: (i) several processes involved in the workflow of estimating MPs in the outlet of WWTPs; (ii) key limitations or challenges in each process that would increase the uncertainty in accurately estimating MPs; (iii) favorable recommendations that would lead to the standardization of protocols in the workflow and facilitate more accurate analysis of MPs; (iv) research opportunities to tackle the problem of ‘missing MPs’; and (v) future research directions for the efficient management of MPs. Considering the burgeoning research interest in the area of MPs, this work would help early scientists in understanding the current status in the field of MP analysis in the outlet of WWTPs.
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Chen H, Zou Z, Tang M, Yang X, Tsang YF. Polycarbonate microplastics induce oxidative stress in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by leaching bisphenol A. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130158. [PMID: 36257110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Polycarbonate (PC) microplastics are frequently detected in waste activated sludge. However, understanding the potential impact of PC microplastics on biological sludge treatment remains challenging. By tracking the changes in methane production under different concentrations of PC microplastics, a dose-dependent effect of PC microplastics on anaerobic digestion of sludge was observed. PC microplastics at 10-60 particles/g total solids (TS) improved methane production by up to 24.7 ± 0.1 % (at 30 particles/g TS), while 200 particles/g TS PC microplastics reduced methane production by 8.09 ± 0.1 %. Bisphenol A (BPA) leached from 30 particles/g TS PC microplastics (1.26 ± 0.18 mg/L) down-regulated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, thereby enhancing enzyme activity, biomass viability, and abundance of methanogenic (Methanobacterium sp. and Methanosarcina sp.), ultimately boosting methane production. Conversely, BPA leached from 200 particles/g TS PC microplastics (4.02 ± 0.15 mg/L) stimulated ROS production, resulting in decreased biomass viability and even apoptosis. Modulation of oxidative stress by leaching monomeric BPA is an underappreciated transformative mechanism for improving the mastery of the potential behavior of microplastics in biological sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Chen
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China.
| | - Zhiming Zou
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Mengge Tang
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yiu Fai Tsang
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, China
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10
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Adegoke KA, Adu FA, Oyebamiji AK, Bamisaye A, Adigun RA, Olasoji SO, Ogunjinmi OE. Microplastics toxicity, detection, and removal from water/wastewater. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114546. [PMID: 36640497 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The world has witnessed massive and preeminent microplastics (MPs) pollution in water bodies due to the inevitable continuous production of plastics for various advantageous chemical and mechanical features. Plastic pollution, particularly contamination by MPs (plastic particles having a diameter lesser than 5 mm), has been a rising environmental concern in recent years due to the inappropriate disposal of plastic trash. This study presents the recent advancements in different technologies for MPs removal in order to gain proper insight into their strengths and weaknesses, thereby orchestrating the preparation for innovation in the field. The production, origin, and global complexity of MPs were discussed. This study also reveals MPs' mode of transportation, its feedstock polymers, toxicities, detection techniques, and the conventional removal strategies of MPs from contaminated systems. Modification of conventional methods vis-à-vis new materials/techniques and other emerging technologies, such as magnetic extraction and sol-gel technique with detailed mechanistic information for the removal of MPs are presented in this study. Conclusively, some future research outlooks for advancing the MPs removal technologies/materials for practical realization are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayode Adesina Adegoke
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
| | - Folasade Abimbola Adu
- Discipline of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Abel Kolawole Oyebamiji
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Abayomi Bamisaye
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Rasheed Adewale Adigun
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Fountain University, P. M. B. 4491, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
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11
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Tian L, Skoczynska E, van Putten RJ, Leslie HA, Gruter GJM. Quantification of polyethylene terephthalate micro- and nanoplastics in domestic wastewater using a simple three-step method. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159209. [PMID: 36206911 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about impact of small plastic particles, known as microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm), together abbreviated as MNP, on the environment and on human health have increased in recent years. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics have been detected previously in different environmental samples including freshwater and wastewater sludge. In the present study, we target all small plastic particles of PET with a diameter smaller than 5 mm ('PET MNP'). A simple three-step method of drying, (in matrix) PET depolymerization in ethylene glycol and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, was applied for the quantification of PET MNP in influents and effluents collected from ten Dutch wastewater treatment plants. The PET recovery was 98 % in the wastewater matrix. The limits of detection (LOD) for PET in influents and effluents were 2.0 μg/L and 1.2 μg/L, respectively. PET MNP was detected in all the influents (ranging from 24.9 μg/L to 680 μg/L) and most of the effluents (ranging from <LOD to 23.1 μg/L). The results of the present study confirmed that WWTP effluents can be a source of PET MNP in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ewa Skoczynska
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Heather A Leslie
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan M Gruter
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Avantium Support BV, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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12
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Chun S, Muthu M, Gopal J. Mass Spectrometry as an Analytical Tool for Detection of Microplastics in the Environment. CHEMOSENSORS 2022; 10:530. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10120530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm accumulate in aqueous, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments and their discovery has been a serious concern when it comes to eco-toxicology and human health risk assessment. In the following review, the potential of mass spectrometry (MS) for the detection of microplastic (MP) pollutants has been elaborately reviewed. The use of various mass spectrometric techniques ranging from gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric (LC-MS) to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), including their variants, have been reviewed. The lapses in the detection system have been addressed and future recommendations proposed. The challenges facing microplastics and their detection have been discussed and future directions, including mitigation methods, have been presented.
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13
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Kumar R, Adhikari S, Driver E, Zevitz J, Halden RU. Application of wastewater-based epidemiology for estimating population-wide human exposure to phthalate esters, bisphenols, and terephthalic acid. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157616. [PMID: 35901875 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates, bisphenols (BPs), and terephthalic acid (TPA) are widely used plasticizers and monomers in plastic manufacturing. Most of them are known to have an adverse effect on the human body, functioning as endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens. Access to near real-time data on population exposure to plasticizers is essential for identifying vulnerable communities and better protecting and managing public health locally. The objective of the present study was to evaluate population-level exposure to phthalates, BPs, and TPA by measuring urinary metabolites in community wastewater. Composited community wastewater (24-h samples) from five sewer sub-catchments of a southwestern city within the United States were analyzed for urinary biomarkers of phthalates, BPs, and TPA using solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in conjunction with the isotope dilution method for absolute quantification. Ten of 16 analytes were detected at least once in community wastewater above the method detection limit (MDL), with MDLs ranging from 37 to 203 ng/L. The population normalized mass load of TPA was the highest, followed by the human metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Bisphenol S and monoethyl phthalate were detected with the highest frequency. Study findings suggest that analyzing municipal wastewater for chemical indicators of human exposure to plastic constituents is feasible, practicable, and informative, as long as appropriate steps are taken to determine, quantify and account for background levels of plastic analytes in the laboratory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Sangeet Adhikari
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 852\87, USA
| | - Erin Driver
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Jake Zevitz
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 852\87, USA; One Water One Health, Non-profit Project of Arizona State University Foundation, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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14
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Xu J, Bi W, Hua L, Cheng Z, Wang Y, Li D, Liu W, Wang L, Sun H. Wide occurrence of seven phthalate plasticizers and two typical microplastics in pig feed. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135847. [PMID: 35944691 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are widely used as packaging and engineering materials in feed processing, which leads to the potential contamination of plasticizers and microplastics (MPs) in animal feeds. In this study, the concentrations of two typical MPs, i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC), and seven phthalates (PAEs) as well as their corresponding monoester metabolites (mPAEs) in 45 pig feed samples in China were analyzed by mass spectrometers. Among PAEs, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected in all samples, and DEHP showed the highest concentrations of 8.26-2464 μg/kg, which accounted for 65.6% of the total detected PAEs. PET MPs (<MDL-302 μg/kg) were detected in 97.8% of samples. Meanwhile, mPAEs were also detected in feed samples with high detection rates but of much lower concentrations. A significantly positive correlation was observed between DEHP and PET MPs. This indicates that the sources of DEHP and MPs in feeds are homologous, mainly from processing and packaging. Besides, the significantly positive correlations between DBP/DEHP and mBP/mEHP indicated the degradation of PAEs to mPAEs during feed production and transportation. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PAEs and PET MPs were 2.40-70.3 and 0.800-7.79 μg/kg-bw-day, respectively. The results of this study provided new insight into the first evidence of the co-occurrence and risk of MPs, PAE, and mPAEs in pig feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaping Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wanjuan Bi
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Liting Hua
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Dandan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Weitao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory on Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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15
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Sun Y, Li X, Cao N, Duan C, Ding C, Huang Y, Wang J. Biodegradable microplastics enhance soil microbial network complexity and ecological stochasticity. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129610. [PMID: 35863232 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics have emerged as an ecological alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Despite the recent advances in the effects of conventional microplastic on soil ecosystems, the ecological impact of biodegradable microplastics in soil environments remains poorly understood. Here, we performed soil microcosms with conventional (polyethylene and polystyrene) and biodegradable (polybutylene succinate and polylactic acid) microplastics to estimate their effects on the success patterns, co-occurrence networks, and the assembly mechanisms of soil bacterial communities. Biodegradable microplastics significantly altered the soil bacterial community composition with steeper temporal turnovers (rate: 0.317 - 0.514) compared to the conventional microplastic treatments (rate: 0.211 - 0.220). Network under biodegradable microplastics showed greater network complexity, including network size, connectivity, average clustering coefficient, and the number of keystone species, as compared with the conventional microplastic treatments. Additionally, the biodegradable microplastic network had higher robustness, which may be potentially due to the enhanced dissolved organic carbon contents in the soil treated with biodegradable microplastics. The bacterial community assembly was initially governed by deterministic homogeneous selection (93 - 100 %) under the stress of microplastics, but was progressively structured by increasing stochastic homogeneous dispersal (17.8 - 73.3 %) over time. The normalized stochasticity ratio also revealed that the application of microplastics increased the importance of stochastic processes following incubation. These findings greatly enhanced our understanding of the ecological mechanisms and interactions of soil bacterial communities in response to microplastic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanze Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinfei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Na Cao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chongxue Duan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changfeng Ding
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yi Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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16
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Takahashi N, Miyanishi Y, Kato R, Amimoto T, Iwamoto Y, Takeda K. Migration of terephthalate from scraps of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in water and artificial seawater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156053. [PMID: 35597346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We report the migration of terephthalate and some low molecular weight organic compounds from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) scraps in Milli-Q water and artificial seawater (ASW). The photochemical processes and the subsequent dark reactions were investigated using PET scraps obtained from postconsumer bottles of commercial non‑carbonated mineral water. Concentrations of terephthalate exponentially increased with irradiation time, reaching approximately 6-8 μmol L-1 in ASW after 80 h irradiation. The photochemical migrations of compounds related to terephthalate were also observed. Concentrations of terephthalate and related compounds reached higher concentrations in ASW than in Milli-Q water. After 80 h irradiation, two dark experiments were conducted: one on the solutions after irradiation without PET scraps, and the other on photochemically damaged PET scraps. In ASW in the dark without PET scraps, the terephthalate concentration increased, and concentrations of other compounds related to terephthalate also changed. The results suggested that terephthalate was generated by hydrolytic reaction in dark ASW from the scission products of PET which were generated during the irradiation of PET scraps. Photochemically damaged PET scraps released terephthalate and related compounds in the dark. The half-life of the photo-irradiated PET scraps in the dark is approximately 205 years. Our results show that PET bottles in marine environments can continuously release terephthalate and other low molecular weight organic compounds during the day at the sunny surface, at the dark ocean floor, and during the night.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiro Takahashi
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Yuto Miyanishi
- Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Ryota Kato
- Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Tomoko Amimoto
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Yoko Iwamoto
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Takeda
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan; Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan.
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17
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Wang L, Shi Y, Chai J, Huang L, Wang Y, Wang S, Pi K, Gerson AR, Liu D. Transfer of microplastics in sludge upon Fe(II)-persulfate conditioning and mechanical dewatering. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156316. [PMID: 35660426 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sewage treatment plants act as both sinks and sources of microplastics with elevated concentrations of microplastics accumulating in the sludge. Consequently, the effects of sludge conditioning and dewatering processes on the fate of microplastics need to be clarified. Microplastic characteristics in sludge, before and after advanced oxidation Fe(II)-activated persulfate conditioning were studied using a microplastics dynamic flotation separator (MDFS). In the unconditioned sludge (no dewatering), white and transparent microplastics dominated and seven types of plastic polymer were detected with polyethylene (30.3%) and polypropylene (23.9%) being the main ones. Pellet microplastics were found to be the dominant morphology, accounting for 67.0% of the total number of microplastics. The abundance of microplastics extracted using the MDFS device from the unconditioned (no dewatering) sludge was 320 ± 3 particles g-1 dried sludge, which was greater by 37% than extracted using microplastics static flotation separation. Due to the release of the adsorbed microplastics from the destroyed sludge flocs after conditioning, the abundance of extractable microplastics increased by 19 ± 2% as compared to the unconditioned sludge (both with no dewatering). After filter presses (plate-frame filter, vacuum filter) and centrifuge dewatering, 81-90% of the microplastics were present in the filter cake, of which microplastics <500 μm accounted for more than 80% of the total number. The abundance of microplastics per unit volume of filtrate after filter press dewatering was significantly smaller than after centrifuge dewatering (3.2-4.4 × 103 cf 13.0 × 103 particles L-1, respectively). The difference increments in relative abundance of <10 μm microplastics in the centrifuge filtrate was about twice that of the filter presses. The surface morphology of the microplastics did not change in the conditioning process. This study highlights the need to assess the application of advanced oxidation conditioning which has significant influence on the microplastics distribution via the subsequent sludge dewatering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Yafei Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for River-Lakes and Algal Utilization, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China.
| | - Jiaqi Chai
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Lin Huang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Shulian Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Kewu Pi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for River-Lakes and Algal Utilization, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Andrea R Gerson
- Blue Minerals Consultancy, Wattle Grove, Tasmania 7109, Australia
| | - Defu Liu
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for River-Lakes and Algal Utilization, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
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18
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Shi X, Li J, Shang L, Wang S, Chen S, Liu J, Mei M, Xue Y, Wang T. Microplastics in dyeing sludge: Whether do they affect sludge incineration? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129394. [PMID: 35749899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging contaminant detected in dyeing sludge (DS), inevitably affected the subsequent treatment and disposal of DS. However, the effect of MPs on the predominant disposal path (incineration) of DS remains far from explicit. This study used thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) method to explore the effect of representative MPs, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), on combustion characteristics, gas evolution and kinetics on DS combustion. Results showed that PET inhibited the whole combustion of DS by physical barrier. Relatively, PVC delayed the combustion of light volatile but promoted heavy volatile and char reaction due to HCl catalyst. Generally, MPs deteriorated the combustibility, burnout performance and combustion stability of DS. MPs aggravated HCl and gaseous N emissions. Noticeably, the interactions between DS and PVC accelerated the emissions of gaseous pollutants, especially under high dose condition. DAEM and FWO models could well describe the combustion kinetic of DS containing MPs. MPs led to an increase in activation energy of DS, namely, it deteriorated the combustion efficiency of DS. The combustion mechanisms could be divided into two stages: (1) diffusion (D3) stage: melted MPs blocked the gas channels, (2) chemical reaction (F3): the residual chars were thermally stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoao Shi
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Jinping Li
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Centre for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Lingna Shang
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Sijia Wang
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Si Chen
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Centre for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Jingxin Liu
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Centre for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Meng Mei
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Centre for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
| | - Yongjie Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, 430070 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Teng Wang
- School of Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China; Engineering Research Centre for Clean Production of Textile Dyeing and Printing, Ministry of Education, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China.
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19
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Cohen-Sánchez A, Solomando A, Pinya S, Tejada S, Valencia JM, Box A, Sureda A. First detection of microplastics in Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus 1758) digestive tract from Eivissa Island (Western Mediterranean). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:65077-65087. [PMID: 35484455 PMCID: PMC9481491 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20298-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste and its ubiquity in the oceans represent a growing problem for marine life worldwide. Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the sea and easily enter food webs. Xyrichtys novacula L. is one of the main target species of recreational fishing in the Balearic Islands, Spain. In the present study, the quantity of MPs in gastrointestinal tracts of X. novacula from two different areas (a marine protected area (MPA) and a non-protected area) of Eivissa Island (in the Balearic archipelago) has been assessed, as well as MPs evaluation within the sediment of both areas. The results showed that over 80% of sampled individuals had MPs in their gut with an average of 3.9 ± 4.3 plastic items/individual. Eighty percent of these plastics were fibres, while the rest were fragments. Although the sediment of the non-protected area had a significant higher presence of MPs, no significant differences in the number of MPs were observed in X. novacula from both areas. The µ-FT-IR analysis showed that the main polymers in the sediments were polycarbonate (PC) and polypropylene (PP), whereas in the digestive tract of fish PC, PP, polyethylene, polystyrene and polyester. In conclusion, practically all X. novacula specimens presented MPs in their digestive tract regardless if the capture zone was in a MPAs or not. These results highlight the ubiquity of MPs in coastal marine areas, and further studies might be necessary to evaluate further implications of MP presence in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cohen-Sánchez
- Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Antònia Solomando
- Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Samuel Pinya
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Silvia Tejada
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - José María Valencia
- LIMIA, Laboratori d’Investigacions Marines i Aqüicultura, 07157 Port d’Andratx, Spain
| | - Antonio Box
- Department of Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Caça i Cooperació Municipal, Consell Insular d’Eivissa, 07800 Eivissa, Spain
| | - Antoni Sureda
- Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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20
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Wang X, Li H, Chen Y, Meng X, Yorgan Dieketseng M, Wang X, Yan S, Wang B, Zhou L, Zheng G. A neglected risk of nanoplastics as revealed by the promoted transformation of plasmid‐borne ampicillin resistance gene by
Escherichia coli. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4946-4959. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Hua Li
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaoqing Meng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Mahlatsi Yorgan Dieketseng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaomeng Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Su Yan
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Baozhan Wang
- Department of Microbiology College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
| | - Lixiang Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization Nanjing China
| | - Guanyu Zheng
- Department of Environmental Engineering College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization Nanjing China
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21
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Okoffo ED, O'Brien S, O'Brien JW, Tscharke BJ, Rauert C, Rødland ES, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Toapanta T, Mueller JF, Thomas KV. Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152382. [PMID: 34923004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the occurrence and contribution of plastic particles associated with size fractionated biosolids to the total concentration in biosolids (treated sewage sludge) samples collected from 20 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) across Australia. This was achieved through sequential size fractionation of biosolids samples to quantify the mass concentration of 7 common plastics across a range of biosolids size fractions, including below 25 μm which has not been assessed in many previous studies. Quantitative analysis was performed by pressurized liquid extraction followed by pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. Of the total quantified plastics (Σ7plastics), the greatest proportion (27%) of the total mass were identified in the nominal <25 μm sized biosolids fraction. Polyethylene dominated the polymer mass in every size fraction, even though profiles varied between WWTPs. When comparing the sum of all sites for each sized biosolids fraction, the plurality of the polyethylene, polyvinyl-chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene-terephthalate concentrations were associated with the smallest size fraction (<25 μm). We confirm for the first time the presence of plastic particles in biosolids below a size fraction that is not captured by many methods. This is important, because of the potential greater significance of plastics in the low sizes to environmental and human health.
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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.
| | - Stacey O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jake W O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Tscharke
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Cassandra Rauert
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Elisabeth S Rødland
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Center of Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD CoE), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, P.O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway
| | - Francisca Ribeiro
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, EX4 4QD Exeter, UK
| | - Stephen D Burrows
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, EX4 4QD Exeter, UK
| | - Tania Toapanta
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- 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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22
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Tian L, Skoczynska E, Siddhanti D, van Putten RJ, Leslie HA, Gruter GJM. Quantification of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and nanoplastics in sands, indoor dust and sludge using a simplified in-matrix depolymerization method. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113403. [PMID: 35151075 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
An effective 3-step method for the quantification of mass of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and nanoplastics (PET MNPs) in complex environmental matrices was developed based on a simplified in-matrix depolymerization. Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection was used for detection and quantification. Recoveries for PET-spiked sand samples were 99 ± 2% (1 mg/L) and 93 ± 7% (30 mg/L). The limit of quantification (LOQ) for PET was 0.4 μg/g for sand, 1 mg/g for indoor dust and 0.2 μg/g for wet sludge. This method was applied to seven beach sand samples, 20 indoor dust samples and one sewage sludge sample. PET MNPs levels in sand samples were all below the limit of detection (LOD) of LC-UV (0.1 μg/g). The concentrations of PET MNPs in indoor dust samples ranged from 1.2 to 305 mg/g and the PET MNPs in liquid sludge was 1.5 mg/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ewa Skoczynska
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Deepti Siddhanti
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Heather A Leslie
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan M Gruter
- van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Avantium Support BV, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014 BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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23
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Ziajahromi S, Leusch FDL. Systematic assessment of data quality and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of current research on microplastics in biosolids and agricultural soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 294:118629. [PMID: 34871641 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although a growing number of studies have reported microplastics (MPs) in biosolids and soils, there are significant differences in the concentrations found across different regions worldwide. This has raised questions about the quality of studies due to a lack of standardized sampling and analysis methods for detecting MPs in such complex samples. In this study, we applied a systematic quantitative literature review (SQLR) methodology to analyze studies reporting MPs in sludge/biosolids and agricultural soils. We also assessed the quality of individual studies on MPs in sludge/biosolids and soils based on the inclusion of quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. There is limited understanding about MPs in soils with a history of biosolid application with only 9% of publications reporting MPs in biosolid-amended soil. There was almost eight orders of magnitude difference (3.4 × 10-5 to 9.4 × 103 particles/g) between the highest concentrations of MPs in sludge/biosolid samples compared to the lowest virgin soil samples. The literature shows a consistency in the polymer types (polyester, PP and PE) and morphotypes (fibres and fragments) of MPs most frequently detected in biosolids and soils, suggesting a potential role of biosolids in soils MP pollution. Despite the large variations in the sizes of MPs, there was a negative correlation between the lowest size detected and concentrations reported. This indicates that current concentrations of MPs are influenced by the detection size. Our assessment shows that the majority of studies to-date lack critical QA/QC measures, particularly field blank, positive control and method validation. This highlights an urgent need for quality improvement of future research in this field to produce reliable data, ultimately crucial to assess the risk of MPs and derive suitable environmental guidelines. It is recommended that MPs studies methodically include QA/QC protocols at every step of the process to ensure the integrity of the data that is published.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Ziajahromi
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia.
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, 4222, Australia
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24
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Adhikari S, Kelkar V, Kumar R, Halden RU. Methods and challenges in the detection of microplastics and nanoplastics: a mini‐review. POLYM INT 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.6348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sangeet Adhikari
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- School of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
| | - Varun Kelkar
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- School of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
| | - Rahul Kumar
- School of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- School of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- OneWaterOneHealth Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- Global Futures Laboratory Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
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25
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Singh S, Kalyanasundaram M, Diwan V. Removal of microplastics from wastewater: available techniques and way forward. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021; 84:3689-3704. [PMID: 34928836 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2021.472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are the newly emerged contaminants with a presence in almost every part of the globe. Despite being small in size, microplastic particles have proved to be harmful for plants, animals, humans, and for the ecosystem in general. Water is one of the most important routes through which microplastics transfer from one place to another. Moreover, water is also an important route for the ingestion of microplastics in human, which results in various health issues, such as cancer, mutagenic and teratogenic abnormalities. Thus, microplastics in water is an emerging public health issue which needs attention and, hence, it is important to investigate removal techniques for microplastics in wastewater. Although, there are some biological, chemical/electrochemical, and physical techniques to remove microplastics, their wide scale applicability and cost-effectiveness is an issue. In this review, we have discussed the existing and upcoming treatment technologies for the removal of microplastics from wastewater and also tried to present an overview for the future approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Singh
- Division of Environmental Monitoring and Exposure Assessment (Water & Soil), ICMR - National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal 462 030, India E-mail:
| | - Madhanraj Kalyanasundaram
- Division of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, ICMR - National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal 462 030, India
| | - Vishal Diwan
- Division of Environmental Monitoring and Exposure Assessment (Water & Soil), ICMR - National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal 462 030, India E-mail:
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26
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Ainali NM, Kalaronis D, Kontogiannis A, Evgenidou E, Kyzas GZ, Yang X, Bikiaris DN, Lambropoulou DA. Microplastics in the environment: Sampling, pretreatment, analysis and occurrence based on current and newly-exploited chromatographic approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 794:148725. [PMID: 34323760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The omnipresent character of microplastics (MPs) in environmental matrices, organisms and products has recently posed the need of their qualitative as well as quantitative analysis imperative, in order to provide data about their abundance and specification of polymer types in several substrates. In this framework, current and emerging approaches based on the chromatographic separation are of increased relevance in the field of MPs analysis and possess a large number of merits, since most of them are applicable in various complex matrices, sensitive and ideal for the detection of small-sized particles, whereas the common absence of any special pre-treatment step before analysis should also be highlighted. Αnalytical pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has recently gained ground as a powerful means to deliver information on MPs composition and degradation after their release into environment. Several instrumentations and trends in the area of analytical pyrolysis are thoroughly described within this review, while newly-exploited chromatographic methods in the field of MPs analysis, including Liquid Chromatography (LC) and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) in this line are also investigated. The present review fills the gap of standardization concerning sampling, pre-treatment and chromatographic approaches and gathers all the available methodologies applied inside this area in accordance with the studied substrate, with the most examined environmental matrices being the solid one. After investigating the various works, some development options arise and it appears that chromatographic approaches should focus on improved extraction processes in terms of MPs isolation, since it is a crucial part in plastic items monitoring and is commonly depended on the polymer type and matrix. Special attention is given on the potential of chromatographic techniques for microplastics identification as well as quantification by confirming the current research status and knowledge gaps and highlighting some of the recent trends in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Maria Ainali
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kalaronis
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonios Kontogiannis
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Evgenidou
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Thessaloniki GR-57001, Greece
| | - George Z Kyzas
- Department of Chemistry, International Hellenic University, GR-654 04 Kavala, Greece
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Dimitrios N Bikiaris
- Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra A Lambropoulou
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Thessaloniki GR-57001, Greece.
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27
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Zhang Y, Peng Y, Peng C, Wang P, Lu Y, He X, Wang L. Comparison of Detection Methods of Microplastics in Landfill Mineralized Refuse and Selection of Degradation Degree Indexes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13802-13811. [PMID: 34586798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A landfill is an important sink of plastic waste and potential sources of microplastics (MPs) when mineralized refuse is reused. However, limitations are still present in quantifying MPs in mineralized refuse and assessing their degradation degree. In this study, laser direct infrared spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to identify MPs of mineralized refuse from a landfill. Although 25-113 items/g MPs were detected in particles subjected to flotation, 37.9-674 μg/g polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and 0.0716-1.01 μg/g polycarbonate (PC) were detected in the residual solids by LC-MS/MS, indicating a great amount of plastic polymers still presented in the residue. This suggests that the commonly used flotation-counting method will lead to significant underestimation of MP pollution in mineralized refuse, which might be due to the aging and aggregation process caused by the long-term landfill process. The ratio of "bisphenol A/PC" and "plasticizer/MPs" was found to be positively correlated and negatively correlated with the landfill age, respectively. Therefore, in addition to the spectral index such as the carbonyl index, new indexes based on the concentrations of polymers, free monomers, and plasticizers were proposed to characterize the degradation degree of MPs in a landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yawen Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Chu Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ping Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaosong He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Simulation and Control of Groundwater Pollution, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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28
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Hatinoğlu MD, Sanin FD. Sewage sludge as a source of microplastics in the environment: A review of occurrence and fate during sludge treatment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113028. [PMID: 34153586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effectively remove microplastics (MPs) from wastewater and unsurprisingly concentrate them in sludge. Hence through its beneficial use and disposal, sludge causes secondary release pathways of an estimated average amount of 106 to 1014 wastewater-based MPs to various environmental compartments yearly. Despite these numbers, studies investigating sludge are scarce. Currently, majority of the studies in the field focus on identifying the magnitude of the problem, whereas research investigating the fate and effects of MPs during sludge treatment are very rare. This review aims to bring together and critically evaluate the limited studies conducted about MPs in the sludge treatment line and bring out the key gaps and research needs in the area. Studies conducted so far indicate that depending on the type, size, and amount of MPs, their effects during anaerobic digestion differ, with some studies demonstrating serious negative impact on biogas production. Possible effect mechanisms are also suggested such as formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leaching of toxic chemicals. Moreover, a potential for sludge treatment processes (thickening, dewatering, drying, stabilization, etc.) to change the characteristics and the number of MPs, which may increase surface area available for adsorption and desorption of pollutants, was observed. Review uncovers that, in the broad universe of MPs, some highly abundant ones in sludge such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, and acrylic are not yet investigated in sludge treatment. Future research should focus not only to investigate the fate/effects but to fully understand the mechanisms behind these, which is missing in many studies reviewed. Besides, new studies show that effect of MPs start from the floc formation stage during biological treatment, which in fact determine the final sludge behavior in thickening and dewatering. Therefore, holistic approaches starting from wastewater till sludge exits WWTP seem necessary. Substantiating from polymer chemistry and response of plastics to stress conditions, review suggests possibilities of deterioration during sludge treatment processes. It becomes evident that some totally uninvestigated aspects such as disintegration conducted before stabilization, can change the fate of MPs during sludge treatment and may bring new perspectives to the solution of the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dilara Hatinoğlu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - F Dilek Sanin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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29
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Zhang J, Wang L, Kannan K. Quantitative analysis of polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate microplastics in sediment collected from South Korea, Japan and the USA. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 279:130551. [PMID: 33866094 PMCID: PMC8205972 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as contaminants of public health and environmental concern. Although studies have reported the occurrence of MPs in sediment, quantitative determination of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) concentrations is limited. In this study, marine coastal and freshwater sediment collected from various locations in South Korea, Japan and the United States were analyzed for PET and PC MPs using a depolymerization method of sample preparation followed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) detection. PET MPs were found in surface sediments from South Korea (n = 20), Japan (n = 4) and the United States (n = 43) at concentrations (dry weight) in the ranges of <MQL-13,000,000 ng/g (median: 6600 ng/g), 3600-5400 ng/g (4400 ng/g) and <MQL-10,000 ng/g (<MQL), respectively. Similarly, PC MPs were found in the concentration ranges of <MQL-140,000 ng/g (median: 290 ng/g, South Korea), 150-510 ng/g (100 ng/g, Japan) and <MQL-110,000 ng/g (160 ng/g, the United States). Spatial analysis of concentrations of PET and PC MPs in sediment from Lake Shihwa watershed in South Korea showed a decreasing trend with increasing distance from inland point source areas (Ansan industrial area). No distinct vertical profiles were recorded for PET or PC MPs in sediment cores collected from Tokyo Bay (Japan) or inland lakes in Michigan (the United States). The measured concentrations of MPs in sediment provide baseline data to evaluate future trends and for ecological risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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30
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Yue W, Yin CF, Sun L, Zhang J, Xu Y, Zhou NY. Biodegradation of bisphenol-A polycarbonate plastic by Pseudoxanthomonas sp. strain NyZ600. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125775. [PMID: 33838511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) is a widely used engineering thermoplastic and its release has caused damage to the ecosystem. Microbial degradation of plastic represents a sustainable approach for PC reduction. In this study, a bacterial strain designated Pseudoxanthomonas sp. strain NyZ600 capable of degrading PC was isolated from activated sludge by using diphenyl carbonate as a surrogate substrate. Within a 30-day period of incubating with strain NyZ600, PC films were analyzed with atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscope, water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scan calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis technique. The analyses results indicated that the treated PC films were bio-deteriorated and formed some "corrosion pits" on the PC film surface. In addition, strain NyZ600 performed broad depolymerization of PC indicated by the reduction of Mn from 23.55 to 16.75 kDa and Mw from 45.67 to 31.97 kDa and two degradation products bisphenol A and 4-cumylphenol (the two monomers of PC) were also found, which established that PC were biodegraded by strain NyZ600. Combing all above results, it is clear that the strain NyZ600 can degrade PC which provides a unique example for bacterial degradation of PC and a feasibility for the removal of PC waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chao-Fan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Limin Sun
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ning-Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Zhang Y, Wu D, Su Y, Xie B. Occurrence, influence and removal strategies of mycotoxins, antibiotics and microplastics in anaerobic digestion treating food waste and co-digestive biosolids: A critical review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 330:124987. [PMID: 33757678 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Food waste anaerobic digestion (FWAD) can be assisted with the co-digestion of manures, agricultural waste, and sewage sludge. Nevertheless, contaminants like mycotoxins, antibiotics, and microplastics (MPs) could be introduced and negatively affect the AD system. Over 180 literatures involved the occurrence, influence and removal strategies of these three types of pollutants in AD were summarized in this review. Aflatoxin B1(AFB1) as the most concerned mycotoxins were poorly degraded and brought about inhibitions in short-term. Considering methanogenesis inhibition and occurrence concentration, the risk of oxytetracycline and norfloxacin were identified as priority among antibiotics. Leaching toxic additives from MPs could be responsible for the AD inhibition, while their materials and sizes could also prolong the acidification and methanation processes in FWAD. Strategies of bioaugmentation technologies and bioreactors to enhance the removal were suggested. Perspectives were provided for a better understanding of the fates of reviewed contaminants and their elimination in FWAD systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Dong Wu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yinglong Su
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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32
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Golwala H, Zhang X, Iskander SM, Smith AL. Solid waste: An overlooked source of microplastics to the environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144581. [PMID: 33482549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics pollution is one of the most pressing environmental problems of the 21st century. While microplastics are pervasive throughout various environmental compartments, research to date has primarily focused on marine systems. Land-based microplastics sources (e.g., solid waste) have received comparatively little attention, although they account for the main flow of microplastics into aquatic environments. Solid waste microplastics sources primarily include landfill refuse, sludge, and food waste. Microplastics in these waste streams can be associated with various micropollutants that can have deleterious impacts on ecosystem health as they enter the food chain. Thus, understanding the occurrence, fate, and degradation pathways of solid waste microplastics is essential to develop comprehensive control and mitigation strategies. This study critically reviewed these key aspects of microplastics in municipal solid waste landfill refuse, sewage sludge, and food waste, and identified the interconnections of these components in the proliferation of microplastics to the environment. Additionally, microplastics related laws and regulations and their relevance to solid waste microplastics mitigation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmita Golwala
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Xueyao Zhang
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Syeed Md Iskander
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 North 14th Avenue, Fargo, ND 58102, USA.
| | - Adam L Smith
- Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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Duan J, Bolan N, Li Y, Ding S, Atugoda T, Vithanage M, Sarkar B, Tsang DCW, Kirkham MB. Weathering of microplastics and interaction with other coexisting constituents in terrestrial and aquatic environments. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 196:117011. [PMID: 33743325 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Weathering of microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm) in terrestrial and aquatic environments affects MP transport and distribution. This paper first summarizes the sources of MPs, including refuse in landfills, biowastes, plastic films, and wastewater discharge. Once MPs enter water and soil, they undergo different weathering processes. MPs can be converted into small molecules (e.g., oligomers and monomers), and may be completely mineralized under the action of free radicals or microorganisms. The rate and extent of weathering of MPs depend on their physicochemical properties and environmental conditions of the media to which they are exposed. In general, water dissipates heat better, and has a lower temperature, than land; thus, the weathering rate of MPs in the aquatic environment is slower than in the terrestrial environment. These weathering processes increase oxygen-containing functional groups and the specific surface area of MPs, which influence the sorption and aggregation that occur between weathered MPs and their co-existing constituents. More studies are needed to investigate the various weathering processes of diverse MPs under natural field conditions in soils, sediments, and aquatic environments, to understand the impact of weathered MPs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Duan
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Shiyuan Ding
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Thilakshani Atugoda
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Binoy Sarkar
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - M B Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
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Shi Y, Liu P, Wu X, Shi H, Huang H, Wang H, Gao S. Insight into chain scission and release profiles from photodegradation of polycarbonate microplastics. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 195:116980. [PMID: 33684678 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) is a kind of widely used engineering plastics. However, excessive usage causes the production of plastic wastes, following property changes of polymers and high risks of released chemicals during outdoor weathering. In this study, we systematically investigated the photoaging behavior of PC microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environment and evaluated the potential risk of released intermediates. Light irradiation along with mechanical abrasion facilitated the fragmentation of PC MPs and stimulated photooxidative modification during 640 h of ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Continuous degradation of the polymer was accompanied with dramatic decline of molecular weight. Also, BPA was released from irradiated PC MPs with a trend of an initial rapid increase followed by a decrease versus the irradiation time, and the maximum concentration of dropped BPA was detected up to 652.80 ± 72.89 μg/g (43.39% and 56.61% respectively in particles and leachates). However, the releasing amount of BPA in the leachate merely occupied 2.7% of the total organic carbon (TOC) leached out, suggesting that a great number of unknown organic products were produced other than BPA. Liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) analysis showed that these organic compounds forming MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs DOM) were partly composed of 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA) and methyparaben (MeP), which would also contribute to the estrogenic activity. The degradation pathway of PC MPs was elaborated with the photolysis process of PC dimer and BPA, and the remarkable photoaging of PC MPs was mainly dominated by the generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). The findings of this study indicated that understanding the photoaging process of PC MPs was vital to evaluate their integral cumulative estrogenic activity in aquatic environment, and further highlighted the notable possible risks of plastic leachates to exposed biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Shi
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Hexinyue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, People's Republic of China.
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Tian Y, Chen Z, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Wang P, Zhang T, Pu J, Sun H, Wang L. An innovative evaluation method based on polymer mass detection to evaluate the contribution of microfibers from laundry process to municipal wastewater. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 407:124861. [PMID: 33387971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Clothes washing releases numerous microfibers, including microplastic fibers (MPFs). Although MPFs in laundry wastewater are an important source of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), credible quantitative assessments of their contributions remain limited. Polyester fiber is the most important textile fiber. Its component, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer, can be quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The release of MPFs from polyester clothes through washing was quantified via simulation experiments, and the MPFs in two WWTPs were measured by microscopic counting and LC-MS/MS. Direct comparison of the abundances of PET MPFs in laundry wastewater and WWTP influents led to an undervalued contribution rate of 9%-11% of the PET MPFs in laundry wastewater to those in WWTP influents. However, comparison of the mass of PET MPFs in laundry wastewater and WWTPs influents revealed that the PET MPFs from laundry contributed approximately 50% of those in the WWTPs. The latter was confirmed by comparing the number of polyester fibers released during clothes washing to the calculated number of "model MPFs" in WWTPs according to the PET mass concentration. Based on the PET concentration, the annual discharge of PET MPs from WWTPs to the water environment could also be estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiayao Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhengzhuofan Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yujiao Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jian Pu
- Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Hongwen Sun
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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36
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Castelvetro V, Corti A, Ceccarini A, Petri A, Vinciguerra V. Nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 micro- and nanoplastics: A first example of their accurate quantification, along with polyester (PET), in wastewater treatment plant sludges. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 407:124364. [PMID: 33139109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A novel procedure for nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 polyamide (PAs) microplastics (MPs) quantification is described for the first time. The overall procedure, including quantification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), was tested on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludges. The three polymers account for the largest global share of synthetic textile microfibers, being possibly the most common MPs released upon laundering in urban wastewaters. Therefore, measuring their content in WWTP sludges may provide an accurate picture of the potential risks associated with both the inflow of these MPs in natural water bodies and the practice of using WWTP sludges as agricultural soil amendment. The novel procedure involves PAs depolymerization by acid hydrolysis followed by derivatization of the monomers 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHA) and hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) with a fluorophore. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection results in high sensitivities for both AHA (LOD = 8.85·10-4 mg/L, LOQ = 3.73·10-3 mg/L) and HMDA (LOD = 2.12·10-4, LOQ = 7.04·10-4 mg/L). PET quantification involves depolymerization, in this case by alkaline hydrolysis, followed by HPLC analysis of its comonomer terephthalic acid. Eight sludge samples from four WWTPs in Italy showed contamination in the 29.3-215.3 ppm and 10.6-134.6 ppm range for nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, respectively, and in the 520-1470 ppm range for PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Castelvetro
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CISUP - Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Andrea Corti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CISUP - Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessio Ceccarini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CISUP - Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Petri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Virginia Vinciguerra
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CISUP - Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Cheng H, Feng Y, Duan Z, Duan X, Zhao S, Wang Y, Gong Z, Wang L. Toxicities of microplastic fibers and granules on the development of zebrafish embryos and their combined effects with cadmium. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 269:128677. [PMID: 33657748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxicity of microplastics (MPs) in granular form to aquatic animals has been frequently tested, whereas the effects of fibrous MPs remain further explored. In this study, the effects of polyethylene terephthalate granular particles (p-PET, approximately 150 μm in diameter) and fibers (f-PET, approximately 3-5 mm in length and 20 μm in diameter) on the development of zebrafish embryos and their joint effects with cadmium (Cd) were compared. p-PET and f-PET accelerated the velocities of blood flow and heart rate and inhibited hatching in zebrafish embryos because of their barrier effects on the channels in the embryonic chorion and enhanced the mechanical strength of the chorion. The Cd content in the chorion increased by p-PET due to the adsorption of p-PET on the chorion. By contrast, more f-PET dissociated in culture medium and resulted in low Cd content in the chorion. Given that chorion can effectively block p-PET and f-PET, the Cd accumulation in eggs significantly decreased (p < 0.05) under p-PET/f-PET and Cd combined treatment because of the reduction in the bioavailability of Cd. Therefore, p-PET and f-PET decreased the toxicities of Cd on all the target endpoints in this study, and the detoxification effect of f-PET at 72 hpf was more significant than that of p-PET. These results suggest that the toxicity induced by MPs might be form-related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haodong Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Yifan Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Zhenghua Duan
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Xinyue Duan
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Yudi Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Zhiyuan Gong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Lei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria / Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
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Castelvetro V, Corti A, La Nasa J, Modugno F, Ceccarini A, Giannarelli S, Vinciguerra V, Bertoldo M. Polymer Identification and Specific Analysis (PISA) of Microplastic Total Mass in Sediments of the Protected Marine Area of the Meloria Shoals. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:796. [PMID: 33807658 PMCID: PMC7961433 DOI: 10.3390/polym13050796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) quantification in benthic marine sediments is typically performed by time-consuming and moderately accurate mechanical separation and microscopy detection. In this paper, we describe the results of our innovative Polymer Identification and Specific Analysis (PISA) of microplastic total mass, previously tested on either less complex sandy beach sediment or less demanding (because of the high MPs content) wastewater treatment plant sludges, applied to the analysis of benthic sediments from a sublittoral area north-west of Leghorn (Tuscany, Italy). Samples were collected from two shallow sites characterized by coarse debris in a mixed seabed of Posidonia oceanica, and by a very fine silty-organogenic sediment, respectively. After sieving at <2 mm the sediment was sequentially extracted with selective organic solvents and the two polymer classes polystyrene (PS) and polyolefins (PE and PP) were quantified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). A contamination in the 8-65 ppm range by PS could be accurately detected. Acid hydrolysis on the extracted residue to achieve total depolymerization of all natural and synthetic polyamides, tagging of all aminated species in the hydrolysate with a fluorophore, and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (RP-HPLC) analysis, allowed the quantification within the 137-1523 ppm range of the individual mass of contaminating nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, based on the detected amounts of the respective monomeric amines 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHA) and hexamethylenediamine (HMDA). Finally, alkaline hydrolysis of the residue from acid hydrolysis followed by RP-HPLC analysis of the purified hydrolysate showed contamination by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the 12.1-2.7 ppm range, based on the content of its comonomer, terephthalic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Castelvetro
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
- CISUP—Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Corti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
- CISUP—Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Jacopo La Nasa
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
| | - Francesca Modugno
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
- CISUP—Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessio Ceccarini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
| | - Stefania Giannarelli
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
| | - Virginia Vinciguerra
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (J.L.N.); (F.M.); (A.C.); (S.G.); (V.V.)
- CISUP—Center for the Integration of Scientific Instruments of the University of Pisa, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Monica Bertoldo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari, 45121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, National Research Council of Italy (ISOF-CNR), via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
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Zhou XX, He S, Gao Y, Chi HY, Wang DJ, Li ZC, Yan B. Quantitative Analysis of Polystyrene and Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanoplastics in Tissues of Aquatic Animals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:3032-3040. [PMID: 33600167 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Micro- and nanoplastics unavoidably enter into organisms and humans as a result of widespread exposures through drinking waters, foods, and even inhalation. However, owing to the limited availability of quantitative analytical methods, the effect of nanoplastics inside animal bodies is poorly understood. Herein, we report a sensitive and robust method to determine the chemical composition, mass concentration, and size distribution of nanoplastics in biological matrices. This breakthrough is based on a novel procedure including alkaline digestion and protein precipitation to extract nanoplastics from tissues of aquatic animals, followed by quantitative analysis with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The optimized procedure exhibited good reproducibility and high sensitivity with the respective detection limits of 0.03 μg/g for polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics and 0.09 μg/g poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoplastics. This method also preserved the original morphology and size of nanoplastics. Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method, 14 species of aquatic animals were collected, and PS nanoplastics in a concentration range of 0.093-0.785 μg/g were detected in three of these animals. Recovery rates of 73.0-89.1% were further obtained for PS and PMMA nanospheres when they were spiked into the tissues of Zebra snail and Corbicula fluminea at levels of 1.84-2.12 μg/g. Consequently, this method provides a powerful tool for tracking nanoplastics in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xia Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuai He
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Hai-Yuan Chi
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Du-Jia Wang
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Ze-Chen Li
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
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40
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Yan F, Wei R, Cui Q, Bornscheuer UT, Liu Y. Thermophilic whole-cell degradation of polyethylene terephthalate using engineered Clostridium thermocellum. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:374-385. [PMID: 32343496 PMCID: PMC7936307 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a mass-produced synthetic polyester contributing remarkably to the accumulation of solid plastics waste and plastics pollution in the natural environments. Recently, bioremediation of plastics waste using engineered enzymes has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative approach for the future plastic circular economy. Here we genetically engineered a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium thermocellum, to enable the secretory expression of a thermophilic cutinase (LCC), which was originally isolated from a plant compost metagenome and can degrade PET at up to 70°C. This engineered whole-cell biocatalyst allowed a simultaneous high-level expression of LCC and conspicuous degradation of commercial PET films at 60°C. After 14 days incubation of a batch culture, more than 60% of the initial mass of a PET film (approximately 50 mg) was converted into soluble monomer feedstocks, indicating a markedly higher degradation performance than previously reported whole-cell-based PET biodegradation systems using mesophilic bacteria or microalgae. Our findings provide clear evidence that, compared to mesophilic species, thermophilic microbes are a more promising synthetic microbial chassis for developing future biodegradation processes of PET waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of BiofuelsShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic BiologyQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdao266101China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean EnergyQingdao266101China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Ren Wei
- Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme CatalysisInstitute of BiochemistryGreifswald UniversityFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487GreifswaldGermany
| | - Qiu Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of BiofuelsShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic BiologyQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdao266101China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean EnergyQingdao266101China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Uwe T. Bornscheuer
- Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme CatalysisInstitute of BiochemistryGreifswald UniversityFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487GreifswaldGermany
| | - Ya‐Jun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of BiofuelsShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic BiologyQingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesQingdao266101China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean EnergyQingdao266101China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
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41
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Horton AA, Cross RK, Read DS, Jürgens MD, Ball HL, Svendsen C, Vollertsen J, Johnson AC. Semi-automated analysis of microplastics in complex wastewater samples. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115841. [PMID: 33120336 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In order to assess risks to the natural environment from microplastics, it is necessary to have reliable information on all potential inputs and discharges. This relies on stringent quality control measures to ensure accurate reporting. Here we focus on wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) and the complex sample matrices these provide. Composite samples of both influent and effluent were collected over a 24 h period on two separate occasions from eight different WwTWs across the UK. Sludge samples were taken on five occasions from five WwTWs. The WwTW treatments included activated sludge, trickling filter and biological aerated flooded filter with or without tertiary treatment. Using micro-FTIR analysis, microplastics ≥25 μm were identified and quantified. Procedural blanks were used to derive limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ). Where values were above the LOQ, microplastics in the influent ranged from 955 to 17,214 microplastic particles/L and in the effluent from 2 to 54 microplastic particles/L, giving an average removal rate of 99.8%. Microplastics could be quantified in sludge at concentrations of 301-10,380 microplastics/g dry weight, this analytical method therefore revealing higher concentrations than reported in previous studies. The most common polymers present overall were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). We also report on critical considerations for blank corrections and quality control measures to ensure reliable microplastic analysis across different sample types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice A Horton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK; National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Richard K Cross
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Daniel S Read
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Monika D Jürgens
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Hollie L Ball
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Claus Svendsen
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Jes Vollertsen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Andrew C Johnson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
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42
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Kulyukhin SA, Gordeev AV, Seliverstov AF. Gas-phase treatment of polyethylene terephthalate waste in nitrating atmosphere for recycling purposes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 400:123268. [PMID: 32947696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The paper describes a new method of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling based on gas-phase treatment of the material in nitrating atmosphere. It was found that PET samples kept in the nitrating atmosphere (obtained by vaporizing 12 mol L-1 HNO3) at a temperature of 403-463 K (130-190 °C) for 5-24 h dissolve in 0.5 mol L-1 NaOH, in contrast to the untreated PET samples. Ozonation of the obtained alkaline solutions leads to a complete decomposition of the organic compounds present in the solutions. The resulting PET decomposition degree is higher than 99.9 % irrespective of the plastic color. In addition, the possibility of terephthalic acid recovery from the alkaline solutions of the conversion products was shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Kulyukhin
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Leninskii Pr. 31, korp. 4, Russia.
| | - A V Gordeev
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Leninskii Pr. 31, korp. 4, Russia
| | - A F Seliverstov
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Leninskii Pr. 31, korp. 4, Russia
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43
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Okoffo ED, Tscharke BJ, O'Brien JW, O'Brien S, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Choi PM, Wang X, Mueller JF, Thomas KV. Release of Plastics to Australian Land from Biosolids End-Use. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15132-15141. [PMID: 33200922 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are contaminants of emerging concern that can enter the environment from multiple sources, including via land application of treated sewage sludge (biosolids). Biosolids samples collected from 82 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Australia and covering 34% of the population during census week in 2016 were quantitatively analyzed to estimate the release of seven common plastics. Quantitative analysis was performed by pressurized liquid extraction followed by double-shot microfurnace pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Ninety nine percent of the samples contained plastics (Σ6plastics) at concentrations of between 0.4 and 23.5 mg/g dry weight (median; 10.4 mg/g dry weight), while polycarbonate was not detected in any sample. Per-capita mass loads of plastics (Σ6plastics) released were between 8 and 877 g/person/year across all investigated WWTPs. Polyethylene was the predominant plastic detected, contributing to 69% of Σ6plastics. Based on the concentrations measured, it was projected that around 4700 metric tons (Mt) of plastics are released into the Australian environment through biosolids end-use each year, equating to approximately 200 g/person/year, which represents 0.13% of total plastics use in Australia. Of this, 3700 Mt of plastics are released to agricultural lands and 140 Mt to landscape topsoil. Our results provide a first quantitative per-capita mass loads and emission estimate of plastic types through biosolids end-use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Tscharke
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jake W O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Stacey O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Francisca Ribeiro
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, U.K
| | - Stephen D Burrows
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, U.K
| | - Phil M Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Xianyu Wang
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
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Abstract
Microplastics, as an emerging contaminant, have been shown to threaten the sustainability of ecosystems, and there is also concern about human exposure, as microplastic particles tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. While microplastics in marine environments have been extensively studied, research on microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems is just starting to gain momentum. In this paper, we used scientometric analysis to understand the current status of microplastic research in terrestrial systems. The global scientific literature on microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems, based on data from the Web of Science between 1986 and 2020, was explored with the VOSviewer scientometric software. Co-occurrence visualization maps and citation analysis were used to identify the relationship among keywords, authors, organizations, countries, and journals focusing on the issues of terrestrial microplastics. The results show that research on microplastics in terrestrial systems just started in the past few years but is increasing rapidly. Science of the Total Environment ranks first among the journals publishing papers on terrestrial microplastics. In addition, we also highlighted the desire to establish standards/protocols for extracting and quantifying microplastics in soils. Future studies are recommended to fill the knowledge gaps on the abundance, distribution, ecological and economic effects, and toxicity of microplastics.
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45
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Li P, Li Q, Hao Z, Yu S, Liu J. Analytical methods and environmental processes of nanoplastics. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 94:88-99. [PMID: 32563491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of plastic debris may result in the generation of nanoplastics (NPs). Their high specific surface area for the sorption of organic pollutions and toxic heavy metals and possible transfer between organisms at different nutrient levels make the study of NPs an urgent priority. However, there is very limited understanding on the occurrence, distribution, abundant, and fate of NPs in the environment, partially due to the lack of suitable techniques for the separation and identification of NPs from complex environmental matrices. In this review, we first overviewed the state-of-the-art methods for the extraction, separation, identification and quantification of NPs in the environment. Some of them have been successfully applied for the field determination of NPs, while some are borrowed from the detection of microplastics or engineered nanomaterials. Then the possible fate and transport of NPs in the environment are thoroughly described. Although great efforts have been made during the recent years, large knowledge gaps still exist, such as the relatively high detection limit of existing method failing to detect ultralow masses of NPs in the environment, and spherical polystyrene NP models failing to represent the various compositions of NPs with different irregular shapes, which needs further investigation.
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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, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, 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
| | - Zhineng Hao
- 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.
| | - 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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46
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Kulyukhin SA, Krasavina EP, Gordeev AV, Seliverstov AF, Zakharova YO, Nevolin YM. Recycling of polyethylene terephthalate wastes under the action of a gaseous nitrating mixture. Russ Chem Bull 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-020-2863-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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